Page 60 of Prize for the Alien Grumpus

"Anything." His voice comes out rough.

"Promise you'll come back to me. Alive."

His mouth captures mine in response, hot and demanding. My fingers tangle in his fur as he deepens the kiss. When we break apart, I'm breathless.

"That's my Christmas present to you." He brushes his thumb across my lower lip. "I'll be back by morning to watch Sam open her gifts."

"You better be." I rest my forehead against his. "Or I'm returning your present."

His laugh rumbles through both our bodies. "Now that would be truly criminal."

"Kevin got called in for an emergency surgery." The lie slides off my tongue easier than expected as I hang up my coat. "A little girl needs heart surgery."

"Oh, the poor dear." Mom clasps her hands together. "And on Christmas Eve too."

"That's the kind of man you need, Melinda." Dad nods approvingly. "A doctor who puts others first."

"He's certainly...unique." I bite my lip to keep from laughing.

"And so handsome." Mom sighs. "Those blue eyes of his. Did you see how they sparkle?"

If she only knew those sparkles came from alien tech. "Yes, Mom. I noticed."

"Well, we should get some sleep." Dad yawns. "Big day tomorrow. Will Kevin join us for Christmas breakfast?"

"He...promised to try."

They head upstairs, still gushing about my wonderful doctor boyfriend. The moment they're gone, my smile falls away. The coffee maker gurgles as I start another pot, though I'm already jittery from the last three cups.

The grandfather clock ticks away each endless second. My bare feet wear a path in the carpet as I pace. What if something goes wrong? What if Gregor catches them? What if I never see him again?

The thought squeezes my chest until I can barely breathe. When did this happen? When did this crazy blue alien become so important to me?

I press my forehead against the cold window pane, watching the empty street. Snow falls in lazy spirals, coating everything in pristine white.

"Please come home to me." The words fog the glass. My heart aches with the truth I've been avoiding. "I love you."

The confession hangs in the silence of the sleeping house. Three words I never thought I'd say again after Mark left. Yet here I am, in love with an alien fugitive from the future.

The clock strikes three, and I've given up pretending to sleep. My mind races with thoughts of Krampus. Blue fur, sharp teeth, alien tech and all - none of that matters anymore.

"This is insane." I pull the blanket tighter around my shoulders. "I'm in love with an alien."

The words should terrify me. They don't. Instead, a warm certainty spreads through my chest. When did his gruff voice and ridiculous demands become the highlight of my day? When did his protective nature and genuine care for Sam become more important than his otherworldly origins?

My ex-husband was human, and he walked out on us without a second thought. Krampus might be from another planet, but he's stayed. He's fought for us. Protected us.

The sound of movement downstairs makes me bolt upright. Heavy footsteps - too heavy for Mom or Dad. My heart pounds as I slip out of bed.

I catch my reflection in the mirror. My hair's a mess, I'm wearing ratty pajamas, and I probably have circles under my eyes from no sleep. But I don't care.

"To hell with it." I smooth down my hair. "I'm telling him everything."

CHAPTER 22

KRAMPUS

The security panel sparks under my claws. These Grolgath idiots still use the same codes from three centuries ago.

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