Page 63 of Charmed By the Alien Warrior

And I can’t help the grin that stretches across my face.Imade my mate feel this way—me. And I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure she feels this way every day.

Mara's eyes flutter open, drowsy and sated, and when she looks up at me, the tenderness in her gaze is a soothing balm to every wound I never realized I had. Her lips curve into a soft, unguarded smile, and my hearts race in response and something inside me stirs.

This is my mate. The female I’ll protect with everything in me, and for the first time, I feel whole. I trace my fingers down the delicate line of her soft cheek and tuck a stray lock of hair behind her small, rounded ear.

“You’re my everything, Mara,” I murmur before dropping a kiss on her forehead. “No matter how many battles lie ahead or storms come my way, I’ll fight them all, as long as I can come back to you.”

Mara’s eyes widen at my words before she sighs, sending a warm gust of air brushing across my skin. “I swear, sometimes I think you must have a stash of romance novels somewhere that’s feeding you lines.”

Her words confuse me, but the glowing smile that stretches across her face doesn’t. Neither does the way she props herself up on my chest to fuse her lips with mine. It’s a soft and gentle kiss, but it makes my second heart jolt and a rush of mateblood flows through my veins heading straight to my cock.

Mara throws one leg over my hips and shifts until she’s stretched out on top of me, her soft curves molding against thehard planes of my body as if we were made for each other. And I know we were.

Then, suddenly, her lips are gone from mine as she pulls back to sit up. She’s sitting astride me, now, with her thighs bracketing each side of my hips. My gaze rakes over her bare form, past the mesmerizing, red-tipped orbs of her breasts before settling on her face.

“Romance novels or not, those are some of the most beautiful words anyone has ever said to me.” Her green eyes are misty with unshed tears, and for a moment, my hearts stutter, worried that she is harmed.

But then I remember something Draggar told me about humans—they cry for reasons beyond pain. Sometimes, they shed what he calledhappy tears.The realization washes over me, and a fierce pride blooms in both of my hearts.

This is my Mara. Myamoris.

Before I can say anything, she swoops down, her lips fusing with mine once again. This time, our kiss is passionate as her smooth tongue sweeps into my mouth to tangle with my own. The sweet scent of her arousal reaches my nostrils, and the frantic need of my mateblood surges inside me.

And I know that it won’t be sated until I bury my cock in the warmth of my mate’s cunt, until I make her scream my name, again. I need her with a hunger that is lodged deep within my very being, my spirit.

My mate moans as she rocks her hips against me, driving both of us higher until I feel as if my skin is on fire with desire. My hearts pound in my ears, forcing more mateblood to flow through my veins. I can feel the wetness of her arousal as her cunt glides along my hardened cock.

She wrenches her lips from mine and urgently hisses, “I need you inside me. Now.” The demanding edge to her voice makes me shudder, and I know that her words are an order.

An order I am only too happy to fulfill.

“As you wish, my amoris.”

***

Early the next morning, we set out for the village of the Lost Tribe.

Vrenner’s message said they would camp in the village for three days waiting for us to catch up with them, and today is the third day. They will be leaving soon, and we will miss them if we don’t hurry.

The rising sun cast long shadows over the jagged hills, illuminating the otherwise sparse landscape with a brilliant golden light. As we began the trek, I caught myself glancing over at Mara often as I silently wrestled with the urge to toss her over my shoulder and return her to the safety of my tribe. The protective instincts I felt before are only amplified now that she has accepted the amoris bond.

But I know my mate all too well. Mara is fearless and stubborn, traits I both admire and curse, especially now. The same traits that drew me to her have brought us this far—away from the safety of my tribe’s walled village. Still, my hearts race with the urge to protect her.

When I suggested early this morning that we should turn back and return to the village, Mara had crossed her arms, a stubborn tilt to her chin as she said, “We’ve come this far. We might as well catch up with the others.”

I wanted to argue, to persuade her to turn back where I knew she’d be safe, but I recognized the look in her eyes. It’s thesame fierce determination that has drawn me to her from the beginning.

And she was right. Much as I did not want to admit it, retracing our steps alone would be foolish when we’ve come so far—and when we’re so close to rejoining our friends.

So, I only nodded and promised myself I would stay vigilant, watching for the slightest threat that could arise. I will keep my amoris safe.

It is just past midday, now. The sun has begun its descent, but its heat still beats down on us. It has been a long while since I last journeyed through the Lost Tribe’s territory, but if my memory is correct, then we should be nearing the abandoned village.

The terrain has shifted into sloping ridges that rise around us, covered with low vegetation and trees. Massive black stones jut up out of the ground as if they were placed there by some unseen hand to stand guard over the land. Yisorre vines, larger than any I’ve ever seen before, grow out of rocky outcroppings. Their blue tendrils gently wave as we pass by as if they’re curious about our presence.

Other than the rustle of the wind through the trees, there is a heavy silence that makes my muscles bunch with tension and sets my instincts on high alert as my eyes constantly scan our surroundings for any sign of danger.

“Do you think we’re close?” Mara whispers, as we weave our way between two towering rocks that almost resemble statues guarding our path.

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