When she tugged, he released her and took a step back. Zaxe wasn’t like most men. He wouldn’t push, wouldn’t try to get her to change her mind. If she told him to, he’d turn his back and stare at a corner until she was done.
I trust him.
It went all the way to her bones. Physically, he’d never harm her. Emotionally? There were no guarantees. But she, more than most, knew life didn’t come with any.
She unclasped her cloak, swinging it off and draping it over the back of her chair. A muscle in his jaw tightened. The pulse in his neck pounded. His cloak covered most of his body, but there was no doubt he was hard beneath.
His eyes held hers captive as she unbuttoned her top by feel. When she slipped the fabric down her arms, he let his gaze wander over her torso and arms before returning to the band around her breasts.
“It’s easier,” she explained.
“I imagine it is.” He stroked his fingers down the curve of her jaw and over her neck, coming to rest at the top of the wrapping. Beneath it, her breasts swelled, her nipples hardened. “Men’s clothes or women’s. It doesn’t matter.”
“No?” Her breath hitched as his finger stroked down the center and back up again. If she didn’t remove the band soon, it might snap.
“No, you’re beautiful.” He teased the delicate skin beneath her arm, raising goose bumps. When the room spun around her, she locked her knees. No way was she going to pass out and miss this.
“Only you think so.” All her life she’d fallen short of the standards of beauty on her world. Her skin was too pale. Her hair was such an odd coloring with the red and black. And her eyes were unlike anyone else’s, except for her brother. And somehow it was more acceptable for a male to have green eyes.
“Then they are fools.” He leaned down, his breath a warm puff against her mouth. “I may be many things, Jamaeh, but I am no fool.”
****
Her lips tasted sweet like honey, warm and welcoming. He sank into them, savoring the moment. It astonished him that she doubted her beauty. Did prejudice run that deep here or was she oblivious to the signals men sent out when they wanted a woman? He’d lay odds it was a bit of both. While some would look down on her, others would covet her for her uniqueness.
“You’re tired.” He ran his tongue over her bottom lip before nipping at it. She gave a short gasp and grabbed his shoulders. Gods, how he loved her hands on him.
“Not that tired.”
In the midst of a mission, she made him smile, made him feel. It should be impossible. He was too well trained, too focused and determined.
Only for the first time, something else, someone else, was more important. His sisters’ lives weren’t on the line, only his.
And Jamaeh’s.
This wasn’t fair of him. He was taking advantage of her exhaustion. He started to pull away, but she yanked him back and thrust her tongue into his mouth. All his good intentions flew out the window.
Window! He pulled back long enough to check the two openings. They were situated high on the walls to allow air to circulate and let in light while keeping the worst of the sun’s rays out. And the grass blinds were down. No one could see them.
“What’s wrong?” She ran her fingers through his hair, the tips grazing his scalp. He felt the caress all the way to his feet.
“Nothing. Wanted to make sure we were secure.”
“This probably isn’t the time or place.” She glanced at the windows and then the door, likely assessing their safety.
Did she want to stop? “It could be worse.” Her slender throat tempted him, so he nibbled a path from her jaw to the top of her shoulder. She tilted her head to the side to give him access and moaned.
“Last night was the wrong time.” She ran her hands over his shoulders, making him curse his clothing. “We could have died.”
A growl rose up from his throat. “I won’t let anything happen to you.” Shit, he had to stop making promises he might not be able to keep.
“We’ll do our best, but there are no guarantees. I want you.” The last was said in a whisper, as if she feared someone outside would hear.
“I want you, too.” That was an understatement. His heart pounded and his balls were trying to crawl into his