Destin's Hold (The Alliance #5)(10)
“I’m not a Lord,” Destin responded. “You can call me Destin.”
The corners of Jersula’s mouth twitched downward before her features settled back into a pleasant facade and she bowed her head in acknowledgement. A shaft of guilt hit Destin. He knew his tone had been almost rude.
“On Earth, only nobility is called Lord and no one where I come from is given that title. We use greetings like Mr. Parks or Miss or Mrs. Ikera, depending on if you are married or not,” he explained. “Only, if you were married, you would usually have the man’s last name. For example, if you were married to me, your name would be Mrs. Jersula Parks.”
“I… I will remember that. Thank you,” Jersula responded, flushing a slightly darker blue.
“Charma is inside if you would like to go in,” Hunter suggested in amusement, staring back and forth between Destin and Jersula. “There are refreshments as well.”
“Thank you, Lord Hunter. Destin,” Jersula murmured, stepping between them and continuing up the steps.
Destin couldn’t help but follow her with his gaze. His breath hissed out when he saw the back of her gown was bare all the way down to her lower back. Smooth, creamy, light blue skin shimmered and his fingers itched to touch it to see if it felt as soft as it looked.
“She is unattached,” Hunter murmured.
“What?” Destin replied, glancing at Hunter.
“I said she is unattached. I made sure to have a thorough investigation of her completed before she arrived. Razor and I did not want to take a chance of another incident such as the one with Badrick,” Hunter explained. “She is listed as unattached. My sources also say she has not been in a long term relationship.”
Destin scowled. “I’m not looking for a relationship. I have too much to do. Besides, I’ll be leaving the day after tomorrow.” Hunter’s lips twitched at Destin’s heated retort. Destin could feel his face flush and he quickly shoved his hands into the pockets of his jacket. He stared out over the driveway. His gaze swept over the other guests who had arrived. Compared to what he was used to seeing, they were all so exotic. “I’m serious. I’m not looking for a long-term relationship, especially with an alien.”
“Our world is much different from what you are used to, but it is a good one, Destin. What happened on Earth was unusual. It was not the Alliance’s intention to cause so much distress to your people,” Hunter murmured, resting his hand on Destin’s shoulder.
“How can we be so different, yet so similar?” Destin asked in a low tone. “You have homes, jobs, families – everything that humans do. How can our species have been the only ones to implode when we discovered we aren’t alone in the universe?”
Hunter released a deep, long breath and dropped his hand to his side. “The Alliance did not realize until it was too late that Earth was not as advanced as we had first thought. The messages you sent out gave the impression that Earth was ready for this first contact. Once first contact was made, it was too late. We had no choice but to move forward.”
Destin nodded and looked down at the tips of his boots. He knew that. He remembered the day that the Trivators had arrived. The shock and upheaval weren’t something anyone would be likely to forget. It hadn’t been the Trivators who had struck out at the humans. It had been the humans striking out against each other. Fear could be a very, very powerful and destructive emotion.
“You’re right. There was no turning back,” Destin said with a shrug.
“Hunter, the ceremony is about to start,” Jesse said in a slightly breathless voice.
Hunter and Destin turned toward Jesse. She was wearing a long, red and silver laced strapless dress. Her hair was styled in an elegant French twist with tiny silver and red flowers tucked in it. Around her neck, she wore a diamond and ruby pendant that matched her ruby stud earrings.
“Sweet Goddess, Jesse, you are the most beautiful female I have ever seen,” Hunter hissed out in a deep voice.
Destin watched Hunter step toward Jesse and tenderly lift her inner right wrist to his lips, pressing a kiss over the markings encircling it. Destin had learned that was the Trivator equivalent of a wedding ring back on Earth, only far more permanent since it couldn’t just be taken off – it was a symbol of a Trivator’s vow to his mate.
Destin started forward when he felt Razor and Ajaska walking up behind him. He entered the interior of the house, once again amazed by both the similarities and the contrasts to Earth. This was a home filled with family and friends.
His gaze softened when he saw Ami grin up at him when he walked by. She was the spitting image of Kali except for the tiny row of ridges along her nose and her slightly sharper than human teeth. She was standing next to Lyon, Jesse and Hunter’s older son, one hand wrapped around the handle of a tiny basket filled with flower petals and the other holding onto Lyon’s hand.
Destin smiled back at her before crossing through the house to the courtyard out back. Before a long, shallow fountain, chairs were lined up with an aisle in the center. Destin’s gaze immediately focused on Jersula. She was listening to another guest. Her gaze flickered up and locked with his. He watched her lips part, as if she were drawing in a deep breath. His body reacted to the thought of what those lips had tasted like. A strong emotion briefly flared in her eyes. It looked like she wasn’t immune to the attraction igniting between them, either.