“I’m notthattired,” she said.
He chuckled at her lie.“Until tomorrow.”Before he left, he stole a peck.Salt and a hint of usturo lingered on her lips.It took all his strength to leave.
“Is she your mate?”Igar demanded from where he leaned against Nenn’s door.
“I do not know.Why do you ask?”He narrowed his eyes on the golden-eyed male.
“I wish to claim her.”
Fury exploded like a volcanic eruption.Breathing didn’t matter when Nenn fought to control his reaction.“No, she is mine.”
“Fair enough.”Igar pushed off the door to squeeze Nenn’s shoulder.“I wish you Osnir’s blessings.”
Foq.Nenn glared at Igar’s departing back then at Tiny’s door.He tapped his forearm.“Gusin, ensure no one but Tiny and I have access to her room.”
The male chuckled.“So it has started, then?”
Nenn stiffened.“What do you mean?”He did know, and the fear summoning his armor said it all.
“You brought a tribeless female onto theAroagni.What did you expect would happen?”Gusin ended the comm.
Nenn threw out a hand to steady his weak knees.No way would he let a male take what was his.She’d said she wanted him, and he had to assume that meant him alone.Foq.He’d ask her tomorrow.One last glance had him contemplating sleeping on the floor outside her room.Just in case.
But he trusted Gusin to do as asked.
Or did he?
Thistime,whenNennleft Tiny alone, she didn’t feel so lost.She smiled, placed the reed in a closet, and activated the shower.It was such a luxury to bath in actual water and more than once a day.The madness of it boggled her mind.On Earth, the diminishing levels of water had long ago started a war—the not-haves with the haves.Now, everything was powered by sol, and any remaining bodies of oceans or seas were desalinated for consumption.She couldn’t imagine what the planet of Ivoy would look like.Excitement made her swing her hips to an unfamiliar rhythm.
Yes, deciding to accept Nenn’s offer had been a good thing.
Nenn.
She hummed.Such honesty was almost beyond her ability to endure.After towel-drying, she pulled on a sleepshirt in case he intruded.Though, she did hesitate.Being naked for him might entice him to follow through with his intentions.Damn, she hoped it was soon.She yawned and climbed into bed.Tomorrow held promise.She could learn how to play a reed, and at some point, she could teach Nenn the game of chess.Vaen had said he wasted his time on something she hadn’t caught the name of.
Her eyelashes fluttered, exhaustion forcing them to shut.
She succumbed on a breathless sigh.Yes, tomorrow.
Chapter Nineteen
Nenncouldn’trecallatime he’d slept this badly.He tossed and turned, awoke to listen in on her room, confirming she wasn’t disturbed, only to kick off his blankets and eventually rise.His constant arousal didn’t help matters.He sat at the table in the galley, the silence of the ship soothing his frazzled symbiotes.
“What has you up so early?”Vaen said, striding past to order from the replicate.
“She is not mine yet.”
“Ah.”Vaen sipped his water.“I must admit I thought you mad, but I can see the appeal.”He brought his jar and sat opposite Nenn.“Is she soft all over?”
“I hope to find out soon,” Nenn said, cupping his lukewarm russmar tisane.“I can share that face-latching or kissing is magnificent.”
“Oh?”Vaen arched a brow.
“Tiny says it is reserved for lovers.”
Vaen hummed.“Good to know.”He twirled the jar.“I believe her blindness might save her.”
“Why?”Nenn frowned, focusing on Vaen’s pensive expression.
