“You don’t vecking say?” Zander snapped.
Seke had stood and joined the little party, and the three males had her surrounded, but she noted they all gave her ample space. Apart from Zander unbuckling her harness, no one had moved closer or touched her.
“I take it you set her free?” Only Seke’s manner remained unruffled.
Zander didn’t take his eyes from her, and he seemed to be trying to communicate something, but she didn’t know what. “Yes.” Zander swiped a hand across his face. “I attempted to master my fear.” He still stared at her, looking half-mad. “I don’t think it worked.”
“Something was lost in the communication.” Again, Seke’s voice was calm, the words slightly dry. He circled behind Zander and nudged Daneth. “We’ll leave you two to discuss things in private.”
Daneth looked back at her then down at his cuff where the readouts of her vital statistics were displayed. “Calm her down,” he warned Zander as he left.
She turned her back on Zander, walking to face the cockpit, though the view was of nothing other than the hangar door.
“Lamira, you are my mate.”
She sniffed at the word mate, since he hadn’t treated her anywhere close to a mate for the past five planet rotations.
“It wasn’t right for me to keep you as a slave at the same time I called you mate.”
She whirled on him, eyes narrowed. “You said you did so because I…” She choked on her words. Because I love your domination.
The chasm between them seemed too wide. She couldn’t bring herself to mention their intimate play of master and slave—the punishment and commands that brought her to her knees in ecstasy.
“I justified it that way.” His voice was heavy. “But the truth…” He stepped closer but didn’t touch her. “The truth is I was afraid to let you go.”
She whirled and smacked his chest with her open hand. “Go where? Where in the galaxy could I go? Humans don’t roam about on their own in this territory, or hadn’t you noticed?”
He made an impatient gesture. “You left with Rok. You’re connected with the underground human resistance. You could find places to hide just as your sister did.”
“My sister almost died because she was found! And I didn’t leave with Rok—I was goading you into action. Or did you really think I didn’t want you to follow?”
He blinked several times. “I hoped you wanted me to follow.”
“Stupid male! How can you think I could live without you?” She choked on the last words, and the tears she’d held at bay through anger suddenly sprang to her eyes.
Finally, he reached for her. In a flash, he had her crushed against his chest, strong arms wrapping her up tightly. “How could you think I’d ever want you to go?” He sounded choked, as well.
“I’m sorry I left. I shouldn’t have put our young in danger like that.”
He shoved her away from his body and gave her a tiny shake. “You shouldn’t have put yourself in danger like that.”
She gave a hiccuppy laugh. “I knew you wouldn’t let anything happen to me.”
He closed his eyes and shook his head. Then his eyes flew open. “Come here.” He scooped her up into his arms and carried her off the ship.
Seke and Daneth stood at the loading dock, waiting.
“You’re clear for departure,” Zander said to Seke as he carried her past them.
“Lamira, let me try again.” He walked down the corridor to their chamber. The door slid open, and he carried her inside. “You are my one true mate. I don’t ever want you to feel trapped here. Or with me. I would never keep you here against your will. You’re free, in my eyes, even if the rest of the galaxy won’t recognize it.”
Eyes moist, she clung to his neck and buried her face there. “Thank you,” she choked. “I love you, Zander.”
He sat down on the edge of the sleepdisk and eased her to stand on the floor in front of him. When his fingers began to pull up her skirt, she flushed with the knowledge of his intent.
If it was to make love, she’d be on her back on the mattress. This was punishment. And she couldn’t wait. She’d been dying for Zander to punish her and clear the air between them. It always reset them and, as Daneth’s monitoring probes had proven when she first arrived, aroused her. Zander had cleared spanking with his hand or a flexible strap with Daneth as safe during pregnancy.
“And despite what I just said”—he pulled her across his lap so her torso rested on the bed, using a pillow to lift her chest so her growing belly wasn’t constricted—“I forbid you to ever leave me.” His thumbs hooked in the sides of her panties, he tugged them down to her thighs. His han