So she did what she had to do. Time was of the essence from what they said, and there was simply no way she’d let possessive boy trouble put Harper in any further jeopardy.
And speaking of possessive. The way the two had come to blows over her?
Yeah, that was actually really hot, she was embarrassed to admit to herself. Having the two biggest, strongest Alpha males of the entire city vying for her attention, she couldn’t help but be flattered. Flattered, and more than a little turned on.
Arkness, to his credit, was a complete gentleman once they were away from the ship. Not only was he paying attention to the terrain and their course, but he also kept a wary eye and ear out for any signs of danger. He’d brought weapons, naturally, but it was his brawn and confident way he carried himself that really made Olivia feel safe.
Of course, watching that magnificent ass shifting in his trousers as she followed him, his intoxicating pheromones wafting back to her every time the breeze picked up, was not exactly what she would consider a bad thing either. And, to her pleasant surprise, when they had to scramble up over a rocky area that included some boulders blocking their path, she found her runes had apparently increased her strength more than she’d previously realized. By the time they stopped for a break a good five hours later she wasn’t tired or sore at all.
“Here. You must be hungry. Please, eat,” Arkness said as he unsealed a food package he’d packed for the trip. It looked like an alien version of a sandwich. Or maybe a calzone or Hot Pocket. She couldn’t say for sure what was inside, but it smelled good as soon as he unwrapped it.
Olivia accepted it with a grateful nod and took a bite. “Mmm, that’s really good,” she muttered as the flavors hit her tongue. “What is this?”
“Voxlian allnak, packed into a baked wrapping.”
“Well, I don’t know what Voxlian allnak is, but it’s hitting the spot.”
“I am glad,” he replied, leaning in a little closer and brushing the hair dangling in front of her face behind her ear. “It is always preferable to hit the spot.”
The way his eyes glinted, and the corners of his mouth teased upward in a sexy grin, there could only be one interpretation of that, and combined with just how damn good he smelled now that he was so close, Olivia found herself crossing and uncrossing her legs as happy bursts of heat unexpectedly surged through her bits.
The tattoo on her chest was itching again as well, but now it was becoming a more tolerable feeling, though still not exactly what she’d call pleasant. She glanced down, her eyes catching the thickening of the impressive cock resting against his thigh.
Arkness sniffed the air, his pupils widening slightly and his manhood swelling even more. Interestingly, he actually looked a little confused at the swiftness and visceral nature of his reaction, taking an unsure step back.
“Uh, I’m going to do a quick sighting check. I will return shortly,” he said, his hips moving awkwardly as he shifted the hard length in his trousers then stepped off into the woods.
What was that?Olivia wondered, her pussy positively humming with unexpected arousal of a kind she’d never felt before. This wasn’t just some basic hormones raging sensation. It was far deeper than that. More intense. It was something that felt so powerful that she wondered if she could push it aside. That is, if she wanted to.
For the moment, she decided to allow herself to enjoy the feeling. After all she’d been through, she’d earned it.
Arkness returned ten minutes later, sweaty, and a bit dirty. By the look of it, he’d had some sort of adventure.
“Are you okay?”
“Fine. It is just leaves and sap from climbing the tree.”
“You climbed a tree? Any particular reason I should know about?”
Arkness gulped from his water container, a rivulet of water dripping off his square jaw. He wiped his lips with a satisfied sigh. “I climbed to gain elevation to better see our location. The map is not detailed, and I needed to verify our position as well as see if I could spot the nearest downed compartment.”
“And?”
“And I achieved both ends.”
“You spotted the ship?” she blurted, jumping to her feet.
“That I did. And it is not terribly far from here, though it is still quite a trek.” He tapped his collar, activating his comms. “Rykker, this is Arkness. We have spotted a compartment and are making our way to it. How go the ship repairs?”
Rykker’s voice came through crisp and clear. “Done hours ago. I have already reached the first section of the Raxxian craft on my route, but it was empty. No sign of hostiles as of yet. I am attempting to reach the second before returning to the ship.”
“We will be doing the same on our end. Did you remember to get the shields functional?”
“I wouldn’t fix the drive systems but ignore the shielding, Arkness.”
“I hoped so, but I had to ask.”
Rykker didn’t dignify the snark with a reaction. “Signing off. Hurry back. Tell Olivia I will see her tonight.”
