Page 72 of Star Prince

He touched her once more and she climaxed, pushing hard against his hand. Squeezing her inner muscles, she prolonged the throbbing pleasure, as Ian rubbed his other hand, fingers splayed, over her lower belly.

Before she had the chance to float down from her peak, he covered her with his body. The heat of his bare skin astonished her. She felt his cock, heavy and hard, between them. Her heart sped up, this time from nerves instead of passion.

“Tee,” he said with a harsh breath. “I’ll go as slow as I can. Tell me if I hurt you.”

The start of his penetration stretched her. Instinctively she raised her thighs to hasten hisslow and careful entrance. There was a sharp twinge. She sucked in a breath and held it until the stinging faded.

Fully inside her, Ian cradled her face in his palms. “You good, baby?”

“Good,” she whispered. “Unbelievably good.”

“Just you wait, pixie. It’s just starting.” He cupped her bottom, holding her close as his hips began a slow, undulating motion. Thick, aching pleasure radiated outward. She didn’t know whether to sigh, groan, or laugh with the joy of it. Then she was rocking with him, her legs locked behind him. They swayed together, their skin glistening with sweat, their scents mingling. Gradually, she lost her apprehension, her self-consciousness, and gave in to pure sensation.

Takethis pleasure, Ian. This gift I offer you freely. Take all of me.His neck corded, his breaths came faster, harsher. Still he struggled, she knew, not to thrust too hard and hurt her in the face of her newly lost innocence. With this act, she might have forever lost the chance to go home, but the choice had allowed her to give herself to the one man who held her heart. “I love you, Earth-dweller,” she said, a fervent whisper in his ear.

He expelled an explosive breath, threw back his head. His peak was unbridled and prolonged. Closing her eyes, wrapping her arms around his heaving body, Tee’ah took his essence into her soul.

Two had become one.

“There they are, Gann.”Lara poked her finger at her viewscreen.

Gann came up behind her. “Where?”

“Right where we thought they’d be. TheSun Devil.At the threshold of the jump they never made.”

Gann folded his arms over his chest. “Contact them on the comm.”

“Sun Devil,this is theQuillie.”

Silence met the request.

Lara upped the signal strength. “Try again.”

“Sun Devil,this is theQuillie;how do you read?” Unease prickled the back of his neck. The ship was there; he could “see” it on the viewscreen. Why wasn’t Ian answering?

“How long until we reach them?” he asked Lara.

She checked the computer. “A standard hour, max. I’ll try reaching them again in a few minutes.” A jaunty little melody slipped from her lips.

He leaned over her shoulder. “Are you actually humming?”

She gave him a winning smile. “I’ll soon have my ship back. And my life too.”

Roused by Lara’s uncharacteristic cheer, the kettacat unfurled its thin body and stood, stretching up on its toes, its tail quivering. It yawned broadly, then touched the tip of its nose to Lara’s.

“It’s been a long time since we served together on theQuillie.”

Gann turned to find Muffin towering over him, years of memories in his gaze. “Yes. This reminds me of the old times ...the good times.”

“They were good,” the big man acknowledged. He frowned, stroking his chin with his thick fingers. “I don’t know if she’ll want to go with you. She wants her freedom.”

Gann beckoned him out of Lara’s earshot, surprised by his friend’s perceptiveness. “I know,” he said under his breath. “All she talks about is her ship, what it looks like, how it flies.” He rolled his eyes. “It’s not easy competing with a hunk of trillidium. It’s impounded, you know. That ship of hers. As soon as I have the princess, she’ll be paid—money she’ll use to reclaim her ship. As soon as that happens, I have the feeling she’s out of my life for good.Though sometimes I don’t think that would be a bad idea…” He sighed. “You always had a way with the ladies, Muff. What should I do?”

The bodyguard appeared bemused. “I meant Tee’ah, the princess.”

“Ah.” Gann tried to appear casual. Then it hit him what Muffin had said. “Why wouldn’t the princess come with us? Surely she’s had her fill of frontier life by now.”

“Not Tee. She’s thrived out here. That is, when she wasn’t drinking,” the big man joked.

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