view of the vastness of the universe and made you realize just how insignificant you really were in it.
"Magnificent, isn't it?" she said quietly, drawn across the room the way she always was. She reached out, pressing her palm against it.
"No!" Taarig was across the room in an instant, yanking her hand from the wall.
"What's wrong?" she asked, turning to frown at him.
"You'll harm yourself," he growled. Viewports could be extremely cold. The transparent material could only filter out the worst of space's extreme temperatures. The larger the port, the larger the temperature fluctuations. Damage could occur to those with even the toughest, thickest skins if direct and prolonged contact occurred. Cali's skin was neither tough nor thick. When he found no damage after thoroughly examining her palm, he raised his eyes to hers. "How??"
"There's a gel wall protecting the opening," she told him softly, touched by his concern. Reaching up, she caressed his cheek with her free hand. "Just like there are in the landing bays. It regulates the temperature of the wall perfectly, so it's safe to touch. It'll even support a great deal of weight."
To demonstrate, she leaned back and felt the slightest give in the wall's curvature as it compensated for her weight. It was something she liked to do, although she usually did it facing forward. It allowed her to lean out over the Star Base's metal structure, making her feel as if she was floating in space.
Taarig's eyes narrowed as he watched her. He wanted to pull her back, wanted to keep her safe, but seeing her like that, surrounded by the stars, and dark expanse of space, had his cock growing impossibly hard.
Taking a step toward her, he caged her between his legs, his hands cupping her cheeks, holding her still, as he captured her lips in a rough, searing kiss.
Cali knew Taarig Ynn was a confident, intelligent male who took his responsibility seriously to those under his command. It was one of the things that had attracted her to him even though her mind told her she should keep her distance. Cali'd known he'd question the secondary entrance to her quarters because he'd never allow his desire for any female to override his duty to base security. She'd also known the viewport in her private quarters would distract him, but for only so long.
She'd been right. Now she was about to find out if Taarig Ynn could live up to all the hot, sweaty dreams she'd been having about him.
He kissed like a man who knew who he was, what he wanted, and how to get it.
And that had her channel clenching with need.
When she tried to change the angle of the kiss, his fingers slid into her hair and tightened around her braids just enough to let her know who was in control but that he'd never hurt her.
That had her nipples pebbling to hard points while her fingers were digging into his shoulders.
When his thumbs caressed her jawline, pressing down slightly, she knew what he wanted and willingly opened her mouth, allowing his tongue's invasion.
While she was more than fine letting him control the kiss, she wasn't going to let him deny her his skin. Ripping his jacket open, her hands slid under the thin tank he wore. Her fingers caressed his rock-hard abdomen muscles before sliding up to pinch his nipples, so they were as hard and needy as hers.
Taarig bit down on her lip in response. "Did I say you could touch me?"
"Did I ask?" she challenged back even as she tipped her head to the side, giving him access to her vulnerable neck.
Taarig nipped his way along the sensitive skin she exposed, unable to believe how it turned him on. She challenged and submitted to him all at the same time and was something he'd never experienced before. After the initial contact, other females always surrendered all control to him. They knew better than to challenge an Apre male, and while it satisfied his need to dominate them, it didn't heighten his experience the way Cali's actions did, and she seemed to know it.
When he reached the vulnerable junction at the base of her neck, he bit hard enough to leave a mark but not break her delicate skin.
"Gods, that feels so good," she moaned. "More."
He growled at her demand. Was she implying he didn't satisfy her? That wasn't acceptable. His hands moved with the strength and speed all Apre possessed but rarely exhibited outside of battle,