Rescued by an Alien (Stolen by an Alien, #2)

by Amanda Milo

“I’m fine,” I decide. “But look at you.” I gesture to his naked wrists. “You lost your bracelet. Not so pretty now.” He blinks at me. And then slowly, slowly, slowly—he smiles. Even seeing what’s sticking to his face? Watching his lips curve makes my heart feel like it’s losing a coating of ice. When he doesn’t speak, I ask, “Are you... okay?” I fumble for a moment. “Anything I can…” What? Help him with? I look around. This alien just massacred a stadium to rescue me. I can’t even offer him a Band-Aid.

“Zadeon, why do you have my panties tied on your arm? And where are the rest of them?” “They smell like you, and they snap, so I burn them.” If you ask an alien a simple question, you’re going to get a simple answer. I nod, looking to the floor. “Yes. Yes, that makes sense. Thank you.” OHMYALIEN.

I try to imagine this scenario on Earth: ‘Hi Wilson, I’m Tim, and over there is my wife. We've dreamed about each other all our lives—even before we ever met in person.’ ‘Wow, Tim, that’s incredible. Want to talk about it?’ Tim shrugs. ‘Just did.’ And that’s it? The conversation ends? Men. And yet… isn’t it that simple? It doesn’t matter what others do or don’t have; this is what we have.

He smiles. “I also told him to bring back marshmallows.” I burst into tears. I mean to laugh. I do think it’s funny—hormones. It has to be hormones. I throw myself forward, and Zadeon catches me to him, hugging me hard.

I pull back so I can look at Z. “How much chocolate?” Zadeon looks worried. “Gracie has assured me that it will be sufficient for you. When we learned that humans require coffee and chocolate for survival, I made certain to secure as much of it for you as I could. I’m sure you’ll consume an initial excess until your body replenishes the lack, but with luck you won’t be so deficient as to suffer health effects…” his eyes search me, as if he’s looking for the chocolate-deficiency equivalent of rickets. I slide a questioning eyebrow to Gracie—and a shamefaced Angie, who showed up just in time to hear this. It’s important to note that Gracie does not show any shame. None at all. In fact, she’s nonverbally threatening me, if I’m not mistaken. Her eyes are saying, ‘I will CUT you if you screw this up for us.’ But coffee and chocolate coming to a planet near me? No way am I getting in the middle of setting anyone straight. I think I love her right now.