Chapter 8

8

L ila gaped at the blue-skinned IDA representative standing amidst her family’s scattered coats and boots in the foyer. He looked like he was made of plastic, with coifed hair and a perfectly creased white uniform. Two loops of metal in his hand shimmered with an odd, almost liquid quality—alien handcuffs, she assumed. “You’re arresting him for dating me?” she asked, cheeks heating with anger. “That’s ridiculous!”

Her parents and several other curious family members crowded nearby in the archway to the living room, exchanging whispers about what was happening.

The IDA representative smiled at her and looked down his nose. “Beautiful humans like you are in high demand across the galaxy, my dear, often abducted for nefarious purposes. We wouldn’t want you to end up sold on the black market, now, would we?” He shifted his attention back to Zhoel and raised a blue eyebrow. “As Zhoel knows, the IDA is the only agency licensed to coordinate travel to Earth for romantic interactions.”

That got Lila’s hackles up. She’d had enough of Nana meddling in her love life, let alone an alien government. “I don’t give a rip about your licensing,” she said, looping her arm possessively around Zhoel’s. “I’m perfectly capable of screening my own suitors, and Zhoel has been nothing but a gentleman, thank you very much.”

Zhoel looked down at her, gratitude and something more in his eyes. He held out a small circular device, activating a hovering screen full of blue alien script. Lila’s eyes widened at this glimpse of alien technology, and her family’s murmuring intensified. Zhoel extended the device toward the rep. “As you can see, my visa permit has been fully approved. It is for business, but it doesn’t specify what type of interactions I can have with humans while I’m here.”

The rep held out the cuffs. “A technicality you’ll need to take up with the permitting office.” Lila’s stomach tightened as their metallic sheen glinted under the hallway light. “Come with me now, and I’ll see what I can do about keeping this infraction off your permanent record.”

Aunt Maggie elbowed her way forward between Lila’s parents. “Do you have a warrant? Exactly what is your jurisdiction?”

A flicker of uncertainty crossed the rep’s blue features. “I’m here on behalf of the Confederation of Planets. Zhoel has violated his business visa, which is an intergalactic?—”

“This is Earth,” said Maggie, hands going to her hips. “To my knowledge, we have not yet been accepted into the Confederation of Planets. And we don’t arrest people without proper paperwork or proof of wrongdoing.”

The rep straightened, his jaw tightening. “I’m fully authorized to?—”

“Show me a warrant or get out.” Aunt Maggie’s five-foot-five frame seemed to grow as she yanked her phone from her purse. “I work for a law firm, and I’ll have a team of lawyers filing legal complaints against you personally if you proceed without proper Earth protocols. What is your name and authorization? I’ll send it to them now.”

The rep’s scowl deepened, attention flicking to Zhoel, then back to Maggie before he jerked open the front door. “You’ve only delayed the inevitable, you know. I’ll be back soon with your Earth arrest warrant.”

The door slammed behind him in a puff of cold air, and Lila released a breath, legs feeling suddenly weak. She realized she was still clutching Zhoel’s arm, let go, and grasped Aunt Maggie’s hands. “That was amazing.”

Zhoel bowed deeply. “You have my sincere gratitude, Aunt Maggie.”

“Well, I couldn’t see you two lovebirds separated just as you’re starting to get your wings.” Aunt Maggie’s face crinkled back into her usual grin. “I’m just glad I didn’t need to get Walter on the phone.”

Lila grinned back, picturing Walter Higgins, Maggie’s elderly boss and the only lawyer in Bloomington, arguing intergalactic law with aliens. “I would’ve liked to see that, actually.”

Mom’s voice sliced through the levity. “Will one of you please tell me what’s going on? You two told me Zhoel was here for a date. What’s this about a business visa?”

Guilt shot up Lila’s spine and she struggled to find the right words. “Can’t he be here for both business and a date?”

Mom’s eyes flashed with fury. “You lied to me! We don’t conduct business over the holidays for a reason, Lila. Everyone’s emotions are already running high. Look at all the stress you caused. You’re going to give your dad another heart attack.”

“Diane, stop fretting.” Dad put an arm around Mom’s shoulders. “I’m fine. Let’s go back to the living room and sit down.”

Mom gave him a worried look. “Yes, you need to sit. Don’t worry about any of this. I’ll handle it.”

Lila’s jaw tensed, and frustration burned in her throat. “We have bills to pay, Mom. And our creditors don’t give a crap if it’s the holidays or not. We can’t afford to miss out on this opportunity.” She took a quick breath, smiled at her dad, and steadied her voice. “Listen. I don’t want to stress anyone, but ignoring matters will cause more stress in the long run. The company needs to make some changes soon or we’ll lose everything. Zhoel and I are working on a plan to secure a future for both our companies.”

Tom poked his head over Dad’s shoulder. “If Zhoel came here on business, why was he kissing you at the skating pond today?” His eyes narrowed on Zhoel. “This alien could be trying to manipulate you. I’ve heard they have empathic power to control people’s emotions.”

Lila opened her mouth to reply, but froze. She’d heard something about that, too. Was she so desperate to save the business, she was letting Zhoel cloud her judgment?

Zhoel stood still as a statue, blue skin darkening with what might be a flush. “I didn’t come here to manipulate anyone,” he said in a low monotone. “I came here to coordinate a partnership with a transportation supplier. Whatever feelings Lila and I have developed are separate from that.”

Lila swallowed, Tom’s accusation sinking deeper than she wanted to admit. It felt as if the ground was shifting beneath her as Zhoel’s words in the den repeated themselves in her head. I never imagined I’d actually find my mate . Was he manipulating her? They’d barely known each other a single day. How could he possibly think she was his mate? Yet a part of her own mind insisted the connection was real, despite any attempt at rationality.

Mom moved past her and grabbed Zhoel’s peacoat from the rack by the door, handing it to him. “I think it’s best if you go get your visa figured out. You can contact us again after the holidays.”

Panic surged in Lila’s chest. If he left now, he might never come back. Regardless of any personal entanglements, she still believed Zhoel’s plan could be the key to saving the family business. And this whole mate thing still needed to be unraveled. She snatched the coat from her mother’s hand, glaring at her. “I live here, too, and Zhoel is my guest. You can’t just throw him out because you’re upset.”

“Lila’s right, Diane,” said Dad. “Let’s all just go to bed and we can deal with everything in the morning.”

Mom pressed her lips into a thin line, but after several moments, released a pent-up breath that Lila was surprised didn’t burst into flame. “Fine. But he leaves first thing in the morning. And I’d better not hear anyone creeping around the hallway in the middle of the night.”

Heat filled Lila’s face, and Zhoel shifted uncomfortably. Her earlier hopes of being alone with him felt ridiculous now.

Tom huffed, arms crossed over his chest. “You want me to stay in my old room tonight, Mom? Help keep an eye on things? I still have that old air rifle in the attic.”

Zhoel stiffened and shot her a look of alarm.

“Oh, good Lord!” Lila threw her hands into the air. “We’re all adults. I don’t need a babysitter.”

“He’s an alien, Lila. Who knows what he’s capable of?” Tom insisted.

Lila poked her brother hard in the chest. “You don’t know anything about him, you jerk. He’s been nothing but respectful.”

“I would never harm Lila or her family,” Zhoel said.

Dad gave Zhoel an apologetic glance, then handed Tom his coat. “Everything here will be fine, Tom. You take Simone home. We’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Adam—” Mom started, her voice tight.

Dad held up a hand. “I’ve been on the road without a bed too many times, Diane. We won’t do that to anyone, much less someone who we’ve already invited to stay. Lila, why don’t you take Zhoel to the guest room? We’ll see everybody off.”

Zhoel pressed his palms together and bowed his head toward her father. “I am grateful for your hospitality.”

Relief washed over Lila, but her heart still beat too fast. She quickly led Zhoel up the stairs, the sounds of her family murmuring and shuffling into their coats drifting up the stairwell. Tension vibrated like electricity in the silence between her and Zhoel. Despite everything that had happened, she felt all fluttery inside. I want to kiss him again .

At the door to the guest room, he turned to her, eyes filled with distress. “Our plan to impress your family isn’t going very well.”

The flutter in her chest turned to something heavier: doubt. Our plan . Had he only kissed her because of a business scheme? No, it couldn’t be. In the den, he’d suggested she was his mate. But what if that had been for show, too? Part of the fake date in case her family was eavesdropping. What if Tom’s right? What if what she felt wasn’t real? The sudden and intense attraction differed from anything she’d ever experienced. It couldn’t be normal.

“Have you been manipulating my emotions?” she blurted.

Zhoel’s skin darkened to midnight blue. “Absolutely not,” he said, his tone firm, but something flickered in his gaze. Something he was hiding.

“But your species can manipulate emotions, right?”

He hugged his arms across his chest and frowned. “Not exactly. Kirenai can read emotions and use that for more favorable interactions.” He took her hands. “But Lila, I would never manipulate you. I can’t.”

Her stomach churned with uncertainty. “Well, we can stop the fake dating now. My family knows everything.”

Zhoel’s expression tightened. “It’s not fake, Lila. Something happened between us on the ice. A Kirenai knows when he’s found his mate, and I’ve found mine.”

There he goes again, using that word; mate . As if she were the one woman destined to be with him for all eternity. The idea seemed like a fairytale. One that she wanted to believe all too much. But could she trust anything he said right now, much less this? She pulled her hands from his. “I’m not sure about this whole mate thing. Let’s keep our focus on business for now.” She turned toward her room, choking out at the last minute, “Goodnight.”

He called softly after her, “Goodnight, Lila.”

She closed her bedroom door behind her and locked it—not that she worried about Zhoel, but as a reminder to herself to stay put. That kiss on the ice had seared itself into her memory like a brand on her soul. Even the thought of his lips against hers sent a tingle of heat between her legs.

Her attraction was quickly becoming an obsession, and it frightened her. Zhoel was hiding something, she was certain. Undressing, she eased between the sheets, trying to numb her spinning thoughts. But no matter her doubts, her mind still kept circling back to that kiss. His hands in hers as they glided around the ice, their bodies pressed together. On instinct, her fingers crept down her belly, sliding into the front of her panties.

She let out a small gasp of pleasure as her middle finger slid over her swollen clit. She pressed the sensitive nub, hoping to ease the throbbing, but it only made her need more. Maybe I simply need a release .

Dipping deeper between her folds, she pulled the slickness up and over, circling while picturing Zhoel’s naked blue chest above her. She imagined his hands pressing her thighs apart, gaze hot on her center.

The panties were hampering her movement, so she kicked out of them, then let one hand trail up her stomach under her shirt, cupping a breast through the thin fabric of her bra. Pinching a hardened nipple, she imagined it was Zhoel’s mouth suckling and nipping.

As she rubbed her clit, she imagined Zhoel’s imaginary cock thrusting into her again and again, until she convulsed with the shock of release. She lay there gasping, yet incomplete.

I still want him . She pulled the covers over her bare legs and stared up at the ceiling. Such an intense and persistent lust had to be alien manipulation, right?

No . When it came down to it, Lila trusted Zhoel. He was respectful, funny, good with kids, and an excellent kisser. Although he’d come to dinner under false pretenses, he’d told her the truth the first chance he got. And she couldn’t blame him for accepting Nana’s invitation: Nana Pearl could be as much of a bulldozer as Mom when she wanted to. Zhoel was telling the truth when he said he believed they were mates.

Rolling onto her side, she drew the covers over her head, listening to the quiet of the sleeping house. She didn’t doubt Zhoel’s intentions, but perhaps she should question her own. Did she truly believe they could be mates as he continued to insist? Or was she letting herself fall for him because he was a way to save her family’s company?