Kaede stilled. His hands gripped her hips as he lost himself in the depths of her gaze. He tried to process the weight of Selena’s words as they echoed in his mind.
Somehow, she wanted to be near him regardless of the risks.
“Do you believe that is wise?” He swallowed the lump that had formed at the base of his throat. “I can sleep in my commander’s chair as I have done.”
“Kaede, I refuse to let you back away from me—from us. Not now.” Shaking her head, she closed her eyes and pressed her lips to his. Before he could deepen their kiss, she pulled away just enough for her mouth to hover above his. “It’s too late for second-guessing or hesitation. You are now mine, as I am yours.” Slowly opening her eyes, she nipped at his bottom lip and smiled. “I don’t need to mark your neck to know I wear your brand on my heart. We don’t have to do anything if you don’t want—”
“It’s not that I don’t want to, Selena,” Kaede growled, squeezing her sides even tighter. “I don’t want to hurt you again, accidentally.”
“You are stronger than you think, Kaede.” She leaned into him, pressing her lips against his once more.
The hot water that beat against their skin felt like the Stars cleansing their heartache. The rolling steam that surrounded them seemed to teleport them to another world, away from all their stress and responsibilities.
Time slowed to a stop as Kaede held the only female he had ever wanted in his hands. He allowed her to take the lead, to use him to sate her needs.
Selena groaned as she pushed closer until his back hit the wall. Her hands found his face, clasping it as her tongue speared his mouth.
Kaede’s eyes rolled back as pure passion coursed through him. Growling, he wrapped his tongue around hers, claiming the invader as his for the taking.
Selena moaned as she moved against him, her hard nipples pressing into his chest. His length was a hard bar between them, making it impossible to think straight.
It would be so easy to…
Kaede jerked away, smacking his horns on the shower wall. He winced in pain as a moment of clarity pierced his mind.
Selena peered at him with concern. “Are you all right?”
Breathing heavily, he averted his gaze to the ceiling. Closing his eyes, he shook his head as he tried to calm himself. “You make me want to let go and forget all that is around us, but I can’t.”
“You can, Kaede. I won’t stop you, but if you want to wait, I understand. Let’s go to bed. Together,” she murmured, dragging her hands down his body as he shivered from the lightest of touches. “I want you—need you—by my side, Kaede. I trust you. You won’t hurt me.”
He slammed his hand on the controls and turned off the steaming water. Opening his eyes, he watched Selena stare at him in amazement as the unit’s red drying beam passed over them, instantly evaporating all liquid in its wake.
The shower door slid open and a burst of fresh air overtook Selena’s intoxicating scent. Kaede knew that soon it would be impossible to avoid her aroma throughout not just their master bedroom but the entire Abyss.
Her scent would soon mark his vessel as her territory, leaving him no place to hide. If her ambassadors weren’t tainting the air with their stench, he would’ve already spiraled out of control.
Selena giggled when he picked her up and carried her in his arms from the shower unit. Her head rested against his chest as he made his way to their bed. He couldn’t deny how right it felt to hold her in his arms. She was where she belonged.
His every step was sweet torture as the tip of his cock brushed against the curves of her ass. Her soft skin pressed against his body, only reminding him how much he wanted her.
Laying her gently on the bed, he backed away to view Fate’s gift to him in all her glory.
The long, silver hair he had always desired to twirl between his fingers was gone. Now, her hair barely touched her ears, but the cut didn’t make her any less beautiful. Her pink-and-purple spots glowed, proving that she felt loved.
When his eyes landed on the scar between her breasts, he remembered how he had failed her. This mark would ensure he never forgot how close he came to losing her forever.
“Selena, I swear to you, from this day forward, I will love you with all that I am until my soul returns to the Stars. I will protect you from any who would oppose you or wish to bring harm to our clan.” Breathing in her intoxicating scent, his gaze to hers. “I shall be your sword and your shield whenever you need me, for you are my mate. You come above all, my star.”
“Even Zirene?” She bit her bottom lip as she held his gaze.
“Even my Sovereign,” he swore. “He may be my employer and clan brother, but you are my mate. It’s in his best interest to keep me by your side, for who could do my job better? He can focus on ruling his empire while his beacon—his Nova—and the heirs to the throne are protected wherever they go.”
“You have always been the rock I needed and a pillar in my foundation to help me grow since I escaped my captivity.” Her ocean-blue eyes never left his as she sat up and scooted to the edge of the bed. Grabbing his hips, she pulled him closer until his hardness hovered near her luscious lips. “Kaede, I understand your reasons for not wanting to take things further. I am not upset that you want to wait before I mark you for the universe to see. If you don’t feel safe outside our galaxy, I respect that, but I
