She kissed him back feverishly, apparently forgetting where they were or not noticing the elderly bartender stared at them with grudging approval. “It’s worse for me, too,” she said huskily. “Do you think it will always be this way?”
“I hope so.” His hand slid up her inner thigh. “Come to the airship I borrowed. I need you alone.”
“All right.” She stood up and smiled, so beautiful she took his breath away. “Come and meet Thurn, my former master.”
He growled, hands closing into fists.
“Easy, warrior. I already gave him a black eye.” She shrugged. “He found a girl out in the desert and saw it as a windfall. My life wasn’t all that bad. He taught me a trade and three languages. Took care of me when I was sick. Protected me from every patron here who wanted to use my body. He was a poor substitute for my real father, but I think he loved me in his own way. Even if he did use a lie to keep me bound to him.”
He arched a brow. “You came to forgiveness far faster than I will.” He unfolded his legs, adjusting his aching cock as he stood.
“Let it go. Take me to my real father, I’m ready now.”
He went still. “You’re willing to meet him?”
“Only as your mate.”
Warmth exploded in his chest, filling him with more love and pride than he believed he could take. She hadn’t wanted to be delivered to her father because she belonged to him.
“I won’t keep you from your duties, Tomis. Knowing you were willing to give it all up for me is enough.”
He yanked her into him, crushing her lips with his. “I love you, Talia. Only you.”
She melted into him, her soft form supple and yielding. “And I love you, warrior. Now, let’s go. I think you promised me a hard vecking.”
He growled, palming her ass and squeezing as they started across the room to meet and bid farewell to Thurn.
His mate.
Stars, how did he get so lucky?
Chapter Eight
Talia gripped Tomis’ hand far harder than she meant to, hesitating outside the door to Prince Zander’s Great Room in the palatial pod. Her body felt deliciously tender in so many places after endless hours of lovemaking and her freshly pierced nipples, ears, and cheek. But her emotions were as raw as her body, and she didn’t feel ready to meet Seke.
They’d gone to the training pod first, to return the airship, then traveled on with Rok and Lily to meet Prince Zander and her father.
“Wait,” she whispered, digging in her heels as he tried to lead her through the door.
Rok and Lily bumped into them from behind.
“Sorry. I...uh...forgot something.”
Lily touched her shoulder. “I know what it’s like to meet family you don’t even remember,” she said. “I ran from it at first, too.” She looked through the open doors, her gaze landing on two human women—one older and one with an infant in her arms—who had the same coppery hair and green eyes she did. “But, next to Rok, they’re the best thing that’s happened to me.”
She hooked an arm through Talia’s free elbow. “Come on. We’ll go in together.”
A mist blurred her vision as she walked in beside her new mate and friends.
The conversation in the room stopped, and the scarred warrior in white standing beside Lily’s mother jerked his head up, eyes locked on hers. “Talia,” he rasped.
She swallowed, hard. “Father?”
He strode forward, opening his arms.
For a moment, she didn’t move.
Tomis squeezed her hand. “It’s all right, starshine. You don’t have to—”