CHAPTER 6

Chloe was going to die from the cold. That was what she got for tempting fate – in this case, the onboard AI – with her joke about popsicles.

Initially, everything had been going well. They had boarded the transport to the station – a triangular ship of silvery metal the size of a private jet – with her actually excited. Yes, she was worried about what would happen on the space station. She was also concerned over the loss of her steady income while her business plans were up in the air.

But she couldn't deny there were pros in her current situation. When else would she have the chance to fly in a limo, use a space port, experience an alien culture? Have a hot guy treat her like royalty? Tease that same sexy alien without consequence? Not that Chloe was adventurous; she simply believed in staying positive.

Now, however, there was no way to stay positive. Not when the life support system had glitched halfway to their destination. Yeah, ‘glitch' was the word of the day for her. Which might as well be the last day of her life.

The Subcommander had taken them off the planet without a single problem. So confident behind the pilot console, he had made it hard for Chloe to decide what was more exciting to watch from the co-pilot seat: the view through the porthole before her, or the sight of the handsome pilot to her left.

Then he had engaged the autopilot and offered her to rest in her own cabin, watch the view, or do some reading on Gaenthian customs and traditions. Chloe had chosen to stay, preferring to watch and read rather than stay in a claustrophobic room with a single tiny illuminator.

The Subcommander had disappeared somewhere, probably to escape from her lord teasing, and she had gotten so engrossed in the info on the alien tablet that she hadn't felt the time pass by. Gaenthians' intricate clan system based on the form and size of one's horns had gotten Chloe quite amused.

Until the AI had sounded the alarm about the life support system. They had oxygen and gravity, thank God, but the temperature regulator was out of commission. It was going to get really, really cold, and they had nearly half a day of travel left.

The Subcommander had called for assistance, but it would take hours for the nearest ship to reach them. There wasn't a single onboard blanket because, you see, the AI maintained a perfect temperature on the ship at all times. Getting warm clothes from her suitcase would have been an option, had the baggage been here. Because somehow the Gaenthian carrying her stuff had loaded it on the wrong ship.

Oh, her suitcase with a handful of clothes would eventually get to the space station, no worries. But she wouldn't. Because Chloe was going to freeze to death.

"Just admit it already: I'm dying a popsicle."

The Subcommander rumbled something incomprehensible and kept poking at some cables under the console. He was lying on his back, purple wings splayed on the floor, and trying to fix the temperature regulator. He was sweating, while Chloe was shaking like a leaf. Partially due to fear but not only.

Half an hour had passed since the AI had alerted them to the problem, and the temperature was dropping fast. Her bare legs weren't helping. Pacing in the limited space of the cockpit wasn't warming her up.

"There's no hope, is there?"

"My lady, please. You will be fine."

"Yes. Of course. Must stay positive… But still… Is there any hope?"

"Lady Hloe."

"Please, stop it with the lady already, Subcommander! If I'm dying, I'm dying as myself. Just a Chloe who wanted to make jewelry and bring some color into people's lives. C-h-l-o-e, okay?"

He sighed from under the console. "Okay."

She stopped pacing so abruptly she nearly tripped over her feet. "Okay? You fixed the problem?"

"No. It's okay not to observe the protocol at the moment. I'll address you as just Loe."

A hysterical giggle escaped Chloe. He simply couldn't pronounce the C in her name and that was that. She was going to die a Loe popsicle.

"Thank you, Subcommander. Erm, Nitiel."

"Do you feel better now?" he asked as he slid out from underneath the console, gaze taking Chloe in from toe to head.

She rubbed her cold fingers together. "Still freezing, but let's look at the bright side: this right now is good, compared to what's to come."

"I just rerouted the regulator's flow. It will be very cold in the two cabins and the cargo hold, but the temperature in the cockpit will not drop any further."

"Really? I'll actually make it?" Chloe cast him a suspicious look. "You're not just saying it to stop me from panicking, are you?"

Nitiel got up with impressive agility, his wings fluttering for extra momentum. "You're not panicking, my la–Loe. You're handling the situation quite well."

"I am? I read your women are always composed, not showing any emotions no matter how strong?"

He shook his head. His hair had gotten messy, giving him an even sexier look. "In life-or-death situations, most people lose their composure."

"Wait, so you're admitting this is a life-threatening situation?" From the very start of the problem, he had been saying this wasn't a serious issue. But Chloe had watched enough sci-fi shows to know that wasn't the case.

He smiled slightly. "That is how you perceive the situation, Loe. I, however, know we are safe."

"You are safe, because your body temperature runs higher than mine. You also have a fancy uniform. I'm half-naked."

His gaze slid back down her body to her bare legs, making Chloe self-conscious. She was wearing a midi dress, but according to what she had read, Gaenthian women kept their legs covered down to their ankles in public. Cold as she was, she still felt heat rise to her cheeks.

"You are too cold at the present temperature," he said more to himself than her. "I must do something."

She laughed bitterly. "What more can you do? There are no onboard hot drinks, and it's not like there is something warm to wrap me in. There's just metal walls and seats in here."

He blinked.

She blinked right back.

Then it hit her. "Oh, your uniform! But that would be too big for me and hardly warm enough. And… you'll be… naked…" The thought of all those slabs of muscle on full display caused warmth to bloom in Chloe's belly. Yet, she needed more than the sight of a naked guy to stave off the cold.

He vigorously scratched the tip of his purple ear. "Giving you my uniform will do you no good. But my wings can keep you warm, Loe."

"Your wings? But how–Oh."

To be in the circle of his wings, she would have to be in his arms as well. And since they couldn't be standing for hours, or lying on the cold floor, they would have to be sitting. With her in his lap.

Oh, boy. The idea of them being in that intimate position – again – made Chloe weak at the knees. It had felt so good to be surrounded by his body and wings last time, so comfy and secure. And hot, in every sense of the word.

"Are you sure, Nitiel?" she asked when he went to sit in the pilot seat, shoulders rigid, face hardened.

"I must keep you warm, Loe," he declared, eyes not on her but the starry view straight ahead. "I cannot allow any harm to come to you. My mission and honor dictate it."

"Your mission, right." The reminder that he was taking her toward an arranged marriage was like a bucket of cold water on the recently ignited flame in her belly.

So much for her thinking what a situation straight out of a romance novel this was, where the leads conveniently had no other choice but to share body heat to survive. There would be nothing romantic in what was to come, just Nitiel doing his duty to his Commander Curly Horn.

It wasn't that Chloe wanted something romantic to happen between her and the hot extraterrestrial currently waiting for her to climb in his lap. Nope. Not at all. She couldn't stand his company. Spending the trip in his lap would be terribly awkward.

But what choice did she have? She was shivering from the cold at this point.

"Loe?" Nitiel sounded as nervous as he looked in the pilot seat. His big hands were gripping the armrests.

Chloe realized that what they were about to do was totally improper by his book. Yet, he was going to go through with it like a good soldier.

She squared her shoulders, went to him and briskly took her flats off. "Let's do this."

He outstretched his wings and offered her a hand. The perfect gentleman.

Who Chloe had to climb like a tree, literally. Could things get any more embarrassing?

Apparently, yes.

"Loe, what are you…?"

"I'm trying to sit astride you, what does it look like I'm doing?"

"You're wiggling."

"Yes, because you're hard all over. It's not easy to find a comfortable position on top of you. But now I think I found it."

"You're comfortable?"

"Hmmm… No. My feet are peeking through your wing feathers like this, I'll freeze my toes off. I might have to try another position."

"Loe."

"What?"

"You must stop wiggling."

"Sorry, just a bit longer… There. This forward-facing position should do it."

"Should or is?"

"Actually… Nope. With my legs dangling over yours like this, they'll fall asleep in just a few minutes."

"Loe!"

"What? I have to turn around–"

"No. More. Wiggling."

"Okay, but just a sec–"

Chloe squeaked as Nitiel's hands gripped her waist. And repositioned her until she was straddling him, her breasts pressed into his chest and their lower bodies locked in the most intimate of ways. Leaving no doubt as to why he had had a problem with her wiggling.

"Oh. I–I… You… I should probably get off you."

"Stay." His voice was strained, as if he were barely holding himself together.

"It's okay! Freezing my butt off is not so bad–"

"I will not let you freeze, Loe." Nitiel's hands got a firm hold of her hips. As she felt his fingers on her bare skin, Chloe realized her dress had ridden obscenely high.

"But–But… You… I…" Clearly, she was suffering from brain freeze. She couldn't string a full sentence anymore.

In her defense, it wasn't every day that she had a hard cock pressed against her pussy. A massive, thick cock, by the feel of it. An alien cock. With nothing but her panties and his uniform standing in the way.

"This is improper, I know." Nitiel closed his eyes, as though unable to look at her face so close to his. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "You're safe with me, Loe. From me. You have my word."

"Okay," she whispered.

The question was why wasn't she relieved to hear that? Why was a part of her wishing he would act upon his needs, taking charge of her body the way he had done to move her into position? It was one thing to be physically attracted to Nitiel and another, to want to go all the way with the guy. For goodness' sake, Chloe had had sex with a human man only a handful of times, back in college, and now she wanted to ride an alien she had met a few hours ago? That was nuts.

Her thoughts scattered when Nitiel closed his wings around them both. His feathers, gentle and soft, blanketed her from the nape down. His scent, woodsy and spicy, enveloped her. His body, so warm and solid against hers, made the cold but a distant memory. A sense of peace and belonging filled her.

Overanalyzing her confusing feelings toward Nitiel could wait. Chloe rested her head on his shoulder and let herself simply feel.