Page 16 of Lashe

“Isthatwhy you never spoke to me?” She turned away, starting up a brisk, back-and-forth pace in the main cabin. “I don’t know what’s going on here. Ten minutes ago, the world made sense.”

“Did it really?” I watched her chew her bottom lip and send furtive glances my way. “Because things stopped making sense for me the moment your hand touched my face.”

She stopped and turned suddenly. “Can I see them?”

“See what?” I asked.

“The marks,” she replied. “The mate marks. Maybe you’re mistaking something else for the marks. A bruise, or something.”

“I know the difference between a bruise and the mate marks.”

“Just…let me see them, please.” Her face flamed red again.

I was wearing a full jumpsuit, so I couldn’t just pull up my shirt. I undid the fastenings that ran asymmetrically on the rightside of my chest and pulled the whole thing down to my waist, baring my upper body.

“Holy shit.” Her gaze moved over my torso and arms.

I turned slightly and raised my arm so she could have a full view of the marks she put there. “See? Not a bruise.”

She came forward, brow low as she leaned in close to examine the intricate green pattern rippling over my side. Altogether, it was the size of my own hand and it would forever be emblazoned on my body.

“Wow,” she breathed. Her fingers came out and touched the marks, igniting them with fresh sensation. I hissed out a breath at the stab of arousal that shot straight to my cock, hardening it further. She snatched her fingers away. “Did I hurt you?”

“No,” I said tightly. “It’s very pleasurable.Toopleasurable.”

“I see.” She did not touch my marks again. She straightened and blinked rapidly. “They’re very beautiful. And you’re sure that’s what they mean?”

I drew in a patient breath. “Very sure.”

“Oh boy.” She resumed her pacing. “I didn’t see this coming.”

“As I said, I don’t expect you to reciprocate my feelings. This condition is not your problem, but I expect you will want a replacement transport operator as soon as—”

“I have no intentions of replacing you, Lashe. Unless youwantto go. You’re the best there is. As for this…” She waved a hand back and forth between the two of us. “I need time to think and process. I know enough about your species to be aware that this is a big deal. The last thing I want to do is hurt you.”

That sure sounded like a rejection to me. I nodded, accepting her words. “I will not force myself on you, Anna. Never fear that.”

“It never crossed my mind. Destrans are the most honorable beings in the known galaxy.” She rubbed her hands over her faceand turned away from me. “If I keep looking at you, I’m going to kiss you again.”

I said nothing, accepting the fact that I had no idea what was going on. She calledmeconfusing, but I could not read her at all. She needed to think, but she wanted to kiss me. I looked up at the ceiling, remembering that we weren’t alone. “Stelis, are you getting all this?”

“Every word, Lashe,” she said.

“Busat-lig.” I muttered the word “fantastic” in my native language. “We will have absolutely nothing to discuss if we do not get off this asteroid.”

“About that,” Anna said. “This is quite the change of topic, but we don’t think it’s an asteroid.”

Busat-lig. As if this whole thing couldn’t get any stranger. I was grateful for the change in topic, however. “Explain.”

CHAPTER 9

Anna

Iexplained what Stelis and I had seen on the scans. The colors on his skin darkened to an unhappy, deep gray. It wasquitethe shift of conversation. My heart was still beating fast from that kiss and more so from the revelation that he had mating marks and thatIwas his mate.

Just add one more thing on the pile of complications. He’d had feelings for me the whole time he’d worked for me. Not once did I ever have a slight inkling that this was the case. No gazes. No flirtatious quips. Lashe had never shown the slightest indication that he had feelings for me.

And now, we were trapped in this shuttle together and forced to face them. He didn’t expect me to throw myself into his arms and pledge my everlasting love to him, thankfully. I was in no place to do that on the spot. But I wouldn’t deny that I was drawn to him. I’d always found him attractive, interesting, intriguing.

---