Page 20 of The Alien's Unwilling Bride

Roq’s fingers traced lazy patterns on Mila’s bare shoulder, marveling at the softness of her skin. He could scarcely believe what had just transpired between them. It was more than physical; it was a connection that ran deeper than he’d ever experienced.

“What are you thinking?” Mila’s voice was soft, slightly muffled against his chest.

Roq smiled, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head. “I’m thinking that I never want this moment to end,” he admitted. “That I want to stay here, just like this, with you.”

Mila propped herself up on an elbow, looking down at him. In the dim light of the cave, her eyes seemed to glow, filled with an emotion that made Roq’s heart race. “I never expected this,” she said softly. “When I came to Tharvis, when I agreed to this arrangement... I never thought I’d feel this way about you.”

Roq reached up, cupping her cheek in his hand. “Neither did I,” he confessed. “But now that I have you, Mila, I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”

Mila leaned into his touch, her eyes fluttering closed for a moment. When she opened them again, there was a vulnerability there. “Roq,” she started, her voice barely above a whisper, “I... I like you. A lot. And it scares me.”

His heart skipped a beat at her words. He sat up, keeping Mila close, and looked into her eyes. “I like you too, Mila,” he said, his voice low and intense. “You’re important to me. More than any treaty or research. You. Just you.”

Mila’s lips curved into a small smile. “You’re pretty slick, handsome,” she said, a hint of her usual humor returning to her voice.

Roq chuckled softly, pulling her closer. “You’re pretty wild, Dr. Arison,” he murmured. “But, Mila, I need you to know something. This isn’t just because of our situation. What I feel for you... it’s real. Whether we’re in this cave or at the palace surrounded by politics and duty, that won’t change.”

Mila’s eyes shimmered in the dim light. “Good,” she whispered. “Because I feel the same way. And that scares me even more than any danger we might face out there.”

They settled back, Mila curled against Roq’s side, his arms wrapped protectively around her. As exhaustion began to overtake them, Roq found himself marveling at how perfectly they fit together as if they were two pieces of a puzzle finally united.

“I won’t let anything happen to you,” he murmured into her hair. “Whatever we face out there, I’ll keep you safe.”

Mila tilted her head to look up at him, her eyes soft in the dim light. “And I’ll keep you safe,” she replied. “We protect each other, Roq. That’s what partners do.”

The wordpartnerssent a thrill through Roq. It encompassed everything they were becoming to each other - allies, friends, lovers, protectors. He tightened his arms around her, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips.

“Partners,” he agreed. “I like the sound of that.”

FIFTEEN

The wild lands stretched out before Mila, a lush and alien landscape transformed by the recent rainstorm. Bioluminescent plants pulsed with soft, ethereal light, their colors shifting from deep purples to vibrant blues. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and exotic flora, a heady mixture that filled Mila’s lungs with each breath. Waterfalls cascaded down newly formed cliffs, the rushing water catching the light of Tharvis’s twin suns and creating shimmering rainbows in the mist.

Mila stepped out of the cave, her boots sinking slightly into the soft, spongy ground. She closed her eyes for a moment, letting the sounds and smells of this alien world wash over her. Despite the looming environmental crisis, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of wonder at the resilience and beauty of nature, even on a planet light-years from Earth.

“It’s breathtaking, isn’t it?” Roq’s deep voice came from behind her, sending an unexpected shiver down her.

Mila turned to face him, her breath catching in her throat. Roq stood framed in the cave entrance, the soft glow of bioluminescent fungi backlighting him like some otherworldly deity. His usually impeccable appearance was charminglydisheveled – white and black hair tousled by the lingering humidity his clothes slightly rumpled from their night in the cave. But it was his eyes that held Mila’s attention – dark and intense, filled with a warmth that made her heart race.

“Yeah,” she managed, hoping he didn’t notice the slight tremor in her voice. “It’s amazing how quickly the ecosystem has adapted to the storm.”

Roq stepped closer, his gaze sweeping over the landscape before settling back on Mila. “The Tharvisian environment has always been resilient. But I’ve never seen it quite like this.” He paused. “Though I suppose I’ve never looked at it through the eyes of an Earth scientist.”

A blush slid up her neck at the compliment. She turned back to the view, trying to focus on the task at hand rather than the way Roq’s presence filled all her senses.

“We should get moving,” she said, her voice steadier now. “The storm might have affected the mineral composition of the soil. We need to collect fresh samples to take back and analyze.”

Roq nodded, his expression shifting to one of determination. “Agreed.”

As they set off into the wild lands, Mila found herself replaying the night before. The memory of their kiss lingered in her mind, making it hard to concentrate on the alien flora surrounding them. She snuck glances at him as they walked, noticing things she’d overlooked before – the graceful way he moved despite his imposing height, the subtle play of muscles beneath his shirt, the thoughtful furrow of his brow.

“See something interesting?” Roq’s amused voice broke through her reverie.

Mila started, realizing she’d been staring. “I, uh... was just thinking about how different you look out here,” she said, scrambling for an explanation. “Away from the palace, I mean. You seem more... relaxed.”

Roq’s expression softened, a genuine smile spreading across his face. “I feel more relaxed out here. Away from the pressures of court and expectations... I can just be myself.”

“And who is that?” Mila asked, genuinely curious. “The real Roq, I mean.”

---