The Dark Prince's Prize

Chapter 12-2

“Where do you want this?” Adalard asked, holding up a small table.

Samara looked up. She giggled when she saw the cobwebs stuck to his dark hair and a smudge of dirt along his jaw. A surge of warmth swept through her, and she looked away.

“In front of the window. I think adding the two chairs on either side would look nice. Thank you again for helping me with this. It would have taken me days to do half of what we’ve been able to do in a couple of hours,” she said.

“I don’t mind,” he replied, placing the table in the spot she recommended.

She shook her head. “I’m sure you didn’t come halfway across the universe with plans of moving furniture,” she teased.

“No. My plan was to bed as many human women as I could,” he replied before an expression of dismay crossed his face. “I should probably not have shared that with you.”

“Uh… no. You probably shouldn’t have told me that,” she dryly retorted.

He wiped his hands together and looked at her with a sheepish expression. “I have never had a situation where I found it impossible to lie to someone. It is as if you hold some power over me,” he mused.

“I’m not sure how much of a compliment that is,” she said before she shook her head and continued, “So, you came all this way to screw human women. Don’t you have women where you’re from?”

He scoffed. “Of course there are women where I’m from. Some of the most beautiful women in the universe are from Ceran-Pax, Valdier, and Sarafin. There are many other species as well, but I digress. I didn’t come just to enjoy the company of human women. We are on a mission. My brother, Ha’ven, and his human mate, Emma, have come to retrieve her mother,” he stated.

“You have another brother?” she asked with a frown.

“Yes. Ha’ven is the eldest,” he explained.

“And… he’s married—I mean mated—to a human named Emma,” she clarified.

He nodded. “Yes. Emma saved his life.”

Samara gaped at Adalard in surprise, but she didn’t ask any more questions. She was still trying to absorb his comment about coming to Earth just to get laid. She was surprised by the intense feeling of disappointment coursing through her.

Why should I think alien guys were any different than human ones? she thought.

“Well, you might find some willing women at Cattleman’s Bar and Grill who might be interested in taking you up on your fantasy ride. I can finish setting things up here. Ann Marie gave me some clean linens and towels. I need to wipe everything down, but I have to finish my chores outside first,” she said, turning away.

“I’ve hurt you,” he said.

She stiffened when he touched her arm. “No, you haven’t hurt me. You just reminded me that all guys are alike—no matter where they come from,” she replied before she cleared her throat and continued, “Once I get things finished here, I’ll make you a meal as payment.”

“Tonight?” he asked.

She shook her head. “Not tonight. I… have a prior engagement. Besides, I don’t have any food. Let’s plan on tomorrow night. I have tomorrow off and should be able to finish things up,” she suggested.

“I will help you,” he offered.

“I’m sure you have more important things to do than help me while you’re here.” She uttered a strained laugh and shook her head. “I can’t believe I’m saying this. There are a million and one other questions I should be asking you, but….”

He slid his fingers up her arm and gently turned her to face him. She looked up at him. All the strange feelings she had experienced since she met him came crashing over her again. She absently reached up and pulled the cobweb out of his hair before rubbing at the smudge of dirt on his chin with her thumb.

He gasped at her tender touch. The colors that seemed to be ever present between them swirled from the pad of her thumb. Warmth, and a sense of curiosity, flooded her as her gaze moved to his lips.

Cursing her own impulsiveness, she threw caution to the wind, slid her hand around his nape, and pulled his head down, capturing his lips with hers. She had kissed her share of guys but never with such a physical intensity as this.

A low, muffled moan slipped from her, and she closed her eyes and parted her lips. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his hard body. She tangled her fingers in his hair and gripped his shirt with her other hand.

Samara entwined her tongue with Adalard’s, their breaths accelerating as their passion grew until she swore their hearts beat as one. A tingling sensation spread through her body. She didn’t know if it was from lack of oxygen or some strange alien mojo, but it was enough to trigger her self-preservation alarm.

She broke the kiss, opened her eyes, and stared up at him with a wary expression. His pupils glowed as did a ring of darker violet around the irises. She could literally see thin bands of energy swirling in the depths.

He opened his mouth to speak, only to close it when a knock at the door drew their attention. She pulled free and smoothed back her hair with shaking hands, wiggling her nose when she realized they were trembling.

“Samara, are you in here?” a deep, familiar voice called out.

“Yeah, I’m here,” she answered. She cleared her throat and spoke again, “I’m coming. I’m in the bedroom.”

She grimaced when she realized what she’d just said. Adalard’s amused snort told her that he had picked up on her twist of words. She gave him a heated glare, took a deep, steadying breath, and straightened her shoulders before she stepped out of the door into the living room.

The loft apartment wasn’t huge. The apartment was comprised of two bedrooms, one bathroom, and an open floor plan with the kitchen, dinette, and living room all in one. In the corner, a large pellet stove sat on a platform made of rock. One of the things she loved about the apartment was the huge row of windows that overlooked the forest and mountains beyond.

“Hey, Bear. What are you doing here?” she asked.

Bear’s eyes widened when he saw Adalard appear behind her. “Mason said you were moving in, and I had some time, so I thought I’d see if you needed any help,” he replied, pulling his attention back to her.

She forced a smile on her lips and shook her head. “I’ve got this. Adalard gave me a hand. I was going to call it quits for a bit and head up to the barn to check on the horses,” she said.

“Oh, okay. I guess if you’re staying here now, I’ll pick you up here instead of at your old place,” Bear replied.

“I… yeah, that would be great,” she said with a strained smile.

Bear shifted from one foot to the other, glancing curiously at Adalard. She imagined that Adalard was starting to put two and two together. From the growing pressure she was sensing in her head, he was attempting to talk to her in his strange, alien way.

“Well, I guess if we want to keep our jobs we’d better get to work,” she suggested with a wave of her hand at the door.

Bear blinked as if coming out of a daze and nodded. “Yeah, I’ll see you later this evening,” he replied before nodding at Adalard. “It was a pleasure to meet you.”

At the door, Samara gave Bear a wave and watched him descend the stairs. Once he disappeared around the corner, she closed the door and turned around. She gasped when Adalard placed his hands on the door just above her shoulders. His violet eyes were glowing again.

“You are meeting him later?” he asked with a slight growl in his voice.

She pushed against his chest and slipped under his arm. “Yes,” she stated, not elaborating.

“It is for work?” he demanded.

“No,” she replied, taking her jacket off the hook by the door and pulling it on. “We are going out for dinner and a drink.”

“Samara,” he began.

She turned and glared at him. “Don’t go all testosterone fueled on me, Adalard. I’ve already had enough to last me a lifetime, so I would advise you to be very careful about what you say or do next. Alien or not, I won’t hesitate to kick your a*s out of here,” she threatened.

He raised one eyebrow at her, and the corners of his lips twitched. Raising his hands in the air, he stepped back, giving her space. She eyed him with suspicion.

“I apologize,” he quietly responded.

She warily studied him. He didn’t look remorseful. In fact, she would swear he had a calculating gleam in his eyes that reminded her of Wilson. God, she missed him. He was the only one of her brothers who had a decent head on his shoulders.

“Okay. I’ve got to get my chores done. Do you need anything before I leave?” she asked.

“Only this.”

She parted her lips when he stepped forward. He paused, the wicked gleam shining in his eyes, before he slid his hands up her arms. She gave him a bemused look before she slid her hands over his chest, and rose to meet him.

“Don’t get used to this,” she softly warned, peeping up at him.

“Never,” he promised.

She sucked in a breath when he captured her lips in a passionate kiss that made her toes curl.