Settling one knee on the bed, he reached for the side zipper on my skirt and slid it down, then worked it down my legs. It joined my shoes.
His fingers moved down the delicate buttons of my blouse as he spoke. “It is my fault you were taken. I proclaimed that you were my mate too vehemently, and my enemies took notice.” When the delicate fabric parted, he stilled, his gaze lifting to meet mine.
I saw anguish there. Torture.
Sure, I hadn’t wanted to be taken. God, I’d probably have nightmares for a long time. But I knew people—even aliens—were crazy. Jeff Randall wasn’t right in the head. His obsession kept him following me. This space guy, he had an obsession with Bahre. Acted on it.
I pushed up and onto my knees so we were eye level. I clasped his cheeks, felt the soft rasp of his whiskers against my palms. “This isn’t your fault.”
“It is,” he countered. “You would be safe on Earth if not for me.”
“Do you wish we had never met? Would it be better if you had not found your mate?”
His jaw clenched and he growled. “No. You are mine.”
I sighed and gave him a soft smile. “I love that you are all growly and possessive.”
“You are mine. I protect what is mine, but I didn’t protect you.”
I stroked a hand over his hair, down his shoulder. “You saved me. You came all the way across the universe to rescue me.”
“Of course.” He sounded offended.
“I know Lukabo is gone, but… will they come after you again? Someone in his family? Or friends of his?” I was smart enough to know that while the guy had kidnapped me, he’d actually wanted to hurt Bahre. I was collateral damage, or profit, as far as Lukabo was concerned.
Bahre’s eyes narrowed, and he captured my hand in his, kissing the palm. “No one will harm you again.” He closed his eyes as if in pain. “He was the only surviving son. I should have killed him when I eliminated the rest of his family.”
“Why didn’t you?” The question was brutal, but I wanted to know.
“He was not of age. I hoped he would find a new path.” He looked into my eyes, and I knew he expected me to judge him for killing so many people. “His family was powerful. They sold weapons and Quell all over the outer regions. They owned half of Omega Dome.”
I had no idea what any of that was, but I didn’t care. “You gave him a chance. He made his own choice.”
“But he put you in danger.”
“And you came for me.” I leaned forward and kissed my beast on the lips. My big, monstrous, soft-hearted beast who had given a child a chance to choose a better life.
Gently he lowered my hands to my sides, then slid my blouse from my shoulders. “I will see that you are never in danger again.”
“I’m not hurt,” I breathed. The way Bahre looked at me, his gaze filled with such reverence, it touched my heart. Last night he’d held himself back because he’d been a gentleman, or whatever an alien gentleman was called. Only when I’d consented, coaxed him into more, did he let himself go. Become wild.
Now he looked at me again, cautious.
“I am not hurt,” I told him again.
He didn’t look me in the eye, only stared at my body. He growled again. “Mate, what is this?”
His large finger traced the edge of my lacy bra. Back and forth he caressed, and I arched my back for more of his touch.
“My… my bra and panties,” I whispered. I’d put them on with the intention of seducing Bahre, but I was the one all hot and bothered. If he slid that finger along my panties instead of my bra, he’d find them drenched.
“I have never seen anything like them.” He raised his finger to one of the thin bra straps and slid it off my shoulder. It dangled down my arm, the right cup falling away from my breast.
Bahre growled.
“Do you like them?”
His head whipped up so he looked at me. Pierced me with his stare. “Like? Mate, I can barely hold myself back.”
I frowned. “Why would you want to do that?”
“After what just happened—”
“After what just happened, I need to know you’re with me. I feel the safest when I can feel the hard press of your body.”
“I will always shield you. While you are with me, no harm will ever come to you.” He looked away. “You were taken because I didn’t remain at your side. We can remedy that by being together always.”
I had to laugh at his intent. He was being serious.
“When you have my cuffs about your wrists, being apart will be impossible.”
He was becoming upset, angry at himself for what had happened. I needed to distract him once more. While I was definitely not the aggressor when it came to sex, Bahre seemed to crave validation, my consent that I wanted his touch as much as he probably needed to offer it.
I slid the other bra strap from my shoulder. My breasts were bare now, only the band around my torso keeping the bra on me.
“Do you like it better on or off?” I sounded coy, and my question probably would have been laughable except Bahre wasn’t human.
His response wasn’t in words but in action. He lifted me up and dropped me onto my back. His knees nudged mine apart, and he settled between my ankles so that when he leaned forward, he took my nipple into his mouth.
I arched my back again, my fingers tangling in his hair. I called out his name. He growled. Sucked. Licked.
“Yes!” I cried when he moved to the other. Only after I was all but squirming beneath him did he lift his head and kiss me.
His scent, the feel of him, his taste settled around me. This was
