She made a strangled sound.
“The readout says there should be no side effects though and the chemical will wear off naturally.”
Her eyes opened and she stared at the ceiling of her bedroom. The room felt tiny and suffocating, like all the air had been sucked out of the nearest airlock.
Heat flared across her skin. She writhed amongst the sheets, tears leaking from the corners of her eyes. She hated the lack of control, that her body was no longer under her command. “It’s getting worse.” She tore at the buttons on her shirt, desperate for something to cool the raging fire.
“Maybe a cold shower?” He gave a tortured laugh. “A tried-and-true antidote that’s been around since old Earth times.”
His voice…it stroked over her like a caress. Her nipples hardened to tight points and she was drenched between her legs. Another sob tore from her throat.
Justyn made a choking noise. “God, sweetheart, I’d do anything to help you.”
Yes, he would. Working alongside him the last few days had shown Nissa there was much more to Justyn Phoenix than just the charming smuggler. She pushed up on her elbows.
He was still on his knees, his hands digging into his hard thighs, his head hanging down. The lights in her cabin caught the golden strands in his hair, making them shine like gold. Such a delicious-looking man.
And one who hid so much under his devil-may-care façade.
Another flare of heat flushed over her from her toes to her cheeks. The heat was growing so much that it burned away the last of her rational thoughts.
She sat up and scooted back to the edge of the bed. As she moved, she trapped Justyn with her legs.
His head shot up. His silver-gray eyes darkened. “Nissa…”
That one word held a wealth of meaning—warning, anger, desire.
“Touch me,” she murmured.
He shook his head, his strong throat working as he swallowed.
“Touch me.Please.” She tightened her legs on him, her knees digging into his sides. With one hand, she flicked at the last few buttons of her shirt. Air brushed over her breasts and belly, but the raging inferno was too strong to be cooled.
His gaze raked over her, and she saw the answering flames in his eyes. A muscle ticked in his jaw.
“No. You’ll hate me after.” His gaze collided with hers. “I don’t want you to hate me.”
He wasn’t going to help her. Despair rocketed through Nissa. Her hand dropped to her own breast, rubbing, her nail flicking over her nipple. But it didn’t give her any relief.
His eyes went straight to her hand, and the muscles in his arms flexed.
She trailed her hand lower, over her flat belly. Lower, and dipped inside her panties.
He groaned. “Nissa.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “Jesus. Fuck. Shit.”
The touch of her fingers wasn’t enough. Another sob broke free. “Justyn…please. Help me.”
Justyn was in hell.
Of all the many and varied fantasies he’d ever had about having a naked Nissa Sander laid out on a bed in front of him, this situation had never, ever starred in them.
Whatever he did here, she’d hate him for it. Hell, she’d hate the fact that he’d seen her like this.
But as he watched her body shaking, burning up with need, his resolve weakened. A tear rolled down her cheek, destroying the last of his control. There was no way he could leave her like this, hurting and in need.
He’d never deny this woman help when she needed it.
He sucked in a breath and banished all the clamoring voices in his head. He pushed up, circling her thighs with his hands.
