Her breath stuttered, hope and relief in her eyes as she looked up at him.
"But you have to understand."He reached out for her slowly.His hands were so much larger than hers, his long fingers heavily scarred and carrying the thick calluses of a lifetime of service.Taking her tightly clasped hands, he gently folded them inside his own."You can never run from me again."
She opened her mouth, ready to argue.He shook his head.
"No… I'm serious.Not because the emperor ordered us bonded."He brought her hands up, pressing her palms flat against his chest, right where his pulse jumped hard against his ribs."Because wherever you are, that's where I need to be.Because wherever you are, that's my home.You're my home.I love you, Emily.I have done since the moment I first saw you on Earth."
The words scraped out of him like they'd been dragged over gravel.He didn't care.He was done holding it together.
"I will follow you," he stated, his tone leaving no room for doubt."As long as I have breath in my body.To Parac’Norr, or whatever draanthing corner of the galaxy you decide to go.You don't have to run from anything.You just tell me where we're going, and I'm already there."
She stared up at him, her lips parted in shock.The glossy brightness in her eyes finally spilled over the edge.A single tear tracked down her cheek in silence.
"You asshole," she whispered, her lips quirking into a smile through her tears."I had a whole speech prepared for this, and you just..."
He pulled her in.She went willingly, burying her face hard against his chest.He wrapped his arms around her.
He held her tighter than he'd ever held anything, aware of how small she was against him.So fucking fragile.It made him want to protect her and devour her in equal measure.He pressed his face down into the messy tangle of her hair.She smelled right.Just right… like the mountain roses from where he'd spend his childhood and the softer, completely feminine smell that was Emily alone, the one that turned his brain to mush.
They stood in the middle of the quarters.Breathing the recycled air.Holding on.
Then he bent his knees and scooped her cleanly off the deck.
"What the hell are you doing?"she gasped, a surprised laugh catching in her throat as she wrapped her arms around his neck.Shifting her weight securely against his chest, he carried her straight through to the bedroom.
"I'm done talking," he grunted."I have a mate to claim."
