Read Lovers of the Galaxy, Book Two: Bounty Hunters of the Heart for Free Online Page B

feet.
    Dismayed with his mate’s blatant surliness, he
questioned, “How long are you going to be angry with me,
Oshki?”
    “Right now I do not want to speak to you.” His words
came out clipped.
    Despair claimed him, and he sighed heavily. “I
understand, but you are taking it too far.”
    Stepping into his black tilk, Oshki pulled it up his
legs and then settled it over his hips to fasten it with the sticky
readhesive attached to one flap. “You fear commitment. Therefore,
you will look for any excuse that puts you in a good light.” He
jerked on first one boot and then the other, their horned tips
gleaming in the overhead lights. When he straightened, he threw
Miln a cold look. “Like I said, I really do not want to talk to you
right now, so please leave me alone. We have a job to do, so let us
take our stuff to the ship, and then once you have checked in with
the brothers, we will leave to manage this Randle person.”
    Pain and outrage coursed through him. Tremors of
bewilderment riddled his body. Although he knew it was natural for
couples to have arguments and differing opinions, he’d honestly
believed Oshki was more sensible than this. He struggled to contain
his anger, understanding that his mate felt jilted, but when the
lives of others depended on them both—not to mention the dozens of
others due to arrive soon on Earth—they couldn’t put their wants
and needs before the care and security of others. Frustrated, his
ire mounting, he reminded himself that lashing back at his mate
would only make matters worse.
    “No matter what you are thinking or feeling right
now,” he said as he picked up the packs, “I do love you.”
    His partner said nothing. He merely gathered various
items into his arms and then trans-shifted.
    “By The Twelve Galaxies!” Miln stood still for a
moment as he battled the fury trying to rule his heart and common
sense. Once he had it under control, he whirled and stalked out of
their quarters and down the corridor. At the threesome’s chambers,
he stopped and knocked on the door.
    Volund opened it. “Ah, I see you are ready to
go.”
    Too upset to speak, he nodded.
    Frowning, Volund looked him up and down, his deep red
eyes assessing. “I do not know what is wrong between you two, but I
hope the two of you can work it out.”
    With effort, Miln found his voice. “He does not seem
to understand that when we are to protect others, our personal
needs and wants mean nothing. Our duty is always to think of
everyone else first.”
    “Ah, so you two were in the middle of something when
you sensed you were needed here. Am I correct?”
    “Yes.”
    Volund nodded and then clapped Miln on the shoulder.
“I now understand your dilemma. Oshki is still young, but if he
does not exercise common sense in his duty then he may have to be
removed from it and given another task. I said nothing to him this
time about returning before his guard duty was completed today. I
felt it would be better if you handled it. However, if he continues
to ignore you, he may have to be relieved as a security officer.
Worse, your duties may very well end your partnership.”
    The implications of Volund’s observation weighed
heavily in the hall.
    A shaky breath escaped him. “The latter is what
worries me.”
    “Report when you reach your destination,” Volund told
him, “so we know you have arrived safely and on the correct
date.”
    The sympathy on his friend’s face was more than Miln
could bear, but thankfully the warrior had changed the subject. He
placed his hand on Volund’s shoulder to show his respect and
friendship. “We will report back as soon as we have assessed our
situation. What will be the time lapse for transmissions?”
    “Roughly twenty-four Earth hours. The time channel
for reports works strangely with the alternate dimensions
surrounding and crisscrossing this planet and its history.”
    “Noted. Oshki is in the process of trans-shifting our
stuff to the ship, so we will