Page 28 of Holiday with the Aliens

It was a miracle that humans could be our mates. My species, the Detyens, had only found that out in the last few years. But it was why so many of my people had flocked to Earth.

In the two years since I had moved here I hadn’t even gotten a hint of recognition. I had begun to give up hope.

Despite the dire situation, hope was all I could feel now.

But she had to work with me first. We had to figure a way out of here. I didn’t want us to become victims of the alien that was holding us captive.

I wanted to know her name.

“Don’t scream.”

Chapter 4

Jody

His hand was warm. Why was I focusing on that?

We fell back into the aisle and I was terrified that Evil Santa would hear. We lay there for several seconds, breathing heavily. The alien behind me was like a furnace. At some other time I might’ve wanted to burrow into him. To feel his skin against mine. But not today.

Not now.

“Keep it down,” he said, his lips close enough to brush against my ear and make me shiver. “We don’t want him to catch us.”

No, no we did not. I was happy to know that this alien was on my side. Or at least he wasn’t on the side of Evil Santa. I was willing to call that a win. For now.

He let go of me, removing his hand from my mouth and putting just a bit of space between us. I turned around and got a good look at him.

The glimpse I’d gotten earlier when I walked into the store didn’t do him justice. His skin glowed golden, and though he was wearing a winter coat, I caught sight of dark markings peeking out around his neck. His eyes were dark, his lips full.

God, what would they taste like?

Not now, brain. It wasn’t the time. It wouldneverbe the time. We were in the middle of a crisis and I didn’t know this guy. And I didn’t sleep with guys I didn’t know.

Not anymore.

I didn’t like to think about that time in my life. It had been a few years since I’d ended most of my nights in strangers’ beds. I was doing better now. Starting to respect myself more. I was determined to actuallyfeelsomething for a person that I invited that close to me.

Or to at least know their last name.

And sometimes their first name.

But I didn’t want to think about former self-destructive tendencies or an extra-long dry spell. Though to be honest, it was better to think of that than what would happen if Evil Alien Santa caught us.

It wasn’t like I was going to jump into bed with this guy. Well, we didn’t need a bed. And in a store this big, we could probably find one anyway. I was pretty sure those displays were near the back.

No. I had to behave. I needed discipline. We were in a crisis. Why was I so distracted?

Probably because it was better to think about a hot guy than the alien trying to hold us hostage and turn us intotribute.

“Who are you ?” I asked. “What’s your story?” Christmas music played loud enough to cover the sound of our talking, but I still whispered. Who knew if Evil Santa had super hearing? I wasn’t looking forward to finding out.

He whispered right back. He was still close, but no longer holding onto me. I missed it. “I’m Aldyn. Detyen, since I can see you’re wondering. Can’t say I’m too happy to be held hostage by that guy.” He grimaced and glanced down the aisle as if he was checking to see that Evil Santa was keeping his distance.

Detyen. Yeah that’s what I thought. I remembered researching them when they showed up on Earth a while back. There wassomethingabout them. Somethingweird. It had made me sad. But I couldn’t remember right now. And unless he had a hidden power, it probably didn’t matter. “I’m Jody. Human. Do you have laser eyes?”

Aldyn looked at me like I’d grown a second head. No. There were aliens with two heads. He was looking at me like I was even weirder. “No. No laser eyes,” he said slowly, sounding out the words as if to make sure he was clear about what I was asking.

Great. Hot alien Aldyn was going to think I was crazy. Not exactly how I wanted to start this relationship. Not that we were in a relationship. I had to keep my mind out of the gutter.

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