Ashley took a deep breath and met his gaze, unable to hide her emotions any longer. “Xizi, I know this might sound crazy, but I can’t deny the way I feel about you. I know we’ve only just met, but there’s something about you that just draws me in.”
Xizi’s expression softened as he cupped her cheek in his hand. “I feel it too, Ashley,” he said, his voice filled with tenderness. “I know it’s fast, but sssometimes the heart knows what it wantsss. The Stars led me to you for reason, because we were made for each other.”
Ashley felt a surge of warmth fill her chest at his words, and she knew that he was right. Maybe it was crazy to feel this way so soon, but she couldn’t deny the strong connection she felt with him.
Ashley felt a rush of desire and pulled him closer as she pressed her lips to his, feeling a rush of passion pulse through her.
The kiss was soft at first, but soon grew more passionate as they both gave in to their desires. Ashley felt Xizi’s arms wrap tightly around her as they deepened the kiss, her heart racing with excitement and nerves.
Everything else faded away, and all she could think about was the alien male in bed with her.
As they pulled away from each other, Ashley knew that their connection was only just beginning, and she couldn’t wait to see where it would lead them.
Sixteen
Xizi
Xizi felt his hearts race as the cabin door buzzed, causing him to tense up. His instincts told him that danger could be lurking, and he needed to be ready to protect Ashley at all costs.
He carefully climbed out of bed, whispering to Ashley to remain there while he investigated. Slowly and cautiously, he made his way to the door, bracing himself for whatever might be on the other side.
Xizi’s hearts thumped rapidly in his chest as he saw two male emerald Swynemi crewmembers outside their cabin. He felt a sense of urgency and apprehension, wondering what they could possibly want from them.
“Is everything all right?” He stepped completely through the doorway, hoping to block their view of his enax while she was at her most valuable. “What can I do for you?”
One of the Swynemi crew members smiled at them with their pointed teeth, their wings fluttering in excitement. “Greetings, Xizi,” he said. “We have come to deliver your requested clothing and morning meal for you and your human mate.”
“Yes, everything is fine,” the taller crew member assured him. “It’s nothing more than a routine check-up to ensure your health and well-being. We take all of our passengers’ safety and health very ssseriously, and it’s important that we don’t bring any unwanted diseases or illnesses with us to where we are going.”
Xizi nodded, relieved that it was nothing more than a delivery. “Thank you, I appreciate it. Come on in.”
Xizi moved away from the door, agreeing with their reasoning. He turned to face his enax, who was still in bed and watching him with wide eyes.
“They want to check our health,” Xizi explained, gesturing to the clothes and meal tray in their hands. “Just a routine check-up.”
The workers made their way over to the table, putting the clothing on the chair and placing the tray of food on the counter. They nodded respectfully before fluttering back out of the room.
Xizi stood back, his heart pounding with fear as the crew members began their examination of Ashley and him.
Xizi felt a twinge of worry as the Swynemi workers scanned their bodies with their medical devices. He kept a watchful eye on Ashley, making sure they didn’t do anything to hurt her.
Xizi watched as the workers attempted to remove Ashley’s blanket, his growl warning them to back off. He felt fiercely protective of her and didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable. “Leave her,” he ordered, his voice low and menacing.
The workers paused and looked at him, startled by the intensity in his voice. “But, sir, we need to check on her condition,” one of them protested. “It’s ordered by the commanders.”
“She can stay wrapped up,” Xizi said firmly, daring them to go against his command. “Humans are not comfortable with nudity like we are. Respect her wishesss.”
Xizi’s eyes flashed with annoyance as the workers continued to fuss over Ashley. He couldn’t help but feel protective of her, especially when it came to her modesty. He growled at the workers, his tone commanding, “I said leave her be. Let her keep herself wrapped up in the blankets. I know you are fully capable of scanning her through fabric.”
The emerald workers looked at him with surprise, their wings buzzing with agitation. “But sir, we must ensure that she’s properly healed,” one of them protested.
Xizi took a step forward, his towering stature making the workers back up in fear. “I told you to leave her alone. She’s myenax, and if you disregard her wishes, I’ll have to do sssomething about it.”
The workers glanced at each other nervously before bowing their heads in submission. “Yes, sir. Our apologies.”
He watched as they checked her vitals, making sure she was okay after their journey through space. As they worked, Xizi felt a strong urge to protect Ashley, to shield her from them and throw them out of their cabin.
He didn’t like how they ignored her when she tried to keep the blanket wrapped around her body. If he had his way, he would rip off their buzzing wings and offer them to his enax as proof of how serious he was about protecting her from the universe.
