Chapter 22

Chapter

Twenty-Two

Ruune

I stood outside the suite door at The Plaza, my hand poised to knock but frozen in midair. My new Earth suit felt constricting and unfamiliar, nothing like the uniforms I was accustomed to or even the flowing ceremonial robes of Valoria. I tugged at the collar, trying to ease the tightness around my neck.

This nervousness was unlike me. I, Ruune of Valoria, charmer of females across the galaxy, reduced to a jittery mess outside a hotel room door. But Olivia wasn't just any female, was she?

All week, I'd been having second thoughts about this plan. The more time I spent with Olivia, the more I realized that I was not faking it. But that didn’t matter. I couldn't stay on Earth. And Olivia had made it clear she didn't want a real boyfriend. We were both playing parts in an elaborate charade. Then why did things feel so real?

I took a deep breath and finally knocked on the door. The sound echoed in the plush hallway, seeming impossibly loud to my ears.

The door swung open, and suddenly, all the air left my lungs.

Olivia stood before me, her dark hair fell in loose curls around her shoulders. Her eyes, always captivating, were now smoky and mysterious, framed by impossibly long lashes that seemed to entrance me with every blink.

And the dress. My mouth went dry as I let my gaze travel the length of her. Shimmering and pale, the dress hugged every curve of her body, glittering like stardust as she moved. The neckline dipped just low enough to be tantalizing without being scandalous, and the long tassels revealed glimpses of her legs.

I stood there, gaping like a Zantharian moon fish, unable to form a coherent thought.

Olivia seemed equally stunned. Her eyes widened as she took me in, her gaze traveling from my freshly trimmed hair down to my polished shoes. A faint blush colored her cheeks, and I found myself wondering if the spa treatments Caroline had insisted on had been worth it after all.

We stood in silence, drinking each other in, until Caroline's voice broke the spell as she peeked from behind her friend.

"Wow, Ruune! You clean up nice!"

I blinked, finally remembering how to speak. "Thank you," I managed, my voice sounding rough to my own ears. “Not as beautiful as Olivia.”

Her blush deepened, and I felt a surge of satisfaction at being able to affect her this way.

“Duh.” Caroline gave Olivia a little shove.

Olivia seemed to shake herself out of her daze. "Yes, you look very handsome," she said softly, her eyes meeting mine.

"Well, aren't you two adorable," Caroline teased.

Olivia stepped closer to me and the scent of her perfume washed over me as I inhaled. It was intoxicating, reminding me of the sweet blossoms that bloomed on the cliffs of Valoria's southern coast.

"Ruune," Griff's voice came from behind me. I turned to see my cousin approaching from the hallway. "I've arranged for a car to take you to the party. It will be difficult to secure taxis tonight, given the festivities."

Caroline beamed at him. "I told him that! Doesn't he sound like a local?"

Griff looked pleased with himself, and I couldn't help but marvel at how much he'd changed since coming to Earth. He seemed lighter, happier. I wondered, not for the first time, if I could ever allow myself to be transformed like that.

"Shall we go?" Olivia asked, grabbing a small, glittering bag from a nearby table.

We made our way to the elevator, an awkward tension settling over us. Olivia and I kept stealing glances at each other, quickly looking away when our eyes met. It was ridiculous. We'd kissed—more than once. Why did this feel so different?

As we waited for the elevator, I made a decision. I reached out and took Olivia's hand in mine, intertwining our fingers. She looked at me, surprise evident in her eyes.

I smiled at her. "More practice," I said softly, echoing her words from our first kiss.

She relaxed visibly, a small smile playing on her lips. "Right. Practice."

The elevator arrived with a soft ding, and we stepped inside. As we descended, I couldn't help but be acutely aware of Olivia's presence beside me. The warmth of her hand in mine, the sweet scent of her perfume, the way her dress rustled softly with each movement.

"Are you ready to face New York's elite?" Olivia asked. “And worse, my mother?”

"I've faced down Zorgax warlords and Pryxian royalty who insist on blood combat at each ceremonial meeting. How hard can a few Earth socialites be?"

Olivia laughed, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. "Oh, you have no idea. I’m pretty sure my mother makes Zorgax warlords look like teddy bears."

"Teddy bears?" I asked, confused by the Earth reference.

"Cute, cuddly stuffed toys.”

A Zorgax warrior as harmless as a toy? I hoped this was more Earth humor.

As we exited the elevator and made our way through the opulent lobby, I found myself both excited and apprehensive about the evening ahead. I was looking forward to spending more time with Olivia, to seeing her in her element. But I was also dreading the moment when this would all end.

Because it had to end, didn't it? Soon I would be leaving Earth. Leaving Olivia. The thought made my chest tighten uncomfortably.

We stepped into the crisp, night air. The streets were already buzzing with energy, people dressed in glittering outfits hurrying to their various celebrations. The car Griff had arranged was waiting for us, a sleek, black vehicle that looked far more comfortable than the yellow taxis I'd become accustomed to during the week.

As we settled into the back seat, Olivia pressed close to me, our thighs touching. Whether it was for warmth or comfort, I wasn't sure, but I wasn't about to complain.

"You okay?" she asked softly, her eyes searching mine.

I nodded, forcing a smile. "Of course. Just…thinking about the party."

She squeezed my hand. "We've got this. Remember, we're just two people madly in love, about to shock my parents and have a great time doing it."

Madly in love. The words echoed in my mind, and I wondered if she had any idea how close to the truth they were becoming. At least for me.

As the car pulled away from the curb, I couldn't deny the truth to myself any longer. I, Ruune of Valoria, eternal bachelor and self-proclaimed playboy of the galaxy, was falling for Olivia.

And that terrified me more than any Zorgax warlord—or even her mother—ever could.

The city lights blurred past the window as we drove, the excitement of New Year's Eve palpable even inside the car. Olivia leaned her head on my shoulder—“Practice,” she whispered—and I allowed myself to imagine, just for a moment, that this was our life. That we were really a couple, heading to a party to celebrate the new year.

But as we neared our destination, reality began to creep in. This wasn't real. Not to her.

Yet as I looked down at her, her eyes closed and a small smile on her lips, I knew that moving on wouldn't be as easy as I'd thought. Because somewhere between the carriage rides and the laughter and the kisses that felt far too real, Olivia had become more than just a beautiful Earth woman I was pretending to date.

She had become everything.

And I had no idea what to do about it.