Free Arak's Love: A World Beyond Book 2 by Michelle Howard

back of her knuckles from a rough, scratchy tongue. She snatched her hand away despite the relief of not losing any body parts. Blue eyes stared into hers and his wide flat nose twitched. His upper lip curled and Sylvie had the distinct feeling he laughed at her. After another head nudge, he turned and lumbered through the doorway.
    “Quick,” Joni said, jumping from the bed to reveal the blue tee strap tank and matching boy shorts she’d slept in.
    Sylvie hesitated.
    Joni hurried to the bedroom door and glanced back over her shoulder, waving. “Come on.”
    Sylvie climbed from the bed and followed Joni as she dashed into the living area. Their visitor sat on his haunches by the front door. Joni beat her to the punch and opened the door for him and their cat visitor casually sauntered through. When the door closed behind him, Joni leaned against the frame and met Sylvie’s gaze across the room. They shared a moment of silence before Joni announced with a smirk. “If that wasn’t your Jutak, I’ll eat their nasty version of alien chocolate.”
    Sylvie groaned and tugged at the hem of her own black boy shorts and matching tank. Exactly what she wanted to hear. The man who rescued her happened to shift into an all white deadly tiger who might be interested in her. She pursed her lips. Okay, definitely showed signs of interest and much to her embarrassment, Sylvie returned the interest. None of it explained what could have possessed him to come into their room during the night but she admitted knowing he’d watched over them gave her a modicum of security.
    ***
     
    Arak made it to his room before shifting to his human form. Perspiration dotted his skin and his shaft pulsed against his thigh with each step he took toward the cleansing room. The scent of Sylvie taunted him as he adjusted the temperature to icy and stepped into the glass enclosure beneath the spray. He immediately fisted his aching length as he remembered the tempting sight she’d made standing feet away in the skimpy undergarments worn by Enotian females.
    Her lithe figure enticed even as the fear in her blue gaze warned that she wouldn’t be receptive to him if he shifted to explain his presence in their quarters. Add in the fact he would have been nude and Arak knew he’d made the right decision when he left after being discovered. His intent had not been to stay the night. Just reassure himself of Sylvie’s safety. Except the events of the night had caught up with him and he’d allowed his exhaustion and her warm scent to lull him into oblivion.
    Arak gave himself a firm squeeze before removing his hand from temptation. He washed in a hurry, letting the cold water cool his mounting desire. By the time he was dressed in his standard uniform, Arak had managed to get his raging libido under control. He ran a towel over his wet hair then tossed it on the cleansing room counter.
    The communicator on his bed side table blinked and buzzed. Arak slid his boots on then answered. “O’Tir.”
    “Torkel wants everyone involved in the last mission to meet in the Comm Center.”
    At Jaron’s words, Arak tensed. If their Unit Leader called a meeting this early, it meant there was new information from the Commander or the Jutak governing council to be shared.
    “I’m on my way.” Arak hesitated then asked the question on his mind because he couldn’t stop thinking of Sylvie. “Will the Earth females be there?”
    A knowing tone entered Jaron’s voice. “Torkel’s Chosen, Faye, took them down for breakfast. I’ll see you when you arrive.”
    The comm blinked out as Jaron disconnected without further conversation. Arak cursed under his breath and left his quarters to take the elevator to the lower level. As soon as he exited on the appropriate floor for the Comm Center, he spotted Faruk coming from the stairwell at the opposite end of the hall.
    “Any idea what’s going on?” Faruk asked, stepping in line with him.
    “Jaron hinted that Torkel wants