Page 31

And what about food? He scrambled, hurrying through a cleanse.

While he air-dried, he ordered the blankets and packed a basket, of all things, with roast chicken sandwiches, potato salad, strawberries, and a bottle of champagne.

None of which he knew he’d like the taste of, but that didn’t matter.

Although, the sandwiches did smell good.

Pulling on the leggings was a struggle. They were tighter than he was used to.

The shirt’s fasteners took a moment to figure out.

The shoes in the O.D.I. images appeared too constrictive, so he hadn’t ordered them.

He was thinking twice about the leggings, too, but at least he could wear his boots. He eyed the overcoat with dubiousness.

Never would he have thought he’d be in this position when Malo had tasked him to save the women. Would he sacrifice this inconvenience for having never met Wren? No. He grunted and slipped into the overcoat, liking how snug but not uncomfortable it was across his shoulders.

“Opacity: mirror,” he commanded the nearest bulkhead.

The male before him wasn’t himself and did resemble the O.D.I.’s example except for his braid draped down his chest. He flipped it behind him then hoisted the basket. The true test would be how Wren reacted.

She was waiting for him in the common, wearing a black V-necked robe that gathered at her waist and split, flashing her knee whenever she moved. His step faltered as he swept his gaze over her. Maker, she is beautiful.

She did the same, scanning him in a slow, sensual way that darkened her cheeks. The musky scent of her arousal tickled his nose. He beamed then smothered his grin. That she found him attractive bolstered his confidence in this ridiculous outfit.

“A picnic?” She arched a brow at the basket.

“I like this garment on you,” he said, a sudden awkwardness tying his tongue.

“I know,” she rasped.

His breath hitched, and he met her gaze, allowing himself to sink into her steel-gray eyes. ‘Is this wise?” he asked. “A date leads to…more.”

“I don’t care about the consequences. I’m tired of fighting this.

” She crossed to him on impossibly high footwear that enhanced the curve of her calves.

When she was close enough, she rested her hand on his chest, sliding it inside the overcoat.

The heat of her palm sent a quiver of warmth through him.

The shirt’s fabric was so thin, her touch burned his skin as if he was naked.

His stomach knotted. To hell with the meal. He wanted her…beneath him.

He swallowed hard. Her recklessness meant he needed to be stronger for them both. “Shall we?” He gestured to the shuttle bay’s door then tucked the blankets under his arm.

While she led the way, he stayed back, eager to admire the dress clinging to her backside.

“Come, ensa,” she said, tossing a smile over her shoulder.

He groaned and trailed her through the door, turning to ensure it locked behind them.

Between her work area and his perch, he flicked out the blankets, then placed the picnic basket in the center.

She sat and bent a knee to undo her footwear.

He crouched beside the other one to assist, unable to resist stroking her ankle to her toes.

Even there, her skin was silky smooth. Setting the footwear aside, he chose not to release her; the temptation to run his palm along her calves was too unbearable.

He pushed the hem of her garment up with a sweep of his thumb.

His goal was clear in his mind, and when he spotted the prize, he dipped to press a kiss to the underside of her knee.

She trembled beneath his touch, and the rich fragrance of her desire filled the air between them. He met her gaze, content to admire the flush on her cheeks, her parted lips, the desperate need in her eyes that mirrored his own.

“Why did you kiss me earlier?” he asked, caressing her where he’d just moments ago kissed her.

“I couldn’t bear it anymore.”

“Bear what?” He glanced at his fingers trailing circles across her skin.

“Your desire, the imagery, what you longed to do to me.”

He lifted his chin and smirked. “So my control failed?”

“Yes,” she said, throwing her head back when he nudged her legs apart with his knuckles.

Her garment pooled across the juncture of her thighs, exposing her black undergarment so transparent, she could have skipped wearing it. His breath hitched, and in a daze, he ran his hands up so that he could rub her sex through the sheer fabric.

“Oh,” she gasped, her eyes squeezed shut.

He paused to remove the coat, tossing it aside.

In that split second, he committed to pleasing her.

What the training vids on human mating had shown him was that a male didn’t need to pursue his own gratification.

In fact, he had to ignore his needs to ensure she remained well. His malehood twinged in protest.

He drew in a deep inhale, savoring her scent.

His mouth watered, his tongue recalling the taste of her.

This wasn’t what he’d had in mind when she’d asked for a date.

But now, with her leaning back on her elbows, her glorious legs bare, his hands at her sex, he wanted to be nowhere else.

He lay on his side next to her and stroked along her jaw to guide her mouth to his.

“Just kisses,” he whispered against her lips.

Meeting his gaze, she pouted. “Stupid DNA.”

He chuckled. “Indeed.” While he nipped her bottom lip, he trailed a pattern from her knee to her sex, drawing moans and pants from her.

“Just touches.” Through the fabric, he stroked his thumb up and down her seam, her cries urging him on.

She whimpered when he slipped between her undergarment and her skin.

A growl lodged in his throat at her need coating his finger. Her breathing became shorter, raspier the longer he tormented her. Her cheeks darkened, her lips parted, and she keened.

Maker . His chest swelled, and his malehood pulsed with such longing…

He pulled away, shuffled until he could spread her thighs with his shoulders, and settled with her backside in his palms.

“Cylo,” she said, pushing herself up. “You do that, then I get to do that.”

He stilled, his mind filling with images of her mouth on his malehood. “Do not threaten me, ensa.” He curled his fingers around the thin straps of her undergarment. With sharp tugs, it peeled away.

This moment… He studied the pale-gold dusting of hair over her sex. So beautiful. He brushed the tip of his nose across the softness, then, with a peek at her, he licked her.

His nostrils flared, and the urge to feast on her stiffened every muscle in his body.

Every muscle.