Page 25 of The Alien Who Saved Christmas
Her decision frustrated him on multiple levels. He wanted to have sex, which sadly wasn’t going to happen tonight. Instead, his wife planned to sleep next to him, expecting him not to touch her. And most infuriating of all, the crazy female thought that she had some kind of control over a situation that wasclearlyunsafe for her. She should not believe him when he promised not to harm her. They were just words! She should demand he prove himself, before trusting him.
“Do you not see the danger in this plan?” He asked before he could stop himself. Above all, it was Xane’s duty to protect her, even from Xane.
Sadie moved forward, again. Now she was directly in front of him, close enough to grab. All four of his hands clenched against the urge. “I never play it safe when my instincts are telling me to go for it.”
That was an unacceptable strategy. Xane respected instincts, but they needed to be tempered with reason. “I am three times your size. How would you force me off this ship, if I chose not to go?”
“You were a slave.” She answered simply.
His expression darkened. “And you think this means I will blindly follow orders?”
“No. I think it means you know what it is to be forced to do things you don’t want to do. So, I don’t think you’lleverdo that to me. I think you understand why it’s important to be caring.”
“Caring.” He repeated, wanting to curse and laugh at the same time. “I am aRtaharion. We do not know the meaning of the word.”
“You areXane.” She corrected. “You can figure it out.”
He glowered down at her.
She smiled up at him.
“You should run from me.” He instructed, still annoyed. “Anyone else would.”
“Maybe.” Sadie shrugged, more confident now. “But I’m betting you haven’t told anyone else you’d die for them.” Sheheaded around him, unconcerned with his scowl. “Let’s go to bed, big guy.”
Chapter Seven
Away in a sleep pod,
Barely room for your head,
Best stick close to me,
Or you might end up dead.
From ”Away in a Sleep Pod”
A Christmas Carol for Non-Earthlings by Sadie Malone
Xane didn’t fit in the Lythions’ minuscule bunks. He’d had to gather up two of their sleeping mats and arrange them side-by-side, morosely noting that it would still be too small. He wasn’t certain that Sadie would sleep on the floor with him, so he’d left one of the small mattresses in place for her.
To his surprise, she didn’t use it. Instead, she settled down on Xane’s makeshift bed. She’d clearly taken his claim that they should sleep beside each other to heart. Xane certainly wasn’t going to talk her out of that foolhardy idea. Instead, he added the third mattress to the row.
Sadie seemed content, nestling into her pillow.
Xane leaned against the wall, too aroused to risk lying beside her, yet. He wanted to do nothing that might scare her away. This morning, he’d been in chains. Tonight, any male in the universe would gladly trade places with him. All because of the tiny being curled up on his bed.
Sadie was a Weakness. There was simply no denying it. But she washisWeakness.
Triumph filled him. Since his enslavement, Xane had had very few moments where he’d felt triumphant. He’d forgotten how the sensation heated the blood. For the moment,he possessed something beyond price. Something he’d never thought to have. Something men fought and prayed and bled and begged for.
A mate.
Yes, Sadie was a lunatic. And helpless. And she refused to have sex with him. And she would leave, as soon as she had a better offer. But, for now, he was the most fortunate man on the planet. Literally. If there were a vote, he’d be the unanimous winner.
“Xane?”
“Yes?”
