Movement disturbed Rendash’s slumber. Beside him, Zoey delicately shifted his arms off her, removing herself from his hold. He listened as the bedding whispered over her bare skin but didn’t lift his head and open his eyes until she was padding across the floor.

He watched the sway of her backside appreciatively as she walked to the corner bathroom, allowing his gaze to roam from the top of her dark hair all the way down to her feet, admiring every curve along the way.

Over the last two days, he’d thoroughly studied her body, had learned how to provide her with as much pleasure as possible. She’d done the same for him. His cock hardened with the memory of her explorations; her tongue had slid down his abdomen, trailing lower and lower until it finally flowed over the ridges of his shaft. The sight of her pink lips wrapped around him as she sucked had combined with the feel of her wicked tongue to create the most exquisite torture of his life.

She switched on the corner light and manipulated the controls outside the shower stall. The water came on, falling like a gentle waterfall from overhead. She delayed, likely allowing the water time to heat. Her body’s angle offered him a profile view of her breast and its pink nipple.

Ren licked his lips. Rather than satisfy his hunger, their initial joining had only confirmed that his desire for Zoey was insatiable.

She pulled open the stall door and slipped into the shower. The condensation clinging to the glass obscured his view of her, leaving only a shadowy figure; somehow, that only increased his excitement.

The faint, grayish light of early dawn filled the room, not bright enough to dispel the shadows but enough to see by. Ren slid out of bed, stretched his limbs, and approached the large windows running across the wall. The snowfall had finally ceased the night before. Everything outside was blanketed in unbroken white, but there was no more falling from the sky.

He couldn’t know if the break would last, couldn’t know if they’d be able to leave or not, but it was the first time the weather had relented since they’d entered what Zoey called the Rocky Mountains — which seemed to him a redundant name, as most mountains were, by default, made of rock. Such specifications only needed to be made when an object deviated from the normal composition.

He shook off the tangential thought, recognizing it as a subconscious attempt to stray from the truth of the situation — they’d have to resume their journey to his ship.

That was a bittersweet realization. Getting back on the road just meant they’d be a little closer to his ship, to him escaping from a planet that caused him so much loss and pain. It also meant they’d be a little closer to her potentially choosing to stay on Earth. She was the only good part of his time here and had become the best part of his entire life.

Was it wrong for him to want more time without having to face that looming uncertainty? This had been a long delay, but it had been worth the time.

Rendash swung his gaze toward the shower. While it lasted, he intended to use this time to the fullest. He strode to the shower, tugged the door open, and ducked inside.

The hot water and steamy air was comforting, far closer to the climate of his youth than anything he’d encountered on Earth thus far. He hoped to return to that climate, to those humid jungles, with the female standing before him.

He watched water stream over her skin, followed its path down her back, over the curve of her ass, and along her thighs. She stood beneath the falling water, hands over her face, and gave no indication that she knew he’d joined her.

For several moments, he contented himself with admiring her. That she didn’t know her own beauty seemed a crime to him. That she hadn’t been told of it by her prior mates every day only attested to the dishonor and blindness of the men she’d known.

Ren stepped up behind her. He settled his lower hands on her hips and moved his upper hands around her to cup her breasts.

She started, bumping into him with a sharp intake of breath.

“I didn’t know you were in here,” she said, tipping her head back onto his shoulder to look up at him.

“I’m not disturbing you, am I?” he asked, taking each of her nipples between a finger and thumb.

“No.” Zoey closed her eyes and leaned against him, pressing her breasts into his hands. “Not at all,” she continued breathlessly.

Slowly, he slid one of his lower hands around the front of her hip, fingertips brushing over the patch of hair at her pelvis. “You’ve woken early today.”

“I couldn’t fall back to sleep.”

Ren dipped his head, touching his lips to her ear as he lowered his voice. “A failure on my part. If you are restless, I must remedy the situation and assure your relaxation.”

She released a low moan as he slid his fingers into her welcoming heat and stroked her clit. She lifted an arm, slipping it around his head to clutch at his crest, and undulated her hips against his hand.

“Does this feel good, kun’ia?” he asked.

“Yes,” she rasped. “Don’t stop.”

Zoey didn’t need to beg; he’d come to crave her reactions so much that he wouldn’t stop until she was done — if he stopped at all. He drew her backside against him, pressing his throbbing cock along her spine, and continued to caress her. The gyration of her hips created sweet pressure along his shaft. Soon, his own breath was ragged.

She moaned and arched against him. Her thighs quivered against his hand, a telling sign that she was close.

“Ren, I need you. I want to feel you in me. Now. Please.”

He hummed deep in his chest; he ached with need of his own and would gladly give her what she wanted…but anticipation often heightened the sensations when release was finally granted.

“Soon,” he said, increasing the pressure of his fingers. “You are not ready, little human, and I want to hear your pleasure, first.”

Her moans filled the shower, and her body moved desperately against his hand. When she came, her mouth opened in a silent cry, and only her strengthening tremors forced a scream of pleasure from her throat. She clutched at him as her sex coated his hand with her nectar, which immediately mingled with the running water. Her knees buckled, but he supported her on his thigh and continued to stroke until her cries subsided.

Zoey took in a deep breath, limbs faintly trembling.

Turning her around, Ren picked her up off her feet, pressed her against the wall with legs spread, and thrust into her, his cock sinking deep into her welcoming heat. She gasped, meeting his gaze with half-lidded eyes. He braced his upper forearms against the wall and clenched her backside with his lower hands. Her thighs squeezed his waist.

“Fuck me,” Zoey begged. “Fuck me hard. I want everything you have to give.” She nipped at his lips. “Don’t hold back with me. I won’t break, Ren.”

Her words burst inside him like a bomb, blasting apart the final barrier between control and instinct. He pounded into her again and again, reveled in her heat, her tightness, in the building pleasure and pressure within him. It was an indulgence of the primal, a part of Ren that could never be eliminated no matter how advanced his people became, a part that would always reside within the hearts of all aligarii.

He hissed and growled in response to the sensations; his sounds mingled with her cries, which punctuated each of his savage upward thrusts. Her nails clawed at him, too blunt to break his scales but strongly enough to inflict pricks of pain that heightened his need for her.

Zoey’s body stiffened, and she screamed, pouring heat over him as she came.

“You are mine,” he snarled against her neck, bucking his hips one last time before he forced her down firmly upon his cock. Her sex tightened around him, her inner walls contracting to draw him deeper. Her juices flowed around his shaft and trickled down his thighs.

In that moment, Ren roared his own climax. The built-up pressure exploded, rocking him, and triggered a now-familiar surge in his nyros that sent fire through his entire body. His cock opened, and his stem thrust forward to latch onto her and pump his seed into her womb. The sensitive, unscaled skin of his stem brushed her inner walls, pushing his pleasure to new heights.

He rested his forehead against hers, teeth bared in a growl as he ground his hips against her. Each of her movements, no matter how small, produced a new wave of ecstasy.

Zoey’s arms loosened around his neck. She ran her palms down his back and up to his shoulders soothingly, humming in contentment.

“I think I am properly relaxed,” she said, smiling.

“Are you?” He kissed her cheek, her jaw, and finally her lips.

“Mhmm.” Zoey raised her head and looked at him. Her eyes were bright, pupils large. She cupped his jaw and brushed her thumb over his bottom lip. “I love it when you let go.”

With the tips of his fingers, he swept strands of wet hair out of her face, tucking them behind her rounded ear. “Only for you, kun’ia. Anything for you.”

Zoey brought her mouth to his in a tender kiss. “Kun’ia.” When she drew back, her playfulness had faded, leaving something softer, deeper, more powerful in her eyes, something he couldn’t place.

His chest swelled with emotion — adoration, desire, contentment, possessiveness, need. He couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her behind anymore, couldn’t allow himself to even entertain the possibility.

Zoey was his, and he would never let her go.

Zoey lounged on the sectional in the living room, flipping through the channels on the TV, too preoccupied with her thoughts to pay much attention to what was on.

The last few days had been the best of her life. For the first time since her father’s passing, she felt connected to someone, more connected than she’d ever believed possible. Ren made her happy, deliriously happy. And the sex? She thought that kind of sex only happened in romance novels. It was absolutely mind blowing.

She squeezed her thighs together. It was as though she could still feel him inside her, the lingering sensation serving as a reminder that he was the master of her body. She was deliciously sore in all the right places.

But their time here was nearing its end. The owners would arrive in a few days’ time to find their food eaten and their house lived in — especially the beds. Rendash was outside now, scouting the area, checking if the roads were clear. The snow had stopped, and they’d be on the road again soon. Heading toward his ship, toward his final destination.

Toward the moment when he’d leave her.

It was far too late to pretend she didn’t care about him. Her pathetic attempts at distance had failed, and she was glad for it; those attempts had only made them miserable. Other people would call her insane or depraved, but her heart had decided, and it was all-in when it came to Rendash. It leapt at the sight of him, warmed when he smiled, and thumped excitedly at his smallest touch.

And it was breaking at the mere thought of having to say goodbye.

Something on TV caught her eye, but her finger automatically pressed the channel up button several times before her brain relayed the command to stop. Frowning, she flipped back. She stared at the screen in disbelief, hand dropping to her lap.

Zoey’s picture was being displayed one the news for the world to see. Her first thought — undoubtedly enabled by her shock — was that it wasn’t even a flattering picture. Then her rational mind kicked in, and she turned up the volume.

“—vehicle was discovered abandoned on I-70 in Utah between Salina and Green River on Tuesday. According to a friend, Weston was traveling from Santa Barbara, California to Des Moines, Iowa, but has reportedly been out of contact since early Monday morning. Her boyfriend, Joshua Martins, is the last known person to speak with her.

“Martins stated that there was another man in the background during his conversation with Weston, which was ended abruptly. Since that conversation, her phone has been unreachable. Utah State Troopers have requested assistance from the FBI, as they suspect potential foul play in her disappearance and the trail may span several states. Bank activity shows Miss Weston’s debit card last being used in Green River, Utah, on Tuesday morning.

“If you have any information on the whereabouts of Zoey Weston, please contact the Utah Highway Patrol…”

“Oh shit,” Zoey said.

She didn’t know what to do. Should she call them and say she was fine? How would that conversation go?

Yeah, yeah, no problems here. I just took a dead man’s truck — yes, I’m probably an accomplice to his murder — and broke into a luxury cabin to relax while a blizzard passed. Oh, I’m also hiding an alien from the government, if you really wanted to know.

What kind of life would she have after Ren was gone? At best, she’d have a lot of clever explaining to do and a hefty impound fee for her car, and even if she could pay that fee she couldn’t afford repairs on the damned thing.

The only way to be safe was to remain hidden, but how was she supposed to do that? She was a waitress, not a criminal mastermind, and she’d left a trail behind her the entire way. Hell, her DNA was all over this place.

Especially the bed. Definitely the bed.

I really should wash the bed linen before we leave…

Zoey paced the living room, anxious for Ren’s return. When she heard the front door open, she rushed into the foyer and threw her arms around him. A blast of cold from the open door seeped in and made her shiver.

He put three of his arms around her and reached back with the fourth to shut the door. “I haven’t been gone for that long,” he said, and she could hear the smile in his voice.

“I missed you, anyway,” she replied, hugging him tighter, “and I just found out that I’m all over the news. They’re looking for me now, too.”

“Who is looking for you? The same ones looking for me?”

Zoey drew back and looked up at him. “No, not the government. The police. I’m officially a missing person. But you can be sure the government will know if the police find me with you.”

Ren shifted that fourth arm to press his palm to her cheek. “Good thing I found you first, kun’ia.”

Her heart did a happy little flip at his words, warming her from within. She grinned, pretty sure it was the biggest, goofiest grin of her life, but she didn’t give a damn. She gripped the collar of his coat and tugged him down. He offered no resistance.

“Me too,” she said before pressing her lips to his.

He returned the kiss with familiarity and ease, relishing in the contact and prolonging it while giving her, subtly, everything of himself. Her lips iced over with the absence of his when he finally pulled away.

“The main road is clear, and the clouds are moving away,” he said.

“I guess that means it’s time to move on,” she said regretfully, brushing a finger over the pointed tip of his ear then down the scales of his neck. “I wish we could stay here forever.”

He combed his fingers through her hair, gently sweeping it back. “The time to move on was always going to come, Zoey. But we aren’t parting yet. And I don’t know if I could stay here forever. The cold would eventually drive me mad.”

“Wishful thinking on my part. And you know I’d keep you warm.” The corner of her mouth tilted up.

Ren’s smile broadened into a grin, displaying his fangs. “You always do.” She didn’t miss his reluctance as he broke their embrace. “We should prepare. We have a long journey ahead of us, despite how far we’ve come, and we’ll have to proceed with greater caution now that we are both hunted.”

Zoey nodded. “I’ll get my suitcase packed up and brought downstairs.” She turned to walk away, but halted abruptly, looking back at Ren. “Um, actually, I think we’ll need to delay leaving just for a bit. I’m going to wash the bedding. It’s the least we can do.”

“Is it important?”

“I guess it’s not really important, but… It’s the…honorable thing to do.”

He regarded her in silence before finally nodding. “Very well. See to it, and I will find a means to extract our vehicle from the snow.”

“I saw some snow shovels in the garage. When you’re done with that,” Zoey brushed a finger over her bottom lip, “maybe you could join me in the kitchen? If you’re hungry, that is. I might have something on the menu you’ll enjoy.”

Zoey couldn’t believe she was saying these things. She never dreamed she’d tease a man like this, much less possess any degree of confidence in herself. She’d never been outspoken when it came to sex, and the deed had always been done with the lights off. But with Ren, she wanted to explore all the possibilities. He made her feel sexy.

No, it was more than that. She was sexy. She wouldn’t shy away from the pleasures of the flesh when it came to Ren…and that included asking him to eat her out on a stranger’s island counter.

His brows rose, and his pupils narrowed to slits. “I’m very hungry, little human. I’ll have to hurry, won’t I?”

“You better, or I might start without you.”

Ren smirked and locked his eyes with hers. “That might be more interesting to walk in on. Perhaps I’ll have a taste now—” He stepped forward, took her hand, and brought it to his mouth to slip her index finger between his lips. His tongue swirled around her finger as he slowly pulled it back out. “—and more after my work.”

Zoey’s breath quickened, and her pussy tightened in sudden need.

Oh God, that’s some sexy shit.

“What do you have in mind?” she asked, staring at his mouth.

His gaze slid down her body, gleaming with hunger. Without a word, Ren darted forward, startling a gasp from her. He lifted her and had her leggings off before her feet completely left the floor. He swept her legs over his shoulders and pressed her back against the wall, and then his hands spread her thighs wide and his mouth was there. Zoey’s lips parted in a silent cry as her fingers tangled in his crest locks.

Her last conscious thought — before she was carried away on a tidal wave of pleasure — was that maybe he wasn’t quite as eager to leave as he’d made it seem.