Page 51 of Captured By the Scaled Outlaw
He grumbles, seeming over my nonsense. “You’re in denial, sweetheart.”
My pulse quickens. Oh, what that term of endearment does to me.
Setting the piece of metal down to dry, I lean back on my hands, allowing the silence between us to grow. The heat of the desert must be driving me mad if I’m at all considering feeding into Lowell’s teasing.
“That’ll need to dry for eight hours or so. We can work on attaching it back onto the cycle afterward,” Lowell says, his attention shifting to the sandcycle. “And if the engine fires up, we’re out of here.”
I analyze the small metal rod that stands in the way of our life and death, my hands still shaking from the nerves caused by unbridled desire.
How strange this whole situation has become.
“I think the sandstorm will stop in a few days,” I say, lifting a hand above the makeshift shelter. “The wind seems to have died down.”
“The desert has a way of deceiving travelers, so don’t get your hopes up,” Lowell says, scooting his body to one side of the tent while patting the spot next to him. “All we can do is wait, so get over here and relax for once.”
My heart skips a beat. The thought of being so close to Lowell after spilling our entire life stories to one another appears much more intimate than before. Nevertheless, I drop the wrench and crawl to where he lies. I’m careful not to peek my head out over the shelter, the sandstorm still raging at a dangerous level.
I slide next to Lowell, cautious not to touch him. He’s not the only one whose feelings are a complete mess, so I don’t need to add any more fuel to my confusion.
“What happens when we get back?” I ask, resting my head on my bicep.
Lowell stares at the tent’s door, composed. “We proceed with the plan as normal: You go back to Nilsan and report your findings. Do whatever you need to do to ensure that the Sandpit Desert is off-limits for construction.” He turns toward me, his eyes alight. “Unless you have other plans?”
To stay?
I see the question floating in his words, full of wild and wishful thinking. But I know my path, and have for a while. Lowell sees a desire for rebellion in me that I do not share, the instant gratification destined to wear off like all other impulsive emotions.
The rationalization doesn’t help the knot that forms when I know I need to reject him.
“I’ll go back to Nilsan, as planned,” I reply, a lump in my throat. The words feel like lies and I hate it.
The fire in his eyes flickers when he turns to face me, softening withan unfamiliar expression of hurt. “Understandable.”
Slowly, Lowell’s hand makes its way to my cheek, cupping it softly. He caresses my skin with the pad of his thumb, the hard edges of his face relaxing with each pass.
I don’t stop his touch, goosebumps breaking out over my flesh while a small shiver builds at the base of my spine.
“Can you indulge me?” he murmurs, dragging a claw over my lips.
I lay my hand over his, tracing down his arm to rest at his elbow. “Depends on what it is. I’m not going to eat you if you die, if that’s what this is about.”
Lowell’s gentle laugh sends sparks exploding in my chest. “No, but it is related to the uncertainty of my health and our survival.”
I lean deeper into his touch. “What do you mean?”
His seriousness concerns me. I don’t know if I can perform any major type of surgery with the small med kit we have, and even then, we are already low on supplies.
Feeling me tense, Lowell draws me in closer, his snout grazing my nose. I sense his racing heart beating through his palm against my cheek.
“Promise me you’ll think about it before saying no, okay?” he breathes, his gaze darkening.
I smile cautiously, a single brow raised. “You’re scaring me.”
Swallowing heavily, Lowell’s conviction sets his gaze on fire. Finally, he growls out his request, saliva pooling on his tongues:
“Have sex with me.”
Chapter 19
