He studied her a moment, but she couldn’t tell what he was thinking. As he stared at her, their gazes locked, the world melted away. Charlotte moved a little closer, her body nearly brushing against his. She wanted to feel his arms around her, his lips against hers. Would he tangle his hands in her hair and tip her head back to kiss her deeper, harder? She’d never had a truly passionate kiss before, and suddenly she really wanted Borgoz to be her first.
Someone jostled them, and just like that, the spell was broken. He cleared his throat and took a step away from her, releasing her hands. Charlotte felt chilled without him standing near and wished he would come back and wrap his arm around her again. But no matter how much she wished it would happen, she could tell from the look in his eyes that he wasn’t going to get that close to her again. Not on purpose anyway.
Borgoz spent the next two hours shuttling her from one shop to another and arranging for her purchases to be delivered to his home. He was patient while she tried on things and even made some suggestions on a few dresses, but he kept his distance. It killed her, the chill that had seeped between them. She wanted the heat back, the passion, but she wasn’t sure what to do to make it happen. She’d felt close to him, and then suddenly he was stiff and formal.
When they reached his home, he bid her a formal goodnight and made a hasty retreat. Charlotte’s shoulders slumped in defeat as she trudged up the magnificent staircase to her room on the second floor. After exploring her space a little more, she decided to soak in the large tub in the bathroom. She found some scented flakes under the sink and dumped a healthy amount into the hot water before sinking in up to her neck.
As an afterthought, she switched off her hearing aids, plunging herself into silence. Charlotte closed her eyes and enjoyed her bath. When her hands began to prune, she drained the water and got out, wrapping a towel around her. She was rummaging through her suitcase, looking for pajamas, when a vibration made her turn to face the door.
She gave a startled gasp and nearly lost her towel, exposing the tops of her breasts, as she faced a stunned looking Borgoz. He said something, but she frowned before remembering she’d turned off her hearing aids. She switched them back on and asked him to repeat what he said.
“I came to apologize.” His gaze raked her from head to toe, caressing the curves that were still apparent even under her towel. There was heat in his eyes, a hunger that matched her own.
Charlotte took a shaky step toward him, and when he didn’t run away, she became bolder and moved even closer still. When she was near enough to reach out and touch him, she licked her lips and knew what she was going to do. It was beyond brazen, more daring than anything she’d ever done. With a trembling hand, she unknotted her towel and let it fall to the floor. The pulse in Borgoz’s neck jumped, and she wondered if his heart was pounding as hard as hers.
“What are you doing, Charlotte?” he asked softly. “You’re playing with fire.”
“For once in my life, I’m going after what I want,” she answered honestly. “I want you, Borgoz. I have from the moment I first saw you this afternoon. You can’t deny that you want me too.”
“You shouldn’t say things like that.”
“Why?”
His hands clenched and unclenched at his sides. “Because I’m barely maintaining my control. You have no idea how close you are to being thrown on the bed and fucked until you can’t walk tomorrow.”
A shiver of anticipation raked her. Reaching out, she ran her palms up his rock hard abs and splayed them on his impressive chest. Borgoz didn’t protest and she felt his labored breathing, giving her the courage to tug on his shirt, trying to remove it. He pulled it over his head and let it drop to the floor. Hungry to see more of him, she began pushing his pants down his hips. As he stepped out of them, her mouth ran dry.
Borgoz was perfect in every way. His muscles weren’t too large, but he was still broad and strong enough to be intimidating. As her gaze took all of him in, she realized his cock was standing erect and looked far larger than she’d thought possible. A tremor ran down her spine as she wondered if he would fit. Was this the moment she told him that she’d never done this before? Her gaze caressed him again, taking in his hairless state, except for the long locks flowing to his waist. She wanted to bury her hands in that hair, hold him to her and beg him to never let her go.
Charlotte let out a little squeal as he scooped her up into his arms and carried her across the room to the bed. He eased her down and kissed her hungrily. His kiss was fierce, delicious, and very devastating, leaving her reeling. His mouth was masterful in the art of seduction, and she was ready to give him anything he wanted as long he never stopped kissing her. Borgoz trailed his lips down the column of her throat and then cupped her breasts in his large hands. His lips closed over the tip of one breast, and she sucked in a startled breath. Reading about sex and experiencing it were two different things. Sensations bombarded her, leaving her weak and wanting.
Borgoz made love to her breasts with his lips, tongue, and slightly rough hands. Charlotte felt herself growing wet and wondered if it was possible to have an orgasm without him ever touching her between her legs. She spread her thighs so that his body settled between them.
“Tell me what you want, Charlotte. If you want me to stop, then say so now.”
“I want you.” And she did. She wanted him more than she’d ever wanted anything in her life.
He kissed her again, his tongue twining with hers as he thrust hard and deep. Charlotte cried out as tears gathered in her eyes, and he pulled back, his eyes startled and his lips parted.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked. “If I had known you were an innocent…”
“Then you wouldn’t have taken things as far as you did.”
“You’re right. I wouldn’t have. What I’ve just taken from you should have been reserved for your mate. And no matter how much I want you, what’s happening between us changes nothing. I’m not the right male for you, Charlotte.”
She blinked away her tears and wrapped her arms around him. “Just make love to me. Show me what I’ve been missing all these years.”
He kissed her again, this time softer, as he began to move inside her. Their passion flared once more, his hips slapped against hers as he took her to dizzying heights. Charlotte felt herself spiraling out of control and then it happened. She felt as if she had shattered and flown apart, only to slowly float back to earth. Borgoz came inside her, and the feel of his hot semen was a welcome one. It made her feel like a woman for the first time in her life, made her realize that he was exactly what she’d been missing. Not the sex itself, but the man who had made it possible for her to feel one moment of pure bliss.
Borgoz withdrew and rolled to his side, pulling her into his embrace. He smoothed her hair back from her face and cuddled her close, as if she was something precious. Charlotte wasn’t sure how long they lay like that, but eventually her eyelids grew heavy and she slumbered. When next she woke, she was alone, the blankets pulled up to her shoulders.
Charlotte reached out and touched the slight indention in the pillow and wondered how long ago Borgoz had left, and wondered even more why he hadn’t stayed. She had a feeling he felt guilty for taking her virginity, for giving into her the way he did. But their brief moment together was the most perfect moment in her life, and she would cherish it always. It also told her what she’d known since she stepped off the shuttle today. If she couldn’t have Borgoz for a mate, then she wouldn’t take one. She’d completely flipped for him, head over heels.
Chapter Six
What have I done? The words played over and over in his head as he stared out of his bedroom window. His body was tired, but as he stared at his empty bed, he realized he didn’t want to lie in it. Not without Charlotte. He should have stayed in her room, held her until the suns rose, but he’d felt guilty for what he’d done. It wasn’t his right to claim her like he had. Casual sex was frowned upon in his society, even though couples we
re known to test their compatibility before mating. But this was different… he wasn’t going to take Charlotte for a mate. Couldn’t.
The best thing to do was set her up with some likely candidates and then let nature take its course. Surely, once she was face to face with some younger males, males who would be able to give her everything she wanted and needed, then she would put him out of her mind. And until that happened, he would give her some space. There was plenty of work to be done, things to occupy his time and his mind.
As he stared up at the moons, he wondered if he’d ever be able to forget Charlotte. Her body had been soft against his, her sighs sweet, and her lips even sweeter. He’d been a fool to not walk away. Now that he’d had her, had tasted her and felt her curves pressed against him, he found that he wanted more. He wanted to hold her tight and never let go. But that was madness!
Feeling unsettled, he pulled up the Vid-Comm and recorded a message to be delivered to council member Larimar. He was ten years Borgoz’s junior, in good standing with the community, and he was without a mate. If Borgoz could handpick the mate for Charlotte, it would be Larimar. He just wasn’t sure how the other council member would feel about her affliction and her speech. Borgoz found her way of speaking to be charming, but not everyone would see it that way.
“Larimar,” he began, “I have a proposition for you. I know you are as yet unmated, and I have a young woman in my home who I believe would be an ideal match for you. Her father holds a position of power on Earth, a political position. She’s deaf, but with the devices in her ears she can hear a little, enough to hold a conversation. I’d like to think you wouldn’t hold that against her. Please come to call on her if you’re interested.”
Borgoz ended the recording and set it to deliver when the suns rose. He should have felt relieved, having gotten the message out of the way and having set Charlotte’s future into motion, but it felt like a weight was pressing down on his chest He could barely breathe. The thought of her with another male crushed him, but he knew it couldn’t be any other way. Living with him would slowly destroy her, and that would make him feel even worse.
He paced his room until daylight broke, and even then he felt unsettled. He wasn’t sure what was worse, that he’d slept with Charlotte or that he was setting her up with someone else. He wondered if she was just now waking. Would she be upset that he’d slipped away while she slept?
It took a strength he didn’t realize he possessed not to go check on her. He wanted to take her breakfast in bed, then cuddle with her and watch the suns rise. What would it be like to spend the day with her, holding hands, kissing… he imagined it would be rather wonderful. Some male would be very lucky to have her in his life, and in that moment Borgoz wished more than anything that it could be him.
A ding on the Vid-Comm drew his attention and he clicked the button to activate the screen. Larimar appeared, smiling broadly.
“Borgoz, good morning. Is this delightful creature you mention the one you were seen around town with yesterday?”
Borgoz clenched his fists. “Yes, I was with Charlotte yesterday. I took her shopping and out to eat.”
“And you are thinking of taking her as your mate? It’s past time you settled down and had a family of your own. You need someone to boss around other than your nephew.”
“I’m not considering Charlotte as a mate.”
The light dimmed in Larimar’s eyes for a moment, but his smile stayed firmly in place. “In that case, I will be delighted to stop by and take her out for breakfast. Could you see that she’s ready when I arrive? I have a busy afternoon planned.”
“Of course. I think you’ll find her delightful to be around. She’s rather sweet and charming.”
Larimar nodded. “Then I’ll see you soon.”
The Vid-Comm went dark and Borgoz sighed. He wasn’t ready to see Charlotte yet. He called Helio on the Vid-Comm, who was thankfully in the house already, and asked him to deliver the news to Charlotte that she would have a visitor shortly. When his task was completed, he showered and dressed before retreating to his office where he stared at the same documents for hours without really seeing them.
His stomach twisted and knotted as he wondered how the date was going between Larimar and Charlotte. Was she taken with the male? A quick look at the time showed that Charlotte had been gone for hours. Far longer than it took to go to breakfast. What were they doing?
It was another three hours before Charlotte returned and the tension inside Borgoz eased… until he saw her smiling face and realized she’d had a nice time with Larimar. He should have felt great about it, knowing that his plan was working. But that wasn’t how he felt. The thought of Larimar holding Charlotte, of him kissing her and making children with her, it was enough to make Borgoz lose what little he’d been able to eat all day.
Suddenly he wondered if perhaps he’d been too hasty in setting the two of them up. What if he’d made a mistake? What if… what if he could be a good mate to her? As he watched her smile and laugh with Larimar in the front hall, he realized it was too late, that he had already lost her. That was his smile. She was only supposed to look at him that way.
It sickened him, knowing what he’d lost, but he knew when to bow out gracefully. It was obvious the two of them were better suited to one another. He should be happy for her. But he wasn’t. He was envious and sick with jealousy over the easy way they were together, and the fact that it would be Larimar holding her at night, making love to her.
Borgoz realized too late that perhaps it hadn’t just been lust making him act out of character. Perhaps, he was a little bit infatuated with his houseguest. Perhaps, he was… even a little in love with her. He’d heard the silly Earth stories of women falling in love at first sight, and he’d scoffed at them. Now he wondered if maybe it had happened to him the moment he’d seen Charlotte standing there, looking adorable and lost as she’d stepped off the shuttle.
And now he’d never know what might have been between them. Because he’d royally screwed up.
Chapter Seven
Charlotte sighed as she looked at her reflection. It had been six weeks since she’d come to Terran, or Zelthrane-3, as she’d learned the planet was once called. Six miserable weeks of pretending to be interested in Larimar, even though the councilman knew she wasn’t. He humored her, and she thought it had something to do with Borgoz. The first morning she’d gone to breakfast with Larimar, he’d taken one look at her, smiled and declared that she was in love with her host.
If Larimar had seen it so clearly, why didn’t Borgoz realize it?
Maybe it was because he avoided her. She’d scarcely seen him since they’d made love and it hurt, knowing that he could so easily keep away from her when all she thought about was wanting to be near him. Larimar knew that she was in love with Borgoz, wanted him desperately, and he was all right with it. On their first outing, he’d declared that he would see her as often as possible to keep Borgoz from sending more males her way, and hopefully the Chief Councilor would come to his senses and realize that Charlotte was the best thing that had ever happened to him.
So far, that hadn’t happened.
Things were different now, though. After spending the past week throwing up every morning and afternoon, Larimar had taken her to the clinic. It turned out her stomach bug was a little more permanent, like something she’d be taking care of for the next eighteen years. She just didn’t know how to tell Borgoz that their one night together had resulted in a baby.
Larimar watched her and reached over to still her fidgeting hands. “When are you going to tell him?”
“I can’t. He’s made it very clear he doesn’t want anything to do with me. We haven’t shared a single meal together since that night. He barely looks at me.”
Larimar smiled. “He looks at you. When I bring you home, he lurks in the shadows and watches. Our Chief Councilor might not realize it, but he’s every bit as fascinated with you as you are by him. If ever there was a couple that
was meant to be together, it’s Borgoz and you.”
“He’s never going to admit it. He’s convinced that he would make a bad mate.”
“Then maybe we need to ask how he feels about being a daddy?”
Charlotte winced.
Larimar sighed and squeezed her hands. “You can’t keep this a secret. You know I’m not going to mate with you, which means he’s eventually going to make arrangements with other males. And they aren’t going to want another male’s child in their house, especially not the Chief Councilor’s. Even worse, they’ll tell him you’re expecting a baby. His baby.”
“I don’t know how to tell him,” she said softly. “If he won’t speak to me, how can I possibly tell him about the baby?”
“You’re going to have to figure it out. How did you seduce him to begin with? Maybe that’s your way in.”
She blushed. “He caught me just after I got out of the bath. But he hasn’t come to my room since then. I don’t see an encore happening. And I have no idea where his bedroom is in that monstrous house.”
“Ask Helio. Trust me, he wants to see Borgoz settled as much as the rest of the council. We’re hoping a mate will soften his edges and make him less… I believe the Earth term is less of an asshole. He’s given some of the mated couples a hard time because he didn’t approve of the Earth women the Terran males chose. Perhaps if he has someone in his life, someone he can learn to love, then he’ll understand what those males have been through.”
“So just anyone will do?” she asked, feeling hurt.
“No, Charlotte, don’t think that way. Anyone with eyes can see you’re special to Borgoz. He wouldn’t hide from you if you didn’t get to him. He wants you, but for whatever reason, he doesn’t want to want you. You need to remind him what you had between you, however brief it may have been, and show him that you can have many more of those moments in the future. All he has to do is claim you for his own.”
Charlotte and the Alien Ambassador Page 4
