Page 26 of Bound to the Bounty Hunter

Samira held out her injured limb. I gently rolled up her sleeve, revealing the angry scrape from our climb. My fingers ghosted over her skin as I examined the wound.

“It’s not too bad,” I murmured. “But we should clean it.”

As I dabbed antiseptic from my pouch on the graze, she hissed in pain.

“Sorry,” I said, gentling my touch.

“It’s okay,” she replied. Her eyes met mine, dark and luminous in the crystal-light.

My hand lingered on her arm, longer than necessary. Samira didn’t pull away.

I cleared my throat, breaking the moment. “You should get some rest.”

Samira nodded, but made no move to lie down. Instead, she reached out, her fingers brushing my cheek.

“Thank you,” she said softly. “For everything.”

I froze, caught between the urge to lean into her touch and the instinct to pull away. My carefully maintained control wavered.

“Samira,” I growled, a warning.

She ignored it, her hand sliding to the back of my neck. I should have stopped her. But as she leaned in, I met her halfway.

Our lips met, tentative at first. Then something snapped inside me. I pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. Samira made a small sound of surprise, then melted against me.

My hands roamed her back, feeling the heat of her skin through her clothes. Samira urged me closer.

I broke the kiss, panting. “We shouldn’t?—”

“I don’t care,” Samira interrupted. She kissed me again, fierce and hungry.

My resistance crumbled. I gathered her into my lap, relishing the feel of her body against mine. Our kisses grew more heated, passionate.

Samira’s trust, her willingness to be vulnerable with me, left me in awe. I held her like something precious, even as desire coursed through me.

I trailed kisses down Samira’s neck, savoring the softness of her skin against my lips. My fingers worked at the fastenings ofher shirt, loosening them with careful precision. Samira’s arms snaked around my neck, pulling me closer.

The scent of her filled my senses - an intoxicating blend of flora and something uniquely her. I nuzzled the curve where her neck met her shoulder, inhaling deeply. A low growl rumbled in my chest.

Samira ran her fingers through my hair, nails scraping lightly against my scalp. The sensation sent shivers down my spine. I nipped gently at her collarbone, drawing a soft gasp from her lips.

“Arkon,” she breathed, arching into me.

I raised my head, meeting her gaze. Desire blazed in her eyes, mirroring the hunger I felt.

Samira surged forward, capturing my lips in a searing kiss. I met her passion with my own, one hand cupping the back of her head while the other splayed across her lower back.

Our tongues danced as the kiss deepened. Samira pressed herself against me, every curve of her body molding to mine. Heat pooled in my core, desire threatening to overwhelm me.

I broke the kiss, panting heavily. Samira chased my lips, but I held her back gently.

“Wait,” I rasped, struggling to form coherent thoughts. “Are you sure about this?”

Samira’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

I tried to calm my racing pulse. “This... us. It complicates things.”

“I know,” Samira said softly. Her hand cupped my cheek, thumb tracing the curve of my jaw. “But I want this. I want you.”

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