Page 15 of Alien's Love Child

The locker door slams shut with a metallic bang that echoes through the corridor. Taluk's scales flush an even deeper red as he practically trips over his own feet backing away.

"Whatever. Thanks."

He hurries off, his boots clanking against the metal grating. His usual awkward gait seems more pronounced, like he's trying too hard to appear casual.

"Teenagers." I shake my head, pushing off from the wall. "Same in every species."

CHAPTER 6

DAVIN

Paraxan's snoring fills our shared quarters, a rhythmic rumble that would normally lull me to sleep. Tonight, it only serves to highlight my restlessness. The ceiling offers no answers, just the dull metal plating I've been staring at for the past three hours.

My mind circles back to Jesse. The way her eyes light up when she laughs at my stories, how her fingers brush against mine when passing tools in the engine room. It's becoming harder to maintain the professional distance I need for this job.

Throwing off the thin blanket, I swing my legs over the side of the bunk. The metal floor chills my bare feet. Paraxan rolls over, his fur rustling against the sheets.

The corridor stretches before me, dimmed for the night cycle. My footsteps echo softly as I walk, trying to sort through my conflicting priorities. The bounty on Xander would set me up for months, maybe even a year. But Jesse...

I rub my chest where that familiar pull tugs at me. Fated mates are rare enough among my own people. Finding one in a human? The universe has a twisted sense of humor.

The military trained me to compartmentalize, to focus on the mission above all else. But they never prepared me forthis. Every time I get close to finalizing my extraction plan for Xander, Jesse's face appears in my mind. The hurt, the betrayal I'd see when she realizes what I've done.

I pause at a viewport, watching the stars streak by. Maybe there's a way to complete the job without destroying what's growing between us. If I could explain, make her understand...

The smell of fresh tea draws me toward the kitchen. Strange, at this hour. As I round the corner, I stop short. Jesse stands at the counter, her red hair loose around her shoulders, wearing an oversized shirt that barely reaches mid-thigh.

I clear my throat, and Jesse whirls around, nearly sloshing her tea. Her eyes widen, traveling down my chest before snapping back to my face. A blush creeps across her freckled cheeks.

Ah. I forgot to put a shirt on.

Not that she seems to be complaining.

"Can't sleep either?" she asks, her voice slightly higher than usual.

"The old man's snoring could wake the dead."

She laughs, reaching for another mug. "Tea? It's mint."

"Sure." I lean against the counter, deliberately flexing as I cross my arms. "Didn't take you for an herbal tea person."

"There's a lot you don't know about me." She slides the mug across the counter, her fingers trembling slightly. "Though apparently, you don't believe in sleeping with a shirt on."

"Does it bother you?" I smirk, taking a slow sip.

"Please. I've seen plenty of shirtless men before." She rolls her eyes, but her gaze darts to my chest again.

"But none quite so blue?"

"Or so humble." She taps her fingers against her mug. "Though I have to admit, the silver markings are... interesting."

"They're ancestral tattoos. Want a closer look?"

She nearly chokes on her tea. "That's got to be the worst pick-up line I've heard in three systems."

"Who says it's a line? Maybe I'm just being educational."

"Right. Because you're such a devoted teacher." She pushes off from the counter, brushing past me. The brief contact sends electricity through my skin.

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