Page 40 of Alien Engineer's Mate

She held out her wrist for him, biting her lip in a way that totally distracted him from his task. His fingers trembled slightly as he fastened the bracelet around her slender wrist. The metal looked like quicksilver against her skin, the gems catching the light each time she moved. He couldn't resist trailing his fingers along her pulse point, savoring the small shiver she gave and the sudden darkness in her eyes as she looked up at him. All he had to do was lean forward, and he could claim her lips?—

A sharp laugh shattered the moment.

"It's just so sad," a female voice carried clearly. "These warriors, forced to consider such... unfortunate options. All because of some arbitrary matching system."

He stiffened, biting back a snarl. He recognized that voice. Sure enough, when he turned his head, Aisha sat at a nearby table, visible past the alcove's subtle privacy screen. He sighed, closing his eyes. He'd chosen this section specifically to avoid something like this happening. How had she known he and Eira would be here tonight?

"I mean really," Aisha continued, each word as precise as a poison dart, "taking colony trash out of pity? It's hardly fair to the warriors. Or to more suitable candidates who actually understand station society."

Eira pulled her hand from his, curling it in her lap. Her gaze fixed on the bracelet, but he saw the hurt expression she quickly smothered.

Fury rose in his chest, hot enough to burn, and his fingers clenched around his glass until the crystal creaked in protest. But before he could speak, Aisha spoke again.

"Though I suppose some females are desperate enough to throw themselves at any warrior who shows interest. No standards at all..."

The glass shattered in his grip. Eira flinched at the sound, and that small movement broke something in him. He started to rise, fully prepared to confront the horrible human female regardless of protocol, but Eira put a soft hand on his arm, stopping him.

He looked down, seeing her tense expression and the misery in her eyes.

"Please," she whispered. "Can we just go?"

The defeat in her tone twisted like a blade in his chest. She'd withdrawn into herself, all their earlier warmth destroyed. Hewanted to rage, to demand satisfaction for this insult to his chosen mate, but Eira's need came first.

"Of course,kelarris."

They walked out in silence. The corridor felt colder somehow, the station's regular lighting hard and unforgiving after the low lighting of their table. When Eira's hand slipped from his arm, he had to bite back a gasp, the loss of contact verging on physical pain.

"We should head back," she said quietly, not meeting his gaze. "The children?—"

"No." He caught her arm, spinning her to face him. Before she could protest, he buried one hand in her hair and pulled her against him. "Don't let that...femalepoison this."

He bent and claimed her mouth, pouring everything he couldn't say into a desperate kiss. She froze for a heartbeat, and he thought she was going to push him away. He would have let her, but he would have done anything, even gone down on his knees, to get her to listen to him.

But then she relaxed, melting against him with a soft sound of surrender that sent fire raging through his blood. Her hands slid up his chest, leaving a trail of fire in their wake to tangle in his braids.

He growled his approval against her lips, kissing her until they were both breathless... until he felt her trembling against him. Until he was sure she understood that none of Aisha's words mattered, that she was his, and he was never letting her go.

12

Any thoughts of Aisha or what she’d said were burned away by the inferno of heat and need building between them.

Maax pulled away to look down at her, and they stared at each other in charged silence, the air crackling between them. His pupils were blown wide—darkness and desire in their depths—leaving only a thin ring of molten gold around endless black. A muscle pulsed in his jaw.

"The evening is young.” His rough growl sent liquid heat pooling between her thighs. "My quarters... if you want..."

The awkward invitation pulled a breathy laugh from her. "Are you inviting me in for coffee?"

He blinked, confusion briefly overtaking the hard need in his expression. "I can find coffee if you wish, but I meant—" He broke off. "I want to?—"

She couldn't help but smile at his sudden awkwardness, lifting on her tiptoes to brush her lips against his cheek.

“I’m teasing. I know what you meant. It's a human saying. Coffee is just an excuse. What happens after is... more interesting."

Understanding blazed in his eyes and he bent to claim her mouth again. This time the kiss was pure seduction, and a promise all rolled into one. His massive hand splayed across her lower back, pressing her firmly against his rigid length.

"Humans are strange creatures," he broke away to growl against her lips. "But I want to take you back to my quarters and claim every inch of you. Mark you.Draanthyou until you never look at another male. Make you mine in ways that will leave you no doubt who you belong to."

The possession in his voice made her press her thighs together. She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Not without begging anyway.

---