Page 112 of Freedom Mine
What the hells was Diggs talking about now? Kayo threw the back door to the glider open. There, sitting on the bench was a woman dressed in long flowing clothing of the Althiran Empire, with the brightest blue eyes he’d ever seen.
Kayo leapt into the back of the glider. He didn’t remember how or who initiated the kiss, but their bodies pressed together, with his arms tight around her. The scent of her, familiar and heady, nearly brought him to his knees. He’d been so alone without her. The kiss, deep and desperate, was like a key unlocking his soul, freeing him. He’d been free for nearly a month, but without her, without his Alli, that freedom had been empty.
“You came back. . .” he said as he pulled away to gaze at her lovely face.
“I went home, Kayo, but then I realized something. Medrio wasn’t home anymore It couldn’t be. You weren’t there.”
“How I’ve missed you, Alli. When I saw you get on that transport, it was all I could do to keep from jumping aboard and pulling you off. But I couldn’t do that to you. You needed to go, more than I needed to be free. And I needed you to be away from here, safe.”
“Life isn’t safe. Here, Medrio, even Bakadia. Being safe means nothing if it means losing who you are. You’re a part of me, Kayo, and you always will be.”
There were no words to express how it felt to have her back, so he didn’t try. He held her face in her hands. “My Alli. . . Hells, I never thought I’d see you again. But now that you’re here, I won’t be able to let you go.”
“Good, because I’m not going anywhere unless we go together.”
He kissed her again. Gods, he’d never have enough of her. And she was right, it didn’t matter where they were, as long as they were together.
“By the way, Kayo, snow is cold, especially when one tumbles from a sled.”
“Oh?”
“Your brother Tarik challenged me to a race. He said Erlan and I couldn’t return to you until I’d gone sledding in snow at least once. He didn’t think much of my sand sledding stories. I suspect he knew I didn’t plan on returning to Bakadia.”
“How’d you know I wouldn’t return with Erlan?” Kayo asked.
“You care too much about the men here, about those who need you.” Her fingers traced his jaw, landing on his lips. “I need you, Kayo.”
He was speechless. All he could do was kiss her. It was a deep kiss, and he couldn’t pull away, even when someone shut the cargo doors, sending them into near darkness. He reached up to open the vent. Strange how it reminded him of the first time he’d had her alone, all to himself.
“Oh, and despite your brother’s instructions on how to sled in the snow, it wasn’t as much fun as sledding in the mud.”
“That’s because you didn’t have me holding you.”
She gave him a coy shrug that went right to his shaft. “Very true. So what do you say, Kayo? Will you have me? I’m a free woman now. And from what I hear, you’re a freeman.”
“Alli, you owned me long before I bought you.” Kayo wrapped his arms around her as she leaned against his chest. Nothing would ever take her from him again.
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