Tamed By the Alien Pirate by Celia Kyle Page 0,17

and sputtering, I pulled it away as the liquor hit me. Suddenly I felt warm and giddy, which was a foreign sensation.

“Hey, the emcee is calling her. You’re up, Glitter.”

“It’s Thrase, actually.” Shit, I didn’t mean to blurt that out. Damn alcohol.

“Clem, go tell the emcee it’s Thrase, not Glitter. That’s a sexier name anyway.”

She gave me a wink and shoved me out onto the stage…

Which brings me back into the present. On stage, the music grinding, and absolutely terrified.

I scan the audience and see that Zander is there. His face is creased in a worried frown, his eyes lurking beneath his horns full of recrimination. I sort of shrug, and then the crowd starts to boo.

Shit. Can’t have us thrown out yet, not until we have the information we need. The liquor is really starting to hit me, and I start swaying instinctively to the music. I realize the only way I can get through this is if I pretend it’s only me and Zander in the club.

Something stirs inside of me when our gazes meet. Suddenly, I want him to want me, desperately. Keeping eye contact, I grab the pole and twirl myself about it as I saw the other women do. My movements aren’t as fluid, but the patrons don’t seem to mind. I struggle to ignore their hooping and hollering and focus only on Zander.

His grimace fades, and his mouth goes slack as I finish my spin. Slowly, I unzip the side of my dress—convenient, that—and peel it off my body. Now clad only in my rather translucent underwear and gloves, I turn about and thrust my hips as the other dancers did. Again I’m sure my motions aren’t nearly as graceful as theirs, and again the crowd does not mind.

When I turn about, Zander has sweat beading on his golden-skinned brow. He drains what’s left of his beer in one go and continues to stare intently. Dropping to all fours, I crawl toward him, keeping eye contact the whole time.

He’s right at the edge of the stage, and I take a leap of faith—literally and figuratively. I land in his lap, straddling him, and put my arms behind my head and gyrate my hips. Twin bumps press up against my body through his trousers, which spurs me on to greater efforts. I’ve forgotten that I’m even in a club, and for the moment only the two of us exist in the entire galaxy.

Zander’s hands close on my arms, and he drags me toward him, lips moving in for a kiss. I eagerly move to accept it, desperate for this moment to finally happen.

That’s when the Odex bouncer’s fist closes on Zander’s shoulder and peels us apart.

“No touching the girls. This is a respectable joint.”

Zander is dragged out the front door and tossed into the street. Damn it all. I rush backstage, eschewing the hard currency tossed onto the stage for my benefit, grab my clothes—including our weapons—and run back out the front door after him, causing the owner great consternation.

“But you just started.”

“And I’m just quitting. Thanks for the opportunity.”

It’s only when I come outside and stand next to Zander as he picks himself up that I realize I didn’t dress yet.

“Thrase… for the love of… cover yourself, everyone can see your, see your… see your everything.”

I quickly don his brocade coat, buttoning it closed.

“I was worried about you.”

“I’m fine… that was some… I mean… where did you even learn to… I didn’t know human females were so bendy…”

“Necessity is the mother of invention.” I grin at him, blushing but also glad I’ve had such an effect on him. Strange, for so many years I wanted men to appreciate me for my mind first and foremost, and now I get a deep thrill from the fact that he’s openly lusting over my body. “Did you find anything out at all?”

“About the men who attacked us, no, I did not…but I picked up a very valuable clue. The Starcorp building, supposedly abandoned, has armed guards. Armed guards who are particularly trigger happy and wearing IHC Marine uniforms.”

I grin happily.

“That sounds most promising, Zander. Excellent work.”

“Yes, thank you. Shall we return to the ship and make our report?”

I can’t help but notice the awkward way that he walks. Poor Zander, dealing with localized swelling in his lower abdomen.

I berate myself for thinking how much I want to help him relieve it.

Chapter Nine

Zander

By the time we return to the Ancestral Queen, I am no longer suffering under the