He tilted his head.“It is two weeks in the year.”
She snorted.“I will just skip this year.Thanks.”
“You won’t be able to opt out.This is going to sweep through you in a blaze, and your body will call to mine.”
“It did that once.You didn’t answer.You left me alone and screaming.I have felt the blaze.I survived it.”Margo looked at him calmly.
He walked to her and dropped to his knees.“I failed you.I had light in my hands, and I failed you.I have punished those who did that to you and have dismissed the women’s quarters completely.There is nothing and no one left there.Though it drives me to madness, I will wait until you take pity on me and come to my bed of your own will.”
She looked at his head and met his gaze.“Why are you kneeling?”
“I am for you, and you are for me.Even your daughter’s spirit agrees.This was her idea.”
“She was always very smart.”
Aken-Var said, “Will you tell me about her?”
Margo swallowed.“Not here.”
She grabbed him and hauled him to his feet.She pulled him through the halls and into her quarters.
She hauled him to the bed, stepped onto it, and kissed him.“She was my heart.”She nuzzled his jaw.“She was my soul.”She bit his chin.“And when she died, part of me died with her.I wear the marks from that battle.”
He took her hand and ran his thumb over the silver line.“You tried to join her.”
“Yup.Tried to join Skylar’s gathering.I didn’t though.I heard others who needed help, so I wrapped my wounds up and got to the business of living.It’s what Delia would have wanted.”
He swallowed and looked at her.“It is what she wanted.She’s very proud of you.”
She chuckled and leaned her head against his shoulder.“I know.She wanted me just to grab you and have my way with you.”
Aken-Var smiled.“I agree with that suggestion.”
“Would you...do most of the work?I am not feeling particularly savage right now.”
He inhaled sharply.“Do you promise to maul me on another occasion?”
She laughed.“If the occasion arises.”
He tore her ship suit in two and stared at her.“Beautiful.You glow so bright to my eyes.”
She looked at him.“Is it like a blazing white surrounding your body?”
He inhaled deeply again, and his mouth pressed to hers while he took her to the bed, and they used gentle touches that grew progressively more urgent until his clothing was gone and they were moving together.The first orgasm travelled from Margo to Aken-Var and back again.It was an endless cascade that echoed their first time together.
* * * *
Skylar looked at Delia.“You are focusing hard.”
“Yeah, well, they are making me a baby brother or sister right now.Sounds juvenile, but I am super excited not to be an only child.Mom is a great mom.She needs more kids to practice with.”
Chloe blinked.“That’s fast.”
“He asked her something she couldn’t resist.It would drop her guard and make her vulnerable.”
Chloe asked, “What was that?”
Delia smiled.“He asked about me.”
