Page 40 of Prize for the Alien Grumpus

"Well..." I glance up at Mel. "It's your mother's decision."

Mel's arms cross over her chest. The corner of her mouth twitches. "Okay."

Sam's squeal of delight makes my ears ring. She scoops the kitten from my hand with surprising gentleness.

"I'm going to name him Rudolph!"

The kitten stretches in Sam's lap, his purr rumbling like a tiny engine. His golden eyes close in contentment as she strokes his fur.

Sam's footsteps fade upstairs, the kitten cradled in her arms. But something in Mel's scent changes. A tang of salt. Distress.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Mel turns away, but her shoulders tremble.

I reach for her arm, careful with my claws. "Tell me."

"I..." Her voice cracks. "This is stupid. I shouldn't..."

"Mel."

She faces me, eyes glistening. "I'm falling for you. And it terrifies me."

My heart thunders against my ribs. Words stick in my throat.

"You're kind to Sam. You protect us. You even found her a kitten." Mel wipes her eyes. "But I've been here before. With Tom."

"I'm nothing like that waste of oxygen." I assert.

"No, you're not. You're better. Which makes it worse." Her fingers twist together. "Tom left me for someone younger, prettier. And you... you'll live for centuries. There will always be a newer model."

The tears spill over now. Each one feels like acid burning my skin.

I want to tell her she's wrong. That I'd rather tear out my own heart than hurt her like Tom did. But my throat closes up.

All I can do is pull her close as she cries against my chest.

My claws stroke through her hair, careful not to snag. The scent of her tears burns my nose worse than any weapon could.

"Look at me." I tilt her chin up with one finger. "In three hundred years, I've never met anyone like you."

"Right. A crazy woman who attacked you with a baseball bat."

"A warrior who faced down an unknown creature to protect her child." My thumb brushes away a tear. "Do you know how rare that kind of courage is?"

Her eyes search mine. "But-"

"No. Listen." I cup her face in my hands. "You raised Sam alone. You work hard. You keep going no matter what life throws at you. That strength... that fire... there can never be a replacement for that."

"I'm just...ordinary."

"You freed me from cryo-sleep. You gave me a home. A family." My voice roughens. "Nothing ordinary about that."

Her hands cover mine, so small against my massive claws. "You'll get bored. Everyone does."

"I've lived centuries. Traveled galaxies. Nothing holds my attention for long." I press my forehead to hers. "Except you. You fascinate me more each day."

"How can you be sure?"

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