“I—I, um…can’t really see anything,” she said softly, feeling her cheeks burn even as her teeth continued to chatter from the cold.She hated admitting weakness.It was partly her motivation for clawing herself up in a very male-dominated industry back in Chicago.Weakness just never sat well with her.
“I will have a fire soon,” he replied simply, taking the bundle of cloth from her hands.Then, a high-pitched clinking sound reached her ears, like he was striking something.
Not five minutes later, he was true to his word and a small ember of fire drew her eyes.Soon, it was a blazing ball of light, fueled only by the clay he’d taken off that creature in the vine forest.
Immediately, she registered the warmth.It reached out to her with welcoming fingers and she savored every touch.Once she stopped violently shivering, she looked around and noticed that the cave extended even farther back, but they were making themselves at home in a smaller alcove.She couldn’t see the entrance of the cave, which relieved her.At least they would have time to prepare if they heard something coming down the tunnel.
Once he seemed happy with the bulk of the fire, Lihvan stepped over it towards her.Immediately, he drew her into his arms and Beks moaned as evenmoreheat infused into her bones.
Lihvan drew her down to the ground and she let him maneuver her limbs until she was happily nestled between his thighs.His giant arms wrapped around her from behind and very slowly, she allowed herself to relax against his chest, giving him her weight.
“What’s back there?” she asked softly, tilting her head to the back of the cave.
“Water crystals,” he replied.Beks felt the words vibrate from deep in his chest.“We are fortunate.”
Beks puffed out a soft breath, letting the warmth lull her.They had fire, shelter, and now water.She knew those were the three essentials when it came to survival, due to her morbid fascination forNaked and Afraid.She’d binge-watched the show on more than one occasion and hell, at least she had ashirt…and a giant, impressive, hot and broody alien to keep her warm.
Yeah, she’d hit the survival partner jackpot.
“Thank you,” she murmured, turning her head slightly to look at him, “for everything.For keeping me safe.”
His expression was unreadable, but she saw his brow lower slightly.“It was my fault you were taken by the Jetutians.I put you in danger.”
Now it was her turn to furrow her brow.“No, you didn’t.I was the one who followed you on the ship.I gotmyselfinto that mess.”
“Nix,” he grunted.“I should have not…”
“What?”
His jaw set.“I should not have touched you.Those few moments would have been sufficient for you to escape before they saw you.”
Her lips parted.He was talking about The Embrace.The one that had stolen her breath and made her want things she shouldn’t,feelthings she shouldn’t.But damn, it had feltgood.
She didn’t want him to feel guilty about that.Licking her lips, she turned in his arms so she was kneeling between his thighs.His strange, but beautiful eyes flickered over her features, pausing on her lips, and she wondered if his kind kissed to show affection, just like humans.His lips looked soft, even drawn down in that hard frown of his.
Not wanting to frighten him, she leaned forward and kissed his cheek instead, right over his scar.His skin warmed her lips and she lingered for longer than necessary.
When she pulled back, his pupils were dilated and that purring sound gently reverberated around the cave, echoing.
She smiled softly and returned to her original position, with her back against his chest, cozily wrapped in his arms as his hard body thrummed out more heat than the fire.Taking his hands, she placed both of them across her waist.
Lulled by his heat and confession, with her eyelids gradually growing heavier, she murmured softly, “I like it when you touch me.Don’t ever be sorry about that.”
NINE
After a short nap cradled against Lihvan’s body, Beks woke to the sight of the fire and the sound of high pitched screams.She jolted, but then Lihvan’s arm tightened around her, his voice murmuring, “It is the wind through the tunnel.Do not be afraid.”
Beks gradually let herself relax, her heartbeat racing, and then she glanced behind her, clearing her scratchy throat.“I’m sorry I fell asleep on you.”
“You needed the rest,” was all he said.He hadn’t moved an inch, from the looks of it, and she probably had sleep hair and a line of drool.She wiped her mouth as discreetly as possible just to make sure and then disentangled their limbs.
She instantly regretted it.While the fire had warmed up their little alcove quite a bit, it was Lihvan’s heat that had been keeping most of the chill at bay.The wind that rattled around in their cave felt like an air conditioning unit cranked to lowest possible setting, blasting across her skin…in Antartica.Goosebumps rose on her arms and a shudder racked her body, but she told herself that she needed to be useful while they were stranded on this planet.She could handle the cold.Beks couldn’t cleave herself to Lihvan the entire time they were there…it wasn’t practical.
When she looked at the alien who continued to be the object of her growing obsession, his eyes were glued to her chest…namely her nipples pebbling his shirt.
Typical male, she thought, lips parting, feeling her body react to his obvious attention.Which was nuts.Completely nuts.They were stranded on a dangerous planet, with virtuallynothing, and she was thinking about sex?
Her eyes dropped between his legs and saw his hard cock pushing against his leather pants.Beks blew out a breath, her pussy beginning to flutter with arousal, and she saw Lihvan’s nostrils flare.
