Adrift by Erica Conroy Page B

blanket and traced the same trail down his chest that she had when he was unconscious.
    Norik lifted his head slightly and caught sight of the top of her round breasts and swallowed. Hard. He dropped his head back onto the pillow and said, "You do not want to do this."
    "I do," she told him and ran her fingers lightly over the ridges that started behind his ears and ran along his strong shoulders before they disappeared at his elbows. "I realized I hadn't thanked you properly for all that you'd done. So this seems like a good two for one deal."
    Norik's knuckles had gone white from the effort he put into gripping the sides of the bunk. "You have no idea what you are starting. You will not like where this ends up."
    "I want to help you Norik," Jasmine told him. She splayed her fingers across his chest and leaned forward to kiss him.
    He turned his head away and her lips grazed his cheek instead. Her idea of help was torture for him. Norik twisted his body as he tried to push her off, he was acutely aware of her naked breasts pressed against him. She was amazingly soft and warm. It was wonderful. It was also pure torture.
    "Don't you want me?" she asked him between little pecks to his jawline.
    "I do not want to hurt you," he said between clenched teeth.
    "You won't," she told him confidently. Jasmine had no intention of being hurt like his wife had, although it would be a far better way to go than slowly freezing to death. "But if it will make you feel better I'll get some protection."
    Norik was thankful when she slipped from him. His blood burned through his veins. He did want her, more than she could possibly imagine. But she had no idea what she was asking of him and he was deathly scared that he would lose control and hurt her, like he had done to Lilah, or worse. If he did anything to harm Jasmine, he would do what he should have done ten years ago. Take his own life.
    Norik turned his head and caught sight of Jasmine bending over the next bunk. Her naked behind beckoned him and he lost the fight. His heart raced and he found himself unable to stop as he leaped from the bed.

    Jasmine reached for the plasma blaster. She wouldn't use it on him, but if it made him feel better then so be it. He needed to know that he wasn't the monster he said he was and even if they died in a few days at least he would go happy. And she'd have gotten laid. She only hoped that the sex was worth it. He definitely looked worth it.
    "Forgive me," he breathed into her ear and he felt her jump against him.
    Jasmine had the plasma blaster in her hand and had almost straightened when she felt Norik's hard body at her back. She didn't have time to contemplate what he was apologizing for because the next thing she felt was his teeth digging into her shoulder. His left arm snaked out from under hers and clutched at her breast.
    Jasmine gasped in surprise. She dropped the plasma blaster, grabbed hold of the top bunk and braced herself before he took her from behind. Her eyes widened and she would have yelped if she hadn't bitten down hard on her lower lip. She was thankful that she had already been aroused, so even though this was unexpected, it could have been worse. He could have hurt her. She pushed all thoughts along those lines from her mind. She had wanted to help him and she wanted sex, she was getting her wish so she decided she might as well enjoy it. She just hoped he wouldn't freak out afterward.
    Norik was completely lost. Hunger and desire were all he knew and all he could do was give in to them until sated. He was completely consumed by her. Her taste, her scent and the soft folds that molded to him with every thrust. He heard her quiet whimpers and drove harder to make them louder and hear them again. She was now his and he needed her to know that. If she couldn't accept that then she would be no ones. He closed his eyes tightly and prayed she wouldn't reject him. Not like Lilah had. All he knew was that he was hurting her and it hurt