Zandian Pet (Zandian Masters 7)

This was a bad idea. Still, it was better than sitting around entertaining someone else’s young all day. She jogged to her chamber and packed the few items of clothing the pod servants had provided her. She, Talia, and Bayla had put in an order for new clothing, but it hadn’t arrived yet.

When she exited her chamber, she found Erick waiting outside, leaning against the wall with a casual grace.

“Ready?” He took her bag from her, even though it wasn’t heavy.

“Yes.” She fell into step beside him, stealing a sidelong glance at his handsome face. Why had she decided she couldn’t be with him? It seemed silly now that he was here again by her side and she could breathe again.

“What’s the purpose of the trip?”

They fell out of stride when her step faltered. “Does it matter?” she asked tightly.

He held up his palms. “Veck no. I’m just glad to have a chance to, ah, be of service.”

“You mean to get me alone.”

He grinned widely. “That, too.”

“I already told you—”

“Yes, I heard you. I won’t force it.”

Too bad. She rather enjoyed the way he forced things. And though it was wrong and backward to think it, her life had been cleaner when she had very few choices.

“That doesn’t mean I won’t employ every means of persuasion I know.”

She stopped walking, putting a stride between them before he caught on and turned.

“All pleasurable, I assure you.”

“Erick, this isn’t going to work.” She shook her head and started to reverse her direction.

He lunged and caught her arm. “Wait.” When she looked pointedly at his hand holding her arm, he immediately released her. “What if I promise not to touch you for the entire trip?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Zandian’s honor?”

His lips quirked, as if he already knew he’d won. “Zandian’s honor.” He lifted his fist at a 90 degree angle.

She resumed walking, unsure if her disappointment stemmed from his promise or her own lack of resolve.

~.~

Erick had never been so conflicted about winning a bargain before. Not touching Mina would be torture, but it was one he deserved. His behavior with her had been reprehensible from the beginning.

This would be a good chance to show her they had a connection that went beyond sex. Prove that he could be a mate to Tara as well as to Mina.

He led her to the dock and onto his ship. It wasn’t one of the new battleships Zander had bought for war, but his old travel ship. The same one Master Seke had used when he taught him to fly fifteen solar cycles ago.

He waved her into the co-pilot’s seat. “Buckle up, little warrior.”

She paused on her way to sit. “Why did you call me that?”

“I saw you escape from Prium’s Emporium. It took courage and strategy—discipline, your father would say.”

“Do you think he’ll let me join the army?”

It took all his own discipline not to crush the controls under his palms. Not to shout, over my dead body. This was important to Mina. He heard the hesitant way she’d asked it, the lift of hope when he’d called her a warrior.

He opted for a diplomatic reply. “I’m sure he’ll appreciate your desire to help.”