I can’t imagine how much more traumatized seeing the alien would have been to these women.

“You are safe now,” I turn and say to the one that had spoken to me first after I’d been dropped into the Scrit. “These men…these Vullan…they are on our side.” My gaze moves over the three of them before landing back on the one I focused on first. “You don’t have to worry anymore.”

Her eyes darts to Ga’Var then to Fer’ro at my side before she hastily lowers gaze. “How are you so sure?”

I find myself straightening my back a little. “Because I trust these males with my life.”

My ba’clan pulse against me and for the first time, I can make out the others’ symbiotes pulsing against them too—as if my words moved them.

It’s a comforting pulse as usual, a strange sort of communication among us that I never noticed the Vullan did before.

“We near the ship,” Fer’ro whispers in my ear and his hot breath sends a tingle down my spine.

I nod as I glance at him over my shoulder.

“We’re going to board their ship now. Do not be afraid. They will not harm you.”

The women jerk their chins at me as they nod but fear still shines in their eyes.

They are dirty.

Skinny.

Tired.

Frail.

I wonder if I still look like that?

I certainly don’t feel like that anymore.

As the lift docks and we enter the dim interior of the ship, Fer’ro clicks orders as the other Vullan file out.

“Ga’Var will take them to He’rox for healing and then show them to private quarters.”

“Oh.” I turn as Ga’var towers over the women.

He does nothing to make himself look smaller. Standing at his full height, he looks like the sentinel of death.

The women’s fear is palpable and I can see Ga’Var’s symbiotes ripple.

“Maybe I should stay with them. This has been a…nerve-wracking experience. I’m sure they’d be happier with another human there.”

“No.”

Fer’ro speaks so firmly I have to turn in his direction again.

“What? Why not?”

“You have done enough for today. You’re coming with me.”

When I turn to glance behind me, Ga’Var is already directing the women toward a door in the wall. It opens to another corridor and as they step in, the wall reforms behind them.

A lump grows in my throat and my heart picks up its pace.

It’s not that I don’t want to rest…it’s just that…I’m not sure what will happen if I’m around Fer’ro again…alone.

“Come, Adee’ra.”

This tall, dark alien is walking in front of me down the corridor, and as we walk, every other Vullan we pass makes eye contact with me before placing one palm on top of the other and bending their forehead to it. I quickly realize it’s a shortened, more informal version of what they did outside.

We’re at the entrance to Fer’ro’s quarters far too quickly and as he steps through the door, I pause on the outside for a little.

If I go in there…

My ba’clan pulse against me as if telling me to enter.

But if I go in there… If we’re alone together again…

My ba’clan pulse once more and my legs move almost of their own volition, pulling me inside the room.

Fer’ro is standing at the cleansing station and when I step in, his symbiotes retract, showing him bare.

I swallow hard, my tongue flicking out of my mouth to wet my lips as I stare.

He’s truly magnificent looking.

Those corded muscles under that dark skin look like they’re sculpted from metal and my hands itch to touch him.

I can feel my lungs starting to work harder as I stand there, unable to move, only able to stare like some creep.

Get a grip, Adira!

But the only thing I want to grip is standing right there in front of me, no shame in his nakedness…

Fuck.

It feels wrong to be having these thoughts. So carnal.

Outside of this room, this ship, the world is ending.

But…inside…inside me, something is being birthed. A seed I never knew was sown.

For I want this man…this alien. This Vullan.

In the Scrit, when I thought I was drowning, when his arms wrapped around me, I suddenly knew everything was going to be all right.

My gaze falls down his form, moving down his chest to the juncture of his thighs and my throat goes dry.

There’s a thick line there…like a fold…an opening… and beneath it, something moves…pulses.

My tongue feels heavy in my throat.

“Adee’ra…”

My name on his tongue makes me jump and I pull my gaze away from his…area, my heart beating harder than ever.

Fer’ro’s ears twitch but he doesn’t move, even though the light has already cleansed him.

Instead, he stands there looking at me, as if he is waiting on me to do or say something.

And the stupidest thing comes from my mouth. “You’re clean.”

His ears twitch again. “Yes, I am.”

There is a moment of silence where the air grows thick and I slowly want to begin sinking into the floor beneath me.

“It is your turn.”

His gaze flicks down my body so slowly, I become aware of every inch of me.

It lingers at my lips, my breasts, my stomach, the center of my thighs…

It’s hot in here.

“Right. My turn.” I take a step toward him. “And then…dinner?”

“Dinner…” He says it so low it sounds like a hum and the way he looks at me as he says the word…

As if I am the thing he wants to devour…

My thighs clench as I open my mouth to breathe.

I move closer, my ba’clan retracting to rest over my spinal column as I come to stand by Fer’ro’s side within the cleansing station.

I have to tilt my head as I look up at him.

Still, he does not move.

He is frozen as he looks down at me, his head turned to the side, and through the corner of my eyes, I see that same pulse in his crotch.

He has a cock hidden there.

I’m sure of it.

I’d thought…at first I’d thought he didn’t have one, but I should have known better.

I know enough about animals to know that various species have various dongs and though Fer’ro may look similar enough to us…he is not human.

Not all animals have their cocks on display like humans do.

Most reptiles don’t…

Reptile…

My gaze meets his and I utter a nervous laugh.

I should have guessed. His slitted eyes are a dead giveaway.

“You are baring your fangless teeth at me,” he says and I shut my mouth.

He sniffs the air then. “It is not aggression that I smell…”

That makes my cheeks grow warm. “No. No it isn’t. I was laughing. It means I am happy. Aggression is the last thing on my mind.”

He turns to face me fully then and his presence feels like it engulfs me.

“What is on your mind?”

My cheeks blaze harder.

What are the rules surrounding this sort of thing?

Are we even allowed to fuck?

Because I want to…

I just don’t know if it’s possible.

Fer’ro is a big guy…

“I’m sure you can tell what’s on my mind,” I whisper. “You keep sniffing the air.”

That elicits a growl that makes me clench my thighs again.

“I can,” he rumbles.

The light from the cleansing station moves over us, distracting me for a moment, and I get the chance to breathe.

I don’t think I can turn back from this now.

It is as real as the breath that flows through my lungs.

I want Fer’ro.

The thought makes me ache and Fer’ro suddenly inhales deeply.

He’s so close, I feel the pull of air against my skin, and then I’m being lifted off my feet.

I yelp a little as my arms automatically go around his neck.

Fer’ro’s large hands cup my naked buttocks as he pulls me toward him.

“You are intoxicating,” he rasps and the words vibrate against my skin.

Intoxicating.

I’ve never been called that before.

I yelp again as Fer’ro walks toward the wall. I am being lifted higher and it is only when my back hits the wall and my legs settle over his shoulders that I realize what he intends to do.