Just under his palms, thin fabric prevented him from reaching her skin.Only the fragile grip he had on his control prevented him from testing the pliancy of her bare backside.
When her sobbing had penetrated his room, he’d bolted.Her bare shoulders should’ve warned him, but he’d only sought to offer comfort.Osnir help him, she was so soft all over.That registered first.The way she curled into him had summoned a desperate urge to protect her and an overpowering need to mate her.It had taken everything in him not to lift her into his arms and sprawl her on the bed.
The temptation had yet to fade, now worsened by her flavor coating his tongue.The scent of her skin clung to his, and like he’d experienced before, she filled his arms to perfection.
“Hungry?”he asked.
If he could get her away from a bed, he might retain some of his sanity.Then again, he didn’t know if humans mated at first sight.Being cautious might not be appreciated.The air in his lungs seized.He could have her this instant.Nothing stopped him.Except, he wanted her to come willingly without the haze of lust drowning her inhibitions.
‘I want you, Nenn,’ had to come out of that sexy mouth of hers.
“I could eat,” she said, striding away to dig in the cube storage.The ‘sleepshirt’ rose dangerously high as she bent over.
When she’d said she didn’t have his symbiotes, fire had blazed along his veins.If things went well, she would.But what had truly sent him spinning was the image of the armor encasing her breasts.It would do nothing to hide the shape or her taut nipples.His fingers twitched so he drew them into fists and clasped them behind his back.
“Turn around, please,” she said, holding garments against her chest.
He coughed to hide a chuckle.The last time he’d done a full circle, having not expected her to drop the sheet and expose her body to him.He’d given her his back when he caught her explanation, but it was too late by then.Never had he seen a more beautiful creature: smooth, creamy skin, plump breasts, the curve of her stomach into flaring hips…
“Ready,” she said, interlocking their fingers.
He glanced at her upturned face, her unseeing white gaze not diminishing how she affected him.“Do you have a food preference?”he asked and led her from the room.
“I can eat anything if it’s human compatible.”
As a maed, he should have considered this a possible issue.He frowned, not liking his lack of foresight.“Vic has not had a problem yet.”
She laughed.“Vic’s superhuman, I swear.”
He scowled.“In what way?”
She shrugged.“I meant it jokingly.She’s so strong and capable that she’ll make any woman in a large radius self-conscious.”
He studied Tiny’s face, trying to understand what she meant.“Would she hurt them?You?”
“Oh, no, not like that.Just a kick to our self-esteem.”Tiny flicked a hand at her eyes.“I can’t compete.”
Anger was swift to strike.His vision tinted red.With a growl, he halted, gripped her elbows and forced her to ‘look’ at him.“Why would you think that?”
She gaped, her brow furrowing.“I…”
“You are no less female than she is.You are incredible—a blind maed determined to conquer her disability.Foq.”He released her to cup her face, leaning in so that she pressed against him.“I find you…breathtaking.”
Her eyes widened.“I didn’t say that to garner compliments.Vic’s an inspiration, someone I wish I could emulate.”
His thoughts spun.Couldn’t she see herself as he saw her?“I do not wish that.You are perfect the way you are.”
She scoffed.“Except for the blindness, right?”
He jerked back like Ulvus had managed to land a punch.“If that is true, then why am I hard for you now?Surely I would wait for you to be healed to get you beneath me?”
Her cheeks flushed.“You didn’t just say that, Nenn.”
“I am honest in my need for you, Tiny.”
She exhaled, squared her shoulders, then lifted her hand, finding his jaw.Before he could guess her actions, she rose onto her toes and kissed him.“I want you, too.”She smiled at him like she hadn’t tilted his world on its axis.“Now feed me.”
Chapter Eighteen
