Dux grins, and his laughter fills the cockpit.
“You underestimate Vakutan physiology. I am 99 percent healed.”
He puts his hand on my shoulder. I start slightly but don’t shrug it away. The scaled palm feels good. Warm, very warm.
“I’m more worried about you. I can see how the anxiety over your father is eating you alive.”
“I can handle it,” I say.
“I know you can.” The convinction in his voice takes me aback. I turn my head slightly to see his golden eyed gaze focused on me. “But if you need me to take over for a while, I’m here for you.”
The cockpit feels smaller now, the space narrowing around us without physically changing. The hum of the ship deepens, or maybe I’m just more aware of it. The warmth in the air pressescloser to my skin. My senses sharpen in ways that have nothing to do with threat detection.
“Dux,” I say with a breathy sigh. “I--”
My voice trails off, because I don’t know how to put this feeling into words.
“You’re wondering if you can rely on this salty ex soldier,” he says. “You can. I mean, I want to be that man for you. The one you count on.”
“I counted on my father and he left me.”
It blurts out of my mouth unbidden. I flush red and cover my face with my hand.
“Oh, no…I didn’t mean that,” I say.
“Yes, you did,” he replies. “It’s normal to be bitter and angry. You lost your father, it’s only natural you feel this way.”
“Doesn’t make it right,” I say, still unable to face him.
Gently, he pries my hand away from my face and we lock gazes. His scaled face softens, the intensity of his gaze changing pitch.
“You are so beautiful,” he says in a deep, soft voice.
Beautiful. No one’s ever called me that and meant it. Not before now. I laugh, suddenly self conscious of how my hair is all frizzed and I smell of sweat and fear.
“You’re ridiculous, Dux,” I say, but my voice wavers. He turns his head slightly, moves his face in closer, and without thinking I lift my chin and part my lips. Dux’s lips brush mine, soft at first, testing the waters.
An electric thrill shoots through me at the feel of his mouth on my own. The kiss goes from exploratory to molten hot in about two seconds flat. My little gasps and sighs reflect back at me off the cockpit walls as the stars drift by slowly outside.
We pull back by mutual unspoken accord, our eyes meeting again. Something unspoken passes between us, and he moves in again.
There’s nothing gentle or probing about this kiss--it’s pure fire. I feel the sharpness of his Vakutan teeth, but also the sublime control he possesses. It’s rough, but he doesn’t hurt me.
He claims me with his kiss instead.
Dux’s tongue lashes against my own, the sensation sending a shiver through me. He tastes good. Like cinnamon and gunpowder and sharp licorice.
I’m suddenly up on my knees in the chair, holding his face with both hands as I kiss him back just as intensely. His hand slides from my shoulder down the curve of my spine. Then he pulls me out of the chair as if I weigh nothing.
God, he’s huge! I feel almost like a stuffed plush doll in his arms. But even though he could crush me in an instant, I know he won’t. I feel like I’ve known Dux for a long time right now, and I just go with the feeling.
He kisses me harder, deeper than ever before. I almost don't notice his clawed fingers tugging the zipper of my jumpsuit. Almost. I shrug out of the sleeves, assisting in my own disrobement without breaking the lip lock.
It doesn’t feel crazy, or like we’re doing something wrong. Everything feels so damn right it’s almost scary. Dux goes down on one knee as he strips me bare, tugging the leggings off at last. Even kneeling he’s as tall as I am.
I stand completely exposed to him. I don’t have to worry if he likes what he sees. His eyes widen, and glaze with desire that I fear will burn me to nothing. He pulls me into his embrace with the inexorability of a black hole.
Then his mouth is on my skin, mauling my breasts, suckling on my nipples, while his hands roam freely all over my body. His big hand glides down my spine, then to the slope of my ass. I moan into his muscled, scaled shoulder as he grips my cheek and pries me wide open.
