Page 89 of Alien's Love Child

"I wanted to." His thumb traces over the ring. "I've seen you reading those old Earth novels. The ones where they exchange rings."

"Those are just stories." I twist the ring, watching it catch the city lights. "I wouldn't know a proper human ceremony if it bit me in the ass. My family wasn't exactly traditional."

"No?" His lips quirk up. "You mean smugglers don't have elaborate wedding traditions?"

"Unless you count shotgun weddings in dingy spaceports." I lean into him, breathing in his familiar scent. "This was perfect. All of it."

Through the window, I see Leo attempting to teach Paraxan a dance move that mostly involves spinning in circles until he falls over. Rena catches him before he hits the ground, all three of them laughing.

"Look at what we made." I gesture to our mismatched family inside. "Who needs tradition when we have this?"

Davin's arms wrap around me from behind, his chin resting on my head. "Still, I wanted you to have something from your heritage."

"My heritage is right there." I point to where Leo has now convinced Paraxan to spin with him. "Family isn't about blood or ceremonies. It's about who stays."

CHAPTER 33

DAVIN

The door to the honeymoon suite slides open with a soft hiss. Jesse steps in first, her ceremonial dress trailing behind her. The fabric catches the light, making the red shimmer like liquid fire. I follow, loosening the stiff collar of my formal attire.

"Well, look at this place." Jesse whistles, running her fingers along the sleek furniture. "You really went all out."

"Had to make up for lost time." I wrap my arms around her waist from behind, breathing in the scent of her hair. "Though I think Rena's more excited about watching Leo than we are about this fancy room."

"She practically shoved us out the door." Jesse laughs, leaning back against my chest. "I've never seen someone so eager to babysit."

"Our son has that effect on people." The words still feel new on my tongue. Our son. My family. After everything we've been through, it seems surreal to be here.

Jesse turns in my arms, her green eyes sparkling with mischief. "You know what else this fancy room has?" She jerks her thumb toward the expansive viewport dominating one wall. "Best view of the meteor shower tonight."

"Is that what you want to watch?" I raise an eyebrow, earning a playful swat.

"Don't be smug." She kicks off her shoes, padding across the plush carpet. "Come here and help me figure out how this automated bar works. I want to toast to our new beginning."

"You mean you want me to hack it so we don't have to pay the ridiculous prices."

"See? This is why I married you." She grins, already poking at the control panel. "Smart and resourceful."

I join her at the bar, watching her fingers dance across the interface. Some things never change – and I wouldn't want them to.

Jesse's fingers fly across the control panel, her brow furrowing in concentration. "This encryption is ridiculous. Who needs this much security on a minibar?"

"Having trouble?" I lean against the counter, watching her work.

"Please. I once broke into a maximum security vault on Glimner." She taps another sequence, only to be met with a harsh buzzing sound. "Okay, maybe I'm a little rusty."

"Or maybe they've upgraded their systems since your smuggling days."

"Since when are you the voice of reason?" She steps back, crossing her arms. "Look at these prices. Thirty credits for synthetic champagne? That's highway robbery."

I reach past her and press my thumb to the scanner, authorizing the payment. "Good thing I've got credits to spare."

"Show off." But there's no heat in her words, just affection as the machine whirs to life.

The champagne pours into crystal flutes, bubbles dancing up the sides. I hand one to Jesse, watching the way the amber liquid catches the light of the meteor shower starting outside our window.

"To our family," I raise my glass. "And to never having to pretend to be someone else again."

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