Page 53 of Claimed by an Alien Warrior

“I don’t know if I can.”

“You need to try.”

“I don’t wanna.”

“Doesn’t matter.” He held the water under her face. “Just drink.”

Pouting, she accepted the cup. She took a tiny sip.

Ugh.

“Good. Now drink some more, human.”

“You’re extra bossy this morning.” She took another drink. A shiver ran through her. The water was foul, tainted by the taste in her mouth.

“I told you, you’re not allowed to die.” Rendash placed a finger beneath the cup and tipped it to her lips. “Keep going. A little at a time.”

She drank small sips until the cup was empty. When she was done, she rested her head on her arm and closed her eyes.

Ren remained in place beside her, slowly stroking her back.

Which was still bare.

Zoey’s brows furrowed. She lowered her other arm and touched her chest. Herbarechest. Shifting her arm aside, she looked down at herself.

Had she been embarrassed before? She was fuckingmortifiednow! Here she was draped over the toilet, puking her guts out, dressed in nothing but a pair of purple panties with her boobs and every roll on display!

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Ren, why am I naked?”

At the corner of her vision, he tilted his head in apparent confusion. “You removed your shirt and harness before I brought you to bed.”

“My shirt and mywhat?” She winced as a bolt of pain split through her skull.

“Your…harness,” he said, holding up two of his hands and cupping them in front of his chest as though cradling a pair of objects in his palms.

“My…bra? Are you saying I took off my shirt and bra? No, no way. I wouldn’t…”

He frowned. The hurt in his eyes was strong enough to clear her head a little. “You don’t remember what happened last night?”

“Y-you mean… That we… Oh God, it wasn’t a dream was it?” she asked, staring at him. Her gaze dipped briefly, and sure enough, his junk was justthere, dangling between his legs. “Did we…?”

“We kissed. I touched you. And then you fell asleep.”

Please let me be struck with lightning now. Likerightnow.

All at once, she remembered kissing him, running her hands over his chest, feeling his hands on her…

It wasn’t a dream. It had really happened.

And she’d fallenasleep!

“I’m sorry,” she said. “It wasn’t… I didn’t…”

Ren moved a hand to her cheek and guided her eyes to his. “It was good, Zoey. More than good. I cannot blame you for having been exhausted.”

Her cheeks flamed; despite the combined effects of her hangover and her embarrassment, warmth spread through her at his words. Had he really liked it? Likedher? Kissing her, touching her, and…seeingher?

“It wasn’t exhaustion, Ren,” she said quietly. Damn her headache. Damn the fucking hangover. If she didn’t feel like keeling over, and if her mouth didn’t taste like vomit and ass, she would have kissed him. “It was the wine. I drank too much.”

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