Page 66 of Alien Rescue

Panic gripped her throat. She didn’t want to die yet. She had her whole life ahead of her. She wanted to scream it at him, but battled the panic. He wasn’t responsible for her being infected with nanos.

“The warriors on the ship are still searching for the codes, and Viglar is working day and night to find a way to drain them out of your system.”

She tried to smile, to look confident. “Well, I’m sure if anyone can find a cure, it’s that rude doctor.” Except she was afraid that by the time he found a way, her body may be beyond saving.

“Viglar is the best in the empire,” he agreed.

It took less than two days for her wound to heal enough that she could move around. No doubt about it, the aliens had some really cool technology.

That night when Zanr took out the cards, she was ready to take him on in a challenging game of cards. She plastered an innocent look on her face. “I love the hair ornaments you bought for me on that shop uptown. Won’t you please do my hair and put a few of them in before we start?”

He had the hair ornaments and was combing out her hair before she’d even stopped speaking. She hid her triumphant smile behind her hand. Yeah, he was in for a nasty surprise.

It took a while for him to finish, but at last they sat on the couch in the tent, each holding their cards. It was a pleasure to play against someone as good and sometimes even better than her. She won a round and he won a round.

She absently scratched at her arm. Her fingertips still felt no sensation and she was restless and scared. She needed something to take her mind off the little killers swimming in her blood. “Let’s make this interesting. Have you ever played strip poker?”

His eyes flared red. “Tell me about strip poker.” His eyes stroked down her body.

“The loser has to take off a piece of clothing. Whoever is naked first loses.” And it wouldn’t be her.

He cocked his head. “You admire my body. I see you looking at me all the time. If I become naked first, I win because you would want to have poker sex with me.”

She giggled. “Poker sex?”

“Yes, sex that happened from poker,” he said, as if he explained something serious to her.

She lost the first round and carefully took one of the ornaments out of her hair and put it on the couch between them.

He stared from her to the ornament, repeated the action, then he laughed, that horrific, thundering-death sound that could give you nightmares. “Well done, my breeder, well done.”

She was sure he’d go all out to win, but he must’ve been distracted, because he lost the next round. Before she could demand he take off anything, he jumped up, stepped out of his boots, and was out of his pants before she could blink. He stood naked from the hips down.

Rose frowned, her breath coming faster. “That’s just wrong. Take everything off, but never only the bottom half. If you have to take something off, just take off the top half.”

If it was her, she’d have taken off one boot. Obviously, he missed the whole point of winning.

“Why?”

“I don’t know. All I know is it’s seriously creepy.” And rather sexy, but she wasn’t going to tell him that.

“I do not think it is creepy,” he said stubbornly and sat down again.

She furtively looked at him and he opened his legs wide. She palmed her head. “For the love of God, cover that thing. I’m going blind.”

He didn’t change position and she groaned. “Please.”

He grunted, but took off the shirt. He was naked and obviously quite pleased with that fact. “I concede, with your hair ornaments, you are sure to win this game.”

“You are making this much too easy, my Komodo.” He had a very competitive streak. He wasn’t a mean loser, but he liked to win. She couldn’t help feeling a little flattered that he wanted her more than he wanted to win the game.

He leaned forward. “You want to have poker sex with me now?”

Rose laughed and held out her hand. “Yeah, I can’t resist your beautiful naked body.”

He stood and lifted her in his arms and started toward the bed. Then suddenly he stopped and stared down at her.

“Zanr?”

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