I think that’s the one I’m going to tell from now on.”
“Good. The frown that your version brought with it did not deserve to grace your lips,” he whispered back, forgetting where they were as he stared down into her face. She fit in his arms perfectly. “You’re smile is brighter than any nova I’ve ever witnessed. Nobody should be allowed to dim that light.”
Nova snorted and ducked her head, her cheeks turning a little pink at the compliment he’d given her.
“Pssssst.” Click. Click. Click.
“Since you can understand all that, what’d Clicky say?” Nova asked, her eyes darting to the side where the two grophki were watching them closely.
“He said that he’s surprised your plan worked so well,” Axis interpreted, unable to hide a smile when she turned to shake her finger at the healer. He didn’t want to, but he let her walk out of the protection of his hold.
“I can’t believe you doubted me! It was a solid plan!” she argued to the startled alien, the sight making Axis laugh as he watched. The female he was obsessed with was full of a fire he hadn’t expected, considering how she ran from him at their first meeting.
The grophki clicked and hissed, waving his hands about in response to her finger pointing.
“I told you we needed to find the Phaeton, and boom. Mission accomplished.”
“Psssst.” Click. Click. Click.
“Oh yeah. High five!” Nova sang, dancing in place as she held her hand up in the air for the alien.
Axis straightened, his ears almost missing what the healer had said since he was distracted by the glimpses of skin he spied through Nova’s outfit as she wiggled in front of him.
“Say that again,” he ordered her grophki friend. Axis knew his words had come out sharper than he’d intended, but he didn’t care. He was sure the healer had said something that couldn’t possibly be true, no matter how much he wanted it to be.
“What?” Nova asked, the smile she was wearing moments ago slipping off her face when she turned to look at him. “What’s wrong?”
“Psssst.” Click. Click. Click.
“He said that he’s happy you’ve found your husband and can rescue the others now,” Axis repeated slowly, unable to look away from where Nova was now fidgeting in front of him. The big, dimpled smile she was wearing earlier was gone, and in its place was a slightly guilty one. He wasn’t sure what to make of what the healer had told him, but he wasn’t about to let this opportunity pass him by. If the healer believed she was his bride, that only assisted his cause. He’d made the decision to claim her for his own long ago. Now, he just needed to convince her of it too.
“I’m assuming when he referred to the ‘others’ he’s talking about the other two females that are missing, correct?” he asked, keeping his eyes locked on hers as his brain worked out a way for them to each get what they wanted. “I’m confused about the other part though. What did he mean by husband?”
“Pfft,” she snorted, rolling her eyes. “I guess he didn’t understand me that well after all.”
Chapter Seventeen
Nova needed to keep her wits about her, but it was hard since she’d spent a good majority of her time over the past few days imagining the Phaeton naked in her bed. Now, he stood before her. She wanted to touch him and see how her dream Phaeton compared to the real thing. Was that bad? Did she care?
“Let me get this straight,” Nova repeated for the fifth time as she struggled to conceal her arousal toward the Phaeton warrior before her. It was taking a lot of willpower on her part. Somehow, he was hotter than she’d remembered. She had to admit it was quite an accomplishment on his part, all things considered. A teensy part of her had been worried her mind had painted a prettier picture of him than realistic, but nope, he was just as droolworthy as he was before. The proof was right in front of her eyes.
“Yes?” he asked. The timber of his voice did tingly things to her lady business.
“Clicky won’t let me go with you unless we’re married?” A shiver worked its way down her spine as she’d repeated the words. She wanted to both hug and smack her grubby little friend for putting her in this situation. He’d inadvertently given her an excuse to snatch the tempting Phaeton up as her own, but it