“I…” He stammered a bit, amazed yet again at her insight into him. “I can never make it right, but I can make it better. I can try.”
She hadn’t pulled away, even with his revelation. If anything, she leaned closer to him. How could she be so trusting?
“I need to protect you,” Serac said. They were the truest words he had ever uttered. “The safest thing is for you to come with me off the planet.”
“If I go with you, it won’t be because it’s safe,” Kimmy said. There was a strange edge to her tone. “I can handle this. I’m the youngest person to ever open a storefront in Harbor, and I’m killing it.”
“You’re…killing your store?” Serac asked.
She actually laughed a bit. “No, that means I’m doing an amazing job. My point is, I know how to take care of myself.”
“But we will care for her now.” Serac’s zyln seemed just as confused as he was at her reaction.
“I have no doubt of that,” Serac said. “At least, within your realm of experience—but Dean is well beyond that. I know him. I know what he’s capable of.”
Serac didn’t want to think of what might happen to her if Dean captured her. Perhaps she was imagining it as well, because her brow furrowed and she frowned. Her gaze dropped from his.
She let out a burst of breath, then sat heavily, resting her elbows on her knees and covering her face with her hands. Serac wasn’t sure what to do. All he knew was that he felt an irresistible urge to comfort her.
He knelt at her side—the offer of respect resonating through him as profoundly right—and gently touched her arm.
“Accepting assistance doesn’t mean you’re weak,” he said.
“That’s not it. I just… I didn’t think you were offering to take me off the planet to keep me safe.” She looked up at him and shrugged one shoulder. “I thought maybe you actually liked spending time with me as much as I like spending time with you.”
His chest tightened and the hairs on his arms rose. She enjoyed his company?
“But of course you don’t,” she went on. “Sabrina’s the only one who can stand being around my chatterbox self for any length of time, and now she’s got Len, so I’m alone—well, except for Payback, and I know I can’t keep him forev—”
Serac grasped her face and kissed her.
She let out a soft moan, leaning into him, parting her lips in invitation. He plunged into her mouth, savoring her taste, her warmth.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Her lips moved against his, her passion matching his own. Energy built within him, his skin tingling, every cell singing with life.
“Ahem.” Marvin cleared his throat loudly behind them.
Serac broke off the kiss, but held Kimmy’s gaze as he stood.
“I’m just going to put these in your car,” Marvin said.
Fabric rustled by the door as Marvin headed outside. Serac barely noticed when the door opened and shut, except that Kimmy shivered from the chill breeze that blew in.
He lifted the blanket higher over her shoulders. Payback peeked his head out and scolded Serac, then burrowed into a more comfortable spot.
“Is he going to stay there all the time forever?” Kimmy asked.
“No.” Serac surprised himself by letting out a little laugh. “He just needs to get used to being imprinted to you.”
Serac offered her his hand as she rose. They stood close, and the urge to kiss her again rose within him.
“Will you be all right in the cold?” he asked.
“Yeah.” She looked down at their mugs of cocoa. “We shouldn’t let these go to waste, though.”
She picked up her mug and took a sip, then made an appreciative noise. Serac picked up his as well.
The scent was pleasing. He took a cautious sip and found it sweet and rich. The warmth of the drink seemed to spread out from his stomach. No wonder Kimmy liked it so much.
But she hates the cold…
The elemental spirits that Centaurans fused with gave them their immunity to cold, as well as the ability to change their shape. But it also made them radiate cold at times when they felt extreme emotions. He couldn’t always control it.
Until she accepted his mate mark, she was vulnerable to his ability. He could hurt her.
“We will never hurt her,” his zyln thought.
But she would still be uncomfortable because of his presence. The thought was unsettling.
“It’s extra drafty in here today.” Kimmy shivered again, pulling the blanket closer.
Serac willed himself to calm. “We should take blankets along. My ship might be colder than you’re used to.”
And in the confined space, if he kept accidentally lowering the temperature, she would need them.
“Kimmy, I—” Before Serac could explain this aspect of his nature, the door opened again.
Marvin entered, bringing his own cold with him. He stomped to free his feet of snow.
“You’re all loaded up,” Marvin said. “This one’s meant for Antares-3.”
Antares-3 wasn’t far—at least, not for Serac’s ship. He was oddly disappointed.
He had hoped for more time alone with Kimmy.
The Antareans presented another issue for him. They would be able to sense what he was. He wasn’t sure how they would react to a Centauran—even one bringing them vital resources for restoring their planet’s ecosystem.
“My contacts on Antares-3 have worked with a private supplier from Earth before,” Marvin continued, “though I hear she’s part of the Department of Homeworld Security now.”
“Well, Serac shouldn’t keep them waiting.” Kimmy took one more sip of her cocoa, then set down the mug.
“I thank you for the shipment.” Serac pulled out a pouch filled with gold ore and handed it to Marvin. “I believe this mineral is considered valuable on Earth. We can provide it in abundance in exchange for more resources.”
As Marvin emptied the pouch into his hand, Kimmy’s eyes widened so much he could see the whites all the way around her irises. Her mouth dropped open and she stammered.
“Is that gold?” she asked.
Marvin shook his head, dumping the nuggets back in the pouch. He offered it to Serac.
“I don’t need it,” Marvin said. “That’s not why I do this.”
“Are you kidding me?” Kimmy’s voice had reached a high pitch. She grabbed the pouch before Serac could take it. “We are so freaking investing this! I mean, selling it first, and then investing the money. You can fix up the farm, expand your house—”
“I have everything I need,” Marvin said. “And your friend here probably has a schedule to keep, so we should argue later.”
Kimmy scowled at him. “Fine. But I’m holding on to this in the meantime.”
Serac extended his hand to Marvin in the Earth gesture. “You are a most excellent sentient.”
Marvin shook it. “Just put the shipment to good use.”
“And I will put this to good use.” Kimmy shook the bag. “Once I have a better idea of this whole operation you have going, maybe I can find a way to legitimize it or something.”
Marvin laughed and shook his head. “She’s going to keep you busy,” he said.