Sure enough, the pod appeared to be landing.
He flicked on his comms unit, which had received nothing but a crackle all day. “Commander Paal to flight deck, come in flight deck.”
“Ronan, here.” The young man’s voice was exuberant. “You did it, Commander. Zandia is ours!”
The females beside him screamed, throwing their arms around each other and then him.
“I have your location, and we’re sending a ship to extract you now.”
His legs turned weak with relief and joy. “Thank the one true Zandian star,” he breathed.
Ronan chuckled and ended the communication.
He tried to stay in the moment, but his mind wouldn’t stop running over his biggest problem. Now that they had a place to live, would he have a female to share it with?
Could he convince Leti to give him another chance?
The battleship zoomed into view and landed and the hatch opened. Paal expected to see a warrior come out, but instead, his little female burst from the entrance, running for him.
His knees hit the spongy earth, too weak with gratitude and relief to hold him. Or maybe it was to beg her forgiveness—he wasn’t sure.
“Paal!” She barrelled toward him, throwing her arms around his neck and nearly knocking him over.
Two more battleships skidded to a stop around them, and Rok and Lundric tumbled out and raced for their mates.
“Leti, beautiful female. Can you forgive me?” He’d rehearsed his apology so many times on the trip, it tumbled out now, even though she didn’t seem to be listening. “I had my head wedged when I accused you of trying to trap me. I don’t care if that young is mine or not.” She laid dozens of kisses on his cheeks and forehead, still strangling him in a tight embrace. “I’m claiming you, and I claim that young. You’re mine. It doesn’t matter if you want me or not.”
“Your apology needs work.” Leti laughed and only then did he notice the wetness on her face.
He wiped her tears. “Oh stars, please don’t cry.”
“No, these are happy tears.” She gave him a tremulous smile. “So it doesn’t matter if I want you or not? You’re forcing me into this?” There was a tease in her voice, but he ran a frustrated hand over his closely shorn head.
“That’s not what I meant. I’m trying to say I know you’re not trying to trick me into mating you. Or if you are, then I accept. I want to be trapped by you. Because you’re mine as much as I’m yours, lovely.”
Veck, he’d botched this speech royally.
Leti didn’t seem to care. She kissed his neck. “It’s your baby,” she murmured in his ear.
“It is? Are you sure?” He gave his head a shake. “I don’t care either way, sweet girl. You’re mine, and that means the babe is too.”
“No, it’s yours. I only said that to push you away.”
He ran his hands up and down her sides. “But you’ve changed your mind about that?” His voice sounded choked, even to his own ears. He brought one hand to rest on her ass and squeezed.
Her husky laugh turned his dick crystal-hard. “Yes, I changed my mind. I want you for my mate. Only you. This baby and I need you.”
In a flash he had her on her back on the ground, claiming her mouth as he thrust the hard bulge of his cock into the notch between her legs.
“Oh hey there, Paal. I think you should wait until you’re back in your chamber for that!” Rok called out, laughing.
He didn’t want to pull back, wanted to keep kissing his mate until the sun rose, but he forced himself off and lifted her to her feet.
A beautiful blush colored her neck and then he had to kiss her again.
“Mine,” he growled when they broke apart.
Her smile lit up the entire galaxy. “Yes, yours.”