Page 19 of Protected By the Alien Bodyguard

“I don’t understand why I would whine to you first,” I answer, trying to make sense of the concept. “As for dining... I am quite happy to feast on you. Again and again.”

Her pale skin turns pink with a blush. She’s delightful. Beautiful.

“I need to know... is mating like marriage? On my planet, when two people love each other, they commit to each other exclusively. If you were to find some Volscian woman, and... I don’t think...”

I kneel before my tiny mate. This merely brings my head to the same height as hers. With a finger beneath her chin, I force her to meet my gaze.

“You are the only female for me. I love you.”

“But why?” She licks her lips, her small tongue darting across the soft flesh. Flesh that I want to be licking and nipping at. Soon.

“You are a warrior,” I tell her. “One that I admire so very much.”

“I’m not a warrior,” Kayla laughs. She throws her arms wide. “See any weapons? A gun, or a sword or something? Sure, I can make a mean lasagna, but I doubt I could kill someone with that. Maybe make them fat, sure, but not kill them. Oh wait, damn cholesterol is a silent killer, right?”

I shake my head, patiently listening to her ramble. She’s wrapping her arms around herself, getting caught up in her own world again.

“You are afraid and that’s why you are a warrior,” I say.

Kayla gawks at me, her mouth dropping open.

I reach out and brush a loose lock of her hair behind her ear. My fingers trail over the bruise on her cheek and jaw. “You fought a male much larger than you, and you beat him.”

“Luck,” she argues.

I shake my head. “Strength. You become injured, and yet you press on when most would give up. You are intelligent. You have values, and you stand by them even if it means walking a hard and difficult path. The bravest people are those that are afraid but don’t let their fears hold them back. Only a fool wouldn’t be afraid, and you are definitely not a fool.”

Tears gather in Kayla’s eyes. I gently catch them with my fingers. Then I lean in and press a soothing kiss to her lips.

“You are a warrior, fighting every day, my love. And you are so humble that you don’t even realize it.” I cup her cheeks, looking deeply into her eyes. “If you will have me as your mate, your real mate, then I’ll spend the rest of my days ensuring that you know just how amazing you truly are. Just as you are.”

Kayla throws her arms around my neck and her lips slam against mine. I pull her body against me, keeping my touch delicate. I long to press her so close that we practically merge as one, bound together forever, but a part of me remembers her injuries. I’ll always protect her, even from myself.

It doesn’t take long for our kisses to become more passionate. Kayla’s cool fingers glide down my neck, trailing their way over my shoulders. She clutches and pulls at my shirt, attempting to drag it off of my body, only for it to get stuck on one of my horns.

I laugh, pulling back enough to slide it all the way off. In the blink of an eye, she’s dragging her own green shirt over her head.

I hiss at the sight of a large bruise across her side, desire abating slightly. I reach out and run the back of my knuckle over her ribs. Kayla inhales sharply as I graze the tender skin.

“Does it hurt?” I ask.

“No,” she tells me. “The healer gave me some pretty potent pain killers. It’s your touch that I’m reacting to. It feels good.”

“I’ll do everything in my power to prevent this from ever happening to you again,” I promise her. “I’ll protect you.”

“I know,” Kayla replies, running her hand over my biceps. She squeezes. “I trust you, Jaraz.”

Trust is not easily gained. I will cherish hers.

I lean forward and kiss her rib with the softest of pecks, my lips barely grazing her skin.

Kayla’s hands wrap around my horns, sending a jolt of lust through my body. A male’s horns are sensitive. We typically only use them in war... and mating.

My kisses trail up her body to the mounds of her breasts. With the way she’s tugging me, guiding my head, she wants this as much as I do. I don’t even have the patience to strip the clothing from her body. My mouth latches onto one of her pebbled nipples and I suck in deeply. My tongue swirls over the fabric, teasing the taut peak as Kayla arches her back and a breathless whine emerges from her throat.

Oh, that’s what she meant about wining and dining.

Well, I’m more than happy to oblige. As her mate, it is my duty—no, my very pleasure—to dine on her body until she reaches her peak.

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