We left the waterfall area as the sunset began to cascade its magnificent orange display of color across the painted horizon.

I climbed back onto the Pegasus-looking unicorn-creature and allowed Kadic’s muscular body to wrap tightly around me, making me feel protected and safe. I was so exhausted, I didn’t have enough emotions left to protest anymore.

We headed back to the palace and I closed my eyes as I enjoyed the gentle breeze and the soft fluffy sound of the animal’s wings gliding and soaring through the air. Every now and then it would expel a little sound very similar to that of a horse.

I thought that maybe I would like to help care for these animals over the next week, because I was now drawn to their majestic quality.

We landed at the palace after only what seemed to be a few minutes, even though I knew in reality it probably took longer than that.

My legs were like jelly as Kadic tried to help me climb off the Darailtar. I was so fatigued I could barely stand up after the passionate, adrenaline-boosted sex we’d had not once but twice back at the waterfall and swimming pool.

“You are tired?” Kadic asked and brushed the hair off my face.

I nodded. “Extremely.”

“I can carry you back to the bed if you like.”

I was filled with immense gratitude. “That would be amazing. Thank you.” I smiled.

This time, he carried me up to his bedroom. I didn’t care, I tucked myself under the sheets, burrowing in and ready for a nice long nap.

Kadic leaned in to kiss my cheek and I sighed contentedly and rolled over.

“Sweet dreams,” he whispered.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“I need to get a few things done around the palace. I’ll be back shortly, I promise.”

“Okay,” I whispered and closed my eyes, ready to succumb to the sleep that lay heavily on my slowly drooping eyelids.

But then a nervous tingle in my stomach prevented me from falling asleep quickly. Should I stay with him in his room? Was I ready to share a bed with him? I tried to pace my breathing so I would stay calm and not freak out.

Out of nowhere, panic crept its way up to my brain and suddenly I was wide awake, not ready for sleep in the slightest. I didn’t want him to get the wrong idea and come to the assumption that’d I’d given in and agreed to become his wife.

I heard him in the bathroom and I waited until he came out before I decided to press the issue with him.

“Um, Kadic, do you have a second?”

I watched him turn to face me. “Yes, what is it?” He smiled at me and came to sit down on the edge of the bed beside me.

“I actually would prefer to stay in my own room, if that’s okay.” I tensed my muscles, awaiting his reaction.

“What? Why?” His voice was deep, almost demanding.

I gulped, wondering if I’d made a mistake to bring this up right now. I knew I had to, though, because I didn’t want to lead him on and make him think we were going to live happily ever just yet.

“I’m sorry, Kadic, but I’m not sure I want to marry you. I mean, think about it…we hardly even know each other.” I tried to prove my case and laughed nervously, but I wasn’t sure how weak and diluted I sounded to him.

“Are you telling me, after we just shared that passionate sex at the waterfall, that you still haven’t changed your mind?” He raised his eyebrows at me.

I rubbed my temples and sat up on the bed. “It’s not that simple.”

“Then please explain.” He crossed his arms over his chest defensively.

“Well, on Earth, people like to get to know each other before they agree to such a strong commitment as marriage. It’s traditional for the male to usually court the female in some way over the period of some time, like a year or so before he proposes and they both mutually agree.”

I hoped he understood what I was trying to explain to him, but I highly doubted I would get through to him. The different planetary cultures were probably too far apart and skewed completely opposite.

I mean, they didn’t even walk around with clothes on this planet. Of course they wanted to mate any attractive person they saw. It was only natural for them and I tried to understand that, but I just couldn’t agree to stay on a foreign planet and marry an alien after one passion filled episode.

“So you just think you can use me for hot sex and then trot back off to Earth? It’s not that simple.” His dark eyes were brooding and warning.

My heart pounded in my chest and my throat became dry. My fingertips tingled and went numb. I hoped he wouldn’t try to hurt me if I refused to stay in his bed.

He frowned at me, contemplating. Finally, after a few moments he spoke again. “I’m sorry, Marissa, but I need you to stay in my bed. I want you to stay with me, so I can keep an eye on you.”

Keep an eye on me? What the hell did that mean?

I argued my point one more time. “Are you sure that maybe just for tonight you’d allow me to sleep on it?”

He shook his head in defiance. “No, you must stay with me. We can talk more about it in the morning.”

I relented and sagged my body back down into the warm, comfortable sheets. At least I had that much going for me right now.

To my surprise, he climbed into bed beside me and threw a protective arm around my waist.

I craned my neck up and peered at him. “I thought you had some things to do before you went to bed?”

“I decided I can do them in the morning,” he said flatly.

I knew that was the final nail in the coffin. I was going to have to stay here all night with him, and fear paralyzed me as I realized that the arm over my waist was there so he could make sure I didn’t try to escape.

I stared up at the ceiling for what seemed like an eternity, then I finally heard the slow and soft rhythmic breathing of Kadic lying beside me.

I was so tired, but sleep wouldn’t come, not now after this blow. I had no idea what fate I’d sealed for myself by having had sex with him.

I had gotten lost in the moment and his cock had been so huge I couldn’t resist. I wondered if I’d be better off single and lonely on Earth, as long as I still had my freedom.

I weighed and balanced my options. I hated the idea of being kept here against my will, trapped on an alien planet.

It was dark outside now and the moon shone brightly and magically through the window, cascading a shimmering electric glow into the room.

Come on, Marissa, think of a plan.

But I couldn’t think of anything. I lay there most of the rest of the night worrying about Kadic’s expectations as my stomach churned and flipped. I couldn’t imagine him forcing me to stay with him, but, then again, I had no idea what he was capable of. That part scared me the most.