Page 16 of Tricked By the Alien Prince

“Say again? I didn’t even know you humans could be this quiet.” His head tilts close to mine. His breath fans across my cheek, and I shiver at the contact.

“I don’t know your name!” I cry out, my control snapping. Like a rubber band stretched too far, my temper flings back violently in an attempt to mask my fear and panic.

The alien jumps back as if I’ve just attacked him. He looks at me with wide, shocked eyes.

I did just shout at the top of my voice into his ear…

Suddenly, he throws his head back and laughs. More than laughs, he guffaws. Bent over at the hips, hands slapping knees as he gasps for breath.

He takes a long moment to calm himself. The whole time I stand before him, arms wrapped about myself, feeling absolutely miserable. I’m just thankful that my dark skin color doesn’t show my blush much, otherwise, I’d be as red as a strawberry.

“I do not think I have ever had a female demand my name by shouting at me like that,” he says as he wipes tears from his cheeks.

“Demand? I didn’t demand it. It’s just that I’m…” I heave a deep breath, trying to regain my composure and whatever is left of my dignity, “I just forgot it, is all.”

“Do you easily forget things?”

“No! I have a great memory, and if it’s that important I write it down on my tablet as well.”

He looks at me with an assessing gaze. “Is that why you were so panicked? You thought you forgot my name?”

“I wasn’t panicked… If you have to know, I was embarrassed, alright?”

“There’s no need to fear, little Maya, you did not forget my name. I have not given it to you yet.” His eyes turn warm, soft even as he looks at me. Of course, I want to just scream at him that I did not forget, but he’s stuck on that point like I have some failing memory. I bite my tongue and turn from him. I’m sure I look like some sulking child, but this sort of social interaction is beyond me. It’s why I like computers so much - they are logical and without all the baggage of emotions.

He steps closer to me. I jump when his fingers curl around my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. A calloused thumb strokes the dip beneath my lip, and suddenly all my nerves are replaced with a different kind of tension. I’m hyper aware of how close he is, how his breath mingles with mine. His lips hover just above mine, looking remarkably pouty and soft. I wonder how they would feel pressed against mine. Would he kiss me softly, or with domineering passion?

“You can ask anything of me, little Maya,” he says, his voice deep and husky. “I’m entirely yours to do with as you want.”

My mouth feels dry. It’s just nerves from him standing so close, I tell myself. His words just feel more intimate than they actually are - a fault of the translator, that’s all.

My heart rate picks up, and my body stiffens… and why are my nipples tingling and growing hard?

I’m not attracted to this alien, am I?

Every part of my body aches.

“Volan,” his voice is deep and husky.

It’s enough of an interruption that my lust-fueled thoughts are thrown completely off track.

“Huh?”

“My name, little female, is Volan.”

“Volan?” I repeat, testing out the pronunciation.

This close up, I realize that he has very little white in his eyes. Instead of his pupils expanding and contracting like a human’s, his blue-colored iris have practically eclipsed his entire eye - and it’s beginning to glow.

I take a step back from him, shocked.

He’s an alien. I mean, that much is obvious. But it’s a clear wake-up call for me. How much do I know about him? Nothing. I can’t be fantasizing about him. If I’m honest to myself, I don’t even know how much I can trust him. He could just be like every other male in my life.

The light in Volan’s eyes immediately disappears, and a bored expression settles over his features. He looks upwards, notably studying the dark clouds that are gathering overhead. Not that long ago the sky was mostly clear, and now a gloom is settling on this land. A breeze blows past us and instead of refreshing, it cuts through my clothing and stabs at my skin with icy claws.

My heart rate skyrockets when he fiddles with the knot of his cloak near his neck. Somehow, it’s only just now occurred to me that I’ve followed this mysterious alien out into the middle of nowhere. I’m alone. I’m vulnerable. I’m an idiot.

What on Earth—on Atraxis, I mean—made me think this guy was trustworthy?

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