Page 136 of Alien Haven

At last, he spoke. “I couldn’t see straight when you were standing there, shaking like a leaf and staring at me as if I were your only shelter. All I could think was the bastard had to pay for assaulting you.”

“Do you hear me arguing you shouldn’t have? I’d have loved for you to teach him a well-earned lesson.”

“I refuse to consider violence as the only means of correcting problems. Despite how I acted today, I won’t be reduced to it.” Tension thrummed through his frame.

“Oh no, you aren’t a big meathead who pounds people first and asks questions later? How awfully enlightened of you. It’s scandalous.” She smirked.

“I’m also not the kind of man anyone expects a Nobek to be.”

“Then be the Nobek you want to be, even if it means rewriting the book on warrior mentality. Why do you believe I wouldn’t think it’s okay? Give me a little credit, Detodev. Even ifI thought less of you, why would you care? Do I pay your bills? Is my opinion worth more than yours when it comes to how you live your life? Is anyone’s?”

His attention turned toward her. She saw the glint of his eyes in the starlight as he gazed at her, perhaps weighing whether she meant it.

“I wish I knew what to make of you,” he muttered.

On sudden impulse, she said, “Figure this out for starters.”

She closed the distance and rose on her toes, grateful she wasn’t as short as her sister. Wrapping her arms around his thick neck, she pressed her lips to his.

His hands pressed the small of her back, drawing her close before he froze. She clung, moving against him, willing a man’s instinct to grab control…as his Nobek instinct for protectiveness had earlier in the day.

To bring home her intentions, her mouth parted and her tongue slid between his lips. Uttering a groan, he opened to taste.

Sizzling excitement coursed through Charity as their tongues met and twined. She writhed, letting him feel her softness pressing his iron frame, keening in blatant need. The kiss grew hotter, hungrier. When at last it ended, they gasped as if they’d run miles.

“I’m not the man you want,” he panted. “I can’t be.”

“Detodev, I don’t have a habit of kissing men who don’t interest me,” she said. “So why don’t we mosey to the old barn over there and create me some better memories of it? At that distance from the house, we won’t scare the Amgars, the kids, and the chickens. Trust me, you don’t want me getting crazy aroused in the backyard. I’m noisy when it comes to sex.”

“Fuck,” he hissed. “You’re sure?”

“I’m many things, my friend. A tease isn’t one of them.” She used her grip on his neck to pull him toward the barn. “This invitation is set in stone, big man. I take refusals personally.”

He allowed her to tug him a couple of slow steps. “I’m on guard duty. I’m supposed to be keeping an eye on things.”

“You’re supposed to be keeping an eye onme. How better to do so when we’re up close and very personal?”

* * * *

Groteg stood at the window, where he’d been since hearing Charity go outside. He shook his head in mingled disbelief and amusement as he watched the young woman drag Detodev toward the barn. The younger Nobek’s initial reluctance…probably brought about by Charity’s unforeseen lascivious attack rather than disinterest…ended in a flash. He abruptly lifted her and trotted to the silhouette of the large building. Her legs wrapped around his waist. She kissed and nipped his ear and neck. They disappeared in the barn’s dark environs.

“Are they letting nature take its course?” Utber asked from the clan’s shared bed. He sat leaning on the headboard, Sara snuggled against his chest.

“That would be an affirmative. Apparently, Charity doesn’t accept ‘no’ for an answer.” Groteg couldn’t keep the laughter from his tone as he joined his clanmates. He slid between the sheets and curved into their warmth.

“Good for her,” Sara yawned. The scent of her earlier pleasure mixed with theirs washed over the Nobek. “Our girl’s going to be all right as long as we keep those bastards from Mercy and New Bethlehem at bay. Detodev will be okay too, if she can convince him to get out of his own way.”

“She might. She’s bringing out the protective instincts he fights. Maybe having her to keep safe will help him learn to trust rather than fear them.”

Chapter Ten

Charity had entertained visions of making love on mounds of hay. She’d forgotten Clan Amgar’s lack of livestock meant they had little use for large amounts of the stuff. Fortunately, they had a supply of bags of chicken feed piled nearly knee-high and wide enough to accommodate her. Perhaps it wasn’t as soft as hay would have been, but it made for an okay surface to lie on. Plus there were no stalks to jab her.

It was where Detodev had set her after he’d stripped her nightgown off. Now she was gasping and moaning as his hot mouth moved from breast to breast, sucking enthusiastically.

His weight on her was an enthralling reminder of how big he was. How strong, thanks to his muscled physique. She was brutally conscious of his power as he hungrily devoured her breasts and his hands roamed her far softer topography. Her entire body sang as cascades of pleasure ran through her from scalp to toes.

Her legs curled around his waist, seeking to trap him. He could be so distant. She feared he might abruptly think better of the situation and run. Much of her writhing was from pure ardent instinct, but some was calculated. She wanted him. Like Ilid, she’d wanted him almost from the moment she’d seen him.

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