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.“In fact, there’s nothing I’d like better than to spend eternity with you.”“Sounds like love to me.” His kiss was whisper soft, his breath warm on her cheek.“I can’t ask for more than that.”His careful withdrawal reminded her that they were still joined.When had that become something that felt so right she was bereft without it? She only missed him for a moment, however, for he pulled the sheet up over them both as he lay down at her side.The contact was every bit as sweet when he gathered her up in his arms.Once again, she was amazed that someone so strong could be so gentle.Safe and warm in his embrace, she drifted off, noting yet another difference between him and other men.He didn’t snore in his sleep; he purred.***Jerden purred softly as Sara’s breathing deepened and her body relaxed, waiting patiently until the glow of laetralance faded and was replaced by the scattered emotions of ordinary dreams.Ordinary dreams.Not terrifying nightmares or sinister illusions, merely untroubled images that carried with them no hint of fear or despair.He sensed nothing but joy, contentment, and peace emanating from her.Only then did he allow himself to sleep.Chapter 19Reutal let out a triumphant whoop following the announcement of Sara and Jerden’s engagement, and then snickered all the way through breakfast, eliciting the occasional glare from Zatlen and an almost continuous blush from Drania.Finally, Sara couldn’t stand it any longer and held out her hand.“Okay, Reutal.Check my essence.You know you want to.”“Oh, no need for that,” Reutal said with a flap of his fingers.“I can see the bulge in the cat’s loincloth.”Which, thankfully, Jerden was wearing—ostensibly to keep from nailing her while she made the pancakes.Or so he’d said.Sara had thought that one round of early morning nookie and a hand job in the shower would make that boner go away, but so far, it hadn’t.He’d even asked for her help in getting it tucked into the loincloth—though she suspected that had been simply a ruse to get her to touch him again.Not that she minded.She was having a tough time keeping her hands off him as it was.No further encouragement was necessary.Sara had never been intimate with anyone and hadn’t wanted to be—at least, not in a very long time.But that was changing.Already she looked forward to spending another night with him—a night without troubling dreams to disturb her rest, a night with Jerden there to soothe away even her worst nightmare.She’d always enjoyed having a purring cat lying on her bed, but a purring man was infinitely better.His solid warmth was like a shield against anything that might harm her, and though the rainy season was over for another year, she knew that stormy nights would never be as frighteningly lonely again.She could admit that now, if to no one but herself.She had put on a brave front in coming to Terra Minor alone, but there had been times when the strangeness and isolation made the long, dark nights almost unbearable.She’d improved with time, but the feeling of disquiet never truly went away—almost as though she sensed her past following her, even across the expanse of space between Earth and her new home.Having Bonnie as a neighbor had helped enormously.A fellow human wasn’t easy to find on this world, but Bonnie’s pioneering spirit was an inspiration.Bonnie had begun raising vegetables and enocks with a man as her partner, but had been deserted, only to hire Lynx and find love and happiness in his arms.The same thing seemed to be happening to Sara.She was having a hard time believing it was real, though.She gazed at Jerden, his large presence far more comforting now than it had been only a few days before.Being able to not only tolerate his presence with her in the shower, but to enjoy it was proof of how far she’d come.He’d been grateful for the care she had taken of him when he was ill, but she’d really done very little.What Jerden had done for her couldn’t be measured and could certainly never be repaid.Even now, he took Reutal’s remarks in stride.“Obviously I need a better loincloth—or maybe I should just give up and wear some of those pants I bought the other day.They aren’t as comfortable, though.” With a wink at Sara, he added, “Or anywhere near as practical.”Sara shot him a quelling glance, which would’ve been far more effective without the accompanying chuckle [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]