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“That’s not good.” She worried her lip.

“Come here, Peanut, your skin has those little bumps you get when you are cold.”

Ash tugged her down onto his lap and wrapped his warm arms around her. She instantly relaxed into his warm embrace.

“Thanks, Ash. Your name fits, cause you are hot.” She had to keep from snickering at her innuendo.

Ash leaned in and placed his lips next to her ear. “I have heard this word before from you human females,” he informed her.

Her eyes widened. Although the translator didn’t convey every subtle intonation in his voice, the sultry way he growled into her ear spoke volumes. She hadn’t expected Ash to understand what she’d been implying.

Ash exhaled, letting out a subtle growl. His breath skated across the crook of her neck, his warm lips ghosting over her skin. A shiver worked all the way down her spine, and her nipples tingled, beading up to tight points that scraped against her lacy bra. Ash’s large palm spanned her entire stomach and she felt positively small in his embrace. One long finger leisurely traced her ribs, coming perilously close the underside of her breast. His other hand cupped her bent knees. Images of Ash urging her legs apart and running his capable fingers down the inside of her thighs, mixed with the tantalizing memory of his intoxicating kiss. Her breath sped up as she silently willed Ash to do more, foolish as it was.

Ashtoret de Origa

The swell of Abby’s creamy breasts tempted him as he stared over her shoulder. He liked the way her pale skin contrasted with his own. She was also softer. So smooth. His gaze traveled lower to the scrap of fabric covering her lush hips. The sheer material barely hid the mound at the junction of her thighs. He fixated on the patch of ruddy hair covering her sex. The hair on a Cadi female wasn’t nearly as thick, so they let it go. But Abby obviously tamed the little curly tuft into a neat stripe. It took everything in his power to keep his shaft from standing at attention as he imagined where the strip led. Abby would surely notice that while he held her to keep away the chill.

Act like you have some honor.

But despite his best intentions, his fingers moved of their own accord over her soft skin. She smelled so good. He salivated as his mouth parted, instinct demanding he sink his teeth into her neck.

Ashtoret’s eyes widened and he paused. He tasted the conjugo serum filling his mouth, lacing his saliva with its spicy pheromone. There was no ignoring it, not this time. He knew he was attracted to Abby, but this meant more than that. If he acted on the things he was feeling, Abby would be his. As much as the notion appealed to him, she was vulnerable. Too much had happened to her. He wouldn’t thrust this onto her on top of everything else. Not here in the woods, while the human warriors pursued them. Abby deserved better.

“What do you have in here?” He grabbed Abby’s little shoulder bag to distract himself.

“Oh, um, a variety of things.”

He ignored how breathy her voice sounded, unzipped the toothy metal clasp and peered inside the bag. There were half a dozen confusing little trinkets inside.

“What’s this?” He pulled out a black shiny tube.

“A word of advice, never go digging around in a woman’s purse.”

“Is this another one of your pieces of sage wisdom about human females?”

“Yep. That’s lipstick. It’s for decorating my lips.”

Abby pulled off the cap and applied a smear of red to her lips. He liked her lips just fine as they were, but now they did have an enticing glossy appearance, bringing his thoughts back around to other undoubtedly glossy pink lips.

“And these?” He quickly pulled out two green metallic packages, while beating back wayward salacious thoughts.

“Oh, I forgot the granola bars I shoved in there.” She snagged one, tore it open and shoved the brown square toward his mouth.

“Mmmm.” He nodded in appreciation after taking a bite of the crunchy sweet wafer.

“Eat the rest,” Abby insisted as she opened the other package and nibbled on it.

“See, you provided food,” he encouraged, alluding to their earlier conversation.

“It’s not much. But beggars can’t be choosers.” She smiled.

“Indeed. If I wasn’t worried about attracting attention with a fire, I’d hunt something.”

“And if I knew anything about plants I could probably find us some wild munchies. Oh well, this will have to tide us over.” She offered the other half of her snack to him.

“No, you finish it, Peanut.”

“This is a peanut.” Abby pointed to an oval nut in the bar with a giggle.