“My destiny is out in space, delivering cargo.”
“No, your destiny is here with me.” His jaw was clenched tight, gaze pinned on hers. He lowered his voice and said, “Besides, carrying stolen cargo originating from our planet isn’t exactly a destiny.”
Alex didn’t bother to ask him how he knew for sure when she hadn’t confirmed anything about the liquid.
She tried to keep the goosebumps at bay, but they were spreading all over her body. “No, your destiny is here with me.”Why would someone who was practically a stranger say something so bizarre? It reminded her of Ulric’s confession of love. What was going on? Why was everyone acting so strangely around her? Even Sackor’s sleazy advances had increased in tenacity lately.
“Besides, you need to help us,” Damon said.
“From where I stand, it doesn’t look like your society needs any help.”
Damon dropped his gaze and took her injured hand in his. He unraveled the bandage she’d wrapped around the Sackor-induced wound and stared at it silently, for too long.
“What’s wrong?”
“How did you get this wound?”
“Someone accidentally scratched me.”
“I think it’s infected.” He reached for the washcloth again and rinsed it to clear off the blood clinging to it. He wrung the excess water out and dabbed at the taut skin between her thumb and index finger.
She winced at the instant sting and tried to pull out of his grasp, but he held on tighter. “Don’t move. I need to clean this before it gets any worse. Tell me who did this to you.”
“An idiot. It’s not important.”
“This might take some time to heal.”
“Can’t you just blow on it and make it go away?” She wasn’t comfortable with his bogus claim to magic, but if it made the sting and the ugly redness disappear, she was all for it.
“I don’t think it’ll work on this.” Damon seemed to be concentrating a little too hard on her hand.
“Can you at least try?” She met his eyes with the same intensity he used with her. Why would his mojo-magic only work selectively? Now, thatsounded far-fetched.
Damon nodded and lifted her hand to his mouth. He pressed his lips together and blew out a soothing breath, making her giddy.
Alex closed her eyes to once again enjoy the sensations travelling along her skin. She opened them in a rush and watched the open skin seal then split again within seconds. “What the hell just happened?”
“Whoever did this to you wanted to make sure it couldn’t be healed,” Damon answered, frowning.
“Why?” Questioning, or trying to understand, Sackor’s motivations seemed a waste of time. The bastard always had a reason for everything he did. No matter how corrupt or creepy.
Damon took a closer look. “This looks like a marking of some sort.” He leaned forward, and the proximity of his body made her nervous. He smelled so nice.
“Why would anyone want to mark me?”
“Maybe he wanted to keep you on his radar, so he can track you down whenever he wants to.” He was concentrating hard, as if he could see something she couldn’t. “I’m not sure why, but it feels strange. Almost like there’s something in there.”
“He put an actual bug inside me?” Why would Sackor bother? She’d delivered his crap many times before, and never needed any sort of tracking. Alex was good for the delivery. Well, except this time. Was it possible that he somehow knew this would happen? Was he responsible for messing around with her ship, so she would crash? Why here? Could such a petty thing really be his intention, or did he want to eliminate her for some other reason?
Like everything else, it didn’t make any sense. It was as confusing as the way Damon’s fingertips made her feel as they travelled up the underside of her arm.
“Maybe. Probably.”
“What are you doing?” she snapped.
“Don’t you like it?”
She made a move to pull away, but he didn’t let go.
“I can’t help myself, Alex,” he whispered, shifting in his seat until his face was close enough to feel his breath on her cheeks. “Whenever we’re together, all I want to do is touch you.”
“Stop it, okay?” She barely managed to get the words out, because her voice cracked. The tingly sensations he’d roused raced beneath her skin. He was turning her on so much. She wouldn’t be able to stop herself if he continued. Not a good idea when there was so much other crap going on.
“I can’t. Trust me, I’m trying to stop this as much as you are…but I find myself very attracted to you. It’s more than physical. Your magic is caressing mine.” His pupils were larger, darker, allowing his desire to shine through.
“I’ve already told you. I don’t have any magic.” How many times would she have to say this? Why doesn’t he believe me?
Damon pressed his mouth closer to hers, until their lips touched for just an instant. The softness of those full lips made her swoon, but he pulled away and gazed deep into her eyes. He paused long enough to return a second later, for a proper kiss.
She found herself opening her mouth to his and parting his lips with her tongue, so she could slip inside. The connection of their tongues stirred an indescribable sensation, like none she’d ever felt before.
Her hands remained in her lap, Damon’s at his sides. The only part of them touching was their mouths, and there was something very arousing about that.
“We’ll need to head out soon. The feast being held in your honor will be starting in an hour,” Damon said, breaking the kiss. “Aleena will be upset if I make you late.”
“What would Aleena say if she knew you were trying to seduce me?” Her breath was ragged. Alex dared to reach out, running her fingers over his smooth cheek. Her fingertips heated at the barest touch of his caramel skin. It excited her, encouraging her to give in to the undeniable rush of attraction she’d experienced since falling on this man. She might not believe in magic, but she believed in lust.
He shook his head, making the dreadlocks sway in front of his face. “I’m not trying to seduce you.”
“Why did you kiss me, then?” She wiped the strands of hair away from his face.
“Why did youkiss me back?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. It just felt like the right thing to do.”
His eyes lit up. “So you do feel it, then? The magic flowing between us is affecting you, too?”
“How many times do I have to tell you that I don’t-”
“Do you believe in the magic of two bodies drawn to each other?” His voice was low and husky, more like a rumble.