His brow bunched more. “No? We have not kissed before?”
I shook my head. “Nope. Not even close.” I didn’t want to tell him that there had been something about his kiss that’d been both familiar and exhilarating, and that I’d sunk into his kiss like I’d never done with anyone before.
Kolt frowned. “Then I beg your forgiveness…”
“Skye,” I told him, “and there’s no need for all that. It was only one kiss.”
My cheeks burned hot at the flagrant lie that tripped so easily off my tongue. It had hardly been a simple kiss.
“Skye,” he repeated. “Then if we are not mates or lovers, then why are we being held in one cell?”
“You really remember nothing?” I pressed. “Not rescuing me on Lexxona or being ambushed by the Zagrath or being brought here and trying to overpower the guards?”
He shook his head. “I only know that my name is Vandar. At least, that is what one of those warriors I want to kill called me.”
I grinned, doing my best not to laugh at him. “Your name isn’t Vandar. Youarea Vandar.”
When his befuddled expression didn’t change, I added. “It’s your species. The Vandar are known for being tough warriors and for fighting the Zagrath.”
His spine straightened. “I am Vandar.” He flicked his gaze to the corridor. “And those warriors were Zagrath?”
“Yep, although I wouldn’t call those pricks warriors. They’re more like babysitters with weapons.”
“Are all Zagrath pricks?”
I did laugh at this. “Pretty much.” I didn’t add that until very recently, I’d thought the same about the Vandar.
He squared his shoulders. “And what is my name?”
“Kolt. I don’t know if you have any other names, but that’s what the other Vandar call you. Oh, and you’re a battle chief.”
“Battle chief Kolt,” he said slowly. “I do not remember any of this, but I will believe you.” Then he locked his gaze on me, and his dark eyes flared. “But I am not sure if I believe you when you say that we are not lovers. And if we were not, maybe we should be.”
My mouth went dry as his fiery gaze wandered to my lips. I wasn’t sure I disagreed.
Chapter
Eight
Kolt
Skye’s already pink cheeks darkened as she looked away quickly. “I promise you we’re not lovers.” She cleared her throat. “Actually, that was the first time we’ve ever kissed.”
I scoured my memory to confirm her words, but there was nothing there. True, I didn’t remember kissing her before, but I didn’t remember kissing anyone, and my gut told me that wasn’t true. My body had known precisely what to do, how to move, how to part her lips so I could taste more of her.
As thoughts of kissing her sent heat rushing through my body—especially south—I shook my head as if to dislodge the traitorous thoughts. “Then the kiss was unwelcome?”
She made a series of spluttering sounds. “It was…a surprise. I honestly didn’t think you even liked me.”
I stared at her, struck again by how stunning she was. Again, there was a tingle of distrust when I looked at her, but it made no sense, so I brushed it aside. “I cannot imagine that I did not like you. I cannot imagine that I did not want you.”
Skye stood and took a few long steps before turning. “I think we’re getting off-track. We should be focusing on how we’re going to escape, not on kissing or whether we like each other.”
The female was right. There would be time to figure out personal issues after we escaped and…
“Where are we trying to escape to?” I asked, “And where are we now?”
Skye started to walk a small loop, pivoting on one foot and then reversing and walking back the other way. “We’re trying to escape and get back to our people. You to your Vandar horde and me to my home planet, although I’m not sure if Lexxona is safe anymore. As to where we are now, I honestly have no clue. Someplace hot and under Zagrath control.”
