Abby instantly wrapped a fist around his index finger.
Ganix’s eyes widened.
Eliana released him. “Oh no,” she said again. “Princess Abby has grabbed the innocent Ganix’s finger and won’t let go. Surely he dare not offend her and spark a royal tantrum by prying her little fingers loose.”
Ganix’s face flushed, but he didn’t let go.
Lisa laughed and met her gaze. “You’re so bad.”
She grinned. “I know.”
Ganix smoothed his thumb across Abby’s little hand. “She’s so soft!” he said reverently.
Abby tugged his finger hard.
He grinned. “She is strong.”
Abby bounced and kicked and waved her fists, jerking his hand around.
He laughed, his joy unmistakable, then glanced beyond Lisa.
Eliana followed his gaze.
Taelon—one of four Lasaran princes, commander of the Kandovar, and Lisa’s utterly devoted husband—strode toward them.
Dismay flickered across Ganix’s features as he gently tried to extricate his finger.
Abby would have none of it and merely held on tighter.
Lisa glanced over her shoulder, then sent Ganix a reassuring smile. “It’s okay. He won’t be angry.”
Eliana didn’t think he would be either. Taelon’s attention was firmly fixed on his wife’s bottom. Desire flared to life in his emerald eyes. He probably hadn’t even noticed what was transpiring in front of her.
Unable to free his finger, Ganix orchestrated an awkward bow as Taelon joined them. “Prince Taelon.”
Taelon tore his gaze away from his wife and smiled. “Ganix. Eliana.” His glance fell to his daughter. “I see she’s gained another conquest.”
As soon as she heard her daddy’s voice, Abby squealed. Releasing Ganix’s finger, she turned her head and held out her arms.
“There’s my girl.” Affection lit his handsome features and filled his voice as he addressed his daughter.
Too cute.
Taelon caught one of his daughter’s flailing hands and brought it to his lips. “Are you tormenting Chief Engineer Ganix?” he asked sweetly. “Hmm? I saw you trying to tug his finger off.”
She bounced in the sling and babbled baby talk.
Eliana bit back a laugh when color flooded Ganix’s face once more.
Taelon smiled as he straightened. “At ease. She isn’t of childbearing age. As long as you obtain permission first, you may play with her.”
Ganix bowed. “Thank you, Prince Taelon.”
Eliana nudged him with her shoulder. “I told you it would be fine. I saw Ari’k holding her earlier.”
Ganix jumped at the brief contact and stepped away, glancing swiftly at Taelon to see if he would decry the casual touch.
Taelon ignored it.
Eliana laughed as she addressed the prince and Lisa. “That was freaking hilarious, by the way. Ari’k did not know what to do with a squirming baby.”
There were two species of aliens aboard the Kandovar—Lasaran and Yona. Ari’k was the highest-ranking Yona soldier on the ship. Those tall, stoic warriors fascinated Eliana. Boasting big muscled bodies and tan skin with a distinct grayish hue, their sole purpose was to protect the royal prince and his ship. The Yona never expressed emotion. At all. And they had no idea what to do with a baby when handed one.
Taelon rested a hand on Lisa’s back. When she looked up at him, he bent his head and stole a kiss. “Hello, dashura,” he murmured.
“Hi.”
Damn, Eliana envied those two. They fairly radiated the love they shared.
The closest Eliana had come to experiencing that was an infatuation she’d felt for a handsome neighbor decades ago.
Clearly her neighbor hadn’t felt the same, because he had married another woman.
Taelon offered her a smile. “Eliana, how are the other Earth women doing?”
“They’re doing well. I would’ve thought they would be getting cabin fever by now, but there are so many fascinating things on this ship to distract them that they never grow bored.”
Ganix cast them all a look of alarm. “Cabin fever? Should I alert the medics?”
Lisa shook her head. “It isn’t an illness. It’s just a saying we have to indicate someone is starting to go a little crazy from being cooped up in one place for too long.”
“Ah.” He nodded. “Quite a few of us Lasarans experienced that while awaiting word from Prince Taelon.”
Evidently the crew of the Kandovar had been stuck up here for three years while they waited for either the return of their prince or confirmation of his death at the hands of Earthlings.
Abby waved a hand and made a little grunting sound. A call for attention, perhaps?
Eliana bent forward and made a series of funny faces at her. The beautiful five-month-old giggled and kicked her legs. “Prince Taelon,” she asked as she straightened, “are there any rules that would prevent a Yona soldier from sparring with me?”
His eyebrows rose. “Technically speaking, you aren’t Lasaran, so there are no rules governing interactions with you specifically. Has a Yona offended you in some way?”
“Only when he didn’t laugh at my jokes,” she quipped.
Lisa grinned. “They don’t feel emotion.”
Eliana sent her a wry smile. “I know. That’s what everyone keeps telling me. But I could’ve sworn I saw a teeny-tiny spark of mirth in Ari’k’s eyes the last time I tried to make him laugh. I was kinda hoping I could get him to spar with me so I can see if that evokes any emotion.”
Taelon shrugged. “It won’t. But you’re welcome to engage him if he is willing.”
Triumph filling her, she thrust a fist in the air. “Yes! Woo-hoo! That big-ass warrior is going down, baby! If I can’t make him laugh, I can sure as hell piss him off.”
Taelon and Lisa burst into laughter.
Eliana grinned, happy to have a new challenge. Since learning to pilot one of those sleek black fighter craft appeared to be off the table, she would have fun sparring with Ari’k instead and see if the Yona warrior was really as emotionless as everyone claimed.
Still smiling, she rounded on a wide-eyed Ganix. “And you, my friend, are going to talk him into sparring with me.”
Ganix stared at her in stunned disbelief. “What?”
“I’ve spent enough time around you to know you can talk anyone into doing just about anything. Come on. Let’s go find him.” This was going to be so much fun! Taking Ganix’s arm, she hurried back down the hallway. “See ya later!” she called over her shoulder.
“You aren’t supposed to touch me,” Ganix whispered.
Yep. She’d forgotten. Again. She was just so used to expressing affection through touch.
When no objections arose behind them, she opted not to release him. “Didn’t you hear Prince Taelon? The rules don’t apply to me. I can do whatever I want.”
Her preternaturally enhanced senses allowed her to hear Taelon murmur, “That wasn’t precisely what I meant.”
Lisa chuckled. “I know. But she’s been really great, watching over all the women, so I say we let her have some fun.”
Grinning, Eliana guided Ganix around a corner.
“But the rules do apply to me,” the Lasaran engineer reminded her, his brow furrowed.