Page 26 of Shielded Heart 1
Grasping Samantha by the hips, Alkorin turned her toward him and drew her onto his lap so she straddled his muscular thighs. She put her arms out, flattening her palmsagainst the back of the seat to either side of his head to prevent herself from falling against his chest. Her hair tumbled down, brushing over the exposed skin of his chest, and Alkorin grinned up at her, his half-lidded eyes gleaming with desire.
“Whoops,” he said. “I can be so clumsy sometimes.”
“That was on purpose,” Sam shot back.
His smile tilted to one side. “The burden of proof rests upon you, whereasyourest upon me.”
Her face heated. Despite her position on top, he was entirely in control, and she felt more vulnerable than ever.
Without looking away from her, Alkorin said, “Drop us off at one of the entrances to the Ventrillian Mall, Drakkal.”
“Don’t you think that’s a bit crowded,boss?” Drakkal asked.
“We’ll be fine. I’ll take every precaution to avoid standing out.”
Samantha couldn’t imagine Alkorin notstanding out.
Alkorin slid his hands down to her thighs, and Sam’s breath hitched as he tugged her closer. “My little terran has seen some of the worst this city has to offer, and she deserves to see some of the best.”
Samantha heard a soft creaking sound from up front, as though Drakkal were tightening his grip on the controls, before the hovercar angled into a gradual descent.
She leaned forward slightly and whispered, “I don’t think he likes your idea.”
“He’s just upset because I woke him up earlier than usual today,” Alkorin squeezed Sam’s thighs gently. “I’m far more worried about whether I’ll be able to bring myself to exit the car once we’ve landed.”
Samantha frowned. “Why? What’s wrong?”
“I’m not sure I’ll have the willpower to let you go.” He lifted his pelvis slightly, rubbing it against her center.
Her breath hitched. She curled her fingers intothe back cushion as realization struck her. Lowering her gaze, she took in her current position, and desire flared within her.
Never in Sam’s life had things escalated so quickly between her and a man—she couldn’t even imagine things moving this fast. She’d only met Alkorin the night before last! Why wasn’t she panicking, why wasn’t she freaking out and darting for the opposite door to escape?
Because for some inexplicable reason, despite how strong he’s coming on…
I feel safe with Alkorin.
As much as she should’ve wanted him to release her, she…didn’t.
Their bodies swayed gently as the hovercar slowed to a stop.
“Here,” Drakkal growled.
Alkorin made no move; he just stared at Sam, his eyes and the markings on his skin brighter than ever. “I suppose we should step outside. Drakkal would only put a damper on the mood if we stayed in here.”
I’m straddling him while his driver isright there.
Samantha’s skin was so heated that she might’ve mistaken it for a sunburn had she not known better. She opened the door.
The pure light of the quasar—the sort of natural light Sam hadn’t seen for days—flowed into the cab through the open door, making Alkorin’s long, straight hair shimmer.
Alk’s tongue emerged briefly from between his lips. “After you, then?”
Sam hesitated for an instant before she hurriedly, but carefully, climbed off his lap and stepped out of the hovercar.
“I’ll let you know when we’re ready for you to pick us up,” Alkorin said to Drakkal as he exited the vehicle.
“Be careful,boss,” the azhera replied.
