Page 68 of Star Defenders (My Alien Mates 2)

He ground for a while longer, then sagged down beside me.

"Wow," he said breathlessly.

"Double wow," I said with a smile.

He chuckled and slid carefully out of me and drew me to him.

"You were everything I imagined, and more," he said softly.

"You too." I snuggled down to his chest. Even my wild imagination couldn't have conjured him. Or any guy with two dicks, let's face it.

"You should sleep." He kissed the top of my head.

"You too," I said again. I was too tired to think up new words. I closed my eyes, exhaled softly and let sleep take me.

19

"Captain Yaranin will be takingcommand of theHalcyon," J'avet said. He didn't seem pleased to be saying those words.

I guessed he wanted the command for himself, but too bad. I looked around the briefing room. No one seemed surprised or disappointed, except J'avet himself. Yaranin seemed pleased, even smug.Halcyonwas at least twice the size of theChimera. To get her and such a small crew to the nearest port would be a challenge. The post would bring him prestige. Great if you're into that kind of thing. Me, I was happy to be alive.

J'avet—well, no wonder he was pissed.

His tone lightened, barely perceptibly. If someone didn't know him, they'd miss it entirely. "I'll be taking command of theChimera."

I blinked several times in surprise. A rumble of chatter passed through those in the room, but it died down when he glared.

"TheChimerais under orders to pursue the Iritauri."

That declaration was met with another ripple of surprised chatter.

"To that end," J'avet said over the noise, "Commander Zarex will accompany me, as will Engineer Slek."

Both guys looked as shocked about that as I was.

"TheChimera'scurrent crew will stay aboard, apart from several security officers who will transfer toHalcyon. Those already on boardHalcyonwill remain and accompany the ship to port. From there, another ship will take you to your destination."

My lips dropped apart. I knew it was possible Zarex would be posted elsewhere, but it didn't think it would benow. And Slek—he was supposed to accompany me to Agus. It made sense for him to go after Danec and the others, but I wasn't ready to be parted from all of the guys, not yet.

I shook my head. "That's not—"

Slek put a hand on my knee and squeezed. "We'll talk to him. You should be included in this too."

"It's J'avet's call," Zarex said uncomfortably. "You would be safer away from all of this."

I looked at him through my eyebrows. "Excuse me? Have I not proven myself to be a badass?"

He shifted in his chair. "Of course you have. I just…"

I raised an eyebrow.

"I don't want you to get hurt."

"I don't want you to get hurt either," I said. "Slek is Freytauri and he's going."

"He has certain skills." Zarex's tongue flicked over his lips. He wasn't going to win this argument and he knew it.

"I have skills," I argued. "What if you get injured?"