Chapter 16 #2
“No idea,” he moaned back, then gathered her in his arms. He pressed kisses to her forehead, nose, the top of her head. He whispered sweet things and stroked her hair. Amelia had never felt so cherished, and yes, loved. She heard his breathing gradually deepen as he fell asleep.
Unexpected tears fell from her eyes and onto his bare chest. God help her, she was falling in love with this guy.
Or rather, this alien, Virilian, impossible male.
She feared, deep in her gut, that there was no way this could end well.
Amelia had never been successful at human relationships.
What made her think she’d succeed at an extraterrestrial one?
Maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t meant for a human lover, but an alien one. On that hopeful note, she snuggled closer and fell asleep.
She woke up to find him gone. Amelia sat up and looked around. The bag was gone, and there was no sign of a struggle. Of course, she would have heard a struggle if there had been one. She wasn’t one of those super deep sleepers, and especially not in a place like this.
She swallowed back a rise of panic. Surely, there was a good explanation for his absence. He wouldn’t leave her here. If someone had come and taken him, there would be signs.
She got up and drank a little more of that nasty, sugary liquid.
All she could do was wait. She dragged that tight white tunic back over her body but couldn’t will herself to close it up all the way and compress her poor breasts again.
She paced. Worry increased with each step she took across the tiny room.
Every passing moment felt like an eternity.
Suddenly, she heard someone at the door.
There was the beep of someone inputting the door code, then it slid open.
Relief poured out of her as Taron strode in.
“Oh my God, I was so worried.” She ran to him and threw her arms around his neck. “Why did you leave without telling me?” She reared back. “I was freaking out.”
He kissed her forehead. “I tried to wake you, but you were really sleeping,” he said. “I didn’t want to yell in your ear. You would not have liked that.”
She relaxed in his arms. “Please, just wake me up next time.”
“Okay.” He smiled tenderly down at her. “I promise not to do that again.”
“All right.” She noticed that he looked a bit tired. His hair was ruffled and tense lines bracketed his mouth. “What were you doing out there? Are you okay?”
“I am fine. I had to do a bit of business.”
“What kind of business?” This didn’t sound good.
“I found out where Kimberly is. Thankfully, she is alive. Or maybe not so thankfully, because if she weren’t, we could just leave.” He shook his head wistfully. “Anyway, I had to trade your fancy blaster for the information. I hope you don’t mind.”
“No, it’s fine. Do we have any idea how to get to her?”
“I do.” He stepped away from her and crossed his arms. “You’re going to hate it.”
“I am?” She cocked her head. “I just want to find Kimberly. Let’s hear what you’ve got.”
He pulled a small bundle of fabric from the bag and tossed it to her. She unrolled it to find a flimsy little outfit, just like the ones from the crate in the raider camp. “Is this a joke?”
Taron appeared to take a deep, fortifying breath. “Nope. You’re going to be a concubine, and I, your master. I’m going to pretend to sell you to the Tulashi magnate who is holding Kimberly, to get near her, and then I’ll break both of you out.”
Dread dropped in her belly like a brick. “No.”
“Yes.” He had the nerve to grin. “It’s the only way we’ll get close to her. You are perfect bait.”
“Bait?” This didn’t sound like a solid plan to her. “Taron, if this fails, do you know what will happen to me?”
“It won’t fail, so there’s no need to worry.”
His confidence was clearly misplaced, but what other options were there? She stood out way too much in a place like this. Walking around here made her ripe for abduction.
Taron waved a hand in her direction. “Get changed.” He rubbed his hands together. “Stars, I can’t wait to see you in this.”
She gave him a withering look. “Looking is all you’re going to do.”
“You say that now, but after this is all done? You’ll be so impressed, you won’t be able to keep your hands off me.”
Oh, the arrogance. She knew he was trying to lighten the moment, but he really shouldn’t go to the trouble. “I hope I don’t end up at the end of Jabba the Hutt’s chain,” she muttered.
“Jabba the who?” He shook his head. “That’s not in my chip’s databank.”
“Never mind.” She looked at the tiny outfit she held. “I just meant, I hope I don’t wind up a concubine for real.”
“I promise you won’t. I will kill anyone who tries to hurt you.
” He stepped close and drew her into his arms. His huge hands splayed over the small of her back.
“Amelia, after this is over, it’s just you and me, okay?
” He dipped his head and kissed her. It was tender and deep, and left her light-headed.
She licked her lips. “Another promise?”
“A vow.”
Her chest tightened. “That’s kind of a big word in English.”
“I am aware of that,” he said. “And I mean it. I like having you around, Amelia. I want you with me. Permanently.”
Her heart beat hard and fast. Her head felt light at his words. “Are you sure you mean—”
“This English chip is quite accurate,” he said, cutting her off.
“I want you. For good.” He held up a finger to her lips, which were beginning to open and spew forth questions.
“I don’t have all the answers right now.
Honestly, I don’t have any, but we’ll figure it out.
After this is over, it’s you and me. No running, fighting, rescuing—I don’t care who is kidnapped; they can rot. ”
She felt a little like her feet were no longer on the floor.
It was everything she could have hoped to hear from a male whom she was falling in love with.
“Okay.” But there were a lot of questions.
Despite his sincerity, she couldn’t see a clear future for them.
If she left her life on Earth, what would it be like with him?
Sitting around in a galactic taxi, watching alien porn, wasn’t how she envisioned spending all her days.
She changed into the shimmering gold costume he brought her.
It was a bikini, essentially, with tassels and jingling, dangling bits that hung off the top and dripped off the little, skirted bottom.
It barely hung on her. Any quick movements would make some part of her pop out of it.
She gave him a pained look, arms crossed. “I don’t like this.”
He was trying not to smile. “You look ravishing.”
She scowled deeper.
“In all seriousness, I know you would rather gouge out an eye than play the part of a concubine, but it’s the plan with the highest likelihood of success.
” His eyes darkened as his fingers slipped down into the cleft between her ass.
“I will owe you some serious orgasms for asking you to wear this costume for eyes other than my own.” His voice lowered to a husky timbre.
He slid his hand over her breast and under the wispy fabric.
He gave her breast a light squeeze. “I will pay my debt in full.”