Page 20 of The Alien's Stolen Rebel

He came like an explosion inside me, his alien seed pumping deep into me and sending me into an uncontrolled frenzy.

Together, we tumbled over the edge into an endless gulf of pleasure.

12

KREEL

We lay together on the galley deck, panting. I’d never felt so good.

It wasn’t just the sex, as amazing as that had been. That physical pleasure paled in comparison with the sense of wholeness I got holding Rachel in my arms. She trusted me enough to fall asleep in my arms, and given her recent history, that was no small thing. I would not fail her.

Protecting her, keeping her safe, had shifted to the top of my list of priorities. I wasn’t sure when or how that had happened, but it was true. She wasmine, and nothing else mattered as much.

I looked down at her soft, red hair tumbling down her back, letting the peaceful joy of the present wash over me. Breathing softly, watching her, I don’t know how long we lay in the flickering light. I only know that I delighted in every moment.

It couldn’t last forever. Eventually, inevitably,Rachel stirred. Her hand drifted across my chest, brushing across me, and I grinned down as her eyes fluttered open, looking up at me.

Eyes wide, she gasped, and her muscles tensed. She seemed almost shocked to see me, but slowly that look melted into a smile.

“I thought you were a dream,” she said, her voice low and sleepy. I chuckled, running my fingers through her hair and savoring her shiver.

“No dream, my sweet. I have never been more real than when I’m with you. You are mine now.”

“Now hold on there, Mister Shiny-Dick. I don’t belong to you! I’ve just escaped from the last alien who tried to tell me I’m his property.” Rachel sat up in a hurry, pulling away from me. I made no move to stop her—I had no desire to compound her outrage.

She glared at me, fearless and beautiful. Overpowering her would be no challenge for me, but still she stood up for herself. I would rather throw myself into a nuclear furnace than harm her, but Rachel couldn’t be sure of that.

Though her bravery filled my heart with a proud joy, I did not wish her to feel threatened by me. I held up my hands, slow enough not to startle her. “That is not what I meant, Rachel Day of Mars. You are no one’s property, and I will defend you from any who try to treat you so. Your freedom is precious to me, and I will never stifle it.”

She watched me warily, as though she’d heard such promises before and had them broken. It took an effortnot to show my anger, lest she misinterpret it. Males who played with a female’s feelings like that deserved my rage, but Rachel was my focus now, not those who had wronged her.

“I meant to say that you are my mate, the other half of my soul. Argentians know that we have our perfect matches out there, somewhere among the stars. But space is vast, and lives are short—most never meet theirs. It is the greatest treasure of my life to have met you, Rachel.”

Her frown looked forced, I thought, and her cheeks heated. My words touched something in her, though she wasn’t yet willing to admit it. Progress.

“So, what, I’m obligated to like you now?”

“I had hoped we were past that question,” I said, gesturing to the torn remnants of her clothing scattered across the galley. Rachel’s blush deepened beautifully, and I continued. “Still, to be clear, I demand nothing of you. Not your love, your affection, or even your presence in my life. I have met my mate, helped you escape harm. If that is all you ever want from me, I will still be luckier than most of my kind.”

Slowly, carefully, I slid my legs under myself, putting myself in a pouncing position. Rachel watched me, swallowing nervously, but made no objection. Nor did she speak.

“However, that is not what you want,” I said after a pause. “You want this. You wantus.And you want more ofthat.”

Her face bright crimson, Rachel yelped an objection,but then fell silent. So did I, giving her the chance to marshal her thoughts.

Eventually, she stood up and wrapped herself in the remains of her dress. What little I left intact didn't do much to cover her, and seeing flashes of skin through the tears was sexier than nakedness would have been.

“Okay, fine, you’re right. At least about the sex part.” Given the depth of her blush, her voice barely trembled. “That was awesome, twelve out of ten, would fuck again. But the rest…look, you just rescued me from a warlord, we’re on the run for our lives, and I’m not in a place to make long-term decisions right now. We barely know each other.”

“And yet, I am certain you are the one and only soul to match mine.”

“I’ve got no idea what to say to that.” Frustrated, Rachel threw up her hands. “I like you? But I don’t know if it goes any deeper than that. I just don’t trust my feelings when I’ve spent the last day stressed out of my mind, being chased, and having my brains fucked out. This isn’t the best time to spring something like this on me.”

I reached out for her, waited until she nodded her assent, and stroked her cheek. “My apologies, little one. I had no desire to make anything awkward for you. There is no pressure. Make your decision when you are sure of yourself.”

Her smile was tentative, but it was there and genuine. A moment passed, then she flung her arms around me. The thin fabric of her torn dress, withnone of the undergarments she’d worn before, did little to keep our bodies apart, and I growled a warning.

My human mate giggled at that but pulled back, looking me up and down. She waggled her eyebrows at me. “Looks like you’re going to have ahardtime restraining yourself, huh?”

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