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The figure was large. Definitely a big man.

Two things happened in quick succession.

Her vision finally cleared, allowing her to see the huge alien warrior peering down at her with concern in his glowing green eyes…

And all her memories suddenly fell into place.

Weeks of feeling unwell. Collapsing in the middle of the farmers’ market. Learning about her congenital heart defect. Being told she needed surgery she couldn’t afford. Fearing for her life and worrying she might die alone. Signing up for the VAMOB program. Receiving an acceptance text with the name of her Vaxxlian mate.

“Errik,” she whispered.

The alien male stepped closer. He blinked once. “Yes, I am Errik,” he said in Galactic Common. “And… I presume you are Holly, my assigned mate?”

“Yes, I’m Holly,” she said, speaking a bit louder this time, also using Galactic Common. To her astonishment, it didn’t hurt to talk. Just as it didn’t hurt to breathe.

“I found you on the floor of your silver abode,” Errik said, his voice so deep and masculine that it rumbled through her in the most pleasing way. “I tried to wake you, but you were incapacitated, and you moaned and grimaced, leading me to believe you were in great pain.”

She touched her chest. “I-I was in pain. I remember trying to get out of bed but collapsing when a searing ache pierced my chest. I honestly felt like I was dying.” She took a full, deep breath, savoring the ability to do so. Amazing.

Had he healed her?

She glanced around the room. They were in a futuristic medical bay. Her pulse quickened. Oh. He must’ve taken her to his Vaxxlian cruiser. Alarm coursed through her. Were they still on Earth? Or were they already en route to New Vaxx?

Relief filled her when she glanced out a nearby viewport and saw Dr. Rowan’s clinic. Oh, thank God. Yes, she’d signed up for the VAMOB program, and that meant leaving Earth forever, but she at least wanted the opportunity to say goodbye in her own way. She wanted to watch as the planet of her birth grew smaller in a viewport.

She tore her eyes from the clinic and looked at Errik. He stood beside her, so close she felt the waves of heat coming off his massive body. Exceedingly tall and muscular, he was unlike any man she’d ever seen before. With broad shoulders, sculpted biceps, and legs as thick as tree trunks, he looked like a brutal warrior who’d never known defeat. Scars covered his face, neck, and arms, but she thought they only added to his rugged beauty. With his dark hair and glowing green eyes, he was honestly the most handsome male she’d ever beheld, and she couldn’t stop staring at him, pretty much ogling him as heat abruptly pulsed between her thighs.

His nostrils flared, and he took a deep breath as he gazed down at her. She met his eyes, spellbound by this huge alien warrior who would soon become her mate.

Then she remembered her nudity.

She wasn’t wearing any clothing beneath the blanket.

Clearly, he’d undressed her. She glanced around the room until she spotted the remnants of her clothing on the floor. It looked as though he’d torn them from her body.

“After I found you lying on the floor of your silver vehicle,” he said gently, “I injected you with a dose of healing nanobots. But when you didn’t wake up right away, I became worried. So, I carried you to the medical bay on my ship, intending to examine you and treat you as best I could. I… removed your clothing so I could check you for any injuries. But as soon as I determined you didn’t have any, I covered you with a blanket.” He blinked again, but just once, and his expression remained earnest.

Holly stayed silent as she took a moment to come to terms with all he’d just told her. He’d found her lying on the floor of her RV, possibly on the verge of death, and he’d immediately injected her with nanobots. After bringing her to his ship, he’d ripped every stitch of clothing off her body.

He’d seen her naked. Her heart thudded faster, but thankfully, no pain accompanied the increase of her pulse.

“Are you upset about your clothing?” Errik asked. “I would be happy to fetch some extra clothing from your abode and bring it to you right now.”

“I’m not upset about my clothing,” Holly replied quickly, a bit charmed by his enthusiasm to please her. Perhaps she’d gotten lucky after all. Thus far, Errik seemed to be a caring male. He’d been so worried about her that he’d injected her with healing nanobots before having a single conversation with her. Then he’d carried her to his medical bay. He didn’t even know her, but he’d done everything in his power to help her.

“How do you feel, my darling mate?”

My darling mate…

Oh my. That endearment.

It did things to her that she didn’t quite understand and felt completely unprepared for. As soon as a relationship got too serious, too intimate, she always ran away. But she wouldn’t be able to do that with Errik. Once they mated, she would belong to him forever.

“Holly?” he prompted, his eyebrows furrowing with concern. “How do you feel?”

She flushed. Had she really not answered him yet?

“I-I am fine.” She tucked the blanket beneath her arms, wrapping it securely around her middle, and sat up on the padded table. “Actually, I feel better than I have in weeks. It was kind of you to inject me with the nanobots when you found me like that. Thank you, Errik.”