The yearning that had haunted her over the past few weeks had expanded by tenfold since she’d met him. His touch seemed to trigger wild, uncontrollable images. Like his hands stroking her naked breasts, his lips tasting her peaked nipples. She wanted to feel the weight of his body on top of her, the heat of his naked skin against hers, to feel him inside her.
And more… She wanted his arms around her, holding her.
She felt terribly alone. She would welcome the comfort of being in someone’s arms. His arms. She sensed in him a gentleness she could lose herself in.
It also didn’t hurt that he was a truly gorgeous hunk. Despite this crazy situation, all she wanted to do was throw off her clothes and tumble him onto this couch right now.
She swallowed hard.
But he was an alien. And she was supposedly destined to marry a king. Her head just couldn’t get around either of those concepts right now.
He leaned toward her and her pulse thrummed in her ears.
Oh, God, was he going to kiss her? And if he did, would she be able to resist the demands of this crazy lust?
As he got closer, the heat of his body brushed her awareness. As her lips tingled, anticipating his touch, he reached past her and pushed a button near her head.
“Casey, summon the senior crew to my quarters.”
“Aye, aye, Captain,” Casey’s voice sounded through a speaker.
Chapter Four
Aria watched in amazement as he stood and moved away. Her chest deflated as she released her suspended breath. She sat up and straightened her clothes, breathing deeply to clear her head. It seemed they were going to have company.
A few moments later, a buzz sounded. Aria stood and moved to the end of the couch, facing the door, as Captain Gaman signaled the door to open. Four men and one woman—Casey—filed into the room and lined up along one end of the room. Casey stood on the far left and Terrien, the other crew member Aria recognized, stood second from the right.
Captain Gaman strolled in front of them, taking in their rigid stance with approval. “At ease.”
The crew shifted to a slightly relaxed posture. The captain turned back to face Aria. “Let me introduce you to my senior crew. Each one has very special talents I think you might appreciate.” He moved to stand behind the armchair, then glanced at his crew. “First, there’s Baryn.”
The man in the middle stepped forward.
“His field of expertise is women’s breasts.”
Aria felt her cheeks flame. Why on earth was he telling her this?
“On his world, women’s breasts are worshipped. Men learn to bring a woman to orgasm without moving below the waist.”
Baryn smiled at her, his gaze trailing over her breasts then back to her face.
Her cheeks flamed hotter still.
“Next is Larson.”
The man on the far left stepped forward as Baryn stepped back.
“With his lips and his knowledge of kissing, he has made women faint dead away.”
Larson’s gaze burned through her, sending a quivering ache through her belly.
“But don’t worry,” Larson’s deep voice rumbled. “I know how to revive them.”
He stepped back and the woman stepped forward.
“Casey has home court advantage. She knows a woman’s parts from both sides of pleasure.”
Casey stroked her hands over her own breasts, her lips curling up in a cocky grin. To Aria’s complete horror, Casey unfastened the top few buttons of her uniform jacket and slid one hand inside. Her eyelids drooped and her head sagged back in obvious pleasure at her own roving hands.