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.It wasn’t until one of the engineering crew sauntered over to her that her heart began to pound.He’s not coming for me.“Hi there.You looking for passage back to Earth?”“Yes, please.” Her stomach did a flip as the words left her.“Do you have clearance from Eurus administration for departure?”“Yes, I—”“No, she doesn’t.”Fallon spun around to see a deeply frowning Taber marching toward her.Her heart began to pound and her hands suddenly grew damp with each step that brought him closer to her.The crewman quickly scurried away when Taber looked at the smaller man and growled.154“What are you doing?” she asked, more than a little breathless.“I was about to ask you the same thing.” His dark blue eyes flashed with a mixture of annoyance and something she could have sworn was lust.Unable to look him in the eye, Fallon dropped her gaze to the floor.“I don’t think it’s really any of your concern.”“You were going to leave and not even say good-bye to me.”She heard the hurt in his voice and felt guilty.She’d never intended on making things worse—just saving her own fragile heart.“You were in med bay.I thought it was best if I just…left.”Taber lifted her chin with his hand, forcing her to look him in the eyes.When he took a step closer, the air left her lungs on a sigh.He was so big, imposing, that she’d always been a bit overwhelmed being close to him.But she also felt safe and secure—and something that felt like an awful lot like being loved.“It wouldn’t be for the best if you were to go,” he said in a low grumbling voice.He ran his thumb along her bottom lip, sending a shiver through her.Fallon sucked in a deep breath, inhaling his scent.“Why? I didn’t think I mattered to you.”He stiffened, his eyes clouding over, but he didn’t look away.“Mi tramsi, shalla.”Fallon’s stomach flipped and her eyes widened.Even though she knew what the words meant, she wanted, needed him to tell her.“What does—?” Her voice broke and tears filled her eyes.Taber bent his head down and brushed the tip of his nose against hers, keeping his eyes locked on her.“I love you.”He said the words simply, without dramatic flare, but full of meaning.Before her mind had time to analyze things too much, Taber bent down and pressed a gentle kiss across her lips.Shock hit her like a lightning bolt.He was kissing her—in public.There wasn’t any secrecy, the need to mislead people to think there was nothing between them.Taber was claiming her as his and he didn’t care who knew.The moment her mind fully realized the meaning behind his kiss, Fallon’s body relaxed against his, pressing every inch she could against him.She could feel his cock growing against her stomach, telling her all she needed to know about his feelings.He loved her and wanted her—now.And that was what she wanted too.Driving her fingers into his hair, she pulled him closer, deepening the contact of their kiss.Everything else around them faded and all she could see and hear was the shallow gasps of their breathing and a deep purr coming from Taber.Her body 155responded to his silent commands, her pussy growing damp and her nipples tightening.When he ground his hips against hers, Fallon just about came on the spot.Taber pulled his head back with growl, gasping.Fallon’s eyes were drawn to the crowd of onlookers and she immediately blushed.Several of the men were grinning at them while others had a look of surprise that quickly morphed into smiles and laughter.“Shit,” she muttered.Taber took her by the hand and led her closer to the group.Her face was flaming now and she tried to hide her face with her free hand.“What are you doing?” she said with a giggle.“Listen, everyone,” Taber said in a voice that filled the shuttle bay.“I want you to all know that this woman, Fallon Reist, is my mate.If another man so much as looks at her in a manner I don’t like, you will answer to me.”“Taber!”“She is more important to me than the air I breathe, the food I eat or the water I drink.”He then turned and took both her hands in his.When he dropped to both his knees, Fallon felt her world tilt on its side.“I’ve been told this is the traditional manner in which your people claim their mates.Will you stay with me here on Eurus, be my wife?”The sudden rush of his emotions hit her, sucking the air from her lungs.More than his words, she could feel how much she meant to him.And while she couldn’t hear his thoughts, she knew there was a connection between them deeper than anything she’d ever felt before.Bending down, she placed a kiss on his forehead.“Yes, I’ll be your wife.”The crowd, now completely entranced with the drama unfolding in front of them, let out a cheer, clapping and laughing their support.Fallon couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled from her and kissed Taber’s lips once more.A small smile softened his face and she could see the emotion, love in his eyes.“You honor me,” he whispered.“Trust me, the honor is mine.You are the best man I’ve ever known.”“It would mean a lot to me if I could also claim you in the manner that is typical of my people.”Fallon nodded and kissed the tip of his nose.“Of course.”What she didn’t expect was for Taber to stand up quickly, scooping her into his arms.She let out a squeak and locked her arms around his neck [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]