Pirate's Gold - S.J. Sanders Page 0,8

eager to be released. It took so little for his small mate to stoke his passions.

Terri captured his wandering hand and frowned. “That wasn’t very long ago. Where are they?”

“Waiting in the cargo hold,” he replied as he leaned down to stroke both of his long tongues down into the waistband of the pants she wore, his nose nudging lower.

“Oh, okay, good,” she rasped as his tongues found the soft, hot little place between her thighs. He growled at the taste of his mate, and then snarled as she jerked out from underneath him. “Wait… They’re in the cargo hold, the one you don’t bother to heat since we don’t transport livestock—that cargo hold?”

Veral growled, his sex straining impatiently. “I increased the heat to livable levels. They will not die before I arrive.”

“We are not fucking while you just leave them waiting on you,” she snapped as she moved out from beneath him. “That’s just weird.”

Though he hissed with frustration, he drew up from the bed reluctantly. He had no house to give for her to rule, as was the custom of the Argurma, but still, he would follow her lead on issues pertaining to their home and family. If she insisted on immediate hospitality toward their “guests,” then he would see to it as long as it did not interfere with her safety.

His instinctive impulse to cover the ship in fresh layers of his scent would have to be ignored.

Pushing himself from the bed, he stalked toward the door. He froze, however, when he saw that Terri was following close behind. Stopping in front of the door, he turned toward her, his arms crossed over his chest.

“It is necessary to discuss rules before I leave.”

“Rules?” she asked, her nose wrinkling in confusion.

“Yes, rules. Over the course of the four-day journey to Janilik, you will keep to our quarters as much as possible. If you need to be out in the ship, you will wear the shafna. The robe is large enough to conceal most of you. Be certain to keep the hood up and to not get close to any of them. And keep the door locked. Do not answer to anyone. They will be able to scent your presence on the ship, and I do not trust them to not attempt to gain entry to the room.”

Terri mimicked his pose, her own arms drawing across her chest. “I guess that I wait here while you go to the hold? And lucky me, I get to stay here for the rest of the day as well. I hope they plan on paying us for our hospitality if I’m getting locked in our room.”

He drew his hand against her hair, down to cup her cheek in his palm. “I will be sure to exact a fair price for the inconvenience. Do not be angered, anastha. It is for your safety. You are too precious for me to dare to risk.”

Her pale brown eyes softened, and she sighed. “Oh, all right, I’ll wait here. I’m not going to be happy about it, but I will stay.”

“Krono will keep you company.”

Her lips quirked. “That’s a given. I think sometimes you find Krono a more dependable barrier than the door.”

A smile pulled at his own mouth. She was not wrong. Brushing his lips and mandibles against her brow, he exited the room, once more securing the locks behind him. At least his stop at his quarters served a purpose. He was once again calm.

Or so he thought, until he entered the cargo hold. Rage rattled through him as he observed Egbor sniffing at the air, his pink scales flushed brilliant red with the sexual interest that sullied his cargo hold. Cold, hard fury slammed through Veral as a snarl escaped his throat, his vibrissae rattling menacingly around him. The male was so caught up in Terri’s scent that he did not seem to notice. Instead, he moaned with delight.

“This scent! You have a female on board—a most exquisite one. I will double any credits you require if you allow me to honor you by requesting her company during our travel.”

Veral stared at the male, his muscles quivering with restrained anger.

“Honor… me…?” he asked, menace dripping from each word.

“Oh, yes, it is considered an honor when an heir of a noble house requests the company of a commoner’s mate. It is not only our right per our divine lineage, but it blesses their home with great fecundity. I would be most happy to bestow