When I squirm out of his hold, his eyes fly open. “Have I offended you?”
“Offended? Hardly.” My pussy’s still thrumming from his extra special attention. Dressing feels so incredibly wrong, like I’m ending something that could be really great. A man as sweet and wonderful as Nikkov is a rarity. Fuck, who am I kidding? There’s no one like Nikkov. He’s smart, handsome, good with kids and strangers alike. And he actuallycares. But he’s a freaking Galactic Intelligence officer who will destroy everything I’ve built if I don’t end this.
“We’ve only known each other for five days, Nikkov. This is moving too fast between us. And before you know it, you’ll be out of here onto your next mission. Earth, and I, will be little more than a memory.”
“Heartmates are not like pleasure mates. They are… forever. One soul cleaved in two by the gods and scattered across time and space, always seeking to be whole, but they never are. Not until they find their way back to one another, to the one who completes them.”
Why do I melt at everything he says and does?
Get your head in the game, girl!
I shake my head. “Having fun is one thing, but knowing one another, making a lifetime commitment is a whole other level I’m not ready or able to make.” I lean in and kiss him one last time. The kiss turns passionate quickly, threatening to escape my control, so I break it before I do something stupid like tell him the truth.
“I have to get back to work. And I’m guessing you do too.”
He tilts his head, a look of confusion on his face.
“That other lead of yours?—”
“Is not as important as a sholani. All warriors swear to sacrifice their lives for Zyan and her people, but when we find our sholani… there is nothing else that comes first, even Zyan. That is understood by all.”
“I’m not your sholani. I’m just… me. Noelle Snow, a human born to do the best she can to survive a post-occupation world. Running off with an alien to another world isn’t the way to do that.”
“What do you fear? Me, or what being with a warrior means? I would not force you to leave your world, or to do anything against your wishes. Sholan and sholani are equals. As you come to know me, you will understand.”
“And love? Does that fit into the equation?” I shake my head again, because I can’t believe I’m standing here talking to him as if we could have a future together. “Lots of people confuse lust and love. What we have right here is lust. Love… takes time.”
With furrowed brows, he backs away from me. “As you reminded me, I have a lead to follow. And I… need to think.”
“Think? Usually people just say goodbye and leave. My brother did that. Came and went at all hours, without saying a word. One day, he never came back. We found him dead two days later. A rival gang caught up to him and his buddies.”
Nikkov steps toward me, as if he wants to comfort me, but I hold up a hand stopping him. “It’s okay, Warrior. It was a long time ago. I’m just saying I’m a realist about life… and people.”
“Iwillreturn, sholani.”
My smile is genuine, but not one filled with hope. “Go, do what you need to do.”
With horns twisting, he nods and leaves. The door clicks shut behind him, leaving me alone in the warehouse. I’m shivering, but it’s not from the cold. I may have just turned away what could be the best thing in my life…
CHAPTER EIGHT
NIKKOV
With my sholani’s taste and scent still clinging to me, I leave the warehouse, confused about her words and what I should do next. She speaks of lust and love, concepts that are not unknown to zyanthans but ones that are… irrelevant.
My mating cock rose for her, though she did not see. I only had the pleasure, the honor of tasting her, not of showing her we are fated for one another. When my mission here ends, I’m to leave Earth, and she’s made it clear she will not leave her world. I fear I understand why.
Yesterday, Warrior Zirkov’s team in Los Angeles intercepted a message about the batch of blasters I’m tracking. The person in charge is female.
I cannot ignore what my mind plays over and over again. As the male who attacked my sholani turned, I glimpsed what appeared to be a blaster part in her hand. A charge conduit. As much as I want to dismiss what I saw, I cannot. My sholani may be part of the Brotherhood, an organization in league with theCoalition, the group of individuals who not only attacked and controlled Earth for many years, but nearly destroyed Zyan.
If she is part of the Brotherhood… My skin grows cold and my horns twist so tight I’m sure they’ll never straighten.
How can I save her? She’s as driven and dedicated to her work as every other member of the Brotherhood I’ve ever met. More, even.
None of this makes sense. She scorned me for damaging the toys. Her lovely smile only appeared when I had fixed them. From everything I’ve seen of her, she cares for the younglings here. This charity project means a lot to her.
Because it’s how she’s distributing the blasters, I realize.
