Page 49

He grabbed the chocolate from her with his teeth before sucking her fingers into his mouth.

Holly’s eyes widened, and she watched him suck on her fingers.

Avel heard her breathing quicken as he slowly released her fingers from his mouth. “How can you not think you’re irresistible?” His hand wrapped around the back of Holly’s neck. He drew her close until their lips were an inch apart.

She opened her mouth to speak, but he was done talking. He covered her mouth with his, his tongue exploring the chocolate sweet taste as the kiss deepened.

Her groan of pleasure made him hard, and he pulled her closer, being careful of her injured arm. He tangled his fingers into her hair and kissed her like she was the only thing he desired, as if not touching her would kill him.

Holly’s hands splayed against his chest, her fingers stroking his muscles.

Avel pulled back from the kiss and rested his forehead against hers. “When we get out of here, I’m going to lick chocolate off every inch of your naked body.”

Holly’s breath shook out of her. “That’s a lot of chocolate.”

Avel chuckled. “Every single inch of you. I’m not missing a single spot. I’m going to taste you everywhere.”

He knew he shouldn’t, but this time he hadn’t just stepped over a line; he’d taken a flying leap and landed several hundred yards away. He was in deep with Holly, but she was what he’d been waiting for, and he wasn’t letting go.

Chapter 15

Holly turned her head and snuggled against the warm, solid muscles of Avel’s chest.

She’d woken about half an hour ago but hadn’t moved, happy to be wrapped in Avel’s arms, feeling safe and content.

She still couldn’t believe what he’d said yesterday. No man had ever wanted to lick anything off her body.

Holly grinned as she listened to Avel’s slow, steady heartbeat. Who knew that all it would take to find a guy who was into her was a near death experience in space and a box of chocolates.

Her foot brushed the wall, and she shuffled closer to Avel on their makeshift bed at the bottom of the ship. The bedroom wasn’t accessible, so they’d padded the floor, which was technically the wall given the way the ship was stuck, with spare clothing and blankets.

Holly lifted her head and studied Avel’s face as he slept. He wasn’t classically handsome, but the mixture of human and Dackin features suited him. The angles of his face were sharp and slightly longer than most human guys, and his hair was one-of-a-kind, but everything fit him. This was Avel.

His arm tightened around her back, and he pulled her closer. “You should be sleeping.”

She grinned. “It’s hard to sleep when you’re here.”

“If you don’t want to sleep, what do you want to do?” His hand ran up her spine, sending tingles down her back. The bruises felt much better, thanks to the numbing gel he’d applied.

“I can think of a few things.”

Avel’s eyes remained closed, but a lazy smile spread across his face. “Why don’t you show me your ideas? I might want to participate.”

Holly repressed a giggle. She never giggled, but it felt so good to be surrounded by Avel’s scent. All he’d ever done was encourage her and tell her to believe in herself. When he looked at her, he didn’t see some scared, confused mess who’d hidden from the world for such a long time. What had he called her yesterday? A sex goddess? She wasn’t sure she was ready to live up to that reputation, but it might be fun to give it a try.

Holly slid a leg over Avel’s thighs until she lay on top of him.

He made an agreeable murmur and cupped her ass. She stroked her hands down his face and followed her fingers with her lips, kissing his skin and tasting the slightly salty tang of his sweat.

She stroked through his hair and explored the silky soft feathers on his head.

When she looked back at his face, his expression was serious. “Don’t you like that?”

“It feels great. My feathers don’t freak you out?”

“No, I love them. They suit you.”

“They’re sensitive. Only ever stroke them one-way from my head down, or it makes my toes curl. Not in a hot way.”