Page 29 of The Alien Warrior's Mate

Need.

It would probably be mirrored in hers if she didn’t feel like she was being chewed up from the inside. The desire to repeat this little dance when she was feeling better became a giant thought in her mind, but that little voice in her head warned against it.

Sara had to be careful. Korben was at that auction for a reason. What if his wicked side came out to play?

The thought should have frightened her, but it didn’t.

She trusted him.

Korben washeralien.

And right now, her alien warrior feltso good.

Thirteen

Korben

Sah-ah was tryingto instigate a mating ritual. He knelt before her, barely keeping himself from exploding as she rubbed her fragile, feminine body all over him.

Korben’s body temperature heated up and the hardening inside his pants throbbed with every brush of her flesh against his. Sah-ah was aseren—a mythical creature of Plutonian lore who lured early intergalactic commanders into asteroids.

Denizi.

He should back away. He should put some space between them. Mindless passion was not his way. Once a Plutonian mated, they mated for life. This was right in the eyes of his tribas. Like many of the species on this planet, Korben believed in Destin.

In the beginning, Destin created female and male. But Destin did not force male to choose the female. Destin simplypresentedthe female to the male.

It was the male who declared the female his own. And, from that point on, every male sought out the female who would become his mate. Indeed, Destin would present many options, but it was the male’s decision to choose. Destin would not be responsible if the male ignored his responsibilities. He would not be blamed if mistakes were made.

Once a Plutonian chose his mate, he would be expected to honor, cherish, and protect her for the rest of his days. Mating could not be initiated on pure feelings and emotions alone. It was more than the invasion of a male’s hardness into a female’s heat. Mating was a burden that required sacrifice, consistency, and free-will.

The will to choose.

The will to remain faithful.

The will to forsake one’s self and lay down one’s life for his mate.

And this heavy responsibility was fully on the shoulders of the male. Once the male found a mate, he found a good thing and if that good thing became miserable or bitter, it was his fault.

For this reason, some chose not to mate at all. This choice was acceptable. His species took mating so seriously that it was better for a male to remain alone all his life than to jump from one mate to the next. It was important to choose a mate with care as one seeking a new limb that would remain fused to the body forever.

All these thoughts flew through Korbin’s mind as Sah-ah relieved her irritation on him, but they were barely discernible. Almost like an invisible cloud prancing through his head. Nothing but the buzz of an inso—a fly.

The female threw her head back, exposing her tender neck to his gaze. To his touch. Her mouth opened in a silent cry and she squeezed her eyes shut, slowing the gait of her intimate caress to one of excruciating torture.

He could feel himself aching in his pants. Could feel the urge to lift himself up and thrust inside her, almost as if it were a calling beacon and he, the hapless pilot, dragging his crew to the dangerous frontier.

Still, he resisted.

She was not in her right mind. The desire to ease her pain had made her reckless. Sah-ah’s gyrating was not an offer to mate. It was a desperate attempt to soothe her wounds.

To take her now would be to take advantage.

Denizi.

Just as strong as his urge to drag her tunic to her waist and pound into her private places was the urge to protect her. That was achoicethat he made.

One of self-control.

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