Page 7 of Taming the Alien Outlaw (Brides of the Bohnari #2)

Olivia

Is this what dying feels like? If so, I don’t recommend it. My head pounds like someone is punching my brain, and my mouth tastes like week-old garbage. Memories of last night—was it last night?—slowly return.

The kidnapping, the introduction to Mak, walking through the rebel camp and all the stares, verbally sparring with Janik, and finally the food and drink. After that, everything gets hazy. Fucking booze. I’m never drinking alcohol again.

I breathe in long and deep in hopes to ease the throbbing in my head, but all I do is inhale cinnamon and vanilla. The fabric beneath my cheek is soft. Far softer than what I slept on back on Earth, but not so different than what’s on my bed back in Preska. Except for the smell.

I lie still and take stock of my surroundings as best I can by hearing alone.

There’s only silence. No other person breathing that might indicate I’m not in this bed alone.

I also take inventory of my body. It feels like all my clothes are still on and there’s no stickiness between my thighs.

Not that I think Janik would have…done anything to me while I was incapacitated.

I stop myself right there. Do I really believe he wouldn’t have taken advantage of my lowered inhibitions if he had the chance?

To my surprise, I do. Why that is remains the question.

From the other room, a door closes, and a woman’s voice reaches me. One I recognize from last night. Janik’s mother. I stay still and try to listen.

“Keep your voice down. Olivia is still sleeping.”

That was definitely Janik.

“Did you fuck her?”

Jesus, lady. Nothing like getting straight to it, huh?

“Whether I did or not is none of your concern, Mother.”

“It is my concern. She could ruin everything you’ve worked toward.

Your focus should be on the throne and taking it by any means necessary.

You have toyed with Alik long enough. He’s made it perfectly clear he doesn’t see you as a threat.

You’ve been nothing more than an inconvenience to him.

He holds all the power. Power that belongs to you. ”

Wow. I’m really starting to not like this woman.

“I appreciate all the advice you have given me, Mother, but I know what I’m doing.”

There’s a long, drawn out pause where either neither is speaking or their voices are too low for me to make out.

“Your men are growing tired of the wait,” Janik’s mom finally says.

“Don’t forget what happens to you if you don’t take the throne soon.

The mating fever is only going to get worse.

Already you can barely control it. I won’t be able to stop them from doing what they need to.

Think hard about your next step. Don’t wait until it’s too late. ”

Seconds later the door closes again, which leads me to believe Janik’s mother’s gone.

“I know you’re awake,” he says loudly.

How that’s possible is beyond me, but maybe it has something to do with the Bohnari species and some kind of enhanced hearing.

Slowly, so as to not make my head ache more than it already is, I climb out of the bed and walk out to the living area.

Janik stands in the middle of the room, his hair standing up on each side of his horns like he’s been running his hands through it.

“I suppose you heard all of that.” It’s not a question so there’s no point lying.

“Yes.”

He turns for the kitchen and brings over to me some type of device. “Let me see your arm, please.”

I side-eye him while I try to figure out what he’s holding. “Why?”

“How’s your head?”

“You know it’s rude to answer a question with a question.”

Janik shrugs, and the human gesture looks weird. “Fine, if you don’t want me to get rid of your pain.”

He moves like he’s going to walk away, but I grab his forearm. His skin is burning up beneath my fingertips.

“Don’t you dare.” If whatever that thing is will cure this hangover, then I’ll take it.

He places the small, black device on my arm and I wait for some pinch of pain or signal that it’s doing it’s job, but there’s nothing but a single beep.

Janik removes the box thing from my arm and places it back on the counter.

To my surprise, I’m already feeling some relief.

By the time he returns to stand next to me, my headache is completely gone.

I still have dooky mouth, but hopefully a good brushing will make that go away.

“Thanks.”

He inclines his head. “You’re welcome.”

“Are we going to talk about it?” I’ve never been one to shy away from conversations.

Plus, his mother said some interesting things.

Not the least of which being that Janik is struggling with his mating fever.

Why? He’s taking kanet powder like all the other Bohnari, isn’t he?

None of them except Horek are struggling, and he only was because of Quinn and her being his heart’s fire.

“There is nothing to talk about. It is just like I told my mother, I know what I’m doing.”

I cock my head. “Which is what, exactly? I mean, beside trying to overthrow the government and place yourself on the throne, that, according to your mother belongs to you. Not to mention you’re not controlling your mating fever as well as you think you are.”

“I have things well in hand.”

That makes me scoff. “All men are the same, no matter what planet you’re on, aren’t you?”

“Since I’ve never left Bohna, I wouldn’t know.”

“Trust me, you’re just like every other man I’ve met.

Never listens to what anyone—especially a woman—has to say because he always has the answer.

He doesn’t need advice, because he has things ‘well in hand’.

” I cross my arms. “From where I’m standing, you don’t have shit in hand except mating fever you can’t control and a bunch of other dudes who think you’re weak.

Oh, and a raging bitch for a mother. Welcome to the club. I’m also a card-carrying member.”

From the anger that flares across Janik’s face, I worry my mouth might have gotten me into trouble again. Wouldn’t be the first time, nor will it be the last. Not unless he decides to do away with me. I supposed I’ve had a good run.

Finally, he sighs. His fatigue and frustration are both evident. “Why don’t I show you around camp? We’ll get something to eat and come back here and talk.”

Since I have a feeling that’s the best I’m going to get, I take the offer.

“Can I at least clean my mouth and teeth first? It tastes like how I imagine the river back in New St. Louis would taste.”

Janik looks at me strangely, but nods. “There is a cleansing brush in the hygiene room.”

I dart back into the bathroom and rifle through the drawers until I find what I’m looking for.

Then I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

God, I look awful. My hair is a tangled web of knots, and, despite washing my face yesterday, the kohl I’d used to line my eyes is smeared all around making me look like I got into fight. And lost.

The clothes Janik loaned me are ill-fitting, and I still don’t have clean underwear.

I don’t know what kind of supplies they have here, but that’s something I need to remedy sooner rather than later.

A comb with strands of teal hair woven through the teeth sits on the counter.

Weirdly, it feels like a far too intimate act to use the same comb on my own hair that Janik uses on his.

Considering I’m a prisoner, I shouldn’t care how I look, especially since he’s already seen me like this, but I pick up the stupid implement and run it through the tangled mess harder than I normally would.

Once I’m mostly satisfied, I scrub my teeth and tongue and manage to make myself feel human again. I use the towel from last night and scrub under my eyes, leaving black marks on the material. I guess I’m as ready as I’m going to get.

Janik’s where I left him, but he hasn’t appeared to have noticed my presence yet, so I take a moment to study him.

Gone is the arrogance that constantly surrounds him.

Instead, there’s a weariness that looks as though it’s weighing down his shoulders.

Why do I suddenly feel sorry for him? The asshole kidnapped me.

Worse than that, his actions led to the death of another of his kind.

Janik must finally sense my attention, because his gaze lands on me. That spark I noticed before—the one like a match being struck—appears in his eyes, and for a second I feel the sting of heat like I’ve been burned.

“Feeling better?”

Is his voice huskier than normal? Why am I even noticing? You don’t like him, remember ?

“Let’s get going, Warden.”

The fire in his gaze sputters out, but I won’t feel guilty about putting the much needed distance between us. I can’t forget I’m here because Janik kidnapped me. My body might be a forgetful and needy bitch, but my brain is the one in charge.

“Yes, let’s, Prisoner.”

Ouch, although I suppose I deserve that. I head for the door, but he beats me to it. Instead of opening it, he stares down at me, until I meet his gaze.

“Don’t speak to anyone while we’re out.”

“Worried I’ll tell them something that will make you look bad?”

Janik moves so far into my personal space, my breasts brush his chest with each inhalation I take.

“I’m worried I might have to kill one of my own males for even breathing the same air as you.”