Page 92

Chapter 17

Eden couldn’t retreat. With Blaze’s arms around her and the hunger in his eyes so strong it took her breath away, she admitted defeat. She cared about this guy way more than she should. She’d spent so long denying it, and all the time, it had been a big lie.

Blaze leaned closer, and her heart sped up.

“You called me your guy,” he said.

She bit her bottom lip. “Yeah. I was pumped on Apexian energy.”

“You said it three times. Did you mean it? Do you want me to be yours?”

Eden lowered her gaze. She did want him. More than air, more than water. His touch excited her, his closeness turned her on, and the prospect of a future with Blaze sent excited chills down her spine.

“I do. When we first met, I couldn’t believe you were real. You were always there when I needed you, and you never let me down. Even when I behaved like a bitch and threw everything back in your face, you didn’t flinch.”

“I flinched a lot. You could be ruthless in your rejection. And a guy can only take so much refusal before he thinks there’s something wrong with him.”

Eden let out a soft sigh. “And that was my mistake. But...” She’d never told a guy how scared she was to let him in. She wanted to let Blaze in so bad.

“You were protecting yourself. You’ve been screwed over by people who should have known better. Everyone you’ve cared about has let you down. I understand why you hesitated around me. But you know me. You know every inch of me. You’ve tasted my energy. I only ever want what’s best for you. And I just happen to think that would be me.”

She grinned. “Is that right?”

“I’ve always known we fit together. I was just waiting for you to catch up.”

“You’re amazing for me. If I hadn’t jinxed things between us, we’d have had so much fun.”

“It would have been more than fun. You know that. It would have been forever. And I’m still here,” he said.

Forever with Blaze. Eden’s throat tightened. “Only because you can barely stand.”

He tilted her chin with his finger. “I can do a lot more than stand. And I plan to.”

Eden sucked in a breath, hot tension filling the room as Blaze stroked a thumb across her bottom lip. There was still a part of her yelling a warning to keep her distance, but she couldn’t stay away any longer. Her need for Blaze was too intense.

His hand slid behind her head, and she leaned into his touch, her pulse kicking into a higher gear. He stroked down her arms and back up again.

Before Eden lost all control and sank into him, she leaned back. “We should get this ship back to the sanctuary.”

“Great idea. Give me two minutes.” Blaze kept an arm around her waist as his fingers skimmed over the console.

Heat spread through her as Blaze danced his fingers up and down her spine, never breaking contact with her. This was really happening. After so long avoiding her feelings, she was facing them head on, and it was terrifying. A future with Blaze in her life. A future where she didn’t reject him or worry that he’d hurt her. Could she have that?

This first taste of real love was scary and amazing. Part of her wanted to run away as fast as she could, but she also wanted to leap on Blaze and never let go.

“All done.” He turned back and wrapped his other arm around her.

Eden glanced at the door. “We should go check on the rest of the Pecket in the ship.”

A sexy smile crossed Blaze’s face. “Am I making you nervous?”

She swallowed. She’d never felt so scared or so hopeful in her life. “No, I want this. I want you.”

He growled in agreement. “So let me in. Those assholes will be fine. They’re locked down after you fucked with them.”

“Thanks to your energy.”

“Thanks to us working together. Now, stop talking and let me kiss you, get you naked, and hear you screaming my name. I’ve wanted that for such a long time. You’re all I want.”