"But-"

By now he was standing over her, his face a series of sharp angles and fury. "No buts, Reggie. Remember how curious you were about what a Paladin does? Well, now you know. We kill vermin like those two. Day in and day out, year after year, I wade through buckets of blood to protect our world from the crazy f.u.c.kers from this one. My friends and I fight with swords or axes or even our bare hands if it comes to that, but we get the job done."

He knelt down to stare right into her eyes. "And the funny part is, modern science says we share their DNA. That's why I can see in the dark."

Her mouth dropped open in shock. "But that means-"

He cut her off in midsentence. "Yeah, that means you've shared ice cream with someone who isn't completely human."

Then his gaze zeroed in on her mouth. "Not to mention that you actually kissed a freak."

She couldn't listen to this. "No matter what you say, you're nothing like them."

"Lie to yourself if you need to, Reggie, but don't say I didn't warn you."

He rose back up and grabbed the pommel of the sword he wore at his side. Then with a look of total frustration, he shoved it back down in the sheath and walked away again.

"D.J.?" she whispered, his words still battering her mind like heavy fists.

He looked back at her. "Look, just forget I said anything."

Heck no. Despite his claim to the contrary, it was clear that the deaths had affected him whether he admitted it or not. So did his supposed alien DNA. Also obvious was the fact that someone in the past had rejected him for that very reason. Sure, she was shocked by his revelation, but who wouldn't have been? It wasn't as if she'd even heard of this world before yesterday.

No matter how tired she was, he wasn't going to get by with convicting her of crimes she hadn't committed. She gathered the cloak around her and followed D.J. over to where he bent down to stir the pot he'd scavenged from the Kaliths' supplies.

When her shadow fell over him, he looked up. "What do you want now?"

"An apology."

He dropped the spoon in the pot as he jerked back upright to tower over her. "Just how the h.e.l.l do you figure I owe you an apology? I'm not the one who got herself kidnapped and dragged into an alien world. You should be grateful that you're not currently sharing one of those pallets with those two aliens."

Okay, if he wanted to be a jerk, fine. She didn't back away an inch.

"You're right, and I already told you that I was grateful. But for the past hour you've been acting like I just kicked your puppy or stole your lollipop."

She tightened her hold on the cloak. "I am sorry that I ever tried to track you down, and I'm sorry I didn't listen when you warned me off. But don't accuse me of crimes I didn't commit. Kiss or no kiss, yes, it came as a shock that you might have some alien DNA. Considering that I didn't know it was even possible until five minutes ago, maybe you could cut me some slack."

"There's no might about it, Reggie."

She poked him in the chest with her finger. "But I'm guessing you're jumping to conclusions about how I'd react based on someone else's sins, and I don't appreciate it."

Maybe she was mistaken, but the gleam in his chocolate brown eyes had taken on a whole different meaning. Maybe a tactical retreat was in order. At this point, she wasn't sure what they were really fighting about or why. But their tempers were both definitely running hot, maybe because focusing on D.J. kept her from thinking about anything else.

He matched her retreat step for step. "Where are you going, Reggie? I thought you wanted an apology."

"I changed my mind."

His eyes flicked past her to where Jeban had spread out pallets on the ground. "I wouldn't want us to go to bed mad at each other."

The image of the two of them sharing a bed popped into her head. Okay, she was not going there. "Look, I'm not mad anymore. Besides, I think maybe the stew is burning. You might want to check on it."

"I can always make more."

He wasn't so much walking as prowling, and there was no doubt who was his prey.

"D.J." She used his name as a warning, holding up her hand to stop him.

"Reggie." He made hers sounded like a purr, warming up the night-and her-with his deep voice.

"There's no time for this."

That was a lie. They had all night. As crazy as it was, she wanted his touch to drive away her fear and to hold her nightmares at bay. She stopped retreating.

"Tired of running?" D.J. sounded disappointed as he twined a strand of her hair around his fingers. "Or are you planning on using some of your fancy martial-arts moves on me?"

Her sensei would be bitterly disappointed to find out that the thought hadn't even occurred to her. But then, alien blood or not, the threat D.J. posed to her wasn't physical, but emotional. She had no moves, fancy or otherwise, to protect herself from that.

"Not unless you force the issue."

Okay, his smile was driving her crazy. This time his fingertips followed the curve of her throat, down and down, to lightly trace the valley between her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. The ache that followed in the wake of his touch melted the last bit of her resistance.

She held the cloak closed with one hand and used the other one to do some touching of her own. Ever aware of the difference in their heights, she rose up on her toes to brush her fingers over his s.e.xy mouth. "Are you going to kiss me?"

He nipped at her fingertips, his smile heating up yet another notch-or ten. "Got a thing for aliens, do you?"

That again? "Yeah, D.J., I just love little green men."

His breath teased her skin as he leaned down close to her ear and whispered, "Sorry to disappoint, but you can see I'm not green, and I'll be happy to prove to you that I'm not little."

Now there was an image guaranteed to fry her brain. For the first time in hours she was warm. Hot even. Feeling alive.

The rough fabric of the cloak chafed her skin. Even the night air felt heavy.

She leaned into D.J.'s strength, drawing in the scent of his skin. In the past, she'd always been cautious around men, reluctant to trust and even more reluctant to surrender. But here, in the small circle of light from the fire, they lived in a world of two. All that mattered were their rules, their choices, their needs.

And right now, she needed this man to help ground her, to stop the fear of what lurked out there in the shadows.

"Kiss me."

Chapter 15.

Reggie wasn't asking him a question, but issuing an order. It was a shame she hadn't yet met Devlin because the big guy could tell her all about how well D.J. took orders. He always got the job done, but he did it in his own time and in his own way. Guess she'd have to learn that lesson on her own.

First things first. Where should they stage this little party? The handful of pallets were scattered around the clearing.

He kissed her cheek. "Hold that thought. I'll be right back."

He dragged two of the makes.h.i.+ft beds close together near the fire and then spread the third and fourth on top for good measure. With each only little better than a couple of thin blankets, they wouldn't offer much by way of cus.h.i.+oning. Under the circ.u.mstances, he'd play the gentleman and make sure he was the one who ended up with rocks digging into his a.s.s.

Next, he took the blanket Reggie had dropped and used it to cover the nest he was building. He turned back the top edge, hoping it would look inviting. Then he pulled the stew off the fire but left it where it would stay warm. For later. A lot later.

Okay, back to Reggie. With luck she hadn't changed her mind, although he wouldn't blame her if she had. A woman like her deserved to be courted and then seduced, not subjected to a quick tumble only hours after she'd been kidnapped and threatened with far worse.

D.J. made his approach slowly, watching her for any hint of reluctance. The final decision would be hers, even if it killed him. Considering how hard he was at the moment, it just might. Hot d.a.m.n, she was so perfect and pet.i.te. With her hair tumbling down her shoulders in soft waves and her pretty bare feet peeking out from the bottom of the cloak, she was temptation itself.

Her eyes stared past him, right at the bed he'd made, her normally expressive face impossible to read. He coasted to a stop just out of reach.

"Should I make another bed for myself?"

He was impressed with how calm he sounded. The thought of sleeping alone made him want to howl with frustration, but she'd already had enough of men dragging her around. As he waited for her answer, all he could hear was the snap, crackle, and pop of the fire. Well, that and the pounding of his heart.

"You'd really do that, wouldn't you?" she murmured.

He nodded, although she'd sounded as if she were talking more to herself. At long last, her eyes sought his. The heat in their depths had nothing to do with the fire, her smile a funny mix of caution and fearlessness. In a move that stunned him stupid, she let the cloak slide to her feet. Then she s.h.i.+mmied out of the tunic, leaving her wearing nothing but the dim glow of moonlight on her skin.

"You still haven't kissed me."

It was hard to talk with his tongue dragging on the ground. "Sorry, my bad."

Then he leaned toward her to correct that omission.

As soon as D.J. touched her, she melted. The man was big and powerful and scary, but she'd never felt so safe, so cherished, as when he folded her in his arms. His mouth took hers in a simple kiss. A claiming, to be sure, but so gentle.

Who would've thought a man who charged through life at a dead run could slow down to linger over a moment like this one?

His hands wors.h.i.+pped her as they skimmed across her shoulders and down her back. The sweet sensation made her sigh, and D.J. deepened the kiss. The tip of his tongue staged a foray between her lips, sampling a quick taste before retreating.

She smiled against his mouth and did some exploring of her own. The play of their tongues stoked the growing heat, first in her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and then deep in her belly and at the juncture of her thighs.

"Hold on," he breathed between kisses.

Then his hands cupped her bottom, lifting her up high against his chest. She dug her fingers into his shoulder muscles and wrapped her legs around his hips. The soft fabric of his trousers did next to nothing to disguise his impressive desire for her.

She wanted his clothes off. She tugged at the hem of his tunic. "Get rid of these. Now, D.J. Sooner if possible."

He grinned. "Mind if I put you down first?"

"I thought you'd never ask."

He kicked the silver blanket back and then settled her down in the bed he'd prepared. Then he yanked off his tunic, followed by the T-s.h.i.+rt he wore underneath it. Reggie propped herself up on her elbows to enjoy the view. It was flat-out amazing, and not just because the man was seriously ripped under all those clothes.

Her past experience, limited as it was, had always been indoors and under the covers. But here they were, outside, under the moons of this alien sky, surrounded not by walls but by a circle of firelight. Its soft dancing glow highlighted the lean lines of D.J.'s body, showing off his sculpted muscles.

And he hadn't been bragging. There was nothing small about him. Anywhere. In fact, impressive didn't do the man justice. Imagine, all that scrumptiousness just for her. Oh, yeah, this was going to be good.

When every st.i.tch of his clothing was gone, D.J. picked up his wallet and pulled out a single foil packet.

Looking disappointed, he dropped it beside the pallet. "I'll be back in a minute."

The view of him walking away made the delay almost bearable. He dumped his pack out again and rooted through the stuff scattered on the ground. Then he grinned at her and held up three more packets before starting back over to her.

She tried to keep her eyes focused on his, but finally gave in to the temptation to check him out from top to toes. When he realized what she was doing, he slowed down and then did a slow turn just for her benefit.

It felt good to laugh. It would feel even better to get her hands on him. "Stop preening and get back here."

"Hey, now, Paladins don't preen."

"Yeah, right. I know preening when I see it."

He looked mildly insulted, which made her giggle again. Finally, he gave in and grinned back.

"It's nice to see you smile again, Reggie."

The packets joined the other one where they'd be within easy reach. D.J. stretched out beside her.

His smile faded as he cupped her cheek with his hand. "You still all right with this?"

Darn him, he was making her think-the last thing she wanted to do right now. Yes, she still wanted him. The question was, why? Was she using him just to buy a few hours of oblivion? Not entirely.

Whatever he was seeing in her eyes had him sitting up and reaching for the boxers he'd tossed in the dust. She caught his hand in hers. He tugged it free.

"Reggie, I'm not going anywhere, even if all you need is for me to hold you all night long. But if that's what you want, I'm going to need something other than just my good intentions between us unless you want me to sleep somewhere else."

He really was a hero, one she craved right now with an amazing intensity.

"I want you right here, right now." She captured his hand again and pressed a kiss to his fingertips. "Yes, in part because you-this-will drive away all thoughts of what's happened. If that was all it was, though, I'd take you up on the offer to cuddle."

"But?"

She straddled his lap, opening herself up to him in more ways than one. Running her fingers through his thick hair, she smiled into his dark eyes.

"As long as we both know going in that what we share is just for tonight-no questions, no promises-then I want this."

Before he could marshal any more arguments, she kissed him again. And again.

It was as if she'd touched a spark to dry tinder. D.J. claimed her mouth with a searing kiss as his hands roamed over her body, touching, testing, teasing. She loved the tickle of his chest hair against her already sensitive b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

He thrust up against her, rubbing his erection against her core, the friction making her beg for more as he palmed her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. She broke off the kiss and arched back to offer him easier access.

"Like that, do you?" he asked just before he captured her nipple with his lips.

"G.o.d, yes."