The scowl on Zelron’s face was back. He cocked his head to the side, again regarding her in a curious way. “I am big, you are little. I only see human women from afar. There are many on my planet now. If I did not see you were special, I would not offer my protection, even in here.”
Damn, she would need her chest examined if the fluttery feeling kept coming and going, like a kid standing in the doorway switching on and off the light over and over again. He really thought she was special?
Face it, Providence, you’re attracted to him. You’ve got the downright, dirty hots for Mr Sexy Kelon.
Best change the subject. She needed to get off this topic before she ended up saying something stupid like touch me, kiss me and take my virginity. “So, how did you end up down here?”
“During big battle, my…ship was damaged. I crash and I wake up here.”
Anger curled through her at the injustice of what the company was doing. It was all over the news what the Kelon’s did for Earth, but bastards like M.A.R.C. Cosmetics were using others for their own profit. “They should have sent you back to your people.”
There was another noise from the cells next to them. It startled Prov. “Who are they? They’re not Kelon.”
“They—” His stare turned hard as he glanced at the wall separating the cells. “Our enemy. Xersons. I will not let them near you. They will hurt you.”
“Well, it’s not as if we can go near anything stuck in here.” She licked her lips, her mind wandering back to the subject of attraction and sex.
Get your mind out of the gutter, Prov.
His chest heaved in a large sigh and he shifted back to his feet. Her eyes widened, watching him move closer; the bunk groaned under his weight when he sat down a hand’s span from her.
She felt the warmth of his body next to hers, even through the blanket, and she struggled not to shiver as her body awakened further. Ignore it, Prov. Easier thought than done.
“You are cold.” His gruff statement startled her. Phew, talk about hot and cold flushes.
“Uh, yes, sorry. It’s kind of weird. Not long ago, I was really hot, out in the sun, now, down here, I’m suddenly cold.”
She didn’t want to admit a total stranger turned her on. Neither of them could afford to give in to what their captors wanted.
His big, muscled arm wrapped around her shoulders. “My planet is hot outside, cooler within. We come from fire in the centre of our world, so all Kelons are warm. I will warm you.” He pulled her against his side, running his hand soothingly over her exposed arm.
The spicy, exotic scent of him both warmed and strangely soothed her, and she relaxed against him. She glanced up at him from under her lashes. What was it about this big guy which stripped her of her independent thought and made her want to be suddenly all girly? All her life, she’d been a rough and tumble tomboy, even following in her father’s footsteps to become a sparky like him—always trying to win his approval.
She frowned as a new thought occurred to her. “You’ve been alone down here for a long time, haven’t you?”
He didn’t verbally respond, only nodded. Her heart suddenly ached for him. She understood being alone, but probably not as he did. “How long has it been since someone touched you, like a friend or family, to show they care?”
She met his dark, starlight gaze and he simply shook his head.
Unable to stop herself, her hand sneaked out from beneath the blanket, reached across, placing her hand on his chest. The heat of his skin and the strong pounding of his heart radiated out through her arm. He frowned when he glanced down at her hand.
“I’m sorry. No one should have to be alone or suffer what you have.”
His large hand dwarfed hers as he settled his over hers, holding it in place. “Your touch brings comfort. Thank you. I find it hard not to want to touch you, Providence. If on Kelon, I would ask to claim you.”
She swallowed hard, her mind racing. “Claim me?”
“Make you mine, be together, through all of time.”
Whoa, no way he really means that, we just met. Her head suddenly spun. “I…I think, this is what we, uh, humans, call marriage.”
He seemed to think on her words, and then nodded. “I have strong feelings, I want to claim, be marriage to you, but here and now no.”
Oh, wow, how the heck did she respond to that? This big, buff alien guy wanted her. “For real?” Crap, did I just say that aloud. “Not just because we’re stuck and I’m the first woman you’ve come across?”
“My body desires you. I fight it because I know it not good.” His thumb suddenly stroked over her lower lip. Prov struggled to hold in a whimper as her body suddenly trembled—and not from cold. “Soft, little human.” His voice deepened and became husky. His gaze fixated on her lips. “I will protect you, do not fear.”