Heat engulfed me.

Heat like a cleansing wave. Burning through my body and wrapping around my soul. A warmth that cold could never touch.

Warmth that pain could never reach.

Warmth that hurt could never diffuse.

Bone deep comfort suffused me, where loneliness succumbed to something whole and pure.

The feeling buzzed. Emotion melted through me, filling me up until my body would burst—and then it did.

I burst with sensation.

Pleasure wrapped around me.

My eyes flew open. Bright blue seared my vision.

Vibration rocked to my core.

My muscles contracted one by one. Ecstasy stole my breath. Climax shattered my nerves, rocketed through my system, and gripped me in a fierce consuming hold.

The feeling went on and on, wringing me out until my body was a twitching heap. Until I was a mass of vibration that hummed even in my teeth.

My head rolled and my vision cleared.

Growling reached my ears at the same time the sight did—an enormous growling Baratican with his mouth devouring my sex.

His eyes also closed.

Oh, fuck .

The sensations didn’t stop. They only muted to a sweeter feeling.

My chest heaved. He sucked me with his magical mouth, all while growling in pleasure.

My fists drew tight. Another contraction clenched my abdomen.

Mother-fucking-vagina-munching-alien-cunt.

I gasped for air.

Or was that cunt-munching— damn —his tongue dragged over my pussy.

Oh, god . How was this real?

He lifted his head. I dissolved against the mattress. Salty sweat trickled into my mouth. A film of moisture covered my body.

Energy fled. I lay splayed, arms and legs out. He moved up my body, nuzzling his way over my skin.

I watched him through a drunken haze. Couldn’t so much as roll away. His nose dragged between my breasts, and his growling grew more intense.

He stared up at me.

His expression was like a shot of adrenaline right in my heart—energy pumped back into my blood.

Shit .

The look on him was impossible to describe because I’d never experienced anything to compare it with.

Lust, desire, hunger, all wrapped up in need so intense it sank invisible fangs into me.

“Wife, my desire for you cannot be restrained.” His voice was deep as a drum and sweet as a marshmallow.

And that’s how it made me feel—soft and deep.

He hovered above me, and the way he stared made it impossible not to squirm. No human ever looked at me so directly.

How long had I been in his cave?

A day and a half? Had he stayed every moment? Watching over me. Caring for me…

His touch roamed my side, leaving tingles in it’s wake.

“In the interest of disclosure, consummation will have permanent ramifications. Many of which you may likely not be amenable to.”

Macca’s voice filled my head and cleared the fog.

He gripped my thigh. “Make mating now.”

I fell back to reality with a thud, and slammed my palms into his chest. “No!”

He paused, focus tightening on my face.

Air flooded my lungs. I’d just spoken Baratican.

He hauled my knee to his hip.

But apparently understanding of “no” didn’t count for much even if he did comprehend it.

His big, hot body sank over mine.

My pulse leaped, and I drove my forearms between us. “Wait, I’m hurt!”

He leaned back, that crinkled look of concern thickening in his expression. “Where ouch?”

I scooted backwards.

“Show me where is ouch.” He scanned me with his gaze, attention moving to my hip.

My stomach gurgled.

I clutched my belly, my heart giving a thunk. “Here, it hurts here.”

This had better work…

He glanced at my middle.

My empty stomach let out a gurgle. “You hear that?”

His eyes widened. “Yes!”

“That’s my stomach pain.” I narrowed my eyes. “ Hunger pain.”

His mouth opened slightly, revealing extended canines.

For what was supposedly the most fearsome kind of warrior in the universe, Baratican’s were ridiculously easy to read.

No wonder they had to wear helmets.

“I haven’t eaten in a week and I’ve been ill.” I crossed my arms over my boobs. “You’ve starved me, and now you want to mate with me during the agony of my hunger?”

His expression slumped so crestfallen, it almost felt like poking a puppy with a stick.

Except he was supposed to be a warrior…

A warrior who planned to force mate and marry me.

“You are taking terrible care of your wife, Baratican.”

He flinched. Actually, flinched liked he’d been whacked in the face.

I almost flinched in kind at the way I’d called him a Baratican. Not so different to how Macca called me human. I resisted the urged to pat his arm and apologize for adopting the antics of a ruthless, manipulative super computer.

“No, my wife.” He took my shoulders and stared at my stomach. “Not starving you. Crestonian digestion must rest after dream fruit consumption.”

Dream fruit?

Oh yeah, the space equivalent of magic mushrooms I’d feasted on.

And he thought I was Crestonian?

“My digestion has recovered, and I’m starving. So, shouldn’t you feed me now?”

His attention flew to my face. “Yes.”

Oh, boy . That expression. Stick-in-a-puppy’s-heart.

He released me, and slid off the bed. “More rest, my wife, I shall heal your hunger.”

Heal my hunger …

Guilt swelled in my middle. But why did I feel bad?

And why did an enormous beastly warrior, all of a sudden seem a bit adorable?

Must be the oddly gallant, half-Neanderthal, half-Arthurian, Baratican way he had of speaking…

He scooped his fur cloak off a box beside the bed. I kept myself completely still.

He was going to leave the cave to get me something to eat.

I’d be unsupervised…

I cleared my throat. “Get as much food as you can. I’m very hungry.”

He secured the cloak at his neck and picked up the helmet. “I shall not return without a feast for my bride.”

“Excellent.” Oh, shit . Now I was even using villain language.

I really had joined the ranks of evil.