Chapter 4
The look the alien female was giving him was causing an uncomfortable tightness in Jeffrey's flight suit. She'd gone from Ice Queen to something else, something that made his mouth dry up and his muscles tense, and not with unease.
Her gorgeous almond eyes blinked up at him, her smile so cute he felt an unaccustomed tension in his chest. Her elegant finger drew patterns of air on the table as she gave him a small smile that made his pulse speed up. But it was what she said that set his blood on fire.
"So, lieutenant, tell me. Do humans mate for life?"
His brain put out an alert, warning his body not to take the bait. This had to be yet another attempt at getting information out of him. Still, his body refused to obey his brain's warning.
Jeffrey started to answer her and realized his throat was too dry. He gave a cough, then spoke again, not liking the rough quality of his voice. "It depends on what you mean. As a species, no, the desire for variety often overwhelms our cultural penchant for lifelong pairings. However, there are some rare humans who do choose a mate and stay with them for life."
"Fascinating," the female replied, resting her chin on her hands and staring deeply into his eyes. "And do you have a mate?"
"No. Not at the moment."But the way you're looking at me right now is seriously making me consider taking one.
"A pity," she stated with a grin that said it was anything but.
Jeffrey could feel the effect that grin had on his insides and was worried. He'd easily fended off her earlier clumsy attempts at interrogation, but this was less cross-examination and more innocent seduction. And with a creature as gorgeous as this, he wasn't sure he could stand up under the onslaught.
"You said in your cell that no woman can resist your charisma," Kat'Chinna said, standing up and walking around the table to lean a hip on the corner closest to him. "I'm beginning to think that might be true."
Jeffrey knew in his mind that she was playing him. Her tactic was as blatant as could be. But his body, stupid idiot that it was, didn't seem to care. When she leaned in close, his cock grew stiff in half a second.
"You're very attractive, human," she whispered, putting a hand on his shoulder and angling in so that her face was close to his. Close enough to feel her sweet breath on his skin.
Her touch sent arcs of electricity through him, but this time it wasn’t her bioenergy. This was pure attraction, plain and simple.
Jeffrey had never had such instant lust for a female before. Sure, he’d had his share of women back on Earth. His easygoing demeanor and fancy job title brought the girls running like sugar attracts ants. He’d always enjoyed the company of women, had had plenty of girlfriends, but he’d always kept them at arm’s length.
His job didn’t make having a relationship easy. He was off the planet for months at a time, his crew his only family. So he always kept his relationships light, his flirtations playful. And his dalliances always ended when his ship blasted off for a new region of space.
Her finger began tracing those same patterns of air on his shoulder, bringing his thoughts back to the matter at hand.
"Do you find me attractive as well?" Her voice was soft, her eyes gentle.
"Yes," he said, without a moment's hesitation. "You're beyond beautiful."
"Good," she said, her voice sounding like a purr. "Cheerful, if I may be so bold as to call you that, I think we've got a lot in common. I'd like to get to know you better."
"You can call me Cheerful if you like, but my given name is Jeffrey. And sure, I'd love to get to know you better. What exactly have you got in mind?"
"Nothing much," she said, lowering her eyes, a demure expression on her pretty face. "Can we just talk for now? Find out more about one another?"
Jeffrey took a deep breath. There it was. Her tactic revealed. She would turn his lust for her into a tool in his undoing.
"Of course. Let's talk." And he would talk, but no matter how much he wanted her, he wouldn't reveal anything that might endanger his crew or his planet.
With a little hop, his seductive interrogator seated herself on the table, her long legs swinging out before her. "Although I've never been to Earth myself, I've always been intrigued by your species. I've heard that you humans are particularly creative in the, shall we say, amorous arts."
Jesus, she goes right for the balls. The alien female had to know the effect her words were having on him. Her mention of amorous arts had immediately caused him to think about the two of them intertwined.
You want to know about the amorous arts?I’d be happy to show you how humans bring each other pleasure. The things he would do to her… with her.
Her grip tightened on his shoulder. "It's the little differences about other beings that are the most intriguing, don't you think?"
Jeffrey leaned back, causing her to disengage her hold on him. "I wouldn't know," he said. "You're the first alien being I've met."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, and he realized that he'd parried her first feint.
