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It had never been easy for Jade to sleep. She envied people who were able to lie down and drift away to dreamland in a matter of minutes. Whenever she tried to sleep, her fatigued body was at odds with her active mind.
If Jade had ever wondered whether she’d missed out on a career as an astronaut, she now had her answer. Flying through open space in an egg was terrifying. Her fear caused her to somehow experience both intense claustrophobia and agoraphobia at the same time.
She could just imagine her saying, Eeeasy, girl. Jade frowned. She was a human, not a donkey, but to a species as advanced as this, she might as well have been.
If Jade had wanted to know whether or not she’d find an alien man attractive, she had her answer. He was more handsome than any man she’d ever seen in person. He looked like he should’ve been running shirtless on some beach in Australia, getting ready to surf.
She was right. Beautiful didn’t fit. Devastatingly sexy god of war seemed more accurate.
“Marriage and matehood are two different things here. Marriage is common, matehood is not. It cannot be chosen. It’s a blessing.” A dreamy smile appeared on his face. “When a Clecanian meets a potential mate, someone who could possibly turn out to be their true mate, they feel it. They’ll change, and their body will awaken in a way it doesn’t for others.”
“There hasn’t been a record of a mating in one hundred fifty years.”
“When a Clecanian recognizes their true mate, mate markings will appear on their bodies and both the individuals will become stronger and faster in order to better protect each other and their offspring.”
“Oh no! I see what you’re getting at, and I’m truly sorry for you and your people, but I’m not going to have alien babies! If the sci-fi movies taught me anything, it’s not to get pregnant with an alien. It claws its way out—” “Jade.” “—and then it looks like a cockroach or an octopus beetle—” “Jade.” “—and if you’re lucky, it’ll leave you alone and not eat you after it’s born! But most of—” “Jade!” “What?”
“Abilities? Am I marrying one of the X-Men?” Zikas wasn’t paying her much attention when he answered, “Yes. What? No. I don’t know what that is. I can explain everything to you while you get ready.”
“Most females find his scars unappealing,” Zikas explained. “He’s never been chosen, and I don’t think he ever expected to be chosen. He won’t be prepared for a wife.”
I have the skin of a baby and the boobs of a college freshman. I may have to figure out how to steal that magic tube before I leave.
“He…um…he smelled me.” And it was the most erotic thing I’ve ever experienced.
It was as though he couldn’t decide whether he wanted to fuck her or kill her.
Jade set the towel away and examined one of the black marks curving around his wrist. “Those markings…” She sighed, tracing the mark with her finger. “I’d like to lick every one of them,” she said with a wicked smile. Theo leaned in close and said in a low, rumbling voice, “Is that so?”
“Fine. I’ll play your game. Treat you like a wife. We’ll see how long you last.” He stalked toward the door and before leaving, added, “I own miles of land in every direction. If you run, I’ll chase you. I like a good hunt, but you won’t like what happens if I catch you.” He slammed the door as he left.
“Stupid sexy asshole alien!” she muttered angrily. This was going to be a difficult three months.
“I’ve only felt the soft curves of your body twice, but it’s been the highlight of my year, and I haven’t even seen all of you yet.”
Upside: he’d finally cracked a smile. Downside: her appreciation of hard liquors made her seem like an alcoholic.
“The problem with that expression is that no woman should wish for a knight in shining armor. A knight with shining armor has probably never been to war. They’ve never fought or been hurt. If you want a strong man who can protect you, then you should hope for a knight in dented, scratched, rusted armor. That knight has fought and survived.” She motioned toward Theo and said, “You earned those scars. You survived. The marks that cover your body are an outward representation of your inner strength. Those marks represent the opposite of weakness, and anyone who thinks differently is an idiot.”
“I’d like to take you up on your offer.” “Offer?” “To lick my scars.”
Ready to get started, she cleaned herself up in the bathroom, threw on his shirt, and headed down to the kitchen, quietly singing, “Hi ho, hi ho, it’s off to work I go.”
Since the evil super soaker appliance was the only one that had water, she guessed it was, in fact, a dishwasher.
You can like the alien. You can crush on the alien. You can enjoy some casual sex with the alien. You cannot fall for the alien!
Who needs a rabbit when your boyfriend comes equipped with a huge vibrating dick?
“You know nothing, Jade!” Theo said, storming away to the kitchen. “Use your head!” Raising her eyebrows, she very slowly said, “What in the Game of Thrones did you just say to me?”
He liked his home to be full of soft, comfortable, beautiful things. She fit here.
“My life before, as I knew it, ended when I met you. Have a care for my life now.”
“A girl always likes to have verbal confirmation that her efforts weren’t in vain.” The corner of his mouth lifted at that. “I received the highest grade possible in the culinary arts and yet I burned our food three times while cooking this evening. Is that enough confirmation for you?”
He gawked at her like she was asking, “What’s your favorite season of American Idol?” Obviously, he’d never been asked this before.
“You asked about what food I like?” He barked a laugh. “No food has any taste. The only thing that makes my mouth water is the thought of devouring your sweet juices while you writhe and claw at me. I can still smell your arousal in my bed and I have to relieve myself ten times a night just to keep from storming into your room to taste you!”
“Many Clecanians do. Before you, I hadn’t purred in a very long time.” He wasn’t sure how to answer her last question. “We purr when we feel…happiness without effort. When we are content.” When we feel whole, he said to himself.
“You could betray me a hundred times over, and I fear I’d still fall at your feet.”
“Hey there, big guy. Don’t worry. I’m not the type of girl to shop for ground beef when I have steak at home.” Her words were strange again and the meaning didn’t completely translate. He thought she was telling him that she wouldn’t need to look for another male because she was happy with him. A purr rumbled in his chest.
“What are you guys doing with your mouths?” Looking around at the spectators she’d forgotten about, Jade now realized that most of them were gawking at their affectionate display. Theo shot him a lopsided grin. “A human custom called kissing. I can only hope that one day you’re lucky enough to experience it.”
