“And did you?” His story fascinated me. I couldn’t imagine leaving Earth and spending my entire life searching for a cure in a strange new world, which is what it sounded like the Volderens were doing.
"Yes, thank the Gods. Just recently. Her name is Lilly, and she is Voren’s mate. Now that we have found the savior, our focus has been intensified on finishingPerseverance, which will bring us home and save our species.”
“And that’s the ship you’ve been working on?”
“Yes. Her basic frame is ready, yet I have stagnated on the interior. We will have everything to sustain life, yet I feel it still lacks something vital.”
“And that’s why you came to my world, looking for inspiration.”
“Exactly.” He smiled, giving me a glimpse of his intriguing, forked tongue. “When I came upon you, I knew the Gods had led me to exactly what I needed.”
“I’m just a human—a homeless one at that—with no education and very little money. It seems to me your gods might’ve gotten it wrong.” Telling the truth hurt, but I refused to have Drayven think of me as some sort of muse.I’m far from it.
“What is a home? A place to put things, to weather a storm, a physical representation of safety?” His irises swirled with some emotion I couldn’t place. “If that is the case, then I truly have no home either, yet my spirit is with those I love, no matter where I go. To learn does not mean one needs a piece of paper as proof of education. Formal or through experience, knowledge is knowledge. Money, on the other hand, may feed the stomach but it will never feed the soul.”
“I thought you claimed your people weren’t very creative. What you just said is deep and emotional for a scientific mind.” Hidden inside this enormous purple alien lay the heart of a poet. “You’re a painter of words, Drayven.”
With a shrug, he gave me a wry smile. “Well, perhaps my heart has finally awakened.”
My gaze tracked across his proud nose, those sharp cheekbones, the smooth violet skin.Thereissomething alluring about him.For the first time in my thirty-six years, I could picture myself settling down—staying instead of running. “Do you…do you think you could use someone who knows how to paint?”
He tilted his head backward and released a hearty laugh. “You would be a most welcome addition to my crew.” He reached out and swiped a strand of hair from my temple. “If you so choose.”
“Let’s give it a trial run.” I lifted a hand to press his chin between my thumb and index finger. “And maybe you can elaborate on how Volderens take a mate.”
His pupils widened until his gaze became a black pool of desire. With both hands, he grasped my shoulders and leaned against his harness, pulling me closer and pressing his lips against mine.
When his tongue licked the corner of my mouth, I sighed.
He deepened the kiss, gliding the tips of his tongue inside my cheek and across my teeth with sharp little flicks.
“Drayven.” My thighs clenched, and I groaned, imagining his tongue caressing my neck on its way down my body. “What else can you do with that tongue?”
“Many, many things. When we land, I will escort you to my quarters and demonstrate all the ways Volderens please their mates. I promise you will never look at a human male the same way.”
My skin broke out with gooseflesh, and I grinned. “Are Volderen males built the same as…” I didn’t know how else to ask it without being blunt. So, instead, I leaned back and lowered my gaze to his crotch.
Oh, my. I think the bulge answersthatquestion.
“Yes, but more. There are some of us with doubled sexual organs, so we provide our mates with extra pleasure.”
“Um, why don’t we start with just one?” The thought of him havingtwodicks alarmed me, but I couldn’t deny my curiosity.
“Whatever you say, life mate. My body is yours to claim.”
Yep. I can definitely get used to this life.
“How much time do we have?”
“More than enough,” he said, unbuckling his harness and sliding a hand down the inside of my pants, pressing the ends of his fingers against my bared skin.
I moaned, digging my fingernails into his upper arms.
He stroked me steadily, the pressure building, my muscles tensing. “Sweet Gerri. Your smell is divine. I will taste you.” The pressure of his fingers left as he slid his hand out.
“Wh-what? Why’d you stop?” Panting, I tried to focus but my body cried for release.
“One moment.” He released my harness, went to his knees and placed both of his giant hands on my hips, sliding down my pants.
