by Lily Thomas
His sister was right. Samantha would be welcomed with open arms, if she could bring water to their planet. They spent a lot on water imports. They could also create new jobs with terraforming, it would be another reason for her to come to Kell.
But… “Her mother is in the hospital. She might not want to leave.”
“You should at least ask. Does she even know you want her here?” Bria raised an eyebrow.
His sister should be an investigator for the Kell government or an interrogator. She was able to read his expression like no one else.
“I can’t believe you! You fall in love, because let’s admit it, you are, and then you don’t even tell her about it!” Bria leaned back in her seat, her eyes wide. “Are you really going to let her go?”
No. No, he wasn’t going to let her go.
“There’s someone at the door for you!” Her mother called out from downstairs.
Creth had given her mother the best medical care, and when her mother was walking on her own, they all moved into Creth’s home on Drein. And since then Samantha had learned Creth truly loved her mother.
They were soulmates, if such things existed.
And it made her heart cry out in pain. She’d woken up to find Xacier gone, and since then she hadn’t recovered. She missed his presence. He was a confident man who made her feel safe. Then he’d abandoned her in the middle of the night like some snake.
“Who is it?” Was she expecting someone?
“Just come down here and stop making your mother yell.” Her mother tossed back.
“Fine. Fine.” Samantha grumbled, as she stood up from her desk. She’d been helping the terraforming companies from Drein. She’d quit her job, but remained an advisor, until her replacement was ready.
“So who is it then?” She came up behind her mother and peered around the front door.
Xacier.
Her breath caught in her chest, as she eyed him. He looked the same. There was still a braid of black hair on each side of his face, but this time he was wearing pure white clothing with medals all over the chest.
What did he want? Frustration consumed her, as she watched a smile curve his lips. How dare he. How dare he show happiness, when he’d crushed her!
Before he could blink, she walked up to him and slapped him. His head turned, but the smile didn’t leave. She raised her hand again.
“Samantha Jacobson!” Her mother barked at her. “What has gotten into you?”
Samantha glanced at her mother, and then at Xacier. His eyes had changed from ice blue to pure black. Was he aroused or angry? He better be feeling anger, not arousal, because he wasn’t getting back into bed with her.
“Nothing.” Samantha gripped the door and slammed it shut in his face.
“Don’t you want to talk to him? Isn’t he the man who came to the hospital with you?” Her mother followed her back to Samantha’s desk.
“No and yes.”
“What is going on?”
“Leave it mother, please.” She swiveled in her chair to face her mother. “I can’t talk to him, not now.”
“Fine. But I don’t think he’s leaving anytime soon.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because he told me he had a room in a hotel down the street. Sounds like he might be staying a while on Drein.”
Samantha groaned. Great. Now she wouldn’t be able to leave the house for fear of a shadow following her everywhere she went.
“She doesn’t wish to speak to you.” Samantha’s mother told him, as she came out and closed the front door. It was clear to Xacier she didn’t want her daughter to know she was talking to him.
“I realize I left her like a… coward, but I’m here to rectify the situation.”
She folded her arms across her chest. She came a long way from being in a hospital bed to standing in front of him. He now knew where Samantha got her courage from. Her mother had an amazing amount of resilience in her.
He nodded. “I wish for your help, but if I must woo her on my own, so be it.”
“Why do you love you?”
He smirked. “Because she doesn’t fear me. She will tell me when I’m being stupid or stubborn. Because of her small pert nose and her shining green eyes. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for her.” He thought about it. “I’d be willing to give up my kingship for her.”
“You’re a king?” Her mother’s mouth popped open.
“Yes.”
“Well then. How ‘bout that.” She eyed him for a bit. “Well, she likes lilies and dark chocolate. You can start with that and see where it goes.”
“Could I come over for dinner tonight?”
“I don’t know about that.” She worried her lip, as she glanced back at the house.
“I’ll bring chocolate and lilies.” He’d have to find out what those were, but if Samantha liked them, then he’d be sure to have some tonight.
“Don’t be late. Dinner will be at six sharp.”
Samantha was currently hiding in her bedroom. It was the only place she could lock and be away from Xacier. He was everywhere! And, damn him, she was falling for him all over again. She knew her mother was giving him tips, and she had no idea why.
Xacier had already been over for dinner twice, and each time he’d brought dark chocolate and lilies. It was definitely the work of her mother, although neither of them would admit to it.
A knock sounded on her door.
“Who is it?” She asked suspiciously.
“Your mother. Open the door, Samantha. Xacier isn’t here.”
“No.”
“I’ll have Creth just bust down the door.”
Damn. Creth was a great man, but he was strong like Xacier. What was it with alien men keeping in shape?
She opened the door, only enough to stick her head out. “What?” She felt like a petulant child, but she was also being ganged up on. So everyone would have to deal with her temper tantrums.
“He’s been here every day for the past few weeks. Sweetheart, he’s a king. He’ll have to go back to his people, at some point, and will you be grateful or will you regret that day?”
“He left me in the middle of the night.”
“He told me.”
“He did?”
“Yes, and Xacier explained why. You should let him explain it to you.” Her mother cocked a hip against the door jab and eyed her daughter.
“Or you could explain why he left.” Then she could wait and see if she wanted to speak with Xacier.
“It must come from him. Trust me on this. I want to see you happy.” Her mother’s hand came up and caressed her face.
“How do I find him?” Samantha worried her lip. He could’ve left the planet already.
“I lied to you. He’s waiting in the living room.”
Samantha gaped at her mother. “You lied?”
Her mother smiled. “To protect my baby girl, even if it’s from herself? You bet’cha!”
“Thank you, but he’d better have a damn good excuse.” Samantha walked past her mother, straightened her shoulders and made her way to the living room.
There he was, sitting on the couch. It looked so weird to see such a large man just sitting on a couch, and he didn’t even have any visible weapons on him.
“Xacier?”
He bolted up from the couch, when he heard her voice. “Samantha. It’s nice to see you.”
“So. Why did you leave me?” Samantha crossed her arms over her chest.
“Would you like to sit with me?” He motioned to the couch.
“No.”
He sat back down on the couch hesitantly. “My cousin stole my kingship, which was how I ended up in the hands of the Frirens. I knew bringing you back would only endanger you. I’d just saved you from the arena, and I didn’t want to bring you into danger again.”
Samantha held up a hand. “You should’ve asked me. You should have told me what was going on. You should have asked me what I wanted.”
Xacier
nodded. “I should have, but I was a coward. I wasn’t even sure you wanted to come to Kell with me.”
Samantha paused, and her anger dissipated some. Coward? A strong warrior like him wouldn’t want to admit to being a coward. Yet he was doing it?
“Please Samantha.” Xacier got up and approached her, reached out his arms, and brought her close to his chest. “I can promise you I’ll never leave you by yourself again.”
“You’ll have to earn that trust, you know.”
Xacier nodded, as a smile grew on his face. “You forgive me then?”
“You can bring me back to your world, and then I’ll decide. You have any other family members who want to be king?”
“For now, everyone is content with their lives.” He smiled. “Your mother told me you quit your job.”
Samantha pursed her lips. “It was for the best. Now that I don’t need to pay for my mother’s medical bills, I thought I might take a break.”
“Maybe you would consider continuing your work with my people.”
Samantha cocked her head. “What do you mean?”
“You know about terraforming technology, and my planet desperately needs water.”
A smile brightened her face. “I’d be delighted to assist you. But don’t forget you have some groveling to do. I don’t need you abandoning me in the middle of the night again.”
“I can assure you, it will never happen. I lost you for a while, and I have no intention of losing you again.” He crushed her against his chest, as he kissed the top of her head.
“I guess I’ll have some packing to do then.”
“This is fantastic!” Her mother came around the corner dragging Creth with her.
“Spying?” Samantha eyed her mom.
“It was her idea.” Creth smiled, as he pointed over at her mother.
“Just promise to visit us every once in a while.” Her mother came over to give her a bear hug. “Now get up to your room and pack. It’s been fun having you, but it’s time you go start your own life. Creth will watch over me now.”
Samantha smiled, as she led Xacier to her room. She was excited to meet Xacier’s people and to live on another planet. This was an adventure she could approve of.