Page 20 of Snowed in with my Alien Boss

“Never seen him before. She comes home every night, I swear.”

Grogen reached out, grabbed Abby’s sire by the throat, and lifted him into the air. “She is my mate. You will leave her alone from now on.” He shook him a few times for emphasis. “If I ever see you around her again, I will tear you apart. Is that clear?” Then he threw him at the other two, and the three landed in a tangle of limbs.

By now, they’d attracted a crowd. Fuck. He hated crowds.

Holden and the actual guard were approaching now. “Escort these two to their homes,” the director said.

“Hey! No fair,” cried one of the humans as the guard guided them firmly to his transport.

“I don’t have a home,” whined Abby’s sire. “That ungrateful bitch threw me out.”

“You never once helped with rent. You steal and sell my shit to buy booze and gamble. I should have never let you back into my life.”

With the troublemakers gone and the crowd dispersing, Abby turned to the director and quietly explained that her sire had tried to sell her to pay a debt. Grogen could see Holden’s face hardening. The director commed the guard to have the males detained instead of transported home.

“We will look into it, see if anyone else has been harmed. I recognize one of the males: he’s one infraction away from being exiled.” Holden turned to Grogen. “I trust you to make sure this female gets home safely.”

“She will.”

It was only now that Grogen realized Abby still had the berry garlands around her neck. He grabbed the lengths of red and purple berries and ripped them from her neck before tossing them aside. He looked about for new strands to claim as his own. He hadn’t come prepared. Usually, males strung their own garlands.

A sharp whistle caught his attention, and he turned to see the male of the couple Abby had spent time in the baths with tossing him a garland stolen off a banister. Grogen caught it and promptly wrapped it possessively around Abby’s neck.

Abby’s smile was radiant as she fingered the colorful berries. Then, wrapping her arms around him, she kissed him. At that moment, he didn’t even mind the crowd. There was nobody in the world but them.

It was a male wondering loudly if they were going to get a show that had him breaking off the kiss before his body had other ideas. Sex wasn’t hidden in Tallean culture, but he didn’t think Abby was an exhibitionist. Besides, there were many humans here too, and they were less accepting of public sexual displays. And Grogen preferred his privacy anyway.

A group of humans singing traditional Christmas songs coming down the aisle between the food stands scattered the group of bystanders. The second they got out of the way of the carolers and were tucked into a more private corner, Abby reached for the flower in her hair and placed the bloom firmly into his hand.

“You’re the one I want. No contest.”

“I accept, little mate.” She didn’t need to know that he’d scared off most of her other suitors anyway and would fight off anyone else who tried to offer her a garland now.

She blinked up at him. “Yeah…about that… I wasn’t sure I heard correctly earlier,” Abby admitted.

“It’s true. You are mine.” He held her firmly, worried that she’d reject him because he’d said something too soon. He’d looked it up; humans were used to long periods of “dating” before announcing their feelings.

But instead of pushing him away and asking for more time, Abby threw her arms around him and peppered his face with a thousand kisses.

“You are not upset? It is not too soon?”

“Too soon?” She looked at him incredulously. “We’ve worked together for years, Grogen. I know you. You’re strong and capable—okay, yes, grumpy too. But also sweet when you need to be. I couldn’t ask for a better mate.” Her cheeks turned pink. “You know, I’ve always had a crush on you. I just hope you don’t end up regretting this.”

“Never!” He held her close. “I’ve wanted you and loved you from a distance for ages, thinking I wasn’t good enough.”

“Love?” Her lower lip started to quiver. “Do you mean it?”

“More than anything in the universe.”

She threw herself at him again. “I love you too. I know it’s fast for a human, but I don’t care. When I’m around you, everything feels right.”

“Then it is decided. You will move in with me tomorrow. Today, we will enjoy the festival.”

The corners of her lips lifted mischievously. “And tonight?”

“We will make up for all the lost time.”

“I don’t think we can do that in just one night,” she said, winking.

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