Sutek exudes danger, but I don’t fear him.
Still, it doesn’t mean I trust him.
As soon as I get the chance, I’ll find a weapon. For now, I’ll play the coy hotel critic. And try not to catch feelings, I remind myself, because Sutek seems like the type of charming rogue who could break your heart without even realizing it.
Sutek saunters into the room, appearing far too pleased with himself—likely recalling yesterday’s steamy kiss that left me breathless.
I raise a questioning eyebrow at the sleek metallic trolley that follows him, levitating a few inches off the ground in a halo of soft blue light. Clearly, it has some kind of follow command programmed into its operating system.
I pull the bedsheets up to cover my bare chest, my eyes darting to the pile of dirty clothes on the floor. I hadn’t expected Sutek to just stroll into my room; I was eager to get out of those grimy clothes.
Sutek’s stride falters as he also notices my worn clothing. His gaze meets mine, spreading into a devastating smile.
My body hums at the thought that he’s pleased to see me unclothed in bed. I squeeze my thighs together, pulling my legs to the side. As I shift beneath the covers, the silky fabric brushes across my tender skin like the softest of caresses. My nipples harden, their points visible even through the cloth, exposed to Sutek’s smoldering gaze.
He casually sits on the edge of the bed, his almost solid black eyes meeting my gaze with unflinching intensity. It’s strange how quickly I’ve grown accustomed to their alien appearance, and how I instinctively know where he’s looking.
“Allow me to feed you, Elana,” he says, lifting the domed top off the trolley. The delicious scent wafts through the room, making my stomach growl. I blush; I ate so much yesterday that it’s hard to believe I’m hungry again. Sutek’s smile turns smug.
He stabs something yellow with a fork, turning to face me.
“Open your mouth,” he commands. I hesitate, torn between being cared for and being ordered about. But my hunger wins out. Despite his firm words, he cups my cheek gently as he holds the food out to me. His thumb grazes my skin with a feather-light touch, an intimacy that I fear I’m just imagining.
I bite down on the strange food, its salty, smoky flavor bursting in my mouth. It’s delicious, somewhat like a combination of baked potatoes and bacon.
When he offers the next morsel, I’m waiting with parted lips.
“Good,” he purrs, sending tingles through me as I squirm. It doesn’t help that his tail trails against my upper arm, leaving my skin tingling in its wake. “Eat your fill, my bravi.”
“What does ‘bravi’ mean?” I ask, curious about his hesitance.
“Bravi? It isn’t translating for you?” He scowls at me, tilting my head to the side. “Do you know which model translator you have? Maybe I can update it.”
That explains how I understand him and his language. The dragon-guy must have done something while I was unconscious. The thought makes my skin crawl.
“Is everything all right?” Sutek asks, his dark brows furrowing.
I offer a tight smile that probably resembles more of a grimace. “I’m fine. Just a bit sore from the crash.”
I gaze up at this chiseled alien who seems intent on pampering me. Could I tell him about what’s happened to me? Or more importantly, could I really ask him to satisfy the growing urge between my thighs?
Sutek sets the fork down, breaking the growing silence.
“I should take you to the medical bay,” he says firmly.
“No!” I blurt out, panicked at the thought of exposure. Thinking on my feet, I add, “A massage! I need a massage.”
“A massage?” he questions, looking confused yet adorable.
“Yes. To work over all those hard muscles,” I reply, grinning widely.
His gaze intensifies, and I suddenly realize the innuendo. “I’ve heard massages help when you’re tight,” he says.
“Yes,” I reply in my best deadpan voice, “I am very tight.”
Sutek groans, a sound more like a growl that rumbles through me.
“You said you wanted to cater to my pleasure here,” I challenge him. Because, I realize, I do want this. I might not be ready to trust him with my life, but I certainly want to trust him with my body. I’m willing.
