Ally debated refilling her glass. The liquor was starting to numb her insides.That’s what I need. To feel nothing. No more fear about what’s happening to my sister. No more lust for the Vartik male who thinks he owns me. No more confusion about how I feel. Just… nothing.
“Allandria, we need to—”
“Stop calling me that. No one uses my full name.” She suddenly felt peevish. “And I’m not your little girl or your sweetheart. You’re a means to an end, and that’s it.”
His face turned to stone, and she felt a tinge of regret at losing her temper.
“A means to an end. That’s what I’ve always been to you. A means for you to take out your anger, to blame for your problems. A means of escape, from Gamma-17, from Rigellus, and from your own thoughts. That’s all I’ve been, that and nothing more.”
He stood, and Ally felt a pain in her chest so pervasive it was as if her heart was actually cracking. As usual, her anger rose to defend her from her pain. Unable to help herself, she jumped to her feet, rounding the table to confront him. “You’re the one who offered. You gave me the credits. And you brought me on board your ship.”
“So this is all my fault?” His voice was rougher than sandpaper.
She nodded. “You insisted on sticking your nose into my business!”
“I wasn’t the one who came marching into the tavern, throwing around accusations! Accusations that turned out not to be true, I might add.”
“Add whatever you want. You still deserved that drink thrown in your face.”
Eyes narrowed, he grabbed her and pulled her against him. “You insist on treating me like your enemy, but you’re your own worst enemy.”
“How dare you make this about us when my sister is in Hell, suffering gods know what? Let me go.”
He ignored her command. Peering down into her face, his voice lowered. “I’ve told myself that I like your sharp edges because sharp edges are needed to protect softer, more delicate things. But there’s nothing soft about you at all, is there? You’re only sharp edges, and you don’t care who you cut.”
She tried to struggle out of his grip, but he wouldn’t let her, so she swung out her arm, intending to slap his face. This time, he caught her, quickly shifting her around and lifting her onto the table. “Put away your claws, kitten. You’ve hurt me enough already.”
“Stop telling me what to do! You don’t own me.”
“For once, you’re right,” he growled. Taking her hand, he held it to his chest where she could feel his heart beating, steady, regular. “I don’t own you. You own me. Body and soul.”
Eyes wide, she blinked at his words. But before she could reply, his head was descending to capture her lips. The kiss was soft but no less devastating than his other kisses. As he finally pulled away, Ally realized that her anger had dissipated. His fingers brushed her cheeks, and when they came away wet, she saw that she was crying.
“You can push me away all you want,” he said, his tone intent, “but I’m never going to leave you. You’re going to learn that you can trust me, that you can depend on me.”
Ally couldn’t respond with words. They got bunched up in her throat and wouldn’t come out. So she did the only thing she could. She responded with her body.
Winding her arms around his neck, she kissed him. It was a leisurely kiss, partly because she didn’t exactly know whatshe was doing. Ally had never taken the lead on a kiss before. She followed her instincts, pressing her lips to his, sucking his bottom lip into her mouth. When she gave it a nibble, he growled against her mouth.
Lyk clutched the back of her head, holding her tight for his exploration as he took control of the kiss. His tongue slid into her mouth, teasing her, tempting her. She started to shiver. Ally didn’t know how this man was able to turn her on with so little effort. All she knew was that she needed him now more than she’d ever needed anything.
Ally leaned back against the table, pulling him along with her. “Make love to me,” she whispered against his mouth.
“We’re almost back to Vartik. It’s not exactly the best time for lovemaking, sweetheart.”
“I need you,” she whispered, so low that she was surprised that he heard her.
“Understood.” He wasted no time unzipping her coveralls and pulling them off. “As soon as we get to Vartik, I’m burning those damn things. You belong in silks and satins, not dirty old coveralls.”
Then Lyk ripped off his own shirt and unzipped his pants before grabbing her up again and kissing her furiously.
She smiled against his mouth, then flicked her tongue against his lips. “You tease,” he growled, claiming her lips again as he positioned himself at her entrance. “We don’t have much time, so I’ll only be able to make you climax a few times unfortunately.”
“Now who’s the tease?” she asked.
He smiled, and the smile turned into a groan as he pressed inside her. He was so large, she had to bite her lip at the flash of pain as he stretched her, but by the time he was fully seated inside her, there was only the glow of pleasure left.
She watched his beautiful body move as he stood at the edge of the table. He was the pinnacle of masculinity and a perfect specimen of manhood. Leaning forward, he slid his hands up her body, stopping at her breasts to caress them.
