“It doesn’t have to be a risk,” she argued. “Didn’t you say there would be an escape plan and a ship waiting in case things got out of hand?”
“There will be,” Reddix said. “Mostly because I insisted on it. But I want you waiting inside the ship—ready to take off if the crowd goes against us. Tarsians aren’t known for their tolerance.”
“And Earthlings aren’t known for their weakness.” Nina frowned. “I will be there.”
Reddix opened his mouth to contradict her and then shut it and shook his head. The truth was, he needed her. Facing the emotional output of an angry crowd would be worse than his encounters with the children of the Feeling People as Nina had called them. So many intense feelings might knock him out or even kill him.
But it wasn’t just as a shield from emotion that he needed Nina. I want her by my side, he thought longingly. Always by my side. Still, he didn’t want to risk her.
“I don’t like it,” he growled at last. “It’s dangerous for you. And it’s not a good move politically, either. Think about it, the clans don’t want to hear that their future OverChief is committing what they consider incest and that the second who’s set to take his place is in love with an outsider they’ll never accept.”
“In love?” Nina’s eyes flew wide, and Reddix cursed himself for saying too much.
“Damn it, I didn’t mean…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” he said lamely.
“That’s okay.” She looked away for a moment, her cheeks getting pink. “And I’m sorry if it doesn’t look good for me to be by your side, but I still need to be able to touch you during the gathering. What if I stood right behind you with one foot out the door, ready to run if thing go bad? I mean, you’re really big and tall—who would even know?”
Reddix considered. “That sounds reasonable,” he said at last. “But I still don’t understand why you’re so intent on risking yourself for me.”
“Maybe…maybe because I feel the same way you do,” Nina murmured, taking a step toward him. “Maybe because I care.”
Reddix’s shaft was painfully hard, and he had to curl his hands into fists to keep from reaching for her. Goddess, she was beautiful! He wanted her so badly it was like a physical ache that consumed him.
“You’ve already done so much for me,” he said hoarsely. “And I don’t deserve any of it. I don’t…don’t know how I can repay you.” He took a step toward her, wishing he could take her in his arms.
“There’s no charge,” Nina said quietly. “Unless…”
“Unless what?” He raised an eyebrow at her.
“Well, there’s an old Seminole tradition—it’s almost forgotten now, but Mehoo-Jimmy told me about it. When someone gives you something or does something for you that you can’t possibly repay, you give them a token of affection in return. Kind of…acknowledging what they did for you and how much it meant.”
“A token of affection?” Reddix asked, taking another step toward her. “Like what, exactly?”
“Oh, you know…” Nina’s cheeks got pink again, and she looked down, as though she couldn’t meet his eyes. “A hug or maybe…maybe a kiss.”
He couldn’t stay away anymore. He closed the distance between them and took Nina in his arms. She flowed to him naturally, eagerly, winding her arms around his neck and pressing her body against his as though she didn’t want even the tiniest bit of space between them.
Reddix felt the same way. He kissed her fiercely—hungrily—as though he could claim her as his own by simply tasting her lips. But that wasn’t all he longed to taste tonight.
* * * * *
Nina’s heart was thumping so loudly she was sure Reddix could hear it—it seemed to shake her whole body. His arms felt so good around her—so right. And she loved the feel of his big, hard body pressed against hers. His mouth was tender but demanding at the same time, and he pulled her against him as though he never wanted to let her go.
The feeling was completely mutual. Nina threaded her fingers through his hair and gave what he was asking for freely. Somewhere inside she could hear a little voice whispering that she shouldn’t do this—that it would end badly. But she didn’t want to listen. Didn’t want to do anything but give herself completely to the intense sensation of the big Kindred’s body surrounding hers as he kissed her senseless.
But just as she was about to melt completely, Reddix pulled away.