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“So you’re willing to give up your freedom and marry an alien you profess to hate in the hopes of ending the war? That’s very patriotic of you.”

He tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and the gentleness of his gesture disconcerted her.

“Anyone would do the same,” she muttered.

His hand cupped her cheek and she fought not to lean into it. God, he smelled good.

“Kara, it will not be an easy challenge. Do you truly understand what it will mean to join theshaa’baaracontest?” He gazed down at her seriously. “Vraxian females are ferocious.”

“Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”

He absently traced her collar-bone with his thumb, the butterfly touch sending electric sparks through her skin.He’s got a bloody nerve, she thought, though somehow she couldn’t seem to move away.

“I know you are a fighter. But I would rather forgo the plan altogether than see you get hurt.”

“You mean you’d rather marry one ofthem?”

The outrage in her voice made him smile.

“Why would you care? You hate me.”

He leaned forward and nuzzled the dip behind her ear. Suddenly she found it hard to think.

“Yes,” she managed. “But if there’s even half a chance your cockamamie idea will force Earth into a peace deal…”

“Cockamamie?” He pulled back, puzzled. “I do not know this term.”

“Half-baked. Mad. Absurd.”

“Ah.” He leaned forward again and this time trailed his lips over the curve where her neck met her shoulder. “As absurd as the idea that you hate me.”

“Idohate you. I hate you with a passion.”

“In my book, anything done with passion is no bad thing.”

He grazed her jaw with his mouth and her pulse jumped erratically. His hands circled her hips, pulling her more firmly into his lap.

“I have missed this,” he said softly. “The taste of you. Your scent. Be honest, Kara. Have you not missed me too?”

The pulse in her throat started jumping erratically.

“No. I haven’t.”

He let out a low rumble of laughter.

“Liar.”

He threaded his fingers through her hair and brushed her lips sensuously with his own. Heat flared low in her stomach, mixing with the resentment that still curdled there.

It’s not fair, she thought bitterly.After everything he’s done, how can he still make me feel this way?

She wanted to kiss him. That was the truth of it. And when his tongue pressed gently against her still closed mouth, her resistance crumbled.

Angrily, she kissed him back. She didn’t know if it was desire or fury which drove her, but she pressed her mouth to his with an urgency that bordered on frenzy.

“Kara,” he groaned, her sudden hunger igniting his lust.

Deepening the kiss, he slid his hand under her shirt, cupping one luscious breast possessively. Her nipple was already hard and he pinched it between finger and thumb, the way he knew she liked.