Page 21 of Chased by the Alien Mercenary (Monster Mercenary Mates #6)

Lyra

Mate? That’s what that captain said, mate.

I knew what that word implied in this context; I knew it all too well.

I’d been in too many foreign places, among aliens different from humans, with different mating practices.

The word mate wasn’t bandied around lightly anywhere, and for that strange male on the other side of the comm connection to extend such a warm welcome—right after he’d called Solear “Son”—that meant something really huge.

No wonder Solear’s twin and his mate had been so warm and welcoming, so excited to speak with me.

They thought I was marrying into the freaking family.

The frantic, confused expression on Solear’s face wasn’t helping.

Had he been hiding this from me? This huge thing?

No, that was mean to think, he had a serious issue communicating, and that wasn’t his fault.

At least, I didn’t think it was. Not that anybody had explained to me why he didn’t speak when his twin obviously, enthusiastically could.

I shot him a glare, but he was backing away, hunching his shoulders and lowering his head like a…

well, like a scared animal, really. Instantly, I felt like I’d just kicked a dog while he was down.

Solear looked horribly upset, just because I was feeling upset and ready for me to strike him.

Him—even though he was the one three times my size, all lethal, murderous alien hunk.

“You thought I knew, didn’t you?” I said, after I took a very deep, calming breath.

It wasn’t helping much, because damn it, this was big—and it was pretty scary, even.

This guy was supposed to be my mate for life?

If he had any say in it, I was pretty sure he’d drag me to his ship and lock me in his room in a heartbeat.

Did he even have a room like a normal person aboard the ship?

He seemed so feral and beastly one moment, and oddly competent with technology the next.

He had backed himself into a corner, his back quite literally against the wall.

All anger at feeling like something had been hidden from me on purpose faded.

Solear hadn’t hidden anything, he’d never had any pretense or artifice; he just was .

He showed all his freaking emotions as soon as he felt them, and I couldn’t forget how broken and hurt he’d been in his dreams, his memories.

He hadn’t lied to me. He hadn’t hidden anything, though perhaps his twin had .

If I should be mad at anyone, it was him.

But how could I, when clearly all anyone wanted was for Solear to be happy—with me?

It was just a lot to take in, a huge responsibility to shoulder.

What if I screwed it up? I wasn’t a people person either.

I hid behind my camera; that was my skill—not.

..drawing wounded, dangerous aliens out of their shell, let alone wrangling them into not doing crazy things.

I had not forgotten how the last thing that captain said was basically an order for me not to let Solear do what he so badly wanted to do.

And I knew there was no way I could stop him, no way at all.

He’d made up his mind, and it felt a little like stepping in front of a stampeding bull to try to stop him.

From what little I understood of it, he needed to steal navigational data off a computer inside that mansion.

Data needed to get to the bad guy, Jalipa, or something.

And my Solear had a serious bone to pick with this guy.

When I eyed his dejected form and worried expression, I wondered if the guy he was after was responsible for the desolation young Solear had experienced.

My fists balled at my sides, and now I wondered if I wasn’t a little onboard with getting payback after all.

“It’s okay,” I said with a sigh. “It just caught me by surprise, okay? Humans don’t feel mate bonds, or at least not in the same way many aliens do.

Uh, other species do. But I’m guessing you didn’t know about that.

It always seems easier from the outside looking in.

” I wryly tapped the comm device that had fallen to the moss with my toe, implying the camera I liked to hide behind.

Solear stared at me, not growling, not snarling, not baring his sharp teeth at me like he so often did.

Just stared, frozen still. I tried to figure out how to reach him, even though I was still reeling a little myself.

At least I wasn’t cold inside this strange little cave he’d found, despite the downpour.

That instantly reminded me of our passionate make-out session just before the rain, and his frantic way of protecting me and finding shelter when he’d discovered I was growing too cold.

Warmth instantly filled my belly, because I really liked how much he wanted to take care of me.

I wanted to take care of him now, but when I stepped a little closer, he shifted to the side.

Then, abruptly, he ducked around me, his large body moving so swiftly and agilely that it felt like he’d slithered away like quicksilver, darting for the narrow entrance and disappearing into the hole without so much as a sound.

“Damn it!” I swore out loud after he had well and truly departed.

Again? Seriously? I hated when he did that, when he left me alone and I didn’t know where he’d gone or why.

I pressed a fist to my rapidly pounding heartbeat and sighed.

This was my fault; it definitely was my mess.

I should never have gotten mad when I discovered what Solear thought of me—wanted from me.

Normally, I was the one who kept a level head.

Plucky in the face of danger, since I was pretty used to taking care of myself in the furthest reaches of the Alpha Quadrant.

But this wasn’t the Alpha Quadrant, and the rules had changed on me.

Glancing around our latest digs, I appraised the situation anew.

It was an improvement over the last cave, because now I had running water to wash in, and the rocks were constantly warm thanks to the moss covering them.

That left the cave toasty—pleasantly warm, with heat that soaked through the soles of my feet.

My mind flashed to Solear’s hands on my ankles as he peeled off my soggy socks.

Evidence of his caring nature was all over this place, in the form of blankets and clothing spread out to dry.

Even as he’d slipped away from me like quicksilver, his big feet had never trod on any of the fabrics in his way.

Okay, so I was supposed to be a mate to the non-verbal guy, but truly, he wasn’t that non-verbal, was he?

Well, technically, yes. He did not speak—but whether that was because he physically couldn’t or because he simply wouldn’t.

.. it didn’t matter at this point. He spoke in other ways: with gestures and touches, with gifts and passion.

And it seemed he could speak telepathically with his twin.

Maybe, as I grew closer to him, I’d be able to hear his telepathic voice too.

That heat against my head sometimes, I was certain that was him.

Where did that leave me? I wasn’t sure if I could be with a guy who never talked at all, even if I didn’t require much conversation.

It was odd to realize that I felt lonely now that he wasn’t here.

I missed him. I’d never missed anyone before, that’s why I was so good at my job.

My parents were probably still alive somewhere on Earth, and they likely didn’t even know anything had happened to me.

That’s how unattached my whole family was.

Connections? I’d never made them—unless through my lens.

But Solear… Ah, he stirred me in ways I couldn’t explain.

So I set about righting and sorting our meager belongings, then washed myself in a surprisingly lukewarm stream.

I even washed out the silly thong and laid it out to dry on a rock.

It was warm enough that I stripped off the shirt and wandered about in only the silky nightgown.

It came only to mid-thigh and was held up by thin straps that crisscrossed my shoulders, in an appealing scarlet color that reminded me of Solear’s skin.

I couldn’t deny that I hoped he’d come back, and any noise made me turn to the narrow tunnel opening.

Perhaps I was even hoping that when he saw me in the sexy, if a little wrinkled—negligee, he’d forget about my angry semi-rejection earlier and see that I did want him.

Because that much I did know. The rest would follow, wouldn’t it?

We could at least have sex, have fun together, and see where the rest led us.

I wasn’t prepared for him when he did return.

Not one bit. I should have known that he wouldn’t make any sound at all, sneaking back into the cave as silent as a wraith.

My startled scream, when he was suddenly right behind me, echoed against the cave walls, and I spun, lost my footing, and nearly fell into the stream.

If not for his fast reflexes, I really would have, but he dropped his bundle of things with a splash and caught me in his arms. I hung suspended above the water in his arms, as if he’d just dipped me in the middle of a waltz.

It was a romantic, intimate pose full of trust, and it felt so right.

Reaching up, I cupped his chin and smiled.

“Thank the stars you’re back, Solear. I missed you.

I’m sorry about earlier.” His red eyes glowed at me from beneath his bony brow, the smooth ivory catching glimmers from the light-emitting lichen on the walls of the cave.

“Kiss me,” I breathed when he just kept staring at me.

I wasn’t even sure if he was reaching for me telepathically, because the entire cave felt warm.

And then there was no more thinking—there was just feeling.