Page 36 of Fire Forged

She swallowed hard.Damn, if she didn’t want to arch into him.He peeled the silk away a little, revealing a sliver of lace.

His nostrils flared, something like the gruff of a bear lodged in his throat—the sexiest sound she’d ever heard.Again he turned her.With one tug, the zip was up and he was rushing her to the door.

A sense of loss cocooned her heart, as if disappointment and yearning had taken up residence there.She forced a smile and let Nerx guide her across the common with his hand burning the base of her spine through the silk.

“Oh, you look so pretty.”Lily clapped.

“Why thank you, Lily,” Britt said and slid onto the bench beside her.“What’s for dinner?”

“Pizza,” she squealed.

Nerx was already ordering from the rehydrator, his back ramrod, his ass glorious in his military pants.Why hadn’t Britt noticed that before?

“Please, excuse me,” Edon said, abandoning them with a pained expression and a grumble.

“See.I do stink,” Britt said to Nerx when he placed a small pizza in front of Lily.

“I can smell you,” he whispered, holding her gaze.

Britt sniffed her shoulder.She was a little hot and sweaty but not so much that it would drive a man away.“I did shower.”

“No.”A sexy smile curled Nerx’s lips.“Your arousal.”

She gasped, snuck a glance at a distracted Lily, then said, “You can’t be serious.”

“Indeed.What would you like to eat?”

She shifted on the bench, trying to ease the burn between her thighs.No wonder these poor men were in pain.“Tagliatelle Alfredo, please.”

Again, he blessed her with the fine view of his ass before setting a deep bowl of pasta before her.He joined them moments later with a steak bathed in dark sauce.

“Yours looks yummy,” Lily said to Britt.

“I’m sure it is.Wanna try some?”She twirled a little on her fork and offered it to Lily.

Britt laughed when a piece of pasta slapped the girl on the chin.She smeared the sauce off and popped her thumb into her mouth.She hummed at the rich creamy flavor.So good.“Do you like it?”

Lily beamed.“I want that next, Nerxie.”

“Very well,minus susa,” he said, though his gaze remained on Britt, watching as she spiraled pasta onto her fork and shoved it into her mouth.

“What are you eating?”She smirked as she said, “Nerxie.”

He stilled, his eyes glowed, then he focused on his plate.“Kreso meat with momaberry sauce.”When he met her gaze again, something intense pooled in the depths of his eyes.

Heat rushed to warm her cheeks, and she choked on her pasta.“Something to drink?”she said, leaping to reach the rehydrator.

“I will get it,” he said.

They slammed into each other.Without hesitation, he looped his arms around her and took the brunt when they bumped into the counter.Pressed against his length, every one of his hard edges registered.He was solid muscle with strength pouring off him.She reacted on a visceral level; her thoughts faded, drowned by sexual urges.Like seeing him shirtless yesterday, all bronze-skinned and glistening, his muscles rippling.She’d swallowed her tongue, unable to say a word.Forever, the sheer masculinity of him would be imprinted in her memories.

“Water, please,” she whispered when he righted her, his fingers skimming over her hips.

On shaking knees, she returned to Lily, who was her cheerful self, humming to the fourth pizza slice she nibbled on.He placed a small pink milkshake and a bottle of water on the table, then returned for a cup of pale-yellow liquid.

While sipping his beverage, he peered at Britt over the rim.His eyes promised something sensual.Not wanting to finish her water in case she forgot again how to chew, she picked at her meal, her appetite for food gone.

She tried to hide her trembling fingers while sipping from the bottle, but his sex-appeal rattled her.“Hopscotch tomorrow, right?”she asked Lily.

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