Page 43 of The Alien's Unwilling Bride

Mila grinned mischievously. “Tempting. Very tempting.”

As they laughed together, their joy echoed across the alien landscape. And, really, what more could an Earth girl-turned-alien princess ask for?

TWENTY-EIGHT

Mila’s feet crunched on the alien foliage as Roq led her through the wild lands. The air was thick with the sweet, spicy scent of bioluminescent flowers that pulsed gently in the fading light. She inhaled deeply, then quirked an eyebrow at Roq.

“You know,” Mila said, her voice dripping with sarcasm, “when you said ‘surprise date,’ I was thinking more along the lines of dinner at that new anti-grav restaurant, not ‘potential death march through alien wilderness.’ Should I have worn my ‘Hike Now, Science Later’ T-shirt?”

Roq glanced back at her, his silver eyes twinkling with amusement. “And miss the chance to see you tromp through the underbrush in those adorable hiking boots? Never.”

Mila snorted. “Careful, Your Highness. Flattery will get you everywhere... including lost in a jungle of man-eating plants.”

As they crested a small hill, Mila’s sassy retort died on her lips. Before them lay a clearing transformed into a luxurious campsite that put their previous “glamping” experience to shame. A large, opulent tent stood in the center, its fabric shimmering like liquid starlight. Soft, glowing orbs hovered inthe air, casting a warm, intimate light. A table was set nearby, laden with covered dishes that promised delectable treats.

“Holy Heisenberg,” Mila whispered, momentarily stunned. She quickly regained her composure and shot Roq a suspicious look. “Okay, who are you and what have you done with my tech-obsessed, romance-is-illogical prince?”

Roq chuckled, guiding her toward the table. “I’ll have you know, Dr. Arison, that I am perfectly capable of romance. I simply choose to express it through complex algorithms and energy efficiency improvements.”

“Ah yes, nothing says ‘I love you’ quite like optimized power grids,” Mila deadpanned, but her eyes were soft with affection.

At the campsite, Roq lifted the covers off the dishes with a flourish. An array of both Tharvisian and Earth delicacies was revealed, the colors and aromas mingling in an enticing display.

Mila’s eyes widened as she spotted a familiar dish. “Is that... grilled shrimp?” She looked at Roq, impressed despite herself. “Did you dismantle another quantum reactor to power an inter-dimensional food portal or something?”

Roq’s grin was both proud and a little sheepish. “Close. I now owe your sister Raelee a favor of truly terrifying proportions. Apparently, smuggling Earth seafood past interplanetary customs is quite the challenge.”

“Oh boy,” Mila laughed. “I hope you’re prepared for some truly embarrassing royal portraits to start circulating the galaxy.”

They sat to eat, the conversation flowing as easily as the wine Roq poured. Mila relaxed, though she couldn’t resist peppering their chat with her trademark sass.

“So,” Mila said, taking a sip of her wine, “not that I’m complaining, but what’s with the five-star jungle resort? Did you accidentally reprogram all the cleaning bots to be evil again?”

Roq clutched his chest in mock offense. “That was one time! And may I remind you, it was your coding that made them develop a taste for royal tapestries.”

“Details, details,” Mila waved her hand dismissively. “Seriously though, what’s the occasion? Did you finally realize that my ‘Earth bacteria are fascinating’ rants are actually brilliant performance art?”

Roq laughed, reaching across the table to take her hand. “Can’t a guy just want to wine and dine the woman he lo—“ He caught himself, a flicker of something Mila couldn’t quite identify passing over his face. “The woman who somehow makes environmental crisis management sexy?”

Mila’s heart skipped a beat at his near slip, but she played it cool. “Flattery will get you everywhere, Your Highness. Especially if ‘everywhere’ includes that ridiculously comfy-looking tent.”

Roq stood and offered Mila his hand. “Walk with me?”

“What, the five-star dinner and luxury glamping wasn’t enough? Now I have to exercise?” Mila grumbled good-naturedly but took his hand anyway.

He led her to a small clearing nearby where the bioluminescent plants were in full glow, creating an otherworldly ambiance. Roq turned to face her, his expression suddenly serious.

Mila’s sass-o-meter pinged. “Uh oh. You’ve got your ‘I accidentally set the lab on fire again’ face on. Should I be worried?”

“Mila,” Roq began, his voice low and intense. “When we first met, I saw our relationship as a duty, a necessary alliance between our worlds. But you... you changed everything.”

“Roq,” Mila started, her heart racing, but he gently shushed her.

“Let me finish, or I might lose my nerve,” he said with a nervous chuckle. “You see, I had this whole speech planned out. Very princely, very dignified. But standing here with you now, all I can think is how much I love the way you can silence an entire room of stuffy diplomats with one well-timed eye roll.”

“It’s a gift,” Mila quipped, but her voice was soft.

Roq slowly lowered himself to one knee, reaching into his pocket to pull out a small box. Mila’s eyes widened, her usual snark deserting her.

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