as he rubbed against her. He felt so good that for a moment she leaned into him, no thought of denial in her mind. One hand came up to cup her breast, tweaking the sensitive nipple with the perfect pressure to send a fiery line of heat straight to her suddenly throbbing clit. But then his hand trembled, and she remembered where they were and what they needed to do.
“We need to get to the ship,” she reminded him breathlessly.
“Need you.”
He wasn’t listening.
“Aidon, please. I need you to protect me.” Her plea was a shot in the dark, but it seemed to penetrate his lust, and he raised his head. “I need to leave this planet, remember? You promised to take me on your ship.”
He shook his head, not in denial but as if to clear it, then looked around. “My ship is there.”
She followed his gesture and sighed with relief when she saw that it was close by. Only a couple of ships stood between them.
He blew out a few breaths, then dropped his hand and took two steps back. The rush of cold air almost took her breath away.
“I’m sorry, pet. I need to try and change form one last time, and I can’t do it if I’m touching you.”
“I understand.” She did her best to hide her shivers as she watched. He closed his eyes, and his skin trembled. Once again, blue fought for dominance, and this time he managed to resume a facsimile of his former appearance. The color was not quite right, and his horns were smaller and oddly transparent looking, but from a distance, she thought it would work. His skin glistened, damp with sweat, and she could see his arms shaking.
“Go,” he ordered. “As fast as you can. I’ll follow behind.”
She didn’t try to argue but took off for the ship. Fortunately, the sandals molded to her feet well enough that she didn’t lose her footing. She had never been much of a runner, but she did her best even though her breath was coming in rapid pants by the time she reached the ship. The distance had been further than it appeared. As soon as she reached the shadows beneath the ship, she turned to check on Aidon. He was close behind, striding rather than running, but she saw his horns flicker just as he joined her in the shadows. His breath was coming as quickly as hers, but he raised a shaky hand and manipulated a hidden control panel.
A ramp descended, and she made her way up it as quickly as possible. He was right behind her, and she heard him sniffing the air, followed by another low growl. By the time they were both on board, he was fully Pardorian again. He started to advance toward her, his steps predatory. She scrambled away, searching desperately for the controls. A large chair at the front of the ship looked promising, and she raced for it. He prowled after her, continuous low growls coming from his lips. She had no doubt that he could have caught her at any second, but when she snuck a glance at his face, he was obviously enjoying the chase.
“I can’t fly the ship,” she said breathlessly as he trapped her against the big chair. “You have to get us off the ground.”
Thankfully, her words seem to penetrate. He snatched her into his arms as he sat and quickly manipulated the controls. As they rose into the air, a Hothian voice demanded their identity. Aidon complied, his voice hoarse but legible. As soon as he did, the Hothian granted them permission to leave.
“Go in peace with our gratitude.”
Aidon growled a thank you, his hands—his clawed hands—already busy at the controls. Then they were rising into the dark skies, and he abandoned the instruments to focus on her.
“Autopilot,” he grunted, already reaching for the thin silk of her dress. She heard it rip as a big, hot hand closed over her breasts. “Now you’re mine.”
A tremor of nervous excitement rippled over her, but she wasn’t afraid. She reached up to cup the cheek of this new face, studying him in the dim light of the ship. He had a strong, angular jaw and high cheekbones, but his nose was flattened and almost muzzle-like, and gleaming fangs descended from each side of the wide mouth. They almost made her hesitate, but the black eyes watching her so intently were already so familiar. She lifted herself higher in his arms,