Chapter Twenty

Ceno entered the musty cabin, and following her lead, immediately started opening the windows.

“It’s been at least four months since I aired this place out. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a mouse nest in the middle of the mattress.” She moved into the kitchen, grabbed a small bottle of water and primed the hand pump on the edge of the sink.

“You plan on staying here long?”

“No. I just like knowing there’s water if I need it.” Grabbing a flashlight from next to the stove, she moved away from the sink and into the narrow hall.

“The bathroom is this way. We have a toilet, but you’ll have to work if you want to use it.”

She opened a door and shined the light into the room. A toilet stood against the far wall, another hand pump with a bucket sat not far from it.

“You’ll need to pump water to flush the toilet. We have a septic tank that’s the size of two corn silos buried underground. There’s no electric for a pump, so Dad wanted to make sure there was no way the tank would overflow.” She turned and headed back out of the room.

“This is the bedroom. Grandma always left her quilt on the bed. I can’t imagine not leaving it there as well.” She shined the light onto the bed, covered with a patchwork quilt and sighed. “I killed someone tonight.”

“You killed a monster, an animal. That thing was no more a person than a snake or an alligator.” Ceno moved behind her, wrapped his arms around her middle, and drew her back against him. “Argarians are monsters. All of them. Don’t beat yourself up about it, baby.”

He nuzzled her temple and inhaled deeply, taking in her sweet scent. She leaned back, relaxing against him.

“Why do you smell so good?” She inhaled deeply. “It’s something between cloves and ginger. I love it.” She shook her head. “But I shouldn’t. You’re an alien.”

“Yes,” he agreed. “I’m an alien. My brothers and I crash-landed on the outskirts of Magic, New Mexico. We’ve lived there the past few years, learning how to blend in on this world.”

“I shouldn’t feel this way.” Sighing again, she shook her head. “I don’t believe in love at first sight.”

“I do.” Bending, he slipped his arm behind her knees and lifted her to his chest, holding her against him. He wanted her to feel cared for—as precious as she was to him. “I’ve believed in it since I walked into that convenience store yesterday afternoon.” He pressed a kiss to her temple. “It took me a while to realize it, but I finally did when we were tumbling down the side of the mountain. I realized I didn’t want to live without you.”

He sat on the bed, holding her in his lap.

“I’ve wanted you since the moment you punched JC in the mouth.”

“Right.” She laughed and shook her head. “That was the most unladylike thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

“It was awesome.” Ceno cupped her cheek in his hand, his thumb caressing her hammering pulse.

She might try to tell him she didn’t want him, but he knew better. Still, she must agree to a claiming. He couldn’t keep her otherwise. Ceno wanted nothing more than to keep her.

“Do you fear me?” He met her gaze, thanking the Goddess, his family had flown here instead of driven. Otherwise, the Argarians might have gotten their way and extinguished the lovely inner light in her beautiful hazel eyes.

“No.” She shook her head. “You don’t scare me. Though, I kind of wish you did.”

“Why?” He cocked his head to the side. Humans said such odd things from time to time. “What makes you say that?”

“It would be easier to say no.”

Her comment made his chest ache, and he stared down at her clasped hands. He slid his fingers over her light mocha skin. He loved the silky texture. He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anything or anyone, but he couldn’t have her without her consent. It was the way of his people.

“Why would you want to say no? We’re perfect for each other. It is almost as though we are two halves of the same whole, separated by time and space, brought together by destiny.”

Reaching up, he touched her face, lightly drawing his fingers over her cheek. Cupping her jaw, he lowered his head, his lips caressing hers as she wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Sliding her soft velvet lips against his.

Blood rushed in his ears, and his beast stretched languidly deep inside him. It sat patiently, awaiting their coupling, their mating.

His cock throbbed beneath her as she settled deeper in his embrace. Like butterflies, her soft hands skimmed over his shirt, first unbuttoning it, and then slowly pushing it from his shoulders.

Panting, he took her hands in his. Resting his forehead against hers, he cleared his throat. “We can’t do this unless you’re sure you want to spend the rest of your life with me.” He shook his head. “I can’t do this again and not claim you. I can’t control the beast in me any longer. You could have been killed tonight, and my beast knows he can’t protect you as well without the claiming.”

His heart pounded, and his hands trembled slightly—or was it hers? Either way, he knew he couldn’t take her again without claiming her. He had almost lost control the first time. He couldn’t risk it again.

“I’ve never been into alpha males.” She placed her finger over his mouth when he would have interrupted. “Let me finish.” Standing, she moved to the head of the bed, patting the spot beside her. “My friends usually go for the alpha-male type, and every one of them has been abused.” She shifted her gaze to the darkened window. “I always said I would never fall for a bossy, chauvinistic male who would abuse me.”

“I try not to be bossy.”

“I know. Now let me finish.” She gave him what he hoped was a mock scowl.

“I’m sorry. I’ll try not to interrupt you again.”

“Sure you will.”

He opened his mouth to object to her assumption and realized she’d goaded him into interrupting her again.

“There you go again.” She shook her head. “I swear. I can’t even tell you that I think I’ve fallen in love with you, without having you interrupt me. If this is the way our—”

Ceno kissed her. It wasn’t a gentle kiss. It was hard, demanding, passionate. She thrust her fingers through his hair, her nails digging into his scalp and arousing his other half.

Rough. His beast liked it rough, and she would soon see what she’d wrought by tempting the beast.

Pulling her into his arms, he rolled them over until she lay beneath him, her legs spread, his hips resting in the cradle of her thighs. His hands skimmed over her body, caressing as he carefully removed her clothing.

He worshipped every inch of exposed skin as she yanked his shirt over his head. Her mouth, teeth, and tongue were everywhere, drawing growls of pleasure and desire from deep in his throat. This was how it should be between them. Both giving, both receiving, both feeling the pleasure only the other could give.

Before he knew it, she’d released his cock from the confines of his jeans, her silky fingers sliding up and down the hard length. He arched into her caress with a groan, unable to stop his hips from jerking back and forth.

Just the slight touch of her smooth hands was almost enough to drive him over the edge. He clenched his teeth, trying to hold on. There was no way he would allow himself to lose control. Not now. Not like this.