Page 15 of Alien Prince Defender (Space Knights MC #4)

CHAPTER 15

TARAX

I was in love with Grace, and there was no denying it now. Having sex with her sealed it for me. I knew exactly what I wanted, and it was her. She embodied everything I could ever want in a woman. I felt like I would die without her — even for as short a time I had known her.

She was courageous and full of spirit. She gave me hope for the future and made me want to fight even more for the cause of humanity on Earth.

I wanted to protect her and be her fearless Knight if she needed me, but at the same time, I knew she was already extremely brave on her own, and she was also compassionate.

She was a skilled medic for her firefighter unit, and I hoped that because of her situation with David, it would make her more inclined to take me up on my offer to put her skills to good use in space as one of our Knights on the force.

Being madly in love with Grace was going to come at a price, but now I understood just how enticing that love could be.

I'd fallen hard for her in such in a short time frame. Now I finally could understand what it was like for Garlin, Merrix, Shan, and the others when they too fell in fast love with a woman from Earth.

I had no control over these emotions. I wanted Grace all the time. When I wasn't with her, I missed her, and I was thinking about her all the time.

When I was with her, I embraced every moment, and appreciated her warmth and femininity. She made me want to be a better version of myself, too.

Everything about her exuded confidence and kindness. She was amazing. Maybe I was selfish for wanting her all to myself, but as it stood right now — I couldn't bear to be apart from her. I didn't even want to return to space without her.

Part of me was scared that she would want to remain on Earth even after all the androids were killed off — because that was just the type of person she was. She put everyone else's needs in front of her own, and I knew that her firefighter unit would need her to stay and pick up all the pieces.

How could I blame them, really? She was an amazing medic. She was also their only medic — so that made things even more challenging for me if I wanted to be able to find a way to convince her somehow that she belonged with me instead.

It was a tough life out there too, as a Space Knight. We were out there in the open universe roaming and patrolling the skies as we fought our way to other freedoms and had to loot in order to get the supplies and resources we needed. We were fast. That was our best defense against those who constantly preyed on us.

It was much like the situation here on Earth. We always felt chased and hunted. I wasn't sure Grace was ready for that lifestyle. It was like going from one extreme to the next, but Earth would never be the same — at least not for a long time to come. I wasn't sure if she knew that or not. We hadn't really talked about it in detail, yet.

I was still considering ways to entice her to go with me — ways to make it more appealing out there in the galaxy than on Earth — when Mike walked past me in the hall.

I flagged him down. "Hey… uh… Mike? You got a second?"

Mike retraced his steps and paused in front of the open door frame. "Uh… yeah?" he stated apprehensively, and then took a reluctant step inside the room with me.

"I need to ask you something. It's err… it's about… Grace."

"Oh yeah?" Mike walked further into the room. The curiosity was enough to keep him interested, which was good for me. He folded his arms suspiciously over his chest and cut me a skeptical glance. "What about her?"

Well, I'm in love with her .

I knew I couldn't admit that to Mike, so I opted for an easier gateway to be able to talk to him one on one.

"I… like her," I admitted.

Of course, it was more than that… but I was hoping that admitting this to Mike would gain me some respect and maybe if I was lucky — even a little empathy.

"You like her?" Mike asked, his voice shrill.

"Yes, I do. There is something between us. It's this mutual attraction. We've talked about it a little," I added.

"You and Grace ?" Mike asked in disbelief. I mean… I heard rumors that there might be something going on between you two… but I was trying my best to ignore it?—"

"Well, it's not rumors," I affirmed. "I am really falling in love with her."

Mike stared at me with a dumbfounded expression. "Is this shit for real or are you just fucking with me?"

"No one is fucking with you." I fervently shook my head.

Mike was already extremely guarded around me because he was still trying to come to terms with the culture shock that surrounded these circumstances, and I didn't want to spook him any extra than he already was.

Mike's eyes narrowed. He looked disgruntled. "Can you make your point already? I've got rounds to do and my wife to get back to."

I was cleaning blasters and reloading them for tonight. I set them down beside me.

I made eye contact with him. "I've given a proposition to Grace. I'm waiting to find out her answer."

"What kind of proposition?"

There was no point in beating around the bush here.

"I asked her to come with me back to space."

Mike burst into laughter, but when he realized I wasn't laughing too, he swallowed hard and put on a somber front. " You asked my medic to return to space with you ?" He stared at me as if he couldn't believe I'd have the audacity for something like that.

"I did."

"Why?"

"Because I am falling in love with her," I repeated.

Mike looked horrified. "Does she feel the same way?"

"She has spoken of the same, yes."

Mike ran a hand through his dark, curly hair. "Wow… I uh… I don't really know what to say… she wants to leave Earth?"

He sat down and stared at the wall as if he needed a moment to process. I gave him a minute to think.

"She hasn't said yet."

Mike glanced up at me. "What do you want from me, then?"

"I'm afraid that she is going to feel obligated to stay here and help with all the aftermath after we kill all the androids."

"So?" Mike shrugged coldly. "What's wrong with that? We are her people. Not you. Are you asking for my help to try and convince her to go to an otherworldly alien place in God knows where?"

"That's harsh," I said, matching his icy expression. "I'm not saying she has to leave right away. I'll be here, too… helping with the restoration."

"Oh really?" Mike scoffed, giving me a sardonic gaze.

"Yes." I nodded. "I'm sorry if I haven't been able to prove my loyalties to you and the other humans as of yet but as far as Grace is concerned?—"

"You just have to get her in bed, and she'll do anything you want?" Mike asked, cutting me off.

"It's not like that at all." I returned his callous stare.

My sexual relationship with Grace was none of his fucking business.

"Well, I have some concerns," Mike informed.

"But ultimately , it's not your decision," I reminded him.

Mike frowned. He knew he couldn't argue that.

"I will have to find another medic for my team," Mike said. "She's the best, and she's the only one we have."

"I understand that, and I thought about that too," I admitted.

"And you said you would be willing to wait it out to make sure that most of our city has recovered before you head back to space?"

"That's the plan for now," I confirmed.

Mike pondered quietly a moment. "What about the androids? What if more come? Surely the source will send more when we least expect it. It seems fitting that after we clean up and start getting back to our normal lives and routines — that would be a perfect time for them to try and strike again."

"We are working on taking out the source," I reassured him.

Mike gave me a look as if that answer wasn't good enough for him. "What if another source comes along? What if they have hundreds, if not thousands of androids to unleash on Earth that are hiding out and just waiting to take their shot when we're holding our dick in our hands?"

I didn't have an answer for that. I didn't want to lead Mike on. We could take out this particular warship — but in the end Mike was right. We had no way to predict just how many others out there might try to do a copycat attack at any given time.

"If something like that happens in the future, we can make preparations here on Earth before we leave to ensure that people are safer," I offered.

Mike raised a cynical eyebrow. "Example?"

I contemplated. "Barracks underground, underground bases, camps… the option for people to sign up for militia teams as sort of a reserves army to back up the regular military," I suggested.

"Hmm…" Mike trailed off as if he were seriously considering jumping on board with a plan like that. "A lot to think about."

"Yes."

"So… what about Grace?"

"It's her decision," I confirmed. "Not mine to make, not yours."

Mike started backing toward the door. "Should I talk to her about it?"

"No." I immediately jumped up, hating how urgent I sounded. "You can't mention that we spoke of this. Please… I beg for your discretion."

Mike looked pleased to have the upper hand for once. "Alright. I won't say anything." He pointed his finger at my chest and gave me a steely look in the eyes. "But you owe me, motherfucker."