They pulled up to the front of the Desert Palms Resort and the valet took their car as they stepped up the stairs and into the front door of the resort. Tabby couldn’t stop looking around in amazement. She’d been into some nice hotels with Leo, but this one took the cake. Every item, every detail of the entrance lobby to the resort, was luxurious. She watched her new so-called mate charge up to the front desk and give a fake name. A few moments later, they had the keys to their room and were taking an elevator up to the third floor.

When Oro opened the door into the hotel room, Tabby gasped and put her hand over her open mouth. The place was fantastic. The first thing she noticed were the big windows that opened out over the swimming pool with a view of red mesas and desert beyond.

The big, deep azure blue sky spread out over head, creating a contrast of vivid red and blue. The hotel room itself was decorated in shades of mocha cream and dark brown, a contrast with the vibrant colors outdoors, creating a peaceful and tranquil environment.

There were big, fluffy couches around a fireplace on one side, and on the other there was a big screen TV. The hotel suite even had a full kitchen with a bar. Through the double doors off to one side, Tabby saw a huge king size bed with a dark wood headboard and a mocha cream-colored comforter that was so fluffy and soft it looked like it was stuffed with feathers from angels’ wings.

“This is a lot nicer than the hotel I stayed in last night, that’s for sure. Choosing to enter the alien mating lottery was the best decision of my life!”

“I’m happy it pleases you,” Oro said, opening up his bag. He pulled out strange looking equipment that Tabby didn’t recognize and set it on the coffee table in the living room.

“What is that? Some kind of strange alien sex toys?” She giggled but she was also a little nervous that she might be right. She could see the kind of package Oro was working with through his skintight uniform. That in itself could make a girl afraid for her life. If he was going to add weird sex toys to the mix, she might have to reconsider, even with all this luxury.

“These are the tools I require for my mission.”

Oro was a man of few words. He hadn’t told her what his mission was. He’d just gone along with her assumption that they were on a honeymoon. Tabby was beginning to get the impression that this wasn’t a honeymoon it all.

“Did you know about me before you came down to the consulate?”

Oro busily checked his equipment and didn’t look up at her. The guy was devastatingly good-looking, dark hair, dark eyes, seven-foot tall and built like a linebacker. She could see the ripples of hard muscle under his tight uniform. Every curve and bulge, every dip and crevice. She bit her lip. The guy was fine. Damn. She would’ve been lucky to find a man like this who was human, let alone an alien who could provide her with the best life had to offer.

“No. I did not.”

Still with the clipped communication style.

“So, what is this mission all about?”

“I’m taking out a dangerous enemy.”

“I figured that much. Who is this guy?”

“Top-secret. I can’t discuss it.”

“So, you’re just going to assassinate some criminal while we’re on our honeymoon?”

Finally, he looked up at her with a confused expression on his face. At least she thought it was confused. She had no idea what confusion looked like for a Draconian.

“This mission is of highest importance. Millions of human lives are at stake. I must not fail.”

“No one ever said anything about you failing. I just don’t understand why you have to do this while we’re on our honeymoon.”

Maybe she was being a little selfish. Heck, she’d already won the lottery, for better or worse. She was staying in a luxury resort. Still, she had hoped to be on the spaceship by now, not continuing to hang out in Leo and Juan’s territory.

“I’m told this is a high quality human establishment. The accommodations should be up to your standards. I have what is called a credit card, and if you would like to go purchase yourself some additional attire, I’m sure it can be arranged.”

“I don’t know if I want to go shopping by myself,” she said, sitting down on the couch to watch him as he continued to check his equipment.

“Why? Are you not capable of picking out your own attire?”

Tabby grunted and leaned back on the insanely comfortable couch.

“Of course I’m capable of picking out my own attire,” she said in a mocking tone. She didn’t know if she wanted to tell Oro about Leo or Juan. Maybe he would think badly of her and change his mind about the whole mating thing. He wasn’t exactly being upfront about why he was here. All she knew was that being in this part of Arizona was dangerous territory for her, especially after she’d stolen Leo’s bike, his money, and left him.

“I’ve been told that shopping is a favorite human female pastime. This human credit card I have in my possession has an unlimited balance. You can purchase all of the attire you could ever want. Why don’t you go do that?”

“I’m supposed to be your wife or whatever. I wanted to get to know each other.” That was mostly true. Being mated to the alien did come with the expectation that they would have sex and make babies. That was pretty much the entire intent of the lottery in the first place. If she was going to be mated to this guy for the rest of her life, if she was going to have sex with him and his massive junk, she wanted to get to know him first.

“There will be time for our mating later. My inner dragon roars at me to take you now in the most obscene ways. I must concentrate on my work. It would help us both if you would vacate the premises and go buy yourself some luxurious clothing.”

Tabby huffed and shot up from the couch. Rude much? He wasn’t exactly trying very hard for a guy who traveled millions of light-years across the galaxy to mate with a human female. What a jerk.

“Fine. I’ll go shopping. Give me the damn credit card. But I want my driver to stay with me while I’m out.”

He pulled a black credit card out of his uniform from some hidden pocket or compartment and handed it to her. “Whatever you require. You are my woman now. I will claim you. You need not worry about that.”

“Who said I was worried? I just think you’re being rude, that’s all. I would think you’d be more interested after coming all the way from your home planet to find me. Who am I to judge? I’m obviously in your way.”

He looked up at her and his lips curled back, showing his sharp teeth. Had she hit a nerve? She had no idea. And right then, she really didn’t care. She was getting what she wanted out of the equation, but she had hoped that her alien mate would actually be interested in her when he got her.

Oro seemed like he couldn’t care less. Whatever the hell mission he was on was more important to him than getting to know his woman. She’d heard stories about Draconian mating. She knew these guys had “one true mate” and it was some kind of big deal to them. She was his one true mate, and here he was, totally ignoring her like some asshole human dude.

“I apologize. Between my mission, the sound of my dragon scratching inside my brain, not to mention the distracting scent of your skin, my mind is in a confused state. I must focus. If I am rude to you, please know that it is not my intention.”

“Okay, fine, whatever. I’m going shopping now. Thanks for the credit card.”

She put the card in her purse and sauntered towards the door with one last look at Oro as she opened it. Dang, that man is fine. She sucked her lip and felt her nipples tighten. If he ever got around to paying any attention to her, she knew that sparks would fly. They were already starting to fly up and down her spine, exciting her lady bits in a way she hadn’t expected. Leo never made her feel that way when she looked at him, that was for sure.

She flung open the door and closed it behind her before striding down the hallway to the elevator. She took it down to the lobby and went to the main desk where she asked the attendant for a driver and a bodyguard who could take her shopping. A few moments later, she was being guided out the front doors of the resort to a town car. The back door was held open for her by a burly man in a black suit and sunglasses. Money certainly could buy you everything. She could get used to this kind of life.

Tabby slid into the backseat and the driver closed the door. He drove her up to the main shopping district in the resort community. It was an upscale place and had many designer clothing stores. Tabby squealed with excitement as they pulled up and parked in front of the shops.

The driver opened the door for her and helped her out. They went into the first store, and Tabby was blown away by the items available on display. She could definitely get used to this. She used the driver as a clothing rack as she threw things in his arms. She watched him holding all of the dresses and jackets and pants she’d thrown at him and considered simply buying it all. Oro’s credit card had unlimited funds. She couldn’t even conceive of unlimited funds.

Then she thought better of it. She didn’t want a bunch of clothes that didn’t fit right hanging around her hotel room. Plus, trying on clothes was fun. She took the outfits and went to the fitting room. Each outfit was better than the last. And after about an hour, she had chosen several ensembles, including shoes, purses, and accessories.

The driver took her things out to the car and they went to the next shop where they bought makeup and hair supplies. After that store, they went to a salon where Tabby decided to have her hair done with all the best quality equipment from the best stylists.

When she was done there, she took a look at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a new dress. It was the same color as the vivid blue Arizona sky. She had on gold earrings and gold bangle bracelets around her wrists. She’d had her hair blown out straight, and it shimmered around her shoulders in a lighter shade of brown. She looked amazing, if she said so herself. Which she did. If Oro wasn’t impressed by this look, he must be dead.

Her driver carried everything back to the car and helped her inside. Back at the resort, valets came out to help carry all of her packages up to her room. She used the key card to go inside and found the place empty.