Free Alien Romance: RETURNED: An Alien Warrior Romance: (Acarnania Warriors Book 1) by Jane Hinchey Page A

to run, letting my legs take me where they would. I soon found myself in the bowels of the ship, pausing to catch my breath, holding it when I heard a noise. I closed my eyes, trying to curb the panic that coursed through me. It didn't work. The panic won. Pushing away from the wall, I ran some more. I had no idea where I was running, my thoughts a jumbled mess of fear, so convoluted that the ship’s map kept flashing before my eyes, trying to show me the way, but unsure what I was asking for.
    I barrelled down a corridor, no real idea where I was. I could hear my breath rasping out of my lungs, knew I needed to slow down and get myself under control. Suddenly, I was grabbed from the side and pulled into a room. A hand clamped over my mouth when I started to scream and a deep voice whispered in my ear, “Calm down. It's me. You're safe.”
    Alrik. I stopped struggling and he released me, keeping one hand on my shoulder, steadying me.
    “What are you doing here?”
    “I'm in trouble.” My voice came out as a squeak.
    “What sort of trouble?”
    “It doesn't matter. You can't fix this. You can't fix any of it,” I said, throwing my hands up in frustration as tears burned my eyes. I clamped them shut tightly, willing myself to regain control. There was no telling if I'd be able pick up the pieces again.
    “Sierra, trust me. Let me help you.”
    I wanted to. I remembered Echo, how she'd touched him, the image of them holding hands burnt into my mind. My anger and jealousy returned.
    “I don't need you,” I snapped, all false bravado. Wounded pride was a dangerous thing.
    A look of hurt flashed across his face. “What's happened?”
    “Why aren't you with Echo?” I could have bitten my tongue off. Where did that come from? I had no right to question him.
    “Echo? Why would I be with Echo?” He looked truly puzzled.
    “You were with her earlier. I saw you.” Why couldn't I shut up? Geez!
    “You saw me doing what?” I could tell from his tone he was trying—and failing—to understand.
    “She was touching you. You were holding hands.” This time I clapped my hand over my own mouth to stop any more words from falling out. My humiliation was complete. Tears burned my eyes, blurring him.
    He was silent for a moment. Then, in a voice I'd never heard before, he asked, “Was I doing this?” His hands slid to the back of my neck, tightening in my hair. He lowered his lips to mine for a soft, exquisite kiss, a simple but blissful brush of his mouth against mine.
    “No,” I whispered, unravelled and raw, confused, my mind a whirl. Tears spilled, trailing down my heated cheeks.
    I heard him sigh, felt his thumb brush away a tear near my mouth. “You are a feisty little thing. This is not like you.”
    “It's not,” I agreed, drawing a shaky breath and trying to compose myself. I was starting to feel embarrassed, because crying like—well, like a girl—was not my style.
    “So to be clear, you were running all over the ship, terrified, because you saw me holding hands with Echo?”
    “Pfft. No. Of course not.” I punched his shoulder. No, I hadn't run off in terror when I saw them. I'd curled up into a ball of abject misery and cried my eyes out instead.
    But he didn't need to know that.
    I sniffed, took a breath. “Marat paid me a visit. He doesn't like me,” I blurted out, then immediately regretted saying anything. I didn't want to create discord between Alrik and the rest of the crew. I'd be gone soon, it didn't matter. I just needed to stay alive until I got home. Easy.
    “What did he do?”
    “It doesn't matter. Sorry, I shouldn't have said anything. It's okay.”
    “Ah, silly human. He scared you. Scared you enough to send you into a panicked sprint around the ship.”
    I bristled. He had me pegged, and I didn’t like it.
    “Come.” He grasped my hand, his grip firm.
    I allowed him to lead the way, suddenly tired. “Where are we going?”
    “My quarters.”
    “Oh.” His quarters. His room.