Free Aramus by Eve Langlais Page B

ridiculously sexy. Sure, he didn’t have the pampered looks of a supermodel, but he was attractive in his own right, his craggy features so masculine, so riveting. His piercing stare had taken in her appearance and strayed to her breasts more than once in obvious male appreciation and yet not once had he made a sexual remark or innuendo.
    Which was why his kiss surprised her so much. A part of her understood he did this to shock her , to put her in her place and fear him. It had the opposite effect. Instead, as soon as their lips touched, an almost electrical sensation went through her, a tingle that heated her blood and softened her mouth so that what started as a bruising embrace turned into a sensual exploration of lips, and then the melding of tongues.
    It had been so long since she’d enjoyed the touch of a man, or at least a touch not meant to cause pain. Longer still since she’d kissed anyone, her last boyfriend so long ago she scarcely could recall his face. She gave herself to the kiss wholeheartedly, blossoming under the tender caress like a desert bloom after a sudden rain shower. Her body heated, moisture pooling between her thighs, her nipples tightening in anticipation. Even her toes curled as her whole body—
    How far would it have gone had the onboard speaker not crackled to life with a static message of, “Avion has woken.”
    Despite the interruption, he didn’t shove her away or end the kiss abruptly. With obvious reluctance, he gave her lower lip a last suck before leaning away from her. What he saw when he stared at her she would have dearly loved to know.
    Whatever it was, he didn’t like it because his face went from that of bemused kisser to hardened soldier in an instant. “Get the fuck out of here.” When she hesitated, he barked, “Now!”
    Away s he scooted, the portal to the room whisking open as she neared it allowing her to exit. She ran into the solid chest of the cyborg waiting outside. Or at least she assumed he was cyborg. Nothing about his outward appearance, other than his extreme size and fitness, made him seem inhuman.
    “Sorry,” she muttered, eyes downcast, flustered at what had just occurred.
    Her guard didn’t seem to notice her frazzled state because he pivoted on his heel with a blandly spoken, “Follow me.”
    She almost had to run to keep up with the male’s longer stride, but she didn’t let that stop her from asking questions, anything to get her mind off the surprise kiss. “Are you a cyborg too?”
    The guard pivoted his head, more than a normal spine could have handled, to shoot her an amused look. “What do you think?”
    “That you should have auditioned for a part in The Exorcist .”
    A crease marred the smoothness of his forehead. “I don’t understand the reference.”
    “ Sorry. I was referring to a movie I saw as a teenager.”
    “One of those entertainment pieces you humans enjoy so much?”
    How odd the way he spoke, as if they were two different species. Did cyborgs truly see themselves as so different? They started out human. And definitely kissed like one. Maybe better. Yet, they seemed to equate themselves to something on a whole different plane. Did they truly not recall their time when they lived normal lives on earth? She realized her guide was waiting for a reply. “Yes, that’s what I’m referring to. Don’t you watch them too?”
    “No. They have no educational value.”
    “They’re not meant to teach but pass the time.”
    “I’d rather spend my time being constructive.”
    “All work, no play? That doesn’t seem like much fun.”
    “Fun is not a system requirement. We have arrived at your quarters. Food will be delivered shortly. Please inform the others.”
    He didn’t quite shove her through the opening, but the cyborg, who didn’t think he needed fun in his life, couldn’t get rid of her fast enough.
    Before she could dwell on their odd way of viewing things—or the incredible kiss—she was bombarded by