4. Lordek

FOUR

Ilost myself in the depths of Iris"s eyes, stolen away by the whirlwind of colors that danced and shimmered there like stardust. As our lips met, a soft moan escaped her. Her eyes locked on mine, and the need there was nearly my undoing.

My dual hearts thundered wildly in my chest, threatening to burst through my ribs. I'd never wanted anyone as much as I did this glorious person.

"Iris," I whispered against her mouth. I traced my fingertips slowly up and down her side as if by doing so, I could draw an invisible line to connect us.

She shifted beneath me, pressing her hips up against mine, her hands clutching my shoulders. She clung to me in a way no one else ever had; a way no one else ever would.

Pain stabbed through me, centering in my leg. I broke off the kiss and collapsed back onto the bed beside her, groaning. What had I done? She'd offered me shelter. She'd tried to heal me. And I'd taken advantage of that.

"Are you okay?" Strain came through in her voice. She rose onto her palm, staring down at me, her face tight with concern.

My vision swam in and out, and I clung to her words, her presence. Only the thought of her kept my world stable. Somehow, I knew if I held onto the thread binding us, everything would be alright.

Thoughts flowed back into my mind, a slow trickle that bloomed into a full river.

"Yes." Pain washed over me, each surge taller than the last, threatening to drown me. "I'm sorry."

"What? Why?"

"I shouldn't have kissed you."

Her fingers rose to her mouth. "I . . . I didn't mind."

"You didn't?"

She shook her head.

Despite the agony jolting up my leg, my skin pulsed.

"You're… glowing," she said in awe, reaching to my chest before yanking her hand back.

"I won't burn you. Harm you," I grated out. "It's…" How could I tell her that she was my fated one, that her touch had ignited my mating bond?

I barely knew her name, yet I knew her in a way older than time.

Somehow, after years of traveling and meeting more beings than I could count, I wound up on this planet and with the only female I would ever love. Once the bond tightened, only she would complete me.

"Is your skin glowing because you're in pain?" She pushed the blankets back and slid off the bed to stand beside it. "I don't have much that will help, but I can get you some over the counter pain killers."

Killers…?

"I don't welcome death, mate."

Her head tilted. "Are you Australian? No, wait. What a silly question. You're an alien from outer space. But mate's a term they use." Her lips scrunched together. "Never mind. Let me get you those pills. They'll help."

"I need you to do one thing for me, Iris."

She paused in the open doorway, turning back. "What?"

"Go to my ship and obtain the medical kit strapped beneath the seat on the bridge."

"Your ship's in my barn. I brought it here while you slept." She nodded. "II can do that. The bridge must be the small area you were inside when I found you."

"Yes,"

"You…" Her breath rushed out. "You need to stay here. Don't get up."

"My leg hurts too much to get up."

"You did last night."

"I won't get up."

"Alright." She watched me for a long moment. "Promise. I mean it."

My low laugh rang out. "I promise."

Her lips curled up, and my hearts flipped over. My mate was beautiful, with rich golden hair and blue eyes, plus a lushly curvaceous shape I ached to hold again in my arms. What would she think if I told her we were fated to love each other for a lifetime and beyond? I didn't know if this planet produced fated mates or if they paired or not, and now wasn't the time to ask.

"I'll be right back." She left before I could say anything else.

I tried to remain still. Each subtle movement sent bolts of agony up my leg, straight to my brain. If I didn't hold on, I'd pass out. And I worried about her. What threats did this world hold? I wanted to be upright, protecting her.

Thankfully, she returned quickly, holding the kit up. "Got it." She lowered the metal box onto the bed beside me.

I engaged the opening sequence, and the lid slid back, folding within itself, leaving the supplies exposed.

"This will help me heal faster." I held up a regeneration disc. It was clear I'd fractured my leg. Iris had crafted a rudimentary splint, and I could see she'd done what she could to straighten the limb for healing, but I couldn't lie here on the bed for long.

She'd mentioned authorities finding me. Capturing me. Potentially harming me. I needed to be upright and with a weapon in my hand if they arrived. No, I needed to leave before they arrived.

I held the disc over my wounded limb and engaged it. A beam flashed from it, impacting with my leg, and I couldn't suppress my groan.

"Are you alright?" She came close to the bed, clutching her hands to her throat.

"The regeneration disc is fusing my bones back together."

"So quickly?"

"It hurts, but it's a necessary pain." I grunted. "It itches too."

"Don't . . ." Her hand stretched out but she snatched it back, and she flashed me a tight smile. "I was going to say don't hurt yourself, but that sounds silly."

"I understand."

Biting down on her lower lip, she nodded.

When the light blinked out, I untied the bandages holding the strip of wood against my limb, and she took them from me, holding them against her chest.

I flexed my leg, barely wincing at the tender pull. With a nod, I dropped the spent disc into the kit where it would replenish and slumped back on the bed, worn out already.

"Wow," she said. "That… I've never seen anything like it before."

"Healing discs are amazing."

"It really knit your broken bone back together?"

"Partly."

"It's amazing." She took the bandages and started toward the door. "I imagine you're hungry. I'll go make something."

"Thank you," I called out as she left.

Turning back, she sent me a smile that made my skin glow once more. "Any time."

As she left, I pinched my eyes closed and contemplated what I should do next. The disc had not fully healed my leg, though I'd be able to walk on it within a lunar cycle or two. Within six lunar cycles, it would be completely healed.

If her government sought to capture me, I needed to leave this planet as soon as I could. That meant I needed to assess the damage to my ship and, if it could be repaired, flee as soon as I could.

I was torn. Leaving meant saying goodbye to Iris, my fated one. But it was clear I couldn't remain here with her even if she asked me to say.

Why would she? I was a stranger in her world, strange enough her people would hunt me.

What would she say if I asked her to go with me?

We'd just met. Did I have enough time to win her hearts?

I had to try. I couldn't give up and leave her without showing her she was meant to be mine.