do want to be your mate.”
He grinned. “I want that badly, Vera.”
“Okay. Then we have a plan!”
“There are other things we must do today, as well.”
“What?”
Roth adjusted her on his lap and sat more comfortably on the floor. “You don’t have any things. Females need more clothing and supplies. I’ve asked Abby to help you with that. The ship has many stores.”
“I don’t have access to my financial accounts on Earth right now. I’ve already asked the woman the fleet assigned to help me, when I was discharged from medical. She said it could be done but it would take about a week. I didn’t bother to ask her to start the process, since I figured I wouldn’t be on Defcon Red for that long. I need to contact her again and ask her to start that process.”
“You never need to worry about that, Vera.” Roth gave her a little squeeze. “Our grouping will provide all you need.”
“I’ll pay you back.”
He snorted. “What is ours is yours. You’re my mate.”
She nodded, deciding she’d just have her funds from Earth transferred to whatever account Roth’s grouping had, if that’s how they worked their financials. Her trust in Roth was absolute. He’d never screw her over by stealing her money. Abby Thomas trusted the Veslors, and she was mega-rich. None of them were going to be impressed by her contribution. It almost made her laugh.
“What are your thoughts?”
Vera smiled at Roth. “I’m excited to mate you later.”
“I am as well.” He gave her another hug. “Get up now. I will shower.”
“I don’t mind your sweat.”
He chuckled. “You are probably the only female who doesn’t. My sense of smell is much better than yours. Up, Vera.”
She reluctantly climbed off his lap with his assistance. Roth got to his feet and snagged his pants from the floor. “I will be back soon.” He put them on and left the bedroom.
Vera smiled and threw herself on the bed. Roth and her would have a future together. After everything horrible she’d survived…something wonderful would come from it. “I’m going to be like a phoenix rising from the ashes,” she whispered.
Roth walked out of his sleeping room to find Drak standing guard. He smiled at the male as the doors closed behind him.
Drak smiled back and gripped his shoulders. “Your female did not run.”
“No. Vera is extremely brave.”
“You are blessed.”
“I am.”
Drak inhaled, smelling him. “When do you plan to mate her?”
“Later this day.”
“I will be here.”
“Vera won’t be frightened during our mating. I know this now. I am certain.”
“I will still be here. It should be Maith, but…”
Sadness filled Roth. “His heart hurts.”
“He should have been the first of us to mate. Not the last. It comes as a shock to us all. Especially to him.”
“We need to find him a female.”
Drak snorted. “We believed he would be attracted to Darla’s sister. That hasn’t happened.”
“We should attempt to get her to agree to move into our cabin. That would put them together more often.”
“We have tried. Becky is determined to remain unmated.”
Roth acknowledged that to be true. “We could expose him to more human females. One of the doctors complimented me on my muscles. I smelled arousal from her.”
“Which one?”
“Cynthia Kane.”
“I will speak to Jessa. She knows all the medical humans. Perhaps we could ask if Med Bay needs assistance from our medic.”
“See to it.”
“Done. Would you like Abby to assist your female now? She went to our room to check her messages from Earth.”
“Please. Make certain Abby buys my Vera everything that she will need.”
“I’m on it.” Drak gave his shoulders one more squeeze. “I am so happy that you have found a mate.”
“I am as well. I want to have cubs.”
“I’m certain that you shall.” Drak released him. “I’ll get Abby.”
Roth watched the male walk away, then he entered the bathroom. He never suspected being sent on a rescue mission would gain him a mate. He felt blessed. All the resentment he’d ever felt at their king for sending them to work with the humans dissipated completely. It had turned out to be the best thing to ever happen to his grouping.
He stripped off his pants and turned on the shower, stepping inside. His only worries now concerned finding Maith a mate…and discovering who had attempted to harm Vera.
Anger came with that thought. Whoever it was, the human male would pay.
Chapter Fourteen
Vera hesitated. “I think you’ve bought me way too much.”
Abby sat at the dining room table with her, ordering everything from shoes to undergarments.