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Dallin’s spicy scent filled her nose, and she tasted a hint of camomile tea as their tongues continued an exquisite dance. All she wanted was to breathe him in, feast on his perfect body, and sear this kiss into her brain so she always had the memory to call on any time she needed a reminder.

Dallin groaned as his hand moved down to her waist, and he cupped her ass.

Sloane lifted a leg and ground against his thigh, unable to keep her longing inside.

His free hand explored her curves, sliding up to her breast and stroking the hard nipple through her clothes. His kiss grew more urgent, and he lifted her with one arm as he stroked and teased her.

Stars! She was about to climax all thanks to his hard thigh and skilful hands.

Sloane hadn’t planned on this hot make-out session with Dallin to move so fast, but he’d needed a distraction, and this was the perfect solution for them both to let off steam. And the enormous erection rubbing up against her stomach was an unexpected bonus.

A little of Sloane’s passion died as reality slipped through her lustful thoughts. His obvious arousal didn’t mean Dallin wanted her like she wanted him. He was simply male, and she hadn’t held back when she’d rubbed up against him. Of course, he’d get a hard on in this situation. A guy would have to be dead not to get a stiffy.

She stroked her hand down his stomach, fully intending to see how magnificent his erection was.

Dallin grabbed her hand and stopped her just before she reached her prize.

“Is it too soon to go to third base?” Her voice was husky.

His lust-filled gaze met hers, and her breath stuttered at the longing in his eyes. “This is wrong.”

“It doesn’t feel wrong to me. It feels amazing.”

Dallin slowly set her back on her feet. He turned away and adjusted himself. “We’re on a mission. And you’re unwell.”

“I’ve never felt so good. And you were the one freaking out. You needed something to take your mind off our trip to the waystation.”

“That doesn’t make it right.”

“It does to me.” She scowled at his back as he refused to look at her.

“I shouldn’t take advantage of you when you’re not yourself.”

“Dallin! For stars’ sake! I was the one who took advantage of you. You lost focus, so I did something to unstick you. And it worked.” Sloane couldn’t figure out the expression on Dallin’s face as he turned back to face her. The desire was clear in his eyes, as was the bulge in his pants that had yet to go down, but it looked like he was warring with himself over what he’d just done.

He looked away again. “I’m the one who is supposed to be helping you and the rest of the crew. I acted inappropriately.”

“You think what we did was inappropriate?” Tears flooded Sloane’s eyes. He still couldn’t see her as his life partner. No matter what she did, Dallin would never think of her as important or worth being with.

“Sloane, I’m sorry. That came out wrong. I didn’t mean you were inappropriate. I meant... I don’t know what I meant. I just didn’t want to use you.”

She shrugged away his apology, too angry and frustrated to deal with Dallin and his messed up head. “It’s not important.”

“It is. And this has nothing to do with you.”

“It has everything to do with me.” Sloane grabbed his arm and made him face her. “I want to understand you, but you make it impossible. I care about you, but you shove me away all the time. It’s a good job I have a healthy ego, or I’d be sobbing into a pint of mint choc chip right about now and sitting in my pajamas, having not showered for a week.”

He tilted his head. “Some of that got lost in translation.”

“Urgh! I meant, if you really don’t want anything to do with me, just say. I’ll figure out something else. A new job, a new partner, a different ship. I don’t know. But I won’t keep putting myself out there, if all you’re going to do is slam me down.” She squeezed his arm. “Dallin, you’re a good alien. You’re the only one I want, and I don’t want to give up on you. I want to get to know everything about you and make sure you’re happy. But to do that, I have to understand what makes you tick.”

“There’s nothing more you need to understand about me. We work together, that’s it.”

“That’s not it!” Sloane jabbed a finger at his erection. “Your hard-on is almost poking me in the eye.”

“Stars! Sloane.”

“You’re going to pretend that isn’t real? You don’t want to get me naked and stick me with it?”