“What are you thinking about, Jill?”
She swallowed, took a sip of the drink, and then sighed, looking at him again. “You’re crazy.”
“Perhaps, when it comes to you. We’re good together.”
He’d convinced her body. By the fifth or sixth time he’d gotten her off, she felt addicted to him. Owned. Possessed. She hadn’t even felt upset about it. That might have been because he’d fucked her brains out. Or at least close to it. Now that he wasn’t kissing her, touching her, or inside her, it was easier to think.
“What are your concerns? I’ll alleviate them.”
A tiny bit of her resented that he seemed to be able to read her so easily. “I don’t know. It’s just so fast. We should date for a while before making a huge decision like that. This life-locking is for life, right?”
“Yes.”
“See? Scary stuff right there.”
“Why?”
She held his gaze. “What if we decide we don’t like each other in, say, a year? What if you meet someone you want more than me? What if we fight all the time and end up hating each other? What if our cultural differences are too drastic?” She pointed at him. “Tryleskian.” She turned the finger toward her chest. “Human.”
He got off the bed, put his bowl on the table, and then took hers. That went on the table, too. He sat next to her, then surprised her by lifting her onto his lap. She liked it when he wrapped his arms around her, holding her.
“Jill,” he rasped. “It will work. We’re very compatible. Haven’t I proven that?”
“In bed, we’re great. What about out of it?”
He turned her head, cupping her face with his hand. The intense stare he gave her made her heart race. She loved his beautiful eyes, but they were a reminder that he was an alien.
“We’ll make it work because we want it to. I can compromise. You can, too. We’ll find a middle ground if we have a disagreement. You want to discuss culture? In mine, your happiness will become my priority. I’m nothing like Earth males. We’ve already established that’s an excellent quality.”
She laughed. “True.”
He held out his hand. She hesitated, but then put her hand on his, and he clasped them tight.
“We’ll be together. One unit. A team. You and I will face everything together.”
She stared at their combined hands…and longing hit. It had been years since she’d lost her family, since she’d been totally on her own. Once they were gone, she’d had no one to depend on. To love. Friends were nice, but she’d barely had any. The ones she did have weren’t that close to her. They’d been co-workers or neighbors she’d only chatted with in passing.
Cavas was offering to make a life with her.
She looked up at him, the longing deepening.
“I want to give you my heart, Jill. I want you to birth my future litters. To grow old together. We will be happy. I’ll make certain of it. Agree. You will never regret it.”
She wanted to say yes. He was just that damn convincing.
“I’ll let you sleep before you answer. You look tired. But you’re staying with me. I refuse to be parted from you after we’ve bonded.”
She almost laughed. By bonded, he meant they’d had a lot of sex together. “I hope you don’t snore.”
He grinned. “I don’t care if you do. I’m keeping you.”
Then he lifted her off his lap and got out of bed. “Shower. Then sleep.”
Jill got off the bed, wincing at the tenderness between her legs. She could walk easily enough, though. Cavas led her into the bathroom, where he turned on the water and gently steered her in first.
“I’ll go change the bedding quickly. I won’t be long.”
She stood under the pounding water and closed her eyes. It was tempting to give in to the big sexy alien. She forced her eyes open and began to clean her hair and body. A few minutes later, Cavas joined her.
Jill got out first and dried off. He had remade the bed and pulled back the covers. She crawled in, yawning, and made her way to the center of the huge mattress. That way, whatever side he liked, she wouldn’t be in his way.
The lights dimmed and the mattress dipped behind her. Cavas pulled her into his arms, spooning her to his front. His cock was stiff again, the guy seemed to live with constant hard-ons, but he adjusted it against the back of her thigh to avoid poking her.
The kiss he placed on her cheek surprised her in its chasteness.
“Sleep well, my Jill. I know I will. You’re where you belong.”
She yawned again and adjusted her arms, hugging the one he had in front of her chest. It was nice to be held, his warm body curled around her back. He didn’t even seem to mind her damp hair.
“Sleep well, Cavas. I like that you cuddle.”
He chuckled. “I always want to hold you close. That will never change.”
“Probably because you’re afraid I might sneak out once you’re asleep.”
His arm around her tightened. “Try it, and I’ll lick you until you pass out.”
She laughed. “You probably would.”
“It’s a vow.”
“Now I’m almost tempted to try.” Another yawn escaped her, and she closed her eyes. “Maybe after I take a nap.”
Cavas fell asleep fast, but as tired as she was, Jill remained awake. It gave her time to think. It felt right, being with Cavas. She didn’t know him well but she really liked what she’d learned so far. She could even admit she was falling hardcore for the big alien. He’d saved her life twice. Once from that cell, and again at the arena when she’d fallen behind. He’d come back for her.
Everything from her old life was gone. There’d be no returning to Earth. But she found that didn’t even upset her. Life had just been a day-to-day struggle there after she’d lost her family. She’d hated her job, thanks to dodging her jerk of a boss’s sexual crap until he’d touched her, trying to force her to blow him. That had been the final straw.
If she hadn’t been arrested, and remained on her planet, she’d have had to beg for another job. They were scarce where she lived. She might have even been forced to take two or three part-time jobs since those were easier to come by. They also paid less than a full-time job.
She’d always had to worry about making enough money to keep a roof over her head and food in her belly. The thought of getting sick was a real fear. Meds were expensive. She’d had zero expectations of ever becoming a mother or having a man in her life. Then she’d been sold to aliens. Made into a slave. Had to fight off the nasty bug alien who’d tripped and fallen onto his hideous sculpture.
She shoved that memory aside, never wanting to relive it again. Cavas had come into her life. He might be crazy to want to marry her right away, but he was an alien. That meant they were different. She reminded herself that was a good thing. At least, he was.
Cavas was courageous. He’d become her hero for saving her life. He might be a bit pushy, but he was hot enough to get away with it. That thought made her smile.
The sex had been mind-blowing. Every single time. He made sure to get her off before he came. She added that to the growing list of reasons to say yes.
Suddenly, it hit her—she wanted to stay with him. Even if they’d just met.
The world she lived in now—well, ship—couldn’t be more drastically different from her old life. Maybe it was time to ditch the old way of thinking and live in the now.
That was Cavas. He might be crazy, but it was the best kind.
She bit her lip, opening her eyes and caressing his arm. It felt right, being in his bed, being held by him…and why shouldn’t she keep him? He was offering. Hell, he was willing to sex her to death to get her onboard with his plan.
“Decision made,” she sighed aloud. Then she wiggled against him and turned. “Cavas?”
He woke easily, his golden eyes snapping open. “What’s wrong?” He lifted his head, glancing around the room for any possible threat.