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“You're staring again.” I didn't look at Kaspian.

I was driving. I had to keep my eyes on the road. Yeah, that was it. It had nothing to do with me weaving a mask of indifference to hide my extreme interest in everything Kaspian.

“How can you tell?” Kas tossed back. “You haven't looked at me since we got inside this vehicle.”

I had to bite my cheek to keep from laughing. Damn, was this why people played games? It was fun to see Kaspian's arrogance abandon him like a rat off a sinking ship. He was already unnerved because of his situation, and he didn't know the people of Earth. So he couldn't be sure if I truly didn't want to fuck him or if I was just messing with him. In short, he was on unsteady ground and didn't know what the fuck to do.

“It's called side vision,” I said. “Even we humans, with our pathetic eyesight have it. I can see you looking at me out of the corner of my eye.”

He grunted, crossed his thick arms, and stared forward.

“Seriously?” I finally looked at him, and I didn't have to fake the irritation in my voice. “I like you, but I'm fucking tired, all right?” I shook my head, looking forward again. “Jesus Christ, get a fucking grip and get over yourself. I know you're hot, but I happen to be considered very good-looking on this planet, and I've been with many attractive people. Tons! And do you know what I've learned over the years?” I glanced at him and found him gaping at me. I waved my hand at him, indicating all of him. “All of that don't mean shit. In fact, most of the time, the more attractive the guy, the more he sucks in bed. Because everyone he's ever been with has catered to him. They make it all about him, and he doesn't know how to give back. So, yeah. Your looks don't impress me much, Kaspian. If anything, they make me wary. Fuck, I'd rather have an average-looking guy who can suck my dick like a champ than someone who looks like you and just lies there, expecting me to do all the work. We call that a dead fish here.” I looked at him and repeated, “Dead. Fish.”

Kas recovered but only to ask, “What am I supposed to grip and how does one 'get over' themselves?”

I snorted a laugh. “Did you even hear anything else I said? Or are you that fucking arrogant that you don't care?”

“I care,” he muttered. “I'm also confused.”

“Get a grip means to, uh, accept reality. Get a hold on what's real. See things clearly. And get over yourself means that you have too high of an opinion of yourself, and you need to bring that down a bit because it makes you an asshole.”

“How dare you!”

“Hey!” I turned to glare at him. “Remember where you are, King Kaspian. Your title doesn't mean shit here. Even speaking it will make you sound crazy. And I'm all you've got. If I pulled this truck over and told you to get out, you'd have no idea what to do or where to go. You'd be fucked. And not in the way you wanted to be tonight.”

Kaspian grimaced. “I will do the fucking, not be fucked.”

I burst out laughing. “That's one way of declaring you're a top.”

“I don't understand your issue with my behavior. I'm a Dragon and a king. I behave in the manner that befits my race and station. Lowering myself to act as if I'm lesser would be foolish. I rule, and ruling requires confidence. You call me arrogant when I see it as speaking the truth.”

“Wow,” I whispered. “It's not arrogance if it's the truth, eh? All right. Let's go with that. You have to act like a king on your planet where you are a king. You are not that here. You're a stranger in a strange land. So adjust your behavior or you're going to piss off everyone you meet and become an alienated alien.”

“Piss off?” He made a horrified face.

I chuckled. “Not literally. It means you'll make people mad. They won't like you.”

“I don't care about being liked.”

“Everyone cares about being liked. And you sure seemed to care when I told you I wasn't up for sex tonight.”

“But you implied that had nothing to do with you liking me.”

I pointed at him. “Ha! So, you do care about what I think of you.”

“Well, yes. I care about what you think. Because I want to fuck you . Not people in general.”

Chuckling, I shook my head again. “At least you're honest. But the more you talk, the less I want to be fucked by you.”

“I don't understand you!”

“Yeah, we have a cultural difference to get over. Maybe things will be better in the morning.”

“Maybe.” Kaspian leaned back and sighed. “I am growing weary now too.”

I glanced over and saw his eyelids doing the sleepy dance. Mr. Confident wasn't used to the lull of late-night driving. He'd be out cold in a few minutes. I was looking forward to another round of silence. As hard as it must have been for Kas, it was difficult for me too.

A man from another world was sitting in my truck. Yup, still processing that. It had only been a day. Maybe it would sink in by morning. And hopefully, Kaspian's attitude would improve by then as well.

But I wasn't going to hold my breath.