Resisting the Alien Rider (Cowboy Colony Mail-Order Brides, #3)

by Ursa Dax

Garrek was going to be bugged. A lot. The man gave me major stressed-out-dad-who-regrets-bringing-his-kids-camping energy.

A human term of endearment? Based on bodily waste?

I was going to keep this thick-skulled child alive even if it killed me.

I dropped the trough. “What are you doing?” Killian asked me, cocking his head in confusion at my uncharacteristic clumsiness. Oh, nothing. Just casually losing my mind.

It was now my turn to stare at him in disbelief. That child had never volunteered to get wet or clean himself in the entire time I’d known him.

We shared a look between us. A look that said, “Let her think that, but watch her anyway.”

I could tell her how her gentleness made me think of strength when in anyone else I would scoff at it and call it weakness.

and continued hauling ass with frankly admirable levels of energy.

I opened my mouth and sucked in a big breath. Unfortunately, I also inhaled an insect.

“You have put way too much thought into this,” I muttered, rubbing at my jaw.

her little body curled in Garrek’s lap – perhaps sleeping. He held a plait of her thick dark hair in his hand, stroking it like it was precious to him. His mouth rested against her temple.

And she loves us, too! At least, she loves me,” he said stubbornly. “She told me that I could have her shit in a bottle.” “Ship in a bottle, Killian,” I groaned.

Because the only thing I could really think when I saw her was, ‘This is someone beloved by Garrek. This is someone precious to the only family I have left.

Actually, he crashed more than came. He was absolutely overloaded with bags and poles and leather, so much so that when he first tumbled into the cabin, the only things visible were his legs and his hair.

“Wait!” Killian sounded absolutely affronted. “You can’t take my hug back now!”

“So it really is a ship,” Killian said, his tone sour with disappointment. “Of course it’s a ship,” I said with a chuckle. “I told you it was a ship in a bottle. What else would it be?” “Don’t answer that,” came a stern voice.

And if we were sleeping beside each other, then I’d probably try to jump his big blue bones, and Garrek gave me the impression he was slightly terrified of that possibility right now.

If I remembered correctly, Cherry’s exact words were, “That fucking book.”

Garrek groaned. “Why am I not surprised? You talk to fabric animals. Why would you not also talk to my genitals?”

His firm, slick tongue found my clit so fucking fast that I silently promised never to get mad about him mispronouncing it again.

Killian glared, aimed a hostile tail-tip in the general vicinity of my covered genitalia, and imperiously sniped, “Absolutely horrendous.”

I couldn’t think of any better use for what had once been my wedding dress than to protect this man I loved, to hold his scars in the symbolic embrace of its lace.