Chapter Twelve
“I’m just thinking...”
My voice sounds too loud in this vast room. With the concrete walls, everything echoes.
I lean forward, sliding closer until we’re side by side. “Maybe I should go look around for others who remember. When I go back to the base housing where the other aliens were staying—the guys who rescued us—then I’d potentially have backup.”
Ray’s eyes snap to mine, pupils dilating until they overtake most of the brown. ”Or you could end up getting your memories erased--”
“I could ask questions. Carefully. Not giving away that I remember anything. Or know where you are.” I gesture around me vaguely, hoping he understands my meaning. The less he knows, the safer we both are if this goes sideways.
Ray shifts, the cords in his neck pulled taut. “You want to go back there?” His gravelly voice rumbles through me.
I force a casual shrug even as my heart pounds. “Maybe they know more about what happened to us. To everyone they...saved.” I hesitate. “Do you think they knew? That our memories would be taken?”
Ray’s jaw tightens, eyes distant as he considers the possibility.
“The ones that took us,” he finally says. “They aren’t the same ones that had us locked up before.”
He means the scaled alien doctors. The ones we both want to forget.
I bite my lip. He’s right. These new aliens… they came out of nowhere, swooping in when we needed them most. But why?
And how much do they really know about what was done to us or, more recently, what memories were ripped away?
My fingers curl into fists, and I take a deep breath, steadying my nerves. “Were all the doctors while you were imprisoned the scaled ones? The ones that...” I trail off, not wanting to bring up any memories he’s trying to forget.
Ray’s jaw clenches, the cords in his neck pulled taut. “Mostly,” he says after a moment. “But there were others. Humans, you know?”
I shudder, wrapping my arms around myself. Fuck.
For a minute there, I thought he’d describe the grays. Those descriptions conjure half-formed nightmares for me, with glimpses of cold metal and probing fingers.
“Do you think they were different factions of aliens?” I ask. “Maybe the ones who rescued us didn’t know everything the scaled ones were doing?”
Ray frowns, considering. “Maybe,” he finally says. “They didn’t seem surprised when they found us, but...” He shakes his head, frustration clear on his face. “I don’t know.”
I reach out, lightly touching his arm. The contact zaps through me, making my nipples tighten despite our dire conversation. It”s easier than I ever realized it”d be to get distracted by all his endless dark skin and bulging muscles. His purple coloring has faded back to a rich chocolate tone that contrasts with the white tight boxers he”s wearing.
“It’s okay,” I whisper. “We’ll figure it.”
Ray’s eyes meet mine, and something powerful passes between us. Determination. Understanding. And maybe the beginnings of something more.
We sit like that for a long moment, the rest of the room fading away.
I feel the spark between us, like a live wire. Ever since I escaped and met Ray, there’s been this connection. This pull toward him.
I can’t explain it, but it’s like my body recognizes him.
Which is totally corny.
But maybe I’m overthinking. It makes sense. We’ve been through the same trauma and suffered the same violations at the hands of our captors. Although I haven’t asked, I have a feeling it was way worse for him.
But when I look into Ray’s eyes, I also see kindness. Strength. A determination that matches my own.
My heart pounds as he gazes at me. Before I can overthink it, I lean over and press my lips to his.
The kiss is electric, and every nerve in my body ignites. For a moment Ray freezes, stunned. But then he responds, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me close.
Relief floods me as his big arm pulls me into his lap. I’ve wanted this. Needed this connection.
We cling together, our lips pressed tight. Right now, nothing else matters but the two of us.
When his arms loosen, I pull back, wondering how to phrase this. “Have you… uh… ever…”
“Kissed?”
“Yeah.”
“No,” Ray admits, shrugging slightly. “But I saw it on the internet.” His eyes return to mine, devouring my face as he tugs me closer. “I want to learn.”
I lick my lips, sliding my hand up to cup his cheek. Part of me is shocked that I’m the first person to kiss this handsome man. The thought fills me with giddy pleasure.
“Relax your lips,” I urge him, leaning forward.
I brush my lips lightly across his, and the rumbling groan deep from his chest sounds pained. But when I try to pull back, his hand slides into my hair at the back of my head, locking me in place.
Nibbling at his lower lip, I tease him with tiny nips, and the sounds grow louder. More intense. And with each touch of our lips, the sound escalates, drawing out into a hum that makes my nipples tight and achy.
Running my tongue along everywhere I’ve nibbled, he pants lightly in front of me until I deepen the kiss. My tongue flicks against his and he freezes under me, the hand fisting my hair becomes almost painful.
“Is that…” I twist my neck, pulling against his hold. “… okay?”
Instead of answering, his lips crash against mine, forcing me wide as he touches his tongue to mine.
Then we’re kissing.
Really kissing. Deep and commanding, his hungry strokes explore my mouth until I’m whimpering as my head spins. My fingers lock behind his neck as he plunders my mouth, taking over until I can’t breathe.
I’ve always kept my guard up, never letting anyone get too close. My normal snarky commentary seems pointless since I always used it to keep people at arm’s length. But Ray makes me feel safe—not trapped—in a way I didn’t think was possible. When I’m with him, the fears that haunt me seem to fade away.
I’ve totally lost control. Rocking against him, I let him lead as my body heats. My nipples graze his chest, tightening to the point of pain. It’s the sexiest thing ever, and I don’t want it to end.
We come up for air eventually, foreheads touching as we catch our breath. The look Ray gives me then makes my core heat. My lips tingle as we stare at each other, and I see my own desire reflected there.
This connection between us—it’s more than physical.
I know one thing for certain, I won’t let anyone hurt Ray again. Not on my watch.
In this moment, nothing else matters but his skin on mine. The aliens, the experiments, the constant looking over my shoulder—it all melts away.
There’s only Ray and the promise of something real between us. My hands explore the hard planes of Ray’s chest, reveling in the feel of him. His skin flickers with a faint purple glow when I touch him, a visible sign of the connection sparking between us.
I gasp as his fingers trail fire down my spine. He smiles against my lips, enjoying the effect he has on me. No one has ever made me feel this alive. This wanted.
I break our kiss to trail my lips along his stubbled jaw. He lets out a low groan that sends desire coiling through me.
“Summer,” he breathes, my name a fervent prayer on his lips. Hearing the need in his voice only makes me want him more.
I capture his mouth again, pouring all of my pent-up longing into the kiss. His grip on me tightens, muscular arms locking me against him like I’m the only thing keeping him grounded.
We’re so lost in each other that at first the sound doesn’t register—the creak of a door opening, footsteps echoing through the room. We freeze, still tangled together.
And the outside world comes crashing back in.