Her orgasm was beautiful.
The rhythm of her hips stuttered, and then her whole body tensed. Her eyes closed, her mouth slack, and as her pleasure crested, she let out her breath in an explosive grunt that left her panting and limp.
Her eyes opened to stare at him, her pupils still dilated from satiety.Vulnerable. Open. Beautiful.
He ran a hand through her hair again. “Veine groone,”he said softly.
She licked her lips, swallowed, then broke her pose to hug him. He lost his balance and toppled backwards to sit on thefloor, and she crawled into his lap, huddling up against his chest. On instinct he wrapped his arms around her.
She clutched the fabric of his shirt in her fist, and the gesture moved something inside him—it was unsettling.
No. She needed to finish this lesson.
He picked her up off his lap and set her aside, then stood. He crossed his arms, forcing himself to stay cool and business-like, and looked down at her. “Dhavezhun.”
She stared up at him, and Bralix could read the hurt in her expression.
“Dhavezhun!”
It took her a moment to react, but she resumed the position he’d just taught her, although she didn’t meet his gaze.
That was okay; he didn’t think he could meet her gaze right now, either.
He pointed at her bedding, releasing her from her position, and she scrambled to her feet. The speed at which she retreated from him bothered him.
She picked up her bedding and wrapped it around her body, then without a backwards glance at him she disappeared into the maze of strapped-down crates.
Earlier in her explorations, Samulin had found an empty crate with a loose front panel near the back corner of the cargo area. Sleeping out in the open on a pile of bedding, where he could approach her at any time, from any direction, just made her feel too vulnerable, and this little fox-hole did much to alleviate some of that anxiety. So she’d dragged her duvet into the cratewith her, lying on top of one half of the duvet and pulling the other half over her like an omelette. She couldn’t stretch out or truly get comfortable, but at least she felt safer.
Samulin regretted ever wanting to earn aVeine grooneand giving that bastard that much power over her. He was a controlling asshole, and she was done playing his games. She’d give him a piece of her mind, except her choicest epithets would probably zoom by over his head, completely unappreciated; what a waste.
But why did the asshole have to be so attractive? Half the time she couldn’t be sure whether the low-key simmer in her blood was due to fury or attraction; either way, no-one could deny they had chemistry. Too bad often the chemistry was like adding elemental sodium to water.
Kaboom.
She wasdone.
At least he distracted her from her other problems. She laid a hand over her lower belly.I’m sorry, Baby,she thought guiltily.You’re not a problem; not really. Not your fault your parents are stupid.
Next time you’re tempted to give in to his wiles, just picture him with your baby,she lectured herself.You have more than just yourself to consider now. No more alien dick—no matter how tempting he may be. He probably has no idea what to do with a baby anyway.
Footsteps on the deck just outside alerted her to Bralix’s presence, and she sat up, plastering her back to the back corner, pulling her knees up tight to her chest, and pulling the duvet up to cover herself.
Moments later Bralix’s shadow fell over the opening. The panel moved and Bralix crouched at the entrance, peering into the shadows of her sanctuary.
He was silent for a moment. “Samulin;Dhavedad,”he said.
Samulin stared at his silhouette. “No.”
He blinked. “Dhavedad,” he repeated, this time firmer, the syllables each bitten off at the quick, as if she’d simply not heard him.
“Fuck. Off,” Samulin replied, equally slowly, clearly, and with a side helping of irritation.
His face hardened, and fast as a snake, he grabbed her wrist to drag her bodily from her crate.
In a move well-practiced from self-defence classes, she twisted her wrist, chopping down on his thumb with the edge of her hand to break his hold, and when he tried to reach for her again, she slapped his hand away—hard. “I saidno!Leave me alone, you jerk; I’m done playing with you.”
“Samulin.” He tried to grab for her duvet this time, but she snatched it out of his grasp in time and managed to stomp his arm against the edge of the crate with her foot.
