Page 28 of Alien Knight Blind Date Disaster

He was hers. She had claimed him. That had not been her intent, and so he ignored his body’s primate reaction. But that did not mean he did not feel the effects of her attention.

Falden had wanted to claim her right then and there. But she was human. As much as he enjoyed belonging to her, even for such a short time, he could not make this permanent. He had a job to do, a duty to his people. He was not free to want a female for himself. The risk of being Falden Corshival’s mate was too great. She would be a target from the moment she truly belonged to him.

No more than five minutes passed before she began to slow the car, the entrance to the first security checkpoint just around the next corner. She knew exactly where it was. Commander Bashall had met with her in a neutral location, but once he’d disappeared, she’d made several attempts to get in—some through the front door, so to speak, and some more covertly. Now that Falden was with her, she could finally get in. Her heart hammered with excitement and no small amount of fear. Sevron was still missing. He’d told her not to trust anyone but King Dagan. She glanced over at Falden, a strange pang in her heart. She wanted to trust him. Wanted…what? A few more nights with him? A week? Forever? Eyes darting back to the road, she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear before downshifting the gear in preparation to make the turn.

Falden, silent until then, suddenly instructed, “Stay to the left. Do not turn here.”

Frowning, she slowed anyway. “What? I thought we were going to the base?”

Her nipples hardened as he looked her over, his icy blue gaze still filled with heat. “Private entrance. Keep going.”

Pulse quickening, she cleared her throat, glancing farther down the road he wanted her to take. “Ah…okay. Sure. Looks like a dirt road. More like a dirt track in the middle of a field. And, uh, trees at the end.” She glanced his way again. “Lots of trees.”

Falden’s lips quirked. “Indeed.”

Gripping the wheel tighter, she let out a slow breath. “Right. Of course,Commander,” she stressed the title sarcastically, “I’m sure all military VIPs have special entrances full of unnavigable dirt roads. Why didn’t I think of that?”

Falden’s eyebrow quirked. “I should blindfold you.”

Snorting in derision, she asked, “And who would drive the car then, tough guy?”

The heat left his icy blue eyes as he replied with solemnity, “I’m trusting you.”

A warm glow spread through Isabella at his words, her heart melting just a little more. “Me, too.”

Passing the turn to the security checkpoint, she followed rolled down the window and followed his instructions. He leaned over her so the little black box could scan his face. Seconds later, a gate opened. Just beyond it, the paved road gave way to a barely visible, deeply rutted dirt path. Having slowed considerably, the car still ate up the road, dust billowing out all around them. Her nose and mouth filled with dust, grit coating her teeth, making them grind against each other like sandpaper. Coughing, she gently patted the dash, croaking, “Sorry, baby, I’ll wash you when this is over. Promise.”

Finally they made it to the end of the field, nothing in front of them now but tall trees. A forest. The engine purred as they rolled to a stop. They were out of road. “Now what, Commander?”

She couldn’t help using his title. She was getting irritated. There was no secret entrance. They were at a dead end. Had he been misleading her? Keeping her busy so she wouldn’t be able to do her job?

“Do you see the clump of trees over there?” he said, pointing to three very large evergreens to the right.

Isabella squinted, trying to see something, anything unusual about the trees. She wanted to believe in fairy tales and magic, but she just couldn’t. “Mmm hmm… don’t tell me… there’s a secret door that opens to another world, and all we have to do is open it and walk through.”

“Close”—he nodded, his eyes twinkling with humor— “but there’s no door. You must accelerate straight into those trees.”

Isabella gripped the steering wheel so hard her knuckles turned white, her palms suddenly clammy. Cold sweat beaded her forehead. Fear pounded through her veins. He wanted her to ram this beautiful, perfect car, into a bunch of trees? With the two of them still inside? “You’re joking, right?”

“I do not see any other way in. My communication device is missing.”

“Can’t we just knock? Punch in the super-secret code?” she asked, her voice sounding far more timid than she’d envisioned.

Falden’s gaze settled on her lips. Intent. Focused. His large hand tunneled through her hair, pulling her toward him. His lips coaxed hers open.

Instinctively, she leaned into the kiss, giving herself to him. Her eyes drifted shut as he took control, losing all track of time and space. She never wanted the kiss to end, knew she’d remember the moment forever. Falden was very, very dangerous.

When he pulled back, his smile was pure mischief. “Hit the gas, Bella. Straight into the heart of those trees.”

She looked at the trees, back to his grin. What the hell? She’d just had sex with an alien. And he was in the car with her. So… “Okay. But if we die, I’m going to haunt your ass for all eternity.”

He chuckled. “Agreed.”

She took a deep breath, wrapped her hands around the steering wheel and pressed down on the accelerator. All the way.

If they were going to die, she didn’t want to suffer.

The trees reared up like giants in front of the car. Isabella held the steering wheel straight and closed her eyes, braced for impact.

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