Page 54 of Human Reform
“You’re insatiable,” I gasped as desire sparked through me again.
“For you?Always.”He rolled me onto my back, hovering above me with those powerful arms that could snap steel but touched me with such tender reverence.“Five days, Alora.That’s all it took for you to become essential to my existence.”
I reached up to cup his face, suddenly serious.“Those four hours when you didn’t know me were the worst of my life.Worse than anything except losing Tim.”
Pain flickered across his features.“I’m sorry.I thought?—”
“I know what you thought.”I pulled him down for a gentle kiss.“You thought you were protecting the colony.Protecting me.But I need you to understand something.”I held his gaze, willing him to feel the weight of my words.“I don’t need protection from the hard choices, Daxon.I need you beside me while I make them.”
He pressed his forehead to mine.“I’m learning.”
“We both are.”I smiled, running my fingers through his short black hair.“Who’d have thought I’d fall in love with a man after knowing him less than a week?Let alone?—”
“Let alone what?”His eyes narrowed, suddenly alert.
I shrugged, aiming for casual despite my racing heart.“Let alone decide I’m staying here.On Planet Alpha.”
The smile that broke across his face was like the sun rising—bright and full of promise.“Say that again.”
“I’m staying, Daxon.”I wrapped my arms around his neck.“I’m not running anymore.”
I soon reluctantly pulled away from Daxon’s warm neck, groaning as the morning light filtered through the small window in his bedroom.His hands trailed possessively down my sides before getting off of me.
“We should probably get dressed,” I murmured, though every cell in my body protested the idea.
“Probably,” he agreed, but made no move to get off the bed, his ice-blue eyes drinking me in as I stretched.
I slid out of his bed, feeling his gaze like a physical touch as I retrieved my scattered clothing from around his quarters.My white lace panties had somehow ended up draped over his lamp, and I flushed remembering exactly how they’d gotten there.
“I feel you watching me,” I said without turning around, stepping into my underwear.
“That’s because I am.”His deep voice carried no apology.“Your body is… extraordinary.”
I glanced over my shoulder to find him sitting up on his bed, his muscled torso on full display.“That’s rich coming from you, Mr.Perfect Physique.”
He raised his eyebrows.“Is that what you think of me?”
“Among other things.”I clasped my bra and reached for my white T-shirt.“Most of which aren’t appropriate to mention before breakfast.”
A slow smile spread across his tanned face, and he finally rose from the bed, giving me an unobstructed view of his naked glory.My fingers fumbled with my pants as I watched him pull on his black boxers, the muscles in his back and shoulders flexing with every movement.
“I guess two can play the staring game,” he said, catching me watching as he tugged on his fitted black T-shirt, the Planet Alpha emblem sitting right over his heart.
“I’m just… appreciating the architecture,” I countered, borrowing his words from our first night together.
He finished dressing in his tactical pants and combat boots while I braided my hair, my fingers working quickly through the familiar motions.When I finished, he stepped behind me, placing his hands on my shoulders and meeting my eyes in the mirror.
“Hungry?”he asked.
“Starving,” I admitted.
In the kitchen, I perched on a stool and watched as he moved with efficient grace, preparing something that smelled mouthwatering good.
“I still can’t believe you cook,” I said, accepting the plate he handed me.
“Survival skill, remember?”he replied with a hint of a smile.
We moved to his small dining table, and I hesitated before sitting down, memories of the previous night flooding back.Daxon’s powerful body above mine, the cool wood against my back, and his relentless rhythm driving me over the edge.
