Page 47 of Crossing Quinn

Mami tugged on my arm. “What’s he saying? What’s he saying?”

I told her.

Mami gasped. “My baby could have been killed. What kind of father are you?”

“Tell your mother Clio was never in danger. I quickly brought down one of the Gur and let her eat. The little monkey burrowed into the body, and it took me a while to dig her out.”

I repeated what Adan had said.

“Never in danger? Ha.” Mami gave Adan the evil eye.

“Me want. Me want.”Morphing into her toddler form, Clio squirmed out of Adan’s hold and rushed into the shower. “Me like. Me like.” She tried to catch the water with her mouth.

Adan followed her into the tiny room, squashing me against the wall.

Bloody pieces of intestine slithered down my leg. Ugh. “Get out! I’m not taking a shower with you.”

“Very well.” Adan pushed me out of the shower and shut the door.

Quinn walked in, took one look at my nude body, and stopped dead. “You are so incredibly beautiful.”

“Thank you.” A blush heated my cheeks as his worshiping gaze roved over my body. Desire welled up inside me. I wanted to see Quinn naked. I wanted to feel his skin against mine. I wanted to see what Mami called the joy arrow.

Quinn frowned. “Is that an intestine wrapped around your ankle?”

I immediately kicked it off. The intestine smacked against the wall and slowly slid to the floor. Quinn never even noticed.

“What are you staring at?” The outraged expression on Mami’s face was comical.

“Perfection,” Quinn answered.

I cupped my breasts. “Like what you see?”

“Oh, yeah.” Quinn’s voice had deepened an octave.

Mami jumped in front of me. “You will not look at my daughter in such a manner. It is unseemly.”

With a sigh, Quinn turned around. “Better?”

“Go. Pilot the ship and continue your search for Lysis.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Quinn walked out.

Enough was enough. I had found the perfect mate and my mother wasn’t going to mess it up. “I’ve chosen Quinn, Mami. Nothing you say or do will change that. Why can’t you be happy for me?”

“Do you love him?”

I chewed my lower lip. “I think so.”

“You think so? Bah. The minute I met your father I knew he was the one for me.”

“This is all new to me. I’ve never had a relationship with a male other than Papa. I’m drawn to Quinn. I want, need his touch. He treats me as an equal and is pleased with my warrior skills.”

“You’re still a child. You have no idea what you need.”

Sometimes I really wanted to strangle my mother. “I’m not a child. I am a warrior and a relic hunter. I deserve to have a mate I choose, not one forced on me.”

“Do you think your warlord will allow you to continue being a relic hunter?”