Alien Knight Blind Date Disaster

noticeable, but he doubted the female next to him would appreciate knowing that, so he decided not to tell her. His woman was feisty. With a half grin he decided a distraction would be better. He still needed answers from her, no matter how much he wanted to throw her over his shoulder and take her far from here. Far from the war they were fighting. “I am taking you to see King Dagan. You will tell him everything you refuse to share with me.”
“You know it’s not like that.” She sighed. “You were passed out for almost thirty-six hours. As I told you this morning before you…before we…” She hesitated, unsure of what word to put in. Before they’d made love? Before they’d turned a one-night stand into a lovefest that lasted all freaking morning? Before…before…
She tried again. “Look, as I was saying, I must talk to King Dagan. It’s really important. I have critical information for him that I was told not to share with anyone else. I thought you understood. You said it was fine, that you would help me.” She sighed and pulled slowly into the newly visible garage of some kind, the gate closing behind them. Fluorescent lighting flashed on, illuminating the interior, which was an oddly square box. She stopped as ordered and they waited.
“King Dagan and I do not deal in secrets.”
“Are you the king? Because if you’re not, I can’t tell you anything.”
Falden’s fun at seeing her drive through the tree illusion had faded to nothing. She would trust a stranger, but not him. Not the Knight she’d spent two hours massaging with maju paste. Not the Knight who had made her scream in pleasure.
“So, you give me your body, but nothing more? Yet you ask for my assistance? My trust?”
When he put it like that, she sounded like a cold-hearted bitch. But she had known Sevron for months. He’d earned her trust the hard way. One day at a time. By always telling her the truth. By helping her when she needed it. “I just need time, Falden. I made a promise to Sevron, and I won’t break it just because I enjoy having sex with you.”
There seemed to be nothing more to say after that.
The car began to descend. They were in a very large elevator. Down, down, down they went. The farther down they were, the fewer fluorescent lights they saw. The air may have cooled, but inside the car they stayed comfortable. She’d never been one for cave exploring, but as they descended, she realized she’d been missing out. Embedded in the gray rock were rivers of mineral deposits, all aglow.
Once the elevator stopped, they got out of the car and Falden directed her through a maze of narrow tunnels until they reached the back of the large fortified structure near both his quarters and the room where Dagan would be awaiting them. He’d brought his Lumerian Knights through these tunnels when King Dagan first came to Earth, then decided to make them a permanent part of their security measures. They couldn’t come and go from the base as the Caldorians did. They needed secrecy. The tunnels provided the perfect access point. Showing it to Isabella was a risk, but something inside him told him that he could trust her. Why couldn’t she do the same?
When they neared an inhabited area, Falden took advantage of their last few moments of privacy and pulled her into his arms. She did not resist, instead leaning into him as if she truly belonged to him.
“I have been inside you, my Bella. I have made you scream with pleasure and held you in my arms as you slept. Yet I am not to be trusted with the truth. You are a very stubborn woman.”
Isabella heard the anger in his voice, saw the tick in his jaw. He was angry. Of course he was angry. But was that hurt she sensed in his voice? Was that why he kept staring at the blue swirls on the back of his hand like she’d poured acid on him? Like he was hurting?
“I made a promise, Falden. And when I make a promise, I keep it.” Surely he would understand that. Duty. Honor. A vow made and a promise kept. She could not betray Commander Sevron Bashall. His life—and that of his brother—could very well depend upon her ability to honor that vow. Trust no one. That’s what Sevron had said. Only speak to King Dagan. Her heart squeezed painfully. She wanted to tell Falden the truth more than she’d ever wanted anything in her life. Wanted to wipe out the pain she was causing. She was falling for him. She wanted only truth between them.
“Let us go then, and speak to the king.”
“Yes.” She smiled weakly. “And thank you for trusting me, Falden. I promise, I have no ill intentions toward your king.”
Falden tipped his head in acknowledgment. “I am aware of that. I would not have brought you here otherwise.”
A large alien male, well over six feet tall, with short blond hair, walked up to them and the broke apart.
“Falden. Welcome home. We were worried about—” His voice trailed off, and his mouth gaped open. “Your markings. No wonder you were gone so long. You could've at least kept your communication device handy. Gareth and a few others are still out looking for you.” His gaze flashed to Isabella, and the shock and intense scrutiny she saw in his eyes set her on guard. But nothing prepared her for his deep bow of respect, nor the look of reverence in his gaze.
Falden stepped between her and the male. “No, Cam. It is not what you think.”
Cam raised a brow and grinned. “Whatever you say, Commander.”
Isabella stepped around Falden and offered her hand in greeting to the alien warrior who seemed to be much friendlier than the one she’d driven here. “I’m Isabella.”
“Ambassador Arcam Shronti, but call me Cam.” He reached out to shake her