Taken by the Alien Next Door (Aliens Among Us #1) - Tiffany Roberts Page 0,38

to court you, Tabitha. I have encountered no female who has set my blood ablaze as you have, none who have captivated me as you have. I’d intended to ask you on a date, to follow your human customs, to gain your trust, and reveal everything to you in time, but circumstances have made all that impossible.”

With her eyebrows furrowed, Tabitha drew her legs closer and slowly pulled herself up, leaning her back against the headboard. “You…chose me?”

“Yes.”

She leaned toward him, and some of her long hair fell over her shoulder. “Then just let me go. I won’t say anything to anyone. I swear.”

He shook his head. “You know too much, Tabitha. I can’t let you go. You…are now mine.”

She yanked on the bindings, baring her teeth. Her position thrust her breasts out toward Zevris, and he couldn’t stop his gaze from briefly dipping to them.

“Damn it, Zevris, you can’t do this! You kidnapped me, have me tied to your bed, and…and you just expect me to want to have your babies?”

“Eventually.”

Tabitha gaped at him. “You’re insane.”

Zevris leaned over her, bracing himself on one hand while he caught her chin with the other. She struggled to pull away, but he held firm. “And you are beautiful.”

She stilled, staring up at him.

“I want you, Tabitha. I crave to know your touch, thirst for your taste, and yearn to make you mine. I have chosen you to be my lifemate, and it is my mission to make it so.”

She shivered, releasing a short, sharp breath.

Zevris lowered his face until it was mere inches from hers and stroked the shallow cleft in her chin. “I would never hurt you, but I can’t let you go. Not yet.”

“This is wrong. Just let me go. Please, Zevris.”

He moved his thumb to her plump bottom lip and traced it, hungering more than anything to feel it against his own…but not until she was willing. “I will win you.”

“People are going to wonder where I am. You can’t keep me here.”

“I must, Tabitha.” Withdrawing his hand from her face, he pushed himself off the bed and walked toward the door.

He would have loved to remain here with her for hours, would have loved to talk with her until she understood the situation, until she understood that he had no choice—and that they could make something meaningful of this. But having to abruptly kidnap his human neighbor presented several other matters that now required his attention, and it was best to see to all of it sooner rather than later.

“Where are you going?” she asked, a hint of fear creeping into her voice.

“I will be back soon, Tabitha. Do not worry.” Zevris opened the bedroom door.

Tabitha yanked on her restraints hard enough to shake the bed. “Let me go!”

He did not respond as he stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him. Her shouts, only faintly muffled by the door, followed him into the hall.

“Help! Someone help me!”

Zevris turned toward the door, leaning his forehead against it. Hearing her pleas was heart wrenching, and knowing that he was the cause for her fear, her distress, her helplessness…

His hand crept toward the doorknob.

“Svesh,” he growled, stilling his hand. He closed his fist, digging his claws into his palm, shoved away from the door, and walked down the stairs. How had he fucked this up so badly?

Nine

Frowning, Zevris crouched and brushed his fingertips across the gouges on the floor. They were deeper than he’d initially thought—not that he’d been very focused on the damage while it was being inflicted. He could perform the necessary repairs on his own, and, at worst, would have to make an extra trip to the hardware store. But those repairs were the least of his concerns.

Laying a rug on the floor and hanging a painting on the wall would suffice for the time being. He could mask the damage.

Just as he should’ve been masking himself.

He grunted, picked up the fallen stone tray, and rose to carry it over to the stand beside the front door. After returning the tray to its place, Zevris bent down to pluck his keys off the floor. He dropped them onto the tray with a heavy sigh.

His carelessness today—his carelessness as of late—was inexcusable. Perhaps he could have placed the blame upon Tabitha for trespassing and spying on him, but her actions shouldn’t have made any difference. Had Zevris been maintaining the appropriate level of caution all along, she could’ve wandered the perimeter of his dwelling, looking