Page 28 of Kissed By the Alien
“Admit it, Lutan. The reason you left the ball. You didn’t want to be seen with me. Maybe you’re into bigger girls, which is fine if that’s your kink, but I’m not about to hop into bed with a guy because he shows me some attention. I need a guy who likes me for me, curves and all. Not some guy who thinks my presence will embarrass him.”
He growls at me. When my eyes widen in alarm, the growl cuts off immediately, like he didn’t realize what he was doing.
His horns bend back. I’m not sure what he wants from me, but I see this fire in his eyes. It’s like the guy wants me but is resisting.
“I would be proud to walk anywhere with you. But holding your hand… any type of touching… it’s intimate, Lexi. The more I’m with you, the more I’ll want to mate you. That’s why it’s best that I keep my distance.
“Woah. You’re serious about this soulmate thing?”
“Heartmate. And yes, I’m serious. There is a pull between heartmates. But I believe if we keep our distance we can resist.”
“And why would we want to?”
“You said you want a commitment. That is something I cannot do. I do not want to hurt anyone else. I’ve already… I’ve already hurt someone I cared about.”
“Who? How?”
“My brother Narzan. I killed him….”
CHAPTERTEN
LUTAN
I’ve never told anyone the truth about what happened to Narzan. And while I’m tempted to tell Lexi, as I believe she would listen without judging, I won’t involve her. It’s a sholan’s duty to protect his sholani even if he never intends to claim her.
“Wh-what?” she says, stunned. “You killed your brother?”
“Never mind. You do not need to know the details. Only that you should keep your distance from me.”
My eyes move to the sheet draped over the entrance to the cleanser.
“That sheet reminds you of him, doesn’t it?”
“It’s the color. Like your dress.”
She peers down. “I can remove it.” A tenuous smile emerges, as if she wants to flirt to ease the tension between us… or to make me forget about Narzan. But I asked her not to tempt me. That was unrealistic of me. Her very presence tempts me.
“You may certainly remove your dress. In fact, I encourage it.”
She releases a long-held breath, relaxing slightly. “You’re a weakness for me, Lutan. And I don’t understand why.”
“It’s the way of a sholan and sholani. But not all heartmates end up together.”
“Can we talk about your brother?”
My stomach churns and my horns rise, despite my determination to keep them low around her. She’s not the enemy. “No.”
“Let me help.”
“There is nothing to be done for Narzan. He’s dead.”
“I meant help you.”
I stare at this caring female that anyone would be honored to have as a heartmate, me included. “I will not involve you.” What happened to Narzan is not her problem. It’s mine. I never should have brought him up.
“Are you in trouble with the authorities? Do they know what happened?”
“Why are you not running from me, Lexi? I told you I killed my brother. We’re in an isolated location. I could kill you just as easily and no one would know it.”
