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“I don’t need it. I don’t want your pity.”

“You’re hellbent on revenge and willing to do anything. That kind of tunnel vision often translates into an absolute refusal to view oneself as a villain. I’m not calling you a villain. I’m just saying that once a man crosses that line, there’s no going back.”

“I am no man,” Maklr growled, his horns elongating as he stood. He rose to his full height, bronze horns with lethal tips touching the ceiling in the holo suite, almost ruining the illusion. His fangs dropped and claws lengthened to deadly points. “You forget I am a trained warrior, capable of eliminating any threat to those that are mine. And make no mistake. You are mine.”

“Am I really yours? You want me?”

“You are mine, and I am yours.”

Nell started brushing imaginary sand off her legs. “Prove it.”

The tension in his shoulders hadn’t left, even now, after he claimed she was his. Nell saw the stress in his posture, in the way he held himself, as if a dam would break if he let go. Then he surprised her. “I’m going to do something impulsive. I probably shouldn’t, but you want me to show my emotions. So here I am, showing my emotions.” Maklr raised on his knees. He remained kneeling before her. “Look at me. Do you not see what you do to me? What the thought of being near you does to me? You’re everything I want.”

“What do you want?” Nell asked.

“I want your hands on my body, your lips on mine, but most of all, I want you to be comfortable.”

Nell mimicked Maklr’s stance. “Was it so hard to say?”

He nodded.

“Why?”

“I’m mad at myself for being aroused when I’m around you. Everything is difficult. You make me lose my concentration because I’m focused on you and your happiness. I’m angry I didn’t kiss you back the first time, but most of all, I’m furious that with my training and my profession, I could not stop you from being hurt.” His face turned solemn.

Nell brushed Maklr’s hair back between his horns; her fingers lingered on the lethal bronze spikes jutting from his head. “I know if you’d been there, you would have helped me becausethat’s who you are. Think of all the other people whose lives you’ve helped. Every single one of them is grateful to you.”

“I don’t care about them the way I care about you.”

She wrapped her palm around his horn, stroking gently.

“Nell, be careful.”

Nell leaned forward, still stroking his horn with one hand. Her other hand rubbed his chest. “You know, on most beaches, men take off their shirts. And women don’t tend to wear bathrobes.” She shrugged the robe off. “I was wearing too many clothes.”

The robe pooled around her. She wore a purple bikini the same shade as Maklr’s skin color. “Do you like it?”

Maklr leaned back on his heels and sucked in a breath. “There’s not much to it. It barely covers your breasts,” he stuttered. “I love seeing you in it. And women walk around wearing these in front of unmated males?”

“Some do. Other women don’t.” Nell winked. “I suppose you are correct. I’m here, wearing it in front of you, an unmated male.”

Maklr rubbed his hand over his eyes. “Nell, you are stunning,” he said.

“I’m glad you think so, but fair is fair.”

Maklr stripped his shirt off and tossed it to the side. “Satisfied? Am I wearing acceptable beach attire?”

Nell licked her lips in appreciation. “I more than like what I see.” She leaned forward, her palm resting over his heart, her lips dangerously close to his ear. “Do I make you feel things?” she asked. Her hand trailed lower over his sternum, caressing the planes of hard muscle of his stomach, her fingers dipping into his belly button, teasing before trailing lower over the bulge in his swim trunks. “I see. Well, I don’t see, not yet anyway, but I do make you feel things.”

Maklr groaned. His eyes rolled back. “Your touch. It sets my body on fire.”

“Do you want more?”

A strangled sound came from his throat. “Yes. No. Not if you’re uncomfortable. I will never take what you’re not willing to give.” Nell slid her hand under the waistband of Maklr’s swim trunks. He hissed as her cool palm pressed against his heated erection. “Nell.”

“Let me. I want to.”

“Whatever you’re comfortable with. I won’t stop you. I won’t touch you unless you tell me to.”