Saved by the Alien Crime Boss (Aliens Among Us #4)

Chapter 23

TWENTY-THREE

Mina sat on the sofa with her legs curled to the side, a blanket draped over her lap, and her tablet in her hands. All was quiet except for the crackling of the fire in the hearth. With the windows blacked out by alien technology Sevik had installed to protect his privacy, shutting out the world beyond, the cabin felt cozier than ever. This was the perfect reading environment.

But she wasn’t really reading.

Her eyes moved over the words on the screen, but her mind drifted elsewhere. To Sevik.

Mina smiled. She’d been doing that a lot since coming here four days ago. Well, smiling and thinking of Sevik. When had she ever been this happy?

Never.

There were some wonderful people in Sullford. Most of the townsfolk had never said an unkind word about Mina or her mother. But a lot of them had also stood by, silent, as others made their hateful comments. They’d turned their heads and pretended not to see anything. They’d ignored years of harassment, simply because it hadn’t involved them.

And while doing nothing wasn’t nearly as bad as bullying, all those bystanders carried some of the guilt. Because the silence had told Mina’s tormentors that they’d been justified in their actions, that there were no consequences for their behavior. That the world didn’t give a shit.

Despite the good that was here, this town was tainted in Mina’s eyes…and in her heart. She couldn’t look upon those longtime residents without remembering the terrible things they’d done and said—or that they’d allowed to happen.

Every single day, she’d had those memories, that pain, stirred up. And every single day, she’d put on her false smile and acted like she wasn’t hurting inside. Like she was above letting them affect her. At least while Randy had been around, she’d had someone. Someone who spoke up for her, someone who consoled her, who helped carry the burden of those memories.

She’d had to face all of it alone for more years than she cared to count.

Until Sevik.

It wasn’t just that he’d spoken up for her, that he’d protected her. He saw her. When he looked upon her, she felt like the most important person in the world.

She looked forward to waking up beside him every morning, to talking with him, to spending time with him. These days she’d spent in his cabin, snowed in, had been…magical. Her hometown, with all its emotional baggage, was only fifteen minutes away, but it felt like this cabin was its own universe, removed from everything else. A sanctuary. A paradise.

Here, she had no reason to rush, had no responsibilities. There was no need for false smiles and empty niceties. Mina’s smiles, laughter, and joy were all very, very real. Every moment with Sevik was a balm for her wounded soul. Even yesterday, when they’d spent hours cuddled in bed while Mina read to him, had been perfect .

Of course, that reading session had grown pretty steamy during certain parts of the book, because Sevik, with his superhuman sense of smell, had picked up on her arousal immediately. More than once, he’d snatched the tablet from her, tossed it aside, and showed her that there was truth to the spicy scenes in romance novels.

Mina’s cheeks heated as she recalled the many times they’d come together physically. Sevik was insatiable, but her hunger matched his. She couldn’t wait to feel both his cocks inside her, to feel that fullness. She wanted all of him in every way.

Desire blossomed in her core, and she pressed her thighs together.

He’d been incredibly patient as he had continued preparing her body for the time when he’d finally claim her fully. He wanted to ensure that she’d feel no pain, that she’d take as much pleasure from the act as he would. The sensation of him thrusting a finger in her ass, slowly stretching her, had been so strange… And yet, it had felt amazing.

A door opening jolted Mina from her thoughts. She looked up to see Sevik stepping into the living room from the back door.

Mina smiled wide, her heart fluttering at the sight of him. As soon as he closed the door, his holoshroud fell away. His long, white hair was loose, hanging around his shoulders and down his back, and he wore a snug, long-sleeved black shirt and dark blue jeans that hugged his thick, muscular thighs.

He kicked off his boots onto the mat beside the door, glanced at her with a smirk, and strode into the kitchen.

Curious, she sat up and craned her neck to look toward the kitchen entryway.

Sevik returned quickly, arms laden with her coat, hat, gloves, and boots. He placed the latter on the floor in front of her and the rest on the couch beside her.

Mina tilted her head. “What’s going on?”

He knelt before her and drew the blanket off her lap. “I have something to show you.”

She shifted her legs forward as she set her tablet on the end table. “Something to show me?”

Lifting her foot, he slipped one of her boots on, repeating the process for the other.

Mina furrowed her brow and pointed toward the back door. “Outside?”

He chuckled. “Why else would I put on your boots?”

“But there’s like three feet of snow out there. It’s also nighttime and freezing!”

Sevik caught her chin and stroked it with his thumb, his eyes growing heated. “I’ll keep you warm, val’syra .”

That warmth in her belly spread.

I bet you will.

She poked his chest. “I am not taking off my pants in the snow.”

Sevik’s thumb claw grazed her lower lip as the corner of his mouth quirked. “Won’t be in the snow. And we’ll see.”

“I’m serious. Do you realize how cold Alaskan winters are? No, of course you don’t, because you don’t feel the cold. My pussy is staying all cozy and warm inside my pants.”

He just laughed, released her chin, and took hold of her hands to guide her onto her feet. Picking up her coat, he reached around Mina and helped slip it over her arms.

“I could’ve done this,” she said, smiling.

“I know,” he replied, drawing the sides of her coat together before zipping it up.

Meaning he was content to do this for her. It was incredibly sweet, and just another thing that made her feel so cared for.

“Are you going to finally show me your spaceship?” she asked, trying to ignore how wildly her heart was beating.

“No.”

Mina stuck her bottom lip out in a pout as he put on her hat. “Will you ever show me your spaceship?”

“It really isn’t as exciting as you seem to think, Mina.”

She gave him a droll look. “It’s exciting when you’ve never seen one.”

“I’ll show you eventually.”

Mina grinned as she pumped her fists in victory. “Yes!”

Sevik held up her gloves. “But not tonight.”

She opened her hands for him. “That’s okay. The promise to show me is good enough for now. Will you take me flying?”

He slipped her gloves on, taking the time to ensure each finger fit snugly. “We’ll see.”

“Thaaaaat’s not a no.”

“Not a yes, either.”

“But there’s still a chance.”

One of his brows arched. “Ready?”

“Yep. I’m all toasty warm.”

Sevik took her hand and led her to the door. His holoshroud shimmered into place as he moved. He stepped back into his boots without letting her go, stomping to get them on. Just as he was reaching for the handle, he paused.

“ Leskahn tor lesk , almost fucking ruined it,” he muttered, turning to face her.

Mina raised her brows. “Ruined what?”

He released his hold on her and dropped his hand into her pocket, taking out the scarf she’d stuffed into it the day she’d arrived. He moved behind her and raised the scarf over her head. But instead of wrapping it around her neck, he brought it over her eyes.

Mina started and looked at him over her shoulder. “What are you doing?”

“Covering your eyes,” he said flatly.

“Oh! Is it a surprise? I love— Wait…” She narrowed her eyes at him. “In every mobster movie I’ve seen, anyone who gets blindfolded is about to”—she brought her hands up and made finger quotes in the air—“sleep with the fishes.”

Sevik stared at her long and hard. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“Means they get whacked.”

“Whacked.”

“Killed. Dead. Come on, shouldn’t you know this stuff?”

He wrapped an arm around her middle, but rather than hug her, he yanked her hips back and forced her to bend over his forearm. A sharp crack sounded an instant before pain flared on her ass cheek. Even through the material of her jeans, she felt the sting from his palm. Mina cried out in pain and in shock.

He’d spanked her. Spanked her.

And she would’ve been lying if she said she hadn’t actually liked it.

His hand came down again, this time on her other ass cheek, and her sex clenched with arousal.

Mina gasped and gripped his forearm. “Sevik!”

“That’s for even thinking I’d make you sleep with the fucking fishes,” he said sternly as he rubbed his palm over her backside, soothing the warmth blooming across her flesh.

“Okay! Okay! Bad joke. I won’t do it again. I’m sorry.”

“Good girl.” Sevik gave her ass a little pat before standing her upright. He caught her jaw in a firm grip and tipped her head back. His pupils had expanded, flooding his irises with black. “I would never fucking hurt you.”

Well, beyond a spanking.

Mina touched a hand to his chest. “I know. I’m sorry.”

Sevik pulled her closer as he bent down, pressing a hard, searing kiss to her mouth that sent a wave of heat through Mina and made her toes curl in her boots.

When he pulled back, he flicked his tongue over her lips. “Never again. Not even a thought.”

“Never,” Mina promised. “But I…wouldn’t mind you spanking me again.”

A low chuckle rumbled from him before he nipped her bottom lip with a fang. “Oh, I will, val’syra .” Releasing her, he grasped the scarf in both hands again and raised it. “Now turn around.”

“Yes, sir.” With a grin, she gave him her back. The friction of her jeans as she moved enhanced the warm sensation on her ass. She was sure she wouldn’t forget this punishment anytime soon.

Who knew I’d be into spanking?

After covering Mina’s eyes with the scarf and tying it into place, Sevik stepped in front of her. “No peeking.”

“I won’t.”

He took her hand, opened the door, and led her outside. Though she was bundled up and knew it was coming, nothing could ever have prepared Mina for that blast of frigid air. A deep shiver ran through her, and her first breath stung her nostrils and throat. She tucked her nose behind the collar of her coat.

Sevik reached around her and tugged the door closed. No sooner had it shut than he scooped Mina off her feet, cradling her against his chest with one arm under her back and the other behind her knees. Grinning, she wrapped her arms around his neck and turned her face against it. She drew warmth from his skin as she breathed in his spicy scent.

His boots thumped over the deck’s wooden boards until he descended a small set of stairs and stepped onto snow.

“So where are you taking me?” she asked.

“You’ll see. No more questions.”

Mina chuckled.

Snow crunched beneath his boots as he walked, his gait deliberate and seemingly unhindered. How much snow had he shoveled? He’d spent a lot of time outside over the last couple days clearing the driveway, but she hadn’t realized he’d also made a path out back.

She could tell that they were steadily moving downhill, toward the lake. Yet when his footsteps again became hollow thuds on wood planks, her brows rose in surprise.

“Are we on a dock?”

“Mmhmm.” Sevik finally drew to a halt. Gently, he lowered Mina onto her feet, keeping an arm around her until she found her balance. Then he pulled the knot of the scarf loose.

She reached up to catch the scarf, opened her eyes, and froze.

The sky was aglow with waves of dancing green light that flowed from the horizon like ribbons of magic. Their luminescence reflected on the lake below, where the wind had left patches of ice bare of snow, making everything radiant and surreal.

Mina had seen the aurora borealis many times in her life, but never like this. Never without the town’s lights interfering. Never with the heavens stretching out to infinity overhead, with countless stars twinkling against a backdrop of purples and blues.

“Sevik,” Mina whispered, her breath coming out in a small cloud, “this is beautiful.”

“Between the city lights and the pollution, you never see the sky on Vabos,” he said, drawing her attention to him. He too was looking up. “Never see much of anything beautiful. But this planet… This planet has many beautiful things.”

Sevik’s eyes met Mina’s, their light rivaling the display overhead—but burning just for her. “And none of those things can compare to you.”

Warmth blossomed in her, chasing away the cold, and her heart thumped a frantic rhythm.

How could she have come to feel so much for him in such a short amount of time? A single look from Sevik sparked a fire in her belly, a single touch stoked it to a blazing flame. And his words… They stole her breath. Though it had been less than two weeks since they’d met, Mina couldn’t think of living even a day without him in her life. Just the thought of it flooded her with dread and panic.

Was this…love? Could it be?

Sevik smiled and curled his fingers, beckoning her. “Come. Sit.”

It was only then that Mina realized the entire end of the dock had been cleared of snow, and she was standing on a large, beige blanket that had been spread out over the planks.

He’d done all this for her.

Tears stung her eyes. She held them back as best as she could, not only because she didn’t want to cry in front of him, but because crying out here in the cold freaking hurt. Yet they came despite her efforts, blurring her vision.

Sevik scowled, a deep crease forming between his eyebrows. “What’s wrong?”

Mina shook her head and wiped her eyes with the back of her gloved hand. “Nothing. I’m just…happy.”

“Crying can be happy?”

She nodded. “A lot of emotions can make you cry. Even good ones.” She slipped her fingers into his. “Thank you.”

His gaze lingered upon her, still skeptical, before he guided her to sit with him. He rested his back on a dock piling, and she settled between his bent legs, reclining against his chest. He picked up a second blanket from beside him, unfolded it, and drew it over Mina before wrapping his arms around her. Though it was cold at first, she was soon enveloped in the sweet, blissful warmth generated by their bodies.

In comfortable silence, they stared skyward, appreciating the beauty gifted to them by nature, relishing each other’s closeness. Mina didn’t even mind that her cheeks and nose were numb from the freezing air. Being here with him, in this moment, made everything worth it.

She wanted more moments like this. Wanted a lifetime full of them.

“I’ve lived here all my life,” she said quietly. “I’ve always known that there’s a whole world out there to explore, that there’s so much to discover, but…I stayed here. Even when Randy invited me to move to Arizona with him, where there’d be so many more opportunities for me, I stayed.”

“Why?”

“Because of ghosts.” Mina laid her head back against Sevik’s shoulder. “My parents are buried here, and this…this place is where all my memories of them are.”

Sevik shook his head and gently touched a finger to her temple. “All your memories of them are here, Mina. You carry them.”

“I know. It’s more that the places are reminders. Like…sometimes, when I walk into the café, I can almost see my mom working behind the counter. Can almost see her smiling and hear her asking me to give her a hand with something. Or when I go to the diner, I can picture all of us—me when I was little, my mom, and my dad—all sitting together, laughing as my dad arranges our breakfast into some silly cartoon face.”

Tears brimmed in her eyes again. “For years, I’ve been stuck in the past. Been haunted by it. Memories of my parents, memories of the cruel things people said about me and my mom, of the way we struggled… And I stayed because I didn’t want to feel even further away from my parents. These memories, these places, were all I had left. But the good and the bad are so intertwined, so tangled…”

Mina tugged off a glove and lifted one of Sevik’s hands, lacing their fingers together. She needed to feel him, skin to skin, with nothing between them.

“I don’t want to let the past hold me back anymore,” she said.

“Then don’t.” He squeezed her hand. “Live in the present with me, and we’ll make whatever future we want.”

Mina’s chest constricted. She wanted that so, so much. But he’d said he saw her as a chance at a new life.

That didn’t mean he was going to forget his past, didn’t mean he would just let it go. How could he, after everything he’d been through? Why would he forsake everything he’d had before he met Mina?

“What about getting back what you lost?” she asked. “What about your…revenge?”

The final word came out small and strained. Sevik had said he wouldn’t let her go, but if he went back to Vabos, wouldn’t he be breaking his word? Because going back meant that she could…

Lose him.

Mina couldn’t bear the thought of Sevik getting killed. She’d lost everyone else in her life that had mattered. She couldn’t lose him too.

“Fuck what I’ve lost,” he growled. “My revenge will be living, mated and content. Full in a way I never knew was real.”

“What?”

Sevik caught her chin and turned her face up toward his. Even with his features changed by the holoshroud, even with his eyes so strangely human, it was still him. It was his intensity, his inner fire, blazing in his gaze.

“I’m not going back, val’syra . The only thing I want, the only thing I need , is right here, in my arms.”