Finley gasped. He cut her shirt off, leaving her in a froth of pale-green lace. It cupped her generous breasts.
“I like the pretty things you wear under your sensible clothes.”
“I’m…I’m not considered beautiful here. Whitney is. Slim, perfect features…”
He touched Finley’s shoulder. “I like strength with some softness. I like my bed partners not to be tiny like children.”
“Oh.”
As he studied the wound, his jaw tightened. “I promised that I wouldn’t let the Kantos hurt you again.”
“I’m okay, Sabin. I’m alive thanks to you.”
He took out some havv and squeezed the liquid onto her wound. She bit her lip. “It burns.”
“The more significant the wound, the more it hurts.” He held her hand and tangled their fingers together.
Seeing that assassin on her…
Sabin fought back a rush of feelings.
Finley cocked her head. “I can feel your mood.”
“My helian amplifies my emotions.”
“What are you feeling?”
“Guilt, residual fear.”
Her lips parted.
“Relief.” He stroked her fingers, her palm. “Desire.”
“Sabin.” Her voice was breathy.
“You need to eat or drink something. Healing requires energy.” He rose. She was hurt, and he needed to take care of her, not think about getting her naked.
“I have some protein packets in the cupboard,” she said. “You just mix them with milk.” She leaned back on the pillows on the couch. “I have them when I don’t want to cook.” She sent him a small smile. “Which is a lot.”
He found the packets and mixed one in a glass with the liquid labeled milk. He sniffed the milk. “What is this?”
“It comes from an animal called a cow.”
He stilled. “A real, live animal?”
“Yes.”
He shuddered and brought the drink back to her. She sipped it.
“All of it.” He pushed the glass back to her mouth.
“I’ve been taking care of myself for a long time, Sabin.”
“Not today.” He set the empty glass down on the coffee table. “I’m sorry the assassin got to you. I should have—”
Finley pressed a hand to his chest. “You saved me. I knew you’d come. I’m glad Whitney didn’t keep you distracted for too long.”
“I’m not interested in Whitney. I’m sure she’s very nice, just very…forward. And she wears too much scent.”
He stroked Finley’s arm and could already see that her wound was slowly healing. He stroked the unmarked skin beside it, and she shivered.
“I prefer the subtle scent of spicy sweetness. And smooth, golden skin.”
Finley bit her lip. “I’m not sure this is keeping things professional.”
“It’s not, but I can’t seem to remain professional around you, Finley.”
She sucked in a breath. “Really?”
“Really.” He needed to touch her. Needed the feel of her skin as reassurance that she was all right. “I can’t seem to stop how I feel.”
He ran his hand down her arm, soaking in the feel of her. Her skin was so smooth. He lifted her hand, and pressed his lips to her wrist, then her elbow.
She pulled in a sharp breath.
He let his other hand brush her collarbone and he scented her arousal.
“I never imagined Eon warriors would be so…sensual,” she said.
“We’re men as well as warriors, but I am a special case.”
“Oh?”
Sabin hesitated. “I have extra-enhanced senses.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I feel more, smell more.” He couldn’t control the edge in his voice.
Her mouth opened. “It causes you problems?”
“It can. That’s why I maintain rigid control.” Sabin allowed himself to indulge his senses a little, but he wouldn’t risk hurting her. It was a dangerous line to walk.
He checked her wound again. “It’s knitting well.”
“Good.”
He lowered his mouth, kissed her healing marks.
“Oh, God.” A soft expulsion of air.
“We take things one day at a time, Finley,” he said. “For now, you rest and heal. Tomorrow, we’ll talk about further steps to keep you safe.” He tucked her hair behind her ear. “You’re my only priority.”
Finley looked in the bathroom mirror the next morning. She was still in her pajama boxer shorts and a tank top. She pulled the top’s neckline down and prodded the site of her wound.
It was gone. There was a faint pinkness to the newly healed skin, but that was it.
Amazing.
She swallowed. It was far too easy to think of the attack. The assassin hunting her. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths.
She was safe. Sabin was literally one room away.
Her belly clenched.
How the hell was she supposed to focus on her work, when they were going to be glued together? How was she going to keep her hormones in check?
And he’d admitted that he felt the same, but that he needed to stay in control.
She could do this.
She was a professional. She had to focus on the project.
Setting her shoulders back, she dredged up some self-control. She was a smart, sensible woman.
Spinning, she yanked open the door and ran into a very hard, very bare chest.
Finley’s mouth went dry. She blinked rapidly.
Sabin stood before her, clad only in black shorts, his wide chest covered in bronze skin.
She swallowed. Wow. Carved muscles. Hard pecs. Ridges and dips down his abs. Desire pulsed between her legs.
“Good morning.” His voice still held the deep, growly edge of sleep.
“Hi.” God, her voice was a squeak. “Did you sleep well?”
He nodded, but she couldn’t drag her gaze off his chest. Her pulse was doing a crazy dance.
“Finley?”
She managed to jerk her gaze up. He was smiling. “The admiral called. We have a meeting in her office in thirty minutes.”
Finley gasped. “I need breakfast, then a shower.”
“I’ll let you sort out breakfast, and I’ll wash up first.”
“Right.” She usually had cereal, but she guessed with his muscle mass he’d need some protein.
He brushed past her—all that hot, hard male. She stifled a whimper.
Get it together, Finley.
She made eggs. Sabin wolfed them down, so he clearly liked them. She showered quickly and put on her usual work clothes—black pants and a white shirt.
Soon, they headed to the admiral’s office. Two young, uniformed Space Corps cadets waved them through.
Admiral Barber stood at the window, her uniform neatly pressed, her ash-blonde hair ruthlessly styled. Captain Rodriguez sat in a nearby chair, her long legs crossed. Beside her, sat Dr. Kemp.
“Security Commander, Dr. Delgado, please take a seat,” the admiral said.
Sabin pulled a chair out for Finley and she sat. He stood behind her, a comforting presence.
“Security Commander, if you could update us.”
Sabin nodded and pulled out a tablet-like device. “We’ve confirmed the Kantos assassins are normally sent in a group. There are likely still one or two more on the planet.”