Her Mate and Master (Zandian Masters 6)

“Yes. I saw this settlement on the maps.”

She turned and looked once more into the hovercraft’s remains. “How do the Zandians care for their dead?” she whispered.

His throat closed. “We burn them. Their crystals with them. Then we scatter their ashes in water—a lake or river. Return them to the keeping of the planet.”

“Do you still have her crystals?” Talia’s voice broke, but her gaze was steady and brave.

He dug in his pocket for the little gems he’d tucked away when Talia had fallen to the ground. They sparkled when he presented them to her in his flat palm.

“Keep them,” she said, a note of determination in her voice. “We’ll scatter them next time we’re close to water.”

He managed a sad smile and pocketed the crystals. “Good. We’re headed to water now.” He laced his fingers with hers and led her in the direction he’d memorized, toward the twin waterfalls that served as the main attraction to this area of the planet. The bombed enclave had once been a quaint tourist town, providing lodging to visitors who came to see the planet’s gift.

They walked in silence. He didn’t want to disturb what appeared to be her deep contemplation of what they’d seen and what she’d remembered, although it took great resistance not to attempt to kiss away the furrow between her brows.

The sound of rushing water signaled he’d navigated correctly.

Talia lifted her head, peering toward the horizon. “What is it? A river?”

He smiled. “You’ll see. Come on.” He lengthened his strides, tugging her toward the sound. They pushed through dense jungle growth—sweet smelling flowering vines and thick tree leaves. The sound of the crashing water grew louder. At last they came to a clearing.

Talia’s mouth dropped open.

Two hundred meter waterfalls crashed down crystal-embedded rock and crossed one another like streams on a perfectly engineered fountain.

A deep, round pool below collected the twin falls like a basin before the water spilled into the same river he’d washed Talia in before.

He kicked his boots off and unbuckled the belt at his waist.

Talia, seeing his intention, tore his shirt over her head, slipped his socks off her feet, and ran for the pool. “First one in wins!”

He let out a short bark of laughter, hopping as one pant leg tangled in his hurry to join her. “Wins what?”

But Talia had already discovered the secret gift of the basin. Her pouty lips formed a perfect O as she turned back to him. “It’s warm!”

He grinned, her delight more pleasing to him than any satisfaction he’d ever received personally. He dove in after her, but not before he saw her eyes darken when she took in his naked form.

Feeling’s mutual, starshine.

So mutual. The urge to breed her was growing by the minute.

In fact, the sight of her nude body sluicing through the clear water might be the most erotic thing he’d ever seen. She’d dipped down to wet her body to the neck and now stood in water to her waist, beadlets gliding down her throat, dripping from her perky nipples. Between her breasts. Not even the magnificence of one of his planet’s greatest gifts to her people could drag his attention away from her beauty.

She waited for him to join her—a big mistake because all he wanted to do was drag her back to firm ground and veck her senseless.

Choosing restraint, instead, he dived past her, swimming toward the center of the cascades. “First one to the falls wins!” he called over his shoulder when he resurfaced.

She gave a shriek of laughing indignation and he heard her splashes behind him as she fought to catch up.

“Come here, starshine.” He caught her wrist and pulled her through the water when he reached the entry point of one of the cataracts. “What do you think? Is it hot or cold?”

She bit her lower lip, the plump flesh trapped there begging for his kiss. “My bet is cold. The heat comes from underground.”

He pulled them both under the spray.

Talia squealed as cold water beat down on their heads.

He grinned and drew a deep breath, pulling her underwater and away from the pelting drops. He opened his eyes, delighted to find she had, too. She swam looking at him, bubbles of laughter escaping her mouth.