* *
The shuttle landed in the compound not long
after daybreak. Felix strode toward the vehicle and was surprised to see the
twins inside.
“I thought Leo was going to collect us,” he
said.
“He left for Dalcon to pick up supplies for
Ma,” Joe said.
“Well, as long as someone came to pick us
up.”
“Where’s the woman?” Sly asked, humor
dancing in his green eyes. “Did you tire her out or has she run off screaming
into the jungle?”
“Very funny,” Felix muttered, yet he felt
too loose and limber to put any punch into his reply.
“Ma sent some clothes for her,” Joe said
and handed over a bag. “Scarlett donated them, although she wasn’t very happy.
Said she didn’t have many to spare.”
“Thanks, I’ll buy Scarlett something nice
next time we go to Dalcon.”
“Do you want anything loaded into the
shuttle?” Joe asked.
“The boxes in the first hut. We won’t be
long,” Felix said.
In the hut, Casey was still asleep. Felix
watched her for long seconds, loath to wake her when she needed the rest. He’d
let her sleep late tomorrow—after he explained he had no intention of letting
her board the shuttle back to Dalcon. Lucky for him, his private suite possessed
stout locks on the door. He had a feeling he’d need them.
“Casey, it’s time to go. Casey…”
She bolted upright in the bed, eyes wide
and her hair sticking up in short spikes that reminded him of a ruffled
hedgehog. “Is it time to ship out? Phrull , why didn’t my alarm go off?”
Her head shook from side to side and her eyes focused, narrowed a fraction.
Fascinating to witness—the transition from
confusion to full alertness. Felix smiled and handed her the bag. “My sister
Scarlett sent you some clothes. Why don’t you have a quick wash and change
while I pack up here? There’s cold water in the basin over there.”
Something slammed shut in her expression.
An unpleasant thought? Felix didn’t know, but it made him ache to hold her, and
he went with instinct. “They say on my planet if you exchange a kiss in the
morning, the feel-good factor increases a person’s life by five years.”
“I don’t believe you.” Hard, clipped words.
Military words.
“But a kiss is such a simple thing, an
exchange of affection. Why would you risk the rapid passing of years if you
could slow them with a kiss?” This time, he pounced, grasping her shoulders and
tipping up her chin for easy access to her mouth. He took the kiss, used his
expertise to urge her to respond, and after a long hesitation, she settled her
hands on his shoulders and leaned into him.
Felix wanted to cheer. Instead, aware of
his brothers waiting, he pulled back, pressed a brief kiss to her forehead. He
lifted her off the bed and stood her on her feet. “Joe and Sly are here to take
us back to the resort.”
She gave a curt nod and retreated to the
basin of water, grabbing the soap and towel he’d left for her use.
Felix started to strip the bed because Ma
would kick his butt if he didn’t leave the place clean and ready for the next
series of captures.
Casey…Casey was a puzzle, one he intended
to solve. The sad and forlorn expression he caught on her face twisted his
heart and poked at him. He wanted to take her into his arms and tell her that
whatever worried her, he’d take care of it. He’d take care of her .
Silly, since he’d known her mere days, but she spoke to the warrior in him,
made him want to protect, to become a better man…to become her man.
Instinct told him to wait, to let her come
to trust him and confide her secrets when she was ready, but patience didn’t
sit comfortably on his shoulders. His feline didn’t like the idea of waiting
one single bit. Felix grunted as he worked. Never had he been so aware of his
feline pulsing under his skin. Oh, he was conscious of his dual nature, but
since meeting Casey, his feline struggled for control. Or was it his
imagination? Damn if he knew.
Maybe he’d shift later tonight,
The shuttle landed in the compound not long
after daybreak. Felix strode toward the vehicle and was surprised to see the
twins inside.
“I thought Leo was going to collect us,” he
said.
“He left for Dalcon to pick up supplies for
Ma,” Joe said.
“Well, as long as someone came to pick us
up.”
“Where’s the woman?” Sly asked, humor
dancing in his green eyes. “Did you tire her out or has she run off screaming
into the jungle?”
“Very funny,” Felix muttered, yet he felt
too loose and limber to put any punch into his reply.
“Ma sent some clothes for her,” Joe said
and handed over a bag. “Scarlett donated them, although she wasn’t very happy.
Said she didn’t have many to spare.”
“Thanks, I’ll buy Scarlett something nice
next time we go to Dalcon.”
“Do you want anything loaded into the
shuttle?” Joe asked.
“The boxes in the first hut. We won’t be
long,” Felix said.
In the hut, Casey was still asleep. Felix
watched her for long seconds, loath to wake her when she needed the rest. He’d
let her sleep late tomorrow—after he explained he had no intention of letting
her board the shuttle back to Dalcon. Lucky for him, his private suite possessed
stout locks on the door. He had a feeling he’d need them.
“Casey, it’s time to go. Casey…”
She bolted upright in the bed, eyes wide
and her hair sticking up in short spikes that reminded him of a ruffled
hedgehog. “Is it time to ship out? Phrull , why didn’t my alarm go off?”
Her head shook from side to side and her eyes focused, narrowed a fraction.
Fascinating to witness—the transition from
confusion to full alertness. Felix smiled and handed her the bag. “My sister
Scarlett sent you some clothes. Why don’t you have a quick wash and change
while I pack up here? There’s cold water in the basin over there.”
Something slammed shut in her expression.
An unpleasant thought? Felix didn’t know, but it made him ache to hold her, and
he went with instinct. “They say on my planet if you exchange a kiss in the
morning, the feel-good factor increases a person’s life by five years.”
“I don’t believe you.” Hard, clipped words.
Military words.
“But a kiss is such a simple thing, an
exchange of affection. Why would you risk the rapid passing of years if you
could slow them with a kiss?” This time, he pounced, grasping her shoulders and
tipping up her chin for easy access to her mouth. He took the kiss, used his
expertise to urge her to respond, and after a long hesitation, she settled her
hands on his shoulders and leaned into him.
Felix wanted to cheer. Instead, aware of
his brothers waiting, he pulled back, pressed a brief kiss to her forehead. He
lifted her off the bed and stood her on her feet. “Joe and Sly are here to take
us back to the resort.”
She gave a curt nod and retreated to the
basin of water, grabbing the soap and towel he’d left for her use.
Felix started to strip the bed because Ma
would kick his butt if he didn’t leave the place clean and ready for the next
series of captures.
Casey…Casey was a puzzle, one he intended
to solve. The sad and forlorn expression he caught on her face twisted his
heart and poked at him. He wanted to take her into his arms and tell her that
whatever worried her, he’d take care of it. He’d take care of her .
Silly, since he’d known her mere days, but she spoke to the warrior in him,
made him want to protect, to become a better man…to become her man.
Instinct told him to wait, to let her come
to trust him and confide her secrets when she was ready, but patience didn’t
sit comfortably on his shoulders. His feline didn’t like the idea of waiting
one single bit. Felix grunted as he worked. Never had he been so aware of his
feline pulsing under his skin. Oh, he was conscious of his dual nature, but
since meeting Casey, his feline struggled for control. Or was it his
imagination? Damn if he knew.
Maybe he’d shift later tonight,
Similar Books
