Page 3 of Her Alien Soldier (Asterion Station #1)

“I noticed,” he said, and she wasn’t sure what he thought of that.

“Well, our war continues. And I’m a commander for one of our elite squadrons.

While most of our people fight from the air, in ship-to-ship combat or attacking targets on the enemy planet, my squadron infiltrates the planet itself.

Direct combat, sabotage, assassinations. ”

“Oh…” she murmured, studying him closer. She nearly snarled in irritation when she was called away again. She held a finger up for him to wait and went to take care of her orders, her mind swimming with what he was telling her.

How annoying was it that her first instinct was to beg him not to go back?

She handed the drinks over with a smile, said goodbye to one of the regulars, then went back to him again. She looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

His gaze found hers and held it, and heat pooled low in her belly. It was like looking into a storm. Intense, definitely more than a little dangerous.

And she wanted it.

“Should I tell you more?” he asked quietly, and she nodded, not breaking eye contact.

“Since I am still recovering from my wounds, I am unable to fight as my squadron needs me to. I would be a liability on a mission. Slower, not as strong as I was before I was injured,” he said, and she could hear the sharp, angry rumble, very different from the way his voice had rumbled earlier when he’d teased her.

“I’m sorry,” she offered.

“It is hardly your fault, Maggie the bartender. But I thank you,” he said, taking a drink of ale and looking away for a moment. His gaze found hers again, and she swallowed.

“But how does the Paraxian fit into all of this?” she asked.

“He claims to have information that will help our efforts. If it is what he claims, we may finally be able to end this war. Perhaps my people will know peace and live without being exterminated as nothing more than insects.”

“That definitely explains why you’re so determined,” she said quietly, and he nodded, then gestured with a tilt of his head, drawing her attention to a server who was waiting for her.

She went to fill the next several orders, grateful for the distraction. He was… intense. Every word, every meeting of their eyes, drew her to him even more. She’d never been the kind to get swept up. But she could see how easily it could happen with the big serious alien.

And he’d be leaving, to go back to war in a place so far from here very few knew anything about it. When she went back to him, her mind was full of questions.

“How long does it take you to travel here? Even with our quadrant’s best technology, it would take years to get to where your planet is.”

“Our ships are fast. Ridiculously so. There is a complex system of natural conduits throughout the universe. Our scientists were able to study it, experiment. Learn how to use it effectively.” He thinks.

“I am trying to figure out how to explain it. It takes very little time to get here. About one sleep cycle.”

Her mouth dropped open. “You’re kidding.”

“That is something I rarely do, Maggie the bartender.”

She smiled. “I wish you’d just call me Maggie.”

His gaze found hers again, held it. It was almost a physical thing, that sensation of being held by him. And she had the feeling he knew it.

“Maggie,” he rumbled. “I will call you what you wish.” He seemed like he was about to say something else when he clamped his mouth shut and finally broke eye contact to look around the bar again.

It left her feeling shaky, unsettled. Warm.

No, not warm. Hot. She knew her cheeks were flushed, and that wasn’t the only part.

Her stomach was molten, and she felt hot enough between her thighs that she was surprised no one could tell.

Wet. She was wet, she realized with shock as she turned away to pour more drinks.

She couldn’t even remember the last time that happened.

She made herself focus on work, mixing and pouring, restocking ingredients, keeping the bar clean and the glasses sanitized and stocked. She watched the performers that were currently set up on the stage, a jazz quartet from Earth that was actually pretty amazing.

She shook her head, gave herself a stern talking to about getting her hormones under control, then started working again, staying as much as she could on the opposite side of the bar from where Xarek was sitting.

Was she a coward? Yes. Was this the smartest way to handle it?

Definitely. When she was near him, she felt like she was out of control.

Which wasn’t a bad feeling. It could be fun!

But she got the feeling that there would be nothing easy or uncomplicated about Xarek and the way he made her feel, and she’d spent the last decade-plus of her life making it as easy, uncomplicated, and happy as possible.

She’d lost all of those things, once, and damned if she’d lose them again, even if he was big and cranky and gorgeous and made her want to lick every inch of him while he rumbled for her.

Down, girl.

She blew out a breath and shook her head, focusing on her work as she filled an order of several complicated mixed drinks. Luckily, that took all of her attention for a few minutes and let her get her body back under control.

By the time she finished, she felt almost normal again. She could do this. She just had to stay busy.

Xarek watched Maggie as she bustled back and forth behind the bar. He could admit now that he was watching her. And she was enjoyable to watch. Those perfect curves, the way her skin flushed pink sometimes when she looked at him. Those greenish-blue eyes locked with his so obediently.

And it was obedience. She never looked away unless he let her. He’d noticed it once by accident, and then tried with her a few more times. And it worked, every time.

He tore his gaze away from her. There were few, if any, females of his kind like that. Giving, eager to please. Soft and sweet. War had taken that out of them.

But even if there were hundreds back home like that, this one called to him. Maggie.

And he had no time for this distraction. And he was making her nervous and on edge, which was not acceptable. He stood, and in doing so got her attention again.

“Did you need another ale?” she asked.

He shook his head. “No. I am going to take your advice and go back to my ship for a bit to rest. I trust you. You know how important the Paraxian is.”

She nodded. “I’ll contact you the moment I see him, if he shows,” she promised, and he knew she meant it. He held up his communicator, and she dug hers out of her pocket, holding it up as well. In an instant, she had his contact information and he had hers.

“Thank you, Maggie,” he said, unable to stop himself from capturing her gaze again. And there was that lovely flush, the dilation of her pupils against that stunning blue-green.

“You’re welcome,” she said softly, and it nearly undid every bit of his discipline.

He gave her what he knew was a terse nod, then strode out of the bar, determined to put some distance between himself and the tempting little human.

He trusted her. She would contact him. And he needed to regain his focus.

He had no time for this. Watching this woman, craving her touch, wanting to see what would happen if he stripped her bare and showed her what true obedience meant.

He had the feeling she’d enjoy it. And so would he.

He snarled to himself as he made his way to the hangar bay where his ship was docked.

He could not afford distraction now. And that was what Maggie was. Gorgeous, sweet, bright, warm, curvy, delicious-smelling distraction. He was at war. His squadron depended on him for their lives. And his people depended on their squadron.

If he thought a quick rut would ease him, he would have dragged her back to his ship with him. She would have come, work or no.

But he knew already that it wouldn’t be enough. And that was too much to risk. The last time he’d let himself feel anything of any depth for someone was a very, very long time ago. And she’d spat that he was boring, too serious, too much of a soldier to ever be an actual lover.

She’d been right. He’d tarnished her brightness, for a time, and he would not do the same to Maggie. No matter how much he craved her closeness.

No matter how much his cock ached with the need to be sunk deep inside her curvy little body.

He shook his head and barely suppressed another snarl as he boarded his ship, closing the door behind him with a deep breath.

He needed sleep. And to clean himself.

And if he ended up taking things in hand and relieving himself at some point in there like a hormonal adolescent, so be it.