I washed and changed again, hesitating before rejoining him.

My skin tingled. Heat lingered in my face and on my chest where I could still feel his come on me. How strange—we’d held hands and I’d felt like we might be long lost best friends, but now we’d exchanged actual intimacy I felt…

My lip caught on clamping teeth.

I exhaled and rushed back into the room, walking briskly past him.

“Come.” His command caught me off guard.

What was he the boss of me now? He scored a little vat, and it was going to be like this? Don’t think so. My nose scrunched.

“Have gift.”

I glanced over my shoulder. He sat at the table, hands apart on the surface, back to apparent normalcy.

Why would he be awkward?

He hadn’t unexpectedly gushed all over an alien’s hand. God knows what more theatrical sexual responses other species had. Maybe that was mild in comparison…

“Fine.” I strode over to him.

He touched a circular metal object on the table and pushed it toward me.

I took it. The smooth metal surface cooled my palm. “What is this?”

“When not working, La La like listen music.”

My gaze flew to his.

He stood then reached out, took the top of the object, and rotated. Sound filled the room. I glanced around. The sound pulsed, changing pitch.

Where’d that coming from?

He turned again and the sound morphed, deepening, the harmony smoothing.

Music … My mouth opened. “You remembered what I said?”

“Remember all La La say.” He turned the top another notch.

The sound grew sweeter, something like violin—utterly lovely.

I gasped. The music swirled around us, seeping under my skin, filling my veins. My blood hummed. The gorgeous sound melted through me. My limbs went light, as though I could float away…

His thumb brushed under my eye. “Ouch?”

I blinked. What—that wasn’t my eye watering? Except it was.

“Not ouch.” I put my hand over where he touched my face. “This is a nice tear.”

His features shuffled through expressions and his thumb kept stroking below my eye. “This happy?”

“Yeah, this is happy.” I stared at him.

He really did have a kind face. I hadn’t seen it at first. Not with all the hard angles and fierceness. But his eyes were big, and his features so honestly expressive.

Maybe it was the music, the warmth it flooded me with, but I turned my cheek into his palm.

He slid his other hand behind my ear, holding my face on both sides.

His gaze flickered over me.

My head lulled back in his grip. The music lifted up my stomach, making my pulse flutter in my throat. He leaned toward me. My lips parted.

His breath met mine.

I leaned up on my toes, every fiber poised toward his leaning mouth.

“Ask him for the cell.” Macca’s screeching voice blasted through the daze.

I fell back to my heels with a jolt, then glanced around.

“What foolishness are you indulging?”

I fumbled with the music device. “How do I turn this off.”

He released me, then pressed the top with one careful finger. The music ceased.

Still, my ears rang with noise.

“You had him, Leila.”

I wiped my mouth, gaze darting for somewhere to look.

“You had his attention and could have asked for the stars strung on a golden thread—”

I slammed the music disk on the table, and turned my back to him.

“Shut the hell up.” I covered my mouth with my palm. It’s not like he wouldn’t hear me whisper, even if he couldn’t understand.

My head buzzed with Macca’s personal silence frequency.

I turned back to Thor.

His gaze flickered to my ear.

I caught the slightest glimpse of something before his expression snapped shut like one of Uncle Syd’s sharp-toothed animal traps.

“I need to…” I stumbled.

His face took on that blankness—that alien blankness.

My heart compressed.

I looked around and pointed to the other cave. “I need to use the…”

He didn’t even blink.

“Got to pee.” I ran for the water room. The smaller cave roared with the sound of springs. I stumbled to the smaller fast draining pool in corner, hitched up my dress and tugged down my underwear, then peed.

At least there was one thing I wasn’t a lying bitch about.

I finished and washed my hands in the other larger pool I used for bathing. “Macca, you stay the hell out of my head.”

“First you almost allowed him to mate you. Then you were about to gift more kissing. You wander off—”

“No.” I sucked air between my teeth. “I’m doing this my way, not your way. You can see through my eyes, you saw how suspiciously he looked at me just now.” I pressed my damp hands to my burning face. “Did you see what you’ve done?”

“You’ve eased him through a little doubt before.”

I rubbed my hands on my skirt to dry them, and hissed. “I don’t like this.”

“Regardless, it’s imperative to set the next quest.”

“I want out of here.” I stalked to the other side of the water room. “Screw the energy cell, screw it. You’re ruining everything with him. Get me out right now.”

I glanced over my shoulder to the open archway.

He was out there. Questioning my behavior.

As he should.

I was a despicable, lying—

“Does it not occur to you, that even with the pallets, should you escape from this cave, you would still be trapped on this planet for weeks until the energy cell recharges.”

“So?” I rubbed my throat. That hadn’t been a problem when I’d first embarked on my little scavenger hunt.

“How long do you think you could evade him?”

“The ship is invisible. We could hide—”

“How do you think Baratican’s find brides on other planets?” Macca’s voice blazed right in my head. “Did you think they could not travel? That they have no technologies? That he would not be able to find you despite simple camouflage?”

I turned to the opening. Was he listening to me chat away in my own language right now? “If I was never going to be able to hide from him, how were you planning on rescuing me?”

Macca’s silence blazed like static.

“Oh, my god.” I stepped backward reaching for the cave wall. “You wanted me to find food for your Crestonian, and then you were going to leave me behind and hide out until the cells charged.”

That’s why she’d told me to submit to mating in the first place.

I leaned into the stone. “You were going to abandon me here.” No. No. No. “Abandon me to be forced into marriage with an alien.”

My head spun. I gripped it in both hands, hip pressed to the cave wall.

Story of my fucking life. Couldn’t count on anyone.

Can’t count on…

I reached behind me, tugged cords, and the dress loosed. Not enough air. I gasped, pulling at the front of the corset, jerking it looser.

“Calm yourself.” Macca instructed. “ Again emotions. Again imagination.” Her tone somehow grew smoother, deeper. Seemed to ring. “ Perhaps that may have been the only initial feasible course of action, but would you allow one hundred women to starve, so you would not have to mate with a Baratican?”

My own breath roared in my ears. Wait what? That’s not what this was.

I’d never thought of it as one or the other.

“Of course not.” I straightened.

“Now there is an alternative, and don’t you think that did I still intend to sacrifice you for the greater good, that I would not rouse your suspicions in this way when you still possess the nutrition pallets?”

I swallowed. No, the soulless computer would not have given her motives away, of that much I was sure.

“The pallets are the only thing I truly require. The energy cell—that is for your sake alone.”

I turned my back to lean on the cave wall.

It was true, Macca could hide out without me. The computer knew me well enough to know I wouldn’t sell out the women on board. Not for anything. If I were securely tucked away here with Thor, he’d have no need to go after the ship without reason. “What changed your mind?”

“The humans on board the escape pod has not responded as hoped to my instructions. They are proving unmanageable. Leadership is required, both for the humans and also for the sake of Prosphoron—the last of her family line who must be returned safely to Crestonia.”

“You need my help.” I’d never heard the child called by name before. “Again.”

“You understand humans. You possess military experience. It is natural that you lead them.”

I breathed out, and leaned my head back. “How am I supposed to trust you?”

“If you cannot trust my word, believe that for now our goals align.”

I snorted. Now that was better than a promise. Macca wouldn’t do anything to risk that child, and somehow now without meaning to, that child needed me.

So did the women.

They were up there scared. None of them had an obnoxious yet endless source of facts embedded in their brains. They needed reassurance. Someone they could trust.

They need me .

“Pledge that you will lead these humans, and see my charge home safely.” Macca’s voice echoed in my head. “ And I pledge to do all I can to get you and your humans free of this world, and to sanctuary.”

I straightened. There was more than myself to think about. More than Thor and his feelings. He’d get over it. Hadn’t I gotten over being left by my own parents?

He’d be fine. Just like I was fine .

“Deal.” I stared to the archway.

“Leila?”

“Yes?”

“Should you continue negotiations with the Baratican, remember that there are twenty-eight thousand unmated warriors in this colony alone—and one hundred fertile human women on board our ship.”

I frowned. “I’ve considered that.”

“Then also consider before you overestimate your Baraticans devotion to you, that a Warrior is committed to his colony first.”

I swallowed. I’d almost let myself imagine that I were more important than I was. Must be the mooning way he looked at me.

I pressed a knuckle to the center of my chest.

Misleading .

I wasn’t his first priority. Of course I wouldn’t be.

“Thank you, I’ll remember that.” I strode out of the water room.

And he couldn’t be mine.

A scent hit me the moment I stepped into the other room.

My stomach twisted in a knot of hunger that almost cut me to my knees.

Food .

Hot food. Cooked food.

Real fucking food.

I stalked to the rear of the cave behind the table to the bench cluttered with bottles and jars and other things I hadn’t wanted to mess with given how easily crap on this planet could do things like “take off” my skin.

Thor stood in front of a rock-filled cavity in the wall above a small bench.

Savory aromas wafted to me. Saliva flooded my mouth. My gums ached.

“Oh god, what is that?” I grabbed onto his bicep and peered around him.

The rocks glowed red. What I’d walked past and thought was a fancy space rock collection, appeared to actually be an oven.

He sliced something on a wooden board. “La La said like fish.”

Yes, yes, Leila does.

I pressed my face against his arm to keep myself from lunging at the hot stones. He’d remembered I’d mentioned fishing too.

Sweet, freaking warrior.

The contents of a pan crackled in the oven. I groaned. However, if this turned out inedible, he was dead for tormenting me this way. I scrapped my teeth on the outside of his arm. If this was inedible I’d fry him up for dinner.

He glanced down at me over his shoulder, looking at my teeth on his skin, and whatever guarded expression wariness had put on him before, fell away.

A soft rumble kicked off in his chest.

Good, fine—whatever.

He could get as turned on as he liked knowing I enjoyed the smell of his cooking. So long as he fed me. Like now. This instant. If this meal tasted anything like it smelled he could go ahead and blow all over my tits again later.

I’d even instigate it.

He put the pale flat stuff he’d chopped in a wooden bowl, then reached into the oven and grabbed the pan.

I leaped back and let out a yell.

He took the sizzling, hissing pan from the glowing rocks with his freaking hands .

My heart wrenched, and I gripped my chest like I’d just aged decades instantly. “Holy shit, you don’t burn, do you?”

He looked at me, frowning as though I’d been the one in grave danger. “Not worry, La La. Husband hard hurt.”

“So I see.” I followed him to the table where he set down the pan and bowl.

He sat on the huge chair, and this time I didn’t wait to be instructed, I climbed right up on his lap, and reached for the pan.

Oh, god, actual food.

He grabbed my wrist. “Careful.”

I choked on my breath. No . Please don’t let this be one of those I couldn’t really eat, but tried to convince me how appetizing it would be, sneaky alien foods.

He scooped up a hunk of peachy melting meat from the pan, and brought it to his mouth.

Not my mouth—his own mouth.

Fuck him. I took back every kind thing I’d ever thought about him. My stomach gurgled with insistence which sounded a lot like— die, alien die.

I rocked toward his mouth watching the food go in. Was this some kind of alien black ops warrior wife breaking tactic?

He chewed carefully, then swallowed.

My teeth sank into my bottom lip.

He scooped up another chunk with his fingers, and again the evil spawn-of-Satan brought it to his mouth again.

A little helpless sound escaped me, and I bounced on his lap, jostling on the brink of tears.

He blew on the meat, then moved to me.

I grabbed his wrist in both hands, and sucked the fish off his fingers before he could change his mind. My teeth clanged against his skin. Flavor burst across my tongue.

My nails scraped on his wrist.

Oh, sweet mother of Jesus.

Piping hot, mild, fatty and absolutely fucking-fabulous. I groaned. This was space’s answer to salmon. So soft it didn’t require chewing, it just melted in savory bliss.

My eyes watered. “More.”

He scooped, but I couldn’t let go of his wrist, holding on the whole time.

I sucked the fish out of his hand before he could cool it down. My eyes streamed. Half from the heat—half from a wave of heartache I didn’t know I’d had. I’d thought maybe I’d never eat real food again.

That nothing would ever be real or good or normal again.

That I’d never feel satisfied.

Never experience a simple pleasure I’d always taken for granted.

That I’d always feel half hungry.

Half empty.

He removed his hand from me and frowned. “Not ouch, La La.”

I went after his wrist, trying to swallow so I could talk. “This is more happy ouch.”

His expression rippled, as though he didn’t understand, but he took my word for it, and fed me more.

I feasted like a pet from his hand. And made noises like one too.

When my fingers unclenched from his wrist, he handed me the white flat stuff he’d chopped. I sniffed and took a small nibble. No way . The crumbly stuff was floury and fibrous, but very much like flat bread.

I stuck it into the the pan soaking up fatty juices, and ate it. Then another and another. My eyes rolled up and I flopped back on his chest, chewing slowly as possible. “Goddamn.”

“Not good?”

“So good…” I glanced up at him, and his confusion sent a laugh rolling in my middle. His eyes widened, and his gaze scanned me. Laughter overtook me, shaking my shoulders. He blinked features morphing as though he couldn’t keep up with my complex humanity.

I held my now full stomach, laughs turning to snorts.

Then something happened—a chuckle rumbled in his chest, and turned into a boom.

Ohh… My eyes flared amid my unstoppable laughter.

The boom escalated to roaring laughter, bolder and more liberated than any sound I’d ever heard. I held onto his arm to keep myself seated, as he rocked and shook, and dumped fuel on my own hysteria.

We laughed until more tears streamed down my face, and I wheezed and gasped.

I leaned against him, and he hugged me continuing to chuckle into my hair.

A sigh melted through me.

I wiped my face with my palms.

His breaths puffed hot on my scalp. “Did enjoy fish?”

“Yeah, a lot.” I reached for more of the flat bread, dunked it, then popped it in my mouth.

“Thor catch.” His chest rumbled against my back. “Provided for La La.”

“Yeah, you did.” I turned to him. His expression one-part inflated-ego, two-parts horny-adorable, sent my smile cracking wider. I stroked up the outside of his arm. “You totally brought home the bacon today, big guy.”

His chest expanded even though I was mostly certain he didn’t understand the reference I’d made. He growled, soft and so reverberating all I wanted was to lay against him and let that feeling seep into me.

Sweet, fucking ridiculous, alien lover-boy. How was I supposed to resist?

My fingers curled against him.

But I had to…

My chest wheezed again, this time not from laughter. There was too much at stake to let myself get all swept up and confused by his crush on me. “Do you remember when I told you that honesty isn’t freely given where I’m from?”

His growling ceased instantaneously.

I cleared my throat but didn’t move from touching him. “I want to share something with you, but I’m afraid of what you’ll do if I tell you.”

“Not be scare.” He covered my fist on his shoulder with his hand. “Not have anger for wife’s honesty.”

“I’m not afraid you’ll hurt me, Thor.” I gave him a tight smile. “I trust you in that regard.”

His brows relaxed.

“I’m worried about how you may act on information I give you.” I swallowed. “So, I’ve been keeping something secret from you.”

His fingers tightened ever so slightly on mine. “Can trust with all things, La La.”

A pang of guilt seized me. But this was the only way to achieve what we needed.

“I need you to promise that you won’t act on what I tell you.”

He studied me. “Does secret make risk to you?”

“No.”

“Does secret make risk to colony?”

My breath shuddered. Not risk—but the hundred or so woman on board would certainly help the Baraticans. At the expense of the humans. “No, it’s nothing that would harm anyone here.”

“Then not act on secret.”

My entire chest deflated, in both relief and pain. Why’d he have to be so damn dependable? “I wasn’t alone on the escape pod.”

His entire torso turned stiff as brick. “Who with you?”

Crackling sounded in my ear.

Macca warning without warning.

She didn’t need to worry though, I remembered her advice too well. Both when it came to protecting those woman, and not raising suspicions of a rival. “There is a child on board.”

He turned to flesh again. “Male or female child?”

I coughed. Who knew what age a child was mateable to a Baratican? I couldn’t risk it. “An orphaned boy, who I swore I’d help get home to his own planet.”

His mouth made a flat line. “La La not can leave.”

“No.” I flattened my palm against his chest under his hand. “I don’t need to leave. I need you to help me keep my word and make it possible for him to return home.”

“How can help?”

“The escape ship needs a new power cell.” My voice hitched, stuck on a hunk of guilt. “Then it’s all programmed to leave without me. He can go home and I wont have to break my word.”

“This not easy trade.” He leaned back a little, his features taking on a hardness that made me suddenly see for the first time there was a fierce negotiator under there when he wasn’t busy being all besotted.

“You’ll get the next base, Thor.” I leaned deeper against him. “You’ll get tasting .”

The skin under my palm gave way to the slightest tremor, but this time, for the first time, he kept himself in check.

“Would need travel to central trade station.” His voice at least, remained level. “Very far, La La. Three suns travel. Not will leave you so long.”

My mouth twisted to the side. “This is very important to me. There’s no quicker way to get there?”

He stared at me without blinking. “Is, but must permission from council to use travel craft.”

“Could you do it?” I leaned closer. “Please, would you do it for me?”

He lifted his hand from mine. “Craft for sanctioned travel, not convenience.”

“What if…” I blinked, lashes sinking down. My voice lowered. “What if I give you the next base in advance?”

“Advance?” His tone sent a shiver trickling over my skin.

“Yes.” My breath caught but I forced my gaze to meet his. “Agree, and I’ll give you tasting right now …”