Page 32 of My Big Fat Fake Alien

One of the women steps forward, a warm smile on her face. "Consider this a reintroduction to luxury."

Raven hesitates, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. I step closer, my voice low but firm. "Luxury only feels strange because you’re not used to it, little bird. Embrace the pampering."

She looks up at me, her lips curling into a shy smile. "Yes, Sir," she says, letting the words slip with a teasing lilt that makes my chest tighten. She turns to the team, lifting her chin with a newfound resolve. "Let’s do this."

The women usher her toward the master bathroom, their heels clicking in unison. I watch them go, a small smile tugging at my lips. Then I head to the living room, pulling out my suit for the evening. The fabric feels heavy in my hands, the weight of what’s coming settling over me.

An hour passes. Then another. The house is quiet except for the faint hum of chatter from the bathroom. I’m halfway through polishing my shoes when I hear the sound of heels on marble.

I look up, and the air leaves my lungs.

Raven stands at the entrance to the living room, transformed. Her hair cascades in soft waves, her makeup accentuating the sharpness of her cheekbones and the depth of her eyes. The dress—black, sleek, and utterly devastating—clings to her frame like it was made for her. She’s radiant, but it’s morethan that. There’s a confidence in her stance, a glow that wasn’t there before.

Her eyes meet mine, and for a moment, the world narrows to just her. Beautiful doesn’t begin to cover it.

"I guess I look all right," Raven says nervously, her fingers brushing against the sleek fabric of her dress. She shifts her weight, her eyes darting to me for reassurance.

I step closer, my gaze lingering on her. "All right? Raven, two centuries ago, I witnessed a nebula in deep space. It was a massive swirl of colors, blues and purples and pinks, stretching across light-years. It looked like a rose blooming in the void. I thought it was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen." I pause, my voice softening. "Until now."

Her expression shifts, a flicker of something passing over her face. For a moment, she’s unreadable, her lips parting slightly as if the words are caught in her throat. Then she speaks, her voice tight, controlled, like every syllable is a struggle. "You know," she says, her eyes locked on mine, "everything you say to me, everything you do…it’s working. So don’t give up, okay?"

She turns her head away, a flush creeping up her neck, staining her cheeks. The vulnerability in her voice hits me like a blow to the chest. I close the distance between us in two strides, pulling her into my arms. She doesn’t resist, her body molding against mine as she rests her head on my chest. I can feel her heartbeat, steady but quick, like a bird’s.

When I tilt her chin up to kiss her, she places a hand on my chest, stopping me. "You just spent a lot of money painting my face, and now you want to smudge it?"

I chuckle low in my throat, my hand sliding to her waist. "Silly little bird," I growl, my lips brushing against hers. "I specifically paid extra for the most premium smudge-proof cosmetics…so I can ravish your mouth the whole way to the club."

Her laugh is soft, almost breathless, and she leans into me, her fingers curling into the fabric of my suit.I press my forehead to hers, my voice dropping to a whisper. "Impossible for anyone but you," I say before capturing her lips in a kiss that sets my blood on fire.

I escort her down to the waiting limousine, my hand resting lightly on the small of her back. The black dress clings to her curves, and the sight of her like this—confident, radiant, dangerous—makes my chest tighten. I’ve seen nebulas that couldn’t compare to her.

The driver holds the door open, and I slide in beside her. The partition between us and the driver clicks shut, sealing us in a bubble of leather and quiet. The city rushes by outside, a blur of neon and shadows.

"I’ve been waiting a long time to get access to the sixth floor," I say, my voice low. "But as this is our first time at the club, we mustn’t be too…overt in our investigations. Giscard will no doubt be watching us closely."

Raven leans back, her fingers drumming lightly against her thigh. "So, basically, we’re going to a wildEyes Wide Shutparty, and we need to watch out for anything Grolgath related while making it look like that’snotwhat we’re doing?" She smirks, her dark eyes glinting. "Piece of cake."

I chuckle, the sound rumbling in my chest. "You have a warrior’s heart, Raven."

She scoffs, waving a hand dismissively. "Warrior’s heart? I’m just trying not to get caught breaking into a sex dungeon. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves."

"Warriors don’t always fight with force of arms," I say, my tone serious now. "You might believe you’re just my method of gaining entry to the party, but I’ve come to value your perceptiveness and insight. I’m relying on you as much as you’re relying on me tonight."

Her grin softens, and her eyes grow distant for a moment, like she’s weighing my words. Then the fire returns, and she leans in, her voice a whisper. "Shut up, Karc, we don’t have time to fuck before we reach the club."

Her words hit me like a charging beast, and I can’t help the laugh that escapes me. The sound fills the back of the limo, and she joins in, her laughter light and infectious.

"Fair enough," I say, my voice rough with amusement. "But don’t think I’ll forget that little remark."

"Looking forward to it," she shoots back, her smile wicked.

The limo slows as we approach the entrance of Area 51, the building’s sleek facade looming ahead. I watch her, the way her confidence settles over her like armor. She’s ready for this—even if she doesn’t fully believe it yet.

So am I.

The limousine glides to a stop in front of Area 51's gleaming entrance. My hand reaches for the door, but it swings open before I can touch it. Giscard stands there, resplendent in a black tuxedo, his smile wide and welcoming.

"Kirk! And the lovely Raven. Welcome, welcome." His voice carries the practiced warmth of a consummate host.

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