Page 21 of Prize for the Alien Grumpus

"He betrayed you?"

"With a girl barely out of high school." A bitter laugh escapes her lips. "Guess I wasn't young enough anymore."

The rage builds in my chest. On my world, such betrayal means death.

"He left you for another female?"

"Left us both." Her voice cracks on the words. "Sam was only six months old."

The mug in my hand shatters. Hot cocoa drips between my fingers but I barely notice.

"Impossible."

"What's impossible?"

"That any male would be unfaithful to you." The words rumble from deep in my chest. "You're the most magnificent female I've encountered in three centuries."

Her eyes go wide. A blush creeps across her cheeks.

"If a male has the best in the galaxy, why would he look elsewhere?" I lean forward, letting her see the truth in my eyes. "This Tom was clearly defective in the brain."

Mel ducks her head, staring into the depths of her cocoa. The flush on her cheeks deepens to a captivating shade of pink. My enhanced senses pick up her quickened heartbeat, the slight catch in her breath.

"You keep saying these sweet things," she whispers, not meeting my eyes. "But Tom said a lot of sweet things, too. In the beginning."

My chest tightens at the pain in her voice. This Tom has wounded her deeply. The urge to hunt him down and show him the error of his ways burns hot in my blood.

"Mel, look at me. Please."

When she raises her eyes to mine, the vulnerability there steals my breath. I cup her face in my hands, mindful of my claws against her delicate skin. Her warmth seeps into my palms.

"I may not be skilled at Earthly courtship," I say, letting her see the truth in my eyes. "But one thing I would never do is lie to you, or betray you."

She gasps softly. The Christmas lights strung around the window cast a gentle glow across her features, making her eyes sparkle with unshed tears.

"That's two things," she murmurs.

"I never was good at math."

I lean in and press my lips to hers.

Her lips are soft against mine, sweeter than the cocoa we shared. My heart pounds harder than it did in any battle. Three centuries of emptiness melt away at her touch.

Mel's fingers tangle in my fur, pulling me closer. A growl of pleasure rumbles through my chest. The scent of her – vanilla and spice and something uniquely her – fills my senses.

"Is this okay?" Her breath whispers against my mouth.

My answer is to kiss her again, deeper this time. She responds with equal passion, pressing herself against me. The feel of her curves against my chest sets my blood on fire.

I trail kisses down her neck, careful not to nick her delicate skin with my fangs. She gasps, her pulse racing beneath my lips. The sound drives me wild.

"Krampus..." Her voice is breathless.

I capture her mouth again, drinking in her sighs like the finest wine. My claws ghost down her back, making her shiver. Every response, every tiny sound she makes, feeds the burning need in my core.

Never in three centuries has anyone made me feel this way. Not in battle, not in victory, not even in my greatest triumphs. This small human female has awakened something in me I thought long dead.

She pulls back slightly, her lips swollen from our kisses, her cheeks flushed pink. The sight of her like this – disheveled and beautiful because of me – makes my chest swell with pride.

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