“A healer can’t help me.” Hooking her fingers into the waist of his new jeans, she said, “My disease is fatal.”
He went rigid. “You are not allowed to die! Whether you want to or no, you are going to my world, katya. As soon as possible.” He tightened his hold, until she lost her breath. “I will listen to no protests.”
“You don’t want me to die before I fall in love with you. But what if I fall in love, but you don’t? What if your desire for me centers around your desire to be free of the curse?” The words surprised her. She’d thought she’d conquered that particular fear, but obviously not.
“I am not concerned with love right now, only your health.”
Another sweet gesture on Jorlan’s part. The guy was checking her boxes, one after the other tonight.
“What is the name of your disease?” he asked, a slight tremor in his voice.
“First Date Syndrome.”
“You are dying from First Date Syndrome?” he asked, incredulous.
“I am, and it’s awful. The worst!” Spinning, spinning, around and around.
He growled low in her ear. “Do not ever do that again, woman. I thought you were truly sick.”
“I am. I’m sick in the head. I’ve never made it past a first date. I’m magnificent, yet no one ever notices.”
“I noticed,” he said, and ran her earlobe between his teeth.
When the song ended and fast-beat hard rock spilled from the speakers, he eased her into a slow, rocking motion.
Gently stroking her hands up and down his back, she explained some of the horrid evenings she’d endured. Once she thought he chuckled, but she knew she was mistaken. They were discussing something very serious here, something that affected her entire life. But all too soon the spinning worsened, and she forgot what she wanted to tell him.
“Jorlan,” she whispered. “I think I’m going to pass out.” A second later, she crashed into a liquor-soaked darkness.
* * *
SOMEHOW, JORLAN MANAGED to drive Katie to their lodging without getting either of them killed. The transportation was not easy to manage, but neither was the softly snoring Katie.
As he carried her to their room, she moaned and muttered, “Oranges not bananas.” Whatever that meant.
He blamed himself for her condition. He’d watched her consume glass after glass of “lick her” yet he’d done nothing to stop her. He’d wanted her to drink them. Too well did he recall the effects of the liquid, a type of truth serum.
He couldn’t resist an opportunity to question her and discover the truth of her feelings for him. Only, she had fainted before he’d the chance to delve too deeply.
He had learned some interesting facts, however. The woman considered him her property, and the knowledge proved more potent than…anything. He smiled as he recalled how she’d reacted to other women who’d admired him. Not even Maylyn had been so possessive. No, Maylyn had been content with what time he could give her, unconcerned if he spent time with another female.
The more he considered Katie’s possessiveness and jealousy, the more it thrilled him. Anytime he’d glanced her way, need had smoldered in his blood. He’d wanted to strip her down and plunge his shaft to the hilt, right there in the bar, while music blared and the smoke billowed from a machine.
Such thoughts could do him no good now. The hour was late, and they had much to do on the morrow. Inside their small, private chamber, he stripped Katie of every garment save for the black material that guarded her feminine core. Pretty.
Nay, not a strong enough word. Exquisite. Ethereal. The dark fabric was the perfect contrast for her pale skin.
As he gazed down at her, the air in his lungs heated. Pert breasts. Narrow waist. Heart-shaped hips. Toned legs.
He’d once noticed the freckles on her shoulders and wondered if she had any elsewhere. He now knew she did. A handful of freckles dotted her stomach, the sight tantalizing. He hardened all over again.
No doubt the twilight hours would offer the sweetest kind of torture.
Carefully he placed her in the bed. After stripping down to skin, he climbed in beside her.
He smiled the entire night.
* * *
HMM. THIS PILLOW. It was the warmest one she’d ever owned. And the softest. But oddly enough, also the hardest.
Katie snuggled closer to it, and even skimmed her leg up, up, until she found something hard and hot to prop her knee. A contented sigh escaped. Her head ached a bit, but other than that she felt wonderful.
Deep breath in. Double hmm. Sandalwood, a little taste of heaven. Here, now, she felt safe and secure, and she wanted to stay in this warm refuge forever.
Somewhere in her conscious mind, she heard a loud crack of thunder. Rain beat against the window. Instead of luring her to sleep, however, the pitter-patter helped clear the sleepy fog from her mind.
Time to get up. She stretched. Smiled. Stretched again. If Jorlan were here—
Jorlan!
Hard?
Delicious?
Katie popped open her eyes. She wore a bra and panties, but nothing else. Jorlan lay underneath her, and he was completely naked.
It was one hundred percent obvious his body liked the contact.
Just what had happened last night? Not sex. Her body felt the same as always. She thought back. They’d danced at the bar and then…what?
She studied his sleeping form. Once again, he looked boyish and carefree. A smile graced his expression.
Maybe because I told him I liked his penis?
Oh, crap. She had, hadn’t she?
“Good dawning, katya.” His sexy rumble sent shivers coursing down her spine.
Double crap! He was awake, and he might want to talk about what they’d talked about last night. Trying not to panic, she jerked to her feet, taking the sheet with her, leaving his nakedness in full view. She gasped.
She tried not to look; she really did. But wow! Bigger than I remember. “What happened after I passed out?”
Cozy as a kitchen, he stretched, his mouth curling in a lazy smile. The kind of smile that always preceded trouble. “Nothing. Unfortunately.”
“How did we get here?” She’d been in no condition to drive, but she was the only designated drive. Jorlan didn’t have a license, and there was no way he’d navigated the roads at night without crashing.
Eyeing her through half-lowered lids, he said, “What do you recall about our time at the bar?”
“Not much—” Wrong. Memories flooded her. How he’d flirted, and she’d gotten lippy with Purple. How they’d fought, and only moments later she’d plastered herself against Jorlan to dance. How she’d admitted his sexiness, and wondered if they were fated to be together.
Were they?
Now, her cheeks warmed. “Please excuse me. I need to use the bathroom.” And bury my head in mental sand for a bit.
She didn’t wait for his response, just rushed into the bathroom, shut and locked the door. Leaning against it, she slid to her butt and pulled her knees to her chest.
Gazing into the mirror, she watched her lips lift in a smile. Then she sighed. Obviously, she had feelings for Jorlan. Strong ones. She needed to decide one way or the other. Be with him or not. Marry him or not. Travel to his planet with him or not. No more stringing him along with her indecision. It wasn’t fair to him, and it wasn’t fair to herself.