Page 25 of Rock Hard Alien

“No.”

His eyes had changed. The black had expanded until almost nothing remained of the grey around it. His wings were spread behind him, taking up most of the sofa, and his tail had wrapped itself around the nearest table leg.

“Do you want me to stop?” he asked.

I should have said yes. The stone was already disappearing from his arm. He could move his fingers again. The immediate danger had passed.

Instead, I held my wrist closer to his mouth.

“No. Keep going.”

His eyes closed as his lips returned to my skin.

This time I was prepared for the sting of his fangs. I wasn't prepared for his tongue. It moved over the wounds between each pull, catching every drop. The strange heat inside me grew until my nipples tightened beneath my shirt and wetness spread between my legs.

Could he tell what this was doing to me?

His nostrils flared.

Of course he could. Alien senses. Wonderful.

Cairn drank once more, then forced himself away. He cradled me in his arms, pulling me close against his chest. He was hard there, harder than muscle, but still soft enough that I wouldn't get bruises from hugging him.

“It worked,” I muttered, feeling strangely satisfied.

“Yes.” His voice was deeper than before, rough enough to make the tiny hairs on my arms stand up.

“Are you still turning to stone?”

He looked down at his left hand and slowly curled it into a fist. “No.”

Relief should have been the only thing I felt. Instead, I wanted more.

Cairn ran his tongue across his lower lip, collecting a streak of my blood. His fangs were still exposed. His attention dropped to my wrist before travelling up my arm.

“Your scent has changed,” he said.

“Finish that sentence and I'll reconsider saving you next time.”

His lips curved into a grin. “I was going to say that you smell healthy.”

“Liar.”

One of his wings curled around us, blocking the rest of the room from view.

Cairn gently stroked my wrist. The puncture marks were already fading. I’d have to ask him how that was possible. Later.

Right now, I wanted him to bite me again. Saving his life had very little to do with it.

Ten

Cairn

Georgie kissed me.

For one stunned heartbeat, I did nothing. Her lips pressed against mine, warm and soft, carrying the faint taste of chocolate and blood. Her fingers tightened at the back of my neck when I failed to respond.

The first time Georgie had looked at me, she had seen a statue. An interesting piece of stone shaped by a skilled craftsman. Now she was holding me as if she had forgotten I had ever been anything other than alive.