The Royal Mate (Space Wars) Read Online Free PDF Page B

once it is announced. They’ll all be in for a huge surprise. There are very few individuals in this world, or any other, I respect enough to listen to their advice. Fintan is one, Bracken Kauller is another, your mother, and you, my little one. I might even listen to Fintan’s brother-in-law, Petr van Jahnsen. Being he is an Imarian fleet admiral, he’s wise about that side of things. And he has not yet attempted to kill Fintan since he bonded with Adira, Petr’s sister. Not that he likely has not plotted many ways to kill Fin, but he has played nice to date. I admire his restraint and cunning, analytical mind.” His arm tightened around her, squeezing her closer to his body. “But I think we should leave off this topic. We can’t predict what will be coming next, and there is no point for you to be upset for no reason. Close your eyes, Paisley. Rest with me.”
    He was right, of course. She moved so that she could rub her cheek to his chest and closed her eyes. “Sleep does sound good.” She yawned and closed her eyes.
    “Rest well, Paisley.” She felt his lips press to her forehead. His hand drifted lazily up and down her back, the movement soothing. It helped to relax her more until everything slipped away.
     

Chapter Six
     
    When she woke, Paisley knew that they had slept through the entire night instead of waking. She knew this by the low glow on the screen in the bedroom that simulated windows. They both had to have been far more exhausted than either of them had realized.
    She turned to face Markus, smiling when he tightened his arms around her and grumbled. “Markus, I need to use the bathroom. We slept all night. I need to get up and then we’ll get up and make breakfast. Come on, let me go?” It was almost as if he didn’t want to let her go. She had never felt that way before and she liked it. A lot.
    He made a low, grumbling sound that might have been words, but she couldn’t decipher what they were. Finally, he loosened his hold on her but not before pressing a kiss to the exposed skin at her shoulder. Flopping onto his back when he released her, he tossed an arm over his eyes and instinctively she knew he’d dozed back off.
    When she came back, she just looked down at him. She couldn’t help it. He looked so carefree in those moments, far less guarded and simply relaxed. “I’m going to start breakfast for us. Rest as long as you need,” she told him softly and walked out of the bedroom. She hoped he would join her soon, but she didn’t know how tired he was.
    Strong male arms wrapped around her while she stood sipping her first cup of coffee of the morning. “You left me all alone in there,” he said. His voice still held the edge of sleep to it, making it rougher and deeper than ever. “Shame on you, Paisley.”
    “I left you alone but I made coffee.” She leaned back against him and closed her eyes. “I could become very used to this, having you wrapping your arms around me and warming me up. I seem to be cold all the time but not when you hold me.” She felt peace and warmth when he held her and she loved it.
    “Well, we definitely cannot have you being cold, little one.” Turning her in his arms, he lifted her until she was sitting on the counter. Markus stepped in between her legs and drew her close before wrapping her up in his arms once again. “I’m glad you made coffee. Even with the vid screens, my body feels out of sorts down here. On the destroyer, I can tell you the time without being near a port, monitor, or any timepiece. Yet here I don’t have a clue.”
    She wrapped her legs around him and leaned in so she could kiss him again. When they parted, she licked her lips. “Breakfast is finishing in the oven. It’s an egg casserole with potatoes, bacon, eggs, and cheese, lots of cheese.” She had just tossed it together and was waiting for him to wake up to turn up the heat a bit on it. “Did you, at least, sleep well?” she wanted to know.
    He took her cup