Page 15 of Cherished By the Alien Outlaw

“I’m heavy,” she said.

“You’re tiny. Lush. Beautiful.”

“You’re sweet to say that. You’re pretty cute yourself.”

Coot? Kerry had used the term with Nevarn, and from it, I believed she meant she found him attractive. A good word, then. I’d take it.

She shifted on the bed. “I’ve made room.”

I gingerly sat and stretched out beside her, urging her up to lay across my chest. “I’ll hold you in my arms. It gets cold here at night and if you lay against the wall, the stone will suck away your heat. You should be able to settle and find rest.”

She nodded, and her yawn stretched out.

“Although,” I said, “I’m made up of hard edges. I’m not plump like many, which would make me more comfortable to lie on. I wish I was plump.”

Her low laugh rang out. “I like you the way you are, and even if you were plump, you’d still be cute.”

“You’re kind to say this. A larger framed male isconsidered more attractive in the Dastalon Clan. I’m busy all day, though. I forget to eat. If only I made sure to eat all the meals and do less, I might fill out more.”

“This is amazing. You’re saying someone having extra fat on their bodies is more appealing?”

“Isn’t it that way on Earth?”

“For some cultures.” She yawned again.

“Sleep.” My chatter was keeping her awake when she needed rest. “I’ll keep you safe. Warm. I promise. We can talk about my lack of plumpness in the morning.”

“Thank you again, Firion.”

It wasn’t long before her breathing stretched out to long, slow, and even.

I was grateful she could rest. She needed it.

After tugging the blanket up over us both, I carefully reached out and laid my palm on the stone wall and hummed. Would the stone gods hear me so far from my home?

I could only try.

And my effort was rewarded. I couldn’t see, but I felt them answer my request. In the morning, she’d see.

Would my simple gesture help make her happy?

Chapter 8

Talia

Islept better than I’d thought I would, and it was solely due to Firion. He’d held me all night, he was warm, and I felt safe enough to fully relax.

Waking sprawled across his chest, I looked up, finding him still asleep. For an alien, he was awfully handsome. Actually, he was attractive no matter what his species might be, from his strong jawline, his slightly crooked nose, his full lips, to the way his eyes held warmth when he looked my way.

He’d be very easy to love.

I’d dated lots of guys. Slept with some of them too. But none had touched my heart.

Had I been waiting for Firion?

A silly thought since I’d only recently met him. And the odds of us surviving this place long enough to explore feelings were less than zero. I’d be foolish to think I’d live long in an underground lizard mining operation. My future would consist of hard labor, crappyfood, not enough water, and if they discovered I was female . . . I didn’t want to know what might happen after that.

The only thing standing between me and a quick death with Firion. The moment something happened to him, it would be over for me.

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