Page 50 of My Big Fat Fake Alien

My father almost falls over himself laughing, his booming voice echoing through the control room. “What a mate, boy,” he says, slapping me on the back hard enough to make me stumble. “You did good.”

I glare at him, but there’s no heat in it. “Thanks, Father. Really inspiring.”

Raven’s smirk softens into a smile, and for a moment, the weight of everything we’ve been through lifts. She saved the world. Hell, she savedme. And now, standing here in the dim light of the control room, with my father’s laughter ringing in my ears, I realize something.

I wouldn’t want anyone else by my side. Not now. Not ever.

CHAPTER 23

RAVEN

The limo pulls up to the towering gates of Karc’s Upper East Side manor, the kind of place that screams “I could buy your entire neighborhood and still have petty cash.” The gates swing open silently, and we glide up the cobblestone drive. My stomach’s doing flips, and not just from the car’s motion. Karc’s been quiet since we left the city, his golden eyes fixed on me like he’s trying to solve a puzzle. Or maybe he’s already solved it, and he’s just waiting for me to catch up.

The car stops, and Karc steps out, offering me his hand. His palm is warm, slightly rough against mine, and I don’t pull away immediately like I might have a week ago. We walk up the steps to the massive double doors, and he doesn’t let go until we’re inside.

“So,” I say, breaking the silence as the door clicks shut behind us, “no honeymoon plans, huh?”

He shrugs, his image inducer flickering slightly as he shifts his weight. “Didn’t think we’d get the chance. Figured we’d be too busy saving the world. Again.”

“Fair point.” I glance around the grand foyer, trying to distract myself from the lump forming in my throat. It’s all marble and chandeliers, but there’s something strangely…intimate about the place. Maybe it’s the way the light catches on the golden scales of his neck when the human disguise wavers.

“We need to talk,” we both say at the same time, and the tension snaps like a rubber band. I laugh first, a nervous, breathless sound, and Karc’s deep chuckle joins in. For a moment, it’s just us, standing there in the silence of his too-big house, laughing like idiots.

He gestures toward the living room, and I follow, my heels clicking against the polished floors. He sits on the edge of a leather sofa, and I perch on the armrest across from him, my heart hammering in my chest.

“You first,” I say, crossing my arms like a shield.

He leans forward, his elbows on his knees, and looks up at me with those piercing orange eyes. “Raven, you’re the bravest, noblest, smartest, and most beautiful woman in the galaxy. I love you. Now and forever more.”

The words hang in the air like a challenge, and I feel my breath catch. My arms drop to my sides, and I slide off the armrest, taking a step toward him. “Karc, I…” My voice cracks, and I swallow hard. “I love you. Now and forever more.”

He stands, closing the distance between us in one stride. His hands find my waist, pulling me close, and I can feel the warmth of his scales through the fabric of my dress. His lips meet mine, and it’s not just a kiss—it’s a promise. I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer, letting myself believe, for the first time, that this is real.

When we finally break apart, he’s grinning like he just won the lottery. “So,” he says, “where do you want to go for our honeymoon? Paris? Bora Bora? The moon?”

I smirk, running a hand down his chest, feeling the slight ridge of his scales under my fingers. “How about upstairs? I’m thinking the bedroom has everything we need.”

His grin widens, and he sweeps me off my feet, heading for the stairs without another word.

Karc lays me down on the bed, his golden scales glinting in the soft light filtering through the windows. His human disguise flickers, then fades completely, leaving the raw, powerful form of a Vakutan. I run my fingers over the ridges of his chest, feeling the warmth radiating from his skin. His claws trace delicate patterns on my arms, sending a rush through me.

His lips meet mine, slow and sweet, like he’s savoring the taste of me. His tongue explores my mouth, leaving me breathless. He pulls away, just enough to whisper, “I’ve wanted this since the moment I saw you.”

“Prove it,” I challenge, my voice shaking with anticipation.

His grin is all teeth, sharp and dangerous. “Gladly.”

His kisses trail down my neck, each one leaving a mark, a claim. I gasp as his claws slice through the fabric of my dress like it’s tissue paper. Cool air hits my skin, but his hands are warm, rough and insistent as they grip my hips. He buries his face between my legs, and the first touch of his tongue has me arching off the bed.

“Karc!” I moan, my fingers tangling in his short, spiked hair. He groans against me, the vibration sending waves of pleasure through my body. He’s relentless, his tongue exploring every inch of me, driving me closer and closer to the edge.

“You taste so fucking good,” he growls, his breath hot against my skin. “I could do this all night.”

“Don’t stop,” I plead, my voice breaking as the first orgasm hits me like a tidal wave. I cry out, my body trembling as he continues, refusing to let me come down. Another wave crashes over me, and another, until I’m sobbing his name, my nails digging into his shoulders.

He pulls back, his mouth smeared with my juices, and looks up at me with those piercing orange eyes. “You’re beautiful when you come apart for me,” he says, his voice raw with desire.

Before I can respond, he dives back in, and this time, I feel the pressure building, building, until I can’t hold it back any longer. I scream as I squirt all over his face, my body writhing uncontrollably. He licks his lips, savoring the taste, and I collapse back onto the bed, utterly spent.

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