Page 18 of The Alien's Unwilling Bride

“The cases are waterproof and shock-resistant,” he assured her. “We’ll send someone to get everything after we get back to the palace.”

Mila visibly relaxed at his words. “Good. I guess there are some perks to all that fancy Tharvisian tech.”

“It has its uses,” Roq agreed. “Though I have to admit, your ‘primitive’ Earth tools have proven surprisingly effective. I’ve been impressed by how you’ve adapted them to Tharvis’s unique environment.”

A genuine smile spread across Mila’s face, lighting up her features in a way that made Roq’s heart skip a beat. “Was that a compliment, Your Highness? I think you actually like having me around.”

The teasing lilt in her voice sent a warmth through Roq’s chest. “Would that be such a bad thing?” he asked softly, surprising himself with his honesty.

Mila’s smile faltered for a moment, replaced by a look of vulnerability that Roq had never seen. “I... I don’t know,” she admitted. “This whole arrangement—it’s not what I expected.”

Roq felt a surge of emotion at her words. He’d been feeling the same way, struggling to reconcile his growing feelings for Mila with the political nature of their relationship. “What did you expect?” he asked, genuinely curious.

Mila was quiet for a moment, her gaze fixed on the cave entrance where rain continued to pour in sheets. “I expected it to be simple,” she finally said. “A political marriage, nothing more. I’d do my research, fulfill my obligations, and that would be that.” She turned to look at him, her blue eyes intense in the dim light. “I didn’t expect... you.”

The weight of her words hung between them, heavy with implication. Roq found himself leaning in slightly, drawn by an invisible force he couldn’t name. “And what am I?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Mila’s eyes flickered to his lips, then back to his eyes. “Complicated,” she breathed. “Infuriating. Brilliant.” Shepaused, a small smile on her face. “Surprisingly not terrible to be around.”

Roq chuckled softly, the tension between them easing slightly. “High praise indeed. I’ll have to add that to my list of royal titles.”

“Oh? And what would that sound like? ‘His Royal Highness, Prince Roq of Tharvis, Keeper of Advanced Technology and Not Terrible Company’?” Mila’s eyes sparkled with laughter.

“You forgot ‘Surprisingly Impressive in a Rainstorm,’” Roq added, enjoying their banter.

Mila laughed, the sound echoing off the cave walls and sending a thrill through Roq. He’d never heard her laugh like that—free, unguarded, genuinely happy.

As their laughter faded, Roq found himself studying Mila’s face, taking in every detail. The curve of her cheekbones, the arc of her eyebrows, the way her lips parted slightly as she breathed. He’d always known she was attractive—that had been obvious from the moment they met. But this was different. This wasn’t just an acknowledgment of her physical beauty. It was an appreciation of everything that made her who she was.

Her intelligence, which challenged him at every turn. Her determination, which had gotten them through difficult situations. Her compassion, which she tried to hide behind sarcasm but shone through in her actions. Her strength, which matched and sometimes even surpassed his own.

“You surprise me,” Roq said quietly. The words slipped out before he could stop them, hanging in the air between them.

Mila turned to look at him, her brow furrowing slightly. “In a good way, I hope.”

Roq nodded, his gaze steady as he met her eyes. “Yes. In a good way.”

There was something in his tone that seemed to catch Mila off guard. Roq could see the shift in her expression, the wayher eyes widened slightly. The mood between them changed, moving from casual conversation to something deeper, more intense.

Roq had always prided himself on his control, on keeping his emotions in check. It was what was expected of him as a prince. But with Mila, that control was slipping. There was something magnetic about her, something that drew him in despite his best efforts to maintain distance.

As they sat there, side by side in the small cave, the pull between them was undeniable. His heart raced, and he was certain it had nothing to do with their recent dash through the storm.

Mila met his gaze, and for a brief moment, Roq forgot everything else. The storm, their mission, the dangers that lurked in the wild lands—it all faded away. All that existed was the two of them, here, in this cave, and the tension that had been simmering beneath the surface for so long.

Without fully realizing what he was doing, Roq leaned in slightly, his eyes locked on Mila’s. There was a beat of hesitation, a moment where everything hung in the balance. This was a boundary they’d toed despite the growing attraction between them.

But then, almost imperceptibly, Mila shifted closer. The distance between them disappeared, and Roq’s hand moved as if of its own accord, cupping the side of her face. Their lips met in a kiss that was slow, deliberate, and filled with all the emotions they’d both been holding back.

The kiss surprised Roq, not because of the act itself, but because of how right it felt. There was no hesitation, no second-guessing. It was as if this moment had been inevitable from the start, a natural extension of everything they’d been through together.

As the kiss deepened, Roq felt the warmth of Mila’s body press against his. The rain outside, the storm, the danger—it all faded into the background as the chemistry between them took over. This wasn’t just attraction; it was the acknowledgment of something that had been growing between them, something they’d both tried to ignore but could no longer deny.

Roq’s hand tangled in Mila’s damp hair, pulling her closer as the kiss intensified. His other hand rested on her waist, and the contact sent a jolt of electricity through him. Every moment with her felt like stepping into unknown territory, but it was territory he found himself eager to explore.

As the kiss continued, Roq was surprised by the intensity of his own feelings. He hadn’t expected this—not with Mila, not with anyone. For so long, he’d been focused on duty, responsibility, and keeping his emotions in check. But now, with Mila in his arms, all of that seemed to melt away. She made him feel alive in a way he hadn’t felt in years, perhaps ever.

Roq pulled back slightly, his breathing ragged as he looked into Mila’s eyes. He could see the same surprise reflected in her gaze, the same realization that what had just happened wasn’t just a fleeting moment. It was the culmination of everything they’d been feeling but hadn’t said, everything they’d been trying to ignore.

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