Alexandre

by Shelley Munro

  As she watched, he squeezed his eyes shut, an expression of pain darting across his features. His impressive chest rose as he inhaled. Then his eyes opened. Blazing with resolve, they pinned her in place even though a part of her desperately wanted to retreat. The golden cat prowled around the corner of the table and halted in front of her. Lily swallowed in sudden trepidation. When she was five, Dad had warned her about pulling a cat’s tail. Seemed cats still fascinated her and she hadn’t learned much from past scratches and parental lectures.

  “I am not lying,” Alex gritted out. “Look.” His hands stroked down his denim-clad hips to cup an impressive erection. “Does this look like disinterest?”

  Lily froze, her eyes fixed on the spot.

  “Feel it,” he ordered. “Make sure your eyes aren’t deceiving you.”

  Before Lily had time to blink, Alex grabbed her hand and planted it on his cock. Heat seared her palm, and she jerked her hand away from the fire, panting with a combination of shock and wanting.

  Alex laughed without humor, seized her hand and placed it firmly on his erection again. “You wanted proof.”

  Lily nibbled at her bottom lip while she wondered on a suitable reaction. On the plus side, she was now in a position of knowledge. He was huge. Nice. Very nice.

  He stood before her with his arms folded arms across his broad chest. “Say something.”

  “You don’t stuff your trousers with socks.” A secret smile curved her lips when her fingers flexed involuntarily.

  Alex cursed under his breath, and Lily guessed it wasn’t suitable for printing in the Sloan Gazette.

  His cock jumped under her palm, bringing her back to the matter in hand. A nervous giggle escaped. Maybe men and women fondled strangers and tried parts for size on Dalcon, but she was at a loss as to what to do next. Unless…

  The idea speared into her brain like the arrow from an automatic bow. There was a simple way to prove he meant what he said.

  Call his bluff.

  Lily forced away her sudden attack of nerves and insecurity. She’d brazen her way through this and set her mind at rest. Taking a deep breath, she squeezed gently.

  Alex’s groan reverberated through the kitchen. He backed up rapidly, yanking Lily after him and sat on the wooden table. When his butt hit the flat surface, he widened his stance and pulled her between his legs. Somehow, her hand remained on his person throughout.

  Heat rushed to her cheeks while a streak of lightning flashed to the juncture of her thighs, the aftermath leaving Lily tingling all the way to her pleasure center.

  “Is that it?” Alex asked in a gruff voice.

  No, that wasn’t all. If he was giving her free rein on his body, then she’d take the opportunity to explore. She might not get another chance.

  Alex wanted to curse out loud. If the woman went any slower, he’d come in his pants like he had in his early days of practicing Earth sexual methods. He considered halting her tortuous yet shy exploration but couldn’t do it. There was more at stake here than the bonding ties. Lily’s self-esteem teetered, and if he weren’t careful, he’d blow it for her, not to mention his budding business. Alex held back an unsuitable smirk. Nah, he’d grin and bear her ministrations. And perhaps hurry her along.

  “Lily?”

  Her fingers danced across his straining manhood. “Yes?”

  “I’d like to do some exploring of my own.”

  She hesitated but didn’t say no. Alex took that as permission to forge ahead. The idea of stopping now made his head ache anyway. His hands curved around her shoulders then slid inside the gaping neckline of her pale green shirt to glide over the shadowed flesh beneath. Silky skin greeted his touch, but it wasn’t enough. Her soft sigh propelled him on, and her hands left his groin to grip the gatoraller leather belt at his hips. Alex withdrew his hands and, before Lily’s protests took substance, undid the small buttons of the shirt and slid it off her arms before chucking it on the floor. His first actual sighting of female Earth underwear. It appeared different from the pictures he’d seen. Less covering. More spectacular. The lacy bra cupped her breasts, hiding little of her beauty from his gaze. A tiny brown spot decorated the slope of one breast.

  “Beautiful,” he whispered.

  For an instant, she seemed uncertain. Alex leaned over and captured her lips with his. This time he took it slow and easy, caressing her lips before sliding his tongue into the warm cavern of her mouth. She tasted exotic and mysterious with the faint tang of spice mint on her breath. His favorite Dalcon treat. Alex tugged Lily closer, savoring the thrust of her plump breasts against his chest.

  “Can I take your shirt off?” Lily peered at him through lowered lashes. “Please.”

  Sounded like an excellent strategy except that he wanted to see her breasts, fondle her nipples and shape the tempting globes with his hands. The need to explore, to discover shape and texture was a fever in his bloodstream. His hands itched to explore, but his mind blanked when it came to the correct instructions for removing the female apparel. Alex coughed to clear the sudden knot in his throat.

  “I’ll trade you my shirt for your…garment, then we’ll both be down to skin.”

  Indecision wavered in her face. Alex held his breath waiting for her to say no. He sensed trust was difficult for her, but now he’d crossed the demarcation line from business to personal, he had everything to lose, too.

  “Please,” he murmured, sliding his hands through her hair and smoothing the silky tendrils. Alex continued the downward move over her shoulders and upper arms, tracing Lily’s elegantly curved form. Her skin was petal soft and smelled of the same flowers that perfumed her hair.

  “I’ll undress at the same time as you.”

  “You don’t have to.” All of a sudden, Alex felt guilty. She looked so scared that if he made an abrupt move, she’d probably part company from the ground. He could always go and take that shower.

  “No, I want to.” She reached behind her back and seconds later, the lacy garment fell away.

  Alex felt his mouth drop as he stared at her breasts. Perfection. Rose-pink nipples that stood erect and ready for him to taste. The large globes swayed as she edged away, traces of panic coming and going in her expressive eyes. She might regret disrobing, but he sure as hell appreciated the wondrous sight.

  “Stop,” he murmured. He desperately wanted to touch and took steps to halt her retreat. Alex stood and lifted Lily to place her on the tabletop, making it difficult for her to escape.

  “You lifted me,” Lily said in clear astonishment.

  Alex frowned. “Yeah. I didn’t want you to run away.” His burst of honesty brought a delighted laugh. Keeping to his end of the deal, he yanked his shirt off and let it fall to the floor.

  “Wow,” Lily breathed.

  “I get to touch first,” Alex said, his gaze already traveling the path he wanted to trace with his fingers and mouth, his tongue.

  Lily moistened her lips in what he was beginning to recognize as a nervous habit. “I didn’t agree to that.” She curled her hands around his bare shoulders and drew him close enough that his jeans brushed her inner thighs.

  Her shyness combined with flashes of aggression fascinated him. Another time he might have drawn out the teasing but desperation gripped him, directing his actions, prompting him to speed. He’d never wanted to touch, to give and receive pleasure so badly in all his life.

  Alex glanced at her breasts. The pink nipples appeared distended, silently begging for his touch. The tiny brown spot was like a magnet. His breath hissed out on a sigh. She wanted exactly what he wanted. She just didn’t realize how badly.

  Leaning over, Alex blew on one nipple. She shivered, and the hands that clutched at his shoulders drew him closer. Alex smiled, and repeated the puff of air across her nipple. He lifted his hand and reverently traced one full globe, circling the nipple with his finger. Although enthralled by her quiver and breathless gasp, the action wasn’t enough to appease his driving need. Alex bent
and licked across a network of blue veins under her skin, never taking his eyes off hers. His tongue slid across the brown dot. When her hands tugged him closer and her eyelids slid to half-mast, he felt a surge of triumph.

  Unable to resist, he sucked a pebble-hard nipple into his mouth and drew hard. While he lavished attention on one breast, he stroked and caressed the other. He gloried in the taste of her, of cinnamon and exotic spices, the feel of her flesh and her soft sighs.

  Alex glanced up and noted the glazed look in her blue eyes with satisfaction. His heart jumped in a leap of relief. The last time he had bedded his consort all he’d seen was gloating and greediness because she’d known jewels awaited her if she satisfied him in the Earth manner. There was none of that in Lily.

  He ran his hand over the softness of one cheek and tucked a lock of brown hair behind her ear. He watched her closely, saving the vision to examine later when he was alone.

  “More,” Lily murmured.

  He grinned before bending to kiss her again. She wound her arms around his neck and clung tight, participating with a greediness and genuine warmth that no longer surprised him.

  Part of him registered a series of clicks, but he’d only started kissing Lily. He’d learned there were lots of ways to kiss a woman, and he’d barely got to variation two.

  “Wolf!”

  Lily shrieked. Alex jerked away from her with a strangled curse.

  “What ya doing?” Killer said. “Do ya have any food?”

  Alex jumped in front of Lily to screen her nakedness. That bloody dog again.

  The dog trotted up to Alex, sniffed at his jeans then peered around his legs to check out Lily. Killer stiffened, the fur along her backbone springing to attention. She growled low and mean then bounded away, staring fixedly at the door that led outside.

  “Someone’s out there.” Lily gasped. “Where’s my shirt?”

  Killer barked again and scratched urgently at the door. Alex frowned. He hadn’t heard a thing, but he’d been concentrating on Lily.

  “Where is it?” Lily demanded, searching frantically around her and sounding as if she was starting to hyperventilate.

  Alex spied the pale green shirt over the far side of the kitchen on the floor. He had no idea how the shirt had ended up there but retrieved it for her. She grabbed it from him, struggling to put her arms into the sleeves while Killer continued with her frenzied barking.

  “Go on upstairs.” Alex took pity on Lily. Her cheeks matched the color of the red fruits in the bowl on the bench top, and she still fought to match her buttons with the shirt holes. “I’ll deal with the visitor.”

  “But—”

  “I’ll call you if I need you,” Alex promised.

  She needed no further urging and scurried past him, holding the shirt closed. Alex heard her swift footsteps as she climbed the stairs.

  Alex strode to the door and wrenched it open. He darted a glare at the dog as she pushed past to peer into the darkness. “Well? Where are they?”

  Killer yawned and sat on her haunches. “Gone. I go sleep with Lily,” she said, and disappeared inside.

  Alex cursed under his breath. Perhaps he’d take that cold shower after all.

  Chapter Five

  “Lily say time to get up,” Killer barked in Alex’s ear.

  Alex groaned and pulled the blankets over his head to drown out the racket. Unbeknown to Killer, he was already well and truly up, and uncomfortable with the situation. Seemed like another cold shower was in order before they set off on their journey to Taupo, the first stop on Alex’s itinerary.

  “Alex, are you awake?” Lily’s voice sounded from the doorway.

  Alex knew he shouldn’t look. Lily and a flat surface in the same room spelled disaster but temptation got the better of him. He emerged from under the blankets and squinted against the bright light pouring in the window.

  Wisps of hair sprang free from her mane tail, framing her face. Her blue eyes glowed with vitality, and she was dressed in a long black skirt and a red sweater that ended at her hips. Cloth covered every inch of her skin from the neck to her feet. Even concealed with battle armor, he had to admit she looked tempting.

  Alex suppressed a snort as memories of last night rolled through him. Obviously, he needed to work on his seduction skills. He’d lain awake throughout the night, his tom stiff enough to poke out an eye while it appeared Lily had slept the rest of the innocent. That was what you wanted, he reminded himself. To be judged on his actions rather than his appearance. But her apparent lack of interest when he was in such agony prodded his temper.

  “Not a morning person, huh?”

  He stared. Was this the same woman? This glowing, confident siren bore little resemblance to the frightened woman of last night, the one who had scurried off to bed. She grinned, making his heart pump out a double beat. By King Vala. Trouble ahead. How would he manage to keep his hands to himself?

  Lily felt the urge to sing but resisted. To her everlasting chagrin, her voice sounded like a wounded bullfrog. Actually, worse if she were honest. She definitely didn’t want to show off another weakness. Being clumsy was more than enough, thank you very much.

  “I’ve packed a picnic lunch,” she said, stealing a look at his blanket-covered form. Damn, not a single limb in sight. Aw, well. She threw her shoulders back and firmed her mouth to prevent a grin. Probably just as well. This job for Alex would pay off her debts and leave her a little over to put toward the personalized trip she’d always dreamed of taking one day.

  “I’ll see you downstairs. Coffee’s on.” Lily heard Alex groan. Not a morning person. The golden man had a flaw. The discovery cheered her. “Don’t be too long. We need to leave soon if we want to make all the stops on your list.”

  Alex stomped down the stairs about ten minutes later with Killer close behind. Lily took one look at the stormy face and shunted a cup of black coffee across the table. Killer trotted over to where Lily sat and barked. Smiling, Lily leaned down to scratch the dog behind the ears without taking her gaze off the golden man. Ruffled and grumpy as he was, he still looked good enough to eat. The alien would go well with chocolate. Sort of like a companion food. To hell with the diet, Lily thought with an inner smirk.

  “Get out of the wrong side of the bed?” she asked sweetly, unable to resist.

  The dog barked, a weird-sounding yap that made Lily gape. Alex merely grunted then picked up his coffee mug. He downed the contents and stood.

  “I’m ready to go.”

  She picked up her empty mug along with Alex’s. “Do you want to drive?”

  “Yeah.”

  Lily’s brows rose at his surly tone, but she stood, picked up the keys off the counter and handed them to him. “The bags need to go into the car.” She gestured at the luggage by the door. “Just give me five minutes to give Killer a quick walk.”

  “Bloody dog.”

  “Pardon?”

  “Nothing.”

  Lily rolled her eyes. Oh, joy. The surly routine was rapidly losing her sympathy. Still, if this meant repayment of her debt, she could put up with almost anything.

  * * * * *

  The gears ground with nerve-shrieking intensity. The SUV shuddered theatrically as though it were a living beast in pain.

  “Do you have your license?” Lily cried when the car swerved around a sheep and almost hit an oncoming stock truck. All before they reached the outskirts of Sloan.

  “No.” Alex’s hands gripped the wheel so hard his knuckles turned white.

  “Then why are you driving?” Lily screeched, pretending she didn’t see the one-finger salute from the driver of the stock truck. Frankly, she didn’t blame him and, given the circumstances, he’d been restrained in his reaction. “I want to arrive in one piece.”

  Killer barked in fitting punctuation.

  They shot across the road. Lily shrieked and grabbed the wheel, pulling with all her might so the vehicle lumbered onto the right side.

  That stand of kauri t
rees looked a bit close for comfort. “Stomp on the brakes!” she yelled.

  “Which pedal?”

  Which… “The middle one! Stamp on the middle one. Now! Do it!”

  Killer yelped and jumped off the seat to cower at Lily’s feet. Lily glanced out the window, saw how close they were to kauri trees, and wanted to join the dog. They were going to die. Now was the perfect time to act like an ostrich burying its head in the sand.

  “Holy shit.” Lily braced for impact. “The middle pedal. Harder. Now.” She glanced at the tree trunks. They were so close now she could see the individual leaves on the trees and the patterns on the trunks through the windscreen. The dog whimpered at her feet. Lily knew just how she felt, but at least Alex had worked out the brakes. The rest of the road was clear of traffic. That was a good thing.

  The car hit the soft road shoulder. The wheels spun for purchase, and the vehicle slid, turning slightly so it approached the trees sideways.

  “I think we’re going to hit the tree,” Alex said.

  No shit. Now there was a newsflash. “I hope you have insurance on Dalcon,” Lily gritted out. “Because Luke will have a coronary if you harm a speck of paint on his baby.”

  “I worry more about Janaya,” Alex muttered, stepping on the brakes with all his strength. The vehicle screamed, the stench of rubber heavy in the air.

  Lily stared fixedly at the nearest tree. It got bigger and bigger until all she could see through the driver’s window was tree. The impact threw her toward Alex and then the seat belt jerked her back. Killer yelped twice. Alex cursed. The engine groaned. Metal screeched as it made contact with a branch. A dull pop preceded the crackle of broken glass.

  Then at last, they came to a halt.

  Lily gingerly tested her limbs. Everything worked. At least they hadn’t hit hard enough to activate the airbags. “Alex, are you all right?”

  “Yeah. Will the vehicle still work?”

  Lily sure hoped so. “Killer, sweetie. You can come out now. Everything’s okay.”

  Killer poked her head out from behind Lily’s legs. She cast a disgruntled look at Alex, and Alex guessed he was in for a tongue-lashing when Killer got him on his own. He checked out Lily. Judging from her set expression, there wouldn’t be much flesh on his bones for Killer to pick over. His stupid pride had landed him right in the middle of a mess. In hindsight, he should have admitted he hadn’t had much experience with Earth vehicles.