Free Guardian of the Storm by Kaitlyn O'Connor Page A

that she seemed so ready to dismiss it completely. Try though he might, though, he could see no sign that she was struggling to hide her feelings from him as she had when he wounded her before. She seemed … radiant with joy and hope, but neither distressed by what had passed between them or disappointed, as he was, that he’d not been able to carry it further. “This ....”
    “Affection,” Tempest supplied when he seemed to be searching for the right word. She sighed. “I used to have so many friends, and my family, too. I don’t think I even realized how much I missed kissing and hugging, holding hands … just being able to touch somebody else and feel close to them. I guess it’s like you said, Niahians and Earthlings are a lot different in their ways and customs … worlds apart, literally.”
    Kiran felt his belly tighten uncomfortably at that, realizing it was as he’d suspected. The discovery that she wasn’t the last of her kind had completely turned her mind to them, banished the sadness from her eyes, the loneliness that had pulled at him. “We are not so different that we could not learn,” he pointed out, wondering even as he said it why he had. They were different. He’d realized himself that they were so different the possibility of finding harmony between them was remote.
    He should be glad … relieved. Perversely, he was miserable and angry.
    Tempest shrugged. “I don’t know. I can’t picture an Earthling taking a vow of chastity for any reason,” she said with a chuckle, then was immediately sorry she’d said it, and worse, laughed. Obviously, it was really important to him. She hadn’t meant to insult him or his customs. “Sorry. I know it’s important, but you see what I mean?”
    “No,” he said grimly.
    She reached up and patted his arm. “Never mind. It doesn’t really matter now, does it?” She sighed happily. “Oh, I just can’t wait to see them! I’ll bet we could go back to the colony.” She frowned. “I should go alone first. If the lab’s still working, I could run some tests .… I used to help my parents in the lab. I’m sure I can remember how to test for immunity. Well, I suppose I should check to see if the virus is still active first.”
    Kiran studied her a long moment and finally lay back. After a moment, he put his arm around her waist and dragged her toward him, fitting her against his length. “Sleep. We must rest while we can.”
    Tempest was a little surprised, but she was perfectly willing to snuggle closer to his warmth. “I don’t know if I can sleep,” she said, yawning.
    “It will be difficult for me, as well,” Kiran said wryly.
    Tempest chuckled sleepily, having discovered that his warmth and her full stomach combined with the day’s trek had tired her more than she’d realized in her excitement. Now that it was dissipating, she found it harder and harder to stay awake.
    She felt Kiran’s hand in her hair, stroking her head. “I like the sound of your happiness,” he murmured.
    “Hmm. Laughter. It feels good to laugh. I can’t even remember the last time I felt like laughing.”
    “I am glad that I brought this back into your life.”
    Tempest nuzzled her cheek against his chest and gave him an affectionate squeeze. “Me, too.”
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Seven
     
    The day was bright with sunlight when Tempest woke. She sat up with a jolt of anxiety, looking around.
    Kiran was sitting across from her, studying her.
    Tempest combed her fingers through her hair. “I’ve overslept.”
    Kiran shrugged. “I thought it best to allow you to rest until you woke of your own accord.”
    “Oh.” Tempest scrubbed her hands over her face, trying to shake off the dregs of sleep. “Thanks! I guess we should get going, though.”
    Be the time she returned from the watering hole, she felt more alert, but also more aware of the soreness of her muscles from her unaccustomed exercise. Kiran had broke camp when she returned. Without a