Page 6 of The Alien Prince’s Dubious Bride (Escape to Haven County)

6

I think I already know I can’t go back. Not permanently, anyway. I’ve already seen too many strange things not to share them and nobody would understand. Plus, Drakkon is growing on me. He’s so freaking sweet in a gruff, take charge kind of way.

And that’s all confirmed when we emerge from the lift onto the said garden deck. The lighting is low and soft in pale shades of pink. The place is dripping with exotic flowers and leaves the size of a small car. We follow a winding path past delicate waterfalls and steaming pools to a grotto where a feast is laid out. And absolutely everything is heart-shaped.

Narrowing my eyes at Drakkon, I can’t hold back the giggle. “Did someone tell you it’s Valentine’s Day?”

He nods, looking somewhat abashed. “Do you not like it?”

It would be trite and silly if it were anyone else. “I love it! You’re very sweet for a royal prince.” I lean up to kiss his broad cheek. The earlier tingling I felt only intensifies on my lips and I take in a sudden sharp breath.

Oblivious, Drakkon feeds me samples of the dishes — apparently all his favorites based on his enthusiasm and knowledge of how they came to be. I’m enjoying his boyish delight even more than the food.

“I want to get to know the real Drakkon, the guy behind the prince,” I tell him softly when neither of us can eat another bite. “What kind of boy were you? Studious or always getting into trouble?”

The arch look he sends me has me bursting into giggles again.

“I was the youngling that craved adventure and sought it out at every opportunity. Nothing new or special there. Nor was my military career, although I greatly enjoyed it.”

“And girlfriends?” I ask with slight dread.

Drakkon shakes his head. “Again, only the kind of adventures that young males are prone to.”

That has me raising my eyebrows, but it becomes clear he’s not going to provide me with any details. Sighing, I stand up and extend my hand to him. We walk slowly down the romantically lit paths. “If we are going to do this, I have some expectations to set.”

His look of surprise is almost comical. “You aren’t rushing back to pack your bags for Earth?”

I shake my head shyly. “Not yet. And maybe never if you agree.”

He sighs dramatically and leads me over to a stone bench in a fragrant alcove. “Speak then, little kystra .”

“If we become mates, then you can’t have any other sexual or romantic partners.”

Drakkon’s eyes widen. “Do such things happen on Earth?” He shakes his head as if trying to comprehend. “Mates are for life, little one. There is neither time nor interest to look away, even for a moment.”

I nod, satisfied on that count. “And you have to provide me with language lessons or some kind of translator device, maybe both. I don’t want to be isolated from what’s going on if you aren’t in the room.”

He waves a dismissive hand. “Done. What else?”

“Do you think you can come to love me?”

Drakkon’s smile is almost sad. “I already do, C.J., It is you that needs to come to terms with so much unanticipated change. I think the real question you need to ask yourself is, can you come to love me? It is not a requirement for mating, I suppose, but I suspect you would find life very lonely if you cannot.”

His hand falls away from mine as if expecting rejection. But I shake my head again with a wry smile. “I’m already there. I can’t say why or how, but I’d really like it if you kissed me now.”

Drakkon hesitates and I suddenly worry that I’ve assumed too much.

But then he stands and scoops me up. Lowering his head to mine, he rumbles, “Do you remember I said a kiss would seal our mating permanently? Are you absolutely sure, little one?”

My brave and fierce little C.J. She has no idea how much I admire her tenacity. I can only hope that the enhancements provided by the nanobots will bring her pleasure. Lowering my lips to hers, I pause briefly. Then when she gives a little hum of annoyance, I smile and take what is mine.

She tastes sweet, like the chiga fruit at the end of summer. My ridged tongue sweeps inside her mouth only to discover that hers is tantalizingly smooth. C.J. gives a murmur of surprise and presses closer. I linger in her mouth, sucking, nibbling, tasting, trying to learn as much about her as I possibly can.

Reluctantly, I pull back slightly to find her eyes dazed with pleasure. “That was, um, that was… Well, you’re a really good kisser,” she finally concludes, sounding almost chagrined about it.

“And you are intoxicatingly sweet, little mate. Are you ready to return to our quarters so I can taste further?”

She blushes and tucks her head into my shoulder, but not before nodding affirmatively.

Despite knowing I’ll cause a furor of gossip in the security control room, I scoop her up in my arms and carry her out of the gardens and down the many lifts and corridors to our rooms. Gazes are swiftly averted as we pass various personnel, but I know full well the news will spread fast. C.J. is oblivious, or at least pretending to be, as she still has her face pressed to my neck. Every now and then, she takes an experimental lick or nibble.

“You keep that up, little one, and you’d best be prepared to be speared by my cock the moment the door shuts behind us,” I warn her with a growl as we enter the last lift.

She giggles. “I know. I figure why wait?”

My hold on her body tightens. Dare I sprint down the corridor? Probably not a good idea for the royal image, but nobody can blame me for quickening my steps.

I set C.J. down on her feet momentarily just inside the entrance so that I can rid her of all that pesky clothing.

“Hey, what about you, big guy?” She tugs briefly on my uniform, but I shake my head.

“That comes later, after I’ve feasted on you and made sure you’re ready for your mate.”

She pouts, but it quickly turns into a gasp when I set her down on a convenient table and bend down so I can kiss her pussy. What I find there is the sweetest nectar of all. If all Earth females taste like this, the small planet is going to be overrun with eager warriors.

I lick slowly so I can both experience every moment and learn what C.J. likes most. My tongue probing her entrance, apparently.

“You like that, little kystra ?” I murmur, stepping back slightly to admire her spread out before me.

“Mppf,” she breathes out with a sigh. “It’s got ridges!”

I forgot for a moment how smooth her own tongue was earlier. “Yes, little mate. But my cock does not. Do you want more tongue first?”

She shakes her head and nods at the same time, making me smile.

“I don’t know! Make me cum, please, Drakkon.”

Well, who can argue with such sweet pleading? My cock is hard and eager for his turn, plus I’m curious to see what she makes of being cradled by my chalsk . I quickly remove my garments, letting them spill to the floor for the first time in decades. There are more important things at stake here and I’m loath to move away from her. Spreading her folds gently, I notch my cock at her entrance.

“Tell me if you need me to go slower, sweetness.” Then I penetrate her with persistent steady pressure.

“Ugh, faster, Drakkon. Stop torturing me,” she whines when I’m a quarter of the way in. She is taking me readily, so with a quick jerk of my hips I stretch her wide.

Her responding moan is one of deep satisfaction.

I pull her up by her hands slightly from her recumbent position. “You should watch my claim on you, little one.”

Her eyes widen as her gaze drops to focus on where my cock is embedded. I slide the rest of the way in, bringing her flush against my chalsk .