Page 20 of Saving Lauren

“Thank you for offering, but I believe this is something I need to do by myself.”

He studies me before he nods. “Okay. I will get the plates for the wall from the engine room. Do not be frightened if you hear some rumbling.”

I smile. “I won’t.” I turn away and start sorting through the pots.

Every once in a while I get distracted by hard working males and very exposed gray muscles. They have all shed their harnesses and their amazing torso’s are on display. I keep sneaking looks at D’Var. His chest, his arms, he looks so fine.

I think of him holding me with those arms, and how I felt when he kissed me last night.

I hear a sharp inhale and I see D’Var staring at me. A red flash creeps up my cheeks, D’Var winks at me and with a smile I return to my chores.

By the end of the afternoon, I have found one large rectangular crate and a large pot, that can hold the plants. With any luck I can cultivate the plant with the root vegetables, to make sure I never run out of them. The plant with the berries is more like a bush, which should be low in maintenance. My back is aching from all the manual labor, but I feel really good about myself. I am proud and pleased and start carrying the pots towards the solar lights.

The men have been working hard as well, because the wall is almost done. I wander over it, sliding my hand across the surface. D’Var appears from behind it, grinning at me. There is a sheen of sweat covering his torso. He puts his arm up and leans against the wall.

“Do you like it?” he asks me as he pats the wall. “It is very sturdy.”

I swallow, there is a half-naked man in front of me, wearing leather pants. Standing there all nonchalance with his muscles tensed, for a moment I forget what I wanted to say. I feel my mouth getting dry, I lick my lips and swallow.

“I uh…” I begin. “You look great. Uh… it looks great. The wall looks great.” Then I blush like crazy. “You um... you look great as well.”

D’Var grins. “I am glad you like what you see. My view is not so bad either.” He leans in and snakes a hand behind my back.

“Can I touch you?” he asks, I quickly nod. He pulls me towards him and his head dips, I can feel by the way he is looking at my mouth that is about to kiss me.

“Can I kiss you, L’ren?” he asks, a breathy “Yes” leaves my lips.

This kiss is so much different than the one we shared this morning. It starts out tentative, with me taking the lead, but it quickly turns into something else entirely. His natural alpha tendencies cannot be denied and when I moan, he takes over. Deepening the kiss, pulling me even closer. I am plastered against him, standing on my toes when I feel his hands at my butt and he hoists me up, pushing me against the wall. I squeal.

“D’Var!” I whisper loudly. “Can the wall even take this?!”

“This is a very sturdy wall, my mate.” He grins, bending his head to kiss me some more. Before his mouth lands on mine he pulls back a bit, looking into my eyes.

“Is this okay? L’Ren? I do not want to make you uncomfortable.”

I pull his head down and smash our lips together. “Shut up and kiss me!” I command between kisses.

I have no idea how long we are kissing, and why nobody has called us out for slacking in the work department, but when my stomach growls loudly D’Var pulls back.

“Let me feed you, after that we will call it a day and retreat to our room.”

“That sounds like a perfect idea,” I say.

CHAPTER 11

D’Var

The next days fly by. After breakfast we work on the ship’s improvements. After T’Rak and me have finished with the wall, he went back to his captain duties. I set up the greenhouse with L’Ren, and while she busies herself with her plants, I have been scouting the ship to find things we can use as furniture.

Today is the first day we will eat dinner in our new mess hall. L’Ren has been busy all day with the roots and spices she found in the back of the closet in which we store the noodles. She is confident she will make us a meal which we will love more than plain noodles. Her enthusiasm makes our growing bond glow, and I mentally tell T’Rak and O’Rec that they better praise her immensely for the tastes and the efforts. While I secretly know that they really do not care if they eat plain noodles.

I enter the mess hall with some crates we can use to sit on next to the makeshift table I fabricated yesterday. L’Ren is busy at the Kit-Sjen, softly singing to herself.

I pause and for a moment I look at her, she is beautiful. Her hair in two thick braids I did for her this morning with shiny chains braided through them, which she really loved.

“I have brought you chairs," I say and hold up the crates for her to see. She turns around beaming at me.

“Thank you, D’Var,” she says, pointing at where she wants them.

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