Page 53 of The Commanders' Mate

Her joy, her pleasure in just being with us, made it all slip away.

She eased our burdens, gave us hope and joy.

The Hive weren’t defe

ated, and I wondered if they would be in my lifetime, but we’d won a battle and we’d celebrate the success.

We’d celebrate that we were alive.

Erica turned and faced Ronan, tipped her chin up to look at him, to smile. He slipped the straps of the brown dress from her shoulders, let it slide to the floor and pool at her feet.

I felt their arousal, Ronan’s pleasure at seeing our mate’s beautiful, lush body. Erica’s at being bared, at being needed. And yet I felt something missing. An emptiness.

They turned their gazes toward me. I realized then, it was me.

I was what they needed, what completed them.

Undoing my holster, I let it, along with my ion pistol, drop to the floor. We were off duty. The entire battlegroup was safe and under the control of Bard. The only place I was indispensable was here, with Ronan and Erica.

She held her hand out, reaching for me. I closed the distance between us, took it and lifted it to my lips. “What do you think of the collar?”

Instead of answering, she closed her eyes. I felt her answer. Happiness. Blindingly bright. So intense I’d never felt anything like it. Was this what Chloe and her mates felt? What Prime Nial had with Jessica?

I kissed her knuckles again. “Mate, I have been blind. Stupid. This… what we share, is worth fighting for. Worth living for. Together. I am sorry for wanting you elsewhere, however my need to keep you safe will always vie with this need to have you by my side.”

“I understand. I will not be weak, Kaed. I promise you.”

I shook my head. “You were right, Lady Karter, you made me stronger today, not weaker. You are my strength.”

“And mine,” Ronan added, sliding his hand down her arm to her waist, then back up to cup a breast.

She gasped and I felt the rush of pleasure through the collar. The bloom of dominance from Ronan.

I cupped her other breast. “Look, mate. See us touch you. Feel it, as well.”

She lifted her hands, one on each of our chests. Whimpered. “You’re wearing too many clothes.”

I looked to Ronan, who grinned. “Lady Karter wishes us to be naked? As you wish.”

Ronan stepped back and stripped quickly. I only waited a moment to do the same.

So much had been between us before now. Most of it was my own fault, but now… now not even clothes would keep us apart.

I leaned down and lifted her up and over my shoulder, carried her the rest of the way to the large bed made specifically for two large Prillons and their mate. Setting a knee on the bed, I lowered her down, watched as she bounced, her breasts swaying. Her hair fanned out beneath her on the dark pillow.

Her smile… gods, her smile.

“We claimed you, mate. Earlier on the flight deck. But it was not a full claiming.”

Her eyes widened and I sensed a hint of panic, which I quickly appeased.

“No, we won’t be having witnesses as Ronan and I fuck you together for the first time.”

Heat replaced all the worry.

“We will claim you though, in the way of Prillon males through the ages.”

Ronan moved to settle on her other side.

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