The Princess and her Bounty Hunter: Alien Romance (Fated to the Alien: The Psychic Matchmaker Book 2) by Harmony Raines Page B

winked and looked up, as if he was expecting some clever retort from the computer. When it didn’t come, he raised his eyebrows, and said, “Here. Eat. Then we can talk.”
    “About what?” she said, momentarily forgetting all about her lack of clothes as she took the tray from him, and set it on her lap. Picking up what looked like fresh bread, she bit into it. “That is delicious.”
    “Stellia is the latest model, and she is fitted with the latest technology. Including some kind of oven that seems to work miracles on whatever is put in it. Ten minutes ago, that bread was a packet of powder.”
    “Impressive,” she said, taking another bite. “I wouldn’t be able to guess.” He smiled, making her wonder if he was making it up, but found she didn’t care, and was not going to let him ruin her breakfast.
    “So, Haripor?” he asked.
    She sighed. It looked as if her breakfast was going to be ruined after all. “Is that where we are heading?”
    “It is. We are in orbit. But before I dock, I want to know what exactly I’m getting myself into.”
    “You don’t have to get yourself into anything. All you have to do is dock, let me out and then wait on your ship until I return.”
    He laughed. “Have you been to Haripor?” His face grew serious. “If you take a step on that planet, you are likely to be taken and sold.”
    “But I’m the daughter of the King of Kalisov.”
    “Which is why you will fetch a good price.”
    “They wouldn’t dare.”
    “Why wouldn’t they?” He shook his head. “You have no understanding of their ways. Everything has a price to the slavers of Haripor. Which is why I need to know what I will be buying. Because I’m assuming it’s a person. Your lover? What, did your father not approve of you having an affair with the hired help, and so he sent him here?”
    After nearly choking on her food, she placed her bread back down on the plate, swallowing the words she wanted to spit out at him and his rude assumptions. She had to play this cool; from what he said, she truly did need his help, because getting herself kidnapped would not help Kilma and Larka. She needed him to understand why she was here and why it was so important to her. “There is a girl.”
    “A girl?” His voice told her his interest had been piqued. “I thought for sure we would be going there to trade for a lover of yours. Or maybe a kitchen maid who makes your favorite cookies.”
    That did it! She stood up, despite her legs feeling as though they were still stuck in the bog. “Is that it? Or do you have any other insults? Just because I’m a princess, doesn’t mean I only think of myself.”
    “Sit down and eat. I’m sorry.” He nodded. She figured he was sincere, and she wanted to eat, so she did as he asked and sat down.
    “Where are my clothes?” she asked. Her temper had got the better of her, and she had momentarily forgotten she was half naked. “Or is this your idea of entertainment—strip a woman while she’s sleeping so you can see her half naked in the morning?”
    “Your clothes smelt of that bog, and were glowing in the dark. I washed them, and once you have a shower you can have them back.”
    “A shower? Another part of your ship’s advanced technologies?”
    “It’s not exactly a shower, more of a decontamination chamber. You have no idea the kind of undesirable people I have on my shiny new ship.” The insult was aimed at her.
    “Well, as soon as we have what I need from Haripor, and we have returned her to Rilan, you can take me home, get your bounty and I will be out of your life forever.”
    He snorted, and then recovered himself. “I think we need to start again.” He turned his body towards her, making her incredibly aware of his presence. A heat emanated from him, and she wanted to lean into him, and let it soothe her aching body, and calm her frayed nerves. When he spoke about Haripor and how she would most likely end up as a slave there herself, she realized