Page 44 of Touch the Stars
She slid her hands over his well-muscled, leather-clad chest.Technically, they had time for another round of mind-bending sex, but that’d just make it harder to say good-bye.She turned around in his arms to stare out at the stars again.Space was dark, but even that endless blackness couldn’t snuff out the shining, diamond-bright points of light.Like beacons of hope.
“They look close enough to touch.The stars, I mean.It’s almost like I can reach out and gather them like jewels.”
Baatar grazed his lips over her temple.“They are, like you, beautiful, yet unattainable.”
“No.You will always have me.”She tipped her head back to rest against his chest.“There are a lot of possible outcomes from this, you know.”
Hell, one or both of them could die.
“I do not like being so helpless.”He turned her back to face him, then traced one finger over her cheek.“Before today, nothing soothed me more than staring into the deep blackness of space.Then I met you.My people are born with the ingrained need to protect.Some call Undetans the law-keepers of the empire.Now, the two things I love most in the universe are threatened, and I am unable to protect them both.”
A lump rose into her throat.“You…love me?”
“With every part of my being, Kaitlyn.”
No man had ever said that to her before and meant it.Only Kris and her parents had loved her that much, and theirs was a different kind of love.Her heart swelled in her chest, expanding to contain all the feelings she had for this man…alien…whatever.
She blinked back the wetness pooling in her eyes.“I love you too, Baatar.”
She pushed up onto her toes and he met her partway.His lips molded to hers in a promise that was nothing like the hot and heavy kisses they’d shared in the bedroom.It was sweet and tender.Searching, not demanding.And it sealed her heart to his.
He moved to kiss the trails of her tears down her cheeks, then pulled away.“Will you allow me to hold you until it is time to go?”
She gave him a small smile.“I’d really like that.”
There was something so right, so perfect, about the way his fingers wrapped around her hand.The way the light of love glowed in his eyes.She let him lead her to the bench facing the window, and watched as he fiddled with some buttons on one end until a backrest rose up.Then he sat and pulled her onto his lap.She snuggled into his warmth and stared out at the star-filled blackness.
Baatar.
He allowed his gaze to wander around the command center.It was done.The cruiser was docked in the imperial bay and powering down.There was nothing more to do, no excuses that would delay them any longer.
And Kaitlyn, she stood at his side to the right of the command chair, wearing a clean garment of white.The pants molded to her curves, and the tunic shirt fell loosely over her breasts.She wore the royal color like the empress she was destined to become.It was the timing that bothered him.
“Are you certain you should wear that to meet the emperor?”
“I want Rocky to think that I’ve bought into the whole I’m-the-heir thing.”
That strategy might work, or it might not.There was no telling yet.For the last several days, they had discussed and dissected every possible scenario.Even the ones that might end in one or both their deaths.His little warrior empress had not shied away from any path, though she had shed tears over the ones that might cost him his life.
He rose from the seat.“Then we should go.”
She touched her hand to her hair.“Do you think I should leave it down or put it in a warrior’s knot, like yours?”
“Leave it down.”He reached up to take a golden strand between his thumb and forefinger.“At this time, it would be inappropriate for you to show even a hint at favoritism for any race, except perhaps your own.”
The imperial training she would undergo would help her to embrace all the worlds of the empire as she did Earth.But if the grand emperor even suspected the truth of their relationship, it would not go well.
A phantom fist squeezed his heart.What would happen once she was acknowledged as the heir?
I will revere her and serve her as my empress.
He lived to serve.There was no other choice.That outcome was far preferable to death.It was vital he remained alive in case she needed his protection at some point.An unlikely scenario, as the Ancient Ones had chosen her; therefore, her life should be assured.
The memory of Kaitlyn’s screams as the grand emperor attacked her surfaced.There was still no satisfactory explanation for that incident.
Kaitlyn stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his middle, tucking her cheek against his chest.“No matter what happens, I love you, Baatar.”
“I love you, too, my Kaitlyn.”When she looked up at him, apprehension and sadness shimmered in those lovely eyes.He bent and pressed a lingering kiss to her soft lips.“It is time to go.”
