Page 9

Chapter Nine

MAYA

T his planet is one huge mystery, one that I am determined to solve. What are the chances, though, that my biggest source of information kept following me like some sort of lost puppy? More than that, he’s actually agreed to lead me to where I need to go!

Am I going to use this to my advantage? You bet yourself I am!

Do I feel a little guilty about my plan, like I am using him? Sure, I do. But it’s not like I am hiding my goal from him. It’s not like we are trying to build some long-lasting relationship.

I just can’t help but wonder what he wants from me in return. He’s a complete and utter enigma. Especially since there is one absolutely massive gaping part of my knowledge about him that is really, really starting to bug me.

He’s been following me for hours, chatting with me… and I have absolutely no idea what his name is!

How do you go about asking that? Do you just casually say, ‘Oh by the way, after all these hours, I never actually asked you for your name’? Nope, I am not doing that. But… what choice do I have?

It’s not like he carries around a name tag, and I certainly can’t hack some server to find out the information and save myself some face.

I come to a halt. My brain feels like it’s going to explode. It’s going round and round in circles trying to find ways to learn his name, only to get stuck on the fact that I’m so embarrassed to ask now. The tension buzzing inside of me grows with every second that passes.

The alien stops ahead of me, realizing that he’s walked several paces away. Ever since he claimed to know an alternative way, a shorter way even, to my destination he’s been leading the charge.

“Are you alright?” He asks me, looking back over his shoulder.

“Yes…No,” I grind my teeth as I reply. I glare at the ground, unable to meet his eyes. My cheeks and neck feel hot as my embarrassment begins to slide through me.

I’m all too aware of him walking back to my side. There’s something about him that calls to me, making me hyperaware of his presence, even from a distance. Probably because he’s walking around in this chilly weather half-naked, like a complete and utter lunatic!

Of course, everything would be much easier if my body didn’t react to him the way it does.

He steps close to me, coming to stand within my little bubble of personal space. He has this way of crowding close, setting my blood on fire… it’s something I don’t need right now.

Still, my body doesn’t know that. Goosebumps erupt across my skin, my skin overly sensitive. His expression is so intent that I feel my core tighten. My breathing becomes heavy, and I do my best to not squirm beneath his inspection.

I fight the urge to say ‘my eyes are up here’. It’s not the first time I’ve caught a guy checking me out. As long as he looks but doesn’t touch, I don’t care what he does.

“What is the problem?” He asks. His hand rests casually on a large dagger sheathed at his hip, and his eyes flick from between me to scanning the surrounding trees. Even though he looks relaxed, I suspect he’s highly tense right now and ready to move at the slightest notice. That’s what a good hero would be like, at least. I’ve heard repeatedly how dangerous the creatures of Atraxis are, and I don’t doubt that his finely honed muscles are a result of living on the wild side a bit.

“I don’t know your name,” I mumble, my words so very quiet. Heat burns at my cheeks, prickling my skin. I wring my sweaty hands together, trying not to fidget under his inspection.

“What?” the alien asks, stepping closer.

“I don’t know your name,” my voice is barely a squeak. I can barely even hear myself talk.

My heart is pounding loud in my ears. Oh god, I can’t say this. I’ve totally set myself up for the most embarrassing moment in my life! My breath is stuttering from me in short bursts as panic begins to close in on me.

“Say again? I didn’t even know you humans could be this quiet.” His head tilts close to mine. His breath fans across my cheek, and I shiver at the contact.

“I don’t know your name!” I cry out, my control snapping. Like a rubber band stretched too far, my temper flings back violently in an attempt to mask my fear and panic.

The alien jumps back as if I’ve just attacked him. He looks at me with wide, shocked eyes.

I did just shout at the top of my voice into his ear…

Suddenly, he throws his head back and laughs. More than laughs, he guffaws. Bent over at the hips, hands slapping knees as he gasps for breath.

He takes a long moment to calm himself. The whole time I stand before him, arms wrapped about myself, feeling absolutely miserable. I’m just thankful that my dark skin color doesn’t show my blush much, otherwise, I’d be as red as a strawberry.

“I do not think I have ever had a female demand my name by shouting at me like that,” he says as he wipes tears from his cheeks.

“Demand? I didn’t demand it. It’s just that I’m…” I heave a deep breath, trying to regain my composure and whatever is left of my dignity, “I just forgot it, is all.”

“Do you easily forget things?”

“No! I have a great memory, and if it’s that important I write it down on my tablet as well.”

He looks at me with an assessing gaze. “Is that why you were so panicked? You thought you forgot my name?”

“I wasn’t panicked… If you have to know, I was embarrassed, alright?”

“There’s no need to fear, little Maya, you did not forget my name. I have not given it to you yet.” His eyes turn warm, soft even as he looks at me. Of course, I want to just scream at him that I did not forget, but he’s stuck on that point like I have some failing memory. I bite my tongue and turn from him. I’m sure I look like some sulking child, but this sort of social interaction is beyond me. It’s why I like computers so much - they are logical and without all the baggage of emotions.

He steps closer to me. I jump when his fingers curl around my chin, forcing me to meet his gaze. A calloused thumb strokes the dip beneath my lip, and suddenly all my nerves are replaced with a different kind of tension. I’m hyper aware of how close he is, how his breath mingles with mine. His lips hover just above mine, looking remarkably pouty and soft. I wonder how they would feel pressed against mine. Would he kiss me softly, or with domineering passion?

“You can ask anything of me, little Maya,” he says, his voice deep and husky. “I’m entirely yours to do with as you want.”

My mouth feels dry. It’s just nerves from him standing so close, I tell myself. His words just feel more intimate than they actually are - a fault of the translator, that’s all.

My heart rate picks up, and my body stiffens… and why are my nipples tingling and growing hard?

I’m not attracted to this alien, am I?

Every part of my body aches.

“Volan,” his voice is deep and husky.

It’s enough of an interruption that my lust-fueled thoughts are thrown completely off track.

“Huh?”

“My name, little female, is Volan.”

“Volan?” I repeat, testing out the pronunciation.

This close up, I realize that he has very little white in his eyes. Instead of his pupils expanding and contracting like a human’s, his blue-colored iris have practically eclipsed his entire eye - and it’s beginning to glow.

I take a step back from him, shocked.

He’s an alien. I mean, that much is obvious. But it’s a clear wake-up call for me. How much do I know about him? Nothing. I can’t be fantasizing about him. If I’m honest to myself, I don’t even know how much I can trust him. He could just be like every other male in my life.

The light in Volan’s eyes immediately disappears, and a bored expression settles over his features. He looks upwards, notably studying the dark clouds that are gathering overhead. Not that long ago the sky was mostly clear, and now a gloom is settling on this land. A breeze blows past us and instead of refreshing, it cuts through my clothing and stabs at my skin with icy claws.

My heart rate skyrockets when he fiddles with the knot of his cloak near his neck. Somehow, it’s only just now occurred to me that I’ve followed this mysterious alien out into the middle of nowhere. I’m alone. I’m vulnerable. I’m an idiot.

What on Earth—on Atraxis, I mean—made me think this guy was trustworthy?

I gape at him when instead of throwing his cloak to the ground, he swings it about and throws it gracefully around my shoulders. His cloak came to his knees when he was wearing it, but on me the hem touches the ground.

“What are you doing?” I ask as I instinctively clutch the warm fabric about me.

I try my best to not stare at his rather exposed chest in front of me. His muscles are massive, flexing beneath his skin with each movement. It’s entirely too distracting. He’s too distracting.

“You are shivering,” Volan replies, one corner of his lip twitching as if he’s repressing the desire to smirk.

If he’s going to give me an excuse for my body’s reaction to him, I’m not going to deny the opportunity. I have no idea why I am responding the way I am. The flush of heat spreading through my body has got nothing to do with the heat in his gaze or how he makes me squirm.

“Thank you,” I let out a relieved breath. My reaction is entirely unexpected. Of course, I’ve experienced arousal before… just never with an alien. And definitely nothing this needy and desperate.

“We should continue the journey via the tunnels. They will lead to your destination, perhaps faster even. Plus, it will be much safer than staying out here on the surface, especially with this storm,” he says.

It’s a bit early for the season for a snowstorm, but I do not want to be caught out in the open if one happens. Getting wet in these cold temperatures is likely a death sentence.

“Oh,” is all I can manage to say, feeling equally awkward and embarrassed. It’s not like I wanted him to kiss me… I have a quest to focus on, after all. There’s no time for romance, I tell myself over and over again.

Still, as he starts walking ahead of me, leaving me to follow in his wake, I can’t help but feel disappointed.

“Wait, what tunnels?”