Page 46 of Revealed

She stilled, as if frozen by my words. “You love me?”

I husked out a rough laugh. “Well, I jeopardized my career to find you and now I’m risking military prosecution for stealing a ship, so I think it’s fair to say that I’m madly, deeply, obsessively in love with you.”

A sob hitched in her chest, and she placed her hands on both sides of my face. “And I’m truly, madly, deeply, obsessively in love with you.”

For a moment, I was speechless. Her words were everything I’d ever wanted, and her love was the only thing I needed. My heart swelled with so much joy I was sure it would burst. I ran myhand through her hair, gripped the back of her head and crushed my mouth to hers.

This kiss wasn’t desperate and frenzied. Instead, I took her mouth slowly and sensuously, taking my time to taste her and feel her. I stroked her tongue with mine, each movement filled with tenderness and love. In response, she moaned as her body melted into mine.

When we finally broke apart, both breathless again, I rested my forehead against hers. “I still can’t believe this is real, that you’re really here, that we found each other.”

“Don’t you believe in fate?” She gave me a playful kiss, nipping at my bottom lip. “You were meant to see me on the crosswalk, we were meant to save each other during the invasion, and we were meant to find each other on this space station. Every move both of us have made has brought us closer and closer together.”

“So close we almost ran away together without knowing it.” I let out a breath of relief that I’d found her before I’d stolen the ship.

A mischievous smile played at her lips. "So, where should we run away to?"

I laughed, the sound filling the small space and reminding me that we were still in the closet on the ship with the engines running. “First off, we should probably leave here. I need to get our match approved and find Varek.”

She cringed. “Do you want me to go with you?”

I shook my head. “It will be better coming from me alone. You should go wait for me in your suite.”

One brow arched. “Then you can join me in my South Pacific bungalow.”

“After we talk to Serge.”

“Serge?” Her eyes pressed together, and a wrinkle formed between them. “Why him?”

“Because he has a wedding to plan, and I’m not going to wait much longer to call you my wife.”

Allie hummed and smiled at me. “My wife. I like the sound of that, which is crazy because I never thought I’d want to be called a wife by anyone.”

“And now?”

“I can’t wait, husband.”

I growled as I considered staying in the closet just a bit longer.

Chapter

Thirty-Four

Allie

Ifloated down the corridor, humming as I made my way back to my suite. The events of the past hour replayed in my mind like a beautiful and unreal dream. Maxxon's arms around me, his lips on mine, the promises we’d made to each other. It took every ounce of willpower I’d possessed to agree to return to my suite while he sorted things out, but I understood the need for discretion.

Despite joking about telling the Gatazoid wedding planner first, Maxxon did need to talk to his superior officers. He needed to come clean about our meeting on Earth and why I’d signed up to be a tribute bride. I’d offered to go with him and apologize for not being completely honest about my motives, but he’d insisted on doing it himself. Apparently, his transgression was more severe than mine since he was a Drexian officer.

Tribute brides were allowed to change their minds, and according to Maxxon, I wouldn’t be the first to reject oneDrexian and take another. I also wouldn’t be the first to fall for a procurer, and he wouldn’t be the first procurer to take a tribute that was intended for someone else. I hadn’t asked what had happened to those Drexians, but I guessed that it took some finessing as well.

As I rounded a corner, lost in my thoughts, a loud voice jolted me from my daydreaming.

"Allie! There you are!" Serge's exuberance snapped me right back to reality. "My goodness, look at you! You're absolutely glowing!"

Heat rose to my cheeks. I knew full well why I was glowing, but I wasn’t about to share the real reason. “Thanks.”

"You'll make such a perfect bride.” He fell into step beside me, his platform shoes clacking on the hard floor. "I can't wait to start planning everything!"

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