The intense look on Tane’s face stole Selena’s breath.
His fingers bit into her hips and he jerked her forward. She found herself straddling his head, his mouth right there.
“Tane,” she breathed.
“Addicted to the taste of you. Will never get enough of it.” He put his mouth on her.
Oh. Air rushed out of her. She arched, sensations arrowing through her. He licked her, that amazing tongue knowing just how to give her pleasure.
He urged her to move, and soon, she was lost, her inhibitions gone. She rode his face, his mouth driving her to places that made her sob.
Her orgasm grew, swelling, then it crashed over her. Her husky scream filled the room, her pleasure making her shatter.
Distantly, she heard Tane groan, and felt the bite of his fingers on her bottom. Her body was still trembling when he nudged her back.
“Ride me, Butterfly.”
Excitement wound through her. “How?”
“Lift your hips and take my cock. Position me right where you need me.”
She’d just come, but the frantic, harsh need in his voice made excitement shoot through her. She gripped his cock and made a humming noise. So thick, so hot. The head lodged in her folds and she froze.
“That’s it, Selena.” Tane’s hand pushed her down.
Her gaze locked with his, and slowly, she took his cock inside her. The delicious stretching felt amazing.
He made a harsh sound. “Too damn tight.”
“Isn’t tight good?” she panted.
“Not if I hurt you.”
Warmth filled her. “You won’t. Don’t hold back.”
He groaned again. With a growl, he thrust his hips up, and then he was all the way inside her.
Selena gasped for air, her hands on his hard pecs.
His dark eyes glittered. “Selena, so damn gorgeous.”
She moved her hips slowly, testing it out. She rose and fell, listening to the deep, masculine sounds coming out of him.
Soon, she was moving quicker, feeling sharp bursts of pleasure.
“I’m sorry,” he growled.
She frowned. What was he sorry for?
His grip on her hips tightened, and he thrust her down as he bumped his hips up.
She made a strangled sound. So deep. He took over, plunging into her with hard, relentless thrusts.
Selena matched the rhythm. Harder, more. “Deep.” Her voice sounded different, hoarse, needy. “So deep inside me, Tane.”
“I’d go deeper, if I could. Find a way to be a part of you.”
His possessive words filled her. She felt the heat of her climax growing, like a fire building into a raging blaze.
She stared down at his rugged face, the harsh lines she loved so much. He fingered her clit, his thumb shifting to rub right where she needed it.
With another hard thrust, Selena came. The force of her orgasm made her entire body shake, her vision blurring. The pleasure was so intense, like the brightest light had illuminated inside her.
Tane made a harsh sound. He surged up to sit, so they were face to face. His arms wrapped around her, his swollen cock lodged deep.
He made a sound—part groan, part growl. His big body shuddered, and she clung to him as he came.
Selena pressed her face to his neck and nuzzled his pulse point. She absorbed the life and energy of him. He was like a thunderstorm with lightning sparking, and she gorged on him.
She felt possessed, protected, claimed. He was hers, and she was his. She stroked her hands up and down his back. “Thank you.”
He pulled back, one eyebrow raised. “I hope you aren’t thanking me for fucking you hard and coming even harder inside you?”
She flushed. “I am. It was amazing.”
He kissed her. “You’re amazing. “Sleep now, Butterfly.”
It only took her seconds to fall asleep, held tight in Tane’s arms, his scent deep in her senses.
Selena woke wrapped around Tane’s strong body.
She smiled, warmth spilling inside her. She’d slept in Tane’s arms. She’d felt his big body moving inside hers. She’d kissed him. She’d spent the entire night, safe and warm, beside him. Inside her chest, her heart was dancing.
A big hand stroked up her side. “You’re awake.”
His voice was low and gritty with sleep. She nodded.
“Feel all right?”
She rolled and met his dark gaze. “Better than all right.”
He cupped her ass and she made a small, husky sound.
“Wish we could spend some more time here, babe, but I’m due at training soon,” he said.
Disappointment skimmed through her happy. “And I’m due at the lab.”
“Well, we still have time for a shower.”
Her pulse leaped.
They took a shower together, an experience that left Selena breathless. It was all lazy kisses, and soapy, exploring hands. He showed her how to stroke his cock until he came with a groan, spurting against her belly. Then he’d pinned her to the tiles, his hand working between her legs, until her cries echoed off the walls. Afterward, when Tane smiled at her—something he did so rarely—her heart squeezed.
Finally, they dressed, and he took her to her quarters so she could change into clean clothes. He was wearing cargo pants and a tight, black T-shirt stretched over his hard chest. Just looking at him made her feel a flicker of hunger.
Apparently, she was well and truly addicted to sex. Or at least, sex with Tane.
She quickly changed into jeans and a top of a pretty sea blue. When she closed the door, he took her hand and they headed to the infirmary.
Even just walking with him made her happy. Ahead, the infirmary doors appeared.
She turned to him. “I hope you—”
He backed her up against the wall.
“—have a good day,” she finished on a squeak.
His big body was pressed against hers. “Be careful.”
She nodded.
“I’ll meet you at the rec room for drinks this afternoon.”
“I’d like that.”
Then he kissed her. Slow, deliberate, until it had her blood humming.
“Miss you already, Butterfly.”
“See you later,” she said breathlessly.
She watched him stride down the corridor. All that sexy strength. Mine.
“Holy cow,” a feminine voice said. “That was hot.”
“Smokin’.”
Selena spun and saw Claudia, Cam, Taylor, Sienna, and Mac standing in a group at the other end of the corridor.
A flush hit her cheeks. “Hi.”
“So, he finally stopped fighting and gave in.” Mac grinned.
“Um.” Selena tucked her hair behind her ear.
“I don’t even have to ask how it was,” Cam said. “You’re glowing. Not literally, which I know you do sometimes, but you look happy.”
Selena smiled. “I am happy.”
“He took care of you?” Claudia demanded.
The Hell Squad soldier’s brow was creased. This woman had been Selena’s first human friend. Had protected and helped rescue her from the Gizzida.
Selena nodded. “Sex is…” The memories made her shiver.
“Oh, it was your first time.” Sienna Rossi clapped her hands together, her dark curls bouncing. She was so sweet and pretty that it was hard to believe she was a Squad Nine soldier. “Excellent choice for your first, carina.”
The heat in Selena’s cheeks deepened. “I’ve wanted him for so long.”
“He was gentle?” Claudia asked.
“Um, no.”
Taylor frowned, one hand on her hip. “He hurt you?”
“Gosh, no,” Selena said. “He was hard, rough, intense.”
“Oh, boy,” Mac murmured.
“Did you enjoy it?” Claudia demanded bluntly. “He made sure you came?”
Selena felt a wild flutter of embarrassment. “Um, yes, four times.” She thought it was four, she’d kind of lost count.
Claudia blinked. “Four times?”
“Nice work, Tane,” Taylor drawled.
“If he doesn’t treat you right, you tell me,” Claudia said.
Selena hugged the woman. “I love you.”
“Love you, too. Happy that you’re getting some hot sex from a hot berserker.”
“I can vouch that hot berserker sex is awesome.” Cam winked.
“I’ve got to get to work,” Selena said.
She got hugs and waves, and watched the women walk away. She felt another flush of warmth and love inside her. She hadn’t just made friends here, she’d found a family.
Feeling light and happy, she entered the infirmary. When she reached the lab, Emerson spun, her eyes wide and excited over her mask. “Guess what?”
“What?”
“Early results from one of the solutions I made with your blood are very promising.” The doctor looked at all the samples on her bench. “Selena, it’s killing the Gizzida DNA.”
“That’s great.” Selena felt a leap of excitement.
Emerson paused. “You look different.”
Selena cleared her throat. “I slept well.”
“Right. Well, the other solutions haven’t worked, and I haven’t deciphered why this one did yet.”
Noah sauntered over, rolling something between his fingers. It was a metallic set of dice. Selena had noted that the man had a large collection of the small items.
“She’s mixing your blood with cineole,” Noah said.
“The solution is in here somewhere,” Emerson said. “I know it. Now, let’s do this.”
Noah leaned closer to Selena. “Nice stubble-burn on your neck.”
Selena’s hand flew up to her throat. “Um.”
Noah winked and Selena smothered a laugh.
Tane walked into the rec room with the rest of his squad. They were all showered and changed after a day of training, followed by an emergency call to bring in a group of survivors.
The small, ragged group had been malnourished, and hadn’t bathed in days. They’d escaped from some group in the mountains, where some asshole had declared himself supreme leader. When he’d started eyeing teenage girls to be his potential “wives”, a lot of people had decided to take their chances against the Gizzida.
Selena was right. There would always be bad guys, and there would always be the need for good guys to help keep them in line.
Hemi grabbed some homebrew beers from the bar and handed them around.
“I am thirsty.” Hemi chugged his back.
“Pool?” Griff called out to Dom.
The dark-haired man nodded and the pair snagged a pool table.
There was no sign of Selena. Tane was itching to see her. All day, the slightest thought of how she tasted or the sounds she’d made under his hands, had gotten him hard.
They sat in some armchairs, and a moment later, Indy appeared. Their comms officer made a beeline for Griff.
The berserker turned and Indy jumped on him. Griff cupped her ass as she wrapped her legs around his waist and kissed him.
“Howdy, boys.” Cam said, as she and Arden appeared.
Arden, an elegant brunette who was Squad Nine’s comms officer, smiled and nodded to the squad. Dom appeared beside her, sliding an arm around his woman and nuzzling her cheek. He murmured something that made her smile.
Arden had lost her family in the invasion. Every time Tane had seen the comms officer, she’d often been sad and never smiled. But falling in love with an ex-Mafia enforcer who loved her completely had brought her smile back.
Cam sat on the arm of Hemi’s chair and smacked a kiss to his bearded face.
Then she shot Tane a knowing look, which told him that the cat was out of the bag about him and Selena.
Ash and Marin arrived next.
“Hey, Marin, you okay?” Cam asked.
The blonde nodded. “Fine. Some stellar nightmares, but I have a big, tattooed berserker to cuddle.”
Ash pulled her closer. “It’s my pleasure to distract you and help you get back to sleep.” His tone left no doubt as to how he did that.
Marin slapped his chest.
“I’m not talking to you!” A sharp female voice cut across the room.
“Babe.” Levi, his hair tied up at the back of his head, strode in behind an angry Chrissy.
The redhead tossed her hair over her shoulder. The fiery pair were always arguing, then making up. Sure enough, Levi lunged, lifted Chrissy off her feet, and spun her. His mouth landed on hers. Chrissy fought him, managed to slap him on the back, then she melted into the kiss. A second later, her hands were in his hair and she was kissing him back.
Tane shook his head. The pair got off on fighting.
Then, he saw Selena.
She stood in the doorway like a sexy fairy. Her hair was in a ponytail, she was wearing the jeans that drove him crazy, and that blue shirt that made her skin look like a pearl.
She spotted him and smiled.
“Here comes our pretty alien,” Hemi said. “My bro’s been very tight-lipped about their dinner.”
“I bet,” Cam drawled.
Selena arrived. “Hi.”
Tane tumbled her into his lap and swallowed her gasp of surprise with his mouth. He took his time kissing her until she was clinging to him.
He ignored the hoots and hollers of their friends.
“Hi,” he murmured.
“Hi.”
“I fucking love this.” Hemi stood, leaned over, and planted a big kiss on Selena’s mouth. “You are perfect for him.”
She blushed.
“We need more drinks,” Hemi bellowed.
Tane held her close. “Missed you today.”
She smiled. “We were so busy. Emerson thinks one of her mixtures might work on the Gizzida DNA. She used my blood—”
“Your blood?” He frowned. He hated the idea of her being a damned lab rat.
She cupped his cheek. “Emerson’s not hurting me. If it helps save us—” her gaze dropped to his lips “—save you, it’s worth it.”
It might be helpful, but he still didn’t like it.
“Anyway, she’ll run more tests overnight. We should know more in the morning. This could be it, Tane. A way to stop the Gizzida bombs.”
He ran his hand over her hair. “Good.”
She fidgeted in his lap.
He caught her hip. “If you don’t sit still, I’ll embarrass myself.”
Her tongue touched her lip and she lowered her voice. “When can we get out of here?”
Shit, she wasn’t helping his erection go down. He reached up, brushing his thumb over her lips. “You hungry, Butterfly?”
Her voice was a whisper. “Yes, starving.”
Damn. His cock throbbed. “I want to be inside you so badly.”
“Hey, Selena,” Hemi said, interrupting them. “We were talking earlier about your home world, and what you do for fun there. Like sports.”
Tane took a sip of his beer, taking the time to cool himself down, but still enjoying holding onto her.
“We don’t play sports on Florum,” Selena said.
Hemi froze. “No sports? None at all?”
She shook her head. “We aren’t a very physical species. We’re more academic. We do enjoy hiking, connecting with nature.”
“Well, you’ll have to learn rugby now,” Hemi said.
“Okay.”
The conversation moved and shifted, drifting over various topics. It was clear that everyone was trying hard not to think of the alien bombs.
Tane’s chest tightened. They could all feel the clock ticking, the sound getting louder as time passed. He looked at Selena. She was laughing at something Cam said, and her face looked happy and serene. He would do whatever he had to in order for her to survive.
“Evening, everyone.”
Tane tilted his head back and saw Manu and Kate. Manu studied Selena sitting in Tane’s lap, and caught Tane’s gaze. His brother nodded his approval.
“This is what life would be like after the Gizzida,” Selena murmured.
“Yeah.” Tane hadn’t thought much about it. He was a soldier; it was all he knew. He was always thinking of the next battle, not what it would be like if they won the war.
If they did drive the Gizzida away, he couldn’t see himself farming, or anything like that. But spending time with his brothers, his friends, Selena, yeah.
“What would you do?” she asked. “If the Gizzida were gone?”
“Not sure. I told you, I’m only good at fighting.”
Her eyes sparked. “You’re strong and protective. I’m sure you’d find a way to put those skills to good use.”
A secret wish welled up, one he never consciously acknowledged or told anyone before. One he hadn’t thought he deserved.
Her hand slid up to his cheek. “Tane?”
“I’d like to be a dad.”
She stilled. “What?”
“I had a good childhood, good parents. I want to raise a kid, keep him or her safe. Teach them. Take them climbing, hiking, teach them to play rugby.”
He saw something shift in her eyes, her happiness leaking away.
“Selena?” He tipped her chin up.
“I… We… Might not be compatible.”
He smiled and stroked her cheek. “We aren’t so different. Like you said, we have the same bits in the right places.”
Her green eyes shot open, impossibly wide. “We have ways to control conception on Florum, but I’m obviously not using any of that. Do you have some form of contraception?”
“No.”
“Oh!” She tried to scramble out of his lap. “What if…? What if…?”
Her panic was cute. Tane rose and pulled her with him. “Excuse us.”
“I knew you’d abandon us, Rahia,” Levi called out.
“I think he’s got better things to do,” Cam drawled, followed by some good-natured laughter from the assembled group.
Tane pulled Selena into the corridor.
She spun to face him. “What if I’m pregnant?” Her face was pale, voice panicked. “What if—?”
“If you’re pregnant, then we’ll make a beautiful baby.”
She stilled, staring at him.
He cupped her cheeks, forcing her to look at him. “I want you pregnant.”
“Tane,” she breathed.
He rubbed his fingers along her temples. “I want you tied to me. I wanted to be an us, not a you and me.”
She blew out a breath. “Until we beat the Gizzida, I can’t…”
He nodded. He wanted the world to be safe for a baby to grow up in, too. “I’ll talk to Doc Emerson about getting an implant.”
Selena smiled. “Thank you.” She fidgeted for a moment. “Will that take long?”
He grinned. “Let’s go find her.”