Page 23 of Krin

Krin pursed his lips before averting his gaze. I noticed how he kept rubbing the back of his neck. This vulnerable side of him was adorable. Not that I would tell the big bad warrior I thought so.

He reached out to me. His hands lingered near my upper arms, as if expecting me to object.

When I said nothing, he gently rested them on my biceps. His soulful eyes pierced into mine with a depth that conveyed a thousand emotions.

“Idowant you here. I am sorry I have made you feel otherwise.”

In an instant, my annoyance, and sadness disappeared, and I fought the temptation to hug him. I hadn’t made a mistake. The special emotional connection between us was glaringly apparent just from the way he looked at me.

Krin’s touch ignited a sizzling sensation, sending delightful tingles through my entire body. Just the thought of us being intimate caused my body to react instinctively, leaving me feeling turned on.

The fact his touch made me want to get naked with him made me blush.

The sexy warrior’s nostrils flared, and he dropped his hands. “I admit I am not very good at this.”

I released an unsteady breath, giving my head a shake in an attempt to focus on our conversation.

With a sincere smile, I looked up at him. “At what? Talking to me? Because I think that’s pretty obvious, big guy,” I said softly.

Wishful thinking made me ask, “Are you sure there isn’t another reason you’ve stayed away from me?”

His forehead furrowed, and I watched his throat bob a couple of times before he responded. “When I realized what...who you were I was in disbelief.”

“What I am?” Anticipation made my stomach clench.

He glanced at his mating marks, and back at me. “I think you know.”

It was true; I had a suspicion I was his mate, but I tried to accept that he didn’t want to acknowledge it. Fireworks went off in my belly in celebration. “And now?”

His eyes remained fixed on me. “You are my K’sha. Regardless of whether you want me, my instinct is to protect you. To keep you safe, and not put you in harm’s way.”

My palm shot up. “Wait a sec.” It took a moment for his words to filter into my brain in a way that made sense.

“First of all, I don’t need you to protect me. I can take care of myself. Second, I don’t understand, what makes you think I don’t want you? I flirted with you, but you didn’t seem interested in me. How was I to know I was your mate?” Due to my racing heart, my voice took on a breathy tone.

Krin’s lips parted in a look of surprise before he quickly composed himself. “I am an Alaran male. Protecting my K’sha is built into my very being. That will never change. I wanted to tell you that you had activated my mating marks the day I followed you from the medi-bay. But when you asked me to take you to bed, it took me by surprise. I only refused because you said you were looking for a fling, and nothing more.”

The memory of that day made me wince.

Last time we were on the Chetok. I’d found myself in the medi-bay after Krin rescued me from the Krilex aliens. I spotted him as I left the room after waking up. He had approached me and said he wanted to speak to me.

Looking back, I hadn’t really given him a chance to speak when we reached my room. After everything I’d been through in such a short amount of time, I was feeling vulnerable, and I simply yearned to be wanted.

A little voice in my head reminded me I still do.

“I remember you told me no, then you walked away. I assumed the attraction was only one-sided. It didn’t occur to me you wanted more than a fling.” My mouth twisted. I never once considered the possibility of Krin wanting an actual relationship with me. It was wrong to think that his intentions were purely sexual. My cheeks burned with embarrassment.

His gaze traveled down my body before returning to meet my eyes. “I wanted more than a onetime intimate encounter with you. You are my K’sha... Mine. Mating even once with you would bond us. I was not sure you would understand my need to claim you.”

A cough escaped me, followed by a quick clearing of my throat. “Uh. Yeah. I see that now.” When he said the word “mine,” his voice took on a lower, more intense tone. I couldn’t help but shiver with delight as a wave of joy washed over me.

A seductive grin spread across Krin’s face before he spoke again. “When I claim you, it will bond us forever.”

My mouth went dry. “When you cl-claim me?” I whispered. My core clenched with desperate need at the thought of him being inside me.

Krin’s eyes were filled with way too much emotion that I wasn’t sure I was ready to unpack. “Yes. If you will accept me as your mate.”

My mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. He had to know how much I wanted him. Especially after I practically threw myself at him.

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