by Tracy Lauren
“You wanted to kiss me.”
I’m pleased. I’m beyond pleased. But I’m also at a loss. Any other woman I’d simply pull into my arms and kiss her fiercely. But I don’t know that Madison is ready for a kiss like that and I want to make this first one good for her.
“Come with me,” I tell her, pulling her to the captain’s chair. I take a seat and motion for her to sit in my lap. Despite her trembling hands, she does. And the fact that she’s wearing nothing but my nightshirt does not escape me. Holding her like this, when I know she’s eager for my lips on hers…it’s almost too much for a man to handle. But this moment is about Madison, not me.
“Are you sure you want this? You only get one first kiss, Madison.”
She nods, her eyes locked on my mouth. But I want more from her. I want to know this isn’t a decision she will regret. I reach up and run my thumb over her lips. She sucks in a breath.
“I think…I think my first kiss is long past due,” she tells me, her voice heavy with desire. Again, it’s not what I want to hear. I want Madison to claim me, to say that I am the one she wants.
“Princess,” I scold. “Are you so desperate for kisses that you’d give them away to a frog like me?”
“You’re not that bad for an alien.”
My eyes go wide and when I scoff at her words she flushes a deep shade of red. Madison runs her hand over her eyes, embarrassed by her words. I’m a prince, damn it. A handsome one at that. I’ve had beautiful women throw themselves at me. But Madison says that I’m not that bad.
“God, that was super insulting wasn’t it? What I’m trying to say is…you’re hot. Is that what you want to hear? You might be green, but you’re…” She scans my body hungrily. “You’re all sexy muscles and masculinity and as much as I find you annoying—”
“This sounds like it’s turning into an insult.”
“I’m drawn to you, alright?” She echoes my unspoken sentiment. “And I don’t know if it’s because you’re attractive, or because you’ve been such a good friend, or hell, maybe it’s because you’re the first regular person I’ve met. But more likely…it’s all those things. So, if you’d please be so kind—will you kiss me already and stop making me sing your stupid praises? You have no idea how awkward this is for me.”
I lean back in my seat and shake my head.
“No?” Madison asks, practically recoiling.
“No. I want you to kiss me.”
Her shoulders drop. “Kethian, I don’t know how.”
“Kissing comes naturally, Madison. I’m not asking you to pounce on me and I’m not judging you. I just want to give you a chance to explore me and find out what you like best. This is your kiss. I will be the gentlemen and you can have your way with me.”
Madison laughs at the suggestion. “So you’re just going to lean back and make me do all the work?”
“I hope you do not think of it as work,” I tell her, relaxing in my seat. “Go ahead, Princess. Whenever you’re ready.” I close my eyes and wait to feel her lips against mine.
“Are you going to brag to all your friends about this?” she asks.
“Absolutely.”
She chuckles and finally I sense her beginning to lean in. “You’re really not going to tell me what to do?”
“Kissing usually involves less talking than this,” I point out.
“Fine,” she huffs. But even with my eyes closed I can tell there is a smile on her face. Hell, there’s a smile on my face too.
I feel Madison’s hands on my cheeks before I feel anything else and I imagine her studying my face before her lips finally brush gently against mine. Never has such a chaste connection caused me to feel so aroused. I could fall apart in my seat right now, but Madison holds me together and her soft tongue tentatively licks my bottom lip before it steals its way to the seam of my mouth. I let my lips fall open. And while Madison takes the lead, I respond to her kisses, gently moving my lips against hers.
At first her kisses are quick pecks and little licks, but as our mouths come together, each caress becomes longer, slower and more languid—until finally, I cannot hold back any longer. I bury my hands in her hair and thrust my tongue into her mouth. She gasps and sucks on me, hard and desperate. Her hold on me tightens.
My cock strains beneath her and I find myself hoping she does not notice. While her hand would feel oh so good rubbing me there, I will not forget that this night is about Madison and her first kiss—nothing more.
Madison’s now-expert kisses are quickly becoming more frantic until she’s gasping and moaning against me. She’s going to make me lose my control if we continue like this. Reluctantly, I pull away. Madison’s hands are in my hair and her body is pressed against mine. It all feels so damned good. I don’t want it to stop. But I refuse to let it get out of control.
“Should we go to my room?” Madison suggests, her voice filled with need. My heart clenches. She doesn’t know what she’s asking for, because if I take Madison to bed tonight I won’t ever want to let her go.
“And where will we go after that?” I ask. “To Earth? So you can leave this alien life behind? Or are you having second thoughts?”
Madison seems to be holding her breath and her scrutinizing eyes search my face, waiting for me to break. She wants to think I’m only teasing, but I’m not. My heart is on the line here. Finally she speaks. “I still want to go to Earth, Kethian.”
“Then perhaps I’ve taken enough of your firsts. Save the rest for Earth, eh?”
“Oh. Um…okay.” Madison slides off my lap and I don’t stop her. The silence between us is wrought with a tension that wasn’t there a moment ago. “Are we good?” Her body language begins closing off. She seems shy and nervous once more.
“You got your first kiss?”
“I did.”
“And did you like it?”
“You know I did.”
“Beyond that I suggest we focus on our goal, Princess. It won’t be much longer until we get to your home world. It’s time you start thinking about the life you wish to have there.”
“Yeah. Sound advice.” She starts for her room, but stops just before the door. “Kethian…you didn’t answer the question.”
The silence stretches as I admire the beautiful woman before me, the woman that I want to make my own. “What am I to you, Madison?”
She doesn’t hesitate. “You’re my friend, Kethian. The only real one I’ve got.”
I nod and force a smile. “I’m good with that,” I tell her. Or at least, I’m going to have to be.
Chapter 18
Madison
Days pass and things between Kethian and me suddenly feel awkward and distant. I wonder if kissing him was perhaps a mistake, but I can’t talk myself into believing it. Kissing Kethian was amazing. It’s all I can think about. I know I’m supposed to be planning my own reintegration onto Earth, but every time I sit down to brainstorm my mind goes right back to that wonderful kiss. And every night when I go to bed, I think of all the things that might happen beyond kissing. I used to fantasize about pop stars. But now I can’t stop thinking about the man sleeping just a few doors down. He’s flesh and blood and for a little while there he seemed as interested in exploring this as I did. But he stopped me and I can’t figure out why.
Kethian is a little older than me. I know he’s no virgin, so why end our kiss so abruptly? I mean, a handsome guardsmen like him must have been with plenty of women. Yet he draws a line with me.
I think about the fact that I keep calling him a frog and wonder if by Atana standards I’m the one who’s not all that pretty. I know he’s been flirting with me since we met, but maybe that’s just his personality. Maybe he flirts with all women. I don’t really like the thought, but still, it could be true.
I finish up with the synthesizer and pack the things I’ve made into a bag before turning to head back to my room, but the second I step foot into the hall, I run head-first into Kethian.
“Oh, hi,” I t
ell him. He nods his greeting.
“What do you have there?”
“Just some supplies for Earth. Nothing big.”
He grunts. “I wanted to let you know, we should arrive sometime tomorrow.”
It isn’t until the look on Kethian’s face turns to one of concern that I realize I’m standing here with my mouth gaping.
“You look pale, Madison, are you alright?”
“Huh? Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just…I can hardly believe it.” Surprisingly, this all feels so strange to me. Earth has had my heart for years, but I never really thought I’d be coming back. Now I’m excited and nervous, and if I’m being totally honest, I’m a little scared too.
“I thought maybe we should celebrate. I made dinner. If you’re hungry we could…”
“That sounds great,” I say quickly, longing to spend more time with Kethian, longing for that energy we shared in those first few days. “Let me toss this in my room and I’ll join you.” I hurry away, leaving Kethian staring after me.
I need something to ignite that spark again, something to make him flirt with me a little. A vague plan forms in my mind. In my spare time I’ve been making clothes appropriate for Earth. Quickly I tear off my yoga pants and tee-shirt and replace them with a soft pair of short shorts and a slightly too tiny spaghetti strap shirt. I forego a bra and opt to go barefoot as well, feeling like it makes me appear more casual—as if I’m not trying to look cute. A little lip gloss, and I’m on my way.
As I near the ship’s galley I’m painfully aware of my nerves. While I should be thinking about Earth, my mind is on Kethian and I squeeze my hands together to get them to stop trembling.
When I turn the corner I see him. His back is to me and he’s doing something at the stove. “Hey.” I duck my head and try to sound relaxed as I start grabbing things to set the table—plates, napkins, utensils.
“That was fas—” Kethian’s words fall away and I shoot a quick glance in his direction. His eyes are raking over my body. I bite back my smile.
“You changed.”
“Yeah, it’s getting late. I thought I should throw on something comfy.” I shrug, trying to make it seem like it’s no big deal. Yet I’m standing a little taller and swaying my ass a little more than necessary as I set the table. “Is there anything else I can do to help?”
My question shakes Kethian from his frozen state. “No, everything’s ready. Take a seat.”
A familiar scent meets my nose. “Did you make tal’ma?” I ask. It’s a traditional dish on Tevera.
“I’d have made a meal from Earth but I am not familiar with any. Besides, this might be the last time you have something from your father’s world.”
“Stepfather,” I correct.
“If you don’t like it I could make something else—”
“No! This is perfect. I actually love tal’ma. It was thoughtful of you to make it.”
Kethian smiles and takes a seat across from me.
“So, Princess, let’s talk strategy. What’s the plan for our arrival on Earth?”
I frown. Kethian seems to be all business tonight. “I figure we land someplace secluded and scope things out for a bit first.”
“Do you have family you plan to contact? Friends?”
“No. I have an aunt, but that’s the first place my mom and Vazrium would look. I want to steer clear of her. Besides, this is about living my own life. If I go to my aunt she’ll just try to take care of me. I don’t want that.”
“And what about friends then. Justin…”
“Justin? Um, I’m not ready to cross paths with any friends. Besides, I figure I’m considered a missing person. If I show up suddenly people are going to start asking questions I don’t know how to answer. I’d rather go somewhere I can start fresh.”
“What do you need for this fresh start?”
“Lots of stuff. Mainly cash. I also don’t have an ID and I think that’ll be a problem. I was hoping we could link up with Earth’s internet and try to find a way to make accurate forgeries of that stuff with the synthesizer.”
“Where will you live?”
“With cash and an ID I could rent a motel room. Then I’d have to find work and hopefully I could eventually make enough to get an apartment.”
Kethian nods, like all this is logical. “Where will you work?”
“I don’t know. Maybe I could wait tables or something.” I poke at my food. The prospect doesn’t sound amazing. I’ve had so much education, but none of it means shit on Earth.
“The princess of Tevera waiting tables,” Kethian echoes with a frown. His displeasure is palpable.
“Well I could always play the Taloch’nck in the park for spare change,” I say sarcastically. Kethian doesn’t look amused. “Eventually I might be able to enroll in a community college, if I had the right IDs. Waiting tables wouldn’t be permanent, but it’s probably the only thing I can do right now.”
“Can’t we just make you more Earth credits?”
“What am I supposed to do, synth a whole truckload? People will get suspicious Kethian.”
“And what am I supposed to do, tell people I left the princess of Tevera on Earth so she could do slave labor?” There’s something sour about Kethian’s tone that doesn’t sit right with me and I wonder how we got to this place. Before our kiss he was so fun and lively. Now…it’s like he’s a stranger again. It’s an unhappy thought and it makes my tone a little sharper than intended.
“Slave labor? Waiting tables is hardly slavery, Kethian. It’s honest work. And besides, I’m not the princess of Tevera. I’m Madison. Just Madison. Look, thanks for dinner but I think I’ve lost my appetite,” I say, shoving my plate away.
I hurry from the room, not giving Kethian a chance to call after me. Not that he does anyway. Then, I’m helpless against the tears that well in my eyes. So much for a seduction. Hell, so much for a friend. I really thought I had a bond with Kethian. Now I have nothing. It’s fitting I guess, once he leaves me on Earth I’ll truly be alone. I’m going to have to learn to get on by myself sooner or later. Might as well be sooner I suppose.
I duck into my room and lean against the cold, metal wall, hugging myself and letting the tears fall. I’m just emotional because everything is changing, I tell myself. And while I keep wanting to think of what awaits me on Earth, I can’t help but think of Kethian and this weird sense of loss I feel instead.
My door chimes, startling me. My hands fly to my face and I try to wipe away my tears, but it’s no good. I’m already a mess. “Go away!” I shout, but a second later there’s a beeping noise and the door glides open. He’s forced entry at the access panel.
“Kethian!” I complain, wiping frantically at my face to hide the evidence of my sadness. “What the hell?”
The look he gives me is an angry one and I try to turn away from him, but he grabs me by the wrists and makes me face him. “You’re crying.”
“Thank you, master detective Kethian. Can you please leave now?” I try to wriggle free from his hold, but it only makes Kethian hold me tighter. He wraps his arms around my waist and stares down at me.
“What’s wrong?” he demands. I want to tell him everything. I want to tell him that it felt like he was my friend, my only friend, and now that he’s taken that away I’m hurt and confused.
“Are you having second thoughts about Earth?” he asks.
I furrow my brow. “No! I belong on Earth, Kethian!”
“And tomorrow we will be there, yet still you are crying!”
“Maybe I’m nervous?” I suggest hotly.
“Maybe? Why don’t you just tell me what’s really bothering you, Madison?”
I try to free myself once more, struggling against him, but it only makes me more frustrated. “Fine! It’s you okay! I thought you were my friend, Kethian, but the past few days we’ve hardly spoken. I don’t understand what I did to create this wedge, but it hurts. I’ve had no one since Earth. No one! Then suddenly I had you and…” I tra
il off.
Though I refuse to look up at Kethian, I can feel his eyes on me. Hell, I can practically feel his frown.
His voice is low when he speaks, but it doesn’t take the bite out of his words. “You have me. And what do you plan to do with me, Madison? Should I deliver you to Earth, to your Justin, and then simply walk away?”
“What do you want?” I manage to squeak out.
Kethian growls and his forehead drops to mine. “This is about you, Madison. This has always been about you. If you need rescuing I will save you. If you need a friend I will be that for you. If you want me to risk a war with your father and take you halfway across the galaxy, have I not shown that I will do that too?”
“I want to know,” I press, even though I fear his answer. If it’s sex that he wants, if there’s some cue that I missed, I’m not sure if I know how to give it to him. “What do you get out of this?”
Kethian sighs and releases me. As much as I was fighting against him a moment ago I still hate how alone I feel without his touch. “I get a few stolen moments with the beautiful and unapproachable princess of Tevera. Bragging rights to last a lifetime, I’d say that’s a fair trade.”
I sigh. “You only think being royalty is some special thing because you’ve never lived that life. But I’m telling you, Kethian, I’d choose this over being a princess any day.”
“And what is this?”
“This is…I don’t know…something real.”
“It does feel real, doesn’t it?” he asks and there’s this look in his eyes that’s so pained and desperate I almost feel like I’m gazing into a mirror.
I don’t know what comes over me, but I feel this rush of adrenaline and close the short distance between us, pressing my lips to Kethian’s. There’s a moment when I fear he’s going to reject me and push me away. But he doesn’t. His arms wrap around my waist and he’s holding me so tightly that he’s nearly lifting me off the ground. And his kiss… Lord, his kiss. Every cell in my body comes to life and my heart pounds in my chest. Then his hands start roaming and I think I might pass out from sensory overload, but Kethian keeps it PG, grazing my hips and burying his fingers into my hair. I want to beg him to touch me, to pull down the fragile straps to my top and taste my skin. Hell, I want to touch him too, I just…I just don’t know how. But if he told me, if he led my hand…
