Branded By Kesh (10 page)

“No,” I gasped as I ran the last few metres.

A round opening in the side of the station, its heavy doors led to the airlock between the ship and the station. I stopped dead in front of it, my sides heaving. I couldn’t stop the tears that fell. If the ship had still been there, the door would be open.

I stepped forward, tears streaming down my face, and touched my hand to the portal door. A sob broke from my throat and I barely managed to stay on my shaky legs. They were shaky because of my run through the station and shaky because of the emotion running through me.

My hair spilled around my face as I hung my head and let the tears fall. My heart felt ready to shatter, a pain deeper than anything I’d thought it possible for a person to bear, more pain than I’d ever felt before in my life, more pain than the brands on my hand had caused. Pressing a hand to my mouth, trying to stifle my sobs, I turned away. All I could do was wait and hope that one day he’d come back.

Looking at the door, I whispered, “I’ll wait for you, Kesh. Hurry back to me.”

Turning away, ready to return to my family, I heard a deep voice from behind me, “How long would you wait, Magnolia?”

I spun around to see a dark shape in the shadows of the corridor. Kesh’s black eyes glinted in the light shining down from the ceiling. He stepped out of the shadows and I flew into his arms, tears still running down my face.

My body shook with my sobs as I burrowed into Kesh’s heat, filling myself with his scent. His arms closed around me, holding me tight.

“How long would you wait, little flower?” Kesh repeated.

Leaning back, I looked up at him through my tears.

“Forever, Kesh. I’d wait forever for you.”

His black eyes burned their gaze into mine, a scorching heat that branded me as surely as I wore his brands on my hands. His mouth crashed down on mine, a rough, hard kiss filled with all the emotion we both felt, filled with a week of longing and need. A kiss that had me grasping him to me as our tongues stroked each other’s and his spicy taste filled my mouth.

This was where I belonged, right there in his arms. My heart had known from the very first look that he was meant to be mine. My head just had to catch up. I had to find the courage to follow my heart. I had to believe that what we had was special enough that all our differences didn’t matter.

Kesh started to draw back, his lips releasing mine.

“You belong with me, Magnolia. Come on the ship with me and make it your home.”

I smiled up at him, tears still wet on my face.

“Yes. I’ll be with you, Kesh, and only you.”

About the Author

I hope you enjoyed reading
Branded by Kesh
as much as I enjoyed writing it. I’d love you to leave me a review wherever you purchased a copy or Goodreads.

I’d also love to hear from you. You can connect with me on my blog:
www.leeannwallace.wordpress.com
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Lee-Ann

Based in Brisbane, Australia, Lee-Ann Wallace started writing stories as a way to give voice to the characters in her head that turned up every time she sat down to read a book. Discovering a passion for writing love stories, she now spends her time listening to the voices instead of trying to ignore them.

From an early age, Lee-Ann knew she wanted to do something creative. She tried her hand at cooking, fashion design, and a multitude of handcrafts before turning to writing.

Her mother’s response of “Read a book,” to her complaint of being bored at the age of ten led her to the shelf and her mother’s romances. Her mother’s frustration led her to a passion for love stories that’s yet to abate.

Now the question is should she read or should she write. Throw in some chocolate and a cup of coffee and either option suits her just fine.