Page 23 of Alien's Heart
Nox grabbed the edge of the old wooden dock and hauled himself up. He felt a momentary resistance on his swim trunks followed by the sound of tearing cloth.
He stood naked before Ruth. The swim trunks hung on a nail.
Her eyes went wide, and her mouth hung open.
Nox grabbed the nearest towel and clutched it to his chest. “Don’t look at me. I’m not decent.”
Her gaze was decidedly not on his face. Nox was not a modest male, and he was rather proud of all his endowments. Certainly, he could not count Ruth as an admirer.
“I think you’re covering up the wrong thing,” Ruth said, still not looking at his face. She wore a blue tank top and shorts. He appreciated the outfit but felt she needed to wear less. A lot less.
Nox crouched in front of her. He placed two fingers under her chin to close her mouth.
“That’s your junk in my face, Nox,” she said, scooting back.
“You will not be enjoying yourself correctly until we are both wet,” he said. “In the water, or I’m going to throw you in.”
“You wouldn’t dare,” she said, which was the wrong thing to say.
Nox scooped Ruth into his arms. She squirmed against him, which he did not mind at all. He was one hundred percent pro-squirming.
And walked off the edge of the dock.
Cool water enveloped him. Ruth’s elbow connected solidly with his jaw, and her foot kicked against his chest as she pushed herself away.
They broke the surface at the same time. She gasped, pushing back wet hair from her face. The blue tank top had gone translucent in the water and clung to her like a second skin. He approved.
“What is wrong with you?” She slapped the water. “What if I don’t know how to swim?”
“You would have said that instead of mentioning that you do not possess a bathing costume.”
“Bathing costume. You sound like a historical drama right now,” she muttered.
Nox pulled her to him, his hand resting on her lower back. “Are you in need of rescue?” he asked, his voice low.
“Why? Am I not enjoying this to your satisfaction? Gonna throw me in the pond again?” Her words were teasing, allowing Nox to relax.
“To my satisfaction? I’m much more interested in yours.” His hand pushed up the wet fabric of the tank. Her skin was cool to the touch. His thumb moved in a circle, brushing the spot that would have been her tail if she were Tal.
She licked her lips. “You still quit, right? I’m not your employer.”
“I am currently unemployed,” he answered.
“Good,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down to her. “You’re such a bad idea.”
Their lips collided with a force strong enough to shatter his soul. Approval rumbled in his chest. His arms tightened around her, holding her close. Her legs treaded water, gently kicking back and forth. His cock stood at attention.
His tongue parted her lips and tangled with hers. He ached to touch her without a layer of fabric between them. To taste her.
She finished the kiss, sighing softly. “Okay, the best kind of bad idea.”
ChapterNine
Nox
“We don’t serveyour kind here.” The Corravian man behind the counter folded his arms over his chest.
“I’m afraid I misheard. What is my kind?” Nox’s tail whipped from side to side. The day was warm, and Ruth desired a cold beverage.
