it from us.”
“There’s always hope.” I try to smile, but it wobbles on my lips. His nearness unnerves me, and it’s not just because he’s a potential threat. It’s because he’s a temptation, a distraction I can’t afford. “I have no doubt you’ll find it.”
The smirk returns to his face. “I already have. It’s you, Ella.”
“Oh.” The monosyllable is nothing more than a wheeze. “I see.”
“I don’t think you do, not truly, but you will. We will.”
When his gaze drops to my mouth, I slam my palms against his chest to stay him. His eyes widen at the rejection, but I ignore that. “This is such a heavy topic of conversation, so why don’t we discuss it over dinner?” He doesn’t immediately move, and panic begins to churn in my stomach. “I’ll see what I can find to eat, and you can shower while I do.”
I clench my teeth in the time he mulls it over, but eventually he nods. Bravik takes my wrist and brushes his lips over the center of my palm, and a delicious heat spreads over my body, causing my flesh to break out in goose bumps. I can’t tell if that reaction is due to his high temperature or because of something else. Something that’s more carnal and less biological.
“Very well,” he says.
I retract my hands, relieved when he lets go of me and stands. “Everything you need is there.” Without meeting his gaze, I slide from the bed and head toward the door, eager to put distance between us. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
My steps are quick, and I know I’m practically running to the storage area in order to get away from Bravik. The responses he elicits from my body scare me. My attraction to him is only growing, not waning. Yes, he’s gorgeous, but it’s more than that. I’m drawn to him, and as much as I fight it, things are becoming worse, not better. What confuses me is that it feels different than with the other Incarus. However, no less potent, and no less dangerous.
It doesn’t take me long to find something that will suffice as a meal, and thankfully the code on the food lockers kept the provisions from being stolen. There appears to be enough to last us the journey to the military base, which is good because that means we won’t have to stop and therefore lengthen my time spent with Bravik.
Indecision rolls through me when I consider where he and I are going to have this heavy discussion. My first thought is to have it in the cockpit, but the space is so small I don’t know if I can handle that. On the other hand, being in the sleeping quarters is not the best idea either. Despite the fact it’s larger and will allow for more distance, having a bed nearby bothers me for reasons I can’t explain.
That uncertainty propels me to seek out the ray gun located in another hidden compartment. The cold steel is heavy in my hand, and I hope I don’t need to utilize it, but tuck it under one of the pillows just in case. With a sigh, I plop onto the bed and spread out the small bounty over the mattress. Bravik appears a moment later.
Fully naked.
I slam my eyes shut. “What are you doing?” My voice comes out shrill despite my attempt to remain calm on the outside. Mentally I’m reconciling with the image of his cock. It was magnificent, and that was without being erect. “Where are your clothes?”
The humor in his tone pricks me with ire. “They are being laundered,” he says, “so I am without attire for the time being.”
“There’s nothing wrong with the towel draped over your shoulder.”
“Hmm…” There’s a rustle of material and then, “I didn’t realize humans were so sensitive to nudity. The Incarus are not prudes. In fact, we celebrate our voracious sexual appetites, thriving on the energy derived from our partners.”
Slowly I open one eye and then the other once I see the towel wrapped around his hips. That still leaves his chiseled torso, muscular legs, and huge arms exposed, but that’s preferable to seeing his cock. Although, I bet that appendage could lift the towel if it got hard. The heat in my cheeks, which was brought on by his naked appearance, intensifies at the thought.
When I joined the rebellion, I never imagined that resisting sexy aliens would be part of my assignment. It definitely hadn’t been covered in