Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
She licks her lips. “What do you do?”
“I work for the government. I’m a councilman. I help ensure that everything runs smoothly. We make and adjust laws and rules. But it’s not like politicians on Earth. Eleadians are peaceful people. Rules are in place to keep everyone safe and happy. We don’t have a party system. We aren’t corrupt like most governments on Earth. A few weeks after we return, I will go back to work, but it won’t disrupt our lives much.”
She stares intently into my eyes, absorbing what I’ve told her. Our bond is growing. I’m itching to press my skin against hers. It’s time to listen to that call and show my mate more about what it will mean to be mine.
I don’t even have to prompt her because suddenly she asks, “Will you kiss me again, Papi?”
Gladly. I draw her closer and kiss her deeply. This time I suck gently on her lips and tongue, eventually scraping my teeth against her soft flesh. As we kiss, I rise, keeping her against me, and carry her out of the living room and into the bedroom.
Without breaking the connection, I lower her to the middle of the enormous bed and climb over her, hovering on my elbow so I won’t crush her.
Her small hands come to the front of my dress shirt and smooth over my chest.
I’m still wearing my suit, including the jacket, and I need it gone.
My girl is panting as I release her lips to rise up onto my knees, straddling her thighs. I hold her gaze while I shrug out of my jacket and then quickly tug off the tie and work on the buttons down the front of my shirt.
Bailey watches me, never looking away. She licks her swollen lips. “You’re the most handsome man I’ve ever seen.”
I grin as I toss my shirt to the side. I want these pants off, too, but she’s not ready for that. “Thank you, Little one. I’m glad you find me attractive.”
She gives a little snort and rolls her eyes. “Attractive? That’s kind of a mild word for your godly looks. I’m wondering why on Earth you find yourself attracted to me.”
I flinch. Is she serious? Dropping down so my hands land on either side of her face, I hold her gaze. “Bailey, I’ve been standing in this club for four nights, waiting for the most beautiful Little girl to step inside. I couldn’t breathe when I finally spotted you. You’re the prettiest being alive in the universe. My perfect mate. Never ever doubt that. You will forever be the center of my universe.”
Her cheeks turn pink. It’s hard for her to accept the compliment. I get the feeling she’s not used to being treated with admiration. I’ll fix that in a hurry.
Chapter Four
Bailey
I’m completely out of my element. I feel like I’ve slipped into a parallel universe, and in a way I have. I’m with an alien who plans to take me to another planet. It doesn’t get more out-of-body than that.
I’ve never been kissed. I’ve never been alone with a man. I’ve never even been on a date. I’ve certainly never been lying on a bed with a man who just took his shirt off.
If my father knew…
But he won’t ever know. Tomorrow morning when he calls and I don’t answer the phone, he will lose his mind, but I’ll be gone. The weird thing is part of me doesn’t care. I actually feel kind of giddy about the prospect of being free of him.
He’s not a bad man. He raised me alone, provided me with food, clothes, housing, and even an education. But he’s always been strict. His rules never let up even when I became an adult. He won’t even permit me to talk to guys let alone date them.
And I’ve been a doormat, letting him control me.
A part of me feels like I’m trading one bossy man for another. Zingar is very dominant. I’ve found myself obeying his orders on more than one occasion. Why does it feel different with him?
I stare into his eyes and know the answer. He’s genuinely interested in me. Enamored. He cares about my feelings.
My father is a grumpy man. His brow is always furrowed. When he speaks, it’s to bark out orders. When he calls me, it’s to demand to know where I’m going, what I’m doing, who I’m with. He doesn’t ask me about my day or my interests or how I feel.
“What’s going through your pretty head, Little one?” Zingar…Papi asks.
“Why do you call me Little one?” Granted, it’s obvious that I’m smaller than him, but there’s something in his tone that suggests the endearment has very little to do with my size.
He settles both elbows on either side of my head, threads his fingers loosely in my hair, and strokes my temples with his thumbs. “Eleadians are very protective of our mates. We travel a year round trip to find a life partner. The bond we feel toward our mates is powerful. It’s instantaneous. My heart beat only for you from the moment I inhaled your scent across the crowded room. My instinct to coddle you and ensure nothing ever harms you is strong. It’s how I’m wired. It’s how all Eleadians are wired.”