Page 23 of Cursed Alien
She blinked up at him, her cheeks flushed. “What did you say?”
He couldn’t answer. The words wouldn’t come. Instead, he dipped his head, inhaling her scent, then brushed his muzzle against her cheek in a slow, deliberate movement that was both question and caress.
Her breath caught, and for a moment he thought she’d push him away. But then her hands slid upwards, burying themselves in the fur of his neck. He growled at the sensation, a deep rumble of pleasure that vibrated through his entire body. He pressed closer, wanting more of her touch, wanting to feel all of her against him.
Her fingers curled, gripping his fur tightly as her breathing quickened. He could feel the pounding of her heart against his chest, but it wasn’t fear driving it. Her lips parted slightly, and he couldn’t resist. He had to taste her.
He claimed her mouth with his, the kiss awkward at first as he adjusted to the shape of her lips. But then her tongue darted out, tentatively brushing against his, and he groaned at the sensation. His hands moved to her waist, lifting her into his arms and pulling her tightly against him as the kiss deepened.
It was unlike any kiss he could remember. There was an urgency to it, a hunger that went beyond the physical, a need to connect on a level deeper than lust. He wanted to claim her, to mark her, to make her his in every way. His fangs grazed her lower lip, drawing a drop of blood, and he shuddered at the taste.
But even in his haze of desire, a small part of his mind cried out for him to stop. She was not his to claim. She was here by necessity, not choice. He didn’t know if he could ever truly deserve her. He had to let her go. Had to…
Her hands returned to his chest and this time she was pushing him away. He forced himself to break the kiss and lower her back to her feet. She was panting, her lips swollen and red from his kisses, her eyes bright.
“I…” she said, licking her lips nervously. “I can’t. Not like this.”
He nodded, unable to speak. She was right. Of course she was right. But his beast howled in frustration.
“Your robe…” she whispered. “That’s all I have to wear. I didn’t mean…”
He forced himself to step back, giving her space, and she shifted uncomfortably under his stare. “I should, um, find somewhere to sleep.”
“Stay.” The word came out as a rumbling growl as he pointed at his nest of furs.
She bit her lip. “I really don’t think that’s a good?—”
He didn’t wait for her to finish. He closed the distance between them and scooped her into his arms, cradling her soft body against his chest.
“What are you doing?” she gasped, her hands instinctively gripping his fur. “Put me down!”
He ignored her protests, carrying her over to the nest of furs. He deposited her gently in the center of the nest, then curled his big body around hers, effectively caging her with his bulk.
She immediately tried to wiggle away, pushing against his chest. “This is not appropriate! We can’t—I can’t?—”
He tightened his grip, careful not to hurt her but making escape impossible.
“Agreed.”
She stilled, looking up at him with wide, uncertain eyes. “That was before we kissed.”
“Safe,” he growled, the word vibrating through his chest. “You… safe… here.”
“Safe from what?”
He didn’t answer, unsure himself what he meant. Safe from the cold? From loneliness? From him? All he knew was that having her here, in his nest, surrounded by his scent, felt right. Necessary.
“I… won’t… harm… you,” he said carefully, the words coming more easily this time. Her closeness made speech less of a struggle.
She remained tense for several long moments, her heart racing so fast he could feel it against his chest. Gradually, though, her muscles relaxed and her breathing slowed. The fear-scent that had spiked when he grabbed her began to fade.
“This is still inappropriate,” she muttered, but there was less conviction in her voice.
He rumbled a sound that wasn’t quite a laugh.Inappropriate. As if such human concepts applied to him anymore. As if anything mattered beyond keeping her close, keeping her safe.
He watched as her eyelids grew heavy, her body surrendering to exhaustion despite her apparent determination to remain alert. When she finally drifted off to sleep, her head pillowed on his arm, satisfaction filled him.
The beast purred, a deep, vibrating sound of contentment. He buried his nose in her hair, inhaling the sweet scent of her, letting it fill his senses and quiet his usual restlessness. For the first time in memory, he felt something like peace.
