could foresee that she’d take a lot of blame in certain quarters were she to refuse.
She couldn’t let that influence her decision, of course, but it was something she’d have to deal with if and when the time came. For now, she had a lot to think about, and Tigh wasn’t making it any easier.
He was the soul of courtesy at dinner. He also entertained her with witty and insightful conversation. His wasn’t a practiced charm. He was more earthy. More real than she had expected. His appeal was on a more basic level. An instinct more than a considered thought.
Oh, the man was dangerous, indeed.
As the meal ended and the small party broke up, it was strongly suggested by the commandant himself that Ginny allow the emperor to escort her back to her compartment. Since she was already in officer country, as they called it, the walk to her cabin was a relatively short one. She had been in the middle of denying Tigh’s request to walk her there when Michael Amber had intervened, convincing her to accept.
Of course, Tigh couldn’t be allowed to wander around the station on his own, so a trail of guards—both human and jit’suku—followed along behind them as they walked slowly toward Ginny’s berth. Tigh seemed to want to linger while Ginny wished he’d move a little faster. She wanted out of her dress uniform. She wanted the comfort of her own quarters. And, most importantly, she wanted away from the disturbing emperor who seemed convinced, somehow, that she was the right woman for him. The right woman to be empress, for Pete’s sake! Ginny still couldn’t wrap her head around that dizzying idea.
“What is your schedule like tomorrow?” Tigh asked conversationally. She wasn’t fooled. He was looking for more opportunities to harass her. She mentally chastised herself. To be fair, he was an interesting companion, and if not for the marriage offer that lay between them like the proverbial eight-hundred-pound jungle beast, she would have welcomed his attention.
“I’m on first shift,” she replied. “Then, I have training scheduled with my bridge crew. Even though we don’t have a ship of our own at present, we try to keep our skills sharp.”
“Then, you’re expecting a new command soon?”
She couldn’t find anything to object to in his tone. He’d stuck to less volatile topics all during dinner and seemed to be following the same path now that they were alone—except for the guards, of course. She breathed a sigh of relief.
“Any day now, they say. I flatter myself to think they want us back patrolling the rim as soon as possible.”
“From the little I’ve seen, it is not flattery to think that you are valued highly by your people. Your commandant seems inordinately interested in your welfare.” Tigh made a face that was hard to interpret. It seemed part jealousy, part respect, with a touch of concern.
“Commandant Amber is an accomplished leader and a good strategist. I credit his deployments with our success in this war. He knows where to put each of us to play to our strengths. Of course, his wife plays a large role in that work, as well. Leah was his XO for several years before they got together. Now that they’re married, it seems like the partnership of commandant and executive officer has blended into a wonderful marriage of equals.” She heard the wistful note in her own voice and quickly turned away, glad they were nearing her hatch.
Tigh’s hand on her arm stilled her. As she turned to face him, still several yards from her door, she noted the entourage of guards draw to a stop, just out of earshot. Then, all she saw was Tigh’s beautiful blue eyes, watching her with concern.
“That is what I want too, Ginny. A partnership. A life mate who will support me as I support her. Don’t you think we could have that together?”
His earnestness touched her heart and tempted her to candor. “Why me, Tigh?” Her words were the barest whisper.
He took her hands in his and raised them to his chest, resting them over his heart as he stepped closer, into her personal space. She was mesmerized by the look in his eyes, the seriousness with which he took her question.
“Warriors often know their true mate on sight and always from their first kiss. Among my people, we call it the nij-ta. The mate test. When I first saw you in the Council chamber, I was stunned. I have never, never