Ka'Cit's Haven (Riv’s Sanctuary #3)

As he collapsed on top of her, he pulled her with him up on the resting slab, cradling her close as he kissed her on top of her head.

“Nee-ya…” he groaned, “did I… Are you hurting?”

A warm feeling filled her and she snuggled back into him some more.

“No, Ka’Cit. You didn’t hurt me. I told you that you won’t hurt me.”

He stiffened a little, enough for her to notice, but he didn’t reply.

She was suddenly tired enough to fall asleep again and as they lay there in silence, simply enjoying the aftermath of their lovemaking, Nia’s eyes slowly began to close.

She was almost off to sleep when his words floated to her ear.

“That’s what I’m afraid of most, ta’ii. I don’t want to hurt you. It terrifies me that I will.”

She would have reassured him again, but sleep was already claiming her consciousness.

So, instead, she took his hand in hers and pulled his arm around her.

Sleep.

When they woke, he’d realize he’d been worried about nothing.

32

Nia’s eyes opened to movement within the room.

She’d slept much more soundly than she’d expected, being that she was in a strange place and all, but Ka’Cit’s hard, warm body tucked against hers had been comforting.

He was getting dressed now, his mask was already on and his trousers too. He caught her gaze as she sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes.

Dropping what he was doing, he moved toward her, his tail waving lazily behind him.

Everything about the day before came rushing back and Nia felt a deep warmth spread through her at the sight of him.

With one hand, he brushed a finger against the side of her cheek and memory of everything they’d shared came flooding back.

“You’re awake,” he whispered.

Nia nodded. “What time is it? You should have woken me up.”

His eyes studied her through the slit in his mask and she got the impression he was smiling underneath it.

“I think you needed the rest.”

Nia smiled, her cheeks warming a little. “You’re getting dressed.”

“Our ship is fixed.”

That woke her up.

“What? So soon?” A pang of disappointment she hadn’t expected to feel followed those words.

“The Torian did not sleep till he was done. It almost feels like he wanted to get rid of me.”

Nia chuckled and pulled the bedding up around her. Then a thought hit her. “What about the job? The package? Those humans that need our help? Could we still make it now that the ship is fixed much sooner than we thought it would be?”

“You are very concerned about the rest of your kind, aren’t you?”