Page 41

“A square? Like, the food? No. Why, did something in the book give you that impression?”

“No.” He hitched up his pants. “Shall we go?”

“Yes.”

Now that I’d visited with Silar, Cherry, Darcy, and Fallon, I was anxious to continue on so that we could meet the other men and then check on Magnolia.

“So, unlike Cherry and Magnolia, I’m not much of a natural hugger,” Darcy said as she and Fallon followed Warden Tenn and me outside. “But I’m getting better.” She held her arms out at her sides.

“I’m game if you are,” I told her.

She grinned, and then enfolded me into her arms. I hugged her back, feeling an unexpected ache at the back of my eyes.

“Safe travels,” she whispered. As we pulled away from each other, she got out her comms tablet. “Give me your info,” she said, “and I’ll add you into our group chat.”

Once that was done, and I’d said goodbye to the beaming, blond-haired Fallon, there was nothing to do but get myself up into the saddle.

Which, as I stared at Warden Tenn’s beast, was very obviously going to be an impossible task. Even a human as tall as Darcy would probably be intimidated.

I really might break my butt this time.

“Can you reach the stirrup?”

Despite the morning’s heat, I shivered at the warden’s gruff voice directly behind me.

“I… I don’t think so.”

If I even attempted it, I was certain there would be a very good chance I’d rip the crotch of these new pants the warden had stayed up half the night making for me.

“Then I will lift you,” he said easily. “Try to relax and don’t do anything-”

“Unfortunate?”

“Right.”

A smartass retort was just building at the back of my throat when Warden Tenn’s hands on my body eliminated all possibility of speech.

This wasn’t like yesterday, when he’d quickly grabbed me so that I wouldn’t fall.

This felt… Slower. More intentional. His hands started at my hips, then moved in an agonizingly relentless slide up to my waist. His palms settled there, cupping my curves, his long, thick fingers splayed against the bottom of my ribcage.

My heart spasmed.

I held my breath.

The warden didn’t. I heard him let out a ragged-sounding exhale. He moved a little closer, his front brushing my back. Tingles erupted, bursting from scalp to spine.

Sensation pooled between my legs.

I wanted him to move his hands higher.

Or lower…

No!

Ididn’t want that. At least not the cerebral part of me. Certainly not. I was a consummate professional!

I just apparently happened to have a body that was rapidly becoming stupidly horny for this arrogant alien warden.