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

for information or possibly
supplies suitable for this time period. If we’re right, we should
be able to apprehend him there”
    “I agree,” his consort replied. “Evening is only a
couple hours away, so we might as well go back to the ship until it
is dark. We can change our clothes so we do not startle anyone with
our appearance.”
    Miln led the way back to their craft. Except for the
squish of their feet in the soft forest earth, the drip of water,
and the wind sighing through the treetops, quiet ruled during their
return walk. Unless it dealt with their agenda, Oshki still refused
to speak to him. Miln’s irritation had shifted into pure
annoyance.
    At the ship, he turned and said, “Oshki, how long are
you going to refuse to discuss our relationship?”
    Silver eyes met his gaze. His mate studied him for a
moment, face stoic, and shrugged. “You rejected me. That is not
something I take lightly.”
    He struggled not to yell. Enunciating to get his
point across, he replied, “I did not reject you.”
    “We were finally alone together and about to make
love—truly consummating our union as mates—and you left me all
because you got the feeling something was wrong at the base.” He
trans-shifted, leaving Miln standing there.
    Swearing under his breath, he struggled to calm his
raging emotions. He balled his hands into fists. To ease his anger,
he focused on the inebriating aroma of saturated soil and damp
evergreens permeating the atmosphere. Had Oshki always been like
this? Had he been so wrapped up in the beauty of the warrior’s
physique and clever wit that he’d been blind to his flaws and
immaturity until now? He loved his partner, but by the Twelve
Planets, Oshki certainly tested his patience.
    One of the ship’s panels grew translucent, and Miln
heard his mate’s voice through it. “Are you coming inside to change
or not? By the time we swap our clothes and head back, darkness
will have settled.”
    He trans-shifted into the ship only to find himself
catching a bundle of clothing tossed at him. Angered, he bit his
tongue until he tasted blood. If his mate kept behaving like this,
their first true fight would be of epic proportions.
    Quickly, he pulled off his clothes. However, he
couldn’t help glancing over at his partner, who jerked a pair of
coarse breeches up over his thighs and tight ass. Regret flowed
through him, followed by his sapin hardening. How could the young
bounty hunter not see how he felt for him?
    Oshki turned. His gaze settled on Miln’s erection. He
smirked, his eyes deepening to gray. “We may need to secure some
transportation.”
    “Agreed.” Turning away, he reached for the plain
shirt. “We can walk to the building on the hill, but once there, I
figure we will need some sort of conveyance of the times.”
    “Perhaps we can buy horses.”
    “We do not know how to ride such creatures.” He
struggled to pull the rough, woolen socks over his feet and then
tugged on the strange leather boots.
    “We have used both four-legged and six-legged war
beasts in battle,” Oshki countered, also donning his socks and
cowboy boots, “so how hard could it be to ride a horse?”
    As Miln fumbled with the tiny buttons on his shirt,
he wondered how they would slip in and about the people and towns
of this time without alerting them to their presence. Even with the
right clothing, weapons, and money, it would be painfully obvious
they didn’t belong.
    “Ready?”
    He nodded and trans-shifted outside. His partner
appeared next to him, and without a word forged ahead.
    The walk through the woods and across the field in
the mud proved grueling. Although Miln wasn’t worried about anyone
hearing them yet, the squishing, plopping, and sucking sounds of
their footsteps seemed deafening among the gentle noise of crickets
and frogs. The weather had cleared, and stars twinkled brightly as
darkness finished settling over the landscape. In the west, the
colors of the sunset blended from gold