by Hacket, Anna
Davion pulled out the medical supplies. He formed a blade with his symbiont and then cut Eve’s suit off. It was ruined.
He wasn’t sure about what drugs to use with her different physiology, but since Terrans and Eon were similar enough, he decided to risk it.
He pressed a healing stim into her neck and injected her. Her face was so pale and she’d lost so much blood. All to rescue him.
Eon warriors were bred and trained to understand that they might sacrifice their life for the empire. To think of this small, fierce woman risking her life to save him…
He pushed her tangled hair off her face. The words she’d spoken to him earlier rang in his head. Leaving is the easy option. I don’t abandon anyone. Ever.
Eve was used to people leaving or letting her down. Her father, unintentionally. Her mother. The Space Corps.
Pushing the unfamiliar, churning emotions aside, Davion began to clean the ugly slash wound across her chest. It wasn’t long before he decided her color looked better. The stim was working.
He reached into the supplies and pulled out a small vial. It glowed bright red and he knew it was infused with a small amount of bio-organisms similar to his helian called havv. The havv had been created by the warrior Eschar. He squeezed some of the thick, red fluid onto Eve’s cut, and he watched as it moved, seeping into the wound. The red glow intensified as it set to work, and her skin began to knit together.
Davion blew out a breath of relief. She was safe. In a few hours, she’d be healed.
As his gaze ran over her, the fear seeped out, and was replaced by something else.
He couldn’t help but look at her body. Her breasts were larger than an Eon female’s and topped with pretty, pink nipples. He took in her flat belly, toned legs, and the tiny strip of her black panties.
He blew out a breath. She’s healing, you Cren-cursed idiot.
Davion grabbed the edge of a blanket and flicked it over her. Then, the knowledge that she was taken care of was like flicking a switch on his own pain.
His chest throbbed, bolts of agony shooting through him. Sucking in a breath, he looked down at his chest. He still had several of the Kantos’ spikes sticking out of him. They needed to come out, or his symbiont would get his body to heal around them. Each one was also tipped with poison to enhance the pain, and he could feel it making him sluggish.
First, he needed some food, because he was running on fumes. And he knew removing the spikes himself was going to hurt. A lot.
Davion ate some nutrition bars, carefully watching over Eve. She slept deeply, a side effect of the healing the havv was stimulating.
Then he pulled out some medical tools, gripping some large tweezers in one hand. He pinched the end of the first spike.
He pulled.
The pain was intense, tearing through him. Gritting his teeth, he worked the spike loose, knowing the poison was causing most of the burning pain. The barb jerked free.
Davion sucked in air, his vision blurring. He was drenched in sweat, and his chin dropped to his chest.
As dizziness washed over him, he decided to just sit and rest for a moment.
* * *
Eve dreamed of Kantos shrieks and burning pain. But when her eyes opened, there was no pain. In fact, she felt good.
She cautiously assessed her body and realized she was lying under a thin blanket. She was warm and cozy. She looked up, seeing a clear, ice roof and the snowy night beyond.
When she raised her hand to her chest, she felt nothing but smooth skin. She was healed.
She pulled the blanket around her and sat up.
“Take it easy.”
Suddenly, Davion was there, helping her sit. He was also holding a hot drink. Sudden and immediate hunger and thirst swamped her, and her stomach rumbled. She took the drink, gulping it down as quickly as she could, despite the temperature. Mmm. It was warm and sweet.
When she lowered the glass, Davion was sitting beside her. While she felt great, he looked like death warmed over.
She frowned. He was still smeared with blood. Her jaw tightened. She was all healed, and the idiot still had several Kantos spikes sticking out of him.
Her stomach growled.
He smiled at her, although it looked strained. “That’s a side effect of the havv.” He held out another cup. “Some soup.”
She took it, sipping the broth. Flavor burst in her mouth. Oh, God, it was good. “Havv?”
“The healing organism I used on your wound. It’s related to the helian.”
“Well, I can’t argue with the results. I feel great.”
“I also gave you a healing stim.”
She nodded. “Thank you.” Her gaze dropped to the spikes. “Did you use one on yourself?’
“No.”
Men. She rolled her eyes.
A faint smile tipped his lips. “Can’t. Not until the spikes are out, or my body will heal around them.”
She nodded. “Well, we need to get those out.”
“I managed to get a couple out, but it was a…painful process.”
Eve eyed the two, bloody spikes resting beside him. She read between the lines—it had been agony and he’d only managed the two.
She set her soup down and wrapped the blanket more securely around her, tucking one end between her breasts. She moved closer to him. Up close, she could see the lines of pain bracketing his mouth.
She nodded, grim determination flowing through her. “Then let’s get them out, warrior.”
Reaching for the heavy-duty tweezers sitting beside him, she moved to face him. She got a grip on the first spike.
“Ready?”
“Do it.”
She tugged. Slowly, the spike slid out. Davion groaned and she looked up. His jaw was clenched.
“Keep…going,” he gasped.
Steeling herself, Eve dropped the first spike and got a grip on the next one. She pulled. Air whistled through his teeth.
“Got it.” She dumped the bloody spike with the others. Nausea welled. His face looked ragged. “You can do this, Davion. We’re almost there.”
He managed a tight nod.
The job felt never ending and Eve felt his pain, even though he tried to hide it. Finally, she tossed the last spike onto the ground.
“Are you okay?” She smoothed a hand up his arm.
A stiff nod. “My helian is helping to heal me.”
She blew out a breath. “Good. Do you need some of that havv stuff?”
“No.”
She didn’t want to stop touching him, but forced herself to lift her hand. She might have this insane attraction to Davion, but she couldn’t let herself get attached. She couldn’t risk feeling too much. Looking for a distraction, she picked up her cup of soup.
“You could have died, Eve.”
She sensed something else radiating off him now. “But I didn’t. Thanks to you.”
“I told you to run.” His gaze settled on her, hot and accusing.
She sipped her soup. “Yep.”
“Didn’t you hear me?”
“I heard you.”
“Then you misunderstood my words.”
“No.”
He sucked in a breath.
“I wasn’t leaving you to be tortured and killed, Dav.”
At the shortening of his name, his eyebrows rose. “That is not my name.”
“It suits you. I like it.”
“Infuriating woman.”
She smiled. “You’re such a charmer.”
He tilted his head. “Are all Terran women like you?”
“No, I’m one-of-a-kind. I tend to piss off or intimidate most Terran males as well.”
“I am not surprised.” He glanced at her chest. “I need to check your wound.”
He said it matter-of-factly. Eve tried to be the same as she set her empty cup aside. She lay back on the mound of furs and loosened the blanket.
When his big hand flicked the blanket off her, leaving her chest bare, she swallowed. Whe
n his fingers brushed the skin between her breasts, she pulled in a breath. She looked down, watching his darker, bigger hand move over her skin. She liked this man’s hands on her.
He quickly checked where she’d been slashed. It was now perfectly healed.
“I am very glad the Kantos didn’t kill you,” he murmured.
“Me too.”
A sudden tiredness fell over her and she struggled to keep her eyes open. Panicked, she grabbed his arm. “Davion—”
“Don’t worry, Eve. This is another side effect of the healing. Sleep. I’m here. I’ll keep watch.”
She sagged and felt him lift her up, moving her back to the center of the furs. He tucked the warm blanket securely around her.
“Promise?” she murmured.
His hands moved to her hair, playing with the strands. “I promise. I won’t leave you.”
“No one’s ever watched out for me before.” She sighed. “And everyone always leaves me.” Sleep pulled her under.
But there was a part of Eve that was aware of his big body sliding in beside hers. She turned her head to his chest and held on. His arms closed around her, holding her tight. And Eve moved deeper into sleep, feeling safer than she ever had in her entire life.
When she woke the next time, she stared up. And blinked.
Holy cow. She was alone in the furs, and the snowstorm had cleared.
It was still night time, but now she was staring up into beautiful blue-green lights dancing in the dark sky above. Wow.
She sat up, deciding she needed to wash. She spotted a clean shirt set out beside the furs and smiled. It was a warrior-sized shirt. It would be like a dress on her.
She pulled the shirt on and glanced across the room. She spotted a shaggy, black tail near the front entry. She crept closer and inside the entryway, she saw Shaggy was asleep at the door. She reached over to pet him and he pushed lazily against her palms before settling back to sleep.
Where was Davion? Eve looked around and saw the stairs.
She headed down. She saw light reflecting off water, the shimmer dancing on the dark walls of the subterranean room.
There was a pool of water in one corner. She moved closer and stuck her fingers in it. It was crisp and cold, not warm at all. She shivered.
Still, she really wanted to be clean. And there was still no sign of Davion. She pulled her shirt off, and quickly washed until her skin was covered in goose bumps. She pulled the shirt back on. God, it was so nice to be clean.
Turning, she spotted a doorway. There seemed to be a second room down here. As she walked toward it, she heard muffled sounds.
As she got closer, she realized it was the rhythmic sound of fists hitting something.
She paused in the doorway, leaning against the carved-out frame. Of course, the Eon would put a gym in their rest stations. Heaven forbid if a warrior actually rested.
Davion was pounding a huge bag suspended from the rocky ceiling. He was pummeling it with powerful, angry hits and kicks. He was shirtless, the muscles in his back flexing. His skin gleamed with sweat, and she lost herself in watching him.
Desire was a steady thrum in her body.
He must have sensed her, because he turned.
Molten eyes were on her and she felt seared to her bones.
Chapter Ten
Eve stood there, something burning through her. Her insides shivered, heat rising.
Davion turned, and she let her gaze travel over his powerful body. He wore no armor now, just man and muscle. Just Davion. His chest was bare, and only a simple pair of black, loose-fitting pants sat low on his hips.
She saw the faint marks on his chest from his injuries. And man, the pants draped over those muscular legs and perfectly toned ass.
He stalked toward her.
Her pulse spiked. “Dav—”
“You’re healed?” His voice was deeper, harsher.
“Yes.” Her pulse pounded.
“Take your clothes off.”
Heat and shocking desire arrowed through her. He was so close that she could smell his scent, feel the heat of him.
She never took her gaze off his eyes. The air around them throbbed. His words were an order, but she also knew he was waiting for her to make a choice.
Would it hurt? To have him just once?
Eve slid her hands beneath her borrowed shirt and hooked her fingers in the sides of her panties. She pushed them down and they fell to her ankles.
Davion made a raw sound, and then he was pressed against her. His hands gripped her shirt and shoved it up.
They both moved, and his arms wound around her, lifting her off her feet. She wrapped her legs around his waist and he carried her a few steps. She felt a cool wall behind her back.
His mouth crashed onto hers, his tongue pushing between her lips. With a moan, she kissed him back, her hands sliding into his thick hair.
Eve’s body seemed to detonate. They kissed wildly, tongues delving deep, his fingers biting into her ass. His cock—hard and very insistent—pressed against her belly. She wanted to touch every hard inch of him, explore that unbelievable body. But what was burning between them right now was too hot and fierce for either of them to have any patience.
Davion hitched her higher and she felt his hand working between them, pushing his trousers out of the way. Then she felt the thick head of his cock nudge her folds.
Air caught in her chest. Her fingers clenched on his shoulders.
He surged inside her. Her sharp cry echoed off the walls. He was big, filling her and making her stretch.
“Eve.” A guttural sound.
She moved her hips against him. “Move.”
He started thrusting inside her.
Yes. It was hard, rough, and raw. She felt taken, possessed, wanted.
He grunted with each thrust, and she tugged on his hair. The sensations ripping through her were so intense she could barely breathe. Suddenly, he swung her away from the wall. He strode across the room, setting her on a carved-stone bench.
Eve lay back, watching her big, gorgeous war commander above her.
Davion kept thrusting, driving deep. He pushed one of her legs up, giving him better access to her. His deep grunts echoed in her belly and his gaze burned through her.
Then, she watched as his gaze traveled down her body, down to where they were joined. A look crossed his face and it made her belly spasm. Oh God, she couldn’t handle this overwhelming rush of pleasure.
He ran one hand down the path that his gaze had taken. Oh, that look on his face…
Eve had never felt so desired.
Then his hand slipped down and found her clit. She guessed Eon and Terran women weren’t too different. She bucked against him and a wicked smile edged his lips. He stroked the small nub, rolling it between his big fingers.
“Davion!”
He growled, his thrusts increasing. “Say it again.”
“Davion.”
“Again. And this time come for me.”
“Davion.” His next hard thrust triggered her orgasm. It hit Eve like a supernova. She arched off the bench and felt him lean over her, thrusting harder.
The power of his thrusts shifted the bench several inches across the floor. Then he lodged deep inside her, threw his head back, and roared through his own release.
* * *
Every muscle in Davion’s body felt loose and relaxed. He was still lodged in Eve, feeling her tight body ripple around his cock.
He pulled in a shuddering breath. The pleasure filling him was like nothing he’d experienced before.
He looked down, and large, blue eyes looked back at him. He was very pleased to see they looked slightly dazed.
Stroking a hand up her torso, he marveled again at this woman. With her fascinating strength and undeniably female body.
“Wow,” she said, voice husky.
His gaze went back to her face. The need to possess stormed through him. He wanted her again. He’d just had her, but he wanted to di
scover everything about her.
He wanted more.
She licked her lips. “Uh, it is sort of a little late, but I’m guessing you’re healthy. Sexually.”
“My helian ensures that.”
“Good. And I’m the same.” Her nose wrinkled. “I have been in prison for months.” She licked her lips. “So, this is pretty crazy, but we, uh, survived some extreme circumstances, so I guess…”
His cock was still inside her and she was trying to be rational. He pressed his hands to the stone bench on either side of her. That shifted his hips forward, pushing his still-hard cock deeper into her.
She moaned.
“Go on,” he said.
“…well, adrenaline and extreme circumstances. We saved each other’s lives. Sex is an understandable conclusion.”
His little Earth warrior trying to stay sensible and distant. Trying to control everything. He thrust inside her again and her lips parted.
Mostly, he knew she was protecting that battered heart of hers that she kept locked up.
“This isn’t about any of that,” he said.
Her eyes widened. “It…isn’t?”
“No. Now, I’m going to spend the rest of the night fucking you. Finding out every way you like being pleasured.”
“I…” She licked her lips. “I’m definitely okay with that.”
Davion drank her in. The flushed face, the swollen lips, the sexy, full breasts. His time with her had told him that she let very few people close.
He wanted in.
He wanted Eve.
And he was beginning to realize that his need wouldn’t be assuaged in just one night. It had nothing to do with burning off adrenaline.
No, Davion wanted much more. And he was a man who was used to going after what he wanted. He was also a good war commander, and excellent with battle strategy. If he told his Eve what he was thinking, his little Terran would panic.
He skimmed his hands under her, pulled his cock out of her, and lifted her off the table. Then he strode into the other room.
By the pool, he set her down and then reached for one of the cloths stacked beside it. He dipped the cloth into the water and knelt in front of her.
He cleaned her skin, checking her chest and noting that she was completely healed. He circled her breasts, watching her nipples pebble. He dipped the cloth in the water again, then he slid it down her flat belly and between her thighs. He took his time cleaning her.
