Page 22 of Taming the Alien Outlaw
“Does he know?” she asks. “Alik, I mean? That you’re brothers?”
“He’s no brother of mine. He is an interloper of a position that belongs to me.”
Olivia winces at my sharp tone and I apologize. “Forgive me for being harsh.”
“It’s okay, I get it.”
“Still, I should not take my frustration out on you. You don’t deserve it, nor should you accept it.”
“Do you want me to yell at you? Because I’d be more than happy to do so.”
She makes me laugh. “Yes, I’m sure you would.”
At least the tension has been broken. I also realize we never made it to get food. Olivia must be starving. “Come, let’s try again with getting you something to eat.”
Olivia hesitates and clutches my hand tighter. “Would you mind having food brought here again? I don’t really want to go back out there.”
I incline my head. “Of course. But unless you’d like me to feed you in this bed, we should probably go out into the living space.”
Her cheeks darken in color, and the mating fever that has only just now receded to a manageable level threatens to surge hotter again.
Olivia jumps to her feet, releasing my hand as she does. She clears her throat. “I’m going to grab some—something to—water.”
Leaving me to stare after her, she rushes out of the bedroom. I rub my hand over the back of the one she’d held, but the echo ofher touch is already disappearing. Almost like I merely imagined it.
Except I didn’t. The sensation of Olivia’s skin against mine is branded on my body. I suspect it will be for all of eternity, no matter that she’ll be mated to some other Bohnari or if she somehow finds herself back on her own planet. A stabbing pain shoots through my chest that I’m not entirely sure is due to the mating fever alone.
Since it’s pointless to worry over things I can’t control, I quickly send a comm to Ryvik asking him to bring us food. Once finished, I join Olivia out in the living area. She’s seated on the sofa in the same spot as last night and I take a moment to observe her. The tilt of her head. The long line of her neck. The quiet way she appears to be deep in thought. I’d give anything for a peek inside her mind. Is she also recalling the drowning sensation when we gazed into each other’s eyes? As though a storm was upon her and she merely needed to ride it out to claim victory?
Olivia must sense my presence, because she glances my direction. Color rises in her cheeks and the small dark circles in the center of her eyes dilate, but she doesn’t look away. A shift occurs inside me. Something visceral and life-changing. I only wish I knew what it was.
“Our food should be here shortly.” I step farther into the room, an uncertainty I’ve never experienced before filling me.
“Good, because I’m starving. Whatever that hangover cure is, it’s a miracle worker. You could sell that stuff on the black market back on Earth and make a fortune.”
“Black market?”
“It’s an illegal method of purchasing items that are rare or scarce outside of government regulations.” Olivia cocks her head, and there is a devious gleam in her gaze. “What’s one more criminal activity to add to your name? I think black market marketer has a way better ring to it than rebel kidnapper, don’t you?”
I pause as though I’m actually thinking about it. “Perhaps I can start this black market thing here on Bohna.”
“Like I said, you might make a fortune.”
Maybe then I could afford the prince’s fee for kanet powder. Although, Alik allegedly gives it away to everyone on the planet. Since it will be awkward if I remain standing where I am, I go into the kitchen area to get myself something to drink as well.
“I’m surprised your mom hasn’t busted down the door yet to check on you.”
As am I. Not only to check on me, but also Olivia. If anyone knows the potential consequences of a female being alone with a male struck by the mating fever, it’s her. Does she not care that I could have harmed her, however unintentionally?
“She knows I wouldn’t hurt you.” At least I hope she knows that. I finally join Olivia in the living area and, like her, take the same spot where I sat last night.
She snorts. “I’m pretty sure it’s not me she was concerned about. She acted like it was my fault you had an attack. More than that, I swear there had been fear in her eyes.”
I have seen my mother experience many emotions, but fear has never been one of them. Some have called her ruthless. She may not always be warm or kind, but it could be the memory of how I came about that causes it. I try not to hold it against her.
“I am sure she knows all is well.”
“Yeah, that’s probably it.” The tone of Olivia’s voice says she doesn’t believe me.
