Page 60 of A Mate For Matrix
Jana burst into laughter, pressing her face into Matrix’s neck. “He’s not wrong. I got very little sleep the first month after I brought the kittens home,” she whispered against his skin.
“Lucky for you, I require very little sleep,” Matrix teased, unable to hide the grin tugging at his lips.
Jana shifted on his lap, rising slowly as a mischievous smile played on her lips. She took his hand, laced her fingers through his, and gently tugged him until he stood.
Rising, Matrix followed without a second thought.
Behind them, K-Nine trotted onto the bridge with all three kittens in tow. Biscuit dove for K-Nine’s tail while Butter and Honeybun launched an assault on his back legs.
“I have the bridge,” K-Nine announced with all the solemnity of a war general surrounded by chaos. “Have fun while you can. I’ll hold the line—with minimal casualties.”
“Thank you, my friend,” Matrix replied, grinning as K-Nine lifted his back leg and tried to shake Butter off.
He cast one last glance at the viewport before he followed Jana off the bridge, sealing the door behind them.
For now, the mission could wait. There were some new relaxation techniques he needed to learn.
The bridge doors whispered shut behind them.
Matrix didn’t say a word as he drew her down the corridor, their fingers laced, her heart tightening with love. The lights dimmed as they entered their quarters, bathing the room in a soft amber glow. Familiar now. Safe. And yet, the tension that had gripped her heart since the Queen’s attack still hadn’t let go.
Matrix released her hand as he turned toward her. His eyes softened, and she reached up to caress his cheek. She took a slow breath and rested her palm against his chest. Beneath it, his heart beat strong and steady.
“I won’t let anything happen to you,” she murmured, staring up into his eyes.
He caught her hand and pulled it to his lips. “That’s my job, to protect you.”
She shook her head. “It’s both our jobs. You protect my back, and I protect yours.”
“What about K-Nine?” he teased.
She giggled. “He’s got his paws full with the kittens.”
Matrix laughed and caressed her cheek. Her eyelashes fluttered when he ran the tips of his fingers along her skin. She would never get tired of his touch.
“I love you, Jana,” he murmured.
“I love you so much, Matrix. I’m so afraid something will happen to you. I can’t stand the thought of….”
She couldn’t finish what she had been going to say. The memory of his tortured cries when he was locked to that horrible creature terrified her.
She captured his lips, wanting to erase the memory, the fear, and the uncertainty that lay ahead of them. Her lips parted, her tongue tangling with his. She wanted to wrap herself around him until there was no way anyone could tear them apart.
With a frantic tug, she pulled his shirt free of his trousers and ran her hands under it, needing to touch his heated flesh. Her fingers traced the faint lines of scars, loving how he felt under her touch. His low chuckle washed over her skin, giving her goosebumps. She growled out a breathy warning and tugged on him, pulling him down onto their bed.
“Wait until you are under me and see how impatient you get,” she murmured, twisting so she was straddling his waist.
“You are so beautiful when you are like this.” He gripped the hem of her t-shirt and pulled it over her head before he released a low, tortured groan when he saw her lacy bra. “Oh, damn! Those things are impossible to undo.”
She leaned forward so he could slide his hands up to cup her generous globes.
“You’re the one who picked them out,” she reminded him.
“Oh, yeah. You do fill them nicely,” he said, capturing her nipple through it.
“I have to get you out of your clothes. You are driving me crazy," she groaned.
She unbuttoned his shirt, pushing it down from his shoulders and tugging at the end of his sleeves until she could pull it free. With a toss, it went flying behind her. Her fingers trailed down over his muscular chest, following the line of hair as it made a path downward before disappearing beneath his trousers.
