She jumped when Mace’s hands settled on her shoulders. A gentle tug, and the small of her back pressed against his abdomen. She relaxed into the hold.
“How are you doing?” he asked, voice rumbling through her body, hands skimming her arms to take hold of her elbows.
She leaned her head against him and closed her eyes, reveling in the tingles running through her scalp at his touch. So much had happened since she’d awoke this morning in his arms. Her brain couldn’t process it all.
“Nia?”
“I need a steam.” It was one thing she could focus on. After spending hours in a fighter, she could smell herself without lifting her arms. But she didn’t move, didn’t want to separate from him. Mace was the only solid thing in her life right now, and she clung to the sensation. Her sanity depended on it.
“I could use one too,” he agreed. His hands skimmed to her shoulders and cupped the sides of her throat.
Shivers spread through her body, settling into the base of her spine and bottom. She closed her eyes, remembering how it had felt to have him wash her after they’d had sex the first time, how no one had ever taken care of her like that before. She hadn’t been able to move, or react, or speak, just drowned herself in the experience.
Maybe she should return the favor. He’d saved her from Forna and Slattery when he could have left her there to save himself.
He could have left her onOrionto die, but he’d cared enough to find her.
Turning in his arms, she placed her hands flat against his chest. “Let’s go, then.” A shift of her body, and she got him moving backward to the washroom. It was smaller than his onOrion,no way for both of them to fit.
Not allowing her plans to be thwarted, she began to undress him outside the doors.
“Nia?” he asked when she slid the zipper of his uniform down his ribs.
“Yes?” She slid her hands beneath the material and slipped it from his shoulders.
“What are you doing?” his top puddled around his feet with a lightthwap. Despite asking the question, he didn’t move.
“Undressing you.” She moved her fingers to the zipper at the front of his pants.
“Lexi told us not to take too long.”
“Okay.” Since their first encounter might have been the fastest fuck she’d ever had, she didn’t think they’d have a problem with speed. It had also been the most mind-blowing fuck she’d ever had, quick or not.
It was more than fucking.That’s what he’d said on the way here. She agreed with him but couldn’t saywhyit was more.
Guiding his pants lower, she licked her lips when his cock bobbed in front of her face, hard and ready. She looked up at him from her stooped position. Heat flooded her abdomen at his expression, his eyes hooded. She only broke eye contact long enough to undo the fastenings of his boots.
He stepped out of his boots and pants, and her fingers twitched to grab him. Instead, she settled her hands on his hips and pushed him the rest of the way into the shower.
“Max pressure. Medium temp,” she said, when she realized there were no controls on the bulkhead.
Steam rushed in around them. She took a moment to remove her clothes. Mace kept his eyes on her, and she couldn’t look away as the steam billowed, the scent of soap swirling out the open door.
He was beautiful. He was dangerous. He threatened. He protected.
What had once scared her drew her near.
Naked now, she stepped inside. His black hair, heavy from the moisture, hung in strands around his face. Slinking close, but not touching him, she pressed her hand to the dispensary and CORE-issue soap foamed in her hand. She kept his gaze as she started with his shoulders, then chest, feeling each muscle, making sure he was thoroughly coated.
His eyes darkened the more she touched him. Her hands traveled lower, breaths leaving her lips in quick bursts. Everywhere she caressed, satiny skin covered muscles as hard as steel. Her fingers trailed through every dip and valley, loving the way he twitched beneath her touches.
She stepped closer still, her breasts brushing his abdominals as she stroked his back, then over his buttocks which clenched beneath her fingers, to the crack of his ass.
“Nia,” he said, his tone full of warning.
She liked the sound and smiled. Her fingers returned to his front and she succumbed to the need to grab him.
A breath hissed from his lips. Then he groaned when she squeezed and stroked. The sounds he made fueled the fire burning between her legs, spread heat across her skin.
