Page 23 of Marked By the Bounty Hunter

“But—”

“Hunter’s patience, remember?” I chuckled softly, nuzzling her shoulder, teeth gently grazing her skin. “I want to learn every inch of you.”

My hands moved over her, exploring the smooth curves of her back, the delicate bones of her spine, the way her muscles flexed under my touch. Each subtle shift in her breath, each tremor of her body, sent new waves of heat through me.

I traced the contours of her body with feather-light touches, testing the limits of her trust. Each yielding sigh, each arch of her back into my touch, felt like a gift. A surrender.

My mouth followed my hands, exploring the delicate skin of her neck, the hollow of her throat, the pulse point fluttering beneath her jaw. I wanted to leave my mark on her, to claim her as mine, yet also to worship her, to savor the delicate taste of her skin.

The contrast between my rough gray hide and her smooth brown skin fascinated me. The way she fit so perfectly against my larger frame, her warmth seeping into my colder Vinduthi flesh. I’d never felt anything like it.

I wanted to unravel her slowly, to savor each gasp, each tremor of pleasure that rippled through her body.

My fingers found the sensitive spot between her thighs, and she moaned, arching into my touch. I explored her folds withcareful precision, my senses overwhelmed by her taste, her scent, the soft cries that escaped her lips.

“Tyrix…” Her fingers tangled in my hair, pulling me closer. “Please…”

The plea, the trust in her voice, made my chest ache. This wasn’t just about taking pleasure. This was about connection. About giving something back to this woman who’d risked everything to help others, to help me.

Nalina’s scent flooded my senses, earthy and musky, a stark contrast to the sterile metal of the storage bay. The way she looked at me, a mix of desire and trust in her dark eyes… it undid me. Years of conditioning, of emotional control, melted away like ice in the desert sun.

I lowered my mouth to her center, my tongue tracing the delicate folds of her flesh. A soft gasp escaped her lips, and the sound sent a thrill through me.

Her taste was intoxicating, a blend of salt and sweetness that made me growl low in my throat. My tongue explored her depths, savoring every nuance of flavor, every tremor of her body.

My hands moved to her hips, holding her steady as I deepened the pressure, my tongue mimicking the rhythm of what I imagined our coupling would be like.

A flicker of doubt, a remnant of my upbringing, whispered that this surrender was weakness. That a warrior should never show this vulnerability. But the whisper faded as Nalina’s fingers tangled in my hair, anchoring me to her.

There was only this moment. This connection.

I increased the pressure, my tongue swirling against her most sensitive point. Her body bucked beneath me, a wave of tremors rippling through her. A cry escaped her lips, a mixture of pain and pleasure that tightened something deep within me.

I wanted to devour her, to taste every drop of her essence. To brand her as mine in a way that went far beyond physical possession. This wasn’t just lust. This was a primal need to connect, to merge, to become one with this human female who’d somehow slipped past every defense I’d ever built.

Her aroma intensified, a musky sweetness that filled the air. Her moans grew louder, more urgent. I knew she was close, and the knowledge fueled my own desire, pushing me past the edge of control.

“Tyrix…” Her voice was but a whisper, choked with pleasure. “I…”

Her body convulsed one last time, a shuddering release that echoed through my own being. I held her close, my tongue continuing to lap at her until the tremors subsided, replaced by a soft, contented sigh.

We lay tangled together, the silence broken only by our ragged breathing. The back of my mind, always alert, noted the distant hum of the station’s life support systems, the rhythmic creaks of the metal walls. But those sounds seemed far away, a separate reality from the intimate space we’d created.

Nalina shifted, her touch sending shivers down my spine. I looked down at her, really looked at her, and saw not just a human female, but a partner. An equal. A being who’d seen the darkness within me and hadn’t flinched. Who’d shown me a vulnerability that both terrified and exhilarated me.

I didn’t understand it. This shift in my world, in my very being. But I knew, with a certainty that went deeper than instinct, that it was permanent. Irreversible.

My hand moved to her face, my thumb gently caressing her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open, dark and luminous, reflecting the dim light of the storage bay. A small smile touched her lips.

I pulled her close, nuzzling her neck, breathing in the scent of her spent passion. My chest ached with something Icouldn’t name. Something that felt both fiercely possessive and incredibly tender.

“Nalina…” My voice was rough, thick with emotion. I wasn’t used to this. To feeling this much.

She stirred in my arms, her fingers tracing the markings on my chest. “Tyrix…” Her voice was soft, drowsy.

I held her tighter, burying my face in her hair. This wasn’t part of the plan. This wasn’t how a hunter was supposed to behave. But for once, I didn’t care about the plan. I cared about her.

NALINA

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