Page 80 of Stranded with the Alien

“Take a look under the last thorax spike.”

Kara ran her hand down his spine, feeling the flattened spikes stirring under her palm. The last one was just above his tailbone. It lifted as she reached it and she bent for a closer look.

The scales beneath were different. Paler, more silver, and slightly raised. Intrigued, she ran her fingertips over them. Vahn inhaled sharply.

“That is mybalinzhgland. It releases breeding fluid into my reproductive tract. I suggest you stop touching it.”

She snatched her hand away and he rolled onto his back, eyes glittering wickedly.

“Unless, of course, you want to carry my hatchlings.” Her face flooded with color and he rumbled with laughter. “Do not worry, human. In Vraxian society, any decision to procreate is a mutual one.”

“Good. Okay. Good.”

She lapsed into silence. Suddenly feeling awkward about her nakedness, she pulled on her shirt. Vahn had no such qualms. He raised himself onto one elbow.

“Shall we talk about last night, Kara?”

“What is there to talk about? We did what we did.”

“Yes. And I greatly enjoyed it. Which is a problem.”

“It is?”

“Yes. Because it means I want to do it again. And again. In fact, I want to do all manner of things with you.”

He looked at her steadily and tendrils of heat crawled into her belly.

“Well, I mean, if we’re trying to desensitize ourselves…”

“Is that what we are trying to do?”

“It is,” she said firmly. “Everyone knows that lust is short-lived. Before you know it we’ll be arguing over whose turn it is to cook and then it’ll be over.”

“Is that how it works in the human world?”

“Sure. Unless, you know, you fall in love.”

“Have you ever fallen in love?”

“Nope. Never. Don’t worry, snake-boy. I’m not the type of girl who falls in love. And definitely not with an alien.”

He cocked his head.

“I am not sure love is something you can control.”

“It is for me. I’ve seen first-hand the damage love can do. The heartbreak when you lose someone. My mother…” she ducked her head. “She became a different person when my dad died. I don’t want that. I’d rather not fall in love at all.”

Vahn’s expression didn’t change.

“It’s stopped raining,” he said. “Let us get up.”

“And eat. I’m starving.” She stretched her arms above her head. “You wore me out last night.”

“But you… you enjoyed it?” It was suddenly important for him to know.

“It was amazing. But now you need to feed me, alien, or I won’t be in a fit state to do it again.”

Again. She wants to do it again.He hid the goofy smile that threatened to break out on his face and followed her from the tent.

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