Page 32 of Fated to the Alien Protector

God, I hate making him think he’s the one I was afraid of when all along it had been the way he made me feel that scared the shit out of me. It’s not fair to let him continue thinking it was his fault. “I’m not afraid of you, Rojtar.”

“But last evening…?”

“It wasn’t you.” I heave a sigh. “Someone I loved a long time ago hurt me badly. Not physically, but in every other way. What happened last night made me remember what it could be like to care for someone, andthatis what has me afraid.”

Rojtar cocks his head but remains silent like he’s absorbing the meaning of my words. He must parcel them out because a flicker of light shines from his vertical pupils. It’s the same light I swear shone from them when we touched last night by the river when I took his bowl from him.

“Are you saying you could care for me?”

Considering Rojtar has never once lied to me, I owe him the same respect no matter how it terrifies me. “I can’t—won’t—make any promises, but yes, I think there’s a very good chance.”

He straightens to his full height as though pride has made him that much taller. Ever so slowly, he raises his hand and lays it gently along the side of my face. He’s so warm I can’t help but lean slightly into his touch. Warning sounds blare in my ears, but I force them to quiet.

Rojtar won’t hurt me.

I have to keep telling myself that.

“You have made me the happiest of males. I do not take what you have said lightly, and I will do everything in my power so you do not regret sharing your honesty with me.”

I don’t move as he bends to brush his lips across mine. What he lacks in skill, he makes up for in tenderness. No one has ever kissed me with the emotion I feel coming from him. Rojtar kisses me like I’m his greatest treasure. Emotions well inside, and I have to break the kiss. He drags his hand down off my jaw and I feel it all the way in my core. “Thank you for your trust,keeshla.”

I nod since I’m not sure I can speak. As though sensing my struggle, Rojtar fills the silence.

“If you would like to try out your new spear, we can head up into the hills and search for either more dreri or another herd of dhibani.”

Maybe hunting will help me take my mind off of us and this new development in our…relationship. “Let me wash up and change my clothes. I can be ready in about ten minutes.”

“I do not know how long that is.” Rojtar chuckles. “But I will go to my tent and get my sword and spear and wait for you at the central fire.”

“Sounds good.” Before I can second-guess myself, I give him a quick kiss and dash back inside.

Carter is sitting up in his bed with his too-long mop of hair sticking up everywhere. He studies me with an expression I can’t read. “Why didn’t you ever tell me somebody hurt you? Who was it?”

I forgot how thin the hide walls are. The conversation with Rojtar wasn’t meant for anyone else’s ears. “It doesn’t matter anymore. It happened a long time ago.”

“Is that why you don’t trust or rely on people?”

It’s so much more complicated than that, but it’s not something I ever plan on talking with Carter about so I leave it at a simple, “Yes.”

He doesn’t say anything for a minute so we merely stare at each other. “I’m glad you’re giving Rojtar a chance. I like him.”

So do I. “Do you want to go hunting with us?”

“And watch you two make googly eyes at each other all day? No, thank you.” He laughs. “Besides I’m sparring with Talek and Cecily today. There’s a tournament going on and I plan on winning.”

“Good luck. I’m sure you’ll be great.” Now that we have that talk out of the way, I feel a lot better.

Since I’m now running behind, I dash around the tent getting ready. The second I’m done, I grab the lighter spear Rojtar brought me and hurry toward the central fire. Not that I think he’ll leave without me, but I don’t want to be rude and keep him waiting too long.

He stands with his back to me and I can’t help but admire his form. His broad shoulders block my view, and the breeze blows his hair making it sway across his back and swirl up into loops before falling down his back again. As I close the distance, I focus on the tail that pokes through a hole specifically made for it in his pants. While it has to be more than two or three times as long, it resembles the one belonging to an old Earth animal found in Africa that possessed a massive mane of fur around its head, except without the pouf of hair on the end.

My pulse skips a beat, and my core throbs with arousal. As if sensing my intense study, Rojtar turns and my body burns with a slow, steady warmth at his perusal. In a similar way, he scans me from head to toe. His pupils flare, and he stalks forward, closing the distance between us. I’m ensnared in his gaze, unable to move. I should be scared, and yet there’s a part of me that wants to run—in the hopes he’ll chase me.

A primal need within me calls out for Rojtar. I swallow the saliva that’s pooled beneath my tongue. There’s an invisible tug straight in the center of me that drags me forward until we meet with only inches separating us.

“Hi.” My simple greeting comes out far toobreathlessly, but he’s captured all the air in my lungs.

“Hi.”

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