Page 58 of Alien Protector's Mate

“This is utterly incredible,” she said, turning in a circle to take in the sprawling expanse of the park. “I never thought there could be something like this in space.”

S’aad smiled down at her, his full lips quirking up at the corners. “I’m glad you like it. I thought you might appreciate a taste of home. Most of the flora in this section is Terran.”

She nodded as her gaze drifted from the scenery to him, and she couldn’t help the slight catch of her breath. He was stunning… like supermodel or film star stunning, especially in the uniform of a Latharian warrior. The leather jacket accentuated his broad shoulders and lean torso, paired with tight leather pants that hugged his muscular legs. His light hairwas pulled back in a loose ponytail, revealing the strong lines of his stubbled jaw.

She swallowed hard, still struggling to believe someone like him could be interested in her. She smoothed down the front of her dress, the silky fabric feeling wonderful under her fingers. It was more beautiful than anything she’d ever worn, and even with S’aad’s compliments, she still felt a little out of place in it.

“Shall we find a spot to set up?” S’aad asked, drawing her attention back to him as he gestured with the picnic basket he carried.

She nodded and followed him down the path. He seemed to know where he was going, which was good because she was too busy looking around to pay attention to which way the path went. Finally, they reached a secluded area near a burbling stream, where he spread out a soft blanket on the grass. As they settled onto it, she paused and tilted her head.

“It’s so quiet here,” she said with a smile.

S’aad smiled at her as he unpacked the basket.

“I wasn’t sure what you’d like,” he said, indicating the array of food that was making her mouth water. “So I brought a variety. What do you mean ‘quiet’?”

“It all looks amazing,” she assured him, her stomach already growling. “And I mean that low level hum. It’s there all the time. Can’t you hear it?”

He snorted softly. “I’ve been on one ship or facility for so many years it all kind of blurs into the background. You stop hearing things like that after a while.”

As they began to eat, he coaxed her into conversation, asking about her favorite foods and sharing stories about his own culinary adventures across the galaxy. She found herself relaxing, charmed by his easy smile and genuine interest in her opinions and reactions to the food he’d brought along.

“You must try this,” he said, holding up a delicate pastry filled with a shimmering, rainbow-colored cream. “It’s a delicacy from one of the outer systems.”

She hesitated for a moment and then leaned forward, letting him place the morsel on her tongue. The pastry melted in her mouth, releasing a burst of flavors she couldn’t begin to describe. A small moan of pleasure escaped her lips before she could stop it, and her cheeks heated with embarrassment.

His eyes darkened, his gaze fixed on her mouth. “You have a bit of…”

“Oh… do I?” She tried to pull back, but he shook his head.

“No, let me,” he murmured, leaning in.

Her breath hitched as he gently brushed his thumb across the corner of her lips, wiping away a smear of chocolate. He licked it from his thumb, holding her gaze the entire time. Heat washed through her, making her need to squirm where she sat on the blanket.

Time slowed as he leaned forward more. Her heart sped up, every nerve in her body aware of how close he was getting… how close he was. Her eyes fluttered shut as his lips replaced his thumb, pressing a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth.

Her thoughts scattered as he kissed her, long and slow. His large hand cradled her face as he explored her mouth with a tenderness that made her ache in the center of her chest. She reached out, her fingers curled around the edges of his jacket to anchor herself as waves of sensation threatened to overwhelm her.

He slid his hand around her waist, sliding beneath the layers of her dress to caress the soft skin of her side. She gasped at the contact, electricity sparking wherever his fingers touched, and arched into him. She needed more of his warmth, more of his touch. More… everything.

But then he pulled back, his chest heaving as he fought to regain control.

“We need to stop,” he said, his voice rough.

She blinked, her mind foggy with desire as she tried to process his words.

“Stop?” she echoed, confusion creeping into her voice. “Why? Did I do something wrong?”

He shook his head, his eyes still dark with a look that took her breath away.

“No,kelarris. You’ve done nothing wrong. It’s just…” He trailed off, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

She sat up, smoothing her dress back into place as she watched him wrestle with his thoughts. The air between them crackled with tension, and she held her breath, waiting for him to continue.

“If we don’t stop now,” he admitted in a low growl. “I won’t be able to wait for the end of the courtship period. I’ll want to claim you right here, right now.”

His words sent a shiver down her spine. She’d never felt this way before, never wanted someone so desperately. The intensity of her feelings for him both exhilarated and terrified her.

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