Alexandre (6 page)

Lily sent him a perplexed look. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay?” She reached for him. “Let me feel your forehead.”

“No!” Alex backed up rapidly in distinct panic. “I’m fine. Tired. Just a little. Achy. The atmosphere on Earth is giving me needles and jabs.” He had to get out of here. He couldn’t fail before he’d even started. “I’ll…ah…good night! See you on the morrow.”

Alex made the mistake of glancing in her direction before he headed for the stairs leading to the next floor. A heartbeat later, his gaze hit her lips, and as if she knew he was watching, her tongue snaked out to moisten the sensuous curves of her mouth. Alex bit back a girlish whimper. The lady knew exactly how to tempt a poor hormone-prone alien.

A soft choked sound made his gaze jerk higher to meet her eyes. They looked dark and mysterious rather than the innocent sky blue he’d admired earlier.

“Good night,” she whispered. “Maybe you’ll feel better in the morning.”

Neither of them moved. Instead, they continued to stare at each other.

Alex knew women liked to look at him even though he tried to ignore the fact. But he had the magical spell that changed his appearance, and still Lily looked as though she wanted to eat him up and then lick him all over for dessert. The hungry expression warmed him—hell, that wasn’t the truth. It made him hot. Rhinoceros—no! Horny. The Earth word was horny. It made him feel like a mighty male, and he hadn’t felt like that in a long time.

Alex cleared his throat. “I don’t think we should follow through on this, Lily.”

Under his fascinated gaze, her face went bright red then paled to the shade of his white shirt.

“I’m sorry.” Her gaze skittered away, ending at her feet. “I’m acting like a desperate woman. You don’t want a fatty like me. Don’t worry, I won’t force myself on you again.”

The embarrassed anguish in her voice jerked him upright. Lily thought he was rejecting her because of her appearance. Didn’t she know how beautiful she was? He stared nonplussed by her words.

“I’ll understand if you want to organize another travel guide.”

Her bottom lip wobbled, and she blinked rapidly. Hell, she was gonna start leaking. Alex shuffled from one foot to the other, trying to work out what to do. He couldn’t touch her—he just couldn’t. But then, how could he leave her thinking she repelled him when he was running for exactly the opposite reason?

The soft sob decided it for him. With one step, he closed the distance between them, hauled her against his chest and enclosed her trembling body in his arms. Instantly, the acute pain faded. His erection softened enough that he didn’t look like the Dalcon banner flying in the seasonal wind. It was as if he’d appeased the bonding gods, and they were letting up on his poor abused body, rewarding him for good behavior.

Lily fought his embrace, and Alex tightened his arms. “Don’t fight.” He lowered his head and inhaled the floral scent that came from her hair.

Instead of settling, Lily continued to struggle. Alex loosened his grip and pushed her away to arm’s length to search her expression.

“I don’t want your sympathy,” she snapped.

Alex held back his grin with great difficulty. Lily reminded him of a tigoth cub, all eyes and spitting temper. “I don’t pity you. Why would you think that?”

She shot razor daggers at him with her stormy blue eyes, her nostrils flared, and he noted her curled fists.

“Look at me.”

Alex knew following the order was a mistake, but he did it anyway. He ran his gaze up and down her curvaceous body again before coming to a halt on her pale oval face. “Yeah? What’s wrong with you? You’re not missing any of the necessary bits.” His voice emerged calm and matter of fact, as if he lacked interest and didn’t care one way or the other. Nothing could have been further from the truth.

“What’s wrong with me?” Lily screeched loud enough to hurt his ears. She widened the distance between them, a pained expression on her face. “I’m fat. What man would want me? My husband didn’t. He went elsewhere. To another man.” Her shoulders hunched like a cowering fodo bird that didn’t want its tail feathers plucked, and she refused to meet his gaze.

Her husband didn’t want her? He discarded her? Shock roared through Alex at the disclosure. Fat? The female scored highly on his mental writing tablet. Body fat to cushion a male. A pretty mouth that made his pulse race, especially when she smiled. She had many good points. He took half a step toward her then stopped, at a loss when a broken sob emerged. The solution that presented itself wasn’t that lava hot. But he couldn’t think of another.

Alex grabbed Lily before she could strike out with her bunched fists and kissed her. Hard. Unrelenting, until he had to surface for air. By that time, Lily had ceased her struggles and was allowing the kiss even though she wasn’t actively participating. Better, but not satisfactory. What now? He studied her, uncertain of how she’d react to his aggression.

“What was that meant to prove?” Lily asked in a quiet voice.

Frustration bubbled up in Alex, and it wasn’t all sexual. Someone, probably the stupid-assed ex-male, had done a number on her confidence. They stared at each other in stalemate. He regretted the kiss but only because he hadn’t taken the time to taste and explore, to make it memorable for both of them.

“I find you beautiful.” Alex lashed out with truth. He stepped behind the kitchen table in the hope it would hide his burgeoning erection. His tom was starting to feel like the sail of a glider-ship hoisted then hauled in because of fickle winds. Up. And then down. Was it any wonder he felt a little crazed? “Under different circumstances, I would call it an honor to mate with you.”

Holy moly. Lily went from depressed and defeated to hot and hungry in seconds. The serious expression…he meant his words. Awe whirled and skidded through her mind. She’d thought the lusty feelings had been solely on her side. She’d thought…heck, she hadn’t thought past her initial attraction because…because she was fat. Overweight. Fleshy. All the superlatives. Ambrose hadn’t wanted her so she figured no one else would either.

Then her mind seized on his words. “What different circumstances?”

“I’m from Dalcon. You’re from Earth.” Alex shrugged as if his response explained everything.

Lily sniffed. The fibbing toad. She wasn’t that stupid. “You’re lying to make me feel better. You don’t want to make love—to have sex with me.”

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.