ease some of the soreness. There is nothing sexual about today’s touches—I do not even try to kiss my pretty Kim, because it is more important that she learn to defend herself than it is for me to see to my own pleasure. She works on her book that afternoon while I see to my plants and my own practice, and we spend a pleasurable evening playing more Slapjack before heading to bed.
It is a good day. A quiet one, but a good one. I think of a future filled with such days—simple tasks around the house, pleasant joking with my mate, and just having the warmth of her presence at my side—and it fills me with pure joy.
When we go to bed that night, I press kisses into her hairline. “Tomorrow you will be less sore,” I promise.
Her hand goes to my chest. “More practice tomorrow?”
“Always.”
Kim licks her lips and traces a finger down my chest. “What if…I want to practice with the stun-cuffs again?”
My entire body twitches into awareness, and a low purr starts in my chest. “Then we will practice that, as well,” I murmur. “Perhaps this time you will use my mouth for your pleasure.”
She sucks in a little breath, as if she likes that idea. “Oh…yeah. Perhaps.”
Her hand slides lower on my chest, toward my navel, and my cock begins to rise.
A tiny, stuttering beep sounds from somewhere in the house.
Kim freezes. “What was that?”
“One of the crop bots is short on power,” I lie. “It is notifying me that it needs maintenance. I will see to it in the morning.”
“Oh, okay.” She leans in and presses a kiss to my chest. “Goodnight, Nassakth.”
It takes everything I have to remain relaxed next to her in the bed. I do not want her to worry. I stroke her hair as she falls asleep, trusting and sweet, curled against me. I do not sleep, though. I wait until Kim’s breathing evens out, and then I slowly extricate myself from our bed and dress.
I have lied to my mate again, it seems. It sits on me uneasily, because I do not like deceiving her, but she has had enough sorrow in her life. When I mated to her, I swore Kim would be safe from everything that would harm her, and I meant it. I go to my war room and tuck weapons into my belt, and then head out to my air-sled. I clip the breather to my nose, and all the scents of the world immediately fade.
I will see what has tripped the perimeter alarm on Kim’s farm…and then I will take whatever action is necessary to dispose of the threat.
No one will harm my Kim. No one. The fact that they will even try means they are dead to me.
40
NASSAKTH
I park the air-sled a good distance from Kim’s farm and walk the rest of the way. When I get close enough to her land, I hunch low to the ground, use my datapad to turn off the perimeter bots, and find the intruder’s air-sled. I reach under the hood and rip out several cords, disabling the engine, and then hide amongst the stalks of noli, waiting in the darkness.
It does not take long for me to spy the culprit. The male is still here, and as I watch, he silently emerges from Kim’s house. It is the bounty hunter, Jamef, and the realization fills me with a cold rage.
He continues to threaten my Kim. For that, he will pay.
I wait for him to approach his sled. He has weapons at his waist, but his posture is loose and unconcerned. Jamef saunters towards his vehicle, then pauses and slowly scans the surrounding fields. “Activate heat sensors,” he murmurs, and I can hear his cybernetic eye whirring.
Kef me. My element of surprise is gone. I stand, allowing him to see my hulking form, and when his gaze focuses on me, there is not a hint of surprise. He does not reach for his weapons, the only sign of his distress the clench of his jaw.
“You are trespassing on my mate’s property,” I point out. “By Risdan law, I can kill you for threatening her holdings.”
“Your mate is hiding secrets. I have found trace DNA of Kolvir al’Naanti in her domicile. She has met with him in the past, and she is thus my best lead toward the answers I seek.”
I take a menacing step forward. “You will not go near her.”