Page 69 of The Alpha

She giggled. “I guess. Either that or Rah.”

“No, definitely not that.” He wanted to cup her face with his hand, lean down and kiss her. But she wasn’t ready. His little mate wasn’t ready for a lot of things.

“Are all of you tall?” she asked, breaking into his thoughts.

Melvale lay on his side and propped himself up with an elbow. “Yes. Some are shorter, but not by much.”

“You’re… really an alien?” Her eyes were round as saucers at this point.

“Yes, Kitten.” He moved his head so she could get a better look at his ear. “Go ahead, you can touch them.”

She sucked in a shaky breath and leaned toward him. “This is so… I dunno, weird.”

“I’d say you could call it first contact, but after what we’ve been through together, it’s a little late for that.”

She let out a breathy laugh, and tentatively reached for his ear. He angled his head so she could better touch him.

Pari ran a finger along one side of his tapered ear up to the tip and patted it a few times. “Your skin is so soft,” she whispered.

He looked at her and smiled. “Is the rest of me as soft?” He held up a hand.

She looked at it and touched it with her other hand. “Yes,” came out a breathy whisper. Pari gave her attention back to his ear and continued to run a finger over it. “Is your hearing good?”

“Exceptional. I can hear your heartbeat loud and clear.”

Her finger stopped moving as she stared at him. “Can all of your kind do that?”

Melvale closed his eyes. She had no idea how sensitive his ears were. By the Creator,hehad no idea! “Well, as a m-matter of fact, my h-hearing just got an upgrade.” He opened his eyes. She held his hand, while her other was still busy with his ear. If she didn’t stop soon, he wasn’t sure what would happen. This was all new to him.

“Are you the only one of your kind here?” Pari looked at him, waiting.

He repositioned himself, her hand falling away from his ear. “No, Kahtala Miah. I am surrounded by my kind.”

Her eyes went wide, just as a knock sounded on the door. Raina poked her head in. “Pari?”

Pari blinked, breaking their connection, and ran toward Raina. “There you are!” She hugged her.

Raina hugged her back, her eyes on Melvale.

He sighed, got off the chaise, and held up both palms to let her know he was calm.

Raina breathed a sigh of relief. “Pari, did you eat? Do you need anything?”

Pari made a face. “A bath.”

“You’ve seen what they call a bath, here, right?” Raina met Melvale’s gaze. “Have you informed Pari…”

“No, I have not.” He clasped his hands before him. “I can do it later. It should come from me.”

“Maybe you ought to do it now,” Raina suggested.

“What?” Pari asked.

Raina stepped away from her. “Melvale can tell you. But it’s okay. And when he’s done, I’ll tell you a little more about Halden and me.”

“Princess,” Melvale said. “Would you go to the bathing room and pull out some towels for Pari? They will be in the same area they’re kept in your quarters.”

“Certainly.” Raina headed for the arched doorway across the room.

---