Page 29 of Alien Prince Fake Fiancé

The cold fury in Zade’s eyes softened as he stared down into her eyes. He took her hand and gently moved her farther from the other Caldorian.

“Antonelius. Wise choice, not touching my mate. I would hate to kill you and start a war.”

Kill him? A war? Had Zade lost his mind?

Fortunately, Antonelius laughed, not at all intimidated by Zade’s threat. “I know all about Saltrec instincts. If I wanted to take your female, you would already be dead.”

What the hell was going on with these two? Whatever primitive male posturing was happening, she’d had enough. She made sure her voice was low enough not to carry to the rest of the guests. “Stop. Both of you.” She twisted her arm in a subtleattempt to break Zade’s hold. No such luck. He was far too strong.

Zade moved swiftly, his hand claiming her waist, guiding her away from the other male and out toward the dance floor. Her body tensed under his touch, but she didn’t pull away. The warmth of her skin seeped through the fabric of her gown, a tantalizing reminder of how much he wanted her.

Antonelius gave a slight bow. “We’ll speak later, Ashlyn.”

“You will not.” Zade spoke to Antonelius’s back, as the Caldorian had already walked away.

“What is wrong with you? You’re making us look bad.” She was having enough of a heart attack in this dress, being stared at by a room full of aliens, without Zade embarrassing her. The tension between her and Zade had only escalated since their argument, and now, with the entire Intergalactic Council watching, they needed to present a united front.Focus, Ashlyn. You can’t let him get to you, she reminded herself.Play the part of adoring mate for a few hours, then you can go back to your room and fall apart. Just don’t do it here.

To her surprise, Zade didn’t spare a single glance at their rapt audience. His gaze had locked onto hers and wouldn’t let go. She couldn’t think when he looked at her like that, like she was the only person in the world, the only one who mattered.

“I am Saltrec, mate. I tried to explain to you what that would mean. Antonelius knows. There is a reason he stopped short of touching you.”

“You wouldn’t actually kill him.”

“I will kill anyone who touches my mate. Antonelius knows this. As does everyone else in this room.”

“That’s—” Her heart skipped a beat as he placed a hand on the curve of her hip and pulled her into his embrace, swaying to the slow, sultry beat of the music. “That’s crazy.”

The air between them charged with a dangerous electricity, their bodies drawn together like magnets. Zade leaned down like he was nuzzling her ear affectionately and growled, “If you don’t start acting like we are desperately in love, the Council will see through our deception. Don’t you see them watching? Councilor Boleen looks like she’s ready to announce her decision right now, and it won’t be in our favor. If we can’t convince her, after what she saw us doing, we won’t stand a chance of convincing the others.”

The bitter taste of anger lingered on Ashlyn's tongue, even as a fiery passion simmered beneath the surface of their feud. She lifted a hand to caress his jaw lovingly and stretched up on her tiptoes so she could graze his neck with her lips as she whispered, “Yes, of course I see her, but how can I pretend to love someone I don’t like and barely know?”

Zade’s hand tightened around her hip, his grip bordering on painful, his fingers digging into her skin with a mix of control and possessiveness. His hard cock nestled between her legs. “Remember how you begged me for more a few hours ago? How you moaned my name in ecstasy? Use that to inspire your performance.”

“It was so underwhelming, I barely remember it,” she snapped back.

“Careful,shenga,” Zade growled through thinned lips, his free hand tunneling into her hair, “or I’ll prove you a liar in front of everyone.”

As they moved across the dance floor, her body trembled with both anger and anticipation. “You wouldn’t dare,” she breathed, her body flushed. How could his words turn her on when she was still so angry with him?Maybe because the real person you’re angry with is yourself. Admit it. You’re falling for the one guy in the universe that you can’t have, and it’s all your own fault.

Zade smiled mirthlessly. “Watch me.”

Ashlyn gasped as Zade lowered his head and took her mouth in a searing kiss, their bodies melting into each other as the music swirled around them, filling the air with a seductive melody that seemed to match the rhythm of their bodies.

Ashlyn could hear the whispers and despite her anger, she couldn't deny the fire that burned between them.

"Next time you will wait for me, mate," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

Ashlyn lifted her chin defiantly, meeting his fierce gaze. "I don’t need a babysitter, Zade."

His grip tightened slightly, not enough to hurt, but enough to assert dominance. "In my culture, engaged couples rarely separate. You're making this harder than it needs to be."

She fought the urge to lean into his touch, her pulse quickening. "And in my culture, we don’t like being told what to do."

Zade leaned in, his breath hot against her ear. "Before the night is over, I’m going to have you on your knees, begging for my touch."

Ashlyn's breath hitched, a wave of heat pooling low in her belly. She tried to hide her reaction, but her body betrayed her with a slight tremor. "Is that all you think about? Don’t flatter yourself," she whispered back, though the words lacked conviction.

"Flatter myself?" Zade’s lips brushed her earlobe, sending sparks down her spine. "I see the way you respond to me. You crave my touch, my control. You’re just too stubborn to admit it."

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