Conquered by the Alien Warrior by Hope Hart (red queen free ebook .txt) 📕

and completely at home here, and I attempt to shove down the envy that twists my stomach.

“Sarissa, you haven’t slept yet? You look exhausted.”

I smile. “I’ll go to bed soon. Hey, did the commander come by at some point?”

She shakes her head. “I’ve been here since shortly after you arrived. Couldn’t sleep. How come?”

“He took a nasty slice to his arm. It needs to be dressed, but he’s likely so stubborn that he’ll ignore it and then attempt to fix it himself when it doesn’t heal properly.” I roll my eyes, and Zoey laughs.

She reaches for a salve on her workbench and hands it to me, along with a handful of bandages. “Give it a clean and then that salve should do the trick. I’d offer him a tonic for the pain, but something tells me he wouldn’t take it.”

“Nope. Thanks.”

“Anytime.”

The sun may have just risen, but the camp is already coming to life. Babies are crying, their mothers soothing them, kids are negotiating playing outside, and families are laughing together over their morning meals as I walk between a row of kradis.

I ring the kradi bells.

“Yes?”

The commander’s voice is low, almost hoarse, and I hate myself for the way it makes my stomach flutter.

“It’s me.”

Splashing. Good God, he’s in the bath. I don’t wait for him to reply. “I’ll come back later.”

His laugh is a low challenge. “Enter.”

I grit my teeth. Another game. If he thinks he’ll turn me into a drooling fool just because he happens to be naked, he can think again.

I push through his kradi entrance and come to a halt as silver eyes meet mine.

He’s obviously just washed his hair because water is dripping down his face, along the smooth line of his throat, caressing the muscles of the best chest on Agron.

Stop staring, dummy.

His eyes laugh at me as I grind my teeth, stepping closer.

“I noticed you were favoring your left arm. It doesn’t make you weak to go to the healers, you know.”

He lifts it from the water, and we both examine the deep cut. Blood oozes out, and I let out a growl.

“Are you trying to get an infection?”

“It was dirty. It needed to be cleaned.”

His tone is suggestive, and I heroically manage to fight back a blush. I stare him down. It’ll take more than that to make me uncomfortable.

Yeah, right. So why are you sweating, hmm?

The corner of his mouth lifts, and he moves. I clamp my eyes shut, ignoring his low laugh as he gets to his feet. From the sound of things, he’s drying himself off, and I gulp, wishing I could fan my face.

“You can open your eyes,” he murmurs, and I jump.

He’s standing inches away, and I clear my throat again.

“If you sit down, I’ll be able to reach.”

He gives the salve in my hand a look of distaste, and I wave it at him.

“It’s an antiseptic.”

He sighs. “Fine.”

He takes a seat, the towel parting to reveal one huge muscled thigh.

Don’t look down.

I jump at the touch of his hand on mine, and I realize he’s reaching for the salve. He smiles, looking far too pleased with himself, as he places it on the table next to him.

Silence.

“Hold out your arm.”

He complies, and I use one of the bandages to gently spread the salve along the cut. He hisses, and I wince.

“Serves you right for not paying attention.”

I know when he got this cut. It was right after I admitted I was his mystery woman.

From the frown on his face, he’s thinking the same thing.

“How are you feeling now?”

“Better. I’ve regained most of my energy. That disgusting water you forced on me saved my life.”

I let out a pleased hum as I wrap a bandage around his bicep before tying it off. I pull my hand away, and he catches it in his.

We stare at each other, the crackle of his fire the only noise in his kradi.

Fuck it.

I lean down, and he meets me halfway, his mouth hard on mine. The commander kisses as if every kiss is his last, with a kind of desperate urgency that makes my thighs clench.

His hands cup my head, holding me to him as his tongue presses against my lips, demanding entrance. I open for him, and he sweeps into my mouth with a growl, making me tremble with need.

He pulls me close until I’m straddling him, and I groan at the feel of him so hard and thick beneath me.

Turns out the commander is packing. He moves his lips to my neck, trailing down my skin, and my eyes flutter shut as I sigh against him.

Korzyn’s low laugh makes me jolt, and I blink open my eyes as I stare at him. I’ve never seen him look so…happy before. Tiny lines are crinkled next to his eyes, which glow silver with satisfaction. His full lips are curled into a smile, and I reach out, tracing that smile in an attempt to memorize what it looks like.

“Why did you stop?”

Am I slurring?

“You fell asleep against me. Should I be offended?”

“Did not.”

His smile widens into a full-fledged grin. “You snored.”

He gets to his feet, holding me easily in his arms despite his injury. I expect him to let me slide down to the ground, but instead, he walks me to the furs in the corner of the kradi, placing me down on them.

“What are you doing?”

“You need to sleep.”

My eyes widen at that. And they widen even more as he ditches the towel, crawling under the furs next to me.

“Um.”

“You came to me,” Korzyn says. “You sleep with me.”

“Uh—”

“Close your eyes.”

I feel like I should argue my point, but he hauls me into his arms, and he’s so warm next to me, and I feel so safe that I…do.

Korzyn

It has been many years since I woke up next to a female. And never did I imagine I would wake up next to this one.

Sarissa…cuddles.

I never would have expected it from the prickly female, but she is slumped over