Page 44 of Alien Protector's Mate

As Z’yan strode away, S’aad turned to her, watching her with a frown between his brows. “Let’s head back to our quarters. I think we’ve had enough excitement for one day.”

Jade nodded gratefully and fell into step beside S’aad as they made their way out of the market. The bustling crowd thathad seemed so vibrant and welcoming now felt oppressive and full of danger, and she found herself moving closer to S’aad for protection.

They walked in silence for a while, the tension from the confrontation slowly ebbing away. As they neared their quarters, S’aad looked at her.

“I’m sorry you had to experience that, Jay,” he said softly. “The station is generally safe, but there are always elements that…”

“It’s okay,” she interrupted with a shrug, her voice gruff. “I’ve seen worse than that.”

Way worse, but he didn’t know that. Didn’tneedto know that.

S’aad’s eyebrows rose, but thankfully he didn’t press for details. Instead, he nodded and she breathed a sigh of relief.

“Get some rest,” S’aad said as they entered their quarters. “Tomorrow is another day, and we have a lot of work to do.”

She nodded, somehow managing a small smile. “Thanks. Night,” she said and escaped to the sanctuary of her room.

“Oh, Jay…”

She paused and looked over her shoulder to find S’aad watching her with an odd look in his eyes.

“I will not enter your room unless you invite me, so please sleep in the bed tonight, not the closet.”

14

Jade lay awake, curled up into a little ball in the plush bedding of the guest room’s huge bed. It was softer than anything she’d ever slept on, but she couldn’t sleep. Her mind raced instead, replaying the day’s events on an endless loop. The kiss with S’aad, the confrontation in the market, the near-miss with Reav and his gang all swirled together in a dizzying whirlpool of emotion and worry.

She rolled onto her side, pulling the silky sheets to her chin. They whispered against her skin, cool and smooth, and she sighed. She should sleep. She needed to sleep. S’aad had promised he wouldn’t come in here, and she trusted him. Even though she hadn’t known him long, it was easy to see he was honest and genuine. When he gave his word, he meant it.

She opened her eyes, looking at the wall separating her room from S’aad’s, and her heart quickened.

S’aad. The big Latharian warrior-healer who had shown her more kindness in a day than she’d experienced in years… or ever. She couldn’t remember her parents, so she had no idea how they’d treated her. But they’d given her and Jared up. Hadn’t they? So it couldn’t have been that well.

S’aad would never give up his children. She knew that without asking. His handsome face filled her mind, and she shivered… those green eyes that seemed to see right through her, the strong line of his jaw, the way his sandy hair fell across his forehead when he bent over his work. Heat bloomed in her cheeks, and she buried her face in the pillow with a groan.

“Stop it,” she muttered to herself, her voice muffled against the fabric. She was just torturing herself. S’aad thought she was a boy. Didn’t he? So, nothing could happen between them anyway.

Guilt twisted her stomach into knots. She was lying to him. Shewantedto tell him the truth, to shed the lies and let him see her for who she really was. But fear wrapped around her heart and squeezed tightly.

What if he was angry? What if he felt betrayed? Worse still, what if he immediately reported her to the mate program? The thought of being thrust into that system, of being separated from him and matched with some asshole alien warrior she didn’t know sent a shiver of dread down her spine.

And then there was Mr. Morgan. He’d sold her. What if he or whoever he’d sold her to discovered where she was through the program? The station suddenly felt less like a sanctuary and more like a gilded cage with danger lurking around every corner. She could almost hear her foster father’s drunken voice… feel the sting of his backhand across her cheek.

Her breath came faster, panic closing her throat over. Sitting up abruptly, she pushed her tangled hair out of her face. She wasn’t sleeping tonight, and her skin felt itchy and uncomfortable. She needed a shower. Needed to wash away the grime of today’s events… and perhaps she could wash away her guilt as well. At the very least being clean might help her fall asleep.

She slipped out of bed, her bare feet silent on the cool floor as she crossed the room to press her ear to the door. The lowmurmur of S’aad’s voice drifted to her from the main room. He was speaking to someone though she couldn’t make out the words. Perfect. She could sneak into the bathroom without being noticed.

The bathroom was a marvel of alien design, all sleek curves and shimmering surfaces. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and looked away quickly, unable to bear the sight of herself at the moment. Stripping quickly, she started the water, waiting until the steam had fogged the glass on the shower cubicle before stepping inside.

The hot water cascading over her body, washing away the grime and tension of the day, made her groan in relief. She stood there for long moments, her eyes closed, under the hot spray. Then she reached for the shower gel, the scent of the alien soap filling her nostrils. It was vaguely floral but with an underlying spiciness that meant it wasn’t feminine at all. It smelled like S’aad, she realized, and suddenly, she wanted it all over her body.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn’t hear the soft whir of the door mechanism. It wasn’t until a rush of cooler air hit her wet skin that she realized she wasn’t alone anymore. Her eyes flew open, locking with S’aad’s shocked green gaze.

Time froze for a heartbeat. Then with a squeak of panic, she dove for her towel as S’aad whirled around, turning his broad back to her.

“Oh goddess, I’m so sorry!” S’aad’s deep voice was filled with mortification as he ran his hand through his hair. “The door mechanism has been malfunctioning for months. I should have had it fixed, but since I live alone, I never bothered.”

She wrapped the towel around herself in a frantic blur of movement, her heart pounding so hard she was sure he could hear it even over the sound of the running water, and then grabbed another one to drape over her shoulders. Luckily, thetowels were made for someone S’aad’s size, so they swamped her, but right now, even a tent wouldn’t cover her enough.

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