Page 5 of Taming the Alien Outlaw
“I really don’t like you.”
For a brief moment, my grin falters, but I recover quickly. “What’s not to like? I’m handsome. My horns are the perfect length and curl just right. I’m amusing. I also have a huge?—”
Olivia slams her hands over her ears and makes some bizarre noise while she shakes her head. Several beats pass before she uncovers them and glares hard at me.
“I don’t want to hear about your hugeanything.” Her pace quickens and the distance between us widens.
With only a few steps, I am beside her again. Once more, she ignores my presence. At least she pretends to do so. Olivia slightly stumbles, rights herself, and casts a quick glance over atme, as if trying to determine if I noticed her imbalance. I don’t offer a hand. Instead, I hum the notes of a melody I remember from my youth, although every time I try to recall who sang the song, I can’t. My mother denies it was her.
In the distance is the sound of rushing water. It’s not the stunning waterfall I stumbled across only once. That lies much deeper within the rainforest. Up until recently, it had been the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen. I told no one of its existence, and there are days when I often think I merely dreamed it. Then, I recall the clean, fresh scent along with the feel of the cool water hitting the palm of my hand I held beneath it.
I glance at the female beside me. What would Olivia think of the waterfall? Would she stand at the base in awe like I had? Would she appreciate the power and beauty of what she witnessed? There’s an unwelcome, but yearning, need inside me to take her to see it. To share the wonder of it with her and only her. Stubborn female that she is, she’d hate the place just to spite me.
For the countless time, Olivia stumbles over a fallen limb and curses loudly. A rumbling growl fills the air from a short distance away. I yank the blaster from the holster and grab her arm to halt her movements. She whirls on me, but swallows whatever curses she’d been about to unleash with a harsh choking sound.
Hopeful I have Olivia’s full attention, I release the loose grip I have on her and bring my finger to my lips indicating silence. She gives a succinct nod, and there is fear in her wide eyes. I want to tell her I’ll keep her safe, but I doubt she’ll believe me. It’s not the time to do so either with the sound of the approaching predator. And it’s definitely a predator. One whose growl I recognize. The phinnek is far too close to us. To Olivia.
I glance at the nearest tree and measure the distance to the lowest branch strong enough to hold her weight. It’s far enough off the ground to keep her out of harm’s way while I take care of the phinnek. I gesture upward, holster my weapon, and make a stirrup for her foot with my hands. To my surprise, she neither argues nor hesitates. Instead, Olivia lifts the hem of the dress she wears and steps one foot into the cradle of my palms while balancing herself on my shoulder.
Even with the fabric of my shirt separating us, my body hums with awareness of her touch. I try to ignore the flash of bare skin she unintentionally gives me, or the way my cock hardens as I imagine how soft it would be beneath my fingertips. Another growl from nearby jolts me into movement. I boost Olivia upward and she scrambles through the branches, going higher and higher until she must think she’s far enough off the ground to stop.
I’m impressed by her quickness as well as the ease with which she climbed. I’ll have to tell her when she returns to the ground. Which means I have to take care of the phinnek that creeps out from behind another nearby tree. The gasp from far above me is loud, but I don’t glance up. My focus remains on the beast prowling toward me.
Chapter 3
Olivia
I stare in horror at the enormous, alien wolf-thing that stalks toward Janik. When he’d grabbed my arm, I whirled to cuss him out, but after I saw the gun in his hand and the fierce expression on his face, I snapped my mouth closed. I may not want him manhandling me, but I know when to shut up. Which is a good thing, since I’m now stuck up in a tree, praying that whatever that beast is doesn’t kill the damn Bohnari.
That only makes me more pissed at Janik than I already am. First, he kidnaps me. Then he acts like being his prisoner—guest, my ass—is some privilege. Now, I might have to watch him die and I’ll be stuck up here until the animal decides it’s done and leaves or that I’ll be its next meal. Fuck that.
“Jackass.” I need to build up my anger so the fear doesn’t take control. A few more swear words aimed at Janik and I feel better. Or at least slightly less afraid.
Until the wolf thing charges. Against my will, I scream and slam my fist against my mouth to stifle any more trying to escape.Why doesn’t he shoot it? He had his blaster out, but put it away. The wolf slams into Janik and the two roll along the ground. The beast snaps its jaws at the Bohnari, who jerks his head this way and the other, avoiding the gnashing teeth. Even from up here, they look like they’ll do some serious damage.
Somehow, Janik throws the animal off him and scrambles to his feet, only for the showdown to start all over again. The two face off, slowly moving in a circle, neither taking their eyes off the other. It’s clear they’re each sizing their opponent up. The Bohnari snarls out something in a language my translator doesn’t recognize. It sounds like a taunt. To my surprise, there isn’t a scratch on him.
Now that I’m getting a better look, the wolf is gigantic. The top of its head is higher than Janik’s waist, and he’s not a short guy. Its coarse-looking fur is a mix of various shades of copper, with flecks of blue-green. If not for the fact it could rip my head off in a single bite with those teeth, it really is a stunning creature.
They continue circling each other until I sense a change in the wolf. It’s obviously only been toying with Janik. It tenses and leaps forward so fast I barely see it move. The male is on the ground, pinned beneath the massive animal. Before I can yell, or do something to distract it, the wolf clamps its mouth around the Bohnari’s neck. Janik screams in agony.
“No!” The word is ripped from my throat.
Tears pour down my face, and a blinding rage comes over me. Even more so than when the big jerk threw me over his shoulder and stole me from Preska. I don’t know what I’m thinking, but I scramble down from my perch. I need to protect Janik, although part of me says it’s too late.
“Get away from him!” I charge forward, flailing my arms above my head, trying to make myself as large and intimidating as possible. “Go! Get away! Now!”
The wolf releases its hold and backs slowly away with its head cocked and eyes locked on mine. I stop next to Janik’s body, but don’t glance down. I refuse to look away from the beast.
Great sobs heave up from my chest.He can’t be dead. He just can’t be.
“Olivia?”
It takes a second for me to process the fact that the Bohnari is sitting up and staring at me strangely. And that he knows my name. It takes longer for me to realize there’s no blood. The sobs slow and quiet until I take in a shuddering breath.
“Where’s the blood?” My whole body is buzzing with a strange energy and the question sounds hollow. Almost like it came from someone else.
Janik pats his neck and looks at the palm of his hand. Nothing. Not a single trace of blood is on his skin. Anywhere.
