Alien Knight Blind Date Disaster

full of fire and spitting daggers, then returned full of calm reserve.
Isabella swirled the amber liquid in her glass, her gaze pensive. “Is it? I noticed you’ve barely touched yours.”
“Ordering drinks is what is done on a human date,” he said, his tone confident.
Isabella laughed softly, leaned toward him and whispered, “Says who?”
Damn. He could not reveal his general lack of knowledge, nor his reliance on the dating guru’s article for help. He needed to gain her trust, not give her reasons to run.
Falden took his time formulating a response. “Says my…”
“Commander!” Gareth shouted through Falden’s communication device. “You’re not going to believe who just showed up! Get out of there! Now!”
Vander and Cassiel leaped to their feet as the front doors of the restaurant exploded inward, positioning themselves protectively in front of Jessica.
Instinctively Falden grabbed Isabella from her chair and threw her to the ground, covering her small frame with his as debris flew overhead, splinters and glass raining down on them with a tinkling noise as the humans in the restaurant screamed and ducked beneath their tables in panic and confusion.
Isabella wiggled, her soft body pressed to his. Need slammed into him. He couldn’t believe he was distracted while they were under attack. “Stay still,” he ordered, as a piece of debris nicked his forearm.
She wiggled beneath him again. “Get off me.”
Falden growled. “We’re under attack. Be still.”
“I can take care of myself.” Isabella reached for the red bag she carried and pulled it close to her chest as if guarding a treasure.
“Falden!”
Falden turned to find Vander reaching under his table. He knew what Vander was doing. Vander had been safeguarding Falden’s sword, cloaked and invisible, right next to him. Now Vander slid Furon along the smooth hardwood floor. Falden couldn’t see the semiliquid sword but he could sense it. Feel the weapon that he’d chosen for himself, that had chosen him in return thousands of years ago when he’d been a young Knight. There was no need to see the blade. He closed his eyes and engaged his other senses. Reaching out, he wrapped his hand around the invisible pommel.
Cassiel had Jessica on the floor beneath him, covering her body with his as Vander ripped his shirt from his body, revealing a black tactical shoulder sling that hung over his left shoulder, spanned his chest, wound around his right hip and back around to complete a cross-body loop. Vander pulled a small triangular object no bigger than his thumb from the black sling. Instantaneously a laser pistol appeared in its place.
Falden shouted to Vander over the human screaming and panic. “Find Gareth. Take Cassiel and circle around the back. I’ll take the front.”
Vander shook his head. “Leave, Commander! Now. We’ll handle this. You must not be captured here.”
“Commander?” Isabella hissed into his shoulder. “Why do they keep calling you that? Your profile said you’re in Communications!”
Isabella wiggled again. Falden lowered his head, his lips nearly brushing her ear, the strong essence of vanilla and orange sending his body into overdrive. She smelled delicious. Even amidst the chaos of an attack, he wanted her. And now she knew his true rank. Enemies awaited out front, but he could not force himself to leave her behind.
He looked at Cassiel. “Keep Isabella’s friend safe!”
“Jessica. I’m Jessica,” the female shouted, nearly hysterical.
“Just let us go.” Isabella’s words were breathy, unsteady but not afraid. Falden imagined her using that same voice for other, more sensual demands.
“No.” His refusal was gut-deep, instinctual, but he didn’t have time to analyze his reactions. He turned to Vander. “You and Gareth do a sweep. Make it fast, before the human police arrive. And Vander, bring them to me alive.” They threatened the humans here, attacked the Lumerian Knights in public, threatened Isabella’s safety. That, above all things, incited his rage.
Vander’s grin was all the assurance he needed that his orders would be followed to the letter before Vander disappeared into thin air, as Falden had known he would. Under him, Isabella gasped.
“I knew it!”
“You know nothing, female. And you are coming with me. Those who hunt us are dangerous, and you will now be a target.”
“Me? Why?” And why did he assume the attackers were after him? They could just as easily be after her. She had been asking a lot of questions lately. She’d tried to be discreet, but some people didn’t take kindly to anyone poking a nose in their business.
“Because you are here. You have been seen in my presence.” Falden moved into a kneeling position, keeping her down with a hand pressed firmly across her soft, yielding thigh. So soft.
“I can walk.”
“No. Not yet.” Looking to his side, he confirmed that Cassiel had Jessica tucked safely behind the booth, out of sight of the front door, a handheld DEW cannon pointed at the entrance. The Directed Energy Weapon would cause tremendous damage if it was fired. There would be nothing left of the front half of the building. Cassiel meant business.
“Gareth, what is your status?”
“Your vehicle is clear in the back. I am returning to the front to assist Vander. He’s got his hands full. They’re humanoid, Commander. Species unknown. I count forty, all with black market tech. Be careful.”
Falden growled. “Understood.”
Moving slowly, he gently helped Isabella to her feet and looked at the irresistible, sexy shoes that she’d worn. They made her legs look far too long, long enough to wrap around him as he pounded into her body with his hard cock. He admired them but knew they were completely ridiculous and impractical in a fight. Damn.
“Enough,” he said to no one in particular. He needed to focus on keeping her safe, not thinking about what he would do to her if they were alone and she were naked. Except for the shoes. She would be magnificent wearing nothing but…
“I’m not doing anything!” Isabella yanked her arm from his hold. He let her go, as holding on would have required bruising her delicate flesh.
“I was not talking to you, female.”