Aura bashfully washes up with me and then holds me in the hot water until my legs stop shaking.
When he steps out, he flash dries himself, and hands me a clean towel from the rack by the sink. While I dry off, he usesmy room’s AI to request another race suit. Then he turns back, collects me in his arms, and carries me to the bed.
“Are you going to stay?”
Aura slides under the blankets with me. His flesh is warm and firm against mine as he curls himself around me. “I don’t ever want to be without you again.”
“Do you really think we can be together? I mean, if your people are mad about you not marrying who they want, and then it’s doubly worse because I’m not Amphiran, don’t you think that’s going to upset someone?”
Aura winds a finger around a strand of my damp hair. “Let them be upset. They dare not try to take me away from you. As long as you promise me to tell anyone who tries to convince you not to be with me to go fuck themselves. You are mine now. I am yours. My Storm will only connect with you.”
“What does that mean?”
“I cannot father children with anyone else unless something happens to you.”
“You mean if I die.”
He draws me in against him. “I want only you. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you again.”
The pressure against my hip makes me giggle. “Are you already getting hard?”
He rumbles a yes and nuzzles against my ear. “But I can wait. All I need right now is you against me, a reminder that you aren’t a dream any longer. You’re real.We’rereal. And I will give my life to protect yours, Jovie. My Storm won’t let you go.
“I’m different,” he quietly adds. “And I don’t think I can want anyone else after you, ever again. So you have to stay alive for me too. Promise?”
I mumble a yes, but in his strong arms and this warm, soft bed, I can’t seem to stay awake. I don’t remember falling asleep,only the glorious comfort and security of my huge electric alien mate.
The room’s AI wakes us in the morning for breakfast.
Aura gets up, walks across the room naked, and peers outside the door. He closes it again and inspects the ABR race uniform. When he looks up, he catches me staring at him. Aura flings the uniform over his shoulder and jumps back onto the bed with me.
The feeling of his skin gliding over mine makes me want him. But instead, Aura dips a finger inside me, then frees it and licks it clean. “I think we need to get some fuel into you before we play much more.”
“You already know I’m okay with dying during sex.”
Aura grunts. “I’m not.”
I roll my eyes. “Fine. If we have to put clothes on, I’ll do it. But I’d much rather stay here with you.”
He pinches my chin and looks me in the eyes. “I’m going to take care of you so we can mate for decades. Doesn’t that sound better than one night?”
“Alright, alright. Twist my arm.” I get up and climb into a clean race suit from the closet.
Aura watches me with a big smile on his face. Then, he seems to remember he needs to get dressed, too. When we’re both ready, we exit the room, and the smell of omelets and French toast reminds me I am hungry.
Aura takes my hand and pulls me inside the shield of his body. I’m starting to really like being close to him, even as he gives my backside a lovezap.
“Ow!” I nudge him with an elbow in playful protest.
We pass a hallway junction on our way to the dining area when a cold feeling crawls around me. I glance as we pass, some deep-seated fear making me look on instinct.
My heart lurches into my throat, strangling my cry for Aura. I try to slow his momentum, but he’s huge compared to me.I point down the hallway. But when we return, there’s no one there.
Aura squints, and his lips part. He sniffs the air. “Chameleon cloak. You saw one of us, didn’t you?”
The high I’ve had for the last twelve hours crashes into my feet, making me dizzy.
Aura holds me close and guides me into the masses of other racers in the main hallway heading for breakfast. “That’s not good. I want you to stay with me no matter what. We may have to leave the race early.”
