Page 13 of Victoria's Embrace

That was going to change.

She wanted to do more,neededto do more. The planet was full of slaves, of people that needed help, and monsters that needed to be stopped. It wasn’t enough to only concentrate on those in the complex.

And when they’d taken over this world, who was to say they couldn’t set their sights on another?

An idea began forming in the back of her mind, sparked by the determination building inside her and the slaves showing such courage and selflessness.

Emerging from her thoughts when a hard chest pressed against her back, Victoria smiled and melted into him, heart beating faster and thighs clenching as his scent enveloped her.

“Hi, Thorn,” she greeted, trying and failing to keep the breathiness out of her voice.

Just thinking about that morning was enough to send heat spiraling through her. That had, hands down, been the best sex of her life. She felt tender and swollen and deliciously sensitive between her legs even hours later.

He made a thrumming noise of pleasure and bent to nuzzle her neck. Her breath hitched when his tongues flicked out to taste her then rushed out on a surprised moan when he gently sank his teeth into the sensitive skin of her throat.

“Hello, my mate,” he rumbled next to her ear.

Turning, she looped her arms around his neck. Gazing at him from inches away, smiling like a loon, she brushed her nose across his then kissed him. She giggled against his mouth when he straightened, taking her with him so she was hanging from him like a necklace before he cupped her ass in his huge hands and boosted her higher, so he wasn’t angled so awkwardly. Then he really kissed her, sweeping his tongues into her mouth to play with hers. Only when she was breathless and making soft needy sounds did he pull away.

Cracking open an eye, she gave him a look. “Tease.”

A devilish smile curled his lips, and his eyes twinkled merrily. “Perhaps I am not so honorable as I believe. I find I am unwilling to be the only one driven to distraction by memories of you clenched around me,” he purred wickedly, nipping her bottom lip then flicking his tongues over the spot.

If he hadn’t been holding her up, Victoria was absolutely positive she would’ve melted into a puddle of horny goo. Who would’ve guessed scowly, reticent Thorn would be so… so flirtatious and naughty? Not her, but damn if she didn’t love it.

A sound from her left had her glancing over in time to catch a glimpse of Vi’kail’s back as he disappeared down the hallway. Biting her lip, she wondered if he was leaving because of her kissing Thorn.

He and Thegan hadn’t shown any resentment or anger when she’d join them after waking up, so it was possible he was just… headed to the cleansing room or something.

It was possible and, yet, she didn’t think so.

Obviously having noticed Vi’kail’s retreat, Thorn grunted. Looking at him, she caught the thoughtful expression on his face as he stared at the hallway. Meeting her gaze, he smiled softly, kissed her again, then set her on her feet.

“I believe now would be the perfect time for some combat training, hmm? We are not leaving for another pair of hours or so.”

She caught his meaning right away and felt her brows shoot up to her hairline, but a conspiratorial smile slowly quirked her lips.

Was it weird for one of her boyfriends to encourage her to chase after her other boyfriend? Maybe, but she was going with it.

In that moment, she realized she needed to be the aggressor with Vi’kail if she ever wanted to build a real relationship with him. She knew he cared for her, knew without a doubt he desired her, but there was something in his past that continued to hold him back.

Nervousness tightened her stomach, fear of rejection tried to flare, but she pushed it back and nodded then turned to go after him.

Thegan caught her just before she entered the hallway, drawing her up against him and taking her mouth in a hungry kiss.

His eyes, when he released her, held both encouragement and a promise that had her heart beating faster and her nipples tightening into hard points.

Setting her on her feet before she could manage more than a dazed smile, he turned her toward the hall and urged her forward with a soft pat on the ass.

Squaring her shoulders, Victoria gave herself a mental pep talk then went after her cagey, stubborn, evasive, alien boyfriend, ready to wrestle him into submission if that was what it took.

Chapter 9

Vi’kail turned sharply into the back room that had once been used as storage for the boutique. He’d already unbuttoned his pants and was halfway to freeing his painfully hard cock when he caught the sound of footsteps approaching.

Thinking it was Thegan coming to either console or chastise, he quickly buttoned himself back up and spun around with a snarl only to jerk back in surprise at finding Vee standing in the doorway.

They stared at each other in silence for a couple of seconds, him because he feared if he moved at all he was going to lose control, and her because she looked like she was gathering her courage to do… something.

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