Page 30 of Her Lawless Prince

“So no,” she interrupted. “You did not conspire to kill a planet. Did you choose your genetics, your parents?”

“Of course not.”

“But you believe you need to be punished for those facts.” She frowned, her eyes narrowing. “Are you doing everything within your power to ensure it never happens again? Have you spent a lifetime watching bootlegged streams—what did you call it?—piggybacked off of Federation inventory report transmissions? Did you program and smuggle a cyborg onto the rescue ships, a cyborg that was then able to protect the very people you programmed it to?”

“I…” He couldn’t get his words past his throat.

“So yes.” She squeezed his arm. “It’s quite simple. There is only one direction we can go, Nyle. Forward. The Cysgodians need us to return the information inside Yevgen to Qurilixen.”

“The way you see the world…”

Everything about this woman fascinated him.

“Not just the world,” she whispered, leaning closer. “I see you too, Nyle.”

There it was. Her gravity pulled him back in.

She kissed him, her soft mouth moving against his as if having a silent conversation. He knew no one would come by the opened door. Except for a malfunctioning cyborg flying the ship, they were for all intents and purposes entirely alone, surrounded by deep black, far from anyone who would know.

He followed her lead, leaning to deepen the kiss. Her hands ran up his arms and settled on his shoulders. No matter what else happened in his life, he would have this perfect moment.

10

Payton knewNyle wouldn’t make the first move. The attraction boiled between them, and she saw the need in his eyes, but he held so much guilt he didn’t think he deserved anything good.

She ran her fingers into the dark waves of his hair. His hands hesitated before gripping her waist to pull her against him. So much lay ahead of them and she wasn’t sure when they would have another chance to be alone.

The Var were not modest when it came to sexuality. She knew what she wanted and wasn’t ashamed to ask for it. Sex was as natural as the three suns in the Qurilixen sky.

Tiny vibrations seemed to pulsate through her body, extending from every point they made contact. She stepped on the toe of her boot, jerking her foot free before doing the same with her other foot.

Payton was used to the animal lurking beneath her surface but wasn’t ready for the thread of her Roane heritage to spark to life. The Roane attained vitality from sexual pleasures. She felt her body pulling at his energy, feeding on it like some hungry, desperate creature.

Their hips bumped the table with the food simulator. He held on to her as he stepped deeper into the storage room. The tall storage shelf rattled as he knocked into it, and it forced him to stop. She had him trapped against her. Her lips moved against his until she could hardly breathe.

“I want you,” he moaned. “I’ve always wanted you. This has to be a dream.”

Payton drew back long enough to pull her shirt over her head. The sexual energy that exploded inside of her was more primal than any animal shift had ever been. All thoughts left her as she sought to feel his skin against hers. She tugged at his clothing, ineloquently undressing him. He scrambled to help, and with jerking, desperate movements, he was finally naked. His shirt flew out of her hands into the corridor. His pants slid on the floor out of the way.

Payton took in every detail of his perfect face, his neck, and chest. She touched the thick shaft of his arousal, unable to resist stroking the length.

Payton pushed at her waistband even as his arms wrapped around her. The full length of his warm, naked body fit against hers. She felt his arousal along her hip as she managed to wriggle free of her pants. The tight material dropped around her ankles, liberating her from their constriction.

“Princess,” Nyle whispered. “Are you—?”

“Don’t call me princess. I don’t want to think about royal titles,” Payton said, pressing her mouth back to his. She bit at his lip. “And please don’t ask me if I’m sure about this. I’m the one attacking you. Maybe I should be asking ifyouwant this.”

Nyle glanced downward. His arousal pressed into her, completely ready. “I’ve wanted you longer than you could know, Payton.”

“Good. Then that’s settled.” Payton ran her hands down his body, feeling strong muscles beneath the firm skin. They became a frenzy of movements. Her fingers wanted to play. Her mouth wanted to explore. Her eyes wanted to memorize every second. In the end, the need burning inside her overruled all.

Payton wanted to live in this moment but knew it was fleeting. She turned with him so that her back was to the shelves. Nyle cupped her breasts and kissed his way along her neck, nipping lightly beneath her ear.

She reached behind her head and rubbed her inner thigh against him. Nyle took the invitation, lifting her from the ground. He braced her hips as he drew his member along her sex. Energy pulsed through her like lightning striking her stomach. She cried out in surprise.

Nyle entered her slowly, and she couldn’t remember wanting anything more in her life.

Mine, her thoughts whispered, as if staking claim.

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