Page 147 of Alpha's Rejected Warrior
A chuckle breaks free from my throat.
“I promise to lean on you. I will let you in if I fall apart and trust that you’ll be there to help me put myself back together. As long as I have you, I never want to be alone again.”
I pull her against me. She buries her face in my chest, clutching my shirt.
My face stays nestled in her hair as I speak softly to her. “You’re not alone. Not anymore, and never again.”
I love you, Commander,I add through our bond.
She laughs — sincerely laughs — and the sound is so unexpected, sofree, that it surprises me.
I love you, human.
I tilt her chin up and press my lips to hers.
She kisses me back like the war is finally over. No law between us. No fear waiting at the edges. No clock counting down the hours we have left.
Then her hands find my shoulders, and mine find the buttons of her gown, and the moonlight does the rest.
There’s no urgency tonight. Just us with all the time in the world.
Later, with the sheets twisted around our legs and Rhiannon’s cheek resting over my heart, she drags a fingertip across my chest.
“You know,” she says against my skin, “for a human, you have impressive stamina.”
I snort. “For a human?That’sthe best compliment you’ve got?”
She tilts her chin up, and I catch the smirk playing at her lips. “Would you prefer I lie?”
“I’d prefer you admit I’m exceptional regardless of species.”
“Hmm.” She pretends to consider this. “Adequate.”
“Adequate.” I clutch my chest in mock offense. “I pour my heart and soul into that performance, and you give meadequate?”
Her laugh rolls through me, warm and unrestrained, nothing like the controlled Commander I first met in that cramped apartment. She props herself up on one elbow, dark hair spilling across my chest.
“Fine. You were...” She pauses, golden-brown eyes sparking with mischief. “Surprisingly competent.”
“I’m framing that. Getting it embroidered on a pillow.Surprisingly competent.”
She swats my shoulder, but she’s grinning. Actually grinning. The sight of it still catches me off guard sometimes — how soft she becomes when it’s just us.
You’re ridiculous.
You love it.
Unfortunately.
Warmth floods the bond, contradicting her playful words entirely.
I tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. “Thea’s due any day now.”
“Mmm.” Rhiannon settles back against me. “Xander’s been insufferable. Hovering over her like she’s made of glass.”
“Can you blame him?”
“No.” A pause. “I’d probably be worse.”
