Free Pale Stars in Her Eyes by Annabel Wolfe Page B

say anything.” She quickly averted her gaze.
    "You know you don't have to speak it out loud. Not with me."
    She knew. That's why she consciously didn't allow anything but physical sensation to be in charge when they were together. To try and distract him and herself, she lifted her pelvis and tried to absorb more of his erection.
    "Jerra.” He didn't move to help, only half-penetrating her, his arms braced by her shoulders. “Look at me."
    She shook her head, suddenly afraid. Of what, she wasn't sure, but definitely afraid.
    "Look at me."
    Finally, she obeyed, meeting his emerald eyes with defiant challenge, her heart feeling tight in her chest. “What?"
    The set of his mouth was tense, as were the powerful muscles of his shoulders under her hands. “I would like to hear you say it."
    A human captive in love with one of the most powerful males of the entire S-species? A male who manipulated nations and policies, who interfered in wars and held the ear of the entire government? It was ridiculous, and she knew it.
    "No.” Her refusal was decisive. “I won't, Ran. I think we both understand why."
    Still unmoving, he smiled in a slow curve of his lips that made her breathing hitch to a higher notch. “You have the most damnable stubborn pride of any female—human or otherwise—I have ever met. And you are wrong, I don't understand. What's wrong with telling me?"
    "Maybe because it's hopeless.” She didn't want to feel anything but pleasure right now, and certainly not despair. “Just fuck me and forget it, please. I'm here and you can tell I'm ready for it, can't you?” She wriggled her hips, feeling the unsatisfying depth of only half his rigid cock.
    "Stop trying to distract me.” His expression was a mixture of tenderness and censure. “I want to talk about this."
    "Now?"
    "When better than when we are making love?"
    Flippantly, she said, “I thought we were fucking."
    "Then you were wrong. Have I ever used that word once in front of you? Even in the beginning, I have never referred to what happens between us that way."
    In retrospect, he hadn't. Larik did often enough, but to him, sex was a game, and even he used the crudity only to tease her.
    "No,” she admitted.
    "Is that what you feel I do to you?” His verdant eyes were dark, and his mouth a little tight. “Just use your body so I get off? Admit it, Jerra, from our very first time, you knew that wasn't true. Now, tell me."
    He was right. He'd been sinfully tender, giving generously as well as taking, and the culmination of any woman's romantic dreams as a lover. Handsome, intelligent, sensitive, and solicitous; the list of his attributes went on. They all treated her more as a friend than a mistress, but Ran most of all. No wonder she'd been supremely foolish and tumbled into her current state. Inexperienced and alone, it was naïve for her to have dreams of forever, but maybe a romantic fantasy wasn't so surprising. At least she was pragmatic enough to realize it was just that—a fantasy.
    But it didn't stop her from loving him.
    "Fine.” She said the word with quiet resignation. “I love you. I'm surprised you haven't sensed it before, but I've been doing my best to keep it hidden."
    "I have sensed it before."
    "There, you see, so why did you make me say it? Can we please just continue?"
    "Yes, we can. In a moment.” He stared down at her, holding her gaze. His thick hair was ruffled attractively against his strong neck and his muscular, bare torso glistened in the soft lighting. “First, I have something to tell you. I asked to be the one to inseminate you on our return voyage. This morning, my request was granted. I'll father the child you are scheduled to breed."
    Jerra felt a burst of joy, for she had been apprehensive over the event she knew was destined to be initiated once they were headed back to the home planet of her captors. Larik was frank with her on any subject she cared to discuss, and the way he described the process made her