B.I.L.L.:Madison, I sincerely doubt the human race has the discipline of mind, nor rational clarity needed, to respond with appropriate calm.But what do I know?
Apparently, he knows how to be a sarcastic asshole.
B.I.L.L.:Sir, how do you wish to proceed?
“Monitor Dark Fleet movements and keep me apprised of the situation.In the meantime, I need to complete the astral bond.You know what will happen if I don’t.”
I sigh.Whenever he talks about the astral bond, it makes me feel special.He looks at me with truth behind his words, and somehow makes me believe him when he says he wants to be with me forever.
B.I.L.L.:But sir, do you really think it wise?Bonding to a human.Interfering in her life.This, too, could be deemed a breach of the treaty.
“We’ll deal with that later.If I don’t solidify our bond and finish the ritual, I will be of no use to the Federation.”He’s staring at me as he speaks.“She’s my mate.”
Shivers erupt down my spine over the need clearly visible in his exotic eyes.I love it when he calls me his mate.It sounds so damn possessive and final.He acts as if we’re fated for one another.After years of Nicholas’s indifference, Rygar’s absolute conviction is like catnip.I can’t get enough.
Despite BILL’s warning, I’m perilously close to jumping my new husband’s bones on a public sidewalk.
It doesn’t matter that we’re hiding out in the middle of the night between the medieval jousting restaurant and a tattoo parlor.It doesn’t matter that Rygar has made us invisible.It doesn’t even matter to me that Rygar is from outer space.
The entire town of Stargazer Village, with the way they believe in UFOs, Area 51, skinny gray aliens with big black eyes, and secret space programs, is the perfect place for Rygar and his men to hide out.The entire town lives, eats and breathes conspiracy theories.Hell, my dad is the foremost UFO expert in our town, taking tourists into the forests at night to try and catch an alien craft on camera.
I guess it’s serendipity that Rygar fits me, and my town, with his alien getup, strange mannerisms, and sense of adventure.I haven’t felt thisalivein years.I run my hands over his suit.I imagine peeling the strange suit off his hard, soldier’s body.“BILL is right.We need to hide.Let’s do the ritual thing later.We should get a hotel room.”
I slide my hand down the front of his body, heading due south, but he stops me.He lifts both of my hands and holds them against his chest.
“You’re going to be a handful.”
I burst with laughter.I’m not a small woman.I’m going to be way more than a handful.
“As tempting as the offer is, we cannot wait any longer to perform the ritual.”His brooding is endearing.We just raced a stolen horse through Reno while dressed up like a virgin bride and a space alien.His effort to be deadly serious after a stunt like that deserves the giggle the escapes me.
“Can’t it wait?We lost our ride home.We should go across the street to the hotel and get a room.Get out of these clothes….”I drop the metric ton hint.I’m beyond ready for my new husband to ravish me.When he doesn’t respond, I sigh.Forget hints.Some men need things spelled out one letter at a time.“I want you naked.”
A scowl furrows his brow and he shakes his head in the negative.“I would like nothing more than to give you what you refer to as my ‘man-blade’ and give you hours of physical pleasure.”
Hours?Did he just say hours of pleasure?I wrap my hand around his wrist so I can pull him toward the closest hotel.Gimme-gimme-gimme.I want thatman-bladeright now.
“But first, we must recite the vows of my people and inscribe the marks of the astral bond linking both our astral and physical bodies.Once we perform the Empyrean Ritual, my people recognize two souls bound as one.No one will be able to oppose the match, on either planet.”
The Emp-ear-what?“Inscribe?You mean with something permanent, like a tattoo?”It totally explains why we’re standing in front of a tattoo parlor.
“Yes.It is how astral bond mates bind themselves to one another.We mate for life in my culture.Once the bond is forged, nothing but death can sever our joining.”
B.I.L.L.:Sir, the treaty.Maybe you should reconsider?—
“Enough.”Rygar snaps.“I will not sacrifice my mate to galactic politics.”
Dammit.BILL has the most inopportune timing.Here I am, all gooey on the inside, sighing over the way Rygar talks about our relationship as if it’s a foregone conclusion that we will be together forever, and ready to get my freak on.
“Do we really need to do the tattoo now?”I hate needles.I’m not into pain.The idea of experiencing both in the next half hour is more effective than someone throwing a bucket of ice-water on my hoo-hah.My opinion only, but needles and orgasms are not a good mix.“Couldn’t we wait until morning to get the tattoos?We could grab a hotel room.Spend some time together in bed.”Some naked time in a great big bed.Without needles.
“It is not safe to wait.We must complete the Empyrean Ritual so our mating is binding and legal on my world.Only then will I claim your body.”His focused attention is both lustful and possessive.So much for the cooldown period.A single smolder from him and my body goes up in flames.
“Then what are we waiting for?Let’s go.”I grab his hand and tug him along with me toward the entrance.If this is what it takes to get my new hubby into bed, so be it.
B.I.L.L.:This is not a good idea, Commander.I’ve estimated the probability of Dark Fleet Assets pinpointing your location.I calculate the risk is not worth the reward.It is my duty to recommend a delay.The ritual can be performed on the ship once you return.
“BILL, she’s worth the risk to me.”He stops us at the door and checks that the streets are clear.Then he opens the tattoo parlor door and performs a quick visual sweep.God, it’s so hot the way he assumes command.There’s something incredibly sexy about a guy knowing all this stealthy, soldier stuff.My reaction surprises the hell out of me.He makes me feel protected and safe.Logical or not, I believe that as long as I’m with him, nothing bad will happen.
