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Chapter Eighteen

B ritt could swear there were tears in Nerx’s eyes. But he didn’t give her a chance to find out why. Instead, he was undressing her faster than she dressed on chilly winter mornings.

She laughed, trying to swat his hands away. “What are you doing?”

“You have to ask?” he growled. Around him were the scattered clothes she’d been in a moment ago. Even her boots and socks were discarded.

“Maybe we should go planetside more often,” she whispered when he tapped his chest armor to release it and whip it off. Molten bronze pecs and abs to his Adonis belt glistened in the unnatural lighting. He is just so damn…lickable .

“We do not have much time.” He touched the waistband of his pants. It parted, revealing the tip of a very erect cock.

“Oh? We don’t?” She arched a brow even as she hooked a finger between the thick fabric of his pants and his stomach. He gave off so much heat, and the velvet texture of his skin invited her to stroke him all over.

Standing there naked made her feel…well, more naked.

Exposed. Vulnerable. Almost shy. While she drew on the floor with her toe, she tried to hide how tingles goosebumped her skin.

How her heart pounded in her ears. The way her breathing labored as if she’d run a marathon when she didn’t even run to the bathroom.

She blinked and found herself pinned to the wall. He tossed her left leg over one shoulder and thrust his face into her crotch. “Whoa. Going for the sweet spot already?”

He didn’t say anything, just ran his tongue along her sex.

She gasped at the bolt of fiery need shooting outward.

To hell with words. His tongue had better things to do.

With each lick, swirl, lap, tension built in her core.

It twanged, making demands she couldn’t focus on.

His touch, his fingers digging into her hips…

Then he had her right leg draping his other shoulder.

Pinned to the wall, she didn’t fear falling.

And if she did, she didn’t care. Not when he devoured her, drawing sweet pleasure with his mouth.

“Nerxie,” she panted. “So close.”

He growled. The vibration hit her sensitive clit, and she shattered, crying out as she spasmed and contorted.

Not that he stopped licking, and it didn’t calm her when he thrust a finger into her as she came.

Quite the opposite. Her nipples tightened to snapping point when another orgasm hit.

She reeled, savoring the multiple explosions of joy, light, colors…

He guided her legs around his hips, then thrust into her.

Too much. Too intense.

She whimpered.

Each plunge, every withdrawal, she experienced to the minutest degree, until orgasms blurred together. She trembled in his arms, her tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth, tears of bliss slipped free, and yet, if he stopped, she’d kill him.

She arched into him, rubbing her breasts across his chest for another frisson of delight to pool lower. Digging her nails into his shoulders, she clung to him, letting him have his way with her when there was nothing she’d rather he be doing.

He stilled, groaned, grunted, leaned back to rest his temple to hers, then sucked in a shuddering breath. “Britta,” he rasped. “My sweet, fiery Britta.”

He didn’t pull out as she expected him to. Instead, he looped an arm around her waist and crushed her to him. For a few minutes, he did nothing but hold her.

She pressed her chin to his shoulder and hugged him back while her breathing evened out. Her heart swelled, somehow hitting her tear ducts. She cleared her throat and tried to break away. No way was she going to cry without reason.

“Come,” he said, pulling out.

She shivered and slid her legs down until her toes touched the cold floor.

He didn’t tuck himself in but left his pants gaping. The sheer look of him flushed her cheeks. With his back to her, she hurried to snatch up her bra. She clipped it on then froze when he shoved a pile of clothing at her.

“What’s this?” She took it from him and widened her eyes when the texture registered. “You were serious? My own armor?” She squealed, dropping the stack to yank on the pants while her mind whispered, ‘ Don’t forget about the chain.’ She’d thought he’d been joking.

He watched…no, ogled her as she slipped into every piece, then she stood there, her arms extended. Without her asking, he snapped each item until he gestured at her boots. She sat to peel on her socks while he cleaned himself and dressed. Not an inch of him looked untidy.

She stamped on her boots, then faced him. “Do I get a blaster?”

“ Thamani .” Chuckling, he whisked her into his arms to cup her cheek, burying his fingers in her hair. His smile faded when he dipped to brush his mouth across hers.

He didn’t answer her, just clasped her hand and led her from the room.

She’d probably burned that bridge when she’d charged in and shot two people.

No way would he trust her with another weapon.

She huffed, even as he weaved through the crowded common to the bay.

His males were boarding the shuttle along with three Viqrians and Haiz.

They stood or sank into fold-down chairs, with Etterians opting to stand in the center.

“Supreme Commander, the battleships Usaha and Kushin have arrived,” Matir said through Nerx’s O.D.I.

“Patch me through,” Nerx said as he strapped Britt into the chair closest to the pilot seat but farthest from the door. Then from a pocket, he withdrew a thin chain, no thicker than her pinky.

She gasped, wiggling to watch him clip it to her belt and to the chair’s frame. “But—”

“Nerx, what do you need?”

Britt glared at Nerx, shaking the chain at him.

“Prince Citus?” He stroked her ear. “Matir, share the co-ordinates. We are en route to deliver the Viqrians, my prince.”

Prince , she mouthed. Etteria had royalty? Oh, wait, Aldur had mentioned a king and queen. Although, she hadn’t believed him at the time. Sure, ‘ I’m on a quest for my queen .’ When would that not sound bizarre?

“We will meet you there.” The call ended.

“Ziot, take us out,” Nerx commanded.

The shuttle’s door shut with a defining thud.

Giving up on convincing him to unchain her, she leaned forward to watch via the front window how Ziot spun them then shot through the bay doors. Nerx inched closer, until her temple touched his stomach. She gripped his waist, giving him a squeeze.

Her breath lodged in her throat at the endless expanse of black space and stars.

In a ship with just the treehouse and the communications room giving her glimpses of the outside, she hadn’t grasped the full extent of where she was.

A massive purple planet with multi-colored swirls loomed, but Ziot veered to the side, aiming for a tiny dot.

“We’re landing on that?” she whispered, raising her gaze to Nerx’s.

He brushed curls off her cheek and ran a caressing finger along her jaw, all while staring into her eyes. A sweet smile teased his lips.

Something in his expression resonated in her soul.

She couldn’t put her finger on it, nor truly understand what it meant, but she couldn’t breathe, like air had been sucked out of her lungs.

He said nothing, just stood there, their gazes locked.

Thamani? He’d called her that instead of ‘brat’ or ‘little cat.’

“Two minutes,” Ziot said.

Nerx whipped his head up, narrowed his eyes on the window, then scowled. “Are we first to arrive?”

“Yes, Supreme Commander.”

“Come, Britta.” Nerx unbuckled her then gripped her shoulders, twisting her to face the front. The chain pooled on the floor behind her feet. “Look.” He settled behind her, then wrapped an arm around her waist, while gripping a strap hanging from the ceiling.

Details formed on that dot: rolling hills, forests, waterfalls, gigantic lakes, and snowcapped mountains. She couldn’t help the idea that this was Earth millions of years ago.

“It’s beautiful,” she said, cupping Nerx’s hand at her stomach.

The colorful fauna and flora filled the view when Ziot landed. The tranquility made her bounce on her toes in excitement. Nerx tightened his arm, crushing her against him.

He mumbled in her ear, “Quit moving, ensa .”

She twisted to smile at him. “Make me.”

“We will discuss this later,” he said, as the shuttle’s door opened, flooding the compartment with fresh, organic-smelling air. “Remember your vow. Wait here.” He drew his blaster and strode out, leaving her alone with Ziot.

With the chain granting her some leeway, she inched closer to the weak sunlight streaming in.

Her mouth dropped open. It was the sounds she relished.

Screeches came from overhead and lizard-like birds flew above.

Rustles and tweets came from the bushes on the outskirts of the clearing.

She had to assume those were insects or crawling animals.

The wind filled her ears while the sun warmed her outstretched hand.

Four men formed a circle around the shuttle’s entrance then took up spots on the outskirts, gazing outward.

Nerx escorted Haiz and her team about seven meters away but close enough to run back if they needed to.

They gathered between him and the shuttle, their stances that of exhaustion.

They’d been healed, fed, had rested, as far as Britta knew.

She winced at her selfishness. For the first time, she realized whatever they’d seen on board their sister battleship might have been traumatic for them.

Nerx took this seriously, as expected of a commander.

Pride expanded her chest. She gazed at him, no longer interested in this moon and its landscape.

That’s my man. Three shuttles landing blew dust around her, so she shifted away from the door until the wind died.

Out marched about a dozen Etterians per shuttle, bolstering the men guarding the parameter.