Lisa had expected a gleaming, high tech medical bay stuffed full of wondrous gizmos and gadgets. Instead, the room was so nondescript she would have never guessed its purpose. The walls were a soothing shade of pale blue, and there was a simple counter with what looked like a sink near the head of the bed. That was it.

It wasn’t until Vadir lay down that anything interesting happened. A nimbus of golden light appeared around the bed and quickly filled with streams of data as the patient was scanned and assessed. Cas made his diagnosis in Pyrosian, but Vadir translated the gist for her. He had a concussion, contusions, and what he called some ‘minor internal damage.’

She kept waiting for robotic arms to appear and start working on Vadir’s injuries, but instead, the field around him glowed brighter, and the streams of data started to scroll by faster. As she watched, the cut on his head slowly closed over and began to heal. She should have been fascinated by all she was witnessing, but her focus was all on Vadir. She still had his hand in hers, and every time either one of them shifted so much as a finger, an erotic current flowed through her.

Adding to her distraction, Cas had made Vadir’s shirt vanish, and judging by the way Vee had cursed about it, she assumed it had been destroyed in the process. Seeing him half naked was making it almost impossible to focus on what was happening. All she wanted to do was to explore his body and commit every inch of it to memory. Her skin had become so sensitive that even the soft cloth of her dress was an irritant. She couldn’t keep a thought in her head for more than two seconds before she’d be back to thinking about Vadir and all the things she wanted to do with him.

“Hurry this up, Cas,” Vadir said through gritted teeth.

“Your recovery would be expedited if your blood pressure was lower and your heart rate was slowed by twenty percent.”

“That is not going to happen. Do what you can and let me up.”

“Wait. You can’t move right now?” Lisa asked.

“No. There’s a force field holding me in place. Cas is making sure I stay still until I’m finished treatment.” Vadir sounded entirely unimpressed.

“Cas. Can I touch Vadir? I mean, is it safe for me to reach into this glowing field?”

“You are already touching Vadir.” The computer pointed out, and a pulse of light flared around their joined hands. “If you move further into the field, I will be able to treat you, as well. You have minor bruising and contusions that I can heal.”

“So, that’s a yes.” Lisa stepped into the field and placed her free hand in the center of Vadir’s broad chest. His skin was hot under her fingers, and she could feel his heartbeat racing against his ribs.

“What are you doing? And why didn’t you tell me you were hurt?” he demanded.

“I’m distracting you. And I’m just a little bruised, mostly from the harness. You risked your life to make sure I was secured. I won’t forget that.” Nor would she ever forget the look on his face in the second before impact. He’d put her life ahead of his own, risking everything to protect her as best he could. There were only two other people in the universe who might have done that for her, and they were her closest friends.

She let her fingertips wander over his bare skin, following the lines of muscle down to his sculpted abs. She had expected to feel something from the field, but all she sensed was slight warmth and a sense of wellness that defied description.

“I did what I had to, to keep you safe.” He raised his head a fraction to watch as her fingers moved lower. You’re playing with fire, tani.”

“No, I’m playing with you. And what does tani, mean?”

“It means you are my treasure. It’s a term of endearment in my language.”

She moved her hand further down his body, and he groaned. “I should tell you. Once we’ve mated. You…” his words trailed off as she reached his navel and circled it with her fingertip.

“I’ll what?”

“You will be playing with fire. The powers I spoke of before. I will be able to summon flames.”

“You’re joking. Please, tell me you’re kidding. I’m coping with the fact you’re an alien, and we’re on a spaceship. I might even be accepting the fact that we’re supposed to be together, considering I can’t keep my hands off of you and I…I ache.” The confession slipped out before she could stop herself.

“I’m serious.” His hand tightened around hers. “There’s more I need to tell you, but we’re out of time.”

“Cas isn’t finished yet.”

“Finished or not, I can’t wait any longer.” Vadir’s eyes glowed like molten gold as he turned to look at her and spoke a few words in his language.

The nimbus of light faded away, Vadir sat up, and the next thing she knew she was in his arms, his mouth slanted across hers. Hunger tore through her, fueled by needs and desires too powerful to fight. She parted her lips, inviting him to take the kiss deeper. He uttered a low groan that rolled up from his chest and drove his tongue into her mouth.

There was a sharp tearing noise as he tore her dress down the back, the fabric parting like tissue paper.

She shrugged out of the tattered remains and let it fall to her feet. “I thought we were going to your quarters for this part.”

He kissed her again, sucking her lower lip into his mouth before finally lifting his head to answer. “That plan went out the airlock once you put your hands on me, mate. I need to have you. Here. Now.”

The buttoned up, in control, corporate suit she’d met for dinner tonight was gone, replaced by a cocky, charming, rogue who made her hotter than any man she’d ever been with. The next step was easy. Her choice was already made.

“Then take me before I remember all the reasons I should be running away from you.”

He tangled his hand into her hair and tugged her head up so that she was staring into his eyes. “I will make sure you never have reason to run from me again. You’re mine, Lisa. From now until we return to the Flame that birthed us. I swear by the Flames of the First one that I will protect you with my dying breath and cherish you above all others.”

“There better not be any others, Vee. If we have any chance of being real, then you have to promise me two things. You won't cheat on me, and you’ll never hurt me.”

“After tonight, no other female in the universe will interest me. I will never cheat on you.” He kissed her again, tenderly this time. “And I swear that I will never hurt you. I’m not a barbarian.”

She laughed. “Says the man who abducted me before we even got through our first date. You have to admit, that’s a little barbaric.”

Her teasing laughter pushed him to the edge of his control and then blew right past it at light speed. The time for talking was over.

He rose from the bed and drew her into his arms, stripping away the last of her clothing as his mouth plundered hers. Finally.

Dressed, she was beautiful. Naked and in his arms, she was breathtaking. Later, he’d take the time to enjoy the view she offered, but for now, he needed her too much to take his time.

Torn between getting out of his pants quickly or letting go of Lisa, he struggled one-handed until she reached between them to help.

“You don’t have to do everything on your own, you know.” She eased his pants over his hips and down his thighs, letting her hands stroke over his skin as she did it.

“That’s going to take a little getting used to.”

He toed off his shoes and kicked away the last of his clothes, placed his hands on her hips, and turned her so that she was facing the bed. “Hands on the bed, tani, and don’t move.”

“The bed is not where I want my hands to be right now.”

He moved in behind her, letting his aching cock rest in the cleft of her ass cheeks as he guided her into the position he had in mind. Legs spread, leaning forward, her breasts hanging free and her hair spilling over her shoulders.

“You are stunning,” he whispered in her ear.

“And you’re talking too much. I feel like I’m losing my mind right now. Make it stop.”

“I can’t make it stop, but I can make it better. For both of us.”

He dropped to his knees and moved between her legs, kissing each soft globe of her ass before lowering himself so he could see the folds of her pussy. She rose up onto her toes as he reached to part her labia and expose the swollen bundle of nerves hidden within. She was already slick with need, her soft skin glistening with the evidence of her arousal. He sucked in a breath, drawing the sweet scent of her deep into his lungs. He blew a puff of air over her skin, and she gasped in surprised pleasure. It was a sound he intended to hear her make over and over again.

Burying his face deep into her pussy, he used his tongue and fingers to tease her honey-slick flesh. She shivered and ground herself against him, uttering a low, breathless moan that made his cock harden to the point of pain. She spread her legs wider, rocking her pussy against his mouth. He drew her clit deeper and lashed it with his tongue as he slid two fingers into her channel and started pumping them in and out in time to the flicking of his tongue.

“Yes,” she moaned. “Just like that.”

He scissored his fingers, and her inner walls tightened around him as she uttered another wordless moan. Her breaths were coming faster now, and he knew she was close to release. Speeding up the tempo of his assault, he curved his fingers slightly so he could reach the spot his research on female human anatomy indicated would give her the most pleasure.

She came almost immediately, her body quaking as she clamped down on his fingers and ground her pussy hard against his lips, the sweet cream of her arousal flowing over his chin.

Legs trembling, she finally slumped against the edge of the bed. He rose to his feet, leaning over to plant an open-mouthed kiss to one shoulder blade.

“Whatever challenges we’re going to have, I’d say sexual chemistry is not going to be one of them.”

He chuckled. “Definitely not.”

Lisa’s pulse was still thundering in her ears when she glanced back to look at her lover. Vadir was staring at her like she was cherry at the top of his sundae. There was naked hunger in his gaze and a predatory smile on his lips as he rubbed the impressive length of his cock against her ass. His hands landed on her hips, and before she knew it, he spun her around and lifted her into the air. She landed on the bed he’d recently vacated, his hands coaxing her to lie down as his lips claimed hers for another delicious, toe-curling kiss.

“I don’t need a check-up. I need you.”

“And me is exactly what you’re going to get.” He walked around to the foot of the bed, running his hands from her bare feet to her ankles.

“As much as I like these, I think they need to go.” He unfastened the clasp of her anklet and set it aside, then gripped her legs firmly and tugged her down the bed until her legs were dangling over the edge and her ass was on the edge.

She lifted her head to watch as he fisted his cock in one hand and moved between her thighs. She was half out of her mind with need already, so when he rubbed the thick head of his cock along the seam of her pussy, she arched her back and nodded in a silent plea.

He eased himself inside, her body giving way to his an inch at a time until there was no room between them. Vadir groaned, his cock throbbing as he muttered in his own language. When he looked up at her, his eyes were flickering gold again, and she knew he was at the edge of his control.

With a grin she arched her hips, managing to slide him a bare fraction of an inch inside. “Move.”

His control snapped, and he thrust into her with a guttural groan. “You better hang on.”

She gripped the edges of the bed as he settled his hands on her hips and began to move. He stroked her hard and deep for several thrusts, then ground his body against hers so tightly that his balls brushed against her ass and her clit was pressed against his pubic bone. Again and again, he did this, until both of them were sweat-slicked and panting. She was riding a wave of pleasure that lifted her so high she felt as if she were flying.

Vadir was a man possessed by passion, and soon her every nerve flared hotter than the sun as a second climax began to blossom. He reached between her legs and pressed a finger against her clit, sending her spiralling into orgasm as his cock began to thicken and pulse. He came hard, calling out her name as he emptied himself inside her. Instead of softening, his dick continued to swell, pressing against her g-spot and prolonging her own orgasm.

He was slumped over her, one arm bearing most of his weight as he rested his head against her stomach. Both of them fought for breath, and it was a long moment before she had the strength to speak. Gently flexing her inner walls around his still rock-hard cock, she asked, “Is there something else you forgot to mention?”

“I’d forgotten about this, myself. We only reach complete climax with our true mates. This…” He lifted his head to regard her with eyes that had turned to a brilliant gold. “This is something new for me, too.”

“Only with me, huh? I like the sound of that.”

His lips curved into a sinfully sexy grin. “Only with you. Forever.”

“Now, you look like the drawing I made of you. Golden eyes and all.” This was the image she’d seen in her mind’s eye months ago. She had captured his face at this moment, right down to his arrogant smile.

“And you look…” he trailed off as he stared at her. “By the Flames of the First One, your eyes changed, too.”

“What? Changed how? What colour?” She started to sit up, then froze when she realized they were still locked together.

“They’re even more lovely now.”

“Not helpful. The artist wants words. Details. Tell me exactly what’s changed.”

“They’re the same shade of blue as before, but they glow with an inner fire.” He touched his face. “Like I imagine mine do. Now, all who see you will know you are mated. Untouchable. Mine.”

“Your eyes are incredible. Just like the rest of you. Are all the men of your species drop-dead gorgeous like you, or do I owe your gods a thank you present for sending me their best?”

“If I answer that honestly, you’re going to think I’m an arrogant ass.”

“You are arrogant. Or did you think I didn’t notice? Your ass, however, is very nice.” She bucked her hips lightly. “So, how long are we stuck together like this?”

“Impatient to be free of me already?”

“Not really, no. But I am hungry, and I’m pretty sure there aren’t enough cookies in my purse to feed us both. Not if this Scorching thing goes on for days.”

He kissed her for a long, heart-stopping moment, and when he finally raised his head, she could feel they were no longer locked together. As he gently withdrew from her, he continued their conversation as if it had never been interrupted. “The mating fever varies slightly from couple to couple, but in general, it lasts two solar cycles. And we don’t have much time before we’ll need to be together again. Dare I ask why you brought cookies to a dinner date?”

She grinned at him. “Because my roommate thought they’d make a good snack if things went well. Shit. Gwen. She’s going to be worried when I don’t come home tonight. I didn’t send her a text letting her know what I was up to.”

“You don’t live alone?” Vadir was frowning now.

“My two best friends and I share a house. It’s divided up into suites, so we have our privacy, but we watch out for each other. I’m not the only one out on a date tonight, either. I hope Maggie is okay.” She froze as her thoughts piled into each other like trucks on an icy freeway.

“Shit! Double shit damn it, how could I forget about Maggie!” She sat up and poked her finger into Vadir’s chest. “She’s on the same dating site I am. Well, we are. Star-crossed. That one. Please tell me not every guy on there is an alien because she is not going to take that well. Not at all.”

“Your friend has been matched on the same dating site as we were?”

Vadir looked shell-shocked. Not a good sign.

“Uh huh. Judging by the expression on your face, I’d guess her match isn’t human, either. I need to call her.” Lisa looked around for her purse, then swore again. Her phone was in her purse. She must have lost it both during the fight with Vadir, because she couldn’t recall having it on her when she came to after the crash.

“I’m afraid you cannot contact your friend,” Cas said.

“You don’t get to tell me what I can and cannot do. You don’t even have opposable thumbs. How are you going to stop me?”

“It is not necessary to stop you. Your phone will not work. We impacted in an area outside the area serviced by your cellar device.”

Damn it. Maggie was on her own. “If she meets with this guy, he won’t hurt her, right?”

Vadir stood and offered her his hand. “Come with me. I’ll explain, but not here. We don’t have long before the Scorching will flare again, and there’s more I need to tell you. If your friend has been matched to Joran, then I can assure you, he won’t harm her. He is the next king of Pyros, and a man of honour.”

“He’s the what?” She hopped off the bed, took his hand, then glanced down at her clothes. They were torn and unwearable. “You owe me dinner, something to wear, and a whole bunch of explanations.”

“He’s the Crown Prince of my planet, and a friend. Since we were the only two with matches in this part of the world, it’s safe to assume your friend is his mate. This is concerning since every effort was made to ensure that none of our matches had close relationships. It would make it difficult for them to leave undetected.”

Vadir led her out of the medical bay and down the corridor. She noted that there was more light now. Cas’ repairs were progressing.

“You keep talking about me leaving. This is my home, Vadir! I can’t just run off with you, no matter how hot the sex is.”

“I can’t stay here for long without being detected. It’s not safe for me to remain. I’m here because my people are dying out. You, and others like you, are our last hope. If you come with me, you will be treated like a queen. You will want for nothing. I swear it. You and our children will be cherished by all.”

He passed his hand over another panel, and a portion of the wall vanished, forming a doorway. Beyond, was the most luxurious room she’d ever seen.

The walls were deep blue and mottled with subtle patterns that moved in a hypnotic flow across the surface. The furnishings were elegant and more ornate than anything else she’d seen on board. Polished wood carved with intricate designs, rich fabrics in varying shades of white and cream. There was a work space in one corner, with monitors and what looked like a highly stylised version of a keyboard, but most of the room was taken up by a large circular bed covered in a satiny looking coverlet of midnight blue.

One look at the bed and her head was full of erotic visions of her and Vadir in the middle of that soft expanse, sweat-slicked, limbs entangled and panting with need. The flames of desire rekindled in a rush, and she turned to Vadir, only to find him striding towards her with his eyes gleaming and his cock already hard and ready.

Whatever else he had to tell her, it would have to wait. The only thing she wanted right now, was him.