Page 59 of Treasured By the Alien Rogue

“If you like it, it’s not silly. His tail is fluffy.” I tweaked it and the drettire looked up at me from where he’d curled into a ball on her lap.

“I want something more dignified. Maverick?”

The drettire’s gaze lifted to meet hers, and he sneezed.

She laughed. “I think he likes it.” Lifting him, she touched her nose to his. “Where are you going to sleep tonight, Maverick?”

“Alexa will make him a bed.”

“He might want to sleep with us.”

Us? We started each night in our own beds, but . . . I wasn’t going to hope that Amanda would choose to start tonight in mine.

“Let’s see what Alexa does first,” I said instead of begging her to lie beside me tonight.

“Alright.” She lowered him carefully onto her lap again and settled into my side as if she wanted to be there. As if she belonged there.

I liked sitting here with her. Even more, I liked watching her enjoy my gift.

It appeared a drettire was a much better gift for a potential mate than a hunk of meat.

Chapter 28

Amanda

We started out in separate beds again, but I woke again lying across Xax’s chest. I slid off him and padded to the bathing area where I took care of a few things. As I was washing my hands, more tampons appeared on the side.

“I don’t need any more,” I said. The lights glowed overhead before muting once more. “Thanks!”

I poked my head into the living room, finding Maverick sound asleep in his fluffy bed Alexa had generated last night.

I should make breakfast.

I should go check out my tea shop and look for Gerain and Floosar. They were going to come by this morning with herbs I could sample for potential tea blends.

With so many things to do, the last thing I should be thinking of was crawling back into bed with Xax. Waking him. Seeing where this might go between us.

Something like that wasn’t for a woman like me. He was too sweet, kind, and he had so much to offer. As for me, I was basically homeless here. I owned nothing, not even the clothing on my back.

I didn’t deserve . . .

My brain came to a screeching halt.

I was doing it again, telling myself I wasn’t worthy of affection or love, that the wonderful things life had to offer would never be handed to me. That I had to work for everything of value.

No. This wasn’t true.

I was worthy. I deserved not only the love of someone special, but the chance to love him in return. Here on Zuldrux, I had so much wealth, I couldn’t quite figure out how to spend it all. My wealth came from inside my heart, and it was overflowing.

“I deserve this,” I whispered. Saying it out loud was incredibly freeing.

Now I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

His mother could return today or tomorrow to tell us what the gods had decided. It was clear she cared for Xax but as their elder, she’d have to put the needs of the clan and the gods’ wishes before her love for her adopted son.

I would not willingly mate with Tribon or anyone else. It was up to me to decide who I married. If the gods said I must mate with Tribon, would the rest of the clan banish me when I refused? The thought of leaving this cozy home and village made me sad, but the thought of leaving Xax made my chest hurt so much, I rubbed it. In such a short time, he’d come to mean a lot to me. I wanted to be with him and no one else.

I didn’t want to create conflict here. If the gods said I belonged with Tribon, I couldn’t stay. But leaving would rip my heart to pieces because . . .

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