Page 46 of Wanted By the Alien Warden

I lingered for a moment, absorbing her expression, her face. She looked good in the garments I’d given her. The brown tones complemented the warmth of her skin tone and the burnished depths of the dark parts of her eyes.

“Unfortunately,” Tasha said, “I recognize that I actually do need help to get down from Rabbit, here. So…?”

“Of course.” I gripped her waist, revelling in the perfect shape of her beneath my hands as I lowered her to the ground. I released her at once, before my hands could have a chance to disobey my brain and continue holding her the way they desired to.

“If you need rest, we can stay here tonight and leave at dawn tomorrow,” I told her as I took hold of Rabbit’s reins and led her behind the building towards the stall she shared with my other shuldu, her brother, Lapin. Tasha followed quickly, needing to take a full two steps for every single step of mine.

“That’s alright. I’m fine with a short rest while we get packed up. I’d like to get going as soon as possible.”

This did not surprise me. Everything I’d experienced so far had shown me that Tasha was someone who cared deeply about her work. It made sense to me that she would not want to delay her duties for long.

“Fine,” I said, removing Rabbit’s saddle and reins. Lapin whinnied at her return, tossing his white head. “Feel free to go do anything you need to do. I have to make sure these two have enough water and supplies for the days we are gone.” As I spoke,I began to brush down Rabbit while simultaneously snatching up the hose with my tail. I cranked the tap at the side of the shuldu stall, and aimed the hose into the first of several buckets I would fill.

“Thanks,” she said. She dipped her head then began to walk swiftly away, heading first for the main building of my station, then veering off to the side when she noticed the outhouse. I watched her the entire time, unable to stop myself. I was fascinated by the way her short human legs propelled her body over the land. I only tore my attention from the sweetly generous curves of her tailless backside when the bucket I was filling overflowed. Water crept up to the soles of my right boot.

“Blast,” I muttered under my breath, shaking water from my boot and aiming the hose into another empty bucket nearby. “That wasn’t my fault,” I told Rabbit defensively. “She distracted me.”

Rabbit snorted loudly before she lowered her head to drink.

Once I’d filled ample containers with fresh water and inspected Rabbit and Lapin’s fenced-in pasture to ensure they’d have enough grass to sustain them while I was gone, I went in search of Tasha. Even that brief time away from her felt uncomfortably wrong. I was her guardian here. Her guide and protector. I couldn’t let her wander all over the property on her own.

Luckily, she had not gone far. After visiting the outhouse, she’d made her way onto the porch at the front of my building. There was a chair upon the porch, and she’d settled herself into it. She’d removed her hat, and her head was tipped back, her eyes closed.

I want to suck on her neck.

The perverse need jolted through me. My cock had had some time to calm in her absence, but its flesh was sent instantly stiffening once more.

An absurd desire, to be sure.

But I couldn’t shake it.

Her creamy neck was arched back, slender and so exposed. Her pulse fluttered at the base of her throat. I wanted to taste that place. Take the tempo of her heartbeat with my tongue.

And then suck on her.

By the blazes, you’re a warden, I reminded myself fiercely. A good warden should always be in control, held tight and strong with the force of nothing but his own power.

Surely Warden Hallum would not be standing here, hard-cocked and desperate to discover the taste of a delectable human’s neck, as I was. No, he was a good Zabrian male, one who’d achieved enormous respect in the Zabrian Guard before choosing to come here of his own accord.

But perhaps that was a good thing. Because if another male was imagining doing to Tasha’s skin what I was now, there was a good chance I’d have my stunner aimed at his heart before anyone – including my own good sense – could stop me.

Which, frankly, did not say good things about my current mental state.

I left Tasha to her rest, stepping into the building to collect the things we’d need. Tent and bedroll. Food supplies. Waterskins. A few basic tools and knives. Extra clothing for me and fabric in case I needed to make more for Tasha while we travelled.

By the time I had a large pack ready to add to my smaller travel pack from the previous night, Tasha had roused herself. She pulled herself out of the chair and put her hat back on.

“Sorry,” she said. “I must have dozed off a bit there. I promise I don’t normally sleep on the job.”

“Take your rest whenever you need it and do not think of justifying yourself to me,” I told her. “Anyone with eyes can see you’re good at your job.”

“Oh. I…” She swallowed, blinked, and looked away. “That’s a lovely thing to say.”

You’re a lovely thing to see.

I sighed internally, wishing that this new Tasha-worshipping voice inside my head would kindly shut up.

“Do you need any help?”

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