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Brigit reached for his arm. “Please Orion…I don’t want to fight. Let’s just enjoy the contest. Afterward, we can go our separate ways if you want. Okay?” she offered, even though the thought sickened her. She didn’t want him to leave and wouldn’t rule out begging if it came down to it.

His breathing had deepened and his body looked brittle enough to break in a strong wind. Brigit knew she’d insulted him, even though that hadn’t been her intention. If he walked now, she was screwed. What was she saying? Panic enveloped her as she thought about Orion striding out of her life. Suddenly, the contest didn’t seem that important.

“I’m sorry. Truly. I know you’re nothing like Rocket Man Rick. It was stupid to suggest as much.” Brigit fluffed her skirt absently. “You’re more man than he’ll ever be,” she added, speaking more to herself than to Orion.

He seemed to weigh her words for a moment, before continuing through the crowd.

Why did Brigit get the feeling that she’d just screwed up the best thing that had ever happened to her?

* * * * *

Orion’s mind was in turmoil. He’d never dishonor Brigit the way Rick had done. He’d never dishonor her, period. If she were his woman, she’d never have to worry about his faithfulness. He could be nothing but true to her. Honor and his people dictated as much. But would she do the same? He didn’t know. Humans were not bound by Atlantean law or its customs. The thought left him feeling edgy.

Anger over this unfamiliar emotion began to surge through him. He wanted to pound this man out of existence. The fact that he’d claimed some part of Brigit only made the sensation worse. No man would touch her and live. That knowledge, along with the possessive feelings swirling inside of him, rocked Orion. He’d had no intention of claiming Brigit for himself or any other Earth woman for that matter. Yet, the thought of her lying beneath another man, spreading her legs, taking his cock, made reasoning impossible.

Why?

Why here? Why now? Why her?

The questions buzzed like angry
senties
in his mind. Still Orion felt no closer to the answers. They walked to the side of the stage and waited with several other couples. Orion didn’t miss the secretive glances the women sent him and neither did Brigit, whose creamy skin now glowed fiery red, matching her hair. Her emerald-colored eyes shot Zaronian daggers, daring anyone to make a move. So his little ward cared more than she let on. Orion smiled, enjoying this costume competition for the first time.

His smile faded as a man made his way through the crowd toward Brigit. The man looked like an average Earthling with dark brown hair and tanned skin. He was above normal in height, but still much shorter than Orion. He held little muscle on his frame and would not fare well in a Zaronian battle.

The man stopped in front of her, his brown eyes devouring her lush curves in undisguised appreciation. He grinned, flashing white teeth, then stepped forward, pulling Brigit into a quick embrace before releasing her. The action was far too familiar for Orion’s liking. Her mouth opened and closed a couple of times, then she appeared to gather her wits.

Orion heard his knuckles pop and realized he’d clenched his fists.

“I’ve missed you,” the man said, his dulcet tones grated on Orion’s nerves.

Brigit’s flush deepened as she glanced over her shoulder at Orion and then back to the man in front of her.

Orion hadn’t missed the sudden indecision on her face. Her emotions hit his gut like a blow from a
Taration
giant. Was she actually considering taking this human for a mate? Unease crept into his bones. He had the overwhelming urge to toss Brigit over his shoulder and carry her back to his ship where he’d hold her until she forget all about this human male.

“What are you doing?” she asked her voice low and brimming with confusion.

“I wanted to tell you how beautiful you look tonight. And to let you know that I miss you.”

“Y-You m-miss me?” Brigit stuttered.

“I made a huge mistake.” The man brushed a hand along her arm and she trembled.

Orion watched in disbelief, his every instinct telling him to kill the intruder, who dared touch his woman.

“Where’s your girlfriend?” she asked, suddenly pulling away.

“It doesn’t matter.” The man’s gaze shot over her shoulder to land on Orion. Smugness and a confidence that hadn’t been there moments ago colored the man’s expression. “I’m here now to wish you luck and to tell you that I want you back.” He returned his attention to Brigit.

“I don’t know, Rick,” she said hesitantly.

Orion stood motionless, his entire body throbbing with churning fury. This was the man he’d sought. The same one who’d discarded Brigit for the company of a whore.

The man was a fool.

And now he stood here, attempting to win her back—attempting to take
his
woman away. If they were on Zaron, he’d already be dead.

Power surged through Orion. His hands began to glow, along with his skin. People glanced around, their voices rising in excited whispers at the scene unfolding before them. Orion pushed the power back, forcing it deep inside of his body. The last thing he needed was to alert the Earthlings to his
alien
origins. His vision dimmed and his ears rang. He could no longer hear what Brigit and Rick were saying, but their body language spoke volumes and he didn’t like what it was saying.

They leaned into each other and laughed, the sexual tension thick, familiar. Rick smiled, a look of triumph on his marginally handsome face, as he glanced once more at Orion. A moment later, he placed a quick kiss on Brigit’s cheek and departed.

Orion followed Rick’s movements. He walked a few feet away, stopping beside a woman who could only be described as lush. She didn’t look pleased. Rick’s name was called and he stepped onto the stage, the raven-haired beauty followed closely behind. She smiled for the audience and they responded by whistling and screaming out her name.

So this was the temptress, Dorothy, who Rick had chosen over Brigit. Orion scowled. Like a Zaronian field flower, she was beautiful, but common.

The couple strolled to the end of the ramp where Rick twirled the woman before bending her back over his arm. He grazed on the white expanse of her throat, his weak lips reminding Orion of a
lemac
nibbling sugar.

Dorothy blushed, her face turning rapturous. Orion could not see what made this man or the woman in his arms exceptional. There was a falseness to their appearance, a shallowness in their chins. Their eyes while brightly colored showed fear and insecurity. Orion snorted. He’d seen enough. He turned to Brigit.

The crowed roared, snapping his attention back to the couple on center stage. Dorothy’s dress dropped away, exposing one ample silver pastie-covered breast. Rick placed a kiss above the silver star, causing the men in the crowd to howl. Dorothy’s mouth opened and she slid one finger between her teeth. Screams rang out, the sound deafening in the cavernous room.

“I swear that woman has no modesty. Talk about stooping low.” Brigit spun, her green eyes flashing in the darkness. “Tell me you are not gawking.”

Orion arched a disapproving brow. If he wasn’t so angry, he’d be amused by Brigit’s behavior. They had much to learn about each other.

“Just checking.”

He saw her glance down at her own modest cleavage and frown. The couple exited the stage a minute later, passing Orion. Rick slowed as he neared Brigit. His smile brightened and he lowered one eyelid. Orion wasn’t sure of the significance of the gesture, but he knew he didn’t like it. Before he could stop himself, energy shot out from his hand, searing the man’s backside.

Rick yelped, his fingers curving protectively around his rump. He glared at Orion, who shrugged in response. By the time Brigit swung around to see what occurred, Orion made sure he’d already looked away, an expression of placid boredom firmly in place.

Dorothy sashayed by a moment later. “Good luck, sugar,” she drawled, her attention leaving her nemesis to rest upon Orion. “When you get tired of playing with sloppy seconds, let me know.” She trailed her fingertips over his corded forearm.

Orion punched a button on his wrist, then coolly assessed the woman and found her lacking in substance. In another time, in another galaxy, he might have taken her up on her offer, but only if he was bored or had had too much Zaronian ale. She was disposable and interchangeable with any of his previous bedmates.

Brigit’s gaze turned from hot to icy. Her face flushed as Dorothy’s words reached her ears. “You bitch!” She moved to reach for the woman’s hair, but Orion stopped her. “Let me go!” She struggled to free herself from his grasp. “I’m going to snatch that bitch bald. She practically threw herself at you and you just stood there, ready to catch. I can’t believe what just happened. Can you?” she asked, vehemence behind her words.

“No, I cannot,” he growled. “I thought you said this man shamed you in front of your people.” He pointed to Rick in the crowd as if there were any doubt who he spoke of. “Even now he flaunts his new bed partner in front of you. Yet, you do not act like a woman shamed. Only moments ago, you lapped up his attention like a feline in heat. You practically rubbed yourself against him. A beast with no nose could’ve scented your lust.”

“I’m not the one who’s in the wrong here. He… She… A feline in heat!” She sputtered, her gaze narrowing. “What do you mean by that?”

“I mean do not welcome me in your bed, if your heart lies with another.”

* * * * *

Brigit’s jaw dropped. She wasn’t sure what shocked her more, Rick trying to worm his way back into her life or Orion’s jealousy and gargantuan ego in presuming that she’d planned to fuck him.
Okay, maybe she had, but still…he didn’t know that.

Men! Can’t live with them and can’t drag them behind a truck by their testicles.

Did Orion actually believe she’d fall back in her ex’s arms, when this god of a man was standing in front of her? Obviously, he did, since he’d said so in so many words. Was he nuts? Or did Orion have that low of an opinion of her character?

Brigit shuffled her feet, as the truth slapped her face like an airbag during a collision. She didn’t want him to think badly of her. So maybe she’d been a tad zealous to beat Rick in these competitions and in turn capture his attention. She was a natural flirt, but it didn’t mean anything. So maybe she’d felt like she had something to prove. It wasn’t that she wanted Rick back, but she did want him to realize what he’d given up.

Was that so wrong?

No, darn it!

However, Brigit didn’t want her point verified at the expense of everything else, and she certainly didn’t like the look Orion gave her. He thought less of her. She could see it in his two-toned eyes. It was as if someone dimmed the lights, leaving nothing but shadows behind. So she’d been a little shallow. And maybe she took frivolous contests too seriously. She knew she wasn’t perfect. Why did she feel the need to be that way around him?

Up until now, Brigit had never cared what anyone but Jac and Rachel thought. Why did she care what Orion thought? It bothered her that a guy she barely knew could get under her skin so fast, especially since after tomorrow she probably wouldn’t ever see him again.

Was this some kind of rebound? She considered the possibility. Rick broke up with her a few months back. She’d been heartbroken for a while or so she’d thought at the time. She might even have wanted a little revenge in the beginning. Not mature, but the ugly truth. She was over that now. Brigit had moved on and Rick had too. End of story.

She needed to convince Orion that since the moment she’d laid eyes on him no one else had existed. But how? What could she do? And why was it so bloody important?

Damn him!
She should send him packing. She didn’t need this crap right now. Brigit wished Jac and Rachel were here. They’d know what to do. Her gaze went of its own volition to the front row of seats. They were packed with people she didn’t know. Sadness swamped her. She looked back at Orion. He watched her, weighing her worth as the seconds ticked by. She felt lower than a dust bunny.

Well she’d show him.

Brigit considered multiple possibilities, discarding one only to pick the next. Hmm…but where to begin? She glanced at the spotlighted stage and licked her lips. She decided to give the audience one hell of a show, one that would make Rick and Dorothy’s performance look as if they’d auditioned for a children’s flick and convince Orion that she wanted him only. He wouldn’t know what hit him, by the time they finished their stroll down the catwalk. She almost purred in delight.

* * * * *

Orion didn’t like the look Brigit gave him. Like a
farcat
eyeing a fat
esuom
meal, her gaze raked him from head to boot. The skin at his nape prickled, warning him trouble lay ahead. He straightened, not allowing her to see how off balance she left him. Never had a woman churned such emotion in him. One minute he felt like shaking her senseless and spanking her luscious ass, the next, he longed to bury his cock inside her warmth for at least thirty moonrises.

He had no idea where he stood with the firebrand. She wanted him. That much was clear. He felt fairly devoured in her presence. Yet she also seemed to want the mere Earthman.

Shocked, and more than a little disappointed, Orion found her lack of discernment and taste only reinforced his opinion that Earth women were only good for sex. He hated the fact that he’d wanted Brigit to be the exception. But, she wasn’t. He’d created an illusion out of wishful thinking and must now accept that fact.

Everything beyond a physical coupling with her was mired due to her indecisive behavior. Earlier, that would’ve matter naught. Why now? What had changed? For the first time in Orion’s life, joining wasn’t enough. It pained him to acknowledge such, but he needed more, wanted more from this woman.

Was she capable of giving him what he sought? He knew not, for the search had yet to reveal any answers.

The announcer called out their names. Brigit smiled, but it did not reach her eyes. A second later, she stepped onto the stage. She stuck her hand into a hidden flap in her skirt that Orion hadn’t noticed before and pulled out a gold chain with a gem-encrusted hoop at one end. She latched the collar around her neck and then held out the leash for him to take. The action seemed meaningless, but he knew better.