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Wren rested a hand on his chest. “Dinky will soon be too busy to play with you. I’ve had some great news. We ran tests on the norkie hybrid he’s been mating. She’s pregnant.”
“Hey, you hear that, Dinky? You’re going to be a dad.” Striker risked petting his head and almost got his fingers bitten.
“Dinky, don’t be mean,” Wren said. “No more games for you. It’ll be late nights and early morning feeds. Norkies share the parenting duties.” The grin she gave Striker melted his heart. “They won’t be purebred norkies, but they’ll be a welcome addition to the breeding pool. I’ve already put out feelers to our contacts who may be interested in taking the norkies when they’re ready.”
“That’s a relief. For a second, I thought you were going to tell me you’d take them yourself.”
She tilted her head from side to side. “I could have one. Norkie babies are so cute, and these ones will probably be fluffy.”
“No more animals. This place isn’t big enough for any more.”
Wren shrugged. “Then we should move.”
“You want to move out of this luxury?” He gestured around the basic living quarters.
“We could put in a request for bigger quarters. Quarters that we share with each other. And the norkies, of course.”
His heart skipped a beat. “Are you asking me to move in with you?”
“I mean, I guess. I’m really suggesting it so I get extra space for more norkies. But living together isn’t such a bad idea.” She squirmed as he jabbed her gently in the ribs. “This place is only meant for one person, and it gets cramped. You haven’t gone to your own quarters for almost a month.”
He wrapped an arm around her waist and drew her close. “You’re getting bored of me? I don’t mean to crowd you. It’s just...” Damn, he had it so bad for Wren. “I just like being here.”
“No! Definitely not. I love having you here, but you are ridiculously large, and you take up a lot of room. And you’re messy.”
He glanced around the lounge. It looked like a tornado had whipped through here. “I’ll be tidier. And it’s a great idea. We can give up our quarters so there are more rooms for the new recruits once Cleo finds the right candidates. There are bigger rooms on the other side of the ship. How about I put in a request tomorrow?”
Wren’s stunning eyes radiated her happiness. “I’d love that. I love coming home to you.”
He tipped her back, held her close, and captured her mouth, tasting her sweetness, lingering over the kisses down her throat, and savoring the soft moans she made in the back of her throat.
“Striker, this is Blaze. You online?” Striker’s comm fired to life.
He pulled back from the intoxicating kiss with Wren. “No, I’m not here.”
Blaze chuckled. “We’ve got new missions scheduled. You’re needed in the briefing room. Wren, too. I’m guessing you’re together.”
He sighed. “Yep. Understood. We’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Wren slid her arms around his neck. “Ten minutes. You know, I’m not that hungry. I wonder what we could do in ten minutes.”
He grabbed her and carried her to the bedroom. “I’ve got an idea. No clothes, me between your legs, and you screaming my name.”
Wren’s throaty chuckle sent a spasm of desire through him. “That’s a welcome home I’ll always be ready for.”
So would he. Wren. She was his missing piece. She’d healed him, shown him love was worth taking a risk for, and given him a future brighter than a super nova.
He dropped her on the bed, peeled off her jumpsuit, and kneeled at her feet. “Let me see what I can do.”
Epilogue
Rexx
“Are you okay, big guy?” Daisy Roebuck’s soft voice pinged against Rexx O’lib’s heart like ricocheting gun fire. It was the way she said big guy, like it was a damned term of affection. It wasn’t. It was just the truth.
He uncurled his fingers from his gun and forced his shoulders to relax. “I’m fine.”
“Then what’s with the staring?” Daisy kept her gaze forward as she scanned the planet they’d been on for fourteen hours, tracking the red-backed growlop. It was an ugly, giant bird-like creature that spat venom. Rexx wasn’t a fan. Who would be?
