Ar'Tok - Alana Khan Page 0,67

the other side. He was also correct when he said I’d learn what it’s like to walk in the world without fear. It’s a glorious feeling. Freeing.

And here on the other side of hell, I have so much to be thankful for. Grabbing Star’s hand, I pull her against me and kiss her a hundred times all over her face.

It’s our little game. She pretends I don’t see her when she sneaks in to watch me spar, and I pretend I don’t smell her blooming arousal. One of the gladiators will call time, and she’ll hurry to my side, then I’ll kiss her in front of them all, usually accompanied by a few good-natured catcalls.

Then Star will pull away, mock-offended by how I smell, her nose wrinkled in disgust. That’s my cue to pull her even closer and kiss her more boldly. It’s my cirr’s cue to get into the act and hold onto her so she can’t wiggle away.

At this point in our little act, her giggles are so loud they almost drown out my affectionate purr as we leave the ludus and hurry down the hallway to our room under the pretense of taking a shower.

Our showers are never just an exercise in hygiene. They always end in bed.

“Let’s skip the shower today,” I say as we race toward our cabin. Three people we pass laugh as we run by. Everyone on board knows where we’re rushing and precisely why. No one cares, they’re all just happy we found each other.

“No way. You stink,” she says as she pulls harder toward our personal finish line.

Once we’re in our room, though, I veer from our script by putting my back against the door and pulling her into my embrace.

“I can’t wait another modicum to tell you how much I love you. I’ll burst if I don’t say it right this minima,” I tell her, gazing into her golden-brown eyes.

“Is it one of those days for you, too, my Ar’Tok? I ran to the ludus so I wouldn’t have to wait so long to tell you that part of me was born the day I met you. I’m so lucky to have you. It may be my name, but Ar’Tok, you are my North Star. I’ll follow you anywhere, my love.”

“Love can be born in the strangest of places, love. I found you in the far reaches of space. It doesn’t matter now, though. What matters is that we have each other.”

The End

Dear Reader,

Gee, I sure hope you liked Ar’Tok and Star’s story. When I sit down to write I have many goals, the biggest ones are to make you laugh (at least a little), make you cry (at least once in every story), to make you horny (I hope I succeeded) and to give you a fabulous happily ever after.

I hope I did my job on all those points in this book. I have to admit even as I re-read this book for the last time, the scene with Shamdah got to me again and made me cry. Isn’t that why we read romances? To remind us of our human emotions? Well, yeah, and to get our juices flowing *wink*.

If you enjoyed the book, please take two minutes to write a little review. Your reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, and Bookbub are super helpful to indie authors like myself.

Want a free novella? Follow this link to sign up for my free newsletter and receive Shadow’s sexy backstory—Terminus. You’ll then get updates on what’s going on in the Alanaverse, cover reveals, first looks at new books, free contests, and more.

I’m more than half done writing Wrage, Book 11 in this series and have enclosed the first chapter below. As soon as the cover is done, I’ll upload it to Amazon, so keep an eye out for it. Wrage was one of the male gladiators rescued from planet Trent. I’m sure you noticed that he didn’t return to the Devil’s Playground with his comrades. What has become of him? His story is set on Fornication Island (c’mon, you have to admit your interest was piqued when you read about it). It runs on the same timeline as Ar’Tok’s story.

Don’t hate me (or Wrage) when you read Chapter One, he starts out as an asshole, I don’t deny it. But he becomes a loving marshmallow and you will absolutely wish he was your boyfriend by 25% in. And the way he scents his ladylove will have you swooning. Scroll down for his Sneak