Page 86 of Alien's Love Child

She turns in my arms, her eyes meeting mine. "I love you too, Davin," she says, her voice steady, her gaze sure. "I love you too."

I wrap Jesse in a towel, rubbing her shoulders to chase away the chill. She leans into me, a soft smile playing on her lips. I scoop her up, cradling her against my chest as I carry her to our bed. She nuzzles into my neck, her breath warm on my skin.

"You know, for a tough guy, you're pretty gentle," she murmurs, her fingers tracing patterns on my chest.

I chuckle, laying her down on the bed before sliding in beside her. "Only with you, Jesse."

She rolls onto her side, facing me, her green eyes sparkling in the starlight. "Only with me, huh? Lucky me."

I brush a damp strand of hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear. "Lucky us."

She hums softly, her hand coming to rest on my cheek. "You're right. Lucky us."

I take a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. "Jesse, I want you to be mine. Officially."

Her eyebrows shoot up, a laugh bubbling from her lips. "Officially? You mean like a piece of paper and a fancy ceremony?"

I shrug, a smile tugging at my lips. "If that's what you want. I don't have that ring you asked for, but?—"

She presses a finger to my lips, silencing me. "Davin, we've done everything backwards. Why stop now?"

I kiss her finger, then gently move her hand away. "Is that a yes?"

She grins, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Yes, Davin. Yes, after already having your baby and moving in with you, yes. I'll be your mate."

I pull her close, my lips finding hers in a soft, slow kiss. She melts into me, her body fitting perfectly against mine. When we pull away, her eyes are shining with unshed tears.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I ask, cupping her cheek.

She shakes her head, a small smile playing on her lips. "Nothing's wrong. It's just... I never thought I'd be this happy. After everything we've been through, I didn't think we'd get here."

I wipe away a tear that spills over, my thumb gently brushing her skin. "We're here, Jesse. And I promise, I'm not going anywhere."

She sniffs, her smile widening. "Good. Because I don't think I could handle losing you again."

I press a kiss to her forehead, my arms tightening around her. "You won't. You're stuck with me, remember?"

She laughs, the sound soft and warm. "I remember. And I wouldn't have it any other way."

We gently fall asleep, Jesse's breaths coming soft against my skin. If Rena and Paraxan ever intended for us to take a watch shift, they never came by to wake us for it.

The night stayed peaceful, and everyone was safe.

CHAPTER 32

JESSE

The scent of Rena's perfume mingles with the wine as we sprawl across my living room floor, surrounded by scattered datapads and empty bottles. My ceremonial dress hangs by the window, catching the light from the setting sun.

"Remember when we first met?" Rena tops off my glass. "You were trying to hotwire a junker on that satellite."

"And you caught me red-handed." I take a sip, letting the sweet burn coat my tongue. "Then helped me steal it anyway."

"Look at you now. Getting mated to a Kaleidian." She shakes her head, blonde hair swaying. "A former bounty hunter, no less. The universe has a sick sense of humor."

"Speaking of settling down..." I nudge her with my foot. "When's it your turn?"

"Please." She rolls her eyes. "You know me better than that."

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