Page 32 of Coveted

“Is… Is this your room?”

The words came out high and breathless, her heart pounding against her ribs as spots danced at the corners of her vision. Vax’s brows tipped down as he stared at her.

“Of course.”

Alana looked around again, before turning to stare through the door into the hallway beyond. The front half of the ship looked like her father’s had. One long hall led to the cockpit, with a single door near the end that would be the bunkroom for the crew, and an opening for the dining area.

There were no other rooms.

No other beds.

Her mouth opened and closed, though no sound escaped. She didn’t know what to say, the shock of the situation leaving her trembling on the verge of running back out of the ship and declaring she wasn’t ready to leave after all.

Facing Vax once again, she swallowed and tried to find enough air to speak.

“Where willIbe staying?”

The question was so quiet she almost couldn’t hear herself over the pounding of blood in her ears, but the way Vax’s eyes lit up and his lips tipped into a smirk, he’d heard her just fine.

Long strides closed the distance between them, fingers reaching out to grip her chin and tip her head back so she was forced to meet his hungry gaze. His eyes roved over her face, lingering on her lips, before meeting hers again.

“You’re my omega, you’ll be staying here with me.”

“On—On the couch?”

She knew the answer to the question, but she needed to hear him say it. Her insides quivered, core clenching as she squeezed her thighs together. She couldn’t deny her arousal, but it was all too soon.

“No, Alana, we will share the bed. It’s big enough for the both of us, Princess.”

She ignored the nickname. She couldn’t tell what he was thinking, but her mind was running away with the idea of being in bed next to Vax. The bed was larger than any she’d ever slept in, but he was also a large alpha, and there was no way to avoid touching during the night.

“I… I…”

She couldn’t form a complete sentence, her emotions swinging from fear to excitement to shame. She shouldn’t want to be in bed with an alpha she’d only met the day before, but biology was telling her to jump in. He was her future mate anyway, so why not?

Vax’s head dipped lower, his nose almost brushing hers. His eyes were locked on her mouth, but he didn’t come any closer as she heaved for breath.

The urge to stand on her tiptoes so she could press her lips to his was almost impossible to ignore, and she trembled with the warring desires to either run, or kiss him. Her body knew she was prey, and either option would lead to the male dominating her in a way she hadn’t realized she craved until then.

“I’m a virgin.”

Alana blurted the words before her brain had time to stop her. Wincing at her lack of tact, she watched Vax as what she’d said sank in.

He went so still she wondered for a moment if he’d stopped breathing, only the ghost of his breath feathering over her face assuring her he hadn’t. His brows rose as he straightened, his fingers releasing their grip on her chin as his hand dropped to his side. When he took a step back it was like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over her head, the arousal strumming through her veins quenched in a moment.

“What?”

She wasn’t sure why shame rolled in her belly, but there was nothing else she could call it. Wrapping her arms around her middle, her shoulders curled forward before she remembered she was supposed to be leaving the meek Alana who bowed to everyone behind.

It was a struggle to resist the urge to hide. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she pulled her shoulders back and lifted her chin.

“I’ve remained pure for my future mate. I will not throw that away. You can sleep on the bed, and I will take the couch.”

She gave her voice as much steel as she could, but it still wavered more than she’d have liked. Vax’s dark eyes narrowed before his lips ticked up at the corner.

“Am I not your future mate?”

His voice had dropped, the question holding the edge of a growl. The arousal that had dissipated with his reaction to her announcement returned in a rush, pulling a gasp from her throat.

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