“Then what’s wrong?” It was true; she was the ace up Dagan’s sleeve. Actually, she preferred to think of herself as Falden’s partner because he caught the bad guys and she made them talk. Which was an all-around win in her book. Dagan’s too. They’d been tracking down all the Darkoor allies in the city with record speed. Not one they caught had been able to resist the lure of Isabella’s voice.
“It’s Taeger. He sent a distress call from Mora 5. Said they were under attack. His whole team has gone dark.”
“Is he one of yours? A Lumerian?”
Falden nodded, settled his forehead against hers, shared his burdens with someone else for the first time since he’d been a boy at his mother’s knee. What little he could recall involved a cool, disciplined woman, one who knew he would need to be strong, a mother who tolerated no weakness. “One of the oldest. One of the best. I didn’t know he was still alive until the attacks. Taeger and his team followed Torrin here several weeks ago, but he had to return. He left someone important behind.”
“A woman?” Her romance meter was set to high and if this Taeger was anything like Falden, he could use a good woman in his life.
“Not a female, a Lumerian child with royal blood.”
That sounded serious. “Where is Mora 5?”
“A long, long way from here.”
“You’re worried about him, but there’s something else, too. I can feel it.”
Falden looked out over the training yard where Lumerian Knights sparred with the Caldorian warriors in every available space. Hundreds of them. “I had no idea there were so many.”
Isabella followed his gaze and knew he was shocked but also elated. “That’s a good thing, right?” Why was he so twisted up about their arrival? “You thought your Knights were the only ones left? In the entire universe?”
His face was blank, completely without expression, but thanks to the bond she could feel the turmoil within him. “We are exposed. For the first time since our planet was destroyed, we are exposed. Gathered in one place. And they came, they keep coming, because of me, because I summoned them here.”
“They all look happy to be together. How long has it been?”
“More than two thousand years.” He could not deny the truth. He saw Knights talking, catching up, sharing stories and breaking bread together. It had been so long. So damn long since they’d felt like one people, like they had a home. Caldor had come close, but they’d been in hiding, even from the Caldorians outside of a select few.
Falden sucked in the air around him, the noise, the voices, the hope and the life. Thanks to Cam’s negotiations with Earth, the surviving Lumerians had a real home now as well, and Isabella was in his arms, even if she was staring up at him like he’d grown a second head.
“Two thousand? Exactly how old are you?” She knew he wasn’t a young man. There had been too much experience, too much pain, too many memories during their Yielding for him to be as young as he looked. But two thousand years since his people had been together?
He turned back to her. “Old.”
“How old is old?”
He leaned down, kissed her once. Twice. Pulled her lower lip into his mouth and teased her until she was panting for breath. “Three orgasms and then I’ll tell you.”
Good Lord, that was a win-win if she’d ever heard one. “I love you.”
He smiled. “That’s four.”
“And handsome. So handsome.”
“Don’t push me.” He took her hand, and they strolled toward their quarters, taking their time, allowing the anticipation to build.
“You’re smoking hot, Falden. So hot. I’m going to rub more paste on you, every inch of you. You aren’t glowing enough.”
“Afraid the ladies won’t know I’m yours?”
She smiled. “Oh, everyone knows. I just like making sure you know.”
How she knew exactly what it meant to him to be lit up like a glowing lantern, he couldn't guess, but she did. And he loved it. Loved her mark all over him. Her claim. Was proud to belong to her. “I know you won’t be able to take more than four.”
“I’ll take that bet.”
Falden grinned and pulled her closer, wrapped an arm around her waist as they walked. “What do I win if you beg me to stop?”
“Never happen.”
He laughed, he couldn’t stop himself and it felt good to smile, to laugh, to play. “What do I win, mate?”
Looking far too sexy, too tempting, too damn beautiful for her own good, she leaned in and whispered something very, very naughty in his ear.
“I accept.” His cock was rock-hard just thinking about what she promised.
Lifting her over his shoulder, he carried her away like a caveman, Isabella’s laughter ringing out over the entire training yard. Four orgasms. Four mind-numbing, make-her-beg orgasms. And then she would be putty in his hands.
Isabella admired his fine ass the entire way to their quarters. Falden was going to win their bet, and she couldn’t wait.
The End.
Don’t miss the next book in the Lumerian Knights series: Alien Knight Teddy Bear Troubles! Get a Sneak Peak at Chapter 1 NOW!
Alien Knight Teddy Bear Troubles:
Lumerian Knight Taeger Norasair – Commander/Guard/Spec-Ops
They jumped through space, transported from their ship to a long, black corridor perhaps ten paces wide. Black floor. Black walls. Black ceiling. As black as deep space.
“If their sensors picked up any trace of us, they’ll be on us in seconds. Stay low,” Taeger ordered. One glance at the readout inside his visor confirmed what he already knew; he was with six of his bravest warriors. They’d all volunteered for this mission even though they knew the odds of success were almost nil. A suicide mission. But they had to try. They’d been in countless battles over the centuries. Nothing compared to this one. They were to rescue a child. Just one.
They had arrived in formation, one hand flat on the hard, obsidian floor of
