He wouldn’t have it. He had to get her to the outpost as soon as possible.
Even as he killed the sand nesters that were heading towards where she hid, he knew it wouldn’t be enough. There would be more, and more, and more.
They would keep on coming and they would not stop until she no longer breathed.
They had locked onto her scent now, and would continue tracking her across the entire desert.
He shuddered to think what the outcome would have been had she been alone.
The nesters would have won.
Even as his blade cut through one of the nesters intent on getting into the tent, he glanced in her direction.
He could see her crouched in the tent, her clothing gripped about her as she watched the creatures die. The look on her face was understandable. She was afraid.
But she didn’t need to be. He was there.
He had to find a way to show her he was a suitable mate, but until then, he’d settle for keeping her safe.
And just like he’d held her while she slept, his cock straining for some release, some contact, he would continue to protect her—even from himself.
He was blood-soaked.
Purple streaks of the creatures’ blood covered his chest and his wings.
But, good God, it only made him look sexier and even as she stared at him as he walked back to the tent, fully aware the thoughts she was having shouldn’t be there, Song couldn’t help it.
He’d killed those things and he’d looked ruthless doing it. It made her slightly wary of the fact that he was so good with that darn sword of his, but she’d be lying to herself if she didn’t admit that underneath her fear, seeing him cut down the evil things made her more than a little warm inside.
Song squeezed her eyes shut for a second. She needed to clear her thoughts.
But opening her eyes once more, the thoughts returned as soon as he stooped to enter the little tent.
“Are you unhurt?” His gaze roved over her body for injuries and she couldn’t help but shiver a little.
“Cold?”
“No.” Her answer came out much too quickly and she felt her cheeks warm. “Here, let me…”
Unrolling one of the rolled-up pieces of gauze she’d made, she raised the gauze to his face and began wiping the creature’s blood away.
Kyris seemed to stiffen but she couldn’t meet his gaze to determine what he was thinking.
Instead, she focused on her hand as she wiped away the purple fluid. Raising her other hand, she touched it against his cheek to steady his head and she was surprised at how soft his skin was. Over the hardness of his jaw, his skin felt velvety almost.
The contact made her pause a bit and her gaze flicked to his only to find that he was watching her so intently she was sure he could see every pore in her face.
Eyes flicking away, she swallowed and focused on cleaning his face.
He’d ripped the creatures apart so viciously, she realized there was more blood than she’d first thought.
“Oh, I don’t have enough gauze to clean the blood that’s on your chest. I…maybe if we could get some water…”
“It will be fine. It will rain again soon.”
“Again?” Her incredulous answer had her raising her eyes with a frown to his only to realize his gaze hadn’t shifted even a millimeter. Immediately, her eyes fell to his lips and she swallowed again. Harder this time.
“I smell it on the wind. We must leave soon.”
With each word he spoke, as his lips moved, she couldn’t help but stare.
What was happening to her?
But even as she asked the question, she felt drawn toward him. Almost as if their heads were coming closer together on their own.
The blood was cleaned from his face, yet, her fingers lingered, her eyes still on his lips. And when he didn’t move or back away, she did what she had never imagined she’d ever do.
She pressed her lips against his.
As Kyris stiffened once more, it was as if her senses became super aware. She was suddenly aware of his breath against her lips, the heat of his body so close to hers, the sensation of their lips touching ever so slightly.
And without a sound, Kyris leaned in, forcing their lips together in a simple movement that sent a bolt of thin lightning straight down her spine.
It was just a brush, yet it left her wanting so much more and she realized the soft gasp of a moan that she heard within the tent must have come from her.
He was suddenly on her then, leaning into her so much that she had to recline fully, and when she opened her mouth and flicked her tongue over his lips in tentative exploration, she heard a deep rumble in his throat.
That one sound seemed to enter her body and go directly to the middle of her clit.
Wide eyes to his, there was that same intensity in his violet gaze, only now he was looking at her as if he wanted to pin her down and do some bad, bad things to her.
And for once in her life, she never wanted someone to do bad things to her more than how she wanted them now.
It must be something about their circumstances, because she’d never experienced such lust, such need, such surprising want before.
“What is this?” His voice had a huskiness that made her shiver and it took her a moment to realize what he was asking.
“This?” They were still so close that every word she spoke caused her lips to brush against his and it was still sending those little bolts of electricity through her skin.
“With our mouths…what is this?”
“It’s a kiss…”
His eyebrows rose slightly but he didn’t ask for further clarification. Instead, his heated gaze moved down her face till he was focusing on her lips.
He stayed there for a few seconds, as if not daring to move, as if not wanting to break whatever was holding
