Page 25 of Alien Jeopardy

All those muscles.

That tail, whipping back and forth to balance him. The wings, arched over our heads to keep me dry.

No complaints from me, none at all.

He’s muttering to me, a steady stream of guttural nonsense words that I can make neither head nor tails of, and between the sound of the pelting rain on his wings, the motion of his run, and the fact that I feel warm, warm and… safe, my eyes get heavier with each second that slides by.

Safe.

I’m on an alien planet, filming an adventure reality show, mating heat coursing through my veins—and I feel safer with this giant winged male than any boyfriend I’ve ever tried to sleep next to in my life.

I don’t know if the heat has something to do with it, or if it’s real, but I snuggle closer and for once in my life, I decide I don’t care. I don’t care, and I’m going to take advantage of it, and rest while I can.

I have no idea how much I’m going to need it, either.

CHAPTER

TEN

Ka-Rexsh

Ellison snores lightly, like a small, furry mammal some of the richer Draegon keep as pets. Her pretty pink lips fall open in sleep, her face relaxed and so arrestingly beautiful that I nearly trip over a felled tree as I stare down at her in a heady mix of lust and pure wonder.

My mate.

Asleep, in my arms, as though there is nothing that can harm her while I hold her tight.

Her trust is precious to me.

Her body is soft and small, and the scent of the heat on her is driving me half wild, pushing me to touch her.

Joy rises in me anew, at the possibility of our pairing, of our future together.

It solidifies my resolve: I will win this contest for her, for us.

It is a way off my planet, out of my life of servitude to the mad king, and in my arms is the key to everything I want.

A female of my own, a future with her, a future where I can live for myself, for us both.

It’s all I have ever wanted, and the first piece is sleeping in my arms, her heat calling to every fiber of my being.

My feet move faster still, as if the quicker a pace I set, the sooner we get to the first challenge, the sooner I can claim my mate and my future.

I want to tell her all I have planned.

I want to hear her words, understand how to dance for her in the way of her people, so that she will come into my arms willingly again, so I can taste the delectable scent rising from her skin already.

I am not sure there is any pace fast enough to soothe the need inside me.

CHAPTER

ELEVEN

Ellison

Groggy, I sit up—or try to. Ka-Rexsh places a huge hand over my mouth as I struggle against him, trying to get my bearings.

I go still immediately, my eyes wide as my memories of the day rush back to me.