Page 19 of The Alien Warrior's Heart

Goodness.

She pulled her eyes away from the sight. “What do you plan on doing with me?”

The alien pulled something out and strode to the creek. He crouched low, dipped it into the water and rose slowly.

Simone slapped her hands on her hips as indignation built in her chest. “I know we can barely understand each other, but we have to try.”

The alien grunted and whirled on her. She pulled back on instinct, but he caught her wrist and yanked her closer. Cradling her chin in one hand, he lifted a small, damp cloth and gently grazed her face with it.

Simone’s breath caught in her chest. It wasn’t just his kindness that stunned her. It was the fact that this huge, brutish blue alien touched her with such gentleness. It was almost as if he were afraid she would crack like glass. Like one firm squeeze would shatter her.

The alien swept the cloth over her face. Down her neck. Over her arms. Her elbows. In between each of her fingers. Simone stood there, only loosely tethered to her body. She felt like she was floating. Like some haze had come over her. She was locked there, and she wouldn’t be able to escape this time.

The alien lifted her hand and inspected it like some sculptor with his prized painting. In a low, deep voice, he said, “Zar.”

“W-what?”

“Zar.” His eyes flicked up. Hard. Firm. So, so sexy. He tapped his chest. “Zar.”

Oh.His name.

A rattled breath escaped her lips. “Simone.”

His eyes narrowed.

She lifted a trembling hand and pointed to her face. “See-moan.”

“Moon.”

“No. Moan. Moaan.”

“Si-Moon.”

She laughed softly. “Guess that’ll work.”

His expression softened when she laughed. She saw the shift like it was magic. The hard planes of his square jaw, the deathly promise in his eyes, the unbending line of his lips, it all softened a smidge. Like someone had turned a harsh light to a softer, more mellow glow. The light was still bright, still a little too bold and dangerous, but it was easier on the eyes.

She held his gaze, her own heart fluttering like crazy.

Zar released her hand and Simone almost cried out in disappointment. Stepping back, he went to the smaller box again and pulled out a flask.

“Si-Moon, dama.”

“Dama?”

He uncapped the top and took a swig. “Dama.”

“T-thanks.” She drank the water and it tasted a little more bitter than the one on earth. Still, she was thirsty and consumed as much as she could.

He swept his gaze over her body and shyness stole over her. It made her duck her head and rub her fingers nervously over her cornrows. She usually wore a wig during the day, so her hair was braided flat to accommodate that. She didn’t go to bed with her extensions and now she wished she had.

Simone could just imagine what a sight she was. Hair braided back and frizzing. Dark circles under her eyes from exhaustion. Shapeless tunic hiding her best physical asset—her curves.

And why do you want Zar to notice your best physical assets?

Yeah. She wasn’t touching the answer to that question with a ten-foot pole.

Zar folded his massive arms over his chest. “Si-Moon, ez reet meh.”