Page 167 of Tempting Fate

“It better be chocolate.”

She produced a familiar purple-clad bar with a flourish and a broad grin. “Of course.”

I practically salivated as I ripped open the wrapper and broke off a square.

“What is chock-lut?” Airida asked.

“Tell you in a minute.” I placed it in my mouth and closed my eyes. Oh. My. God. The creamy sweetness melted on my tongue, lighting up all my senses. “Fuuuuuuck. Damn, that’s good.” And as I bit down, I couldn’t help a long, drawn-out moan.

“Imani?” Airida stared at me with a combination of confusion and lust.

I broke off a piece of chocolate and brought it to his lips. “Try it.”

He sucked it out of my fingers, gazing into my eyes as he did. Such beautiful eyes, pretty crystals I could adore for the rest of my life.

They closed. His brow furrowed, his mouth twisted, and an uneasy hum sounded in his throat. “I am… not sure about this.”

I stifled a giggle.

“Reski doesn’t like it either,” Kira said in a loud stage whisper.

Good. All the more for us.

Airida swallowed the chocolate with a grimace and chased it down with a swig of his tea. “You love this food?”

I reached for another square. It would be more sensible to make it last, but… “Oh, yes.”

He shook his head, ruffling his headspines, face still scrunched in confusion. “I do not understand why it makes you sound like I am inside you, but… I am glad you enjoy it, taamthi.”

At that, my cheeks heated, and Urula let out a raucous laugh. Then we were all laughing, the tensions and worries of the last days and weeks dissolving like chocolate in my mouth.

I couldn’t quite believe it was over. Bounty cancelled. Airida safe. And I was on a fucking spaceship drinking tea and eating chocolate with my friend—now a pirate—and my mate.

“You’ll know, Imani,” Mum had said to me, many years ago. “You will know when it is right.”

I sent a silent thank you across the galaxy to wherever her soul resided. I was human. We didn’t need soul bonds, we just needed the right person. And sometimes, that person was a seven foot tall alien guy who loved me just as I was.

It didn’t hurt that he fucked like a freight train or his moans were literal music.

I leaned in, peppering kisses down his ear ridge. “I love you.” Silly, really, that I hadn’t said it yet when the words felt like the most natural thing.

He set his mug down. “And I you.” Then his lips quirked in bratty arrogance. “It is because I flew through space, is it not?”

Oh, he was going to dine out on this for months. “Behave.”

“Make me.”

Before I could answer, Kapiya strode in with a cocky swagger and clapped Airida on the arm. “That was skikking badass. Worthy of any corsair, I’ll say. Want a tattoo? Or I can do another pair of gems for your—”

As Airida turned to face him, he cut short.

“Kapiya thinks everything deserves some adornment,” Urula said into the awkward silence. “Stole some silks? Tattoo. Fought off a bunch of valniah slavers? A big skik-off tattoo and some gems. Made a good cup of chrya? Tattoo. See those stars on his forearm?” She winked. “Each one is for a good brew.”

I squeezed Airida’s hand. But instead of looking hurt, he stared intently at the smaller man. “You are a gemsmith?”

“Nah, I’m a skikking pirate. But this ship isn’t called the Jewelled Tusk for nothing. If you want your first gems, then by Kri’s balls, you can get them right now.”

“He does a damn good job,” Urula murmured.