Page 55 of Alien Protector's Mate

Heat crept up her neck. “I, uh… I guess you know I’m a girl now.”

He leaned back in his chair, folding his muscular arms across his broad chest. “Why did you lie?”

She opened her mouth, but the words wouldn’t come.

“I… the Morgans…” Her voice cracked, and she took a shuddering breath. “They never treated us, me and Jared, that is… like we were people. Just burdens. Inconveniences. They just wanted us for the credits for looking after us.”

He frowned but remained silent, allowing her the space to continue. She stared down at her hands, unable to meet his eyes as she recounted the pathetic-ness that was her life.

“After Jared died, it got worse,” she whispered. “They pulled me out of school, said I was too much trouble. Had me registered as a dependent so I could never leave their care. I was trapped. I couldn’t…”

Her voice broke, and she swallowed hard against the lump in her throat.

He leaned forward again, his elbows resting on his knees. “What happened then, Jay?”

“It’s not Jay,” she admitted. “My name is actually Jade.”

He nodded but remained silent. Her fingers twisted in the sheets, her knuckles white with tension. “Mr. Morgan, he… he took me to the LMP office.”

His shoulders tensed, his eyes narrowing. “You are signed up with the mate program?”

She shook her head. “No! God, no. I mean, not like… not like the other women I saw there.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I wasn’t signed up. I was signed over. Like a package. Like… property. Mr. Morgan sold me.”

The silence that followed her confession was deafening. She risked a glance at him and immediately wished she hadn’t.

His face was a mask of barely contained fury, his jaw clenched and eyes blazing in a total contrast to the usually amiable and pleasant expression he wore. She shrank back, her body tensing in anticipation. Would he blame her?

Seeing her instinctive movement, his expression softened. He moved to sit on the edge of the bed, his large hand engulfing her trembling one.

“No, no, little one,” he murmured. “I’m not angry with you. Never with you. My anger is for your foster father and whatever draanthic in the mate program are allowing this to happen.”

His touch was gentle, soothing. She ducked her head, acutely aware of the blush staining her cheeks.

“You’re… You’re not mad at me?” she asked hesitantly. It wasn’t her fault that Mr. Morgan had taken her to the LMP offices, but experience had taught her that it didn’t matter if it was her fault or not… she usually ended up with the blame. “For deceiving you?”

A small smile tugged at the corners of S’aad’s mouth, hijacking her attention. “No, Jade. I understand why you did it. You were protecting yourself the only way you knew how.”

She bit her lip, unable to quite believe his easy acceptance. She had to still be asleep. Things were never this easy.

“But I thought… I mean, I wondered if maybe you were, um, into men?” The words tumbled out in an awkward rush. “You kissed me when you thought I was a boy, so I thought… does it make you mad that I’m actually a woman? I guess it changes things. Right?”

S’aad chuckled, the sound a low rumble that she felt as it vibrated through her very bones. Before she could react, he pulled her into his arms, enveloping her in warmth and the spicy scent of his skin.

“Kelarris,” he murmured, his breath tickling her ear. “I’d kiss you whether you were male or female. I’m interested in you, the person you are.”

Her breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure he must be able to hear it.

“Really?” she whispered, hardly daring to believe her ears.

He pulled back just enough to meet her eyes, his look intense and sincere.

“Really,” he confirmed. “You’re brave, Jade. Clever. Compassionate. Those are the qualities that matter to me.”

Tears prickled the backs of her eyes.

“I don’t… I don’t know how to do this,” she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “I’ve never… I mean, the Morgans never let me…”

His large hand cupped her cheek, his thumb gently wiping away the tear that had escaped to streak down her cheek.

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