Her hand moved before she thought about it. Her palm pressed flat against his chest, over the warmth of his satin over steel skin.
"You.” The word slipped out on her exhale as her palm pressed harder to his chest.
His hand settled over hers—huge and warm, an anchor. "Breathe with me. In."
She breathed in.
"Good girl. Now out."
She breathed out.
They stayed like that for what felt like hours. Maybe it was minutes. Her lungs started working again. Her heartbeat slowed from a frantic hammer to something approaching normal. The flashbacks receded, slinking back into whatever dark corner of her mind they lived in.
When she finally came back to herself, she was pressed against Kirr's chest with his arms wrapped around her. Her face was tucked into the curve of his neck. She didn't remember moving closer. Didn't remember him pulling her in. But here she was, surrounded by his warmth and the faint warm scent of his skin.
She should pull away.
She looked up instead.
His face was inches from hers. His gaze burned, fierce and locked on her, and his jaw was tight again.
"Thank you," she breathed.
He frowned. “For what?”
“For not leaving.” Most men she knew would have.
His jaw loosened and he reached up to cup her face, his thumb stroking across her cheekbone with a tenderness that made her chest ache.
"I'm here." The words were low and rough, like they’d been dragged out of somewhere deep. "I’m not going anywhere."
She'd been alone for years. Learned to survive it, learned to make it work, built walls so thick she forgot there was anything behind them.
And this alien warrior she'd known for days just walked through them like they weren't even there.
So she kissed him.
She didn't decide to do it. Didn't even think. Her body just moved, surging up, her hands fisting in the edges of his jacket as her mouth found his.
It was desperate and graceless. Seeking connection—proof she was still alive.
He went still for a heartbeat. Then, with a growl, his hand slid from her cheek to the back of her skull, cradling her head, and he tilted her face up and kissed her back.
He was careful at first. Restrained. Letting her lead, letting her take what she needed.
She made a sound against his mouth—needy, broken—and then it was like his control cracked.
He hauled her into his lap and deepened the kiss, his tongue sliding against hers. He was so much bigger than her. His hand covered the entire back of her head. He had to bend down to reach her, and holy shit, that shouldn't be as hot as it was. She pressed closer. Wanted to crawl inside his skin and never come out.
Reality slammed back. Hard.
Everyone you get close to gets hurt.
She jerked back so fast her shoulder hit the wall. Pressing her hand to her mouth, she stared at him with wide eyes, her breath ragged.
"I'm sorry—" she gasped. "I shouldn't have?—"
Kirr's jaw flexed. "Don't." The word came out scraped raw. "Not for that. Ever."
