Torrin’s simple mission is seriously complicated when he finds Arrista, a lovely Sarronti female, in need of rescue. The Sarronti resent the Outcasts and continually sabotage their efforts to build a settlement on the primitive planet. But Arrista isn’t just any Sarronti. She’s the personal servant of one of the most powerful Sarronti. The information Arrista can provide would be vitally important to the Outcasts, so Torrin is ordered to use their mutual attraction to question her.
Arrista has been taught to fear and mistrust the savage Outcasts, so why does she find Torrin so fascinating, so desirable? It’s not just his muscular body and rugged features. He is kinder and more protective than any male she has ever known. She is drawn to him by a force so compelling it leaves her no choice but surrender. She wants him, needs him, but can she trust him not to break her heart?
Copyright © 2019 Cyndi Friberg
Her breath escaped in a shuddering sigh, and she wrapped her free arm around his back. “I’m safe,” she whispered, as if to convince herself. “No one will hurt me.”
“That’s right. I won’t let them.” He released her wrist and brushed her hair back from her face. She’d closed her eyes again, but her body gradually relaxed. One arm pressed against his lower back, while her other hand splayed across his bare chest. She felt so tiny in his embrace, fragile, yet she’d been surprisingly strong. He held her for a while, letting her emerge from the fear as gradually as she liked. It was no sacrifice. He enjoyed holding her, and his body had been aroused long before she cried out.
“You’re so warm,” she murmured without opening her eyes. Her hand absently stroked his chest. “So strong.”
Having no idea how to respond to that, he just held her, patiently waiting for the awkwardness to return. But she didn’t tense, didn’t pull away. Her eyes slowly opened, and her hand slid upward, curving around the nape of his neck. She dragged her fingers through his unbound hair, then tentatively touched his face. All the while, her gaze locked with his, her silvery-blue irises shimmering in the dimness.
Her lips parted as if she’d speak, but no words came out. Her thumb traced his mouth, lingering over the fuller bottom lip. He held still and let her wander, unsure why she was doing this. She pushed against the couch and sat up on his lap as she pulled his face down to hers.
Their lips touched, her warm breath teasing his skin. He didn’t pull back but didn’t respond. This was her show, her exploration. She grew bolder, rubbing her lips over his. A smile crept across his mouth, parting his lips. Was she actually trying to seduce him? As if responding to his question, she took advantage of the invitation. Her tongue eased between his lips for just a moment, then retreated.
Unable to completely suppress his instinctual response to a willing female, he angled his head and fit their mouths together more completely. Then he pushed past her lips and stroked her tongue with his, dragging a moan from them both.
Without separating their mouths, she repositioned, straddling his hips and pressing against his torso. Both her hands pushed into his hair as if she were afraid he’d turn away. He lightly gripped her hips, allowing her the control she clearly needed.
They kissed and kissed, their tongues moving from her mouth to his and back. Her hands moved over his back and shoulders, down his arms and up over his chest. She never lingered in one area long, which added to his restlessness. He wanted to sweep her beneath him and pin her hands above her head. With anyone else that’s exactly what he would have done. Or he’d take her into the bedroom and strip her bare so they could get down to business. But this was Arrista, and she seemed to be exerting her will for the very first time. She was kissing someone because she wanted to kiss them, not because—at least he hoped that’s what was going on.
He wrapped his arm around her waist and eased back. Her gaze immediately darted away, and she tried to climb off his lap. He tightened his arm, holding her in place. “Talk to me. What’s going on?”
“I’m sorry.” She bowed her head, hiding behind her hair. “I know you don’t want me like this.”
Arching his hips and momentarily rubbing against her soft body, he asked, “Does this feel like I don’t want you?”