The drive to the stream was short and quiet. James shifted in his seat as he put the truck in gear. The silence was deafening and had grown awkward.

He should’ve never suggested coming to the stream. Even if there were more than enough trees for privacy, he’d be left wondering what she looked like beneath her black jumpsuit. The idea of her being naked in the same water as him was enough to make his cock harden. He’d gotten himself into a real mess.

“Is this it?” Nova asked leaning forward in her seat. She blinked, her gaze fixating on something in the distance.

“Yeah. Come on.” He grabbed the towels and bag of toiletries he’d thrown together before climbing out.

“Is the water hot?” Nova asked, exiting too.

“It should be in the upper seventies this time of year.”

She made a face and it occurred to him that her species probably didn’t measure temperature the same way his did. Hell, the rest of the world measured it differently too.

James cleared his throat and shifted the items in his hand so he could hand her a towel and soap. “Here.” He gave her the items. Her fingers brushed against his and instead of letting go, he held on. “Do you need anything else?”

Nova shook her head. “I don’t think so. I’ll be done in a few.”

“Sure. I’ll be just over there.” He pointed to a bend in the stream that had plenty of trees, keeping them both from being able to see anything.

“Okay,” Nova said, finally taking the towel and toiletries. Heat radiated through him from where her touch had been. She was so warm and inviting.

He ducked his head down and forced himself to take a step back. He collected his things against his chest and turned, making his way to the other end of the stream. Part of him wanted to look back, but he knew it’d be wrong to snoop, especially while she was undressing. He forced his eyes to focus on the trees ahead until he stopped at the shore.

James set his towel on a rock and kicked off his shoes. His socks and shirt came off next. He put his fingers on the button of his jeans, but halted his movements when a screech pierced the air.

His heart pounded against his ribs. Nova.

He raced toward her screams. When he found her she was floating in the air in her phoenix form. Fire rolled along her tail and wings like a continuous fountain, but it didn’t drip to the ground. Beneath her sat a snake. He chuckled glad it was just a rat snake and not one of the poisonous varieties.

James went to the snake and picked it up before moving it safely away from her. “There. It’s safe now.”

The bird cocked its head at him for a moment before dropping to the ground. The fire simmered out as Nova’s feet and legs transformed. Her black jumpsuit was gone, where he had no idea. She stood before him wearing only a silky bra and panties.

His breath caught in his throat and his cock hardened to the point of pain. She truly was magnificent.

“What was that?” she asked. Her hand went to her chest where it pressed against her milky breast.

“A snake. That one was harmless. There are some that are deadly. I’m guessing you don’t have anything like that where you come from?”

Nova shook her head, her eyes darting to where he’d set the small creature in the bushes. “Not exactly. Are there more of them around?” Her gaze flicked over the ground as if she were waiting for one to jump out at her any second.

“Probably not. I think it’s safe if you want to get in now.”

She nodded while her fingers curled around the strap of her bra. A tremble rolled through her causing her to shudder.

“You okay?” James asked.

“Yes, yes, of course.” She bobbed her head up and down adamantly. “We have a similar creature that lives in the water. It is much larger though and will swallow you up before you know what has happened.”

“Oh.” He didn’t know what else to say to that, other than he hoped if he ever went to her planet he never saw it.

“They are very rare, mostly in the uninhabited parts.”

“Your world sounds…lovely.”

“I must be making it sound awful.” A smile slipped over her features. “It’s not that bad, I promise. It is very different from yours I will admit but the warmth is inviting and the suns and moons light up the sky beautifully.”

“Suns and moons?”

“You only have one, we have three of each. It’s why our planet is so hot.”

He didn’t mind the heat; the cold was another story. “It sounds interesting.”

“I will show you it when we get there.” She looked at the ground and licked her lips. Her toes trailed in the dirt, dragging a line back and forth in front of her.

“What about your duties?” he asked curious. Wouldn’t she have to ship out again? Did he want to live on some strange alien world without her there?

“We will be docked for a week at least. Every time we return to Delphi we restock and effect repairs on the ship. Some of our voyages are short, others not so much. I will have a few days to show you around before I must return to my post.”

“I think I’d like that, but I’m still holding onto hope that our world will be spared.”

Nova took a step forward and put her hand over his. He glanced down at it. Heat ebbed into him from her soft touch. “There is always room for hope, James.”

“I think so too. I’ve seen people come out of things when they shouldn’t have. I’m not ready to give up on my world yet.” He traced his thumb over the back of her hand.

Her gaze met his and she inched another step closer. Her other hand went to his shoulder, once again touching the bare flesh. She was impossibly warm and with both of her hands now on him he had the perfect view of the swells of her breasts. He forced his eyes to stay on hers.

Nova’s tongue darted out to wet her lips as she leaned in closer. She stopped a hair’s breadth away from his lips, her gaze once again connecting with his. Was she waiting for him to make a move – to close the distance? His cock strained harder against the confines of his jeans.

Unable to wait another moment, he lunged forward, capturing her lips with his own. She moaned at the contact and her hands slipped around him until her front was flush against his. Her breasts pressed against his chest and he hoped, prayed that they were physically compatible.

As if she was reading his mind, her hand wrapped around his and guided it toward the hem of her panties. Inhaling sharply, he slipped it beneath the surface. It only took him a second to slip one finger into her already sopping core. She felt tight and wonderful. They would definitely be compatible, thank goodness because he was already about to burst.

He backed her toward the water, hoping the coolness of it would help to calm him down. There was no way he was coming without her climaxing first. He set a slow steady rhythm of pumping in and out of her body while gently pushing her to the water’s edge. The current slapped against their bare feet, sending an icy blast through him and causing Nova to grow impossibly closer and warmer.

Nova took a step back into the water. Her arms went to her bra, gently tugging the straps off her shoulders before unsnapping it in the front. Next, her fingers went to her panties, rolling them down and then tossing them into the pile of clothes by the shore.

James unbuttoned his jeans and shoved them and his boxers down, quickly kicking them off before following her into the water.

“You look very much like a phoenix male.” Nova eyed his hardened member. She skimmed her fingers over the top of the water and inhaled a deep breath. “I have never laid with a man that was not a phoenix before.”

“I’ve never been with a woman who wasn’t human before,” he said with a smile.

She laughed out loud. “I want to feel you.” She reached out with trembling fingers and wrapped her hand around his length.

James groaned at the contact. Slowly she pumped her hand up and down before running the top of her thumb over his tip. The rhythm was slow, methodical and it was driving him crazy. If she kept this up things would be over long before he was ready for them to be.

He reached down and placed his hand on her wrist to stop her. She blinked up at him with her mesmerizing sapphire eyes. He put both hands on her hips and drew her closer. Then he lifted her up. She kicked up with him and locked her legs at the small of his back. Her center pressed against him, teasing him and making him groan.

Walking them deeper into the water, he adjusted her and then guided his length to her center. He pushed in slowly, allowing her time to accommodate his girth and length. Her core was so warm, so inviting. He buried himself to the hilt and then pulled out to the tip before sliding home again.

They moaned together. Nova closed the distance between them and caught his lip with her teeth. She nibbled lightly for a moment before she flicked her tongue into his mouth to taste him.

James grasped her hips for support and set a steady rhythm. She fit him perfectly, like a glove that had been tailored specifically for him. His orgasm was quickly racing to completion, but he refused to come before her.

Reaching between them, he found her bundle of nerves and stroked it shamelessly. Nova whimpered, bucking her hips wildly against his. He broke the kiss to pepper kisses down her neck and jawline until he took one of her pert nipples into his mouth.

She ran her hands through his hair, pulling him closer to where she wanted him to be. He placed a few more kisses before moving on to lavish the other breast all while continue to flutter his finger over the tiny bud between her thighs.

Nova’s cries grew louder. She bit her lip in what he assumed was an attempt to stifle them. It would be so easy to get caught in the moment and make too much noise. He kissed his way back up to her mouth to capture her wonderful cries of pleasure with his mouth. He lifted her higher to adjust the angle he was penetrating her. The new angle allowed him to go deeper and harder. He quickened his thrusts.

Nova gripped him tighter. Her body trembled. Her core tightened around him, spasming wonderfully until he couldn’t hold back any longer. He followed her into completion with a growl.

They clung to each other for some time, both enjoying the bliss of their orgasm and neither ready to leave. Nova rested her head against his and closed her eyes. A small smile spread over her features. He hoped that he could keep the smile there, but as the morning sun began to break on the horizon he knew that they had a long day ahead of them.

Even if they made it through the day, there was no guarantee they would be together. She was an alien soldier and he was just some refugee. Once they boarded her ship they may never see each other again. Today could be all they had and that simply wouldn’t be enough.