the night, his body slipping from hers, and EJ woke up enough to ponder at the strange anatomy that had locked them together for quite some time. Then it was enough just to yawn and slide lower under the sheets to take advantage of his body heat.
The second time she woke, restless with some energy she couldn’t name, EJ slid out of the rumpled sheets to help herself to the dessert that remained near the couch. She was impressed he hadn’t dumped it all over the floor in the rush to make it to the bed. She was even more impressed that it still tasted damn good a few hours later, even if a little stale. She hummed to herself with pleasure as she licked chocolate off the side of her hand, though her skin prickled as she sensed someone watching her.
EJ pretended not to notice and instead took a slow, sensuous bite, uncaring that she was still naked and covered in love-bites. A shower had been second on her list of things to do after getting the chocolate, but from the way Nokx’s silver eyes gleamed in the dark, it would have been premature. EJ licked the fork clean and ran her finger through the last traces of frosting on the plate, then lifted her gaze to meet the Xaravian’s. She watched him the whole time she licked her fingers, trying not to grin as he tensed and growled and looked ready to launch across the room to pin her up against the wall.
His fist clenched the sheets, to anchor himself there in the bed. “Come here.”
EJ sprawled on the couch, flinging her arms along the back, and his gaze scorched on every inch of her naked skin. She’d never been much of an exhibitionist, but the thought of Nokx ogling her, taking pleasure in her every curve and dimple... She shivered in anticipation, her breasts tightening, and her toes curled against the smooth floor.
Nokx pushed up on one elbow and crooked his finger at her. “Earther. Come here.”
“I’m good here,” she said, tracing her fingers down her chest. His focus locked on every motion.
His eyes narrowed but the corner of his mouth turned up in anticipation. “Your last warning, EJ. You will regret not obeying.”
Liquid heat slid through her. How was it even possible to still want him? To crawl back into his bed? She’d known him... a day. Maybe. She should have taken the opportunity while he slept to pick up her clothes and find an escape pod, and yet she’d stayed. She’d stayed. She wanted to stay.
It was a sobering realization. What did she even know about Nokx, except that he was a pirate and knew his way around a bed? It was just for fun, sure, but could she risk getting any more wrapped up in his life? Sex was one thing. Sleeping over and cuddling in bed and sharing stories from their past... That was something else entirely.
She needed to figure out what they were about, where they were going, what he wanted from her... Then she could actually decide whether to stay or escape at her first opportunity. She still had work to do, once she got to a safe place, and there were people waiting to hear from her. Would she really just abandon that after some sweaty, sexy fun times?
EJ spent too long deliberating, though, because when she looked at the bed, Nokx had disappeared. She blinked, then gasped when he loomed out of the darkness and grabbed her. He hauled her up, growling, and then they were in the washroom and he’d turned on the shower. Nokx took them both into the tiny space as it filled with steam and water and the sound of their panting. EJ found herself pushed up against the wall, her hands braced against it, as Nokx’s wide frame followed her in.
Which put her ass right in his groin. She closed her eyes as his arm circled her waist and hauled her against his chest. He dumped soap on her and began a slow, careful sliding of his palm over every inch of her. His lips brushed her ear as he said, “First I will clean you, then I will dirty you again.”
She shivered and her head tilted back against his shoulder so he could drag his teeth along her throat. Dirty her again? From the way his cock rose between her thighs, they might not get all the way done with the cleaning before