Page 7 of Treasured By the Alien Rogue

Zuldruxians universally had silver hair and teal eyes that went nicely with our medium-blue skin. The Veerenad lizard clans had light tan skin and dark eyes.

Her skin was pale and speckled with dots. Did the speckles wash off or were they permanent? I liked how they sprinkled her cheeks and marched across her nose.

She plucked the crystal between her finger and thumb and slashed it back and forth in front of my face. “Why do I only understand you when I’m holding this?”

“It’s a gift from our gods just like you are, my lovely mate.”

“I’m cute, but I’m not lovely.”

“To me, you are. As for the stones, I retrieved them from the lake a year ago and now we always carry them with us, because they allow us to understand whoever we encounter.”

She held up the stone and blue lights arced off it in the sunlight. “Is it some kind of computerized communication device?”

“I don’t understand what computerized means, though yes, it aids in communication.”

“Never mind.” Clutching the front of her clothing to keep it from gaping again, she scrambled off me and backed away, tripping and nearly falling on her ripe ass.

I leaped up and took her arm to hold her steady.

With a huff, she wrenched away. “Let’s get one thing straight. I’m not your bride. You’re cute and sexy in your own blue-skinned alien way. And tall, at least seven feet, with muscles bulging in all the right places. Your thighs are bigger than tree trunks back home, and your teal eyes . . .”

“What about my eyes?”

“Some could say they could get lost staring into them.”

“What do you say?”

“Not that. I’m not going to jump into your bed and let you claim me as your mate.”

“The gods say you’re my chosen one.” So did my heart. It beat only for this female. I knew this as well as I knew the shape of the wind, the scent in the air when it predicted rain, and the feel of this woman who’d soon lie beneath me.

“What gods are you talking about?” She crooked her neck to peer around. “There’s no one here but us.”

“They live in the ground, inside some of the crystal structures, in large stones, and within the trees.”

“Yeah, okay.” Her lips scrunched together. “Gods are everywhere. I get it.” She kept a tight grip on the stone, but her fists smacked into her hips. “You can’t go around grabbing women and declaring them your bride.”

“You’re the first and the last. This I swear.” I couldn’t stop smiling. If my clan traedor saw me, he’d scoff. Maybe even make fun of me. But this was my mate. If I couldn’t smile with her, who could I grin with? “I promise I won’t claim anyone else. Only you will warm my bedding for the rest of our days.”

“Put a rice sack in the microwave if you want heat in your bedding.” Her eyes spiraled. “That’s not the point I’m trying to make. I have final say in this, and I say no.”

“The gods—”

“Your supposed gods have no control over my life. I was kidnapped from Earth.” She noticed my frown. “That’s the name of my home planet. I was brought here against my will.”

Lifting the half-crushed godly offering off the ground, I waved the purple blossom in her face. “This proves you’re mine.”

The thin bands of hair above her eyes lifted. “If you’re trying to impress me with a limp flower, it’s not working.”

“The gods sent this as a sign. I had nothing to do with taking you from your planet or bringing you here, but they said they’d tell us when they were gifting us with a bride.” I waved the stalk some more. “This proves it’s you. Us. We’re fated mates.”

“I’m not buying this.”

“A mating is not for sale.”

“I’m not your mate!” She lowered her voice. “Are your gods affiliated with the robocops back on Earth?” Her head shook from side to side. “I can’t believe I’m even discussing something like this with you. This story is straight out of a sci-fi romance, and I won’t have it.” Her tiny foot stomped on the ground. “I don’t care if your gods offer to massage my back each night, set up a tea shop for me, or keep Tito from following me here to kill me. I still won’t be your bride.”

“Who wants to kill you?” I growled. I tightened my grip on the plant stalk and glared around. “Who?”

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