The taste of her sweet kiss and the feel of her plush curves against his body had driven him to near insanity. She deserved more than a quick coupling on the ground. He may be part animal but she wasn’t. Human females expected certain things from males. A soft bed, a romantic setting and maybe candles. He’d be damned before he allowed his instincts and desire to drive him to do something else he’d regret.

He needed to stay in control until they were safe. Once they returned to Homeland, he’d seduce Trisha in a bed, inside a home, in a secure location where danger didn’t lurk. He’d take his time, strip her slowly, and explore every inch of her until her need grew as strong as his. Then he’d make love to her. Gently, do his best to pretend he could be more human than he actually was, for her sake.

He sniffed the air, the smell of smoke nearly making him sneeze, and slowly withdrew from the area. He’d left Trisha longer than he’d intended to. He’d had to make certain he had his desire under control before he touched her again. Otherwise all his good intentions would be forgotten.

He’d been an ass when her body had curled against his. Restraint wasn’t his strongest asset but he’d try for her. She deserved a male who could respect her human needs. Those being a bed to have sex in and to have it at the appropriate time.

They’d have to leave before the sun rose. Trisha being in danger wasn’t acceptable to him. Justice would have teams searching for them by now. The humans may have to wait until the sun rose to mount a rescue mission but New Species were already tracking them. He knew that as well as he knew the tempting feminine scent he followed right back to Trisha.

He spotted her huddled form on the ground, a snarl rose in his throat that he had to force down to muffle, not enjoying how cold she appeared. He’d left her for too long. Was there anything he could do right when it came to her? It seemed not. His stride quickened in his need to warm her and make certain she survived the night.

Calm down, he ordered his body. Act natural so you don’t frighten her.

Something rustled, sounding similar to crunching leaves being shifted. Trisha tensed but didn’t move as she listened. She only heard the wind in the trees above her. Her fear spiked when she saw something move close to her. It was big, man-sized, and drawing near.

“We’re good,” Slade announced softly as he settled down next to her.

She wanted to cry over him coming back to her, that grateful that he’d returned safely, and hadn’t abandoned her. She swallowed a sob. She blinked hard at the tears that swam in her eyes. Slade stretched out onto his back next to her, just inches away, and he took a deep breath.

“Curl into me,” he demanded. “It’s cold.”

Trisha didn’t speak, too afraid something in her voice would give away the fact that she was so emotional. She just lay next to him, listening to his breathing.

“Fine. Don’t.” He had an annoyed tone in his voice. “Night.”

Minutes had to have passed when she heard his breathing change, slowing, and guessed he probably slept. She waited a few more minutes to be sure before she inched forward, closing the distance. His hands were looped together behind his head to form a pillow. She pressed her body against his side, facing him. Her head rested down on his thickly muscled arm.

He was very warm. She shivered, burrowing tighter against him until her body pressed against his firmly. She put her hand on his stomach. Suddenly the body against hers tensed. Trisha froze, her heart pounded. His breathing had changed.

“Cold, Doc?”

She hesitated. “I’m freezing.”

He sighed. “See what I mean about how annoying you are?” He pulled down one of his arms and his hand closed over Trisha’s hand on his stomach. Then he pushed it lower. Her palm ended up covering a mound. “Feel that?”

Trisha tried to yank her hand away from his pants but his over hers prevented her from doing that. He pushed her palm tighter against him.

“Want to keep warm, Doc?”

She clenched her teeth. “Want to let go of my hand?”

“Rub me.”

“Fuck you.”

He chuckled. “I’d let you, sweet thing. There are a few problems with that. First off, you are loud. I can’t have you screaming out while I’m f**king you since we’re being hunted. You’d let them know where we are. Second problem is that if you want to lie against me and stay warm while you sleep, I want to sleep too. I can’t while you could take my pulse by how hard you make me.”

“You’re such an ass**le.”

“There’s that option.” He laughed. “I don’t think that would feel good, Doc. I’d rather hear you scream in pleasure than in pain. But that still means there would be screaming. You’d give away our location.”

His meaning sank in. Her mouth opened. “You…you…”

“Not a back door kind of gal, huh? Good thing we found something we agree on. I’m not into that either. I’ve been assured by humans it’s tighter but I’m a pu**y man. Now, either rub me or move away.”

“Release my hand.”

He didn’t. He moved it against him. “See? That’s not bad, is it? I would say that’s not hard but it really is, Doc.”

Fury slammed into Trisha. “Fine. Do you want me to take care of your problem, Slade?”

He hesitated. “If you hurt me, Doc, well, I wouldn’t advise it. I’d hurt you back.” His hand over hers eased up and lifted away.