Page 57 of Mated to the Alien Rogue

“I mentioned the Tula excel at marinades,” he said. “So I got us a wide selection of their best. There are three different krinar steak options, and two quiliu flavors.”

I narrowed my eyes at the lighter-colored meat. “It’s that the thing we had with the Tula senator that time? She said it was very expensive.”

“It is.” He tipped his head in agreement, as direct as always. “But you enjoyed it.”

“I hadn’t realized you’d noticed.” He’d spent that entire lunch debating with the Sjisji senator.

“My dear mate, I notice everything about you.” The intensity of his gaze stole my breath for a moment.

Then he began to prepare our plates, adding several slices of quiliu meat to mine, along with the salad greens the Zaarn ate witheverything. I liked salad, but working more variety into the ship’s menu would be one of the things I wanted to do on theDaredevilonce we got this Grug mess sorted.

Wait a minute, Viv. Why do you keep thinking like you get to stay on the ship? You’ll have a colony of women you’ll be responsible for.

I shoved the thought aside. I needed a night forme, Viv, not for Captain Vivian Lee.

I took my first bite of the succulent meat and moaned as the sweet and spice of the marinade hit my tongue. It was a little fruity and tangy, almost like pineapple, but also hot, like they’d added a good chili pepper.

As we ate, Wrin leaned over to feed me bites of the various steaks, with an explanation of each marinade. In addition to the sparkling galfruit cider, he offered me krilar ale, a rich, slightly bitter drink, dark brown like a stout. The two drinks paired better with different dishes, and I liked both. Those dark-purple eyes of his watched me closely, noting exactly which ones I preferred.

The constant splash of nectar into the pool created a wall of sound. Combined with the way the greenery surrounded us, it left us in our own little world.

We didn’t talk much, and it was amazingly restful after all the days of bickering and one-upmanship with the politicians. It was wonderful. All the pressures dropped away. My muscles slowly unwound, releasing a tension I hadn’t even realized I’d been carrying. I liked a good fight—hell, who was I kidding? Iloveda good fight—but this?

This was a contentment and companionship I’d never had… and now dearly craved.

Wrin pulled the dome off the final dish to reveal a selection of fruit. And I knew he’d gotten them because he knew I enjoyed them, just as he’d ordered the quiliu meat.

“Thank you for this.” I rested my hand on his, waiting for him to meet my eyes. “I didn’t realize how much I needed a break. It’s wonderful. It’s… it’s perfect.”

“Vivv-Ee-Aan.” He stretched out each syllable of my name, as if savoring it on his tongue. “I would give you anything within my power to make you happy. It doesn’t matter how much this cost. You are worth every last cred.”

“Wait. What?” A spark of ire flamed in my chest. “What do you mean ‘how much this cost’? This is just a dinner, right?”

He tipped his head, his lips twitching. “This is just a dinner.”

Oh hell, no. That was the look he got whenever he played the politicians off against one another.

My eyes narrowed. “I’d like the truth.”

“I’d never lie to you.”

“Then I’d like thewholetruth.”

“I rented this glen for the night. It’s not a normal tourist spot.” He hesitated, and I quirked my eyebrow until he continued. “It’s reserved for the wealthy and powerful. I had to use my new connections to acquire it, and it cost a hefty sum.”

I shot him a steely glare and didn’t need to say a word.

“Five thousand creds,” he admitted.

The air punched out of me. A regular meal at one of Breyva’s restaurants cost a hundred creds. A vacation cottage went for a thousand a night. This? This could clothe fifty of my women.

“It’s too much!” I pushed back my chair and leaped to my feet. “Give it back. Get a refund. We’ll go back to the ship.”

He stood, towering over me. “No, we will not.”

“But—”

His huge hands clamped onto my shoulders. “It is done. There are no refunds, but even if there were, I would not take one. I did this for you, and I regretnothing.”

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