Even if it killed him.

Even if resisting her tore him apart inside.

He steeled his jaw. “Sah-ah.”

“Mm?”

“Sah-ah.” He pushed her back a little and waited for her to open her eyes. “You cannot keep scratching, or you will damage your skin.”

She looked at him, her eyes hazy. He could not tell if that half-hooded expression stemmed from her lust or her irritation. Korben chose to believe it was the latter. If he mated her here, she would expose her intimate places to an environment that she reacted negatively to.

Keep thinking about the consequences and not the temptation, Korben.

Denizi. It was hard. His connection to her grew stronger by the minute. More than a physical longing, he wanted to protect Sah-ah and make her happy all the days of her life. There was no other way to describe his emotions.

Forcing himself to stand so she could no longer thrust her thighs into his face, Korben released her legs. Instead of rubbing herself alone as she had before, Sah-ah followed him and initiated mating again.

He gritted his teeth.

The little seren.

Was shetryingto get him to release all over his pants?

“Sah-ah,” he barked.

But calling her in such a rough tone seemed to only excite her more.

Korben felt himself throbbing.

Aching.

Yearning.

Sah-ah certainly wasn’t making this any easier for him. He wanted to choose her. As difficult as taking her would be. As many challenges as it harbored for rescuing his brother. For the Healer upon whom his entire species depended.

He shouldn’t even be entertaining her. She was not Plutonian. She was far too fragile a being for this planet and for him, but it was past that point now.

Korben speared his tongue out to lick his lips. He could taste her moisture on his tongue. Could smell her desire in his nostrils. His heras beat faster and faster. He had to get Sara the relief she needed before he completely lost his head and pounded into her heat.

Releasing her hand for a second, he pulled out the dama pouch and allowed it to grow in his hand. He poured a little on his palms and rubbed it on Sah-ah’s arms. She moaned softly when the liquid hit her skin. Thick eyelashes fluttered closed and her limbs went light.

She’d shown similar signs whenhewas her relief and, had he been a Plutonian with a smaller ego, he might have been a little insulted by that. Instead, Korben just smiled at her antics. His Sah-ah was very strange.

He put a little on her legs too and watched as the transparent droplets fell off her shapely calves. Unable to resist the urge, Korben licked the inside of her calf dry.

She stiffened beneath him, her hand freezing in the air before it settled on top of his head and urged him closer again.

He licked up her skin.

She trembled.

He would have continued higher if she hadn’t started scratching again.

Sa-ah groaned. “Iz huts.”

Silently scolding himself for getting carried away, Korben pointed to Enthara. His zapten had enough in her to carry them while the sun was up and able to energize her. “Get on. There’s a dama near here. I think we can get to it if we hurry.”

“Korben.” She gestured for him to come closer, her eyes flashing seductively.