Page 33 of Princess for the Space Cowboy

Kayden’s father is my father’s second-in-command. Like us, their bond of friendship is deep and powerful. Kayden rarely talks about it, but his mother died when he was a boy, and it devastated him and his father and his sister. He swore he would never let himself fall for anyone. He’s always insisted he will be loyal to his family and to our people but that he didn’t believe in the infinity pulse. His parents had it, and he’s watched his father grieve for her for years.

He shrugs, spinning around to stride across my office. The windows offer a view of our city and the mountain range in the distance. The telltale silvery-blue mist shimmers above the mountains, and our sun is low in the sky.

“I never intended to mate, but I never expected to feel like this. I didn’t —” He turns, his words cutting off abruptly. His gaze is troubled.

“You didn’t expect how it would feel. I didn’t either,” I say. “There is nothing you can do about it. Not all even experience the infinity pulse. You can’t stop it and won’t feel it with anyone else. You know that, right?”

“Of course I know that,” he says sharply. “I have other things to focus on than mating someone.”

“True but, as you know, the bonding only makes you stronger.”

Kayden rolls his eyes, letting out a sharp laugh. “I noticed. We need to focus on what happened with Jane and a new defense plan.”

“We already have it covered. We’re sending in spies. We need to know who planned it. For now, it is all in hand. You can focus on Nadine. If you’d like,” I say. “Tonight, we have a dinner. Jane and I would like to invite you. I trust you’ll be there?”

Kayden studies me for several quiet moments, shaking his head slowly as his lips tease with a reluctant grin. “Are you going to test me to see who else wants Nadine?”

I shrug.

“I’ll be there,” he mutters.

“Excellent.” I stand, walking with him to the door and following him down the hallway.

“Where are you going?” he asks, glancing at me.

“Jane,” I say simply.

He rolls his eyes again and keeps walking when I stop by Jane’s office a few doors down and across the hallway. I’ve already decided we must give her a different office with an adjoining door to mine. I need her closer to me.

I rap my knuckles sharply on her door, my pulse picking up speed when I hear her voice call, “Come in!”

I step into her office and smile over at her. I lock the door behind me, and she stands from her desk, a pretty pink flush cresting on her cheeks.

“What is it?” she asks.

My cock is already swelling. She rounds her desk, coming over to meet me.

Apparently, I have a thing for desks. This desk is much nicer than that folding plastic monstrosity where I first tasted her nectar on Earth.

When she stops in front of me, I lean down to kiss her and lift her, sliding her hips onto the desk.

“You had an appointment this morning,” I murmur as I nuzzle along her neck, savoring her soft, sweet sigh and the way she smells a little tart.

Her knees part easily as I step closer and drag her hips to the edge of the desk, relieved she’s wearing a skirt.

“I did,” she says when I finally lift my head and look into her eyes.

“Well?”

“I’m pregnant,” she says, a smile unfurling across her face.

Satisfaction surges through me. I move a little closer and rock my hips into the cradle of hers. “Of course, you are,” I murmur. “I knew it.”

She takes a quick breath. I can’t help myself. I reach out to find her bare, wet pussy and tease my fingers into it.

“Asher,” she whispers.

“I love you,” I whisper in return.

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