Page 39 of I Married Amreth

“It did not freak me out in the least. To the contrary, I was elated,” he said with a conviction that had a swarm of butterflies taking flight in the pit of my stomach.

“Really?” I asked, wondering where that irrational need to be reassured came from.

He nodded. “I’ve been longing for a life partner for a while. In fact, the very day Kayog called to tell me about you, I was bemoaning the fact that I couldn’t retain the services of his agency because my home world was too advanced. No news could have made me happier, especially knowing that whoever you were, together, we would achieve perfect harmony and share the type of love my best friend Kronos has found with his Malaya.”

I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and smiled at him. “I had not been looking at all. So Kayog dropping this on me totally took me by surprise.”

“Not a bad one, I hope?” Amreth asked, tilting his head to the side.

The underlying vulnerability and uncertainty in his voice—subtle though it was—threw me for a loop. How could such afine specimen even remotely doubt that any hot-blooded woman would ache to throw herself at him?

“Are you kidding? Do you not know how human women constantly drool about your species? We know how picky you are. So finding out that my soulmate was an Obosian was a huge honor. And so far, you’re exceeding everything I hoped for. And I’m not talking about your hot appearance—which you are. You also seem to have a good heart, compassion, integrity, and the ability to not only keep up with my nerdy gibberish, but to also be interested in the scientific stuff I spew. You made me feel seen and heard instead of annoying like laymen often do.”

“You’re many things but not annoying, Ciara. The first time Kayog showed me a hologram of you, I was blown away by your beauty. I remember thinking that you could be one of ours with your dark skin and silver-white hair,” he said wistfully.

I snorted, my mouth running away with me to hide my embarrassment. “Most people find me weird because of my piebaldism. It’s what causes my hair to be white and that discolored patch of skin on my forehead,” I said with a nervous laugh.

“You’re not weird. Only a fool would think so. Beyond the fact that your hair matches the colors of my people, I find your discolored patch to be stunning. It is like your own organic circlet. I wish you could see yourself through my eyes. Your aura is mesmerizing and lights you up from within. It makes your crown glow.”

My throat tightened with emotion. Sure, his words touched me, but it was the look in his eyes and the sincerity in his voice that wrecked me.

“You speak of my compassion and integrity, but do you not see your own? Many people in your circumstances would have turned their backs on the Kreelars for abducting them. Aku trusts you because your kindness and determination to helphis people radiate out of you with the strength of a thousand suns. I don’t know to what extent I’m smart, but you have a talent for explaining complex concepts in a way that is both understandable and fascinating.”

“Jeez! If you’re trying to make me like you, you’re doing a great job of it,” I mumbled, my cheeks heating with pleasure.

“Success! By the time we’re done helping these people, I intend to have you head over heels in love with me,” he said in a voice full of promise. “But come, let’s get back inside.”

I nodded and hung the towel to dry on the rack by the inner wall of the shower. To my surprise, Amreth extended a hand towards me. On instinct, I took it. His grateful smile did funny things to me. He gently caressed the back of my hand with his thumb before leading me back inside the house. My mate stopped in the middle of the living area, which also happened to be directly between the two bedrooms, and he turned to face me.

“I guess we should turn in for the night as we must rise early in the morning,” he said in a gentle voice. “Despite the dire circumstances that have brought us here, I’m happy that we are together at last. Would it be too bold of me to ask for a kiss goodnight? Feel totally comfortable saying no.”

My stomach did another somersault, and it took every ounce of my willpower not to over enthusiastically agree.

“It is not too bold,” I said with far more poise than I felt. “And yes, you may.”

The softness of his smile, and the way his silver-white eyes darkened as he carefully drew me into his embrace had my girly bits standing to attention. I pressed my palms to his bare chest, a delicious shiver coursing down my spine as his strong arms closed around me. I wanted to rub my hands all over him, having been cheated by the towel between us when I dried his wings earlier. His skin was soft and warm. My fingers itched to travelfarther up to his shoulders and the side of his arms that were covered in dark scales.

Forcing my hands to remain still, I lifted my face towards his. He leaned forward, slanted his head to the side, and then pressed his lips to mine. Although I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that he hadn’t used his aphrodisiac pheromones orbakaan, the bolt of desire that exploded in the pit of my stomach at that mere contact left me reeling. It made even less sense that the kiss was devoid of any lust. It was gentle, tender, and highly respectful.

Too soon, he broke the kiss. I almost whimpered, not yet ready to part from him. To my utter delight, just when I thought he was going to push me away, Amreth tightened his embrace around me and buried his face in my hair while I buried my face in his neck. This time, with a will of their own, my hands glided upwards, caressing the dark, chevron-shaped scales that covered the curve of his shoulders, and then sank into the silkiness of his long, silver-white hair on his nape. Another shiver coursed through me when his wings wrapped around us.

I always wondered what it would be like to be hugged like this. It went beyond feeling sheltered and protected. I felt at home.

I couldn’t say how long we remained like this, quietly in each other’s embrace. But when he opened his wings and loosened his hold around me, a brutal sense of being bereft crushed me. I could have stayed like this with him forever. The tenderness in his eyes as he locked gazes with me melted me from the inside out. I didn’t know him well just yet, but I knew with unshakable certainty that this was just a first glimpse of the deep love that would eventually burn bright between us.

He cupped my right cheek with his hand, leaned forward again to brush his lips against mine one last time.

“Sweet dreams, my mate,” he said in a deep whisper.

His thumb caressed my lips, then he dropped his hand from my cheek.

“Good night, Amreth,” I whispered back.

He turned around and walked to his room. I stared at his receding back, two of my fingers absentmindedly finding their way to my lips as if to rekindle the sensation of his kiss. It wasn’t until the door closed behind him that I finally snapped out of my trance.

I went to my own room, still torn by my disappointment that we didn’t fall under the PMA rules and relief that we would get to set things between us at our own pace. But the dominant thought as I climbed into bed and settled my head on my pillow was that I was developing a major crush on the male I would get to spend the rest of my life with.

I closed my eyes and smiled.

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