Page 71 of Alien Protector's Mate

Tears prickled at the backs of her eyes, moved by the prince’s words and the weight of the moment. S’aad squeezed her hand gently, sliding a sideways glance and a reassuring smile down at her.

Prince Rohn turned to face them directly. “S’aad V’Renn and Jade Ashton, please join hands and face each other.”

They did as instructed, and her heart leaped as she looked up into S’aad’s green eyes. They were so different to her own, but she saw the love she had for him reflected back at her.

“Blood calls to blood and soul to soul,” the prince said, his deep voice measured and resonant. “Soul calls to skin, woman to man, binding the halves of a whole together for all eternity.”

He turned to her first. “Lady Jade, do you take this warrior who bears your marks on his skin to bond-mate? To support and honor him for the rest of his life?”

Her voice was soft but steady. “I do.”

Prince Rohn nodded and then turned to S’aad. “Warrior and Healer S’aad, do you take this woman who has called marks in your skin to bond-mate? To protect her and honor her for the rest of your life?”

“I do,” S’aad answered without hesitation, his deep voice filled with emotion.

Prince Rohn held out a sapphire sash, carefully wrapping it around their joined hands.

“Then, as Prince of the Lathar Empire, I bless your bonding,” Rohn declared. “May it bring much solace and be fruitful. You may now kiss your mate.”

S’aad didn’t hesitate. He pulled her close, one hand cupping her face tenderly. When their lips met, it was as if the entireuniverse had condensed to this single point of contact. She melted into the kiss, pouring all of her love and devotion into it.

The chamber erupted in cheers and applause, and she jumped, startled back to awareness of their surroundings. She blushed, realizing how caught up in the moment she had become. How hot their kiss had been.

S’aad didn’t seem to care, though. Without warning, he scooped her up into his arms. She squeaked in surprise, wrapping her arms around his neck as he cradled her against his broad chest and walked directly toward the door.

“S’aad!” she hissed. “What are you doing? We can’t just leave. We need to thank everyone for coming or something… Don’t we?”

His deep chuckle rumbled against her side where he held her against him, just as much felt as heard. The heat in his eyes made her breath catch and desire simmer through her veins. “That might be the way humans do things,kelarris,but I’m Lathar. We’re a little more… direct about things.”

She frowned. “But what about the reception? The celebration?”

“We can have a grand party in a few days if that’s what you want,” he said, his pace not slowing once as he carried her through the corridors. “But right now, there’s only one thing I want to do.”

The dark heat in his gaze sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine.

“And what’s that?” she whispered.

His lips curved into a predatory smile. “Why, to get my new wife back to our quarters so I can properly claim her, of course.”

Jade bit her lip,her stomach filled with butterflies as he carried her through the door of their quarters, his strong arms cradling her against his chest gently. The leather of his uniform brushed against her skin, the heat of his body and the beat of his heart a reassuring tattoo against her side.

The room was dimly lit, the soft glow of the wall panels casting long shadows in the room, but she barely saw it, her gaze locked on to his as he carried her right through into the bedroom. He stopped by the bed, and the intensity of his stare made her feel like she was the only thing that existed for him in the universe, the only thing that mattered. The green of his eyes was swallowed up by a dark hunger that made her catch her breath… a raw, primal desire that sent a shiver of anticipation down her spine.

“You are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he murmured, his voice low and rough.

Warmth spread out through her chest and then through her entire body, which had nothing to do with the temperature of the room and everything to do with the man holding her. She had never felt so seen, so desired, so cherished. It was exhilarating and wonderful, a heady mix of emotions that made her feel dizzy and lightheaded.

She reached up to trace the line of his jaw, the rough stubble there prickling her fingertips. His jaw clenched under her touch, the pulse at the base of his throat a steady throb that matched her own racing heartbeat. His lips parted slightly, the tiny sound of need that escaped him sending a shiver of anticipation coursing through her.

“S’aad,” she whispered.

“Say it again,” he demanded in a rough growl, leaning in to brush his lips against hers. Not kissing her, not quite, just little brushes that teased her… made her follow his lips with her own. “I like the sound of my name on your lips.”

“I love you, S’aad,” she whispered, watching his eyes flare with heat, his expression tightening possessively.

“Kelarris,” he murmured, bending his head to claim her lips in a hard kiss that told her everything she needed to know about how he felt.

She gasped as his teeth grazed her lower lip, a sharp, sudden sensation that was both pain and pleasure rolled into one. His tongue swept into her mouth, claiming her, possessing her, and she could feel the edge of dominance in his kiss, the unspoken demand for her surrender.

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