Page 38 of Alien Mine

A quiet knock startled her out of her reverie. She put her toothbrush away, sucked a deep breath in and out of her lungs, and opened the door.

Dyuvad stood on the other side. One corner of his mouthtwisted down. “The house is secure.”

She nodded, unsurprised at his initiative. “Ok.”

“The girls are asleep in Kelly’s room.”

“I know.”

“Fate is but a telephone call away.”

She cocked her head to the side and regarded the stiff set of his wide shoulders. “You ok?”

“I am…” His frown deepened and his hands flexed. “Concerned for your safety. I’ll sleep in your room tonight.”

Relief swept through her, brushing away her nerves and the aching fear. “Ok.”

He crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at her, frown firmly in place. “It’s for your own safety.”

“I know.” She patted his arm and attempted a wobbly smile. “I appreciate it, too. Just give me a minute to check on the girls and we can go on to bed.”

“You gave in too easily.”

Probably, but what was the point of arguing when she’d already been trying to talk herself into asking him to sleep beside her? “I’ll fuss more next time.”

“No fussing,” he said, and stepped away from the door, still glowering at her.

She had a funny feeling he meant it, too.

Voluntarily agreeing to lie next to a man she wasn’t married to was one thing. Actually climbing into bed with that man was something else altogether. The one time Dyuvad had slept beside her, they’d both been too worn out to do anything except sleep. This time, as soon as the lights went out and they settled down next to each other, every sense Rachel had went on alert.

He pulled her against him, chest to chest, and tucked her head under his chin. “Relax, beauty. You’re safe now.”

“I know.”

She gathered her nerve and placed her palm flat against his chest over the steady thud of his heart. His skin was warm, smooth, and far too tempting for her peace of mind. Unbidden, her own heart skipped a beat and slow heat curled into herwomanhood. She shifted, hoping to ease the ache, and her legs brushed against his.

“Mmm. Here.” Dyuvad skimmed one hand down her back over her butt and wrapped it around the back of her thigh, then wedged his thigh between hers and draped her leg over his bare hip. “Better?”

She huffed out a laugh. His thigh was pressed right against her nethers through her panties, exactly where a woman should want it to be. It was much, much better as far as she was concerned, but not exactly a proper position.

Screw that.

The thought popped into her mind, startling her, and she nearly laughed again. Yup, screw that. Dyuvad was here, wrapped around her, and so what if he was? What happened between them was just that, between him and her and nobody else except God.

And maybe, just maybe, He didn’t give a rat’s patootie what she was up to in her own time.

Rachel did laugh then, a muted giggle breathed into Dyuvad’s throat. “God’s truth, Dyuvad. I reckon you get better every time I see you.”

His hand tightened on her hip and he grunted.

“In fact, you get so much better,” she continued, “I reckon I might have to do something about it.”

A long silence followed her pronouncement, broken only by their soft breaths and the chirp of crickets outside her window. Finally, he said in a low, gruff voice, “Like what?”

“I don’t know. What do you want me to do?”

His hips pressed into hers, and with them the rigid length of his erection, right against her lower belly. “Don’t tempt me, beauty.”

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