Free Alien Heart by Lily Marie

eyes—and she was on her back before she could blink. He crawled over her, naked now, using his teeth to slide the towel off her breasts. Anji bowed off the bed when those teeth scraped over her nipple.
    “Kiele—God, don’t stop.”
    He teased one breast, then moved to the other, nipping, licking, kissing every inch of skin. Her hands slid up his back, over the scales tracing his spine. He stilled against her, lifted his head.
    “Anji—” He shuddered under her touch. “They do not—disgust you?”
    “Your scales? God, no. They feel like silk. Why do some of you have more than others?”
    “Those who spend more—time in the water keep their scales.” He was having a hard time talking, and she liked that she was the reason. “As commander of a ship, I spend the minimal amount.”
    “Fascinating.” She dragged her fingers up his spine again, and he took her lips in a hot, drugging kiss. She gasped when his cock pressed into her, hard and thick. He smiled against her mouth and pushed himself deeper, just an inch, just enough to drive her crazy. “More.”
    “Patience, t’anling . We have all night.”
    “Good God.”
    He was going to kill her with love.

Six
     
    Kiele strode through the ship, taking in the damage as he headed for the prison wing.
    He felt—lighter, stronger. Anji was a wonder; so human, yet so accepting of what must be strange and often unfathomable. Being the hybrid of two worlds—water and air—gave the T’An abilities beyond the people they once were. That she trusted him, opened herself to him, joined with him…
    His heart ached from the joy of her.
    As he rounded the corner, and faced the prison, his heart ached for another reason.
    Orlen stood in front of Lian’s cell, and it did not take a stretch to know which side his engineer would be on.
    “Leave us, Orlen.”
    He bowed his head. “Commander.”
    Kiele waited for his footsteps to fade before he turned to his brother.
    “Why, Lian?”
    “You know why. We need—”
    “You will never have my support, not for this. Certainly not when you board my ship like thieves and blow up my engine.”
    “Why are we still moving? I heard the explosion myself—”
    “A tactic I learned from the humans. Always have a backup.” He almost smiled at the confusion on Lian’s face. “I have a secondary engine. It will be powerful enough to take us where we need to go.”
    Lian sneered. “You still have your misplaced affection for this race. They are inferior, Kiele. Violent, selfish, destructive to their own environment. Do you know what they wrought on their only planet—”
    “I know them, Lian. Their history is like ours—flawed. But they are worthy of our alliance, our friendship. What your scientists are doing is wrong.”
    “They are trying to save us, Kiele. Have you noticed your time between necessary immersions has shortened? There are many who think we may be reverting—”
    “None of that excuses what they are doing.” Kiele stepped so close to the force field separating them the energy brushed over his skin. “If I ever come across one of their death labs, I will shut it down. With force.”
    Lian brushed damp hair off his face. Pern had obviously taken Kiele at his word, giving his brother time in immersion. “If you would only talk to one of them—”
    “This conversation is done, little brother. Once we reach the planet, I am handing you over to the tribunal—”
    “Kiele—”
    “For damaging my ship, and threatening the lives of my crew. It is past time you learned that your actions have consequences.”
    Kiele walked away, steeling himself against the pleas Lian shouted at him. He halted when he turned the corner; Orlen waited there, frowning.
    “Say one word in Lian’s defense, and you will join him at the tribunal.”
    “Commander—”
    “Someone told Lian how to board my ship.”
    “It was not me, Kiele.” The calm tone in Orlen’s voice, with no hint of panic, told Kiele he spoke the truth.