Alexandre Read online

  Alex clicked the seat belt into place and cast a sardonic glance at each of the Dalcon women who flanked him. Time for the attack to begin.

  “I told you,” Janaya stated in a hard voice, “to make sure you had travel inoculations before you left Dalcon. I told you of the consequences.”

  “You informed me of the dangers of bonding and made it clear what would happen if Lily was coerced into a bond with me. I listened to everything you said, but there was a problem. I’m allergic to fodo quills.”

  “Why didn’t you tell us?” Luke demanded, his bronzed face darkening with anger as he glared from the passenger seat. Killer punctuated her displeasure with a low, hair-raising growl.

  “I’ve been thinking about that,” Hinekiri said, breaking the sudden tension. “He needed Lily, so he didn’t mention his allergy. This business venture of yours must be real important to you.”

  They didn’t know the half of it. If he’d stayed in the palace for much longer, he’d have lost every brain cell. A problem since insanity wasn’t the done thing for a prince. No telling what indignities the King would have forced on him in the nature of a tonic-fix.

  “I’ve invested a lot of time and money,” Alex said in wry understatement. Not to mention run away from home, dodged his bodyguards and spent a fortune on the Driscoll witch spell to disguise his looks. Money well spent since none of them seemed to recognize him as Prince Alexandre. The old crone who’d sold him the spell had assured him he would appear the exact opposite in appearance. Dalconians would see him as dark and plain, the same reflection he saw whenever he looked in a mirror now. It had taken a little getting used to seeing a stranger, but he had grown to love the anonymity. Alex considered conducting a test of sorts to ease his agitation but gave up the idea. He didn’t want to call attention to himself any more than necessary. “Why did you give me an introduction letter if you didn’t trust me?”

  “We had second thoughts,” Janaya stated with quiet dignity. “We wanted to pick up some fishing gear. Besides, you told us you had the inoculations covered.”

  “The medical man prescribed pills.”

  “Then why didn’t you take them?” Janaya speared him a look of distaste. “If my sister-in-law must bond with a Dalconian, then at least he should have a few looks going for him.”

  Hinekiri reached past him to slap Janaya on the leg. “Manners. I’m ashamed of you. The male can’t help how he looks.”

  Alex wanted to chuckle and cheer aloud. Proof that the spell was working. “Don’t worry. I’m used to it. Looks aren’t everything.” He just wished everyone else didn’t put such stock in his looks. “I took the pills. I’m still taking the pills. I’ve no idea why they’re not working. Lily seems pleasant, but I don’t wish to bond with any female.”

  Hinekiri took hold of his chin and stared deep into his eyes before looking at Janaya. “If you ask me, the male’s telling the truth.”

  “That’s it then,” Janaya said. “I’ll have to shoot him.”

  “I haven’t done anything.” Alex felt his face heat with anger. “I want to do research for my business. I’m not looking for an Earthwoman to mate,” he gritted out.

  Richard pulled up with a screech of brakes. “I can’t concentrate on driving with you sniping at each other. You’re behaving like children. If you can’t behave in the backseat, I’m gonna put the lot of you out and you can walk to Sloan.”

  Stunned silence met his announcement.

  “Looks like rain,” Luke said cheerfully.

  Richard speared a glare at his son. “One more smart-arse comment and you can go with them.”

  Killer yapped from her position on Luke’s knee. “Yeah,” she said. “I have sore head.” Her stomach rumbled loudly, echoing in the tense atmosphere of the vehicle.

  Alex heard the women sitting on either side of him inhale sharply. He saw Luke stiffen. The expression on the devil creature’s face gave him a clue as to what would happen next. She was going to start nagging about food. Again. The dog had a one-track mind when it came to eating.

  Killer turned on Luke’s lap to peer at Richard. “I hungry. Do ya have any food?”

  “I’ll put you out to walk as well,” Richard growled back, but Alex heard the suppressed humor in his voice. After glaring them all into silence, he moved a lever to indicate he was pulling onto the road and they continued their journey to Sloan.

  They drove along in peace this time, leaving Alex free to consider his upcoming trip with Lily. A vision of Lily with her ripe curves and shy smile flooded his mind. Alex’s hands clenched, fingernails digging into his thighs as he fought the immediate arousal that slammed his body. His heart sped, his tom thrust upward, his jeans tenting enough that he was glad of his jacket draped across his lap. His calf protested and throbbed insistently. Alex shuffled his feet to a new position but in the cramped backseat, the movement didn’t ease the aching sensation.

  Alex concentrated on keeping his breathing slow and even and built a picture in his mind of how his life at the palace would be if he failed in obtaining his dream. He exhaled heavily, knowing he had no choice. He would keep his hands off her. It was that simple.

  * * * * *

  Janaya heard the tap of shoes as her aunt trotted down the stairs, followed by the click of Killer’s nails on the wooden floor. She turned toward the door and spoke the instant she saw her aunt, impatient to start their family meeting. “Is he upstairs in his room?”

  Hinekiri grinned in a toothy way that indicated secrets and waggled her forefinger in Janaya’s face. “You don’t have to whisper. His hearing appears normal. Earth’s atmosphere hasn’t affected Alex in the same way it did you. Killer and I conducted a test, just to make sure.”

  Killer yapped agreement. “We say insult—”

  Hinekiri grasped Killer’s muzzle with her hand and held the dog’s mouth shut. “No need to spill the beans.”

  Killer jerked from her firm hold and bounced out of reach. “What beans? Do ya have food?”

  “You ate half an hour ago. Enough!” Janaya sent a disgruntled frown in Killer’s direction. “We can’t leave them alone. You saw how they were looking at each other.”

  “I remember another couple, not so long ago.” Hinekiri glanced from Luke to Janaya.

  “That’s different. We’re talking about family. Lily to be precise,” Janaya said.

  “Janaya’s right,” Luke agreed. “We don’t know anything about Alex Bell. He could be a criminal on the run for all we know.” Luke stalked the length of the kitchen. He strode back and stopped beside Janaya, curling an arm around her waist.

  Janaya smiled. They needed to finish this meeting so she and Luke could get to the good stuff in the privacy of their bedroom.

  “I say we leave them to it,” Richard drawled.

  As one, they turned to stare at him. He calmly sipped from his can of beer.

  “Dad, are you out of your mind?” Luke scowled in clear consternation. “Lily’s vulnerable since Ambrose did a runner with his boyfriend. I don’t want her hurt again.”

  Richard placed his beer can on the tabletop. “You’re all forgetting one thing. Lily is an adult. We have to let her make her own mistakes.”

  Janaya wanted to disagree, but Luke’s hand curled into her hip, silently telling her to hold her protests.

  “But,” Richard continued, “we don’t know much about this male so as much as I trust Lily to do what’s right for her, I think we should ask Killer to stay here to keep an eye on matters.”

  “Yes! Good plan.” Hinekiri clapped her hands together and blew a kiss to her man.

  “Good thinking, Dad,” Luke approved.

  Janaya paused then nodded at the sheer brilliance of Richard’s idea. The spotted dog would make the perfect spy.

  Killer stilled then pricked her black ears forward. “Spy?”

  Janaya winked at Luke. “We’d pay you, of course.”

  Killer sat on her haunches and scrutinized Janaya, her stare determined. “I
want collar. One with shiny studs. A black one to go with my spots. And food. Lots of food.”

  Janaya bit back the grin that ached to burst forth. “That could be arranged.”

  Killer nodded. “Deal. I agree to spy for collar and food. Start right now.” She trotted to the door. “I be like famous dog detectives—Scooby and Scrappy.” She disappeared but Janaya heard the click of her claws as she climbed the stairs. “Maybe get own TV show,” she said, her bark of satisfaction drifting down the stairs.

  Chapter Three

  Alex expelled a heavy sigh of relief as the spaceship took off. He stared at the shiny silver disc until the cloaking device slid into place and shielded it from sight. The rumble of the engines faded to silence.

  They were gone.

  The lot of them, and he was still alive to tell the tale.

  Exhilaration galloped through him along with a sense of freedom. He inhaled the fresh, crisp air in the hilltop clearing. After the planning and intrigue, he was really on Earth. Although dusk was rapidly turning to dark and they would soon need the torches to navigate the rutted track back to Luke’s vehicle, Alex soaked up every new sight. He studied the strange ferns and the tall, stately trees. Lily said they were kauri. A bird called. More pork! More pork!

  “That’s New Zealand’s native owl. It’s called a Morepork after the sound it makes.” Lily played the torch over the track and stepped over a fallen branch.

  Alex turned to smile at her but was careful to keep a full arm’s width between them. Despite the simmering temptation, he’d keep his hands to himself, and everything would be fine. No nasty bonding entanglements to mess up his dreams.

  Lily grinned back, and a twinge of need rode him. His heart beat a little faster and a faint film of sweat dampened his forehead. Hands off, he reiterated silently. Keep to his plan and his dream would come to fruition. Lily was a complication he didn’t need. He’d seen his cousin give up a long-held ambition because of a female. That wasn’t going to happen to him.

  A loud rustle and the snap of a breaking twig sounded in the bushes to their right. Lily started, let out a faint squeak and promptly tripped on an uneven tuff of dirt. Alex whirled, instinct kicking in to action. He scooped her up, saving her before she hit the ground.

  Lily thudded against his chest, a soft armful of woman. Her generous curves melded against his flesh. Alex sucked in a deep breath as he tamped down on the searing need that burned his body and had his tom leaping with acute anticipation. She smelled of sweet flowers and woman. She felt like a soft, billowy cushion.

  Alex closed his eyes while he fought for control. Hell, he could feel the binding ties knitting together into immutable knots. Panic flared, and then she moved in his arms. His eyes popped open.

  “Sorry,” she said, sounding a trifle winded. Her warm breath puffed against his mouth as she stared up at him. Tense silence reigned as they studied each other.

  Let her go. Stand her on her feet and step away. Alex issued the release order to his hands. They ignored the instruction and flexed, kneading the yielding, feminine flesh of her buttocks. A pained groan escaped past his clenched teeth when she pressed closer. The air pulsed between them full of possibilities. He contemplated the consequences, but with Lily cuddled in his arms nothing else seemed important. Innocent eyes drew him in, teasing but subtle in their goading.

  Lily swallowed loudly then her tongue swept out to lick her lips. Another groan built in Alex’s throat.

  Pure enticement.

  Torture.

  He lowered his head, wanting to claim her lips, to taste her, to sip and savor more than he wanted his next breath. Lily rose on tiptoes, straining to meet him, her face mysterious in the moonlit darkness. He lowered his head a bit more. Their lips touched briefly and then parted.

  Another loud rustle sounded right beside them. Alex and Lily sprang apart, both staring at the swaying leaves of a lacy fern.

  “Who’s there?” Alex demanded when all he wanted to do was curse at the interruption…and because he’d left his weapon back at the Morgan house. Only a fool traveled without a weapon. He thrust Lily behind him. “Come out with your hands where I can see them.”

  The silhouetted ferns trembled. Dry leaves rustled. A black nose appeared followed by a black-and-white head.

  “Don’t shoot!”

  That bloody dog again.

  Alex straightened from his protective stance. “Why aren’t you on the ship with Janaya?”

  Lily laughed, a soft tinkling sound that made him yearn to hold her again. “She’s hardly likely to answer you back.”

  Alex met the dog’s sly grin with a frown. Unfortunately, Alex knew the dog could answer him back. Lily was lucky she couldn’t understand the devil beast. He glared at Killer, his hands fisting at his sides.

  Killer stuck her nose in the air, presenting him with pure attitude. “I needed to use the restroom. I didn’t expect them to leave without me. Call them back. Tell them to come get me.”

  Alex opened his mouth to blast Killer then remembered Lily was present. For some reason, no one had seen fit to tell Lily about the dog talking. He wasn’t about to break the news.

  “She doesn’t like you much,” Lily observed as the dog growled.

  The feeling was mutual.

  A loud ring broke the tense silence. Lily fumbled in her pocket and pulled out a cell phone. “I’d better answer. It might be important.”

  Alex looked on with interest as she juggled the torch and the small phone. Her breasts swayed, drawing his attention and making him wish Killer’s timing hadn’t been so bad. Shaking away the fog of lust, he relieved her of the torch and aimed the beam directly on the keypad. Their hands touched during the transfer. Lily gasped while Alex gritted his teeth and thanked the gods for the dim light since his body was broadcasting signals difficult to miss. His tom ached insistently, as it had since meeting Lily, and his legs quivered in tandem. One look at his raging on-hard and the female would likely run a mile. If he’d been at home, he would have grabbed a female, maybe two, and eased his intense erection along with the burn of stress.

  But he wasn’t at the palace. This was a whole new experience.

  Lily stabbed a button on the phone and held it up to her ear. “Hello. Luke? What are you ringing me for? Is there a problem?” She listened for a few seconds. “Killer’s here with us,” she said. “I’ve no idea how it happened. Are you coming back for her?”

  Alex noticed the dog listened as closely to the one-sided conversation as he did.

  “But Alex and I can’t take Killer with us. Most of the hotels don’t allow dogs.”

  Bloody hell. They were trying to foist the devil creature on them. Time to speak up. “I don’t think—”

  “Smuggle her into the hotel in a bag. Luke, are you crazy? You’re a policeman. So is Dad. You shouldn’t encourage me to break the law. Besides, how am I going to make Killer stay quiet? Knowing my luck, she’ll bark at a relevant moment or worse, tear after the owner’s cat or…or eat their goldfish!” Lily paused to listen to her brother then handed the phone to Alex. “He wants to talk to you.”

  Alex accepted the phone from Lily and tried not to react to the jolt of sensation their innocent touch produced. A wry grin twitched at his lips while his erection jerked in reaction, and quite independently from the orders issued from his brain. The other times hadn’t been a fluke.

  “Luke.” A note of caution sounded in his voice.

  “I’m sorry to land you with responsibility for Killer. The bloody cloaking device is on the blink again, otherwise we’d come back for her. Just tell her how important it is to be quiet and on her best behavior. She’ll listen to you.”

  He cast a dubious glance at the dog. “I’m not sure this is a good idea. I’m here on business. We don’t have time to watch over your dog.”

  Killer barked, “I’m not staying by myself. How will I get food?”

  Alex closed his eyes. If the bloody dog didn’t shut up, he’d give her a demo
nstration of where she could put her damn food.

  “Good,” Luke said smoothly. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  Alex sucked in a breath, ready to tell Luke what to do with his devil dog. “But I don’t—”

  The phone went dead.

  “Damn!” Alex peered at the dog as he handed the phone back to Lily. Funny, he could have sworn the spotted creature smirked.

  “It’s getting cold. And late,” Lily said.

  Alex bit back a curse and wrenched his gaze off her plump, kissable lips. But even so, the notion slipped into his head. The area was also private. A vision popped fully formed into his mind. Unfortunately, Lily starred in his dream image. No clothes. Limbs entwined.

  A shrill bark jerked him to the present. The dog pushed between him and Lily, forcing Alex to step back. He speared a glare at the furry creature. Perhaps he could sell it to a passing Dalcon trader. Yeah, a solution to ponder.

  “I’m not very good in the dark,” Lily said. “My night vision is terrible.”

  Killer trotted along the track. “Follow me. I be good in dark.”

  “She can’t understand you,” Alex snapped.

  “Why do you do that?” Lily asked her voice shaded with puzzlement. “Luke and Janaya growl back at her all the time, too. She seems to enjoy it.”

  “You tell her or me?” Killer yapped, coming to an abrupt halt in the middle of the track.

  “I’m not touching that one,” Alex muttered.

  “I have no idea what you mean.” Lily shook her head, kept walking and ploughed straight into Killer.

  Alex snapped his hand out to grasp her upper arm, but the clumsiness was catchy. He staggered on the uneven ground and clutched a handful of luscious breast instead of his target. Startled and off balance, Lily fell, taking Alex with her. Alex twisted at the last moment. Lily landed on top, draped across his body like a satin sheet, and his libido went from casual interest to fiery hot in secs flat. Instead of pushing her away as a male with any sense would, Alex compounded his error by aligning their bodies. Breast to chest. Thigh to thigh. His erection pulsing against her belly.