Page 23 of Fool's Gold

A lump formed in my throat as I searched his striking features for any hint of deception. But all I saw was raw sincerity and a tenderness I never expected from this fierce warrior. Kaelith leaned forward, his lips a hair's breadth from mine. "Let me love you, Gemma. As you deserve."

Then he kissed me, his mouth demanding yet gentle. My eyes fluttered closed as I melted into his embrace, all my doubts fading away. When we finally parted, I couldn't stop the giddy laugh that bubbled up.

"Well, when you put it like that..." I traced the markings on his neck. "But on one condition."

Kaelith arched a brow ridge. "Name it."

"No more ration bars," I said with mock severity. "I can't subsist on those forever, you know."

A rumbling chuckle shook his broad shoulders. "I think I can accommodate that demand." He nuzzled against my shoulder, his hot breath sending shivers down my spine. "Anything you desire, my heart. This ship will be stocked with the finest delicacies to tempt your palate."

I giggled, drunk on the heady feeling of being cherished by this magnificent male. "Is that a promise?"

"It is my solemn vow." He pulled back, cupping my face with reverent hands. "You'll want for nothing, least of all sustenance to fuel that clever mind of yours."

Warmth bloomed in my chest. "You think I'm clever?"

He snorted. "I think you're brilliant. And cunning. And brave beyond measure." His thumb brushed over my lower lip. "Not to mention stunningly beautiful."

A pleased flush crept up my cheeks. "Flatterer."

"Merely stating facts." He pressed his brow to mine. "I knew from the moment I first laid eyes on you that you were extraordinary. And now..." He sighed, a wealth of emotion in that single exhalation. "Now you are mine. My mate, my partner, my equal in all things."

I melted into his powerful frame, feeling safer and more cherished than I ever had before. This deadly warrior, so terrifying to others, held me with infinite care, his touch scorching yet gentle.

Pulling back, I raised a teasing brow. "So no more ordering me around? No more calling me 'little one' and bossing me about?"

He smirked, that familiar arrogance flashing in his eyes. "I make no promises, mate of mine. A Vinduthi male takes charge, it's simply our way." His smirk widened. "But I'll allow you the occasional bout of defiance. It's...invigorating to have such a spirited female."

I swatted his arm with no real force. "You're insufferable."

"And you wouldn't have me any other way." He captured my hand, brushing his lips over my knuckles.

I shivered at the intimate gesture, my heart swelling until I thought it might burst right from my ribcage. Who would have thought the feared Kaelith, so ruthless and domineering on the surface, could be so unbearably sweet?

Freeing my hand, I cupped his cheek. "I don't know what I did to deserve you, but I'm not going to question it. I'm just...I'm so grateful."

His eyes shone with a depth of emotion I couldn't even begin to name. "It is I who is grateful, Gemma. For your bravery, your spirit, your compassion." He pulled me flush against him, holding me like I was the most precious thing in the universe. "You came into my life like a blazing star, setting my world alight. And I will spend every day proving myself worthy of your light."

Tears pricked my eyes as I flung my arms around his thick neck, clinging to him with everything I had. For so long, I'd been starved of kindness, of affection. But in Kaelith's powerful embrace, I finally felt whole, like I'd found the other half of my soul.

We stayed like that for an eternity, two hearts beating as one, until a low growl from my belly broke the spell. Kaelith threw back his head with a rich laugh.

"Ah, there's that demand for better rations." He nuzzled my hair. "What shall it be, my heart? Name your desire and it's yours."

I giggled, deliriously happy. "Surprise me. But make it something delicious, something...indulgent." I rose on my tiptoes to brush a kiss across those tempting lips. "I want to savor every bite, just as I intend to savor every moment with you."

Kaelith's eyes smoldered with undisguised want. "Then a feast it shall be, fit for the jewel of my heart." He scooped me up with ease, cradling me against his powerful body. "No more delays, no more hardships. From this day forward, every desire shall be met, every need tended."

I snuggled deeper into his embrace, perfectly content. Kaelith was right - a new life, one of love and passion, stretched out before us. And I planned to relish every second.

KAELITH

The steady rhythm of water against the shower floor was a siren's call, a rhythm that thrummed through the walls of my cabin and straight into my veins. Gemma was in there. In my mind's eye I could see her lithe form slick with soap, droplets caressing her skin like eager lovers. The image was too much, the tantalizing thought of her touching herself, washing away the grime and sweat of our shared danger, was an itch under my skin I could no longer ignore.

I stood, my body moving with a predator's grace towards the source of my torment. The door slid open with a whisper, and there she was, a vision of wet, tempting humanity. Her eyes widened as she saw me, but there was no fear in them, only a spark of defiance that made my cock twitch with anticipation.

"Kaelith," she gasped, her voice a melody that resonated in the very marrow of my bones.