“Oh - hello!” Lidia has stopped to gawp at T’zak. “You’re my coffee catcher. I seriously have never seen anyone with as fast reflexes as you. Amazing.”
I raise my eyebrows at T’zak.
Lidia’s gaze flicks over to me and her face drops. “Maria.”
Shane’s caught up with Lidia and his eyes dart between me and T’zak. “You’ve moved on fast, Maria.” He doesn’t sound too happy about it. “Who is this?”
“This is T’zak. T’zak, this is Shane. And Lidia. The gang’s all here.” I slurp my cocktail. Lidia can’t keep her eyes off T’zak.
Shane puts his hand proprietorially on my shoulder. He bends down and his gaze drops to my cleavage.
“I know I asked you to drop off my belongings at the hotel. Let me know when you’re alone and I’ll come over. We need to talk, okay?” He whispers.
T’zak’s eyebrows fly up. He will have heard every word of this, even if Lidia hasn’t.
I shake my head. “Too little, too late.”
Shane’s hand tightens on my shoulder, but Lidia doesn’t notice. She’s too busy staring as T’zak rises from his chair to his full height. His eyes are fiery, an unnaturally bright orange color. The couples on the tables near us snap their heads round and even some of the drunken dancers pause to scope out what’s happening.
“Get your hands off her.” T’zak’s voice is hard.
Shane gawps at T’zak’s height but stupidly leaves his hand where it is. Maybe he’s in shock.
In a swift movement, T’zak sweeps Shane’s hand off my shoulder, grabbing his arm and lifting him off the floor. It’s an impossible display of speed and strength.
T’zak holds Shane so their eyes are level. Shane’s feet kick listlessly beneath him.
“Maria will not be seeing you alone or otherwise. I can read your intentions. You regret your choice of this inferior woman, Lidia, and now you want to come back into Maria’s life. You caused her pain and I will not allow this to happen again.” T’zak shakes him for emphasis and Shane’s cell phone rattles out of his pockets and falls on the dancefloor. The song ends and by now the DJ is staring at us too, so the bar is silent.
“Okay.” Shane’s voice is a squeak.
T’zak looks over at Biek, who is sadly shaking his head. T’zak’s caused a scene because he was protecting me again. It’s my fault.
I stand up and run out of the door into the balmy night air outside. T’zak follows me and I turn around.
“We’ve failed, haven’t we?” There are tears in my eyes but I blink them away so he doesn’t see.
He nods, his expression somber.
I reach out my hand and take his. “We have tonight?”
He nods again. “I’m sorry, Maria. I could not help myself defending you from Shane. I want to protect you.”
I put my arm around him. “I want to protect you too. Can we run away?”
He shakes his head. “I have a tracker fitted. They will know our location and I will die anyway.”
We walk back home in silence. I can’t believe this is my last night with this incredible man.
Once we’re inside, I head to the kitchen to drink a glass of water. He follows me and watches as I set the glass down. He springs forward, his biceps flexing as he lifts me up to set me on the kitchen counter.
I wrap my legs around his waist as he kisses me, his tongues hot inside my mouth as our lips press together. He smells so good, a scent I’ve never encountered before, like a mix of sandalwood and fresh air. I curl my hands into his thick hair, wrapping my legs tighter around his waist.
His hands drop to my breasts and he groans, kneading them between his huge palms. I lean my head back as my nipples pebble under his touch, shrugging off the straps of my dress as he pulls off my bra. He drops his head to my nipples and the sensation of his tongues working away, licking and sucking, has wetness pooling between my legs.
My body feels like it’s on fire as he lifts me again, my dress dropping to the floor so I’m only wearing my panties. He carries me up the stairs, still working my nipples with his tongues, and into the walk-in shower room at the top of the stairs. He sets me down and pulls off his T-shirt, his chest thickly muscled.
He raises his head to look at me. “Showers are one of the best human inventions. On Hedian we bathe quickly in hot springs. I like this sensation of the shower more.”