He gripped her hip, then moved lower. He found that fascinating little nub. Her clit. He rolled it.
With a low moan, she moved faster.
“Mal.” He felt his release coming, rolling in like a storm.
“Rhain.” She thrust down and started coming.
He leaned forward and took her mouth.
With a low roar, he bucked up and poured himself inside her.
When he could think, see, and hear again, he was lying on his back on the pillow, Mal sprawled on top of him. His semi-soft cock was still inside her, and her breath was puffing against his neck.
He lazily stroked a hand up her back. “Now you know.”
She laughed. “Only a little. I was too busy with my own orgasm to hear all the sounds you made.” She lifted her head, eyes sparkling. “Guess we’ll just have to do it again.”
He pulled her closer. “I guess I can suffer through, somehow.”
She pinched his arm.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
“Are we talking about food now?”
“Yes.”
“Then, yes, I’m starving.”
He shifted to sit up. “Then I’d better feed my woman.”
As she smiled and tried the Zhalton delicacies he’d brought for her, Rhain knew this time—just the two of them, alone—was borrowed.
When the morning came, Krastin would once again overshadow everything.
And soon, they’d both wade back into a dangerous fight.
But one thing was for sure—Rhain no longer just fought to protect his people. He’d also fight for this Earth woman who’d crashed into his world and changed everything.
The next morning, Tavith dragged a reluctant Mal out of Rhain’s room.
“I need to run more tests on you, and assess how your changes due to the Zhalton environment are progressing.”
“Maybe later, Tavith, I—”
“Now,” the medica said.
Rhain finished fastening his shirt. “Go with him, Mal.”
She sniffed. She wore fitted pants, and a tight, blue shirt that left her toned arms bare. It showcased her strength.
“Fine. But if you hear anything about Poppy, I want to know straight away.”
Rhain walked to her and cupped her cheek. “Of course.” He dropped a kiss to her lips and was fascinated to see color fill her cheeks.
She cleared her throat and shot a look at Tavith.
“He’s a medica, Mal, I’m pretty certain he knows what we’ve been doing in here.”
“Resting,” Tavith said, voice deadpan.
“I stayed in bed,” she said. “Mostly.”
“Go and get checked.” Rhain tugged on her ponytail and looked past her to Tavith. “Her energy is strong. It glows silver-white.”
The medica’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“She threw up the strongest energy wall I’ve seen. Her skills are different than Zhaltons.”
“Due to her different genetic material.” Tavith focused on her. “Let’s go. I’m eager to get to work.”
She shot Rhain a resigned look as the medica pulled her out the door.
Rhain found a stone-faced Thadd waiting for him outside.
“Your advisors are waiting.” The captain’s tone was cool.
They fell into step.
“Any word from the scouts?” Rhain asked.
Thadd shook his head. “Nothing.”
Rhain let out a breath. Gorr, they needed to find Krastin. “Thadd, I’m sorry. For blocking you in the cavern. I had to help Mal.”
“It’s my job, my duty, to protect you.”
“I know and I stopped you from doing that.”
“You risked your life for her.”
Oh, his captain was not happy. “Yes. And she risked hers to save all of us.”
“You’re the overlord. She is…not even Zhalton.”
“She’s mine now.” Rhain stopped and faced his friend.
“So sleep with her and be done with it.” Thadd tossed a frustrated hand in the air. “Don’t risk your life for her.”
“Thadd,” Rhain growled. “You will protect her like you protect me.”
Thadd’s mouth tightened. He looked like he wanted to hit something.
“She is mine.”
Finally, Thadd nodded. He might not be happy, but if there was one thing that Rhain could count on, it was Thadd’s bone-deep loyalty.
They entered the main chamber. Jaro and several advisors, including some nobles, waited for him.
“Overlord.” Jaro bowed his head. “We’re very happy to see you healthy and looking so refreshed.”
Being refreshed had nothing to do with his healing and everything to do with Mal. “Did you recover the downed flyer and our people without incident?”
“Yes.” Jaro turned and a projection flared up. “We tracked the Zhylaw raiders to a location close to the cavern where you fought the hexids.”
Rhain turned back to the projection. “We need to find Krastin’s base.”
“We’ve doubled the number of scouts in the area, my lord,” Jaro said. “But as you know, it is very rough terrain.”
“Krastin’s taunting us, trying to lure you out,” Thadd said. “He wants you dead.”
“My father doesn’t want me dead.” Zavir wanted to use Rhain and his power.
“Krastin will kill you, claim it was an accident, and beg for forgiveness.”
“That’s what Mal said.”
“For once, I agree with her.”
There was the sound of the swish of skirts, and Rhain tensed. He knew that sound. Across from him, Thadd stiffened.
Two young women in long, white dresses stepped into the room. One had waist-length, blonde hair, and the other had deep-red hair.
“Overlord,” the blonde murmured.
They both bowed their heads. They wore crowns of flowers on their heads and no shoes.
“Our mistress requests your presence,” the blonde said.
“And the newcomer,” the redhead added.
“Newcomer?” Rhain asked.
“The female who crashed on our planet.”
Mal.
Rhain really didn’t want to take her to see the priestess. But he didn’t have much of a choice. The priestesses of energy had been around since the Radiance. Most people called the head priestess an energy witch.
No one really practiced religion on Zhalto, but everyone revered the energy that infused their lives. No one dared anger or insult the energy priestesses.
He’d learned early on that ignoring the energy witch only caused more problems.
“Very well.”
The two young women bowed and glided away.
Thadd cleared his throat. “I have some things to do. You’ll be safe at the temple, so I’ll see you when you return.”
“Coward.”
“Yes.” Thadd stalked off.
Rhain headed down the hall toward the medica ward. He found Mal sitting on a bunk while Tavith scanned her.
“Is she okay?” he asked.
The medica nodded. “Fit and healthy. Her body is still adapting to the environment, so she may still manifest some new energy abilities, but other than that, she’s fine.”
Mal jumped off the bunk. “Great.”