Page 52 of The Alien Warrior's Mate

And if the answer was no, what did that mean? Could she make such a big leap from normal girl to wife of an insanely hot Plutonian?

She thought of her sister, of how intensely Janet had chased after her boyfriend. That neediness stemmed from their rough childhoods. Things had been tough. They had a mother who was always working. Seedy men who’d come in and out of their rundown apartment. No money for basic needs.

When she saw Janet falling in love with a man who seemed to care for, cherish and protect her as much as she deserved, Sara was ecstatic. But, in the end, that man had only wanted to use her sister. Janet was heartbroken when she found out he was cheating and that led to a fatal, tragic choice.

Sara dug her fingers into the sheets. She didn’t want to experience the pain Janet had. She didn’t want to be made a fool of. What if Korben was just using her? What if she gave him her all only to have her heart crushed?

Just then, she heard a light rustling sound. Sara glanced up and saw a broad silhouette. Her heart started beating faster and, before she’d seen his face, she knew it was Korben.

He stepped closer and the moonlight fell from the window and sliced over his broad shoulders and square chin. His blue skin seemed to glow with an otherworldly sheen. When he shifted slightly, she saw the gashes and welts on his back where he’d been flogged by the acid rain. For her.

Sara’s heart softened. Even if he turned out to be her biggest betrayer, he had kept her safe so far. She would hold on to that. At least for tonight. At least until the truth came out tomorrow.

“Korben,” she whispered.

He sat on the edge of the bed and the entire mattress dipped. Warmth spread through her chest when he reached out and touched one of her curls in awe. Usually, she wouldn’t allow anyone to do that. A hard and fast rule of any interaction with a woman of color was to leave her hairalone.

But she wasn’t on earth.

She was in space.

Earlier, she’d showered in an alien bathroom that had steam puffing out of the shower head. Ga Eun gave her a conditioner that could moisturize even the most stubborn textured hair. She’d also given her clean underwear and a fancy nightgown to wear.

As Korben continued to stroke her head, Sara nuzzled into his palm. “How’s Enthara?”

“Enthara.” Korben nodded.

Sara assumed that meant the zapten was doing okay. Sentient metal dinosaurs that could transform into square luggage was probably the easiest thing to swallow on this planet.

Ever since she and Enthara had bonded when they fought off the Rulari, Sara had felt a connection to her. It was almost like she and Enthara wereone.Like they were meant to merge.

“Sah-ah,” Korben said her name gravely.

“What’s wrong?”

He just shook his head.

Nothing was wrong?

Or no, he didn’t understand her?

Sara bit down hard on her bottom lip. This alien was driving her crazy.

Korben climbed fully into the bed and lay beside her. He was twice her size and it felt like she was being dwarfed. Sara planted one hand beneath her dark cheek, observing her alien warrior up close.

His shoulders weremassiveand one of his pecs was almost twice the size of her hand. His hair was long and silky, falling behind him on the pillow. Her fingers itched to braid his hair. Somehow, she thought that Korben would rock cornrows.

The handsome blue alien watched her. Though it was dark, she could feel his purple eyes dragging heavily over her body, lingering on her chest and thighs. He wasn’t ogling. No. It felt like a… longing almost. Even though she was right there, he couldn’t or wouldn’t reach out and touch her.

Sara dragged her gaze to his chest and made the first move.

Just a finger.

Just a smidge.

She let her fingernail gently brush against his tattoos. His skin was hard and hot to the touch, almost as if he were burning lava on the inside. But that warmth didn’t scare her. In fact, she was drawn to it.

Sara traced up the lone line of his thick black tattoo and followed the jagged edge like a treasure map. What did the symbols mean? She wished she could ask him. She wished she could ask him so many things.

---