Page 41 of Healing Creek
He tugged the edge of her towel free, bearing her to his gaze. His grin softened into something more serious, but even more powerful. He crawled onto the bed, part predator, part protector. Hunching over her, he used the back of his finger to trace a line down her nose and across her lips. The line dipped down between her breasts, and he splayed his hand over her heart.
“I can feel it beating,” he said.
“It beats for you,” she assured him.
His breath hitched and he made a chuffing noise in the back of his throat.
Grace reached for him, pressing her own palm over his heart. She didn’t stop there though. She traced her palm over the defined muscles of his chest. She smoothed her hand down to trace the circle of his belly button with the tips of her fingers.
He sucked in a breath. “You tease me with your delicate touch, Butterfly.”
She smiled and stretched her hand farther, gripping his girth and stroking. His breathing stopped completely this time. He lowered himself slowly, giving her time to release him and let their bodies come together fully. Skin to skin. Hard muscles to soft curves. Hot cock to cool thigh. He rocked against her, breath against her temple.
This time she didn’t even have to think. Her arms came around him and stroked down the slope of his back and she reached for his ass. She gripped him with fingers spread wide as she responded to the press of him.
For a long moment they danced together among the sheets. Then everything came to a stop. They were both breathing hard.
Creek reached for her hands, placed them over her head and pulled back to meet her eyes. “I don’t think I can be gentle, Grace.”
“I didn’t ask you to.”
He took her mouth hard and fast. She met his tongue eagerly when it swept into her mouth. They moved against each other again. This time it was less like dancing and more like they wanted to melt into each other. Creek slipped a leg between her restless thighs, and she eagerly made space for him, wrapping her legs around him. He pressed against her tender flesh, right where she needed his warmth. Need pulsed through her like electricity, bowing her back and tightening her grip in his. Her body strained for more, more of him, more of them together, but his hands, his body held her in place. His kisses traveled down her jaw and neck. He sucked on her skin as if the taste of her was his favorite flavor. She could hear her own breathing in the quiet room. Beneath that, a growl rumbled deep in his chest.
Grace rocked her hips with him. He nipped at her shoulder then raised up over her. He met her gaze, and a muscle twitched in his jaw before he spoke. “You’re sure?”
“Yes.” She didn’t hesitate and his eyes said he liked that.
Creek adjusted his position then pushed inside her, deep and sure. She’d never been so wonderfully full. All her breath left her on a sigh of profound pleasure. A rush of emotion hit her like nothing in her past ever had. Her throat tightened and her vision blurred.
She needed to move before her body caught fire and her heart melted. He lowered his body along hers and together they found a rhythm as forceful as the sea in a storm. A rhythm that made them both pant.
She was nearly at the point of begging when his hips slammed against hers with so much force it seemed like it should have hurt, but it must have rewired her brain. Her vision went white with release, and she heard Creek howl above her. The heat of his release filled her and left her floating. Somehow, Creek managed to keep moving, rocking against her more gently now. So slowly. Wringing every last ounce of pleasure from their connection. When he pulled free he tugged her into his arms. “I am yours, Butterfly. For as long as you’ll have me.”
She pressed her face against the hard plane of his chest. It wasn’t exactly the words she’d most wanted, but it was a start.
Chapter Seventeen
TheAbundance
EarthAllianceBetaSector
2210.198
Two days later, Grace studied the scene through the viewport with curiosity. The mismatched collection of ships reminded her of an interstellar exploratory mission she’d once seen launch from Melbourne Station. There were midsize freighters and courier ships alongside a passenger liner—that was theGwendella. The ship that theNeellahad come from and was returning to. She’d already said her goodbyes to Celestia and Cosmo who were transporting the rest of the originalAbundancecrew off the ship. All of the ships bringing new crew had congregated at the same coordinates set against a backdrop of stars and all apparently at the request of one small woman of mixed heritage.
Grace hadn’t recognized Samantha’s alien heritage at first. It had become obvious last night. Grace and Creek had joined the pack at dinner. Samantha wore a sleeveless top with a low neckline and her hair was piled atop her head. The stripes of color along her arms had been the first clue. The second was the bright golden blush that had bloomed across her shoulders and down the stripes every time Lo leaned close and whispered in her ear. Only Cirrilians had that characteristic skin adaptation and this morning Grace had gone back to that medical scan she’d done for Samantha. That had confirmed it.
Non-human species had restricted rights in Earth Alliance territory, but clearly, none of the captains who’d brought their ships to meet them cared about Samantha’s parentage any more than Grace did. And none of the crew coming aboard cared that they would be working for a ship’s captain who wasn’t legally allowed to hold that position in this sector.
The familiar thud of Creek’s footfall down the hall drew her attention to the male who’d accepted her despite her own shortcomings. He didn’t seem to see her lack of intelligence or her inherent weakness. They made themselves known in a million tiny ways every day, yet he treated her as if she was special, important, valued. She’d been told Arena Dogs respected strength and courage. Maybe those weren’t the only things they valued. Maybe not everything she learned about them was right. Or maybe she would believe Creek’s assurances that she was strong after all.
It wasn’t all about physical strength—she knew that—but he was helping her get physically stronger. He’d helped her train every day since that first time. He’d taught her how to safely add weight training to her routine…with very light weights. She would get stronger, he assured. Slowly, she knew. Very slowly.
As he came to a stop in front of her and reached for her hands, she realized there was something different in his normally stoic face. More than just the softness he reserved only for her.
“You’re happy,” she said. Putting words to her suspicions.
Creek shrugged. “TheHawleyhas returned.”
