8
Karen
—
Karen peered over the top of Kess’ shoulder as he drove them along.
The occasional bump and sway of the bike threatened a resurgence of the puking she’d endured earlier, but she kept the nausea at bay. She still didn’t know where Kess was taking her despite how many times she’d asked him since he’d shown up at her door.
As much as she looked forward to their destination, the journey was fun too. With her hand wrapped around him, she was free to enjoy the firmness and strength of his body pressed against hers. The steamy encounter they’d shared a few days ago was still imprinted on her mind. Being in physical contact with him kept that delicious moment alive and strong in her head.
Her face burned with the memory of his lips and hands on her body. The heat travelled south between her legs where she wanted this Dava male to touch her the most.
She closed her eyes and banished her lewd thoughts to some dark corner. Just in case Kess had the ability to read minds. Then again, if he could read her mind and see all the indecent fantasies she had of him, it was a sure bet he’d be willing to turn her fantasies into reality.
“Wow!” she said, her wayward thoughts swept away by the present. Kess drove them along a wide pathway that cut through an expanse of blue-green water. Straight ahead at the end of the path was a towering dome-shaped building made of semi-translucent glass. From this distance, it appeared as if the building was submerged in the water.
Kess slowed to a stop when they arrived at the end of the path. Unhooking her arms from around Kess, Karen climbed off the bike and craned her neck to gawk at the building. The water lapped against the edge of the circular platform surrounding the dome, its dazzling surface and the lavender evening sky captured in the reflection of the glass.
“What is this place?” she said, her feet carrying her toward the entrance without thought. She wanted to explore every inch of this building.
“My home,” said Kess, following at a much more leisurely pace behind her.
Karen ground to a halt and spun to face him.
“Are you serious?” she asked, and then the ensuing words came out of her mouth before she could stop them. “Then I guess this means you’re loaded.”
Kess furrowed his brow. “Loaded? With what?”
“Money,” said Karen, wishing she could remove her foot from her mouth. “It’s an Earth slang for ‘wealthy.’”
“Ah. Then, yes, I am loaded.” He regarded her with amusement. “I am a Yen—a lord. This is the Reihanat and the surrounding lands has belonged to the Reihan family for years.” He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “And our child will inherit it too.”
Our child.
God, that phrase sounded too good to be true. She had come from a humble family and yet here she stood, carrying a baby with a prestigious heritage. She felt like she’d stumbled into a twisted Cinderella story of some kind. She didn’t have the prince or the marriage, but her baby’s father was a handsome alien lord who, even now, stared at her like a hungry wolf with a plump, juicy sheep in its sights.
“So it’s just you alone in this big ol’ house?” Karen forced herself to put distance between them even if she wanted the complete opposite. Ever since their… encounter a few days ago, all sorts of dangerous hope had sprung into existence like dirty weeds encroaching on a pristine garden. She needed to rip them all out before they overran her with ridiculous thoughts of a happily ever after with Kess.
“Yes,” he said. “My mother lived here but now she shares a home with her lover.”
She faced the Reihanat again, wondering what Kess’ mother looked like as she followed him to the doors. Kess pressed his palm against a blue, glowing circle on the door and it slid open at his touch. He settled his hand on the small of her back and guided her inside. As much as she appreciated the view of what looked like an entrance parlour, the feel of his hand, warm and insistent against her back, occupied her attention the most.
“And your father…?”
“Is dead.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.”
Kess shook his head. “He died doing what he loved. He hunted petila boars and one speared him through the chest with its horn.” He fell silent, his gaze unfocused. “My brother was with him on the hunt. He killed the boar and brought it home for us to eat.”
“Was it any good?”
“Delicious.” Mirth curved his lips and Karen returned his smile, pleased he had a dark sense of humour too.
Kess took her on a tour of the Reihanat. Just as she’d suspected, the impressive building descended into the depths of the waters. Light fixtures were appended on the outside. They cut a swath through the thick darkness underwater, revealing various sea creatures unlike anything she’d seen on Earth. The glass was so transparent, it was as if she were suspended in the middle of the ocean.
Standing in the dimly lit observatory, she admired the view, caught between awe and trepidation that only sturdy glass and metal frames kept them safe. Then a ball-shaped, flesh-coloured, faceless creature with a large maw slapped itself against the glass in front of her and sucked on the surface.
She made a sound of startled disgust and stumbled backward into Kess. He surrounded her with his strong arms and kept her upright when she threatened to topple over. His low chuckle reverberated from his chest against her back.
“It can’t hurt you.”
“I disagree. The more I look at it, the more its hideousness is ruining my eyesight.”
Losing interest, the ball-shaped creature moved along. Karen stepped out of Kess’ hold and he came to stand beside her. They shared a comfortable silence during which she stole glances at him. His seemed deep in thought, his features relaxed. What was he thinking about? He was such a mystery, constantly keeping his emotions and his thoughts in check. Occasionally, she caught a glimpse of that raw emotion he hid so well. He had some dark, heavy burden he carried. That night he’d rescued her, he’d fought against those lizards with a wild desperation. Like if he was fed up of that burden and would rather die than carry it another day. Perhaps that was why he had such a negative reaction to waking up alive.
He turned his head and caught her staring. Embarrassed, Karen fumbled for something to say.
“How did that urgent meeting with your Administrator go?”
“She has revoked my suspension now that I am well again. I resume my duties as commander to my unit once I am fully healed, thanks to you.” He stepped closer, leaning against the glass to gaze at her intently. He continued before she had a chance to congratulate him. “You cannot leave Omaron. You will stay here once you have given birth to our child. Perhaps before the child is born.”
Karen’s eyebrows climbed in surprise before they lowered into a frown. “You can’t make that choice for me and override my wishes like that.”
“You can’t leave with my child.”
She glared at him. “It’s mine too.”
“Exactly.” His eyes shone with determination. “This is our babe’s ancestral home. It is exactly where it should be. As you are its maiya, you should be here too.”
“I have commitments on Earth,” she said, fuming. This man had the behaviour of a pendulum, swinging from insanely attractive to insanely infuriating. “I’m supposed to forget about them? You’re out of your mind.”
“What sort of commitment?” His handsome features hardened. “A mate?”
“I’m not with anyone or I wouldn’t have let you… we wouldn’t have done what we did the last time we saw each other.” Her face burned, though she was secretly pleased by the jealousy flashing in his eyes. “Look, I’m still in school studying to become a doctor.”
“I will ensure you receive the best medical education if you continue your studies here.”
“I…” her voice faltered. “It’s not that simple.”
He reached for her, wrapping an arm around her waist possessively. He trapped her between the glass and his hard body.
“Because you make things complicated,” he said softly. She had the sense it wasn’t in response to what she’d said, but a thought he voiced aloud. He leaned forward like if he was going to kiss her, but he stopped himself, his gaze conflicted. “I am stronger than this.”
Her pulse raced. “Stronger than what?”
“This crazy, constant need to kiss you,” he rasped. “To bury myself inside you and claim you as mine.” His eyes darkened with arousal and anger. “I am stronger than this but you weaken me.”
And he closed the tiny gap between them and kissed her.