Page 38 of Saved By the Servali

My heart you pierce, my shining star.

Every moment spent with you

Opens my eyes to something new.

I could go merrily through this life

If Nessa was my Queen and wife.

No longer would I be her Knight, but King

If Nessa would but wear my ring.

I’d take her to Leonid moons and Servali sands

If she’d take my paws in her hands.

And tell me that landing here was meant to be...”

Kamau stopped and swallowed, his jaunty tune suddenly thick and slowed with the tears gathering in his throat.

“And tell me that landing here was meant to be...

Her brave actions brought her to be loved by me.”

Nessa stared up at him, her mouth open.

“Was that... a proposal?” she asked.

His head dipped once, a silent, singular nod.

“You can’t ask someone to marry you so soon after you meet—”

“I know. But if my Queen is so brave to charge into the unknown, what kind of King would I be if I could not at least try to keep up with her? Just know that you have my offer, whenever, if ever, you would like to use it.”

“Um. Um, I think... I think that I would like to try building a new life here. In this galaxy—if my father can come and if mycontract will still be accepted by anyone. Who knows what the hell it will look like when this is all over,” Nessa’s eyes skirted from his. “And if I knew I wouldn’t be a burden to you, then... Then.”

“A burden?” Kamau looked at her in shock. “Bastet’s whiskers! Is that how humans see one another? As burdens?”

“Well,yeah, if they come into a relationship with pretty much nothing. I can’t even get my stuff back if I’m not there in a few days—and I won’t be. I’ll literally have nothing but whatever credits I had in my account.” Nessa rubbed her temples. “Not a lot. I wouldn’t be able to rent a place on any of the Felid planets, not with the crappy Sapien System exchange rate. I’m a tiny little person compared to all the big Felids, and I don’t know Felid customs.” Nessa’s long curls were bound up in a silken scarf, and she began to pluck at the curls that had escaped onto her forehead with anxious fingers. “I don’t know if anyone would take my contract, but I don’t think I can bear to go back to Sapien-Three. I have friends here that I trust more than the people I lived and worked with there.”

Kamau groaned and shucked off his trousers, hopping into the water and joining Nessa. “You bringyou!Youare a gift. You have skills. You have kindness and strength and beauty! You have all I want, and I know for a fact that you will bring more as time goes on. If you are this wonderful when you are weak and recovering, this wonderful in just a few days—then how much more wonderful will you be in a few cycles? Years?” he challenged.

She crossed her arms, even as she scooted into his open embrace. “I could get worse.”

“And I could, too.”

“I... Stop. That’s not going to happen. You don’t have a bad bone in your body.” Nessa looked up at him, eyes softening. She stroked his face, pulling his muzzle toward hers.

“How can you tell? I am a stranger.”

“Some things you know in your heart.” She kissed his lips, then his nose.

He sighed in pleasure when her breasts brushed his chest and her hands found his spine, stroking down it, igniting nerve endings with every touch. “Some things I know, too. But I’m not rushing you to action, my Nessa. Just letting you know that I stand ready to be yours, if you’ll have me.”

Nessa leaned her head on his chest, letting him sway with her in the warm water. “Thebordeworks. I’m relaxed enough to think about saying yes—but I won’t. Not yet.”

“Because you can’t see yourself loving me?” Kamau asked. He had to know.

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