Page 49 of My Alien Sunshine

“With peeing? No,” I reply, smiling. “But would you please keep an eye on Ellen for a minute? She keeps waking up in tears.”

With a serious nod, Faelin sits on the side of the bed and gently strokes Ellen’s shoulder. His huge hand gently strokes her tiny body. If it was anyone else, the sight would make me panic, but I trust Faelin. Not just with my life, but with Ellen’s life, too.

After emptying my bladder and gulping down a gallon of water straight from the faucet, I return to the bedroom. In the dim light, I can see Faelin leaning over Ellen, caressing her hair and whispering something into her ear. I don’t understand the words, but his tone is soothing. Ellen stops whimpering and falls back asleep.

An overwhelming ocean of love. That’s the only way to describe what I’m feeling right now. Maybe a tiny pinch of envy that I’m no longer the only person in Ellen’s world who can soothe her, but that ugly thought is drowned out by the overwhelming affection I feel for this man, this alien.

He smiles at me as I approach. “Are you sure she won’t mind me sleeping here with you both?” he asks. He tries to run his fingers through Ellen’s hair, but they catch on tangles. Faelin carefully draws them back. “I don’t want to intrude,” he explains. “I know next to nothing about children. I do want to stay here, but if it will make her uncomfortable, I’ll just return to the floor. I don’t mind, I promise.”

Oh, be still my beating heart! Has anyone ever been sweeter? I don’t know what I did to deserve such an amazing man, but I’ll fight tooth and nail to keep him. “She won’t mind. She already loves you.” And I think I do, too. I don’t say that out loud even though it’s on the tip of my tongue. We’re both too tired for serious discussions.

“I love her too,” Faelin replies, moving to my side of the bed. “And her mama.”

“Faelin…” I trail off when he brushes my hair to the side and kisses the side of my neck.

“I know, I know,” he says. “Now’s not the time. I just needed to tell you. Sleep now, my perfection.”

He spoons me from behind. His half-hard cock poking into my butt, letting me know he’d do much more than just kiss me if he could, but his contented sigh is confirmation enough that he’s happy with just holding me for now.

I pull Ellen against my chest and fall asleep sandwiched between the two people I love.

Chapter 26

Nala

“Mama.” An insistent whisper pulls me from my sleep. “Mama!” Also, there’s an oddly wet warmth surrounding my hip. “Mama! Wake up!” Ellen whisper-yells, tugging my hand.

I give up on any pretense of being asleep. “Yes, chipmunk? Everything is alright. I’m here,” I repeat the mantra I’ve been whispering to her every time she wakes up.

“But Mama! My dress is wet,” Ellen whispers.

I pull the blanket aside, groaning as I notice the large wet stain on the bed and Ellen’s soaked clothes. Mine, too. And…oh my god, the side of Faelin’s pants are wet as well.

Ellen’s eyes start tearing up. “I’m s-sorry, Mama.”

“It’s okay, chipmunk.” I pull her into my arms, wet clothes and all. “It happens. Let’s get you out of these wet clothes and into the shower, okay?”

“I’ll bring dry clothes,” Faelin says from behind me.

I didn’t even notice him waking up, let alone getting out of bed. “I’m sorry,” I hastily apologize, cringing at the wet stain on his pants. “It’s my fault. I should have woken her up when I went to the bathroom, but I just—”

“Stop, Nala.” Faelin waves his hand dismissively. “It’s fine. I…We should probably move to a different room until we can clean up this bed. Mine is free, if that’s acceptable?”

He says it with such sweet hesitancy it makes me want to kiss him, but I restrain myself because Ellen is already watching us with suspicion. “Well, we don’t want to invade your bed,” I tease him, throwing his words back at him.

“You’re always welcome,” he retorts playfully, stealing another kiss from me before leaving the room.

“Failin kissed you!” Ellen giggles.

Oh, great. “Yes, he did. People kiss when they like each other and I like Faelin.”

“I like Failin too! Can I kiss him like you did?”

A blush creeps up my cheeks as I hurriedly go over my interactions with Faelin Ellen might have seen. We have kissed, yes, but if I remember correctly, those were mostly chaste kisses. “You like him that much?”

“He’s nice... Isn’t he?” Ellen’s carefree smile disappears, replaced by worry as she looks up at me. “Failin is nice, right, Mama? He’s not like Master Drayth. I just know he’s not,” she repeats stubbornly.

“He’s very nice,” I assure her. “In fact, I think he’s the nicest man I’ve ever met.”

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