In one movement, she was in his arms.
She didn’t know if she was the one that moved toward him or if he was the one to close the distance. All she knew was that she was wrapping her arms around his neck and his arms were closing around her.
Nia buried her face into the crook of his neck and he allowed her to.
“Thank you, Ka’Cit. How can I ever repay you for all you’ve done for me?”
His voice was hoarse when he spoke, so hoarse she almost thought he was clearing his throat.
“This…” he said. “Ta’ii, this is payment enough.”
“You keep calling me that…tah-ee. What does it mean?”
He stiffened a little and she thought he wasn’t going to reply.
“It means…friend.”
Friend.
Nia smiled.
For a moment, she allowed herself to relax against him. Her nose was buried against his skin and she could smell his unique musk.
It was surprisingly calming and…nice—like ginger with a dash of cinnamon.
Comforting.
She wasn’t sure how long he held her there, but as she sniffled and wiped her eyes, Nia eased off him slowly.
Her cheek brushed against his, as she moved back, and when her face was just before his, she paused.
His green gaze met hers as they looked at each other and Nia didn’t know what was holding her still; she only knew that she could not move.
Ka’Cit lifted a hand and brushed a finger slowly down her cheek.
He watched his finger move, as if he was memorizing every line on her face.
That corrosive green gaze of his met hers once more and the air between them changed.
When his gaze fell to her lips, Nia felt her breathing quicken.
Involuntarily, she ran her tongue over her bottom lip and that’s when she heard the rumble in his throat.
For a moment, she almost pulled away, but something held her unmoving within his arms.
And then…
As her lips fell against his, electricity snapped and crackled in the air between them.
A deep groan vibrated from his throat as they made contact and Nia felt her body responding.
Her nipples were tight, her center suddenly aching, and it felt like she’d ignited a fire that was burning bright in the center of her being.
Ka’Cit gripped her tight and pulled her against him.
He groaned again, a sound that sent electricity to her center, and that tight little bud between her legs began to throb.
His lips were soft, softer than she’d expected them to be, and when she flicked her tongue out to brush against them, he groaned so loud, his body vibrated against hers.
Ka’Cit matched her, brushing the tip of her tongue with his just before their tongues dived against each other, frolicking…stroking…mating.
She could feel the tips of his fangs and that only made her moan a little more.
He was wild, powerful, strong, but oh so gentle as he held her against him.
Kissing him was a whole experience she hadn’t been prepared for.
Ka’Cit’s hands moved down to rest against her waist as hers went up behind his head, clasping the nape of his neck as her fingers threaded through his hair.
A kiss had never left her weak, but this one was about to.
There was a sweet sort of energy building between them, forcing them together, but she couldn’t let go and she didn’t want it to stop.
Seconds ticked by while the world stood still and as Nia’s legs became weak, her body turned into jelly.
When she finally wrenched her lips from his to take a breath, Nia opened her eyes and met his.
He didn’t need to say anything and she didn’t either.
She could see it in his eyes even as she could feel it within herself.
Something had just changed between them…and she was pretty sure there was no going back.
21
Ka’Cit’s sat-watch beeped and he cursed underneath his breath.
The moment was broken and Nee-ya blinked.
Her hands loosened from his neck and she began to stand.
He let her go, releasing her even though he didn’t want to.
That moment they’d just shared…he wanted to relive it again, and again, and again.
His sat-watch beeped once more and this time, he cursed out loud.
At that moment, he wished he’d ripped it from his arm and left it to float in the void.
Nee-ya cleared her throat and stood, sliding away from him and he immediately felt a loss with her no longer pressed against him.
“That’s an alarm, I guess?”
Ka’Cit jerked his chin in a nod.
“It was.” It was time to go.
Awkwardly, he sighed and closed his legs, not that it helped to hide anything. His cock was hard and throbbing in his trousers; he wasn’t even sure he could stand without it pointing straight at her.
So, he remained kneeling on the floor.
He shook his head to clear his thoughts as he ran a hand back through his hair. “I shouldn’t be here right now. I was on a…job, before I came after you.”
She nodded and her fingers went to touch her lips before she caught herself. She looked away from him then. “I remember. I heard that…call you had when we were hiding.” She paused. “Is that what you were doing? When you were checking those Niftrills?”
Ah, he had been wondering what she was thinking when she’d stopped running to look back at him.
“Yes.” He studied her a little. He guessed there was no harm in telling her about it. “One of them had the information I needed.”
“What information?”
He hesitated then. This was the part he wasn’t sure he should tell her about.
It didn’t affect her directly, but after the story she’d just told him, he knew now it might affect her emotionally, maybe even mentally.
“Do you remember those guards who took you from your planet?”
She stiffened a little, her alertness increasing. “The ones that looked like walking alligators?”
At his confused look she went on. “Long tails, yellow eyes…”
Ah. “Yes. The Hedgerud fighters. They work for the High Tasqals—the beings who
