Page 38 of Holiday with the Aliens

Apple cider was irrelevant. I knew the important things. Things that went beyond the recognition of our mating bond. “I know you’re brave. Strong. Resourceful. You faced off against that alien in ways that many people wouldn’t have been able to handle. I’d like to know what your favorite drinks are. But I think I’ve seen hints of all the important stuff. Preferences for snacks and beverages will come in time.”

“You seem certain of that,” she said with a smile. “We might never see each other again after tonight.”

“No, that’s not happening.” It probably wasn’t the right thing to say. Too forceful. Too absolute. Most humans still didn’t understand the denya bond. They didn’t know how we could know that we were meant to be together. They didn’t sense thisthing the same way that we did. But luckily for me, Jody seemed into it.

“I’d ask you to dinner, but I’m kind of afraid to go to any other public place right now. Like there are other aliens just waiting to capture me. I think I just need to head home.”

I didn’t want our night to end. But I could feel exhaustion nipping at me as well. It had been a hell of a night. “I want to see you again.”

She looked at me for several moments, and I thought she might offer me her communicator information. Then she placed her hand on my thigh. “Want to come back to my place?”

It was more than I could hope for. But we hadn’t talked. I knew some Detyens would be happy to take her up on her offer without ever explaining what it could mean. But I wasn’t one of them. Even though joining with her would save my life, she needed to know what it meant. I couldn’t take that choice away from her.

But she did not seem to sense what I was thinking about. Her fingers curled in and I hoped they would leave a mark. “I don’t sleep with guys on the first date anymore,” she said. “But I’m pretty sure tonight counts for like ten dates. So we can figure out the rest of that later.”

I could just kiss her. Could do everything before sealing the actual act. Then I could explain the importance. Both of us needed it. We had survived. It was time to celebrate.

“Lead the way.”

Chapter 13

Jody

Ireally didn’t sleep with guys on the first date. Really. I promise.

But Aldyn was different. And that night was at least ten dates combined. Maybe a lifetime. Excitement sizzled within me as I led him back to my apartment. I was glad I had just cleaned. I could be messy at times. But the gods must’ve been smiling down on me that night. I wanted to kiss him. Wanted to reach out and hold his hand and tug him close.

But I was pretty sure if I started kissing him I wasn’t going to stop. So we stayed separate on the short walk. Then I led him up the rickety stairs that led to the door to my apartment. It was small. Unimpressive. But it was all mine. And that was worth something. Once the door closed behind him, the place felt tiny.

Aldyn wasn’t that big. But he was big enough to take up enough space that I couldn’t forget he was here. And I was happy. We took off our coats and I hung them in the closet. Aldyn still looked kind of bruised, though it was difficult to tell between the markings he naturally had on his gold skin and what Evil Santa had done to him. I wanted to kiss him and make it all better.

But suddenly, I was exhausted. All of the night just crashed down over me and I realized what we had been through. How we had survived. Damn, that was crazy.

A good host would have offered Aldyn a drink. I just stumbled towards the couch and collapsed. He rushed over after me, maybe concerned for my well-being, maybe concerned that it suddenly looked like he wasn’t going to get any.

“Are you alright?” he asked, his hand going to my shoulder as if that was enough to steady me.

“We survived. What the fuck? Whatwasthat?” An evil alien had held us hostage. What even was my life? And here I was with a different alien, hoping he could soothe away all of my fears, could make me forget for the night what had really happened.

The tears caught me by surprise. I didn’t even know I was on the verge of crying until sobs wracked my body and I could barely breathe. Aldyn wrapped his arms around me and held me close. It felt nice. Nicer than I would have expected. And I didn’t want it to end. Thankfully, the tears didn’t last that long. But I knew I did not look very hot. I had always been an ugly crier. It’s why I tried not to ever do it.

I had to get control of the situation. I had to make things better. I cupped Aldyn’s cheek and leaned in close. But before I could kiss him, he grinned at me. “Where’s your bedroom?” he asked.

That was more like it. Maybe we could get things moving along.

There wasn’t really any mystery about where the bedroom was. It was only a one bedroom apartment. There was exactly one closed door. That was where the bedroom was. He laced our fingers together and tugged me up from the couch before leading me into the room. I let my body press against his and tried to imagine what it would feel like once our clothes came off. He sat me down on the bed and dropped to his knees.

Yes. This was looking up. But instead of putting his hands on me, he reached for my shoes and slipped them off before taking off his own.

Okay, he was practical. I could take that. I could take all of him.

“Lay down,” he said.

“I think we’re missing a couple steps.” It might have been sexier and more flirtatious if a yawn had cut me off in the middle of saying it.

Aldyn just waited until I lay down. And then he got in right beside me. He put his arms around me and tucked me in close to him. It was nice. Nicer than I knew it could feel.

And in its own way, it was even scarier than anything that Evil Santa had tried to do to us. Not scary in a way that meant I was going to be injured, but scary in a way that I knew something was about to change. Something massive. It was at just the edge of my conscience to ask what, but before I could grab onto the thought, my eyes drifted closed and I found myself surrendering to sleep.

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