Page 12 of The Alien's Runaway Bride

“Perhaps I simply couldn’t resist the charm of a beautiful woman in distress,” Vexor replied, his voice teasing.

Raelee snorted. “Please. I may be many things, but a damsel in distress isn’t one of them.”

“No,” Vexor agreed, his tone suddenly serious. “You’re far more than that. You’re brave, intelligent, and fiercely independent. It’s... admirable.”

The sincerity in his voice caught Raelee off guard. She felt a warmth spread through her chest, a feeling that had nothing to do with the fire crackling before them.

“Well,” she said, trying to keep her voice light despite the sudden tightness in her throat, “flattery will get you everywhere, Mr. Mysterious. But you’re still dodging the question.”

Vexor sighed, his expression growing distant. “Let’s just say I understand what it’s like to feel trapped by expectations and duty. When I saw you in that diner, I saw someone fighting for their freedom. I couldn’t walk away from that.”

Raelee nodded slowly, sensing there was more to the story but not wanting to push. “Well, whatever your reasons, I’m glad you didn’t walk away. I don’t know if I could have done this alone.”

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the world seemed to narrow to just the two of them. Raelee found herself leaning in, drawn by an invisible force. Vexor’s gaze dropped to her lips, and she could see the internal struggle playing out on his face.

Just as the tension reached its peak, a loud pop from the fire startled them both. Raelee jumped, nearly spilling her soup, and the moment was broken.

“I, uh, should probably get some sleep,” she said, her voice slightly breathless. “It’s been a long day.”

Vexor nodded, clearing his throat. “Of course. You take the bedroom. I’ll keep watch out here.”

Raelee nodded and left the living room. The heat of Vex’s proximity was too much, the magnetic pull between them undeniable and dangerous. She didn’t trust herself around him for another second.

Once inside the bedroom, she shut the door and leaned against it, closing her eyes and willing her racing heart to slow down. “This is crazy,” she whispered to the shadows, chastising herself for the near slip. She couldn’t afford to be reckless, not when so much was at stake.

She changed into a pair of soft cotton pajama shorts and a loose T-shirt that did little to soothe the simmering undercurrent of desire. As she crawled beneath the covers of the bed, her body refused to relax. Every nerve ending seemed to buzz with an electric charge, a persistent reminder of the kiss that shouldn’t have happened but did.

Lying on her back, staring up at the wooden beams of the cabin ceiling, Raelee pressed her fingertips to her lips, the sensation of Vex’s mouth on hers still vivid and haunting. It had been impulsive, a moment of pure abandon where the world narrowed down to just the two of them.

“Stop thinking about it,” she scolded herself, turning onto her side, bunching the pillow under her head. But it was futile; the memory clung to her as tangible as if Vex were there in the room with her. The roughness of his stubble, the firm but gentle way he’d held her face, the intoxicating mix of danger and tenderness—it all swirled together, keeping sleep frustratingly out of reach.

“Enough,” Raelee muttered, tossing aside the covers. Sleep would not claim her—not while her skin tingled with the ghost of a forbidden kiss.

The walls felt too close, the air too still. Raelee needed to escape the confines of the room that seemed to shrink with every breath she took. Slipping out of bed, she tiptoed across theroom, pausing with her ear near the door. The faint sound of the shower hissing to life told her Vex was awake as well. Did he feel the same restlessness?

She slipped out the bedroom door, her movements silent, and made her way through the darkened cabin. As she reached the back door, her hand hesitated on the knob. What was she doing? Was it the need for fresh air or an excuse to put distance between herself and the temptation that was Vex?

Finally, she stepped out onto the porch, the night air crisp against her skin. She settled into the lounge chair, hugging her arms around herself. The touch of the cool wood through her pajamas grounded her, and she drew in a deep breath. Maybe out here with the stars as witnesses, she could find the clarity to quell the storm inside her. Maybe then, sleep would come.

Several minutes later the door creaked slightly as it opened, and Raelee didn’t need to look up to know who it was. The light shuffle of bare feet on the wooden planks confirmed Vex’s presence before he even spoke.

“Can’t sleep?” His voice was a low rumble, barely above a whisper in the night.

She nodded, then shook her head, afraid that if she spoke, her words would betray the chaos of emotions inside her. Her gaze remained fixed on the faint outline of trees against the starlit sky.

“Me neither,” Vex admitted, and she heard the rustle of fabric as he settled into the chair beside hers. Close enough for her to feel the warmth radiating from his body.

Silence enveloped them like a shroud. In the quiet, Raelee’s mind raced. He was a stranger, yet the connection between them pulsed like a live wire.

Raelee folded her arms across her chest, seeking comfort in her own embrace. She should have been thinking about her betrothal, about the prince waiting for her. But all she couldthink about was the man sitting next to her—the one whose very proximity made her heart drum a frantic rhythm.

It was insane. She knew nothing about him, not really. Yet each silent second that ticked by seemed to peel back another layer, revealing more of the inexplicable bond they shared.

Finally, Raelee’s resolve crumbled like the brittle pages of an old book. She stood abruptly, her movements stiff with a determination that felt more like defeat. “I’m going back to bed,” she announced, her voice barely audible.

Vex’s hand shot out, his fingers encircling her wrist with gentle firmness. Raelee froze, her heart leaping into her throat as their eyes met. The air between them thickened, charged with the electricity of unspoken words and suppressed desire.

“Goodnight,” she whispered, attempting to reclaim her hand, but Vex didn’t release her. Instead, he slowly stood, his hold on her transitioning from restraint to caress.

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