Gweneth advanced, closing the distance between them.When they were almost touching, she lifted her head and met his gaze.An instant later, her chin lifted, and he smiled at the sight.
She reached up and skimmed his jaw with her fingertips.
His feline twisted beneath his skin, the leashed power of the beast almost breaking past his control, all because of her innocent touch.
“Is that your feline?”
He nodded since a lump had lodged in his throat, preventing him from speaking.
She ran her palm over his cheek, and heat roared through his body.Not his cat this time, but the man’s body reacting to the proximity of a beautiful woman.One who wanted a kiss.
“Come here,” he said gruffly, reaching for her and pulling her against his chest.
They both sighed then grinned.
Friends who enjoyed kissing each other.It couldn’t be that bad, he thought as he claimed her lips.He’d wanted to keep the kiss quiet and friendly, but the elvetine flower-soft touch of her lips responding to his roared through him in a flash flood of emotions.He wrapped both arms around her slender form and deepened the contact, sliding his tongue into the warm softness and falling into a world of feminine mysteries.Heat and pleasure.
He’d meant to kiss her and go on his way, but the sec his brain thought about ceasing the contact, his arms locked in position.In urgent need of a breath, he parted their lips and nuzzled the fragrant flesh of her neck.
“Ellard,” she whispered.
He licked across the rapid-beating pulse below her ear, and wonder filled him.This storm of lust and longing affected her too, since she appeared just as lost.
He sighed again and pressed his forehead to hers.“I should probably go and get some rest.You’re right about us both needing to stay alert once we land on Narenda.”
“One more kiss?”The hopeful gleam in her beautiful green eyes unmanned him.No one ever looked at him this way.Not a woman.
Their lips met again before the thought registered in his mind.The last bit of his sanity told him to place distance between them since his cock was reacting in a predictable manner.He’d hate to frighten her, not that she seemed the nervy type, but he distrusted his instincts when it came to females.He forced his lower limbs to obey the order to move and made room between them.
She groaned and reclaimed the space.Firm breasts pushed into his chest, and she didn’t seem to mind his shaft digging into her belly.The thought shot pleasure through him and drew his balls so tight he thought he might burst.
“Enough.”He pulled away with a tortured groan and took an additional two steps back to negate temptation.
She nodded.“Thank you for the spectacular kiss.”
“Two kisses,” he corrected, his voice croaky and strained.
“You still owe me one tomorrow,” she said.“It’s not my fault you decided to steal an extra one.”
He stared at her, nonplussed by her casual manner.Just as he thought he understood her, she said or did something that jolted him out of rhythm.
“Call me if you have a problem.”
She sat in her seat and fastened the safety harness.“I might call Lynx and Shiloh and tell them we’ve made contact and should arrive on the morrow as we predicted.”
Ellard glanced down at his erection and back at Gweneth, calmly pushing buttons on the controls.The last thing he wanted was for Lynx or Shiloh to see the results of Gweneth’s kiss.“See you later.”
She lifted one hand.“Sure thing.”
Ellard sighed and left the bridge.Women.He’d never understand them.
Chapter 4
Planet Narenda
TheGallantthuddedontothe landing pad late in the next cycle and, without warning, listed to the side.Gweneth, who had already unbuckled her seat harness, flew off balance, and Ellard’s arm snapped out to grab her.An arrow of pain transmitted from his artificial arm and down his shoulder, and then Gweneth plopped into his lap, jolting the discomfort from his mind.
“As much as I enjoy cuddling with you, I think the delegation from the chieftain’s office is waiting for us.”
