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“My memories scare me. My mother died in childbirth, and I don’t want to repeat the past.”

“Ah…I see.” He narrowed his gaze. “Is that why you showed such a keen interest in adopting one of the orphans?”

I swallowed and leaned back. “Maybe. I told Meriuam what I remembered. She said that there’s nothing for me to worry about and that they’ll make sure nothing happens to me or any babies I have.”

“It’s true. Don’t worry about that. You’re not your mother either. And we’re not on Earth.”

“With the other women, they were able to read their minds either before boarding the ship or shortly after they got here. They already knew their names, their occupations, and their thoughts. With me, not so much. I was shocked, reserved, and complacent. When I woke up, Meriuam said I uttered one thing, ‘I don’t want to go back.’ My memories come unpredictably. The crystal pendant does help some, I think.” I grabbed the stone and squeezed it lightly. “I guess you’ll really think twice about keeping me now, won’t you? Now that you have proof that I’m frail and weak.”

Zark rose from the table with his gaze set on me. He slipped his fingers under my chin and then grasped my forearm and led me to stand. Even at full height, he was still more than several heads taller than me.

“When you were presented to me, the first thing I thought was how beautiful you were. I am not easily manipulated by the sight of beautiful things. So then I thought, it had to be more than just your beauty that captivated me, that stirred something inside me that I’ve never felt before. Don’t you see? The last thing I was thinking about when I accepted you at auction was what you could give me. I saw the fear in your eyes, the desperation, the confusion, and I felt compelled to change that. In the weeks that you were at the dorm, don’t think that I didn’t come to check on you just because you didn’t see me. I did. Every single time, I told myself that maybe you were better of left reading to the orphans at circle time…and I left.”

I gasped. “You…?”

He stroked my face. “All my life, I have been called upon to wreck havoc. With you, I envisioned something else. I…”

He stopped speaking and diverted his gaze. “But that doesn’t matter now…if you wish to protect your womb for fear of what might happen, I wish to honor that right.”

“Zark,” I whispered, smiling. I could’ve responded in a hundred different ways, but the words wouldn’t come. I felt compelled to feel his arms around me, so left myself on my tiptoes, leaned against him, and pressed a kiss to his mouth.

His arms were around me in seconds and I felt whole again, and protected and wanted.

I moaned against his mouth, surprised at how soft his lips felt against mine.

His body was like a boulder, filled to the max with muscles.

I hadn’t known he’d felt this way. And although, he claimed he wasn’t a man, he surely did have a heart.

Why should I deprive myself over fear? I’ve deprive myself of memories. Of true happiness…

I parted from the kiss and looked up into his stormy gray eyes. “With you, I’m not afraid. What did you envision, Zark? Tell me what you envisioned with me. I want to know.”

“It’s no matter now.”

I pressed my palm to his face and pressed my body closer to his. “Please.” I took both of his hands and placed them on my hips. “I want you.”

“Did they teach you how to seduce a Zunatorian warrior in the dorms or is this all you, sweet Freya,” he whispered against my lips.

I wanted to live before this was all over.

I wanted to get lost in the passion I was feeling.

I wanted to love…

“It’s all me, wanting you.”