“Fourteen.”
Gods, so young. His hand tightened on her hair. No wonder she collected lost girls. “I know how it feels to lose the ones you love.”
Her green eyes blinked up at him. “You lost your family?”
“Yes. I was eight. My homeworld, Predia, was attacked during the Frontier Wars. My parents and brother were killed in the bomb blasts. I was taken to a GSS orphanage.”
Her hand pressed flat against his heart. “I’m so sorry, Hunt. And you eventually joined the GSS?”
Her touch was a balm to the pain. “As soon as I was old enough.” He shrugged. “The Galactic Security Services gave me a family of sorts, a purpose. What happened after you lost your mother?”
“My parents had taught me how to survive, how to blend. I moved around a lot, learned I was good at business. After a few years, I let down my guard. There was a man.”
Hunt’s arms tightened.
“Relax, big guy.” She slid her body against his. “I thought I loved him, but I was young and stupid. It was infatuation at best. But I messed up and told him what I was.”
Her flat tone told Hunt it hadn’t gone well. “What happened?”
“He sold me out to bounty hunters. I escaped…barely.”
What a fucking idiot. Hunt felt the fizz of anger in his blood. Wished he could pound on that stupid bastard.
“I ran, then four years ago, I came here. You know the rest.”
“You move a lot.”
She sighed. “Yes. I was hoping to stop that if I could…”
She was thinking of running again. He tightened his arms. “You will. Here and now.”
Relda pressed up on one elbow. “I slept with you, Calder. That doesn’t give you the right to dictate my life?—”
“Iwillkeep you safe. Even if you fight me every step of the way.” He rolled, tucking her beneath him. He slid inside her with one thrust.
She moaned, her gaze locking with his.
He pumped into her, this time slow and steady. He lowered his head closer to hers. “Because you may not have realized it, but you’re mine.”
“Hunt—”
He pulled out, slid back in, and she made a strangled, little cry.
“Mine. I’m not letting you go.”
“Damn alpha male,” she grumbled. But she wrapped her legs around him, her heels digging into the back of his thighs to urge him on.
They never took their eyes off each other as he continued thrusting inside her. He watched her explode over the edge, would never get enough of seeing her come apart in his arms.
Moments later he followed her, holding himself still inside her as his body shuddered through his orgasm.
Once they could both function again, they showered together. Soaping each other slowly, caressing and tracing edges and curves.
“I love this big, tough body of yours.” Relda pressed a kiss to his chest while her hand ventured farther south.
Hunt grunted. “I much prefer your soft curves.”
She traced a long-faded scar across his stomach. “So many of these.”
