Page 50 of Sohut's Protection

Blinking away the water from her eyes, she was about to unleash a whole string of colorful words when she focused on him.

Those words died on her lips.

The pure anger mixed with utter concern etched into Grout’s handsome features stopped her instead.

Now, what the fuck did he have to be angry about? He’d almost drowned her!

“I knew you were wild but to try to kill yourself?!”

What?

Cleo’s mouth opened then closed then opened again as she pulled in huge breaths through her nose.

“I wasn’t trying to kill myself, you idiot! I was drinking water!” She tried to push him away, but he was holding her too tightly and she only stopped struggling at the thought that if he did let her go she’d probably sink because her hands were still restrained.

He was staring at her as if she’d gone mad and she surprised herself when a half-chuckle left her lips.

He’d been trying to prevent her from offing herself? What an odd way to go about it.

They both almost died.

Chuckling, she looked up at him and it suddenly occurred to her that they were close. Very close.

That she could feel every cord of muscle underneath his clothing.

That every breath he took, his body moved against hers and that, for some insane reason, he felt…good.

Brilliant green eyes stared down at her with a look that had none of the anger and concern she’d seen etched on his face earlier.

Now, he was looking at her like a man stunned and for a reason she couldn’t determine, warmth flooded her cheeks slowly.

“What is it?”

She searched his face tentatively. It felt wrong, inappropriate, to let her eyes travel over his features as she was doing and she swallowed back the lump that began to grow in her throat.

He was frickin’ handsome.

Why did he have to be handsome?

And he was looking at her like…like she was something to be awed at.

“What is it?!” Minor irritation was present in her voice now as she blinked, trying to make sense of his sudden lack of response. “Oh, I forgot you can’t understand me.” She paused. “You’re looking at me like…”

Like I’m beautiful.

But she didn’t finish.

For a few long seconds, the alien did nothing…and then she felt it.

As he blinked, as if coming out of a stupor, she frickin’ felt it.

Against her legs. Something that hadn’t been there before was there now.

Growing. Hardening. Pressing against her.

The green-eyed alien blinked again as Cleo looked down at the water, before turning her wide eyes back to him.

“You’re…”

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