Page 30 of Krin

She laughed and walked over to me, placing her hands on my chest again. Both of them this time. My mating marks seared with heat. Her touch ignited fiery sparks that raced across my skin.

“I wasn’t accusing you of reading my mind, big guy. The reason I asked is cuz...well, I thought maybe you could pick up my emotions. You know, so I don’t have to say it out loud. I told you I’m not good with this relationship stuff.”

I placed my hands over hers. “I do sense your emotions, but have not listened to your thoughts. You are safe with me, my mate. I would never judge you or hurt you intentionally. Your happiness is all that matters.”

My heart clenched with empathy as I sensed her struggle to articulate her thoughts. It was something I could completely identify with.

She huffed out a sound that wasn’t quite a laugh. “What aboutyourhappiness? Doesn’t that matter too? What if I can’t be what you need me to be?” Her eyes moistened, and I noticed her throat bobbing.

“Riley, youmake me happy. You are perfect the way you are. You do not need to change anything.” Touching her face, I smiled with a closed mouth.

Just looking into her eyes, I felt I had everything I could ever want. She was my K’sha.

Perfect for me.

Riley glanced down as if she was ashamed of her feelings.

With my fingers under her chin, I tilted her head to look up at me. “My K’sha, having found you means everything to me. If you choose to remain with me, I would be eternally happy. But if you are happier without me, I will try to understand. I would never shame you for what you feel.”

Riley’s eyes leaked as she looked at me. I could sense her internal struggle as if it were my own.

“What is it you want?” I asked, wiping away the wetness on her cheeks with my thumbs.

My mate’s hands smoothed under the straps crisscrossing my chest, and onto my bare skin. Then her hands slid down my abdomen to the waistband of my trousers.

“You, Krin. I want you. In the past, I never allowed myself to care about guys. The one time I did, I got my heart broken.” She wiped her eyes with one hand. “You are the first and only person I’ve ever been able to open up to. I can be myself around you. Honestly, I have never experienced such powerful feelings for anyone.”

I smoothed my hand along her head. “This is my first and only relationship, too. Until recently, I could not speak to females without making a fool of myself,” I admitted.

My rare liaisons with females in the past had only been interactional, and occurred on a legal pleasure station we sometimes visited in the neutral zone. On those occasions, the female pleasure workers and I spoke very little. Except to discuss cost, and what form of release I was looking for. My emotions played no part in the transactions.

Until Riley, I had never met another female I wanted a relationship with, since I’d always hoped to meet my K’sha.

Riley’s face haunted my thoughts from the moment I laid eyes on her. Since then, she became the sole desire of my heart.

“Krin?” Riley’s gentle murmur brought me back to the present, grounding me.

“Mmm?” I gazed at her adorable face, my breath catching.

She possessed a lovely beauty. Her twinkling brown eyes held a mischievous spark, and her chin jutted out slightly, adding a touch of defiance to her expression.

“Are you sure about this? I mean, do you really want to commit to a lifetime with me?”

I took her hand in mine kissing the top of it. “Yes. I want you forever.”

“Will you forgive me if I act like a stubborn idiot sometimes?”

“You are stubborn, but you are nogrik. And of course I will forgive you.”

“Sorry for the meltdown. This is what I want. But it all feels so unreal... in a good way.” She smiled, looking relaxed once again.

“It is real. You are mine, and I am yours,” I insisted. “Can I claim you now? Or should we wait?” I prayed she would not postpone our intimacy. The erection from our previous kisses hadn’t completely subsided. My seed sac ached.

Gods, I needed to be inside her, to solidify our bond. Now!

She grinned. “Yes. I mean. I don’t want to wait. Let’s do this!” Riley removed her top, flashed a seductive grin, then slipped out of her trousers, letting them fall to the floor. Her boldness ignited a deeper desire within me.

The sight of her mouth-watering breasts made my shaft stone hard.

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