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“I got out eventually. But as punishment for killing so many of them, they tried to turn me into a puppet they could send into war and fight for them. That’s where the scars come from.”

“Is that why you have abilities other Apexians don’t? The enhanced healing, your supersonic hearing, the sensitivity to touch?”

“I’m guessing the last one is a side effect of whatever they did to me.”

Daisy placed her hands carefully on his bare chest. “Does that hurt?”

He drew in a shaky breath. “It feels great.”

She eased her hands up to his pecs. “You said it felt like fire.”

“Yeah, but it’s a good heat. I welcome your heat. Sometimes, I can’t get warm. It’s like there’s ice in my veins. Your touch, it melts that ice. It makes me feel alive.”

Daisy blinked away tears. “Rexx, I had no idea you were suffering. You should have said something.”

“What would you have done? Offered to run your hands over me until I warmed up?”

Her cheeks warmed, and a coil of heat unfurled inside her. “Maybe.”

They simply stared at each other. What was she doing? This was Rexx. She shook her head. That was exactly why she was doing this. She knew him. Even more so after this revelation of how badly he’d been treated.

“It makes me feel sick that you’ve been hurting all this time. I could have helped you. I would have done something.” She lifted his hand and kissed the knuckles. “Does that feel good?”

“You won’t hear me complaining.”

“You never complain about me. You put up with me even when I annoy you.”

“Never. You help me just by being around.” He eased his hand away from her grip. “Which is why I had to get you away from the Apocalypse.”

She leaned closer until her face was near his and she could see the dark specks in his purple eyes. “Partners are supposed to help each other. All this time, I could have been helping you, but you never asked me to.”

“You do enough. I don’t expect anything more. I don’t deserve it.”

“You should.” Daisy slid her hands up to his face. “I want to do more. Especially now I know I can. I want you to feel good. Rexx, you’ve experienced too much pain. No more. Everyone deserves to be adored.”

She brushed her lips across his, keeping her eyes open to see his reaction.

Fire lit his eyes, blazing them into an ember of heat and longing.

Daisy had only meant to taste him, give him a little comfort, but that look sent her over the edge. She traced her tongue across his lips, and he opened his mouth, pulling her close and kissing her until she was dizzy.

She clamped her legs around his thigh, holding him in place as she feasted on that delicious, hungry mouth that kissed her like she’d never been kissed before. This was real passion. This was Rexx. He wasn’t like a cyborg, operating on orders and commands. He fought for things he loved. He stayed alive and was still fighting because he cared too much.

Rexx groaned as she accidentally pressed too much weight over his bruised ribs.

“Crap! Sorry.” Daisy jerked away.

“No, you’re good. Come back to me.”

It wouldn’t take much persuasion from Rexx to do that. Daisy shook her head. Stars, she was like a love struck teenage girl getting her first taste of real passion.

“You need to sleep. It’ll speed up your healing,” Daisy said.

“I don’t. I need you.”

Her breath caught in her throat. That was something she’d agree to in a snap if only she didn’t know how wrecked his magnificent body was.

Daisy sat back on her heels. “I need to check over the ship and see what needs repairing. And my partner needs his downtime. No arguing. Are any of the rooms back there usable to sleep in?”