Page 63 of Close Encounters of the Hot Kind

"I still don't understand the rice thing either!"

"Oh Charles." She uses my human name for the crowd's benefit. "I hope you never change."

The limo door opens. I help Aileen inside, careful of her dress. The moment the door closes, I capture her lips with mine. My wife. My mate. The mother of my child.

The image inducer flickers again but I don't care. Let it fail. Let the whole world see what I am. Nothing matters except Aileen in my arms, her fingers tangling in my hair as she kisses me back with equal passion.

I run my palm over Aileen's belly, marveling at the life growing within. Our child - a new Vakutan, a bridge between our worlds.

"Korgin the Skull Basher," I say, testing the name on my tongue. It has a strong, powerful ring to it. Worthy of a future warrior.

Aileen furrows her brow. "Korgin the Skull Basher? That's... quite a mouthful."

"It was my grandmother's name," I explain. "On Vakuta, we honor our ancestors by passing down their names to the next generation."

"I see." Aileen places her hand over mine, her fingers tracing the holographic contours of my disguise. "Well, we don't have quite the same warrior tradition in my family. How about Benito instead? That was my grandfather's name."

I consider this. Benito. A strong, noble name with deep roots in Aileen's heritage. Not as fierce as Korgin, perhaps, but no less meaningful.

"Benito," I murmur, rolling the syllables off my tongue. "I like it."

Aileen's face lights up with a smile. "Really?"

"Of course." I pull her close, pressing a kiss to her temple. "If it's important to you, then it's important to me."

"We don't have a lot of great warriors in my family tree," she admits with a self-deprecating chuckle. "But I'm sure our little Benito will make up for it."

I grin, picturing our child - part Vakutan, part human - growing up to become a mighty warrior, a defender of both our worlds. "I have no doubt."

Aileen leans into me, her head resting on my shoulder. "I'm glad you're okay with an Earth name. I know how proud you Vakutans are of your heritage."

"This child is a blend of both our peoples." I smooth a hand over her belly, marveling at the life growing within. "Benito will carry the legacies of both our families."

"Benito Varakian." Aileen tests the name, her smile widening. "I like the sound of that."

I press a kiss to the crown of her head, my heart swelling with joy. A son. A legacy. A new chapter in my life that I never could have imagined.

The limo pulls to a stop, and I reluctantly release Aileen. "Time to face the masses."

She grins up at me, eyes shining with mischief. "Don't worry, I'll protect you."

With a chuckle, I offer her my arm. "Lead the way, Mrs. Varakian."

The reception hall thrums with music and chatter. Aileen's hand is warm in mine as I lead her onto the dance floor. She moves with effortless grace, her white dress swirling around her ankles.

I pull her close, her body fitting perfectly against mine despite our physical differences. For this fleeting moment, I allow myself to forget the disguise, the secrecy, the war with the Grolgath simmering under the surface. There is only my mate, my wife, my Aileen.

"You look radiant," I murmur against the softness of her hair. She smells of jasmine and citrus, an intoxicating blend.

Aileen laughs, the sound bubbling up like a spring. "And you look terribly handsome yourself, Mr. Varakian."

We sway together as the music swells. Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Pyke watching me, his human face unreadable. The rest of my warriors cluster nearby, their movements stiff and uncomfortable in their formal attire. More than one glass has already been dropped and quickly refilled.

A grey-haired human aunt waddles over, arms open wide. "There's my gorgeous niece! Give us a kiss, darling."

Aileen obliges with a warm embrace. The woman turns her sights on me, patting my cheek with a papery hand.

"And you must be the lucky man who stole her heart! Charles, isn't it?"

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