Addicted to the Alien

by Sabrina Kade

  He stares down at Arizona, and shockingly, she returns the look. Have they been talking? What have they been talking about? Since when do they know or care about each other? The questions flow quickly, but I can’t bring myself to ask any of them. But there’s a definite feeling of unease, watching the two of them together. Chocal is one of the largest males I have ever seen, other than… well, he’s undoubtedly the largest one here. Even more significant than Hujun, but he has a much slenderer build. And though I have never really given him much notice before, not even after returning to Prince Korben’s lairs, I am certainly seeing him now.

  Rather, I’m noticing the way he’s looking at Arizona.

  His expression is soft, looking odd on his usually calculating features. I thought he was spending time with the dark-haired female with pale skin and blue eyes, but he’s saying he heard Arizona crying? Is this true? Is he lying to rile me up? Or Arizona? Does it matter? Chocal must notice me staring hard at him, and he lifts his chin with that natural smile on his face that makes me want to bash in his face. I need to calm myself. He’s probably not trying to take Arizona away from me. Besides, Arizona wants to be with me. Even if she does not say it, I feel it in her body’s reaction to me. I try to catch her attention, but she’s still punching Chocal against the stomach.

  “If you don’t stop fucking with me, Chocal, I’ll—”

  “You’ll what?” He reaches out and grabs both her wrists with surprising ease. “What could you possibly do to me with these tiny little hands?” She wriggles in his grasp, and right before I think about stepping in, he lets her go. “Oh, careful. I think your Chosen mate thinks I’m flirting with you.”

  Arizona’s eyes widen, and her attention flashes to me. “He is not my Chosen mate. We’re …”

  “Fucking?” Chocal guesses, chuckling.

  “No more,” I hiss, and both Arizona and Chocal fall silent, their playful ribbing finally reaching a standstill, at least for the time being. Wix pulls his female closer to his shoulder, but I don’t care. “Do not touch her like that,” I say in a warning tone to Chocal. “I may not be her Chosen mate, but she is mine. There are plenty of other females you can touch, Chocal. Where is that one with the constant sneer on her face?”

  His expression shifts. My words bother him, and he puffs up to his full height. An impressive sight. But I think it would be an even match if he were to fight me. “Lacey has reasons for wearing that sneer.”

  “Perhaps it is because you are always in her company.”

  He bristles. “Lacey has asked me to stay close to her. I will not have you insult her.”

  “As I will not stand by and watch you touch my mate.”

  “Not your mate,” Arizona titters in reminder.

  “Don’t touch what is mine, Chocal. Otherwise, we are going to have a problem.”

  The few scales on his collarbone and shoulders splay away from his shockingly pale blue skin. His dull golden eyes blaze with fury. He knows I am a good fighter. Maybe not as strong and fast as Drazal, and not as big and muscular as Azan or Hujun, but still strong. Still a worthy opponent. The air is tense as the massive male thinks over my proposition, and just as the moment is about to shatter at our feet, Chocal’s expression returns to that lazy, easy-going grin and he shrugs.

  “Very well. I’m not trying to start any drama here. It appears there’s already enough of that.” He tries moving past, heading back toward the fields, but not before tempting me once more. He places a large hand on Arizona’s shoulder and leans in close. “Think about what we talked about, little one—”

  The endearing term rots in his throat as I rush forward and slam my fist into his chest. The blow creates a pleasing sound, and Chocal staggers back, placing a hand over where I struck with a shocked expression.

  “I warned you,” I hiss. “Do not touch her. Others may make idle threats, but I assure you that when I say something, I mean it.”

  “Drozass!” Arizona shouts, looking furious. “What the fuck?”

  “He touched you,” I say, remaining deadly calm. “I don’t say things I do not mean.”

  “You still didn’t have to hit him! He was giving me advice.”

  “About what?” I growl.

  She flinches before regaining her confidence and stiffening. “That is none of your business. Jesus, Chocal. Are you all right?”

  He waves her off, straightening and looking pissed off. “I’m all right.” His voice sounds pleasingly strained. “I’m going to find Lacey.”

  “You do that,” I grumble as he shuffles past. I notice several of my brothers in the field must have seen the scene unfold because a few are standing as though preparing to step in. But once Chocal staggers away, they return to their families and sprogs. Anger still pulses through me, and Wixlass has the nerve to look embarrassed. “What?”

  “You didn’t have to hit him.”

  “Yes, I did,” I grumble. “Did you see how he touched her? With me standing right here?”

  Wixlass doesn’t answer. I’m sure he doesn’t want to. Because if he does, the first thing I’m going to point out is whether he would be able to stand still if one of our brothers touched that little human he hangs around. He’s no different than me. No better. He would have attacked Chocal if he touched her the same way he touched Arizona. Pleased that I’ve caught him, I turn my head slightly to see if Arizona is about to yell at me, but her expression is entirely unreadable. She doesn’t look pleased, but she doesn’t look that upset either.

  Maybe she liked how I stood up for her. After all, how many have done that in her past?

  “Are you going to yell at me?” I dare when I can no longer take the silence.

  “No.”

  Her answer is so simple and straightforward that it’s infuriating. Usually, Arizona has hands upon hands of words ready to yell at me. And now of all times, she only has one? “No?” I try again. “Nothing else?”

  “Nothing else. What do you want me to say? Thank you for defending my honor, oh noble knight? I didn’t need you to do anything. We were only talking.”

  “Yes,” I hiss. “He was giving you advice. What about?”

  “None of your business.”

  I feel the scales on my neck splay. “You have told me many times that you are a top female in your position. What could you possibly seek advice from him about?”

  Her dark brown eyes lift. “What do you think I asked him?” Her voice is sharp but hinting with vulnerability. That’s when it hits me. Me. She must have been asking for advice about me.

  But what? My mind stirs, and though I want to ask her questions, Wixlass breaks up my train of thought. “Taya wants to spend more time with females in the central lair. We’re going to head outside now.”

  “You do that,” I hiss, only remembering too late that his female, Taya, is still sensitive to loud or rough voices for some reason. I bow my head. “I mean… that sounds like a good idea, brother. They are happy with their mates – our brothers.” I notice the female peer out curiously from under Wix’s arm. Almost as though to acknowledge the change. It’s odd to be under her close attention. She’s taller than Arizona, and though her face appears much younger, there’s something almost sproggish about her. A fear of something. I wonder what.

  Wixlass probably knows and is doing his best to help her.

  Which is what I’m trying to do with Arizona, but she’s too hard-headed to appreciate my help.

  “All right,” Wixlass says, tugging the female gently out into the fields.

  They depart, leaving me alone with Arizona.

  At least until she storms away, leaving me completely and as utterly confused as ever.

  Chapter Four

  Arizona

  Damnit. I can’t face him. As soon as Wixlass and Taya head out into the fields, I practically feel Drozass wanting to start up a conversation. And I’m not ready to face it. Not prepared to face him. My strange conversation with Chocal still has me rattled. And there’s no way I wan
t Drozass to know that I enjoyed watching him punch that huge busybody in the chest. If Drozass knew what Chocal said to me, I’m sure he would have done a lot more than punch him.

  “So, you must be famous Arizona, leader of the State Girls.” His voice was shockingly high-pitched, not matching his large frame which must have been closer to eight feet than seven.

  He stood outside Drozass’ lair as though he owned the place, or maybe he waited for me. Either way, I wasn’t exactly in the mood to make conversation, so I tried working my way past him. But he’s big. Really big, and his long strides kept up with mine easily.

  “Come on, Arizona. Don’t be shy with me. I’m not going to hurt you. I know I wasn’t here to start, but I can promise you that I’m not into drama.”

  I wished someone were there with me as I stormed down the halls, trying to make my way to the opening, but of course, the halls were barren. The second lair isn’t nearly as busy or crowded as the central one, and God, never before had I so much wished that someone loud like Dolan, or protective like Hujun was there to make sure everything was all right.

  “What do you want?” I asked.

  “Just to get to know you.” He easily matched his stride with mine, and I snuck a look at him out of the corner of my eye.

  Despite his impressive height, he’s thin compared to most of the other males, almost feminine in build. He’s wearing a loose top, complaining that it’s colder here than in the south, but I’m not paying that much attention to his appearance as much as his words. Or rather, his interest in talking to me in the first place.

  “You know, Drozass is a good male. But he’s a little young, yes? You’re one of the older females here if I’m not mistaken,” Chocal continued.

  “How do you know that?” I hissed. “Ages are different, and we’re not exactly running around with our driver’s licenses.” I felt caught for some reason. I’ve never kept my age a secret, but I assumed everyone thought I was close to Blythe’s or Ellis’ age.

  Chocal grinned. “I could tell by the face. It’s not a bad thing, little one. You look good for your age.”

  “Thank you,” I said stiffly, hating that I appreciated the compliment nonetheless because it’s true.

  For a woman about to turn thirty-two, I think I look damn good. I’m toned, fit, and my face is clear of any teenage or adult acne. I’m always in the sun, so my already light brown skin is tanned and even. And thanks to my Hispanic side, I have insanely lush, black wavy hair. I love the way I look. But I’m not young. And I already know Drozass is.

  “Is Drozass that much younger than me?” the words slipped out before I could sensor them, and Chocal slowed his pace, forcing me to do the same.

  “I spoke to Chentan when I first joined your little tribe,” he said breezily. “Wanting to know about the differences. It’s not that big of a difference. Maybe a few months or so. A year? That’s how you humans say it, yes? Months and years?” I nodded, and he continued. “Well, you’re what? Honestly?”

  I bit down hard on my lower lip. This is information I don’t like sharing with others, but Chocal was interested, and now, so am I. The rest of the girls here are pretty much the same age. Ones like Phoebe and Taya are in their late teens, almost early twenties. Then there are the ones like Kansas and Dakota, Ellis and Blythe. All around their early to mid-twenties. Alaska is probably the closest to me, not quite twenty-eight. But I’m—

  “You don’t have any reason to be shy about it. If you don’t want anyone to know, your secret is safe with me. If you are ashamed—”

  “I’m not ashamed,” I snapped, growing defensive. “We’re not supposed to talk about our official ages with clients.”

  “I can assure that I have no desire to fuck you,” Chocal promised. “I’m asking because I’m curious about the difference between you and your Chosen mate.”

  “He’s not my Chosen mate.”

  “Very well. According to your standards, Drozass is twenty.”

  My mouth went dry. Twenty. Twenty years old. I assumed Drozass was a few years younger than me, but to hear it said out loud that it’s over a decade of difference between us? It felt strange. Wrong. But not entirely. I’m not exactly looking to marry the guy, so the difference between us shouldn’t even bother me. But I know that it does. It’s bad enough being the oldest girl here. But to be fucking one of the youngest males here? That’s wrong. Is this really what Kansas wants for me? Maybe this is her way of making me look bad. She could always remind me that I took a guy in his twenties. I fell for a client. A younger client. She’d never let me live it down. “Twenty, huh?”

  “I’m guessing you are considerably older than that, yes?”

  I grimaced. The age difference is a lot. Even I must admit that. And I hate that it bothers me. Drozass may be a lot younger than me, but he’s never acted that way. He’s one of the only guys who’s ever challenged me. I may tell him the age difference bothers me, but there are more important reasons than that about why we can’t be together. “Age is nothing but a number.”

  “Ahh, yes,” Chocal said. “I suppose that’s true. So if the age does not bother you, then may I ask why he isn’t your Chosen mate? You certainly spend a lot of time with him.”

  “You wouldn’t understand,” I said quickly, hoping to end the conversation before someone overheard.

  “Wouldn’t I? Let me guess. Famous Arizona is worried about losing the respect of her little family members. That’s what you call them, yes? Your family? The two with yellow hair, and the one with dirt specks tattooed to her face. You are worried that you would be seen as weak if you took a Sidyth male as a mate.”

  I frowned. “I… it’s more complicated than that. And stop calling me famous Arizona.”

  “But it’s true, yes? You are famous. You are one of the top working Human Whores.”

  “I prefer the term Intergalactic Call-Girl.”

  “You’re worried about being weak. I can smell your insecurity a mile away. You’re worried that if you take a mate, you would be vulnerable. You’ve never been vulnerable for a long time, I’m sure. Famous Arizona—”

  “Stop.”

  “Arizona, then,” he said, bowing deeply in a mocking apology. “You think someone here needs to keep a straight head. Someone here has to stay away from the charms of the Sidyths. You’ve always been that person. You want to be that person. There’s another reason you’re afraid of taking a mate, yes? Something that happened with one of your supposed family members?”

  I stopped completely. “How… I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “I think you do, little one.” He grinned, and there’s almost a hint of menace, but it faded as quickly as it arrived. “But it’s your past, and not my story to tell. You know what it is. And that’s all that matters, yes? But let me say this. What would she think if you decided to take a mate now?”

  The retort died in my throat, and I stared up at Chocal.

  He knows. I don’t know he knows, but he knows about Washington. What happened on the fatherland. What they offered me. How I refused and what I gave up. I swallowed hard, wishing Chocal’s words didn’t affect me so deeply. Especially when I saw the lair opening and Drozass standing and speaking with Wixlass and Taya. I wanted to run to him, but I couldn’t bring myself to look so desperate. I had to play things cool. I didn’t want him to know what happened. So I joked around with Chocal so he wouldn’t suspect anything.

  But I’m sure he does.

  I hear Drozass’ feet pounding on the earth as he tries to catch up with me. I’m not running hard enough. Fast enough. I should work harder to get away, but maybe part of me wants to be caught. Maybe I want him to make me tell him everything.

  But there’s so much to tell. He’s twenty. I’m almost thirty-two. Chocal is right. I have inferiority or confidence issues when it involves Kansas or Alaska. Drozass will probably say it doesn’t matter, but what happens when he hears the words? What if he ever found out what I did to Washington to
save my ass? How could he want someone like me who talks about family, only to leave a member behind to protect my own skin? And even scarier, what if none of those things mattered to him, and he still wanted me?

  For so long, I’ve been able to push those horrible memories away. The whole occurrence on the fatherland and leaving Washington there, ready to be sent to the hunt. I’m sure she’s dead. No human could have survived that, not even one as strong as Washington because, at the end of the day, the hunt isn’t an event for humans. It’s twenty-nine pissed off Sidyth females and her, fighting to stay alive. The other females probably killed her within the first hour. And it’s all my fault. Drozass will know that once I tell him everything. Maybe age doesn’t matter, but this piece of information most certainly would.

  No. I can’t be with Drozass. Not now. I won’t be weak.

  I slow my steps, allowing Drozass to catch up, and his hand settles on my shoulder. I jump at his touch, surprised to feel it there, and I can’t move away. I’m far enough from the fields now that the only view in front of me is trees and strange teal grass.

  Hethdiss is beautiful, but not nearly as achingly gorgeous as the alien beside me. He doesn’t say anything at first, but I feel his attention on me, and when I feel composed enough, I slowly lift my head to look up. Butterflies flutter in my stomach. My thighs tingle. I don’t know how he does this to me, but if it bothers him—I’m sure it doesn’t bother him.

  His fingers curl gently around my shoulder. If others can see us, I don’t give a damn; it’s an innocent enough interaction.

  “Are you all right?” His voice is soft and smooth, sending tingles of excitement right down to my pussy. His tongue darts away from his lips, and I know he smells the effect he has on me. That he’s always had on me. I nod carefully, afraid my voice will shake if I try to answer him, and I still can’t get the word weak out of my mind because that’s what Drozass does to me. He makes me vulnerable.

  But if this feeling makes me weak now, I’m not sure if I mind.