Page 25 of Fool's Gold

"I'm tougher than I look," I insisted, though my voice lacked conviction. "I can handle it."

"If something went wrong, if I lost you..." He clenched his fists, the cords of muscle in his arms tensing. "I would lose my mind, Gemma. I cannot risk that."

The anguish in his tone pierced me. This fearsome warrior was terrified of harming me. I understood then - the depth of his feelings, the ferocity of his protective instinct towards me. Subjecting me to grave risk was unthinkable to him.

I reached across the table, laying my hand on his clenched fist. His fingers slowly relaxed under my touch.

"Then we'll wait," I said softly. "Until I've regained my full strength. However long it takes."

Relief washed over Kaelith's features as the tension drained from his body. He turned his hand to entwine his fingers with mine, the pads of his fingers rough yet gentle against my skin.

"You are precious to me," he rumbled, his thumb caressing my knuckles. "I will not imperil you rashly."

My heart swelled at his words, at the tenderness in his touch. This deadly man was utterly smitten, his protective instincts all-consuming when it came to me. I felt utterly safe in his presence, cared for in a way I'd never experienced.

As he held my gaze, the universe around us seemed to fade away until there was nothing but the two of us in that moment.

No longer enemies, but partners.

Mates.

Now if I could just convince him I was healthy enough for that bite…

* * *

It had been four months since Kaelith rescued me, four glorious months of traveling the stars together on his ship. We'd visited exotic planets, experienced wonders I could scarcely have imagined back when I was Landar's servant. And now we found ourselves in the breathtaking alien city of Thavaria.

Towering spires of gleaming metal and crystalline structures soared into the violet sky, their facades adorned with intricate, glowing designs that seemed to shift and dance before my eyes. Sleek skyways crisscrossed between the buildings, carrying endless streams of aircars and shuttles. The air thrummed with energy, a vibrant hum that set my nerves tingling with excitement.

Kaelith led me into an upscale boutique, the interior as lavish as the city itself. Iridescent panels lined the floors, walls draped with fabrics that shimmered like liquid metal. Holograms showcased the wares, garments that seemed to defy the laws of physics with their sculptural, gravity-defying shapes.

"Pick whatever you desire," Kaelith decreed, his hand at the small of my back guiding me further inside. "You will want for nothing, my heart."

I drifted between the displays, fingertips trailing over sumptuous fabrics that caressed my skin like whispers. Garments shimmered and morphed as I neared, adjusting their colors and patterns to complement my features. I selected a few audacious pieces, marveling at the incredible craftsmanship and technology.

An attendant appeared, long willow branches swaying from her crown of white hair. "The lady has excellent taste," she crooned in a melodic voice. Kaelith murmured a response and she gestured to a changing room. "Please, try on any designs that catch your eye."

In the changing room's cocoon of privacy, I slipped off my simple travel clothes and into the first gown - a sheath of deep green bio-silk that clung to my curves. Glittering crystalline embroidery adorned the bodice, refracting the light into kaleidoscopic fractals across my skin. I turned before the full-length mirror, hardly recognizing the radiant figure staring back at me.

My captivity had left me gaunt, pale and haunted. But four months of Kaelith's tender care had restored a healthy fullness to my figure, a becoming flush to my cheeks. My hair gleamed, my eyes sparkled with renewed vitality. I looked...beautiful. Vibrant. Alive in a way I'd feared I might never feel again.

Trembling with a heady mix of nerves and exhilaration, I emerged to show Kaelith. He was lounging on a curved sofa, looking every inch the imposing alien warrior despite the opulent surroundings. Those intense crimson eyes raked over me, his sharp teeth biting into his full lower lip as his gaze lingered on the gown's daring neckline.

"Well?" I did a slow turn, letting the skirt flare around my calves. "What do you think?"

Kaelith rose in one sinuous movement, stalking towards me with a predatory grace. His scent surrounded me, making my head spin.

"Stunning," he purred, reaching out to trail a fingertip along the curve of my neck. "Though any adornment pales beside your true beauty."

I shivered at his touch, at the smoldering promise in those crimson depths. "There are a few other pieces I wanted you to see."

Back in the changing room, I slipped into a sheath of liquid mercury, the metallic fabric molding itself to my body like a sculpted second skin. Daring cutouts bared swathes of flushed skin, the high slits in the skirt offering teasing glimpses of my legs with every step.

When I rejoined Kaelith, his pupils flared, nostrils flaring as he scented the air. A muscle ticked in that chiseled jaw as he drank in the sight of me. This time when he approached, his movements held an edge of desperation, of barely leashed hunger.

"Gemma..." My name was a prayer of longing on his lips. In one swift motion, he hauled me against the hard planes of his body, claiming my mouth in a possessive kiss.

I melted into his embrace, yielding eagerly as his talented hands roamed my curves. When we finally parted, breathless and flushed, Kaelith pressed his brow to mine. "You test the limits of my control. I would have you here and now, consequences be damned."