Free My Alien Warrior by Ashley West Page B

to revel in being champion before I had to come here,” he said. “But yeah. And it was happening before I became champion, too.”
    “Oh, I’m sure. Big, strong man like you? I bet you had to keep them away with your axe.”
    “Now why would I have wanted to keep them away?” Khaos asked, arching an eyebrow and carding his fingers through her hair. “And what about you? As beautiful and smart as you are, I bet you have human men lining up for the chance to be with you.”
    Kayla’s smile dimmed a bit and she sighed softly. “Not as many as you’d think.” It wasn’t that men didn’t like her, because that very much wasn’t true. She got catcalled and hit on as much as any other conventionally attractive woman out there, but that kind of attention wasn’t what she was looking for. That didn’t do anything for her, and once it moved past that stage, men began to see why she wasn’t what they were looking for. Her job always came first, and she was always tired and worn down from working so much, and there was very little she could do about it.
    “I’ve never been the kind of girl that men want to keep around for too long,” she admitted. “I’m not spontaneous or easy to get along with most of the time. Turns out most guys are looking for a partner who can actually spend time with them and put them first, and that’s just not me.”
    Khaos frowned and sat up a bit, looking down at her. “Well, then human men are stupid. You have passion, Kayla. You have something you believe in that drives you, and that’s not something you should have to feel bad about.” He hesitated for a second and then continued. “On the other hand, you do work too much.”
    “Thanks,” Kayla said dryly. “I took an oath, Khaos. That I would help people and devote my time to making sure that I’m doing all I can. It’s what I was born to do.”
    “And who takes care of you?”
    It wasn’t a new question by any means. Everyone who got close to her in some way asked that question eventually, and Kayla’s answer was always the same. “I can take care of myself.”
    “You shouldn’t have to, though. That’s what partnerships are for.”
    “Yeah, but it’s not fair if it’s one sided. If someone is taking care of me, and I can’t give them the same back. That’s not right.”
    It had to be equal, or nothing at all, which was the main reason why Kayla had been living with nothing for so long.
    Khaos seemed to consider that. “I don’t think it’s one sided,” he said after a moment. “Not if the other person wants to take care of you. There’s nothing wrong with one person being the caretaker if you’re both into that. It’s not like you’re selfish, Kayla. I think you’re one of the least selfish people I’ve ever met, actually.”
    “You haven’t met that many people,” Kayla felt compelled to point out.
    “I don’t just mean humans. I mean out of everyone. There are some people out there who can’t even imagine what it’s like to do stuff for other people, and that’s definitely not you. You sort of remind me of the women who ran the orphanage I grew up in.”
    Kayla didn’t quite know what to say to that, so instead she said nothing, choosing to sigh softly and focus on the warmth and solidness of his body on top of hers.
    “I still want you,” Khaos said softly. “No matter what you think about yourself.”
    “Why?” It was a fair question, she thought. He didn’t know anything about her really, aside from the fact that she worked too much and spent too little time caring about herself and apparently fell apart under his hands. He could probably have anyone he wanted back on his home planet, and she didn’t know why he would want a human woman anyway, if he didn’t plan to stay here.
    Although if no one could figure out what was killing his people, then he wouldn’t have much of a choice either way about where he stayed.
    She glanced up at him, and he seemed to be putting some thought