I lifted my head so I could meet his eyes. “Your team is always welcome on my ship, whether or not we end up helping with Morten.”

Some of the tension that had crept into his frame melted away. “Thank you. I don’t know who will want to stay, if anyone, but I want to give them the option.”

“Of course,” I agreed gently. “Family is important, and even if they’re not your family by blood, they’re still family.”

He nodded, his expression solemn. “They are,” he admitted. “They saved me as often as I saved them.”

I smiled. “That’s what families do. Now, I suppose we should get up and get the conversation over with so I can stop worrying about it.”

He grinned and rolled me under him. “We could. Or we could not do that.”

“What did you have in mind instead?”

He slid down my body with a wicked smile and pressed a kiss against my stomach. “I believe I still have some promises to keep. Let me show you.”

His mind touched mine as his head settled between my legs and our shared desire blotted out everything else.

It was after dinner by the time Torran and I emerged from my quarters. We grabbed a quick meal of leftovers, then I gathered everyone in the rec room for a meeting.

Torran and I fielded a lot of knowing smiles and sly glances, but no one looked unhappy at the latest developments. I hoped that would remain true at the end of the meeting.

“What’s up?” Kee asked once everyone was settled. Varro sat next to her, but I still couldn’t get a read on him. He wasn’t sitting any closer to her than he had been that very first night when we’d watched vids, while Anja, Eli, Havil, and Chira were happily wedged onto a sofa together. And even Lexi and Nilo sat in individual chairs that just happened to be next to each other.

I looked at each member of my team. “I’ve offered Torran a place on Starlight, as well as a place for any of his crew that want to remain with him,” I said, ripping the first bandage off without warning.

I didn’t get the shocked expressions that I’d expected. Instead, I got nods and knowing looks from my team. “Sounds great,” Kee agreed easily.

I looked around with narrowed eyes. “I expected more pushback. I made the decision without your input.”

Kee’s smile was gentle. “You’re the captain. And, besides that, we know you’re gone for him, Tavi.” She winked at Torran, then continued, “Of course we’re not going to push back on keeping him around.” She waved at the rest of the human crew. “We’re just happy that it sounds like you’re planning to stay with us.”