are.”
“Computer?”
“Yes, Prince Shi’Lan?”
“Where would we find the rescued female called Maryann?”
“Maryann Wilson is in the botanical gardens on deck eighteen.”
“Thank you, Computer. If anyone is looking for us, please direct them to that location.”
“Understood, Prince Shi’Lan.”
After giving his mate a short bow, Hunter held out his elbow, inviting her to take it. Instead, Amy blushed prettily and reached for his hand, twining their fingers together. “Together, let’s talk to her together.”
Giddier than he could ever remember feeling, Hunter squeezed Amy’s hand and led her out of the Chantrean Mating Garden, praying the rest of his courtship with his mate continued to go this smoothly.
* * * *
As they walked down the corridor hand-in-hand Amy couldn’t help but wonder just how Hunter managed to become so important to her. When she took the time to think about it, there should be no way that she’d allow his touch, welcome it in fact. But after the bonding ceremony, she couldn’t help but crave his touch, desire his closeness.
She felt like two different people. The frail tortured women Hunter rescued, and now the semi-confident woman that is Hunter’s mate. She could actually feel his confidence in her, feel his belief in her strength and courage and it empowered her. His belief in her made her want to prove him right, and gave her the strength to fight her insecurities. She’d need all her courage and strength in the coming days if they were to rescue her people and defeat the Black Rose.
As they rounded the corner, Amy pulled Hunter to a stop. “What is that?” she asked, pointing toward the tiny creature cowering in one of the doorways.
Hunter shook his head and chuckled. “It seems that one of my niece’s pets has gotten loose. That’s a Durling . It’s a cross between a cat and a fluff bunny. It’s as round and fluffy as an Earth bunny without the long ears but purrs and pounces like a kitten though it has just a tiny nub for a tail.”
“I assume it’s harmless then?”
Chuckling, Hunter dropped to his knees and slowly crawled toward the frightened creature. You can say that. The only harm he will do is to your clothes when he’s upset. He tends to lose control of his bladder when stressed.
Amy snorted but kept her gaze focused on Hunter’s ass as he continued to crawl down the length of the corridor. His uniform pants pulled tight across his bottom outlining his tight buttocks to perfection. She had to bite her lip to keep from saying something crude. She couldn’t believe the change that had come over her in just one day. Could Hunter have put some sort of spell on her, or drugged her compliance in some way? It must have something to do with the mate bonds. Perhaps the mate bonds made her feel that way.
She shook her head. No. No, he couldn’t have. Besides, the mate bonds worked both ways. He knew what she was thinking, feeling, just as she knew what he was. She’d feel his duplicity, his sense of guilt, through the bond, and she sensed none of that. All she felt from him was his need for revenge on her behalf and his overwhelming feelings of love and compassion for her. How could she continue to hold herself back from him, knowing how he felt about her? She couldn’t.
With that realization, something inside her eased. Instead of waiting for something bad to happen, she’d be proactive. She’d dive into her own psyche. She’d build herself up both mentally and physically by speaking with the healers and working out in the exercise room. She wanted to come to Hunter, to her mate, as whole as she could.
With her decision made, Amy once again focused on Hunter and his determination to capture the runaway Durling . She couldn’t help but smile as she watched him babbling to the black ball of fluff. After what seemed forever, the tiny creature slowly approached Hunter. She couldn’t make out any of the Durling’s features except for
“Computer?”
“Yes, Prince Shi’Lan?”
“Where would we find the rescued female called Maryann?”
“Maryann Wilson is in the botanical gardens on deck eighteen.”
“Thank you, Computer. If anyone is looking for us, please direct them to that location.”
“Understood, Prince Shi’Lan.”
After giving his mate a short bow, Hunter held out his elbow, inviting her to take it. Instead, Amy blushed prettily and reached for his hand, twining their fingers together. “Together, let’s talk to her together.”
Giddier than he could ever remember feeling, Hunter squeezed Amy’s hand and led her out of the Chantrean Mating Garden, praying the rest of his courtship with his mate continued to go this smoothly.
* * * *
As they walked down the corridor hand-in-hand Amy couldn’t help but wonder just how Hunter managed to become so important to her. When she took the time to think about it, there should be no way that she’d allow his touch, welcome it in fact. But after the bonding ceremony, she couldn’t help but crave his touch, desire his closeness.
She felt like two different people. The frail tortured women Hunter rescued, and now the semi-confident woman that is Hunter’s mate. She could actually feel his confidence in her, feel his belief in her strength and courage and it empowered her. His belief in her made her want to prove him right, and gave her the strength to fight her insecurities. She’d need all her courage and strength in the coming days if they were to rescue her people and defeat the Black Rose.
As they rounded the corner, Amy pulled Hunter to a stop. “What is that?” she asked, pointing toward the tiny creature cowering in one of the doorways.
Hunter shook his head and chuckled. “It seems that one of my niece’s pets has gotten loose. That’s a Durling . It’s a cross between a cat and a fluff bunny. It’s as round and fluffy as an Earth bunny without the long ears but purrs and pounces like a kitten though it has just a tiny nub for a tail.”
“I assume it’s harmless then?”
Chuckling, Hunter dropped to his knees and slowly crawled toward the frightened creature. You can say that. The only harm he will do is to your clothes when he’s upset. He tends to lose control of his bladder when stressed.
Amy snorted but kept her gaze focused on Hunter’s ass as he continued to crawl down the length of the corridor. His uniform pants pulled tight across his bottom outlining his tight buttocks to perfection. She had to bite her lip to keep from saying something crude. She couldn’t believe the change that had come over her in just one day. Could Hunter have put some sort of spell on her, or drugged her compliance in some way? It must have something to do with the mate bonds. Perhaps the mate bonds made her feel that way.
She shook her head. No. No, he couldn’t have. Besides, the mate bonds worked both ways. He knew what she was thinking, feeling, just as she knew what he was. She’d feel his duplicity, his sense of guilt, through the bond, and she sensed none of that. All she felt from him was his need for revenge on her behalf and his overwhelming feelings of love and compassion for her. How could she continue to hold herself back from him, knowing how he felt about her? She couldn’t.
With that realization, something inside her eased. Instead of waiting for something bad to happen, she’d be proactive. She’d dive into her own psyche. She’d build herself up both mentally and physically by speaking with the healers and working out in the exercise room. She wanted to come to Hunter, to her mate, as whole as she could.
With her decision made, Amy once again focused on Hunter and his determination to capture the runaway Durling . She couldn’t help but smile as she watched him babbling to the black ball of fluff. After what seemed forever, the tiny creature slowly approached Hunter. She couldn’t make out any of the Durling’s features except for
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