Will you marry me and be the odd alien bride to this scandalous, debauched lord?”Her smile is brilliant. “Of course I will.

Do you not understand, Raahosh? You’re my life. You’re my reason for living. When those aliens took us away from everything, I felt…lost. I’m not lost when I’m with you. I’m happy.” I touch his cheek. “I’m complete.”“My mate,” he murmurs. “My Liz. My everything.”“All yours,” I tell him. And it’s the truth. As long as I’m with Raahosh, the world can snow all it wants, the tribe can pile all the work they want on us, and we can sleep in the hunter caves.As long as I’m with him, I’m happy.

There are two big alien men standing at the large, triangular mouth of the cave, and my Raahosh is easy to recognize. It’s not just the one busted horn and the scars that cover one side of his face that give him a permanent scowl. It’s the way he carries himself, like he’s got a stick up his ass. His back is ramrod straight and his shoulders tight and set like he wants to fight anyone and everyone.It’s so fucking hot.

Idiots think it’s some sort of punishment to send us away together. Big dummies. Little do they know I love being with you like this.

Liz giggles. “Oh my god, you are so cute.”The base of my horns grows hot. “I am a hunter. We are not cute. We are strong. Brave. Fearless. We—” I pause as she lifts her small foot into the air. “What are you doing?”“Can you rub my foot? It’s cold and your hands are warm.”I take her foot and begin to rub it, caressing the small whitish-pink toes and kneading the sole. “As I was saying—

You can tell me another Star War.”“There’s only one,” Liz says, exasperated. “And I’ve told it to you already.”“But you love it, so tell it again.”Her eyes flare with pleasure as she glances back at me. “You want to hear it again? Really?”“I like the things you like,” I tell her simply, and hold her tight.

You’d be safe if it wasn’t for me.”“I’d be lonely and sad if it weren’t for you,” I tell her. “Do you think you are not worth a little risk?” At her silence, I continue. “I do.

Kira, this is dangerous.”“I know.” I look up at him. “So give me a kiss for luck, and make it a really good one.”He makes a strangled noise in his throat. “I don’t want to kiss you right now. I want to throttle you for being foolish.

The word is guttural, almost swallowed in is throat. I try to repeat it. “Rooookh.”He snorts and taps his chest again. “Rukh.”“Oh, are you going to correct me, then?” My mouth curls up in a half smile. “Then let’s start with my name. It’s Harlow. Not Ar-loh. Ha-r-low. Ha in front. Like ha ha ha ha.” I repeat the sound.“Ha ha ha,” he echoes. “Ha ha ha-ar-loh.”I giggle. “You’re terrible at this.