Page 38 of Homecoming

“That is comforting.”

“That I find tiny women to be like screaming children? Mini’s sister-in-law was horrifying. I wanted to punt her off the yacht.”

“Is that how you react to all screaming children? I am sure that if we eventually have one, they will make noise.”

“Any child of ours can make as much noise as it likes. And if I punt it off the boat, you can catch it and bring it back.”

She snorted. “If you punt a child off the boat, you are the next thing to go over.” She had a thought and whispered, “Why is Loken a dinosaur?”

“The gem I used for him was one of my older ones. He ended up in a shape very close to the age of my other form.”

“Right. Someone shot him, too?”

“Yes. I set the emerald in him before you got me into the car and drove me for help.”

“Where you got me and pressed the stone into me before the gurney arrived.”

He sighed. “And the kiss that you pulled away from was supposed to let me find you, but it wasn’t strong enough to hold the connection.”

She reached up and caressed his squarely cut cheek. “I fought the link hard. I thought you did it as an accident. It wasn’t until I felt you following that I panicked. I am carrying twenty carats of diamond in my body. I was pretty sure I would die if you took it back.”

He frowned. “You thought I was coming for the diamond?”

The expression on his face said that he was baffled.

“I hadn’t actually met you at that point, and I was growing quite a bit. I was terrified most of the time. And I was carrying a three million dollar gem under my skin.”

“Fifteen. It is worth fifteen million. I was getting it appraised that day.”

She froze. “That makes it so much worse.”

He frowned. “Why? I can get you a bigger one if you want to be really nervous.”

She was saved by Loken coming in with the bag and her backpack.

“Okay, I think I am going to get dressed now. Stay.” She put her hand on his chest and eased back from him.

“Why do you have to get dressed?” He whined and sat up.

“Because if we are doing a full moon photoshoot, I need to be in shape to move.”

Loken chuckled. “She has a point. Plus, if we haven’t mated yet, it will be a lot more fun to chase her down the beach.”

Chapter Seven

Aeryn raised her brows. “Chase me?”

“Me with my scales and tail, you wearing the outfit that Ahheel described when I was just up there. Sohar having to wait until we are off his shoreline to see them.” He grinned. “After that, we will probably be occupied down here for a while.”

She swallowed. “Ah, right.”

She grabbed a dress and pulled it on over her skin. It was comfortable, but when she checked her image on a reflective surface, it was obvious that there wasn’t anything between her and the fabric. The dress was cut to offer a bit of support, so she tucked her breasts into place and did a test wiggle. The synchronized groans reminded her that she wasn’t alone in the room.

“Sorry, but they are uncomfortable if they aren’t in their proper place.”

Loken smiled. “Adjust them again. We have all night.”

She moved her shoulders. “No, they are good.”

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