Page 106 of The Alpha

“Ahhhh,” came out almost a moan. What was he doing?

“Pari,” he whispered. “Little Pari Mae. Am I not good enough for you, is that it?”

She sucked in a breath. Was he kidding?! “On the contrary. I’m not…” she couldn’t bring herself to say it. Tears stung the backs of her eyes as the truth seared across her heart. She would never be good enough for the likes of him.

Pari shook her head. “Let me go.”

“I cannot.”

“Why?” she whispered.

“Because I am yours to command.” He locked gazes with her. “I will be lost without you.” His eyes darted to her lips. “And I will do whatever it takes to convince you, Pari Mae Lindir.”

She swallowed hard as he rested his forehead against hers for a moment, then slowly stood and offered his hand. “Come, Kitten. You must be hungry. I will find food for you.”

Her stomach growled at the mention of food, and she realized she hadn’t eaten anything since the bread in the funny old west town.

Pari blinked the thought away and looked at him. Had he been about to kiss her? Why hadn’t he? But then, she knew the answer. Something else was going on here. How was it she could command him, and yet, he did not…

“Come,” he repeated and offered his other hand. “Let’s go shopping.” He gave her a dorky sort of smile, and all attempts to figure out what was happening fled. He was adorable when he was being a dork, and part of her believed maybe she did have a shot with a guy like him.

Pari took his hands and he pulled her to her feet. “What would you like?” she asked.

“What’s good around here?”

“I can cook for you.”

He arched an eyebrow at her. “Intriguing. But what about Kwaku and Zara? They’ll want to eat too.”

“I can make decent spaghetti.” Decent was all it was, but there was nothing to be done about that. “Or we can have something delivered.”

“Safer,” he mused. “But I am curious about something.” He went to the one window in the room that faced the same sort of window in the building next door. It gave a partial view of thebacksides of some buildings that faced Franklin Street. “Might we go for a walk?”

“We could. But what about your friends?”

“I will tell them what we find for dinner.” He took her by the hand and looked her over, then took in his clothes and sighed. “Oh dear, I can’t wear my robes of office here.”

“Halden left some clothes here. You’re a lot bigger, but maybe you can find something?”

“Hmm, perhaps. Or I can send Kwaku for some. It wouldn’t take a minute.”

“Send… him back to the palace?” she hedged. Part of her wanted him to take her back, while the other was terrified of doing so. What if he did and she never saw her uncles or her home again?

“Yes. I need to check some things while we’re here.”

“We?” she swallowed hard.

He sighed and smiled at her. “Do not be afraid, Pari. I sense your apprehension. In fact, I can smell it.”

Her eyes widened. “That is so freaking weird.”

He smiled. “I’ve been called worse.”

She laughed, unable to help it. “You’re not that weird… okay, maybe a little. But youarean alien, so…”

He shrugged. “But you like me, right?” He batted his eyelashes at her, and she laughed again.

“Oh, stab me,” he said and giggled. “I do believe you like me a little.” He gave her a playful shove that sent her onto the cushions of the sofa. “Oh! I do apologize,” he said laughing.

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