Page 37 of Claimed By the Alien Prince
CARYS
Z evran sets me back on my feet, and I stumble slightly as the world steadies around me.
His chambers unfold before us like a lush dream—roots and vines weave through crystal panels, glistening like the scales of some majestic creature.
Waterfalls cascade down the walls, their soothing sounds mingling with the soft glow of bioluminescent plants blooming in every corner.
I can’t help but reach out to touch a nearby vine. It hums under my fingers, sending a shiver up my spine—a living thing responding to my presence. The hum resonates deep within me, an echo of something primal that pulls at the edges of my consciousness.
I walk over to the table, taking Todd out of my pocket and setting him gently on the surface. I don't know what happened, or if I can fix him. But I'll try. After all this mess gets sorted, at least.
“Impressive, isn’t it?” Zevran’s voice pulls me from my reverie. He leans casually against a wall, watching me explore his space with an intensity that makes my skin tingle.
“Yeah,” I manage to say, still entranced by the vibrancy around me. “You live in a… botanical wonderland.”
His lips curve into a half-smile, and then he does something completely unexpected—he begins removing his shirt.
My mouth goes dry as he peels it off, revealing skin marked with deep green geometric patterns that shimmer in the soft light.
The air thickens between us, charged with something unspoken.
I gawk, caught between fascination and embarrassment. His body is sculpted like some warrior statue brought to life; muscles taut beneath bronze-toned skin that glows with an otherworldly sheen in this enchanting setting.
“Like what you see?” he teases, raising an eyebrow while tossing his discarded shirt aside carelessly.
“Uh…” My brain short-circuits as I try to form words, but they refuse to come out coherently. Instead, I focus on anything else—the swirling water behind him or the vibrant plants surrounding us—but all I can think about is how effortlessly captivating he looks.
He steps closer, not breaking eye contact. “You’re safe here,” he says softly. “No one will disturb us.”
Safe? With him? A rush of confusion washes over me—half of me wants to argue against that notion while the other half revels in it.
“What’s your plan?” I finally manage to ask, shaking off the haze clouding my thoughts.
Zevran tilts his head slightly, amusement dancing in his jade eyes. “To keep you alive… and perhaps show you what being here means.”
I stand there, heart racing, as Zevran turns away without another word.
My pulse thrums in my ears, a wild drumbeat echoing the confusion swirling in my chest. He strides through an archway, his long legs eating up the distance.
I hesitate for a moment, uncertainty clawing at me, but curiosity propels me forward.
Peeking around the corner, I find a bathing alcove that feels almost ethereal. Water pours from a natural stone ledge like a waterfall caught in mid-flight. Steam rises gently, curling around the air and enveloping the space in warmth.
Zevran stands beneath the cascade, already naked. My breath hitches as I take in his strong back, muscles glistening under the falling water. “Warmer than it looks,” he says over his shoulder, and I can’t help letting out a small laugh.
“Yeah? You’d better not be lying.” I bite my lip, torn between hesitation and an overwhelming desire to join him. The tension between us hangs heavy, thick with unspoken words and electric anticipation.
With a deep breath that fills my lungs with warmth and courage, I step out of my clothes and slip into the water. It envelops me like a comforting embrace—soothing and invigorating all at once. The steam wraps around my body as I approach him cautiously.
Zevran turns to face me fully, his eyes darkening with something primal as he takes in my form—my wet skin glistening under the stream. He steps closer until our bodies are just inches apart. The warmth radiates between us like an invisible current.
“Come here,” he murmurs softly. His hands move with purpose as he reaches for me.
The water rushes around us, drowning out any lingering doubt as he begins to wash every inch of my body with careful precision.
His fingers glide over my shoulders and down my arms; each stroke sends ripples of sensation coursing through me.
He traces along my collarbone and lingers on my stomach before working his way down to my thighs.
“Zevran…” My voice trembles slightly as he kisses the soft skin of my shoulder—gentle and reverent.
He lifts his gaze to meet mine, intensity swirling within those jade depths. “Trust me,” he whispers before pressing soft kisses along my neck.
I lean into him instinctively; it feels right somehow—this connection we share in this hidden alcove away from prying eyes and judgmental stares. The tension uncoils within me like a tightly wound spring slowly releasing its hold.
He cups my face in his hands then leans down so our foreheads touch—his breath warm against my skin. “I won’t leave you alone again,” he promises fiercely, eyes locked onto mine. “Not in this court.”
The sincerity in his voice washes over me like the water cascading down our bodies—a soothing balm against all fears that had taken root within me since arriving on Verus. I search his gaze for any hint of deception but find only resolve mixed with something deeper.
“I don’t know what’s happening,” I confess softly, feeling vulnerable yet strangely safe beneath his touch.
“Neither do I,” he admits quietly but doesn’t waver from our connection—his hands still cradling my face like something precious.
Before I can respond or question further, he kisses me again—a soft exploration that ignites something fierce inside of me; it swells until it nearly consumes every rational thought left in my mind.
Time stretches in this intimate cocoon of warmth where nothing else matters beyond us—the rush of water mingling with hushed breaths fills every moment we share together under this hidden cascade of magic found only here among these ancient trees and shimmering vines.
And just for now… perhaps this is enough.