Starcrossed - Bianca D'Arc Page 0,12
both of us. I promise you now, if you agree to be my bride, we will have a beautiful life together. There is no unfaithfulness among true mates. We will be partners and helpmates, and if you cannot love me now, I hope, in time, you will come to love me as I already love you.”
She was shocked. “You love me? You barely know me.”
“You are my true mate, ordained from the Mother Goddess. I couldn’t do anything other than love you, but you are right. I do not know you, and the voyage of discovery is proving to be as enchanting as my first sight of you, Gineva Starbridge. I can only hope you will enjoy getting to know me, as well.”
She gave him a shy smile, sensing his need for reassurance. He’d just gone out on a huge limb. She’d give him a little something for his efforts, if only in the way of comforting words.
“I can honestly say I’ve never met a more fascinating man than you, Tigh.” She’d slipped into using his first name in her mind and nearly cringed at her familiar use of it, but he seemed encouraged.
“And I can say I will never meet a more fascinating woman, Ginny. Together, we could reshape the universe, if you will agree to be my partner.”
“Partner? Or trophy wife?”
He puzzled out her meaning then scowled. “I meant every word I said. We will be partners, Ginny. While it is true I came here with the intent of marrying any human female that would have me, once I saw you, all thoughts of that plan went by the wayside.”
“Well, you’re honest about that, at least.”
“I am honest about everything, Ginny, as you will come to learn. As a novitiate of the Zenai priesthood, I cannot lie.”
Ginny thought about that for a moment. He seemed in earnest.
“If that’s true, you’re a freak among politicians.”
“But I am not a politician. I intend to be a ruler. Playing politics is what hurt my brother the most, I believe. Though I will never know what his exact thought processes were, in reviewing the records of his decisions, I saw a pattern of knee-jerk reactions to political pressures. I will not repeat his mistakes. As a first step, I have dismissed most of his councilors and emptied the court. I intended that my wife and I will start from scratch when we return to Solaris Prime.”
“I think that’s a wise choice.”
“You see?” He beamed at her, a teasing light in his stunning eyes. “We already agree on something. I think we will find there are many other points of harmony between us, if we but look for them.”
Ginny chuckled as she moved completely out of his embrace and turned to her hatch, which was a few yards away. He followed, of course. She turned at the portal and looked up into his eyes.
“I had a good time tonight. Thank you for being the perfect escort and the perfect gentleman.” She leaned up and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
Tigh surprised her by drawing her close with his hands around her waist. She didn’t resist. The guards were down the hall if she needed help, and she knew a few moves to defend herself should he suddenly turn aggressive. She didn’t think he’d attack her. He was just too controlled, too honorable for that kind of thing.
But he would kiss her.
Tigh moved in and sealed his lips to hers, firing that strange tingling sensation throughout her limbs. No other man had ever made her feel this way, but it had been a very long time. Maybe that was why she responded to him so powerfully.
Whatever it was, she reveled in his firm touch, his tender exploration of her mouth with his tongue, his caressing hands on her back and buttocks. He lifted her into his hardness as his ardor increased, and she was with him. There was no way she could lie to herself. Her body wanted Tigh. Almost obsessively. But her mind was in control, even if her body wanted her to strip naked in the hallway and let him have her way with her in front of God and everybody.
He pulled back before she could embarrass herself, and it was Tigh who saved them both from a lot of gossip. Oh, the guards would no doubt talk about the hot kiss they’d witnessed, but a goodnight kiss was a far cry from what she really wanted, now that Tigh had