Chapter 7

Jagger's massive frame blocked out the light as he closed the distance. The heat radiating from his skin was palpable.

Cora took a nervous step back, her bare heel hitting the slick edge of the rock. She had nowhere to run.

He reached out. His rough, calloused thumb traced the line of her jaw, his touch feather-light but trembling with suppressed power.

"Mine," he rasped. His voice was a dark, dangerous promise.

He lowered his head, his gaze fixed on her lips.

Panic flared in Cora's chest. This was moving too fast. She pressed both hands flat against his rock-hard chest. "Wait! I... I'm not ready."

Jagger's body jerked to a halt. His jaw locked so tight the muscles ticked. He stared down at her, his breathing ragged and heavy. The violent clash between his alpha instincts and her rejection played out in the tightening of his muscles.

He let out a frustrated, guttural snarl, stepping back so abruptly it startled her.

"Hurry," he barked, turning on his heel and storming out of the cavern, needing distance before his control snapped completely.

Cora collapsed against the cavern wall, her heart hammering against her ribs. She had survived, for now.

She quickly opened her inventory and pulled out the small vial of Earth-grade Appearance Restoration Serum. She popped the cork and downed the blue liquid in one gulp.

A cool, tingling sensation rushed through her veins.

The small cuts and bruises on her legs faded. The dullness in her skin vanished, replaced by a flawless, porcelain smoothness. Her features refined, returning to their absolute peak state before the crash.

She looked at her reflection in the still water. She was stunning.

Taking a deep breath, Cora adjusted the white pelt and walked out of the tunnel into the main cave.

Jagger was sitting by the fire, aggressively sharpening his bone knife against a rock.

He looked up as she entered.

The bone knife slipped from his hand, clattering loudly against the stone floor.

Jagger stood up, his body rigid. If she was beautiful before, she was a goddess now. The sheer perfection of her face hit him like a physical blow.

The last thread of his control snapped.

He crossed the cave in three massive strides. He grabbed her chin, tilting her face up to meet his burning gaze. "You are my mate. We bond now."

His intensity terrified her. Cora yanked her face away and stumbled backward.

Her shoulder slammed into the cave wall, crushing a cluster of glowing pink flowers that grew naturally from the damp crevices of the stone. Jagger often let them bloom because their scent repelled the venomous cave-centipedes, entirely unaware of their biological effect on alien females.

A thick cloud of pink pollen exploded into the air, directly into Cora's face.

"BEEP! Critical Warning! Inhaled high-concentration 'Lust-Silk' pollen. Extreme aphrodisiac and hallucinogenic effects imminent!"

Cora inhaled sharply in surprise, drawing the pollen deep into her lungs.

Instantly, a scorching, liquid fire ignited in her lower belly. It shot through her veins, melting her bones.

Her legs gave out.

She collapsed forward, falling directly into Jagger's waiting arms.

Jagger caught her easily. But as he looked down, he saw her eyes glaze over with a hazy, unfocused lust. Her skin was burning hot against his bare chest, and a deep, unnatural flush spread across her chest and neck.

He recognized the smell of the crushed pink flowers. Lust-Silk. It was harmless to males, but a devastating breeding drug to females.

Cora moaned, a soft, desperate sound that went straight to Jagger's groin.

She twisted in his arms, her hands sliding up his chest to wrap tightly around his neck. Her hot, rapid breath ghosted across his collarbone.

"Hot," she whimpered, pressing her hips flush against his.

Jagger's sanity shattered.

He scooped her up into his arms, his golden eyes blazing with unchecked fire, and carried her straight to the bed of furs.