Page 32 of Shielded Heart 1
Herpanties.
Arcanthus grinned, and for a moment, had to restrain himself; he had the overwhelming urge to raise the panties to his face and inhale her scent—herintimatescent—but that was too risky. He forced his lower eyes back to her as he folded the cloth, slipped it into his robe, and tucked it beneath the leather strap securing his loincloth in place.
She turned her face to look at him.
He stretched one arm along the back of the couch andlifted a leg, settling his ankle atop his knee. “Everything going all right over there, little terran?”
“Yes.” She picked up two cups and approached Arc, offering him one along with a smile. “It’s a little hot.”
“I’ve never been bothered by a little heat,” he replied as he accepted the drink.
She averted her gaze, took her cup in both hands, and brought it up to her face, holding it just beneath her nose. Her nostrils flared with a soft inhalation.
Arcanthus settled his cup atop his palm. “Are you going to sit? It’s no problem if you’re not. I really don’t mind looking up at you.”
It was almost comical how quickly she moved, perching herself on the edge of the cushion at the opposite end of the couch.
Eventually, she’d learn to relax in his presence. Part of him was disappointed in that knowledge. He found her reactions to him endearing. The world in which he’d lived before had necessitated bravado for survival; everyone had exuded confidence whether they felt it or not. And the females he’d joined with here in Arthos… Well, they’d been of a rather different sort than his little terran.
But a stronger part of him longed for her to be that comfortable with him because it would mean she trusted him completely. He found he craved her trust as much as he craved her attention, as much as he craved her body—if not more so.
He lifted the cup to his lips and took a sip. Though the liquid was hot, its heat was not unpleasant. Still, his brow furrowed at the taste, and the corners of his mouth tugged back as he fought a reflexive shudder. The drink had a hint of sweetness, but it was not enough to mask its bitter, herbal punch.
He forced himself to swallow. The sound of it was loud enough to catch Samantha’s attention. She studied him silently,searching his face before looking at his tail, the tip of which was flicking restlessly on the floor. He struggled to keep a neutral expression; that was the best he could’ve managed at that moment.
“You don’t like it, do you?” she asked.
What’s one more lie?
He studied her face, unable to deny the vulnerability in her eyes. Another lie, even a small one, was another crack in the trust he’d so desperately come to desire. He’d spent years of his life obsessed with trust, expecting betrayal at every turn—all while building a fortress of lies around himself.
Arcanthus smiled and glanced down at the brownish liquid in the cup. “I’m afraid it’s not quite to my tastes. The tretin side of my people leaves us a bit fonder of…savory and salty flavors.”
“Oh. I-I should have asked you what you’d like. I’m—” She set her cup down on the nearby table and leapt to her feet, moving toward the kitchen. “I’ll get you something else.”
Placing his cup beside Sam’s, Arc stood up and followed her. As she was reaching into one of the cabinets, he caught her arm and spun her to face him.
“There is onething I’d like to taste, little terran.” He settled a hand on the side of her face, sliding his fingers into her long, brown hair, and leaned down to kiss her.
Samantha’s eyes widened in surprise, and she pressed her hands against his chest as though to stop him—her palms were warm and soft, and he longed to feel them elsewhere on his body—but she offered little resistance as he claimed her mouth with his.
Tingles spread over across his face, burrowing deep to set his nerves aflame. He tasted a hint of the tea on her soft lips, but it was made sweeter by the flavor beneath it—byherflavor.
She curled her fingers, raking her nails over his skin. Hereyelids fluttered shut in surrender as she parted her lips in a breathy moan.
Arcanthus closed his eyes, shifted his hand to cradle the back of her head, and deepened the kiss. Slipping his tongue into the warm depths of her mouth, he growled at her divine taste.
He neededmore.
Arcanthus pressed Sam against the counter, trapping her, and wrapped his arm around her to place his hand on the small of her back. He clutched her closer. His cock strained against his loincloth’s under wrapping with enough pressure that it threatened to tear through.
He’d never felt a need so powerful, had never felt the beast lurking at his core so active and aroused. He’d never had to battle the instinct to take, to conquer, like he was now.
He dropped his hand to cup her ass and grind her pelvis against his.
Samantha flinched and jerked her head back, breaking the kiss. She shoved against his chest. “No! No, stop!”
Awash in a lustful haze, Arcanthus opened his eyes; the haze dissipated the instant he met her gaze.
