Chapter 13
Han
Later, as they lay side by side in the bed, Han reached over and patted Zeph on the head again. “Good Talin.”
He sounded an amused rumble. “I like being your good Talin.”
Chuckling, she rolled onto her side and snuggled against him. It was hard to imagine a time before Zeph. It felt like they’d been together forever even though it had been less than a month.
Tumoro, Sandar, and Rensom weren’t the first people she’d offered a home to back on Inneeko.
Because she traveled so much, she’d had the opportunity to meet a lot of diverse individuals.
During the last five years, she’d sent three humans, four Ugarians, and a Porian to live with her community.
Most of them were happy and still living there.
One of the Ugarians had married into a family and moved to a different planet when the family moved.
They still got packages from her occasionally.
The one thing all these people had in common was that they were alone and desperate. By the standards of Inneeko, Sandar and Rensom were wealthy. They’d be the only ones she sent home who were potentially under threat by their government.
That reminded her that Sandar and Rensom weren’t the only ones breaking laws.
The only difference between them and Zeph was they hadn’t been caught yet.
The three Talins would be safe once they passed Thisher Station.
No one would try to collect on his warrant once they were within her sector’s boundary.
Thinking about the warrant reminded her that she hadn’t confessed her profession to Zeph yet. He still thought their meeting was a complete accident. She couldn’t let him make the trip back to Inneeko without knowing the truth.
Sitting up, she pulled up a blanket that got shoved off the bed and wrapped it around herself. Confessions shouldn't have to be done naked.
Zeph propped himself up with his arms resting behind him and sounded a worried rumble. “Han, your face is doing that scrunchy thing it does when you're not happy about something. What did I do wrong?”
“Hey, no, that’s not it at all!” she said, rubbing one of his legs that was stretched out next to her. “I have to tell you something. I haven’t been completely honest with you.”
“What is it?”
This was one of the rare times in her life she’d been scared. Fear was a novel experience, and she didn’t like it. “What if you don’t like me after I tell you?”
Moving one of his legs so she was sitting between them, he sat up fully and enclosed her in a warm, comforting cage of arms and legs.
“There’s nothing you could have done that would make me feel that way,” he assured her.
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” she mumbled. Thankfully, in this position she didn’t need to look him in the eyes while she spoke. “I wasn’t on Filsin Station by accident.”
He sounded a short rumble of amusement. “I assumed you were there for a reason.”
“Right, of course,” she said, wishing she could smile at his humor. “The thing is, I was there for you.”
He sounded a questioning rumble. “Me? Do you mean you were looking for someone to take you off the station? Are you in trouble?”
“No, I was specifically searching for you, Zephrum of the Kal family within the Inik Clan.”
“Oh, you’re a bounty hunter!” he exclaimed, sounding happy instead of irate or betrayed.
Surprised by his reaction, she leaned back so she could meet his gaze. “You’re not angry?”
Again he didn’t act like she expected by sounding an amused rumble. “Of course not. Either you’re a horrible bounty hunter or you decided not to turn me in. Why would I be angry over that? You choose me over your professional honor and wealth for your family. I’ve never felt so cherished.”
It took her a moment to process what he’d said. Then she dropped her head against his chest. “That’s true.”
“When did you decide you weren’t going to turn me in?” he asked.
“Probably on the way to Yormun Station,” she admitted. “First you risked your freedom to rescue me on Filsin. When I was initially on your ship I couldn’t have defended myself, but you were so gentle and sweet. I’ve never felt so cared for.”
He sounded a questioning rumble. “That’s why you didn’t turn me into the broker on Yormun?”
She let out a long breath and admitted her last truth to him and herself. “I think I was in love with you when we kissed in the restaurant. I was definitely in love with you when you offered to take Tumoro with us.”
“Love,” he repeated. “That’s significant. It means you’ve pair-bonded with me, correct?”
She’d heard the term before, so it was an easy answer. “Yeah, I’m totally pair-bonded.”
“That means you want to be with me permanently?” he pressed.
He sounded like he needed reassurance. “Yup. You’re stuck with me.”
“Then I have something I need to confess,” he said.
She stiffened and tried to move away from him. “Let me guess, you don’t want to be with me. It’s fine. Whatever, I’ve got shit I need to get done.”
He tightened his hold on her and purred. “That’s not my confession. I’m relieved you love me because I’ve scent-bonded to you.”
She stopped trying to get away from him. “Wait, isn’t scent-bonding when we get addicted to each other’s smell? I don’t have scent glands; I can’t produce a scent.”
“I don’t know how to explain it, but when my oil soaks into your skin, your smell changes. The scent makes me feel centered and calm.”
As much as she wanted to hear that, concern made her heart rate kick up a little. “Do you think you’ve bonded to me like another Talin?”
“I have no doubt,” he said. “When we’re in the same room, it's hard not to touch you constantly. I don’t like it when we’re separated, even by a wall.”
“Don’t get any ideas,” she teased. “I’m not letting you into the elimination room with me.”
“That’s fair,” he agreed.
She got serious again. “If we’re separated too long, you’ll die, right?”
“Yes.” The one word was barely audible.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on fiercely. “I won’t ever let that happen. I’m retiring from bounty hunting now. I’ll get another job back on Inneeko so we never risk getting separated.”
“Yes, I’d like it if you didn’t hunt any longer,” he said. “I’m skilled in many things. I’m sure I can find employment also.”
“Together we’ll make it work,” she murmured. “I can’t promise you a rich life, but it’ll be comfortable.”
He rubbed his cheek on the top of her head. Hibiscus filled her nose, making her worries for the future disappear.
“As long as I have you, I’m rich beyond measure.”