Page 15 of The Alien's Runaway Bride

“A road trip,” he said slowly, testing the words. “I suppose it could be... interesting.”

Raelee’s face lit up, and Vexor felt his heart skip a beat. “Is that a yes? Come on, Vex. Live a little! When’s the last time you did something spontaneous?”

Never, Vexor thought. His entire life had been planned, every decision weighed and measured for its impact on his people. But here with Raelee, he felt the stirrings of something new. Something exciting and a little bit terrifying.

“All right,” he said, a smile tugging at his lips. “A road trip it is. But on one condition.”

Raelee raised an eyebrow. “Oh? And what’s that?”

Vexor stepped closer, close enough that he could feel the warmth radiating from her body. “I get to choose the music.”

Raelee threw her head back and laughed, the sound filling the small cabin. “Deal,” she said, her eyes sparkling. “But I warn you, my taste in music is impeccable. You’d better bring your A-game.”

“I think I can manage,” Vexor replied, his voice low and warm.

They spent the next hour packing their meager belongings and cleaning the cabin. Vexor found himself constantly distracted by Raelee – the way she hummed under her breath as she worked, the flash of skin as she reached up to put dishes on a high shelf, the way her hips swayed as she moved around the small space.

Finally, they were ready to go. Raelee stood in the doorway, taking one last look at the cabin that had been their sanctuary for the night. “You know,” she said softly, “part of me wishes we could just stay here forever. Pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist.”

Vexor came up behind her, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I know,” he said. “But the world has a way of finding us, no matter how well we hide.”

Raelee turned to face him, her expression unreadable. For a moment, Vexor thought she might kiss him. His breath caught in his throat, his body tensing in anticipation. But then she smiled, breaking the spell.

“Come on, mystery man,” she said, grabbing his hand. “Adventure awaits!”

They piled into Maya’s cousin’s car, their bags tossed haphazardly in the back seat. As they pulled away from the cabin, Vexor felt a strange mix of excitement and trepidation. He was veering far off course from his original mission, but he couldn’t bring himself to regret it. Not when Raelee was beside him, her face alight with joy as she navigated the winding forest roads.

As they merged onto the highway, Raelee glanced at him. “So, Mr. DJ, what’s our first song going to be?”

Vexor smirked, reaching for the radio. He’d spent hours studying Earth’s music, trying to understand the cultural significance of different genres and artists. Now, he scrolled through the options, looking for something that would set the right tone for their journey.

Finally, he settled on a classic rock station. The opening chords of “Born to Run” filled the car, and Raelee let out a whoop of approval.

“Springsteen!” she exclaimed. “Okay, I’ll admit it. You’ve got good taste.”

Vexor leaned back in his seat, a satisfied smile on his face. “I told you I could manage.”

As they drove, the conversation flowed easily between them. Vexor found himself opening up more than he had in years, sharing carefully edited stories of his life and listening with rapt attention to Raelee’s tales of growing up in the public eye.

“You know,” Raelee said during a lull in the conversation, “I still can’t quite figure you out, Vex.”

Vexor tensed slightly. “Oh? How so?”

Raelee drummed her fingers on the steering wheel, her brow furrowed in thought. “You’re just... different. The way you carry yourself, the way you speak. Are you from a military background or something?”

Vexor forced a laugh, hoping it sounded natural. “Well, I did grow up in a rather... unique environment. Perhaps that’s what you’re picking up on.”

Raelee shot him a curious look. “Unique how? Come on, spill. What’s your story, Vex? I’ve been talking about myself this whole time, but I barely know anything about you. So are you a military brat?”

Vexor shifted in his seat, mind racing to construct a plausible backstory. “It’s not that interesting, really. I guess you can say my family is military connected. I grew up in a very... structured environment. Lots of expectations and very little room for personal freedom. I suppose that’s why this whole road trip idea appeals to me so much. It’s something I never would have done before.”

Raelee’s expression softened. “Sounds like we have more in common than I thought. Is that why you’re here? Running from expectations?”

Vexor nodded, relieved that she seemed to accept his vague explanation. “Something like that. Let’s just say I’m at a crossroads in my life, and I’m not sure which path to take.”

“Well,” Raelee said, reaching over to squeeze his hand, “I’m glad our paths crossed, even if it’s just for a little while.”

Vexor felt a warmth spread through his chest from her touch. “So am I,” he said softly.

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