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He vowed to do better.

She was his future mate, and he wanted her to understand that he valued her as a person, not merely as a female who had awakened a longing inside him that was becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

When they finally exchanged the mating vows of his people, he wanted the moment to mean something.

He wanted Holly to remember it for the rest of her life.

Another growl left him, and he started pacing the corridor as he continually glanced out the nearest viewports. A second building had caught fire. He didn’t know anything about the war that was ravaging Holly’s country, but he wanted to get her away from this planet as soon as possible. The urge to keep her safe was so overwhelming that he almost questioned his sanity.

He’d never felt quite like this before.

He’d won battles and cage fights. He’d experienced the rush of victory too many times to count during his life, the satisfaction of overcoming an enemy that had proven a challenge. But none of those experiences compared to what he felt when he looked at Holly.

It made no sense. He barely knew her. They’d only just met, but something deep inside him recognized her as his.

His female. His future mate.

The possessive thoughts rushed to the forefront of his mind.

He truly did wish to protect her. To keep her close. To make certain no harm ever came to her again. The urge was so powerful that it bordered on obsession, and he could not explain it.

And then there was her beauty.

With her dark flowing hair, soulful brown eyes, and delicate features, Holly was the most beautiful female he had ever seen. It wasn’t just her physical appearance that drew him in, but her spirit roused him in ways that made him eager to claim her and keep her as his forever. She radiated warmth, resilience, and courage.

Despite only knowing her for a short time, it was as though his soul recognized hers. When he looked into her eyes, he saw something that called to his heart, a brilliant light within her, a beacon he could not resist.

Another boom sounded in the distance, and his eyes snapped to the door of the medical bay. Enough. It was time to leave Earth. He’d given her more than enough time to get dressed, or so he hoped.

After drawing in a deep, calming breath, he adjusted himself in his pants, finding that he was only semi-hard, and approached the door. It zipped open and he walked inside.

But he was not prepared for the sight that greeted him.

Holly was kneeling next to her suitcase, her white, low-cut dress exposing a generous amount of cleavage, as she leaned over, sorting through a pile of colorful undergarments. Bras and panties, many that were trimmed with lace.

She gasped and looked up at him, her eyes so very wide and dark. A flush covered her neck and quickly spread to her cheeks.

In an instant, his cock went fully hard.

They gaped at one another for too long. He found himself unable to speak, unable to trust what might come out of his mouth. But at last, Holly broke the silence, speaking quickly as she rushed to provide an explanation.

“After I put on the dress, I realized you could see the red panties I selected through the thin fabric, so I was just looking for some white or beige panties.” Her face grew an even darker shade of pink. “I thought I would wear a white dress because… because tonight will sort of be like our wedding night. I know Vaxxlians don’t have weddings—at least I don’t think you do—since I’ve heard that your people repeat some sort of mating vows just before, um, you know, you have sex for the first time. But on Earth, many brides wear white on their wedding day. So yes, I thought I would wear this white dress, but silly me, I forgot just how thin this particular dress was and….”

Her voice trailed off and she glanced at his crotch.

Errik didn’t have to follow her gaze to know just how obvious his erection was. Star God, he was getting so hard that a wave of dizziness swept over him. His pants had become so tight that he doubted he would be able to easily take a step forward. Vaxxlian warrior uniforms were constructed of strong, armored material that could repel most weaponry, but he was starting to worry his cock might indeed burst through the fabric at any moment. Conscious of Holly’s eyes on him, he fought the urge to readjust himself.

She abruptly stood, clutching a pair of white, lace-trimmed panties in her hands. And as she straightened, he noticed just how translucent her white gown really was. He could easily glimpse the red panties in question through the thin material.

Fluxx.

He wanted to go to her. He wanted to claim her lips in a deep kiss as his hands roamed all over her body, touching her, memorizing the feel of her curves. His tongue vibrated in his mouth at the thought.

Not for the first time, he caught a hint of what he believed to be her arousal in the air, the slickness between her thighs a sign that her body was responding to him. He’d detected the delectable aroma earlier a few times, but at first, he’d been uncertain about its origins. Now he was confident it was her arousal.

His heart thudded faster.

She wanted him.