She shivered and stared. “Are you both in there at the same time?”
Kel nodded. “We are attempting to strike a balance.”
“Why?”
Nen’s eyes focused on her. “We have a plan.”
“A plan?”
“Yes. You are fascinating, and it is a pity that these are your last moments here.” He slid his hand under her hair and cupped her skull as he kissed her slowly.
When he backed away, she asked, “That sounds like I am not going to make it out of here.”
“You shall return to your own people. I promise. We just need to make sure that Kel does not require your assistance again before you go.”
She nodded. “Right. So, fifteen minutes until he hits the first rock.”
Nen inclined his head. “The rocks are half the size of this world. He has to shatter it precisely, or this planet will be torn to pieces. Then, he has to do it twice more.”
She rested her head on his shoulder and exhaled slowly. Aside from a half-dozen breaks, this was the longest she had gone without someone having sex with her for a few days. It was a miracle that she wasn’t chafed, but the energy seemed to have taken care of her as it settled into her bloodstream.
His hand on her hip was nice, and the warm water was relaxing. She dozed against him, and when he stood up and walked with her to the window, he conjured a telescope and directed it at the spot she needed to be watching. She peeked and saw the white-hot ball of fire that was Kel approaching the object. There was a stream of light, and the huge tumbling mass separated and took out the asteroids next to them in what she could only imagine as a seven-ten split.
He blasted the asteroid on the left and then circled to do the same to the one on the right.
Kel’s mannerisms took over. “That was easier than anticipated. You did very well, Krys.”
She stood and looked at him. “You are very smug about something.”
He chuckled. “I never have energy left over. This is a first. It means that I can pursue other hobbies instead of letting myself turn to stone in the chair.”
“Um, like what?”
He wrapped his arms around her as she stared at the falling star that the drake had become.
“I don’t know. I thought I might travel.” He licked her ear, and she shivered.
“That sounds like fun.”
“What do you do in your home?”
“Haven’t we been over this? I am an accountant. I work with numbers. I have worked with them for the last five years.”
He chuckled. “Yes, you did mention that. What is the name of the owner of your company?”
“Mr. Danforth. Why? Are you going to write me a review?” She snickered.
“No, I am just very interested in your life. I haven’t met a woman like you before, and I have been looking.” He pressed a kiss to her temple. “It is a shame to let you get away.”
She shivered, and this time, it was from the cold coming through the window. “Right, but that was the agreement. I give everything for three days, and then, I get sent home.”
“You could be a princess here.” He whispered it in her ear.
“And I could actually enjoy my days at home. I like it there. I know where I stand; I am good at my job.”
“You don’t have a mate.”
“So, it isn’t perfect, but here, I would trade everything else for a man or two, and that is not a healthy balance.”
“Even if we could provide for you?”
“Especially if you could. It would undermine everything I have worked for, everything that has gone into making me, me.” She sighed. “I was able to deal with this situation because I have to deal with shocks, mysteries, and surprises all day, every day. I have enjoyed many elements of our time together, but part of that is knowing that the time was finite. I didn’t have to consider altering my lifestyle to suit this situation because I knew that it wouldn’t continue. It was the first promise that I got, and I trusted that it would be upheld.”
He nibbled at her ear. “It will be. I just had to make sure that this place was not suitable for you.”
She looked at him. “I will miss you and think of you often.”
He smiled, and his eyes glowed. “I am sure you will, now, dearest Krys, go home.”
She was wrapped in energy, and her body was wrenched from his arms.
Everything went black,