Page 8 of His Little Cryptolite

“I’m going to pick you up, prop you on my hip, and carry you out of this noisy room. You’ll wrap your arms around my neck. If you don’t want to look at anyone, press your face into my shoulder, okay?”

“Yes, Papi. But my dress… It’s too short.”

“Don’t you worry, Baby girl. I’ll tuck it under you.”

“Okay.” I trust him. I don’t know why, but I do. I’m so drawn to him that I’m momentarily panicked when he releases my hands.

Quickly twisting around on my stool, I look up at him, seeing his face for the first time. My eyes widen. He takes my breath away. He’s stunningly gorgeous. Dark skin and darker hair. Even his eyes are dark. A deep brown that’s almost black.

His eyes dance as he smiles at me. Even though I know from his words, tone, and voice that he can be firm and dominant, I see indulgence in his expression. He finds me to be amusing.

I return his smile and reach my arms up.

Papi grabs me around the waist, lifts me off the stool, and settles me on his hip. He immediately tucks my dress under my butt, keeping his hand firmly against my bottom as his other comes to the back of my head. He guides my face toward his neck, giving me a strange sense of privacy as he turns away from the bar.

This is it? He’s just going to take me out of this room? There’s no paperwork? It seems too simple.

I can tell his stride is long. There are voices all around me, but I ignore them. I don’t care what anyone is saying or what they think. This man is mine. He chose me. He’s going to take me away from this planet.

In no time at all, we’ve gone through a door. As soon as it shuts, blissful silence reigns. I’m so relieved that I lift my head. Still holding his neck tightly, I look into his eyes.

He slides his hand from my neck to my back, supporting me. His other hand releases the hem of my dress and settles once again against my bottom, this time directly over my panties.

I squirm. It occurs to me that I’m soaking his suit jacket with my arousal. “Papi… Put me down.”

He chuckles. “Not a chance, Baby girl. It will be a long time before I set you on your feet and even longer before I permit you to walk again.”

My eyes widen. “What do you mean?”

He strides toward the elevator and pushes a button. “You’ll be in stasis during the six-month journey to Eleadia. When you wake up, your body will be very weak. It will take some time for you to get your strength back, but even when you do, I won’t let you stand up, Little one. We Papis are very protective. I won’t risk you falling.” He lifts a brow as he enters the elevator, as if making sure I understand.

I’m too stunned to respond. “Six months…”

“It will feel like a nap to you, Baby girl. You’ll go to sleep and wake up as if no time has passed at all.” He enters the elevator.

It seems like a pivotal moment in my life. As the doors slide closed, I’m shut off from one world and moving into another.

Chapter Four

Allisa

“Weird.”

He chuckles. “I’ve heard it’s pretty strange.”

Suddenly, I realize I have a pressing question. “Do you know my friend Bailey? She was chosen a few months ago.”

“I don’t know her, Little one, but I’ve heard about her. Her Papi’s name is Zingar. They are en route to Eleadia. They should be halfway there by now.”

“Oh.” That idea is so strange. I figured Bailey was on another planet, living her best life. It never occurred to me that she wouldn’t have arrived yet. “Can I see her when we arrive?”

“Eventually, Little one. When you’re ready.”

I grin. That pleases me. “So you’re not taking me to your planet for some scientific research or a breeding colony or something nefarious?”

Papi laughs, the sound so pleasing to my ear that I know I want to hear it often. “No, Baby girl. No research. No breeding. In fact, you can’t get pregnant from me. We’re not compatible enough.”

I blow out a relieved breath. The thought of having this man’s baby makes me panic. He’s so big. The baby would weigh like twenty pounds and probably kill me.