Page 54 of Claimed by an Alien Warrior

“It was the drink?” he asked, blinking his outside and inside eyes slightly out of sync. “Is…is that also why you are sick today?”

“Yeah. Wine is an alcoholic beverage. It’s basically a drug that helps humans forget their inhibitions. Helps us relax and loosen up. Sometimes, a little too much. It’s been a long time since I drank, and I guess I forgot to limit myself.”

“You drank nearly the entire bottle.”

She winced. “Uh, yeah… Like I said, I forgot to limit myself.”

“There is a substance on my planet calledtsirisk,” he said as he took the cup from her hand, refilled it, and passed it back to her. “It is something that has been known to my people for thousands of generations, made from a plant that grows deep in the jungle. The lesser of theKhorzar, those who do not havenyros, sometimes consumetsiriskbefore battle. It imbues them with great strength and speed.

“But when it has run its course, their bodies are left in weakened states, and the more they use it, the more dependent they grow upon it.Tsiriskis not the same as youralcohol, but what you said reminds me of it. And because of that, I will allow you no furtheralcoholwhile you are in my company.”

Zoey groaned and laid her head back down, keeping one arm across her breasts for modesty’s sake — though she was sure all her modesty had been murdered and buried in the back yard by now. “Not even a little?”

“No.”

“A smidge?”

“Human…”

Zoey smiled despite her discomfort. “At this point, I don’t want any more either.” Just the thought of more alcohol made her nauseous.

Rendash looked her over and released a sigh. “I dislike seeing you suffer like this.”

“Believe me, I don’t like it either.”

“Do you feel well enough to move back to the bed?”

“Just…give me a little while longer.”

Ren continued to rub her back, trailing his hand up and down along the line of her spine, then back and forth across her shoulders. The fingers still holding her hair up lightly massaged her scalp. Before long, Zoey’s eyes drifted closed.

“I think I can go back to bed now,” she mumbled.

Slowly, and with impossible gentleness, Rendash gathered Zoey into his arms. Her eyes flashed open and she tensed, trying to sit up.Bigmistake. She groaned with pain and sagged into his hold.

“I’m too heavy for this,” she complained, crossing her arms over her chest. “I can walk.”

“You are a fool,” he replied affectionately. He stood up, all four of his arms supporting her weight evenly so there wasn’t painful pressure concentrated on any single spot. Moving with care, he turned and carried her through the doorway — somehow managing not to bump any part of her on the doorframe — and to the bed.

For the first time in her adult life, Zoey felt dainty. She couldn’t articulate the thought, not in a way he’d understand, so she simply curled against him until he sat her down on the bed.

Once she was in place, he stepped away to retrieve her shirt from atop the nearby dresser. She took it from him and pulled it on over her head.

“Thank you,” she said.

“Do you want your pants? The soft ones?”

Zoey stared at her bare legs for a moment before shaking her head. She lay down, reached for the covers, and pulled them up to her chin.

“I’m going to find a more suitable container for water,” he said.

Zoey reached out and caught one of his wrists before he could step away. “Stay.”

“I won’t be gone long.”

She frowned. “Promise?”

“Yes.”

---