“Just a small bottle,” Lainey insisted, “like travel-sized.Nothing crazy.”
Cecelia knew there was a reason why she liked Lainey, even though many of the others didn’t.
She pulled the redhead into a hug and said, “See you in a week.”
“Good luck,” Lainey murmured before pulling away and letting go of her hand.Cecelia gave her a small smile and the rest of the women a small wave before she knocked on the door and it swooshed open to reveal Kate and Vaxa.
They stepped back so she could step out.And then the door closed behind her.
“All ready?” Kate asked, smoothing a hand down her mate’s arm.
Cecelia hoped she hadn’t heard what Lainey said and nodded, “Yeah.I’m ready.”
Just as she said the words, her skin tingled, a familiar yet new sensation.With a small intake of breath, she turned her head down the hallway and sawhimapproaching, his footsteps growing heavier and heavier as he came closer and closer.
He was dressed in a thin grey tunic today instead of sporting his bare chest and glinting nipple piercings.Cecelia didn’t know if she was relieved or disappointed and settled on a little of both.His face was composed of serious, harsh lines, but he was just as handsome and masculine as she remembered.His eyes gleamed under the bright lights and his scaled, shimmering skin took on a blue tint to match.
Rixavox stopped in front of her, bowing his head slightly to Kate and Vaxa before turning his gaze onto her.
“The hovercraft is prepared.Have you said your…goodbyes?” he pronounced slowly, as if unsure how to say the word.
Cecelia’s lips quirked slightly before she sobered, Kate’s warning flooding her mind.Don’t even think about getting involved with someone like him, she reminded herself.
Nodding, she said, “Yes.”
“Let us depart,” Rixavox said in response, standing aside and letting her walk past.
For some reason, his massive height was just now registering with her.Yesterday, she’d fainted before he got close enough and when she woke up…well, she’d been sitting on the bed.Now, she was standing next to him and realized that she didn’t even come up to the middle of his chest.He was well over seven feet.
More importantly, she didn’t know why this fact made her feel…aroused.
Cecelia almost groaned, trying to ignore her treacherous, confused body, and she quickly passed him before he could smell her.Which, as he’d informed her yesterday, hecould, adding insult to the injury.
She made quick work of the hall, refusing to stop to catch her breath.Not only could she hear Rixavox behind her, stomping away in his boots, she couldfeelhim.She didn’t know what the hell was happening to her, but she chalked it up to strange alien planet atmosphere.
The heat of Luxiria smacked her in the face when she stepped out into the open air.It was early morning and the twins suns were almost level with the distant black mountains.She could only appreciate the planet’s beauty briefly before a sweat broke out over her body, making her wish she’d stayed inside.God, how could they deal with this heat?And why wasn’t Kate as affected by it?Surely, this couldn’t just be the effects of her returning cancer.
Cecelia jumped when she felt a palm on her back and she whipped her head around to see Rixavox frowning down at her.His touch made goosebumps spread over her skin and her nipples tightened to sharp peaks underneath her fresh tunic.
She watched as his pupils flared, his nostrils widening at the very base, before he seemed to shake himself out of it.He guided her forward to the hovercraft and she squeaked when he easily lifted her up and set her down on the metal flooring.He pulled himself up behind her, his wide palm lingering on her waist.
Rixavox said something in Luxirian to Vaxa over his shoulder and the Prime Leader jerked his head in a nod.Kate came forward and handed up the small black sack that she’d been carrying.
“Food,” Kate explained when Cecelia gave her a curious look.“So you don’t get hungry.Luxirians can go a while without eating, but I figured you’d need something for the journey.”
Cecelia accepted it with gratitude, although her appetite had rapidly been diminishing lately.She didn’t know how much of it she would actually eat.Nonetheless, Cecelia lifted a trembling hand to Kate, who stood back with her mate and gave her a comforting smile.Her hand was lying on her enlarged belly and Cecelia couldn’t help but remember what the other woman said…about how humans and Luxirians were biologically compatible and how anything was possible.
Swallowing hard, she snuck a look at Rixavox who was standing at the controls of the hovercraft, his legs braced and spread wide.
The hovercraft lifted off the ground and she quickly reached out a hand to the side, steadying herself even though the ascent was relatively smooth.
Rixavox looked over his shoulder at her and held out a hand.“Come, Sessela.”
Slowly, as if approaching a fierce, hungry lion, she did as he asked and she gave a little gasp when he pulled her close, her back to his chest, the control panel laid out before her.
“W-what are you—” she started to ask but, more quickly than she could anticipate, Rixavox revved the hovercraft and they were hurtling into the sky.Cecelia let out a small shriek, her heart in her throat.Her dark hair whipped over her eyes, but the warm breeze felt amazing at the faster speed.
She felt Rixavox’s chest rumble before she heard his deep voice next to her ear.“Are you well, Sessela?”
