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Chapter 1

HE’D FOUND HIS MATE.

That meant life should be perfect and in most ways it was, Jo’Nay conceded. He leaned his forearm against the view screen and stared down at the planet the natives called Earth. How odd that he happened upon this planet… and happened upon Winn, amate who never failed to staggerhim.

Her beauty stole his breath while her kindness and compassion threatened to bring him to his knees. The serendipity of their meeting ensured the Gods had a hand in their lives, did it not? How else to explainit?

And when she touched him? He shuddered. His cock twitched at the thought alone. Skin so soft, it glided over him with gentle, flowing strokes. Ahungry mouth he couldn’t stop kissing. Afragrant, delicious pussy he wanted to taste over and over. Best of all, when he took her, he found sheer perfection. More than sheer perfection.

Did she also experience something so idyllic? She claimed so and he did everything in his power to make itso.

A soft hand captured his, squeezing with clear affection. “What’s wrong, Jo’Nay?” Winn peered up at him. “Are you worrying about the other Intergalactic Warriors in your unit?”

“They are on my mind,” he conceded. “Along with other matters.”

“Such as?”

He turned to her, pulled her close. Need she ask? Could she not sense his hunger? Taste it in his kisses? Feel it in his touch?

“My one and only. Ishudder to think how close we came to missing each other. How lucky we were that I was near enough to hear your cry for help. How we would both be with our creators if we had not met one another. Loved one another. Joined our hearts and bodies.”

“You think it was the will of our creators that a deer wandered into the middle of the road just as I came around that curve?” The lightest teasing note danced through her question. “That I crashed my car so close to the cabin you were living in?”

“Affirmative.”

She blinked in surprise. “Really?”

“Really. All that followed would not have occurred otherwise. Iwould not have discovered you were soon to die from cancer.”

She burrowed against him. “And used your med disc to cure me,” she quickly added.

Jo’Nay shrugged. “It was a simple repair. Otherwise my onboard facilities would not have been sufficient.” He ran his fingers through her striped hair, the browns and goldscompeting with strands of white that had appeared when he had impregnated her. “Then there were the amazing apple fruits.”

She peeked up at him, pressing a hungry kiss to his bare chest. “I’m still pissed at your government for altering your DNA. Thank God the apples reversed everything they did to you.”

His mouth flattened. He couldn’t help but wonder if the apples had effected a permanent change. Or if the apples were but a temporary measure. “Let us hope it lasts.”

“Rory said it will.”

He grimaced. “My computer has been insufferable ever since you named it.”

“Sheis thrilled to have a name.”

“Regardless, it does not know everything.”

Winn’s brows drew together. “Have you felt any heat flashes? Any of the symptoms that indicate you could be in your final days?”

“None,” he confessed.

“Have you continued to eat apples and apple seeds?”

“I have not.”

She drew a swift, nervous breath. “Why?”

Was it not obvious? “I wish to see what will happen.”

“Jo’Nay—”

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