And that made me want to crawl into his lap and stake a claim of my own. The thought of him touching another woman, carrying her in his arms, pledging to kill for her, protect her, talking of fucking her… it made me see red. I wasn’t sure what I wanted from him, yet. But the thought of another woman touching him was completely unacceptable.
Besides my reaction to his sexy-as-hell appearance and size, which meant the wet heat in my panties labeled me as totally superficial, shallow, and horny, he made me feel… safe.
He made me feel protected and secure, the way my father had before he’d been killed. Then, when he’d been gunned down I’d learned my first real truth—no one was ever safe, and no man would ever be strong enough to protect me. So I pushed down those feelings he elicited because I didn’t need a man. That was my mantra. I didn’t need a man.
Thank God Nial started talking, because while I was thinking about how much I didn’t need a man, my libido was thinking about keeping him around for another one of those ridiculously hot, out-of-this world kisses. My pussy grew wet again thinking about how my lips still tingled, and I knew he could smell it. How, I had no idea, but his nostrils flared and he turned to me, his eyes burning me up in my seat, before turning back to the road.
I couldn’t think about my crazy reactions to a man who was part machine. I ached for him desperately. This need, this craving, reminded me of the lust I experienced while I was high on C-bomb and I never wanted to be addicted to anything, not even a man.
Or did I? Was this how it felt to have a mate, addicted to them? Always wanting their touch, craving their attention? If so, I wasn’t sure I liked it.
“The creatures you encountered were Hive scouts,” he said, breaking into my thoughts. “I do not know why they were here.”
I’d forgotten my question.
“The Hive?” I asked. “The alien race that forced Earth into the coalition?”
I’d read everything I could get my hands on, by any means necessary—be they legal or not—about the Hive. For the most part, the people of Earth knew what they were told. An alien race was poised to attack and the Interstellar Coalition of Planets had stepped in and offered our planet protection in exchange for soldiers and brides. The coalition didn’t care where the recruits came from, only that the quota was met. The aliens didn’t care that Earth’s leaders chose to send convicted criminals, like me, as brides. In addition to coalition protection, Earth’s leaders were well pleased to be rid of the worst dregs of society.
Since I’d been rejected by my mate, clearly the aliens had adopted higher standards these days. A thief they’d accept. A killer? No problem. But me? No. It baffled my mind and hurt deeper than any combat wound I’d ever received.
“Why would the Hive be here?” The sharp tone of my voice was partly from the lingering sting of rejection. “Even if they did all… that to you.” I waved my hand in his general direction. “They haven’t done anything to us here on Earth.”
Earth was sending brides, and soldiers, as promised to the coalition in trade for remaining safe from the Hive. If the alien military wasn’t doing their job and keeping the Hive away from us, the people of Earth needed to know about it.
I lifted the neck strap up over my head and set my precious camera, and the evidence it contained, on the floorboard between my feet. I figured I was pushing his buttons, but I didn’t much care. I’d just been shot by a dear friend and chased by one of those things. The Hive scout—whatever that meant—had wanted me taken to something called the core. Why?
“You ask a lot of questions, mate.”
“I’m not your mate,” I countered. “Just answer the question.”
He growled at me! Actually growled, his eyes gleaming as he lifted one hand from the steering wheel and shoved it down the front of his pants. He stroked his cock, once, twice, three times, before freeing his hand and reaching for me.
Eww! What the hell?
I scrambled to get away from his huge hand, but there was nowhere to go in the tiny car and he was huge. He grabbed my bare forearm and I felt a hint of wetness slide over my skin. Gross! What the hell was he doing?
I tugged, trying to resist this pervert’s touch, but his grip was like a vise. A gentle one, but he wasn’t going to let go. For some ridiculous reason, he was preventing me from wiping his pre-cum off my skin. For that’s what it was, it had to be.
“What the hell are you doing?” I shouted.
“Sharing my essence with my mate.”
“Are you crazy or just completely perverted? Yeah, the kiss was great and all, but most guys don’t jerk off in front of a woman they don’t know. So I’ll ask again. What. The. Hell?”