Page 19 of Fifth (Intergalactic Warriors #5)
THE TRANSPORTER platform released its grip on Hannah’s body and the world reformed in a shimmer of light. She stumbled as solid ground caught her again, her bare feet pressing against a surface so smooth it reflected the glow of overhead panels.
The transporter bay was vast and alive with a hum that pulsated through her bones.
Before she could orient, Locus’s hand closed firmly around her arm and guided her forward.
The doors at the far end sealed behind them before she had any chance to study the transporter mechanism that had brought her aboard.
Sixth’s ship gleamed with alien precision, walls that shimmered faintly, floors so clean they seemed to reflect starlight, silence thick with restrained power.
And she stood barefoot, in a barely-there halter and scraps of a skirt that didn’t quite cover all it should, like some half-wild creature dragged into a palace.
Heat licked up her neck, shame mixing with defiance.
Locus’s palm pressed against her spine, steady and sure, as though he could trace every shiver.
A pair of armored soldiers intercepted them as they moved deeper into the ship. “Commander Sixth requires your presence in the conference room immediately,” one said, clipped and formal.
Locus shook his head at once, amethyst eyes hard. “First, she will be cleaned. Then clothed. Then fed.” The guard began to protest, but a single look from Locus silenced him mid-breath.
They were shown instead to elegant guest quarters, achamber appointed with a broad bed, gleaming panels, and quiet opulence. Only once the door sealed did Locus stride further inside, toward a bathing chamber. “You’ll feel more yourself once you’re clean,” he said, his tone almost gentle.
Hannah fought back a laugh. Or maybe it was a scream.
She let him lead her into a chamber so sleek it looked more like a dream than a bathroom.
Surfaces glowed softly, steam rising from invisible seams. It smelled faintly of something metallic, but under it was a crisp scent, like rain on glass.
Alien. Otherworldly. And here she stood, trembling, nearly naked in front of a man who made her body clench with desire.
Locus touched a panel and water materialized, cascading down in a perfect, silent sheet.
He stripped his clothing without hesitation, as though nudity meant nothing to him.
Hannah’s mouth went dry. His body was all strength and scars, ginormous broad shoulders tapering to narrow hips, every line of muscle defined with ruthless meticulousness.
Her gaze slipped lower despite herself. His cock hung heavy, thick, alien in every detail.
Raised mounds ridged the shaft in a pattern meant to heighten sensation, the blunt crown marked by a crosshatch of sensitive flesh that flushed darker with arousal.
At the base, apronounced knot swelled, an unmistakable sign of his breed’s power and intent.
The sheer scale of him made her shiver, proof that his desire could split her apart and still leave her begging formore.
He saw her gaze lingering where it shouldn’t, and a rough sound rumbled in his chest, equal parts warning and hunger. His eyes—violet, burning—locked on hers, his arousal unmistakable.
“Come,” he ordered.
In response, her feet moved before her mind caught up, carrying her straight into him, into the heat of his chest and the command of his hands.
He caught the band of her halter and tore it aside in one swift motion, the fabric dropping uselessly to the floor.
With the same sure hands he stripped away the thin skirt, leaving her bare before him.
She flinched, but his hand cupped her jaw and tilted her face up until her gaze locked withhis.
“You are not less,” he said. His eyes burned as he looked over every inch of her, claiming her even before his words did. “You are mine.”
The words ripped through her, leaving heat in their wake.
She wanted to argue, to spit back, but the look in his eyes stole her drive.
He led her beneath the water, and the heat of it swept over her body, shocking and soothing at once.
His palms followed, slow and possessive, sliding soap across her shoulders, down her arms, over her breasts until her nipples peaked against his hands.
Her breath stuttered. He lingered on them, squeezing lightly, and the sensation pulled a desperate sound from her throat.
His lips captured it, his tongue claiming her mouth until she was dizzy.
“Locus—” she gasped.
He silenced her with another kiss, wetter, harder, pressing her back against the slick wall.
His mouth slanted over hers, his tongue thrusting deep.
Water poured over them, slicking their skin, making every touch burn like fire.
Her chest arched into him, helpless against the force of his hold.
His body was power and heat, the hard line of his cock pressing against her stomach in a way that made her entire bodyache.
His hand slid down her stomach, parting her thighs.
She gasped into his mouth as his fingers stroked her relentlessly, circling and pressing until she bucked into his touch.
Her knees went weak, but he caught her, lifting her leg over his hip and grinding against her slick folds until her whole body throbbed.
Her head fell back, amoan escaping her throat before she could bite itback.
“Say it,” he growled against her ear, his teeth grazing her skin. “Say you want me.”
She couldn’t think. She could barely breathe.
Her body arched, pressing into his hand, silently confessing what she couldn’t say out loud.
His fingers slid inside her, stretching, filling, until she thought she might shatter.
She clung to him, nails raking his skin, pulse hammering like a drum.
He shifted his thumb over her clit and she nearly cried out, biting her lip so hard she tasted blood.
The pressure built fast and sharp, her body coiling tighter and tighter.
He turned her and bent her forward, pressing her hands to the slick wall, his body crowding hers. The hard length of him nudged against her entrance, so close she could experience every ridge. Her body clenched around nothing, frantic, aching. She whimpered, hips rolling back againsthim.
“Locus,” she begged, shocked at herself. “Please.”
His teeth scraped her shoulder. His breath was ragged, harsh against her skin. He notched the thick head of his cock at her entrance, hovering on the edge of claiming her, his body trembling with restraint. For a heartbeat she thought he would drive into her, and her whole body screamedyes.
But he hesitated, his voice a rasp against her ear. “More than life itself, Iwant you. Iwant to spend the rest of this day and all the next ones inside of you. But we cannot. Not here. Not now. Sixth waits.”
The denial sliced through her, leaving her shaking.
He withdrew his hand, as though forcing himself, then spun her to face him.
His mouth was on hers again, devouring, his tongue tangling with hers until she was dizzy.
When he finally pulled back, her lips were swollen, her body trembling with frustratedneed.
He touched her cheek with surprising gentleness. “Soon,” he promised. “I will not stop next time.”
Her lips curved despite the ache in her chest. “You better not, or I will find someone else.”
His answering growl vibrated against her skin. “There will never be anyone else.”
Her heart thundered, every nerve alight with unfinished desire. She wanted to curse him, to demand more, but his eyes told her the truth. He had stopped for her, for their survival. And the significance of that choice left her breathless.
He reached past her to the wall panel and gave a clipped command.
The ship’s computer responded instantly, aseam opening in the wall to reveal folded garments.
Soft fabric shimmered in pale light, already sized for her.
Locus plucked a tunic and leggings free and laid them within her reach, his eyes steady on hers as he gravely said, “I assume you want clothes?”
Hannah snorted softly, tugging the fabric toward her. “What gave it away? The part where I’m naked on an alien ship?”
His mouth didn’t move, but his eyes sparked, and for a moment she thought he might actually smile. He turned toward the door instead. “Dress quickly. Next, we will eat.”
When they entered the galley, she was still unsteady, nerves tight beneath the new fabric.
The room appeared stark but elegant, with a long table of black alloy and walls alive with subtle hums. At Locus’s clipped command, aseam opened along the far wall and a service shelf slid out bearing covered dishes.
The lids peeled back with a sigh of steam; warm scents spilled into the air, roasted meat, bright fruit, clear water beading the pitchers.
The tray glided on hidden rails and locked into the edge of the table with a soft click, everything presented with the same silent care as the bath chamber.
Locus ignored the variety. He sat, helped her into the chair beside him, and without hesitation took the first piece of meat into his hand. He pressed it to herlips.
She stiffened. “I can feed myself.”
“I will feed you,” he said, firm, brooking no argument. “You will take what I give you.”
Heat flared in her cheeks, amix of anger and something darker. She parted her lips, taking the bite, his fingers brushing her mouth. He didn’t look away, watching her chew, swallow, watching her throat work. The intimacy of it left her shaking more than the showerhad.