Page 42 of Swept By The Alien Pirate Prince

“We’re a strong duo.”

“Now that we know we can trust each other,” I joked, now that most of the tension between us had lifted.

“It only took an A.I. to spur up the conversation,” Cyburn joked.

“She means well,” I said with a patient smile.

“You’re good with her,” Cyburn acknowledged. “I know she wants to keep you as a friend.”

“As do I for her, and I sure hope so,” I chuckled. “It was my job to work with robots back on Earth, so I feel like I know what I’m doing to a certain extent. I just wing the rest, and hope that no one will notice.”

“Your expertise, as well as your remarkable talent shines through in everything you do,” Cyburn affirmed.

“You’re too sweet.” I bumped my shoulder against his.

Cyburn sighed. “We should probably go in soon.”

“It looks like another monsoon is headed our way,” I admitted with a heavy sigh of my own.

Cyburn looked at me, his black eyes flickering with kindness. “Thank you for putting up with me. I know I’ve been a lot to handle lately.”

“After everything that happened with Amada, I’m surprised you're still in one piece,” I admitted.

Cyburn laughed. “Hardly.”

“You’re doing as well as to be expected. I can’t imagine what you’re going through. That’s why I avoided relationships back on Earth. Too much drama for me.”

Cyburn gave me a thoughtful smile. “I’m glad you didn’t avoid me, even though I come with a lot of baggage.”

“It’s not a burden for me, so I don’t want you to feel like you’re a burden on me either,” I said. “The universe pulled us together. I had no control over it. I was attracted to you the moment I laid eyes on you.” I wasn’t embarrassed to admit this, and I wanted Cyburn to have the assurance.

“The feeling was mutual,” Cyburn said.

I gave him a teasing smile. ‘I know. You were practically drooling over me.”

Cyburn laughed. “That’s when all my trouble started.”

“Amada would have been jealous of anyone,” I said.

Cyburn gave me an insightful look. “You’re right. It could have been anyone. Her hatred wasn’t conditional.”

“Lucky me,” I drawled and rolled my eyes.

Cyburn kissed my cheek. “You’re so beautiful and funny.”

“Which is why you fell head over heels in love with me.” I laughed.

“You’re probably right about that too,” Cyburn admitted, his features serious. “I’m sorry if I’ve been distant and a little isolating since we docked on this planet. You just don’t understand the blow I felt when Amada betrayed me — betrayedallof us. I’ve known her for dozens of years, even dated her for over a decade. It crushed me. I wasn’t in love with her anymore — but it still stung more than I could ever explain.”

I cuffed my hand over his enormous wrist. It was so thick that I could only slip my fingers about halfway around it.

“I understand where you are coming from,” I attested. “I’m nothing like Amada. I don’t have a drug problem.” I paused and gave him a friendly smile. “Or a drinking one.”

Cyburn scoffed, but his eyes danced with amusement. “Alright, alright. I guess I deserve that one.”

“You don’t deserve what’s happened to you. You’ve had to deal with more betrayal in your lifetime than most people ever would.”

Cyburn lifted a finger to his chin dimple and contemplated. “Well, to be fair, my lifespan is a lot longer than that of a human.”

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