His revelation stuns me to silence as he continues to work on another stack of tablets.
If I don’t stay, if I use the armband to free the other women and escape, isn’t that what I’ll be condemning these morts to—a fate worse than death? Without me and the children I can potentially provide, they’ll die off one by one in this lonely, isolated facility on a planet even more dangerous and depressing than my own.
How can I leave them here when I have the ability to save them?
I try, fruitlessly, to replicate Oz’s steps to repair the tablet, but after an hour or so more of his patient instruction, I’m no further along than I was when I started. My mind is too preoccupied with my dilemma to focus on the wires and circuits.
Breccan comes to collect me after his rounds. I look up from the tablet and find him posed in the doorway, watching me with his version of a smile. It’s too fierce to be classified as such and if pressed, I’d call it more of a grimace.
A wave of affection washes over me, for this big, strange alien I’ve come to view as my own. The kind of man who’d make the hard decisions to save his people from the task. Who’d be strong enough to see them through, and he would, I know he would.
Those big, onyx eyes study me hungrily and I shiver. The newfound intimacy inspired by our conversation about Kevin and his endless patience since undoes me. But it’s the total realization that he is willing to die for his men that rocks me to the core. It makes me realize, truly, the life I’ve squandered in my own world. The days I’d given up to drugs and delirium. My sister, my only decent family, I’d been willing to blow off with drugs.
Whereas Breccan, sweet Breccan, is prepared and ready to do much worse for his men. These gruff beings know more about how precious life is than I can even begin to understand. But it isn’t just about the babies, though I’m coming to learn how important family—and mates—are to them, but also about how they cherish each moment. The world here is so harsh, so unpredictable, they have to suck the marrow out of every day because they aren’t promised another.
My heart races in anticipation. I don’t want to waste another day, another one of those precious moments. I want to live, as they do, with joy for every second I’m alive.
I want to enjoy it all…with Breccan.
The thought steals my breath.
“Time for a break,” he commands, “before this one has you tinkering at all hours of the solar like he does.”
“I’m afraid your mate has no aptitude for repair work, Commander.”
Their conversation filters through the buzzing in my ears. I can barely catch a breath to respond. “Be nice, Oz.”
Breccan strides forward and wraps an arm around my waist. He nips at my lips with his sharp fangs, which causes me to shiver against his warmth. As he nuzzles my neck, he whispers, “You’ve spent far too long away from me, my Aria.”
My fingers dig into his minnasuit as my body sings in agreement. The time he’s given me to get to know each other without the pressure of sex has left me…wanting. Wanting him. To kiss, to take. I can’t help but soften against him—and toward him. The nights spent kissing are a tease that leaves me aching for more than just his tongue inside me.
“It’s only been a couple hours,” I protest, but my body doesn’t—and I lean into him.
“As I said, much too long. Ozias has been monopolizing your time.”
Oz takes no offense. “I’m happy to entertain her anytime you like, Brec. I much prefer her company to yours.”
I drag Breccan away before they butt heads—literally. It wouldn’t be the first time I came across a pair of quarreling morts settling their differences by battling it out like a couple of animals. I have no interest in seeing Breccan doing so. I’m much more interested in kissing. I can barely keep my hands off him as we trek back to his quarters.
“Is something the matter, my alien?” he asks when I push him up against a wall in the corridor and attack his throat. He bares it for me, and there’s something powerful in the knowledge that this big, strong alien is willing to be vulnerable for the sake of my pleasure. A growl reverberates in his chest as I suck and bite at his pale white skin. I can’t get enough of the satin-like texture. All I can think about is feeling it rub against my skin with no suit, no clothing between us.
I try to reach his mouth, but he’s too tall for me. I grab his ears instead and tug to bring his lips to mine. “Kiss me,” I say instead of answering.