Page 23 of Chieftain (The Outlander Book Club… in Space! #1)

My lips teased across his for a moment, and he trembled in reaction, shuddering with desire. Tentatively, and so softly it made me desperate with wanting, my tongue gave a tentative touch against the seam of his lips.

Khaion stiffened with a rush of breath, then his lips parted, and I felt the touch of his tongue against mine. A deep groan reverberated as he pulled me into his lap as we explored each other's mouths like adventurers mapping out an unknown universe.

Khaion is either the fastest learner in the universe or a big fat liar, and I don't care which.

I whimpered, and my voice was so breathless that I could barely hear it myself over our hearts beating.

It seemed to break something within Khaion's control because the next thing I knew, I found myself straddling his muscular thighs.

This left my chest pressed against his, a taut expanse of tan skin and hard muscle just waiting for my touch.

His eyes glittered like gold coins in the dusky light as he claimed my lips.

The kiss was deep but slow-moving, taking its time like a man savoring an expensive wine.

Our tongues tangled together, twisting around each other like they were sparring partners trying to gain an advantage.

Khaion's hands buried themselves in the hair at the back of my neck and clasped me even closer. I felt him pulse against me, a growing hardness where his body grinds against mine. It felt amazing; all that strength and power moving against me like that.

Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ!

My body is a pulsing mass of want. It used to take Rick half an hour of foreplay to get me to the point that Khaion's kisses do. Even then, it was never like this. Never this intense and heated and throbbing and...

Khaion lifted his head, desire blazing in his golden irises. Our gazes locked and want thrummed in the air, so powerful, it's practically corporeal--a living, breathing entity unto itself.

Filled with a sudden daring, I didn’t care how crazy it seemed.

I didn’t listen to the logical side of my brain screaming with reminders of the insanity of my current situation.

I didn’t care about anything but how his skin felt under my fingertips, how his hands felt stroking my hair and skin, how his mouth felt pressed to my lips and flesh, and how, in the cradle of my thighs, I felt the thick, throbbing evidence that he desired me.

My body has a mind of its own, and I gave in to what it wanted, slowly rocking my hips against his burgeoning thickness.

Khaion's eyes fluttered shut, and he groaned, a rumbling sound that seemed to come from deep in his soul and made my entire body quiver.

It's an inevitable slide into pleasure that leaves me breathless and wanting more.

My nails dug into his back as his teeth nipped at my bottom lip.

He kissed me harder, pulling me close until I felt lost in his scent and taste.

"Khaion." His name is little more than a breathy rasp escaping my lips.

His eyes flickered open, one hand coming to cup my cheek.

"Beautiful," the whisper is a kiss unto itself.

Suddenly I’m crushed against his chest, his mouth on mine while his hands grip my hips, rocking me against his hardness. My arms wind around his neck, and I pressed myself closer, desperate for relief from the throbbing desperation within.

"Chieftain."

Charick's voice was like a bucket of ice water. Despite knowing he was still on the Bardaga, it felt like he was here, watching my every move and giving me the stink eye he wields so well. I pulled away from Khaion, trying to move from his lap, but his arm around my waist halted any progress.

A hateful growl ripped from his lips as he glared at the comm unit on his wrist. Khaion's breath, like mine, was heavy and ragged.

"What?" he barked into the comm unit.

"Bartuk is attached to the airlock. He will be ready for you to board in three minutes."

"Good.” Khaion's eyes met mine, and I knew he was lying. I knew, like me, he wished Bartuk was still hours away.

Desire pulsated through my body, but the moment was past.

Dammit.

"Airlock? Won't we get sucked out into space?" I asked, trying to make the fact that I sat astride his thighs not so awkward.

Khaion chuckled, his fingers trying to re-tame my lust-mussed hair. "There's an airlock hidden behind the waterfall. Once Bartuk attaches his ship to it, we can board safely."

The air between us was charged and heated. It would be easy to fall into his arms and onto his lips again, but what if it was just the moment? What if he didn't really want me? Maybe I was reading the expression in his eyes all wrong. Maybe I was...

No!

Being able to read people is what made me such a good prosecutor. It's just my stupid, piece of shit ex-husband destroyed my confidence when it came to men in a romantic sense. Khaion wanted me, just like I wanted him. I was sure of it.

Now what exactly did I do about it?

"So... um... you... did you enjoy your kissing lesson?" I'd never been forward when it came to men, and the words felt odd as I spoke.

Khaion leaned forward and pressed his lips to mine, a gentle kiss, teasing and soft.

"Very much." His voice was thick, the sound flowing over my skin like warm honey. "Did you?"

My voice won't work, so I nod jerkily, cheeks flaming.

Khaion's hands made a slow trail from my shoulders over my arms to land on my thighs, thumbs rubbing in a circular caress. The touch isn't even that sexual, but my body clenches with need, and my face flames hotter. A purr rumbles in my throat, and I choke it back.

"Are you embarrassed by our kissing?" Khaion watched me carefully, golden eyes narrowing slightly.

"A little." I can't lie to him. I can't lie to myself.

His eyes crinkled at the edge as he took in my words, and I saw that it worried him.

"My ex... Rick, he just never..." I swallowed hard, trying to find the right way to tell him how special our moment was to me without sounding like a pathetic love-sick human.

"My ex-husband... he never kissed me like that. "

Khaion made a sound of derision. "Your husband was an imbecile." His mouth feathers over mine, warm and soft. "I am not."

A loud creak and a slam that felt like the whack of a massive hammer from the direction of the waterfall is the final death knell to our moment. Khaion sighed heavily, then kissed me again, short and quick, before slipping his hands to my waist and lifting me to my feet.

Gabbing the bag and slinging it over his shoulder, Khaion held out a hand to me, his very kissable lips turning up in a sly smile. "Come, let us go home."

I slid my hand into his, rattled by how much I liked the idea of my home not being on Earth anymore but with him.