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But deep down, he knew that wasn’t really true. Rescuing somebody once didn’t mean you had to keep on rescuing them—didn’t mean you had to follow them home and keep them safe even if they got under your skin like a Frenarian sand burr that itched and irritated until it made you crazy just being around them.
Gods, had he made a huge mistake? He was committed now and who knew how long this assignment might last? He and Liosh might be Earth-side for months and who could tell how badly he and Jodi were going to get on each other’s nerves in that time?
Sighing, Vorn tried to concentrate on piloting the ship and stop speculating about how long this new mission might be. Not thinking about it was the only way to stay sane, he was sure.
I wonder how long this assignment is going to last? Liosh thought, risking a look back at Melinda, who was riding in the back seat with her older sister, who was tapping furiously on her small communications device. He hoped it was a long time—maybe even a few solar months or even longer. As long as he got to spend it by Melinda’s side, he would be perfectly happy.
From the moment he’d seen the small, delicate Earth girl in danger from the Varian invaders, Liosh had wanted to Claim her.
Of course, he couldn’t tell Melinda that—it would frighten her off for certain. And there was already something fragile about her—something that made him want to be careful of her and protect her. He sensed instinctively that he needed to be cautious in their interactions—in the way he spoke to her and how he treated her.
But that was hard to keep in mind when all he wanted to do was sweep her into his arms and hold her close—when all he wanted was to breathe in her sweet, feminine scent and never let her go.
He closed his eyes for a moment, remembering how she had clung to him in fright after he and Vorn had disposed of the invading Varians. Those scaly bastards hadn’t stood a chance. The minute Liosh had seen Melinda injured on the ground with her golden curls all tangled around her shoulders and tears of fright in her big, blue eyes, something inside him had risen up and declared that he would kill or die to protect the little female.
After that it was just a question of which of the Varians died the fastest.
Afterwards Liosh had held her—taking her into his lap as naturally as though they’d known each other all their lives. And Melinda had held him right back, nuzzling against him like a small, wounded creature in need of comfort, making his heart swell as he cradled her against his chest.
She hadn’t wanted to let go of him. Even in the Med Center while Commander Sylvan had set her leg, she’d kept hold of Liosh’s hand, squeezing it with her own small one while she bit her lush lower lip to keep back a low cry of pain.
But that was then—she was injured, Liosh reminded himself. She’s almost better now. You’ve got no call to touch her all the time like that anymore. Remember what you learned about North American Earth culture—most humans like their personal space. She won’t want your hands on her all the time or wish to sit in your lap and cuddle now that she’s well.
But she wasn’t completely well yet, a little voice in his head pointed out. In fact, hadn’t Commander Sylvan told her to keep the weight off her leg for a little while yet? In which case, he, Liosh, would be perfectly justified in picking her up and carrying her wherever she needed to go—right?
Right, he told himself firmly. Though of course, if she asked to be put down or displayed any reluctance to having him carry her, he would certainly back off. Kindred were, above all things, respectful of a female’s right to choose what happened to her body and how and when and where she was touched.
But so far, he hadn’t received a single mixed signal from Melinda. Everything about her seemed to welcome him in and damned if he could keep himself from going to her when he wanted to hold her as badly as she wanted to be held.
I’ll be careful, Liosh told himself. I’ll…what is it the humans say? Oh, right—I’ll play it by nose.
He thought that was the expression, anyway. It certainly seemed to make sense— if he smelled any kind of anxiety or uncertainty on Melinda when he went to pick her up or touch her in any way, he would immediately back off. But if she wanted to cuddle and be held as much as he wanted to cuddle her and hold her, well then, Liosh was there for that.
