Page 13 of Made For The Alien Warrior

Tiegan stopped right beside the bed and sat on the floor. His tail rested next to his legs as he made himself comfortable. He was so tall that, even sitting down, he was still bigger than her bed.

“I will stay until you sleep,” he declared as if she had no say in the matter.

Symphony cleared her throat. “It’s okay. I—”

“Will lie down and rest.” His eyes bore into hers. “So you may improve your health.”

She scrunched her nose. “You’re bossy.”

“I’ve been called worse.” He tore his gaze away from her and stared straight ahead.

Fussy alien.

She exhaled loudly so he could feel the brunt of her exasperation and, when that got no response, Symphony settled against her bedding.

Silence fell around them. She could hear the lapping of the sacred damas from somewhere in the distance. Thinking about the lake reminded her of almost drowning. If not for Tiegan, she wouldn’t be on an alien planet right now and she wouldn’t have a cool new arm either.

Symphony cleared her throat. “Um…”

Tiegan’s eyes swung to her. She couldfeelthe impact of them landing on her face. He really had such an intimidating stare.

Swallowing past the lump in her throat, Symphony fiddled with a button on her hospital gown. “I appreciate what you did… earlier.”

“There are many things you could be thanking me for,” he said. “What are you referring to?”

Okay? Cocky alien alert?She ignored the irritation that rose in her and decided to go through with her gratitude. Even if he was annoying, Tiegan had saved her life.

“When I was drowning, you jumped into the lake and swam to me. I don’t remember what happened after, but Sara says you pulled me out and did CPR.” She turned away from him and mumbled, “Thank you.”

Tiegan remained silent, but Symphony felt his shyness spreading through her body. It was accompanied by a pale-yellow flash in her mind.

She could have sworn she made it up, but the warmth lingered even after the colors faded. She knew, somehow, that these feelings belonged to Tiegan.

What was wrong with her? Did this crazy experience have anything to do with the nano-tech arm?

Tiegan shot to his feet. She saw the outline of his muscular shoulders in the darkness of the cave. His head was turned away from her, but his profile was just as striking as the rest of him.

“I will be watching you. Do not think of running away.”

She stuck her tongue at the brawny alien warrior’s back as he walked to the wall, leaned against it and made good on his threat.

Six

Tiegan

In the darkness,Tiegan stared at Sim-pony’s back. Her slim shoulders were relaxed. She’d placed both hands beneath her soft cheek. Her breathing was even and soothing to his ears.

The female had fallen asleep long ago. There was no reason to remain. He should get up and walk through the door.

But Tiegan remained in place.

His eyes fastened on Sim-pony in the darkness, sliding over the dip of her waist and the long, brown legs exposed beneath her strange, earthen tunic.

She was much taller than he’d first guessed. When he rescued her from the damas, she’d seemed small and fragile. The cold damas surrounded her in inky black strains and bubbles had been shooting from her mouth. He’d wrapped his arms around her and realized he could crush her if he wasn’t careful.

Now that her life was not in imminent danger and he could observe her without interruption, she was taller than first anticipated.

Not only that, she was fiery too.