“Parlor? That sounds awfully fancy,” he teased and crossed the bedroom floor. Standing in front of her, he reached for the sash tying her dress closed and tugged it loose. “No, I don’t want to spend time in the parlor.”
“You want to make love?” Her cheeks were stained the prettiest shade of pink, and even though he could tell she was exhausted, she was still willing to have sex if he wanted.
“I do,” he confirmed, “but later. After you’ve slept.”
“I’m not tired,” she insisted, shoulders straightening. “I’m ready and willing to please you, sir.”
“You’ve already pleased me very much.” He pulled the dress away from her body and tossed it onto the nearest flat surface. “It would please me even more if you took care of yourself and rested.”
She wore her strange underthings beneath the dress. These were less fancy than the ones she had been wearing when she first undressed for him. She had explained those were her “good” clothes, and these were her regular, everyday pieces.
“Take these off,” he ordered huskily.
“My nightgown is in my bag.”
“No.” He placed his palm against her cheek and stroked her face. “I want you naked in my bed.”
Her eyes widened. “Every night?”
“Just about,” he said, certain there would be times when she preferred to be clothed.
“And will you be naked?” Her gaze fell to his chest and then lower.
“Seems fair,” he agreed, amused by the deepening flush in her face. He gave her panties a tug. “Off. Now. Then bed.”
“Yes, sir.” She complied quickly, and he led her to their bed. He pulled back the covers and waited for her to climb in and get settled before drawing them up to her neck. “Are you coming to bed?”
“Soon,” he promised. “I have to work out and check my inbox.”
“Work out?”
“Exercise.”
“But you ran this morning when you chased me.”
“I did, but that’s hardly enough exercise for me to meet our physical requirements.” He leaned down and captured her mouth in a gentle kiss. “Sleep. I’ll be in later.”
“Good night?” She glanced around uncertainly. “I don’t know what time it is so I’m guessing it’s close to evening?”
“It is. You’ll adjust to the artificial light soon. It typically takes three to four cycles before you become accustomed to the fake sunrise and sunset.” He smoothed a few wisps of hair away from her beautiful face. “I know it’s a lot to take in, Alys. I know you’ve left everything behind and are having to learn a whole new world. I’ll help you every step of the way. All you have to do is ask for my help when you need it.”
“I will.” She grasped his hand and brought it close. She pressed a tender kiss to it, and it burned him like a bran. “Thank you for being so good to me.”
“You’re my mate,” he said, as if that should explain everything. It must have been an adequate answer because she smiled sweetly and then closed her eyes, snuggling down under the covers. He rose slowly and left the room, pausing in the doorway to glance back at her. Alys. His mate. Sleeping in his bed.
Bewildered by how quickly his life had changed, he crossed their living area and entered the space set aside as his office. There was enough room for him to complete simple body weight workouts to satisfy his daily checklist, and privacy for him to handle work when necessary. Before he started his exercise routine, he sat at his small desk and accessed the security screen on his work terminal.
After typing in his password and using his chip to gain entrance, he noticed there was a message from Keen that had been copied to Orion and Hazard as well as Grim. Certain that nothing good could come from a message directly from the ship’s Shadow Force commanding officer, he reluctantly opened it and read the contents. There were security stills from the ship he and Hazard had been piloting on the mission.
Stills of a man Swift had never before seen.
A man who had been on their ship.
Hiding.
Lurking.
A stowaway.
A saboteur.
The fine hair on the back of his neck stood on end. His skin erupted in goosebumps. It wasn’t only the creepiness of learning that another human had been moving around their ship unseen and unaccounted. That was bad enough, but the idea that this man could have easily killed everyone on the ship was even worse.
More importantly—where the fuck was this man now? Was he on the Valiant?
Did he have unfinished business? A plan he was waiting to enact?
Swift glanced at the doorway of his office and thought of Alys sleeping in the other room. She was his future. She was the promise of a family and a life he had craved for so many years.
And there was no way in hell he was letting this nameless terrorist fuck that up.
Chapter Nine
With a startled intake of breath, Alys woke. Terrified she had overslept, she bolted upright and reached for the wind-up clock she kept on her bedside table. There was nothing there, and she slapped around for it, wondering which of her mischievous brothers had taken it this time.
“Alys?”
She gasped—and then realized it was Swift. My husband. My mate.
“Are you okay?” Concern filled his voice.
“Yes. Sorry.” She winced with guilt at interrupting his rest. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“I don’t mind.” His hand found hers atop the covers, and he interlaced their fingers. It was a comforting gesture that eased her guilt. “It’s still night. You should go back to sleep.”
“I’m not sure I can. I feel like I need to get up and start working.” Years of following such a strict schedule left her feeling at loose ends. “Heat the oven. Make breakfast. Start bread for lunch. Gather eggs. Help the boys finish milking the cows and goats.”
She trailed off as she noticed a strange green glow coming from Swift. A moment later, he said, “It’s two in the morning, Alys.”
“My alarm usually wakes me at 4:30.”
“When do you go to bed?”
“10 if I’m lucky.”
He grunted—literally grunted—and then tugged her back down into bed. He wrapped his brawny arms around her and pulled her into a close embrace. Her head rested perfectly on his arm, and she wondered if they were always meant to meet. “Sleep, Alys. There’s no work waiting for you here.”
She figured there was no use arguing with him. At any rate, snuggling in tight against his hot body was incredibly soothing. She closed her eyes and relaxed. If she couldn’t fall asleep, she would enjoy being held by a man who seemed to think she was beautiful and worth protecting.
As it turned out, she had no trouble falling right back to sleep. When she woke later, it was to the gentle caress of Swift’s hand across her lower belly. It wasn’t exactly sexual, but it was intimate. It was the kind of touch only possible between a husband and his wife.
Well. In her world at least.
“Swift?”
“Hmm?” He nuzzled her neck, and her shoulders lifted slightly as a ticklish thrill scuttled through her chest.
“Have you done this with many women?”