I’m happy, I realize. I thought that being abducted by aliens was the worst possible thing that could happen to me. Turns out, I found my mate and my happy ever after.

I laugh as I bust through the stable door, lifting my water gun, and shooting anything that moves…

And shoot Taruk in the face.

“What the hell? Taruk?” I gasp. “How did you get here before us?”

“Secret passage,” Sutek replies.

“We have a secret passage?” Elana gasps.

Sutek smirks at the water dribbling down Taruk’s chin. He’s enjoying this moment far too much.

I shoot him in the face too. Just for good measure.

“Don’t laugh at my mate,” I tell him off, attempting to look vicious and angry… and utterly failing as every second word is preceded by giggles. Sutek’s face… he looks absolutely stunned that someone actually managed to shoot him at all. I guess for a security guard that walks around with dangerously glittering weapons strapped to him all the time, he probably didn’t expect anyone to challenge him. He does look pretty bad-ass.

“Wait… Hold up,” Elana states beside me, holding her hand up in the air between us. “Is this a free-for-all right now? Or am I going to have to get payback?”

“Payback,” Sutek answers, glaring at me.

“Fine…” Elana sighs, as if it’s the hardest part of her day. Then she shoots Sutek in the face.

Water drips from his soaked hair as he stares at both of us, jaw hanging open.

“Hey! Sisters before misters,” Elana shrugs.

“You were supposed to shoot her!” Sutek growls, pacing towards Elana. She’s not frightened by his towering size in the very least. No, she grins up at him like this is fun. Crazy girl.

With a grunt, Sutek picks her up and throws her over his shoulder. Elana just laughs.

“Female down!” She cries out. “Go on without me, girls. Make me proud!”

“You know… I think they suggested here for a reason. Let’s go. We got some beasties to catch,” one of our team members says as the group heads towards the door. I never get to see who spoke. “If the security cameras are accurate, most of the Yum-Yums have already been caught. Soon there won’t be any left for us to catch at all! These aliens work fast.”

These aliens do work fast. Once they’ve set their mind to something, nothing will stop them. It’s why my attention is completely on Taruk as he stalks slowly towards me. His eyes pin me in place, his attention leaving a scorching burn across my skin. My breath comes in short pants, and I feel my nipples pebble in my bra. He looks so strong and capable. With his scars, he looks deadly. Most people are terrified of the Beast, but right now I’m more terrified of what he’s going to do to me… with me.

“You defended me,” he says, looking down at me. Despite his overbearing presence, the touch of his claws on my cheek is light. I shiver at their caress as he tucks a strand of loose hair behind my ear.

“Of course,” I tell him. “You’re my mate. I’ll always defend you.”

He grunts, and swallows heavily.

“I’m the luckiest male in the universe,” he tells me. And then he kisses me. His lips press against mine, hungry and ravenous. Soft, yet firm. His tongue sweeps into my mouth, claiming me. I can’t do anything but moan, wrapping my arms around him. I’m distantly aware of my water gun clattering to the floor.

Taruk’s arms wrap around me, drawing me close into his firm embrace. He’s so warm. Being this close to him… I feel safe. He might have been rubbing it on thick about being the luckiest male in the universe, but he certainly makes me feel very lucky. I guess I can’t comment; the chance of our meeting across the galaxies is so small… we’ve both won the love lottery.

I jump and wrap my legs around his waist, deepening our kiss. Taruk grabs me easily, holding me as if my weight doesn’t bother him at all. He does grunt though when I roll my hips, feeling the delicious friction at my core as I press against his hard length.

“Taruk,” I groan into his mouth. “Please.”

“I do like it when you beg,” he replies as he walks the short distance to his bedroom door. In moments we are inside, with it swinging shut behind us.

I’m already tugging at his clothing, trying my best not to lose my precarious balance without hanging onto him. Not that he’ll ever let me fall.

I yelp when I do. Then laughter spills out of me as my back lands in a soft bed. Taruk climbing over me, his lips slamming down, quickly puts a stop to that. I whimper into his mouth as his fingers graze up my ribcage. I cry out when his claws rip through the fabric of my shirt and bra, tearing it free from my body. The cold air hits my sensitive flesh, and my nipples harden impossibly more. It aches.

“Is this what you want?” Taruk asks, running a tip of his claw around the stiff bud. I nod, staring at the way his red skin circles. My back’s already arching as I try to push my breast into his hand.