Page 23 of The Alien Warrior's Vow

“I’ll think about it.”

“Eema.” His voice was sharp.

She narrowed her eyes. “If you haven’t noticed, I don’t take orders well.”

“I have noticed.”

“Maybe if you weren’t so overbearing, it would be easier.” She tilted her head. “And compliments help too.”

Lans’s jaw tightened. “Oh? Like Clavas’s compliments? Is that why you smile at him?”

There was an edge to his tone.

Emma smirked. “Oh.”

“Oh?” Lans growled.

“You’re jealous.”

Lans grunted. “You are very mistaken.”

“You don’t like that Clavas is so friendly with me.” She leaned closer, wagging a finger in his face. “You’re threatened by our friendship.”

Lans’s nostrils flared.

She was totally on to something.

Was this big brute that childish?

Amusement made her lips twitch.

“Stop trying to change the subject and get in the suit,” Lans grumbled.

“Admit it.”

“Admit what?”

“You’re jealous.”

“Never.” He sulked like a petulant child.

Emma insisted. “I saw the way you glared at him when he gave me water.”

“You enjoy his attentions?”

“If I said I did?”

Lans planted a hand on her waist and dragged her into him. Their bodies collided. Heat spiraled through her chest as he held her close. Her heart thumped to a crazed rhythm and she was certain that Lans could hear it.

He lowered his lips until they were a breath away from hers. “Do you?”

“Do I what?” She squeaked.

Lans’s mouth tilted up. “You are not allowed to die, Eema.”

“What?”

His thumb brushed against her cheek. “You are not allowed to get captured. You are not allowed to get hurt. These are my rules. If you break my rules, I will hunt you down. I will find you and I will make sure that you never make such mistakes again.”

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