Under His Skin

by Stacey O'Neale

  Instead of driving herself crazy over all the possibilities the break-in posed, she focused her efforts on the cleanup. How could she get the broken window replaced? No glass company would be willing to come out at this time of night. The best option she had was to cover the damage herself. It wouldn’t resolve the issue, but it would keep some of the cold out until she could get the window replaced tomorrow. Luckily, she had kept a few pieces of two-by-four lumber and a plastic tarp the construction workers had left when they did some minor renovations for her last year.

  Once she carried the wood to the front of the store, she retrieved the toolbox from her apartment. Turning the radio on blast mode, she collected nails from her toolbox. As she nailed the tarp over the gaping hole, fear bubbled in the pit of her stomach. If Kaden was right and she had a stalker, was she no longer safe in her own home? Taylor Swift’s latest song came on, and she focused on the music, hoping it might drown out of the list of questions she had racing through her mind.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Kaden sped through the details of the last few hours with his brothers while he packed some of his clothes into a leather suitcase. He didn’t want to leave Annabelle alone for too long. During the drive home, an overwhelming fear had settled deep in his chest. Whoever this visitor was, he was using Annabelle to get Kaden’s attention. But he couldn’t understand why.

  “What’s your plan, Kaden?” Hayden asked, leaning against his bedroom doorframe.

  “I’m going to stay at her place and survey the area during the day. I have to find this other visitor before something happens to her.” He briskly walked into his bathroom to collect some toiletries.

  “Okay, you have officially lost your goddamn mind,” Camden said, pacing the room like he was about to explode. “You can’t control yourself around Annabelle, and now you’re going to move in with her?”

  “She needs to be protected,” Kaden insisted, not appreciating having to defend himself. Annabelle was in danger because of him. There was no way he’d let something happen to her. He would never be able to live with himself.

  Camden sat on the desk chair, running his palm over his chin stubble. “How can you protect her? You’ve been behaving like an animal in heat for almost two weeks. Staying at her place only ensures you’ll be sealing the deal. Under normal circumstances I’d be cheering you on, but did you happen to forget we’re under constant surveillance?”

  “He has a point, Kaden,” Hayden chimed in. “You’re going to expose us all.”

  He had done what was best for his family since they’d arrived on this planet. All that he had ever done was protect them. Had they forgotten he had spent nearly a year concealing his feelings for her? Yes, Annabelle was his mate—which had caused some complications over the last few weeks—but he wasn’t some pimply teenage human. He had self-control.

  “I can manage my urges,” Kaden growled.

  “Yeah, you’ve been doing a bang-up job so far,” Camden said, rolling his eyes.

  Kaden reached his breaking point. He headed toward him with his fists clenched, but Hayden stepped into his path.

  “Enough of this,” Hayden said, pushing his hand against Kaden’s chest. “Look at yourself. You’re furious about a simple conversation. Can’t you see you’ve lost control?”

  Kaden pushed Hayden’s hand away and put some distance between himself and his brothers. His human heart was beating rapidly, making him light-headed. Long, steady breaths helped him calm down while he thought about what Hayden said. Had he lost control? Based on his physical reaction to Camden’s words, he might have to agree with them.

  It was time to be honest with himself. The bond he had with Annabelle was controlling him. The fact that she was now in danger only elevated his need to be around her. He shook his head. Time to face reality. He sat on the edge of his bed with his elbows on his knees, face in his palms. “I can’t go on like this. The pull toward her is just too strong.”

  There was a long uncomfortable silence.

  “It’s time we consider another option,” Hayden said, now sitting beside Kaden. “You should tell Annabelle the truth.”

  Kaden arched up, glancing at him. He nearly fell over from the shock of hearing those words.

  “What? That’s a horrible idea,” Camden said.

  Hayden shook his head. “I don’t see another way. The bond is only going to continue to eat away at him. And on some level, she must feel it, too. Even if we moved to the other side of the planet, I doubt that would keep him from her. We’ll just have to find a way to conceal their relationship.”

  Kaden couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “What are you saying?”

  Hayden put his hand on Kaden’s shoulder. “I’m saying tell her the truth. Who we are, the bond you share with her, all of it. If she decides to accept you, seal the bond. At least then you might return to some level of sanity.”

  “I wouldn’t hold your breath on that one,” Camden mumbled.

  Even when he’d imagined being with Annabelle, he’d always thought it would take a major battle to convince his brothers it was the right call. Instead, Hayden was suggesting he reveal all their secrets. Camden wasn’t as game, but he wasn’t rejecting the idea as much as Kaden had expected. For once, it felt like his brothers were taking care of him. All he could do was hope he was making the right decision.

  “How will we handle the FBI?” Kaden asked, although he already knew the answer. Hayden would use his power of persuasion.

  “Let me take care of that,” Hayden said. “I’ll help them believe you’re here and asleep. That will give you the rest of the night to figure this thing out with Annabelle.”

  I’m finally going to tell Annabelle the truth.

  He had thought about this scenario a thousand different ways. The words were on the tip of his tongue every time he was with her. And now, it was happening. In the next few hours, Annabelle—his mate—would finally know who he really was. Anxiety settled between his shoulder blades. What would she say? Would she accept him or run away screaming? Would she believe him?

  Camden exhaled. “All right, if you’re really going to let the alien out of the bag, I think it’s time we discuss another serious topic.”

  Kaden’s eyebrows furrowed. “What other topic?”

  “Well, it’s no secret you’ve never been with a human.” Camden leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms behind his head. “Lucky for you, I happen to be an expert in the field. There’s plenty I can teach you about—”

  Kaden chuckled. “Thanks, professor, but I think I can handle it from here.”

  Camden shrugged. “Your loss, bro.”

  Kaden finished packing his bag, slipping the strap over his shoulder. He turned to Hayden. “Are you ready?”

  Hayden tilted his head, his glasses nearly at the tip of his nose. “The better question is, are you?”

  Tonight, Annabelle would have all the answers she had been seeking. He’d tell her everything she needed to know about his past and who he really was. If she accepted him, he would find a way to make this work. He couldn’t live another day without her knowing the truth. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

  Hayden nodded. “Okay, then, let’s go pay our FBI guards a visit.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Annabelle stepped out of the shower and noticed her phone was blinking. Water droplets streamed down her back as she read the text message from Kaden. He was on his way back to her apartment. The reality of the situation set in. Kaden—the man who’d said they couldn’t be more than friends, but who couldn’t keep his hands off her—was about to move into her apartment for the next several days. How would he react to being alone with her all night? She could still taste his kiss on her lips, feel his tongue on her skin, his hands all over her body. Their chemistry was undeniable, but so was his apprehension.

  Mixed signals didn’t even begin to cover what was happening between them.

  There had to be a way to relieve him of his hesitation
and take their relationship to the next level. She needed to use the next few days to her advantage. She wanted to show him how great things could be if they were together. But to get him to give them a chance, Kaden needed to know she could be trusted with his secrets. Of course, winning his trust wouldn’t be Hilary’s move. She would probably suggest seducing him. Maybe she could do both. If they made love, he would have no way to deny their chemistry.

  Sex with Kaden. Her toes curled with anticipation. Okay, if she didn’t stop soon, she’d need to spend some time with Orgasmo. The poor thing had been overworked as it was. She shook her head, trying to shake some sense back into herself.

  She guessed she had about fifteen minutes before he got there. As she combed her hair, she wondered if her seduction plan would work. He’d made it clear that his past prevented him from having a future with her, even suggesting she could be endangering herself by pursuing a relationship.

  But as reckless as it sounded, she didn’t care. Kaden Chance was worth the risk.

  After she straightened her hair with a blow dryer, she rubbed peach-scented lotion all over her body. She reached for her pink silk robe, wrapping it around her. The flimsy cloth did little to keep her warm. In her bedroom, she lit three round candles on her dresser. With the heavy pink curtains shut, they provided the perfect lighting. She reached inside her dresser drawer, slipping on the tiny pair of panties that matched the robe.

  Annabelle made a mental note to thank Hilary for buying the lingerie, even though she’d asked her not to. Best friends had a knack for knowing what you need even when you didn’t.

  Mr. Crisco strolled into the bedroom, making a point not to look at her. After kneading several spots on her bed, he finally settled down in between her pillows. Something about his demeanor made Annabelle believe he knew what she had planned. For the first time in his kitty life, he would be sleeping in her office, as her bed would be occupied by another male.

  She snuggled Mr. Crisco in her arms. “Sorry, bud. Mom’s got a guest coming over.”

  As soon as the door to her office closed with him inside, the feline let out the saddest moan she had ever heard. A ping of guilt settled in her chest. She retrieved the cat treats from the kitchen pantry, slipping ten treats under the door. Her veterinarian would not be happy, considering Mr. Crisco’s current pudginess, but she figured she owed the poor kitty for stealing his bed.

  The door buzzer went off and she startled. She made her way over to the call box and pressed the speaker on the keypad. “Hello?”

  “It’s me, Bells,” Kaden said.

  “Come on up,” she responded. Her hands were instantly sweaty and trembling. With her nerves raging, she managed to press the button to let him in. Could she really do this? Her heartbeat increased by the second, and she closed her eyes, trying to remember what the book said about exuding confidence. That didn’t work—she was scared out of her mind.

  She rushed over to the fridge to pour herself a glass of wine, downing it like a shot of whiskey. That didn’t calm her anxieties, so she took another big swig right from the bottle. No need for manners now. Loss of inhibitions was what she craved. The door to her apartment creaked open, causing her to almost drop the bottle.

  “Where are you, Bells?” Kaden called out.

  She fanned herself while she took a deep breath.

  Here goes nothing.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Kaden dropped his bag by the front door. He was surprised when Mr. Crisco didn’t come to greet him. He took a few steps inside, bending over to see if the cat was under the sofa. The little fur ball wasn’t very friendly to him—which made Kaden wonder if he somehow sensed he was different from other humans—but he always appeared when the door opened. “Where are you, Mr. Chubs?”

  “He might be nicer to you if you stopped calling him that,” Annabelle called out.

  “Come on, Bells. He knows I’m kidding.” Kaden stood up just as she came into view. She had on a loosely tied silk robe barely long enough to cover her ass. Without much effort, he could see the shape of her speared nipples. Poking against the silken cloth, they begged to be touched. Her tanned and toned legs were totally bare down to her painted pink toes.

  Everything about Annabelle was soft and feminine.

  It took every ounce of control he had to not rip off her flimsy garment and take her up against the wall. Just imagining what it would be like to be inside her drained all the blood from his brain. He couldn’t recall what he had planned to say. Something about his expression must have pleased her, because she was smiling at him in a wicked sort of way. With her arms behind her back, she spread the robe farther apart, exposing all of her cleavage along with some of her toned stomach.

  He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry for walking in without knocking. I didn’t know you were getting dressed.”

  “I am dressed,” she replied, biting her bottom lip.

  The temperature of the room seemed to have gone up by about twenty degrees. “I wouldn’t exactly call that dressed.”

  She untied her robe, letting the silky cloth drop to the floor. “Is this better?” Annabelle asked.

  His mouth hung open, and he might have been salivating. Beyond a tiny pink thong, every inch of her was fully exposed. She looked even better than he had imagined. Her body was shaped like an hourglass. Beautiful full breasts with a small waist. Hips wide enough to grip as he plunged deep inside her while she moaned and screamed his name as she fell apart.

  Shaking his head, he tried to think clearly. Through the fog of his arousal, he somehow remembered the conversation he’d just had with his brothers. There were things he had to say before he could allow this to go any further. He had to tell her the truth. “We need to talk.”

  “Oh, of course.” Her cheeks turned red as she reached down for her discarded robe.

  Dammit, that came out wrong. He had embarrassed her. He should have told her how sexy she was. How much he desired her. He made his way over to her just as she had finished slipping the robe over her shoulders. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what I’m saying. I didn’t mean for you to cover up—”

  “It’s fine.” She stared down at the silk ribbon, tying it tighter around her waist. “I shouldn’t have done that. It’s not me.”

  How had he managed to fuck this up so bad? She was ready for him in every possible way. Did he take her? Nope, he got her to put her clothes back on. Maybe he did need those lessons from Camden after all. He put his finger under her chin, lifting her head so he could look into her eyes. “I want you in ways I’ve never felt for anyone else.”

  “Then why did you stop me?”

  This close, her peach scent was overwhelming—as was the need to run his hands over every inch of her body. Her skin needed to be kissed. He ran his finger over her collarbone and down deep into her cleavage. She let out a soft moan while her nipples peaked against the fabric. The way she reacted to his touch drove him wild. “There are things I need to say first. Things you need to hear before we go any further.”

  She tensed. “Oh, God, are you married?”

  He chuckled. “No, nothing like that.”

  “Good,” she replied, letting out a relieved breath.

  “I want you to know you’ve made this very difficult for me. I had a speech prepared. Then I see you like this.” His finger continued to trail down her stomach, tracing the rim of her panties. “And I can’t even remember my damn name.”

  She smiled coyly, teasing him without words. “While you try to remember, I have a few questions of my own.”

  “I’ll tell you anything.”

  Running her hands from his biceps to his shoulder, she asked, “Are you a crazed, deranged serial killer?”

  He smirked. “No.”

  Her fingers ran through the hair above his ear. “Do you have a criminal record?”

  “No.”

  She stepped closer. Her breasts pressed firmly against his chest. “Are you planning to hurt me?”

  “N
ever,” he said sternly.

  Wrapping her arms around his neck, she said, “Then everything else you have to say can wait.”

  “Annabelle, you don’t under—” She pressed a finger against his lips. He cupped his hand around hers, slowly removing it from his mouth. “Please hear me out.”

  “Okay, then.” She stared up at him with a look of curiosity. “Say whatever you need to say.”

  The moment he had been waiting for was finally here. As she watched him with her emerald-green eyes, tension built in his shoulders. “This is harder than I thought it would be.” He let out an exaggerated sigh, trying to come up with the right words. “There’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just going to say it. I’m an alien.”

  “Yeah, okay, Kaden,” she said, laughing. “What do you really have to say?”

  She thought he was joking. This was not the reaction he’d expected. Fear? Perhaps. Confusion? Probably. But laughing? Maybe if he had given her more information, she would’ve taken him seriously. “Two years ago, our spaceship landed on Earth. We spent a year in a secret government laboratory. Once they were convinced we posed no danger, they offered us an arrangement. In exchange for our knowledge of medicine, science, and technology, they’d allow us to remain on this planet. That’s how we ended up here in Germantown.”

  The laughter stopped, and she took a step backward. “Okay, okay. The joke’s over. Time to get serious.”

  He took one step toward her. “I wanted to tell you the truth, but the FBI was very specific about keeping our true identities a secret. I couldn’t jeopardize our freedom, even if it meant I had to lie to you.”

  She shook her head. “Aliens, spaceships, secret government laboratories? You have to know how crazy this all sounds, right?”

  Frustrated, he rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. “I know this all sounds strange, but I am telling you the truth.”

  “Strange? What you’re saying is way beyond strange. It sounds like an episode of one of those conspiracy shows on the History Channel.” She waved her hand in front of her. “Even if I completely ignored the rational part of my brain that’s screaming at me, there is nothing alien about you. You look and sound like any other human.”