10. Amanda

Chapter 10

Amanda

T he food was delicious.

Xax was even more delicious than the food. He was a true danger to my heart.

That kiss . . . I couldn't stop thinking about how he'd taken control of the moment or of the need that he'd drawn from deep inside me. I wasn't a virgin, but I'd never been with someone who made me crave him as much as Xax did already.

Were we truly fated for each other?

In general, I'd like to think such a thing was possible. But how in the world could fate throw me and an alien from a different planet together and call it good? If we were fated to belong to each other always, it would take time to grow feelings. It couldn't happen right away, despite his spine-tingling kisses.

I needed to stop dreaming about what else we might do together. One kiss; that was all I'd wanted. A taste. I didn't need anything more than that. My mind might insist on this, but it wasn't fooling my heart.

After we ate, we placed the dishes on the counter.

"I'll help you wash them and put them away," I said.

"No need."

They disappeared into the counter. I backed away, my hands lifting. "Is this your god at work?"

"Yes. They'll be returned clean."

I could get used to the house doing the dishes.

We returned to the living area, and, under Xax's direction, I pretended I wanted to sit, fully expecting to land on my ass on the squishy floor. But a lovely recliner popped up before I could crash, and I sat in it a moment, wondering how this was possible.

"Nice?" he asked, creating a chair beside mine.

"All we need is a TV."

One did not appear. That would be stretching it even for an alien god.

"I don't think we have anything like that here," Xax said with a smile. He reached out and traced his fingers through my hair.

My skin ignited.

I leaped from my chair, and it was reabsorbed before I could blink. Stepping to the right, I had the god make a new chair far enough away from this male's lethal touch.

"Dangerous," I hissed.

He frowned. "I apologize for touching you without your consent."

"No problem."

"It is a problem, or you wouldn't have run away. "

"I'm not running," I said, my voice shaky. "I wasn't comfortable in that chair, so I had your god make me another."

He smirked, showing me he knew very well how his simple touch affected me.

"Tell me more about your gods," I said to distract myself from this heated conversation. He wasn't just dangerous, he was lethal. He needed a big flashing sign over his head shouting Beware .

As for his gods, they must be symbiotic beings. They couldn't be real gods, could they?

"They've been on Zuldrux as long as us, us being warriors like me." He placed a fist against his chest. "Long ago, we lived in harmony with them inside their crystal, wood, plant, and rock structures, but that came to an abrupt end."

"What happened?"

"A disease swept across our world, killing many of the gods and almost all of us. Most believed the gods caused the disease and fled the only homes they'd ever known. For many generations, Zuldruxians struggled to survive. The gods went dormant. They adore praise—"

"A well-known kink."

He frowned. "What's a kink?"

"The word is short for kinkiness." Heat flooded my face, but why would it? There was nothing wrong with explaining. "Kinkiness refers to non-conventional sexual practices where people explore new concepts or fantasies. "

His unibrow lifted and his eyes sparkled with intrigue. "What might those be?"

"Some people enjoy tying each other up. Others might like playing dominant or submissive in the bedroom."

His head tilted, and he studied my face. "Do you?"

"I haven't explored much of that yet."

"Yet." His eyes continued to gleam. "What is a praise kink?"

I squirmed in my chair. I shouldn't be getting wet down there from a simple conversation, but all I could think about was me and Xax exploring each other's sexual fantasies.

For all I knew, he was a pure vanilla guy. He might not like any position other than missionary. He might be shocked if I told him about some of my dreams.

"Praise kink is when someone enjoys compliments and positive affirmation," I finally said.

"Sexually."

"Yes."

"Do you?"

Definitely getting wet. I was going to flood the floor. What would his god think of that? The thought of the floor sucking it up made me feel like cackling. I could barely hold it inside. "Sometimes."

"So . . ." He frowned. "If I told you I find you beautiful, that sexually stimulates you?"

"I like being called beautiful, but I'm not sure it's a full turn-on, at least for me. "

"Turn on . . ." His frown lifted. "Ah, you mean turning on your sexual drive versus turning it off."

"Yeah." He was much too savvy about this.

"What sort of positive affirmation do you enjoy most—sexually?"

"It sounds odd to say it like that."

"If I don't know what it is, I might use it at a time when it wouldn't suit your needs. I'd rather use it when you'll most enjoy it."

I was sure he would. "I like to be called a good girl," I blurted out, slapping my hand over my mouth the moment I said it.

He rose from his chair.

I barely noticed the "god" sucking his chair into the shroom structure because Xax was stalking toward me on surprisingly light feet.

Stopping in front of me, he leaned over, caging me with his big palms on either side of my shoulders. His head dropped down close to my ear, and he purred. "You smell good."

Swoon.

"I already know you taste good," he drawled. "Be a good girl and show me how sweet you can be."