Page 16 of Royal Alien Mate

A low-pitched beeping noise reverberated through the cavern, and she noticed the holy men started filing out of the bunker. Apparently, the danger was officially over and it was now safe to return to the surface. She swallowed hard as she held Vaath’s gaze. What did returning to the surface mean for them? Would he carry her directly to his chambers and claim her as his bride?

“It is safe to leave the bunkers now, Esmay.” He reached for her hand and grasped it tightly, then helped her out of the bed. Even once she was standing, he didn’t let her go.

She discreetly looked him up and down, just to make sure he wasn’t injured, and relief filled her to see him unharmed. She was also relieved by his arrival, though she tried to push such thoughts away. If she were truly loyal to her people, she wouldn’t care one way or another if he got hurt in a clash with anti-Earthers.

“Are we going back to your chambers now?” Esmay asked.

“Yes. The hour is late and the dinner feast is about to begin, however I will have an evening meal brought to my chambers. That is, unless you wish to head for the banquet hall and dine with my father and his dignitaries?” He didn’t have eyebrows, but the ridge above his right eye lifted, giving the appearance of a brow lifted in question.

Though she suspected joining the feast would give her more time before he resumed claiming her, she couldn’t bear the thought of joining his father and other Marttiaxoxalians for a meal. She shook her head. “I’m too tired to join in the feast,” she said, “but thank you for offering.”

He smiled briefly, which made him appear younger and far less intimidating than he usually looked. For the first time, she realized he had deep groves on both of his cheeks when he grinned.

Dimples.

Her big, scary alien warrior husband had dimples.

She found herself returning his smile as a spark of hope ignited in her chest.

Vaath wrapped an arm around her and escorted her out of the bunkers.

Chapter 12

“So the anti-Earthers are calleddrakks?” Esmay asked. She was seated at the dinner table in his chambers. Dessert had just been served, as well as steaming cups of traditional post-dinneryuguliantea. The servants had just departed his chambers, per his orders, and would not return until morning to clear the table, as he sought complete privacy with his bride.

“Yes,” he replied carefully, his heart heavy. He hadn’t yet told her the name of the female who had died today, but he worried over her reaction when he finally did. She said she’d talked to almost all the females aboard the spaceship and while she claimed she didn’t know any of them well, they were all still her people. He cleared his throat. “We believe there are about three hundred anti-Earthers in the city.”

She paled and set her utensil down. “And this is the first time they’ve killed anyone?”

“Yes,” he replied, his spirits darkening. He didn’t like the worried look in her eyes. She had only recently arrived on his planet and he wanted her to feel safe here. How could she feel safe if there were those in the city who were against Marttiaxoxalian-human unions? He vowed to make the destruction of the entire order ofdrakkshis top priority. He wouldn’t rest until all the members were jailed or driven away from Mars. Or executed. Those who held leadership positions wouldn’t be shown any mercy.

“Vaath,” Esmay said, shifting in her seat. “Am I supposed to call you Vaath, or Prince Vaath, or…”

He smiled, grateful for the change in subject. “I would prefer you call me Vaath.”

She nodded and then appeared thoughtful. “Why did you not tell me you were the Prince of Mars when you first introduced yourself?”

“I-I am not sure.” He thought back to their first interaction, when he’d entered the women’s quarters aboard the spaceship that had brought her to Mars. He’d been so struck by her beauty and the sweetness he’d felt emanating from her that his thoughts had gone muddled. “Wait,” he continued, deciding to be honest, “that is not entirely accurate. The truth is, I was entranced by your beauty and felt as though I were fumbling for words when I first looked upon you, sunshine.”

Her eyes widened and a pretty flush darkened her cheeks. She glanced away from him in a nervous manner before eventually returning her gaze to his. He pushed his dessert plate aside and reached across the table for Esmay, holding his hand out and hoping she would grasp it. To his delight, she placed her tiny hand in his. He ran his thumb over the underside of her wrist, reveling in the softness of her. He couldn’t wait to strip off her clothes once again and this time finally succeed in claiming her as his. As his mate. As his wife. As his future.

He considered Wyvonus’ odd declaration that Esmay’s arrival on Mars marked a turning point in history. What had the Wise One meant by that? At the time, Vaath had been impatient to get the blessing over with and had wanted nothing more than to carry Esmay to his room, so he’d interrupted when she had asked for clarification about the holy man’s statement. But as Vaath continued staring into his bride’s pretty blue eyes and stroking the softness of her wrist, he could easily imagine a great love would one day bloom between them. Perhaps their love would shine as an example to other Marttiaxoxalians who were considering taking a human mate. Dare he hope that his plan to set an example for his people would actually work?

Still holding her hand, Vaath rose up and moved to Esmay’s side. His blood heated the closer he got to her, and by the time he’d reached her and lifted her in his arms, he felt downright feverish. Her golden locks gleamed underneath the overhead lights, making it seem as though her hair were glowing. Her face became further flushed and he soon detected the telltale scent of her womanly essence, the heady proof of her arousal. His nostrils flared and he took a deep inhale, savoring her feminine scent.

He carried her to the bed and set her down beside it. Her lips parted slightly as she lifted her face toward him, and he leaned down to kiss her as he pressed his hardness against her stomach. Gods, he couldn’t wait to sink himself inside her, to thrust in and out of the tightness he’d only yet slipped one finger into. A tremor of sensation rushed up his inner thighs and his balls tightened as his cock grew rock hard in his pants. He growled as he deepened the kiss, savoring the sweet taste of his mate.

When he finally broke the kiss, her eyes were glazed over. She trembled in his arms and the scent of her arousal heightened in the air, causing him to swelter in the confines of his clothing. He eyed the pants and sweater she was still wearing and set about undressing her as quickly as possible, eager to glimpse her naked form once more, longing to run his hands over her smoothness and part her thighs to accept his length.

He tossed her clothing to the floor and allowed his gaze to drift over her curvy features. Her breasts were full and pink-tipped, and he bent down to take one hardened nipple in his mouth. Delicious. She arched into his touch and a moan escaped her throat. He took his time lapping his tongue against each of her nipples in turn, delighting in the whimpers and moans that left her. She was so beautiful, so sweet, and she was all his. His mate. It was a heady feeling, knowing that she belonged to him, and the fierce sense of possessiveness he already felt for her only grew stronger.

Mine, he thought.You’re mine, little human.

He worked his way up her neck, kissing and dragging his teeth along her flesh. She wrapped her arms around him and the feel of her hands moving up and down his back drove him wild with the need to be inside her. Soon. He needed to plunge into her soon or he would combust.

With a growl, he pushed back from her and stripped off his clothing. She watched with wide eyes and placed a hand upon the bed to steady herself.

Then he was on her, pressing her down atop the covers as he coaxed her thighs to open.

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