Chapter 9

NINE

T he rusty door hinges of the park's cabin they had rented for the night screamed in protest as Vexor shouldered it open, cradling Raelee in his arms. A gust of wind followed them inside, carrying the scent of pine and wood smoke, mingled with the metallic tang of blood and the acrid smell of gunpowder that clung to their clothes—stark reminders of their narrow escape.

Vexor's arms trembled, not from Raelee's weight, but from the adrenaline still coursing through his veins. His heart thundered in his chest, a chaotic rhythm born of fear and anger.

"Welcome home," Raelee quipped, her voice weak but still laced with her trademark sarcasm. "I hope you don't expect a damsel-in-distress swoon. I left my fainting couch in my other pants."

Despite the tension coiled in his muscles, Vexor found himself chuckling. "I wouldn't dream of it. I've seen you take down mercenaries with nothing but a sharp wit and a well-aimed pinecone. Swooning doesn't seem your style."

"Ah yes, my deadly pinecone technique. Learned that one in Girl Scouts," Raelee winced as Vexor gently laid her on the worn couch. "Right after the ‘how to bake cookies in the forest' badge and just before ‘advanced mercenary ass-kicking.'"

Vexor's lips twitched in amusement as he knelt beside her. "Sounds like an intense scout program."

His smile faded as he examined her injuries. The gash on her forehead had stopped bleeding, but her ankle was swollen to twice its normal size, an angry purple bruise blooming across the skin.

"This might hurt," he warned, his fingers hovering over her ankle.

Raelee gritted her teeth. "Just do it. I can take it. I once watched all the Twilight movies in one sitting. This is nothing."

Vexor raised an eyebrow, not understanding the reference but appreciating her attempt at humor. He gently probed the injury, his touch clinical yet tender. Raelee hissed in pain, her hand instinctively grabbing his forearm. The contact sent a jolt through Vexor, and for a moment, the world narrowed to the point where their skin met.

Clearing his throat, Vexor focused on the task at hand. He retrieved the first aid kit from his pack, thanking the stars for his extensive medical field training. As he cleaned and bandaged her wounds, his mind raced. Anger bubbled up inside him—anger at the mercenaries who had dared to hurt her, anger at himself for putting her in danger, anger at the universe for the impossible situation he found himself in.

"There," he said, securing the last of the bandages, his voice tight with suppressed emotion. "It's not pretty, but it'll do until we can get you proper medical attention."

Raelee flexed her foot experimentally, wincing slightly. "Not bad, Vex. Where'd you learn first aid? Secret agent's school? Or maybe you're a superhero in disguise. Ooh, are you Batman? Please tell me you're Batman."

Vexor's lips quirked in a half-smile, grateful for her ability to lighten the mood. "If I were Batman, I'd have a much cooler car. And probably more body armor."

"Fair point," Raelee conceded. "Though I have to say, you handled those mercenaries like a pro. Seriously, where did you learn to fight like that? Because last I checked, most businessmen don't know how to disarm a guy with a roundhouse kick."

Vexor tensed, scrambling for a plausible explanation. "I... had an unconventional upbringing. My family believed in being prepared for anything."

"Anything?" Raelee arched an eyebrow. "Even damsels in distress with a penchant for trouble?"

"Especially those," Vexor replied, his voice softening. "They're the most dangerous kind."

Their eyes met, and for a moment, the air between them crackled with unspoken tension. Vexor cleared his throat, breaking the spell. "You should rest. I'll see what I can scrounge up for dinner."

He retreated to the small kitchen area, grateful for the chance to collect himself. Since most of the park's overnight visitors ate at the small café in the main building, the cabin's cupboards yielded a meager feast: canned soup, stale crackers, and a jar of peanut butter that had probably been there since the Carter administration.

"Hope you're not expecting a five-star meal," Vexor called out as he worked. "Unless you count the mold on these crackers as a rare delicacy."

Raelee's laugh drifted in from the other room. "After the day we've had, I'd eat a shoe if you put enough hot sauce on it."

As they ate their humble meal by the fireplace, Vexor found himself captivated by Raelee. The flickering flames cast a warm glow over her features, softening the bruises and scrapes.

"...and that's how I ended up banned from the Lincoln Memorial for a month," Raelee finished, grinning impishly.

Vexor shook his head in amazement. "I'm beginning to think you're more trouble than those mercenaries."

"Guilty as charged," Raelee winked. "But admit it, your life would be boring without me."

The truth of her words hit Vexor like a physical blow. His life had been nothing but duty and responsibility before Raelee crashed into it. Now, everything was brighter, more vivid, more alive. The realization only made what he knew he had to do even more painful.

Vex cupped her cheek and leaned forward, capturing her mouth in a deep, hungry kiss. Raelee melted into him, her arms wrapping around his neck as they tumbled together onto the plush rug in front of the fire.

Their tongues danced as Vex undid the buttons of Raelee's blouse, revealing her creamy flesh. Her nails raked down his back, eliciting the fiercest of growls from deep within his chest.

After removing her clothes, Vex kissed a trail along Raelee's collarbone. Her gasps of pleasure spurred him on. He worshiped her breasts, his tongue flicking, teasing each sensitive nipple until she arched her back, lost in the sensation.

He loved how she responded to him.

Raelee was no passive participant either. Her fingers tangled in his hair, guiding him where she wanted him, her hips grinding against his hardness in a primal rhythm as old as time itself.

The fire's glow cast shadows on the wall as if there were more than just the two of them in the room. Time seemed to slow, each moment stretching into an eternity as they savored every touch, every taste, every sound.

Vex gently guided her onto her back, his body above hers, his piercing gaze boring into hers.

Her gaze locked with his, watching him. Without breaking the eye contact, he sank down between her legs and nudged her thighs apart. When he spread her lips, she sucked in a breath. "So wet."

He licked from her entrance to her clit, savoring her sweet taste. His cocked filled again, hardening and ready for another round. Raelee closed her eyes, and he covered her sex with his mouth, sucking and teasing. Pleasure rolled through him with each pleasured moan from her.

Slipping two fingers inside her hot, wet pussy, he flicked his tongue over the bundle of sensitive nerves. Her hips moved in time with his thrusts and licks, telling him what she wanted. Picking up the tempo, he replaced his tongue with his thumb so he could watch her when she came.

"Come for me."

A scream ripped from her as the orgasm slammed into her and her body spasmed while her pussy squeezed his fingers.

Good, gods, he loved watching her come undone.

He kissed his way back up her body until he settled between her legs and entered her in one smooth, searing thrust.

Their bodies moved together in perfect harmony, fueling the flames of an inferno that burned brighter than any fireplace could ever hope to match.

Raelee clung to him, her nails raking his back as the fire within her built higher and higher. "Vex," she moaned, her breath ragged and full of desire. "Oh, gods, Vex."

He growled in response, his movements becoming even more frantic, more desperate. He needed to feel her, needed her more than he'd ever needed anything in his life. He could feel the edge of their release drawing closer like a storm gathering in the distance.

"Come with me," he gasped, his voice a harsh whisper in her ear. "Give yourself to me, Raelee."

As if by command, their orgasms crashed over them like a tidal wave, their cries of ecstasy mingling with the crackling of the fire. He pulled out and stretched out beside her, holding her close.

Out of the blue, Vexor's communicator buzzed insistently in his backpack. He excused himself, stepping outside to take the call from Garek. The night air was crisp, carrying the promise of frost. Stars glittered overhead, so different from the constellations of his home world.

"Vex," Garek's voice crackled through the device, tension evident even through the poor connection. "We have a problem. The rebel faction is on the move. They know about your Earthling. If they find you..."

"Spit it out, Garek," Vexor growled, his free hand clenching into a fist. "How bad is it?"

Garek sighed heavily. "Bad. The Drakanor sect sees her as a threat to their vision of Tharvis. They believe eliminating her will derail our alliance with Earth."

Vexor's blood ran cold, fury and fear warring within him. "They won't touch her," he snarled. "I won't allow it."

"With all due respect," Garek's voice was gentle but firm, "you may not have a choice. The only way to keep her safe is to leave her. Draw them away."

Vexor's mind rebelled against the idea. "There has to be another way. I can't just abandon her, Garek. She's everything."

A moment of silence stretched between them before Garek spoke again. "I know, Vex. I've never heard you speak of anyone this way. But sometimes, to protect those we love, we must leave them."

The use of his name rather than his title drove home the gravity of the situation. Vexor closed his eyes, fighting the emotions threatening to overwhelm him.

"What if I told her the truth?" he asked, grasping at straws. "Brought her back to Tharvis now?"

"You know that's not possible," Garek replied gently. "The alliance hangs by a thread. If she doesn't come of her own free will as an ambassador of Earth, everything we've worked for could crumble."

Vexor let out a frustrated growl. "When did my life become a bad soap opera, Garek? ‘Alien Prince Falls for Earth Girl, Universe Conspires Against Them.' We could sell the rights to Earth television."

Despite the gravity of the situation, Garek chuckled. "Your sense of humor remains intact, I see. That's good. You'll need it in the days to come."

" Days to come ," Vexor repeated bitterly. "You make it sound so simple. Have you ever had to leave behind someone you... someone you care about?"

Garek's voice softened. "Once. Long ago. It was the hardest thing I've ever done. But also the right thing."

Vexor sighed, the fight draining out of him. "I understand. I'll... I'll leave in the morning. Keep me updated on the rebels' movements."

"Of course. And Vex? I'm sorry. I truly am."

"I'll go. But you need to ensure we have eyes on this cabin and Raelee at all times until she's at Tharvis. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes."

"Garek, I'm not going to leave if her people can't guarantee her safety."

"We've been in contact with the presidential security team. The Secret Service has been outside the cabin for about an hour along with some of our team, which they don't know about. She's protected and will be until she's on Tharvis."

"Tell them to stay back and out of sight. Just protect her but don't disturb her. She'll go back on her own in the next few hours. They don't need to harass her."

"I'll let them know. Call me when you're ready to be picked up. I'm nearby." Of course, he was nearby. Vex wouldn't have expected anything less from his best man.

The call ended, leaving Vexor alone with the weight of his decision. He stood there for a long moment staring up at the star-filled sky, wishing for a solution that didn't involve breaking his own heart.

When he finally returned to the cabin, Vexor found Raelee had dozed off on the couch. The firelight danced across her face, softening her features. She looked so peaceful, so untroubled. Vexor's chest ached with the knowledge of what he had to do.

He knelt beside her, drinking in the sight of her. Gently, he brushed a strand of hair from her face, his touch featherlight. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I never meant for any of this to happen. I never meant to fall in love with you."

The admission, spoken aloud for the first time, hit him like a physical blow. He loved her. And because he loved her, he had to leave.

As dawn broke, painting the sky in hues of pink and gold, Vexor gathered his few belongings. Each item he packed felt like another betrayal. He scribbled a note, his usually elegant handwriting shaky and rushed:

"Raelee, I'm sorry for leaving like this. Know that you're safe now. I wish I could explain everything, but some secrets are better left untold…for now. Remember these days we've shared. They've meant more to me than you could ever know.

Vex"

He placed the note on the kitchen counter, weighing it down with the peanut butter jar—their almost-dinner from the night before. It seemed a fitting metaphor for their time together: unexpected, a little absurd, but somehow perfect.

With one last look at Raelee's sleeping form, Vexor slipped out of the cabin and into the misty morning. His heart felt like it was being torn in two, but he forced himself to keep moving. He had a rebellion to quash, a planet to protect, and a love to safeguard—even if it meant sacrificing his own happiness.

As he made his way out the main entrance, Vexor allowed himself one moment of weakness. He turned back, looking at the cabin that was rapidly disappearing in the distance. "Good-bye, Raelee," he whispered to the wind. "May the stars watch over you until we meet again."

Then, squaring his shoulders, Prince Vexor of Tharvis turned his thoughts toward home, leaving behind the only piece of his heart he'd ever freely given. The path ahead was fraught with danger and uncertainty, but one thought kept him moving forward: someday, if the fates were kind, Raelee would stand beside him as his wife, and he would never have to leave her again.

Vexor chuckled darkly to himself. "Well, Vex," he muttered, "you wanted to experience Earth culture. Congratulations. You've just starred in your very own romantic tragedy. Shakespeare would be proud."

With that final, sardonic thought, he activated his cloaking device and disappeared into the fog, leaving behind the Earth girl who had changed everything.