Page 102 of Stranded with the Alien

She punched him in the face as hard as she could.

“Drek.” He rubbed his chin ruefully. “I asked for that.”

“You should have told me the truth, Vahn. Or should I say, Prince Talvahnax.”

“Yes. I should have. I am deeply sorry. But would you have… would you have loved me if I had?”

“Love?” She laughed bitterly. “You can give it up, your Highness. You don’t need to pretend anymore.”

“Kara, I did not lie. My feelings for you are real. And bringing you onto the ship was the only way I could think of to save your life.”

He sounded wretched and despite herself, Kara wanted to hug him. She steeled herself.

“You let that bitch hit me.”

“I wanted to tear Ela’s arm off for what she did,” he said savagely. “Even though I’ve known her since we were hatchlings.But I couldn’t reveal that I cared for you, Kara. That would have been dangerous.”

Known her from childhood?No wonder she loved him.

“What if she’d blinded me?”

“I would never have let that happen.”

“You could at least have stopped her from shooting Rocky.”

“And raise her suspicions?” he sighed. “I thought perhaps he would survive it. Those hound-beasts are tough, as we know.”

He looked genuinely distraught and Kara remembered he’d loved Rocky too, even though he would never admit it in so many words.

“Fuck, Vahn, it’s all such a mess. I’m so pissed at you for everything.”

“And you have every right to be. But please believe me when I say I will protect you with my last breath,kalehsha.”

He put his hand on her arm and she found herself softening.

But he’d betrayed her. He’d lied to her and taken her for a fool. It was the oldest trick in the book and she’d fallen for it like a love-sick bimbo.

To hell with him. He didn’t deserve her forgiveness. She gathered her anger like a shield.

“Don’t fucking touch me,” she hissed. “You make me sick, snake boy. Get your filthy hand off me.”

His eyes hardened. He straightened and yanked her to her feet, pulling her so close to him that she could feel every muscle in his body.

“That’s not what you said this morning, when I bent you over that tree trunk and made you reachjarnaso many times you…”

“Shut the fuck up!”

Her cheeks flooded with heat at the memory. She’d come so hard she’d nearly passed out. Even now, his proximity was making her breath catch. She pushed at his chest fruitlessly. “I’m serious, Vahn. Get the hell away from me.”

Vahn dragged his eyes over her flushed face.

“I do not think you mean that, human. I think what you mean is ‘pleasure me again, my alien master’. Would you like me to? Hmm?”

He dipped his head and trailed his mouth along the curve of her throat. Kara’s pulse started jumping erratically.

Sweet Jesus.How could she be so susceptible when she knew he was a lying bastard?

“Vahn, stop it.”

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