He and Mal had burned off lots of energy and needed to replenish.
After that first intense time taking her, he’d had her two more times. That body of hers… She was fit, flexible, and had stamina. She didn’t hold back. She showed him the full force of how much she desired him, not once shying away from what he wanted to do to her.
He silently crossed the room, which was drenched in shadows only lit by the auroras shining outside. That’s when he saw the bed was empty.
His pulse jumped.
Then he heard the faint strum of the lila. He noted the instrument was missing from the corner where he usually kept it.
He turned and noticed a door to his balcony was open.
Still carrying the tray, he followed the sound of the music, and stepped outside.
He spotted her instantly, felt her energy—bright and clean. She was lying on one of the large, square outdoor pillows that dotted the balcony. He often sat out here at night, when he couldn’t sleep, and watched the auroras as he worked through whatever problems kept him awake.
She was holding the lila wrong—more tilted to the side—but the slow, melancholy music she was making was incredible.
“I thought you’d still be sleeping,” he said.
Her fingers stilled and she turned on the pillow. She wore one of his black shirts. It was too big for her, and she’d left it unfastened. He saw a tantalizing strip of tan skin up the center of her body.
“The bed was empty without you.”
“I went to get us some sustenance.” He set the tray down, then shifted in to sit beside her. She leaned back against him.
Mal West leaning on him. He liked that.
“I hope it was okay to use this,” she said.
“Yes. I barely ever use it. My mother forced lila lessons on me when I was a child.”
“Lila.” She rolled the word around. “I have a guitar. Had a guitar. It’s similar to this.”
“You play well.” He fingered her silky hair. He liked it loose like this. “Play me something else.”
With a small smile, she stroked the strings, playing a lovely song with a slow beat. He watched the way her eyes closed and she lost herself to the music. He liked seeing her like this—relaxed, at ease.
Finally, the song ended.
“The auroras are so pretty tonight.” She sighed. “There’s pink shot through parts of them.”
He stroked her hair, once again marveling at how soft it was. “You’re thinking of Poppy.”
Mal nodded. “Here I am having hot sex with a hot alien king, and she’s…”
“Hey.” He gripped her chin and made her look at him. “You will not feel guilty about what’s between us. We will find Poppy, but right now, we have no idea where she is.”
Mal’s face hardened. “If Krastin’s hurt her, I’ll…”
“Krastin is mine.”
She rose, setting the lila aside. She paced the balcony, agitated. “He wants to kill you.”
“My father wants me alive.”
“I don’t think Krastin cares. He’ll kill you, and tell your father it was a tragic accident.”
“I can hold myself against Krastin.”
She threw out a hand. “Says the man who was badly injured just hours ago.”
“This is my planet, my people. They are mine to protect.”
She ground her teeth together. “I think this is more personal than that. It’s about your mother.”
“Of course, it is.”
She spun to face him. “If you go into a fight with your emotions running high, you’ll get hurt, or killed.”
“Zavir my father. He’s a gorr, power-hungry. He doesn’t care how many people he kills. I have to stop him.”
“To prove you aren’t like him?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t believe that for a second. We’re more than the genetic material of our parents, Rhain. I have no idea who my father was. He was a deadbeat dad who didn’t stick around. That’s what I came from.”
Rhain rose. “That power-hungry need for more, to kill to protect what’s mine. It’s what drives my father. And I feel it, too.” He turned and met her gaze. “That’s what my father gave me. I fight it every day.”
“Rhain.” She moved to him, rested her hands on his chest. “You could never become your father.”
“I hope not, for all our sakes.”
“Rusty used to say that we always know the right thing, but the hard part is doing it. Most things in life aren’t easy, Rhain. We’re always considering, weighing, and hoping we get it right. You’re surrounded by good people to help you do that. Thadd and your fighters would die for you. Thadd’s mom would kill for you.”
He tucked her hair behind her ear. “Does that include you?”
She went up on her toes and kissed him. “I guess it does.”
The kiss deepened and he wrapped an arm around her. He tugged her closer and squeezed her ass.
She hummed into his mouth. “You know, I promised to find out what sounds you made when I was riding you hard.” A feminine smile curled her lips. “You haven’t given me the chance yet.”
He hadn’t. His need had been so great, all he’d been able to do was pin her down and thrust inside her tight body.
She nudged him back a few steps and urged him down. He sank onto the pillow.
Rhain opened his legs and she knelt between them. No woman had ever looked more beautiful—desire on her face, the light of the auroras on her skin.
She leaned over him, that shirt hanging open to give him a pretty view of her bare breasts. She kissed his neck, her hands sliding along his shoulders to push his shirt off.
“God, this chest.” She kissed across his pecs, her tongue laving first one nipple, then the other.
Rhain bit back a groan.
She traveled downward, then she pushed the waistband of his silky, black shorts down and pulled out his hard cock.
It was already throbbing. Rock-hard at the thought of her sinking down on it.
She made a hungry sound and pumped it.
“What now, Mal?” His voice was guttural.
“Don’t rush me. I want to taste you first.”
His cock jumped at the thought of her mouth wrapped around it. She lowered her head and licked.
He cursed. He leaned back as she licked, sucked, and bobbed her head. Her mouth was warm and she was clearly enjoying herself.
Any more of this and he’d come in her mouth.
He tangled a hand in her hair and tugged her up. “You won’t hear the sounds I make when you ride me if you don’t stop now.”
Licking her lips, her face flushed, she moved up to straddle him.
Finally. His abs contracted.
She notched his cock between her thighs, then her gaze locked with his, and she lowered herself down.
Auroras above. He growled. “Take me, Mal. So tight.”
She gripped his shoulders, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip.
“Ride me,” he ordered.
She did. She moved up and down, and soon he was bucking his hips up, trying to go deeper.
He cupped one of her breasts, listening to the slap of their bodies and the panting of their breath.
“Faster, Mal.”
“God, baby.” She arched her back. “You’re so big and I’m so full of you.”