AllFreeNovel
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“You know why we haven’t talked about this much,” she said quietly, melting a little as Kail pressed his lips against the back of her neck. “There’s so much uncertainty around it. And we’re effectively at war.”
“There are always going to be wars in the Universe. And I’ll always protect you no matter what. Besides, I’ve been reliably informed that Zharek has solved the problem of my nanites existing in your body.”
“He has?” Riana’s heart trembled. “Since when?”
“Since yesterday.”
“And you didn’t tell me then?”
“You were very tired.” He let out a soft snort of amusement. “Don’t you recall? Sitting against me, watching your holo-entertainment, your eyelids drooping. I carried you off to bed as if you were a child. You were out before you hit the bed.”
“Well, Iwaspretty tired.” She twined her legs through his and slipped her fingers into his hands. “And that was allyourfault.”
After they’d eaten dinner, Kail had gotten into her pants yet again. And then they’d watched a movie—Return to Lost Earth—or at least Riana had watched, resting against Kail’s broad, bare torso as he studied an old Kordolian text that was written on actual parchment.
It was something about wormholes and time travel, apparently. Ashrael had lent it to him—the Silent One had rescued a whole bunch of ancient texts from the ruins of the Kordolian Empire.
Time travel?Why was he even interested in that? Was it even actually possible?
With these guys, anything was possible.
Riana forcefully stopped her herself from traveling down a rabbit-hole of possibilities.
Their time together was precious.
These simple days—lazy mornings and cozy evenings—were pure bliss. The luxury of just hanging out as if everything was normal—before their universe was turned upside-down once again—it was as precious to her as oxygen itself.
Because soon Kail would be sent off on some dangerous mission, and even though she knew he was tough as nails and one of the most lethal things to walk the earth, she couldn’t help but worry about him.
The danger wasn’t over yet.
“Can you blame me?” he asked, sounding as innocent as he possibly could—which wasn’t very convincing at all. “When you’re just within my grasp…alwaystempting me?”
She couldn’t resist his advances either. No matter how cranky or tired she felt, he always managed to make her feel good.
“Zharek says we can go to his labs any time,” Kail continued. “The fix is simple—an inoculation made from my own genetic material. You won’t even notice.”
“That’s… it?” Considering the hell that Abbey had been through, Riana had been expecting something a little more dramatic.
“That’s it. The best solutions are always the simplest.”
“Wow.” Still held within his embrace, she slowly turned around until she turned around until she was facing him. “This is really happening?”
Kail smiled. In that moment, he looked so damnsweet.If Riana hadn’t seen it with her own two eyes, she wouldn’t have thought it possible. “You don’t need to hold any fears in your heart. And if they linger, you must tell me, Riana. I will take care of everything.”
“I know you will.” She leaned in and kissed him. “It’s just a pleasant surprise, that’s all. OfcourseI want to have a child with you, Kail—ourchild. I want it so much I haven’t even dared to think about it.”
He didn’t say anything. He just kissed her back and tenderly stroked her hair. His golden eyes were a revelation. She’d seen him at his most terrifying—not to her, of course;neverto her—and that made the contrast all the more astonishing, because now he was completely open.
Her heart swelled as she imagined him as a father. How protective he’d be; how caring—in his own quiet, intense way.
“You don’t have to want for anything,” he whispered. “I’ll do everything in my power to keep you safe. To give you everything you could ever desire.”
“You already do that, Kail.” Delicious warmth seeped through her as Riana leaned forward and pressed her forehead against his chest. “I can’t wait to see what you’ll be like as a daddy.”
“Hm,” he rumbled. “It’syouthat I want to see…” His big hand pressed against her lower belly, and Riana couldn’t deny that his touch made her more than a little aroused. “Likethat.Utterly beautiful, as you always are. And mine only.”
She took a deep breath and inhaled his warm, comforting scent. The Universe could be imploding around her, but as long as she was here, close to him, all would be well.
