Page 15 of Rescued By the Alien Bull Rider

My poor little human.

My cheeks heated all over again. Part of it was shame and a big fat helping of guilt for being the cause of Zohro’s troubles tonight. But another part of it…

Was the way he’d called me his.

Which was ridiculous. He’d probably meant “my little human” as in “my responsibility since you turned up on my property without invitation and nearly got us both gored to death.”

“Can I help?” I asked, following Zohro into the kitchen where he began washing his hands at a basin-like sink.

He cast me a sideways,you’ve already helped enough tonightlook,then pointedly asked, “Were you the youngest-ever graduate from the Medical Academy of Zabria?”

“Um… No?”

“I was.” Something in his tone shifted. Maybe even softened for the first time. “Go sit down out of the way somewhere.”

If it weren’t for the rasping note of what almost sounded like concern, and the way his eyes came to soft, white light again, like flickering candles on a birthday cake, making my tummy flip, then I would have thought his wording just a tiny bit rude. But then again, the only reason this guy had to deal with his wounds now was because of me, so really, telling me to get out of his face was probably pretty fucking restrained.

Besides, I had to pee.

While Zohro busied himself pulling out what appeared to be a Zabrian first aid kit from a cupboard above the sink, I scurried away in search of a bathroom.

I didn’t find one. Not inside the house, anyway. Looked like we were dealing with an outhouse situation. That was fine with me.

The outhouse was behind the house, and a second narrow door led out there. I opened it and stuck my head out. It seemed safe enough. Fencing looked solid all the way around the property. With a shrug, I stepped out and let the door bang shut behind me.

And not two seconds later, before I even reached the outhouse, a giant pink Zabrian came barrelling out after me, big boots stomping.

“What are you doing?” Zohro asked, scanning me with scathing white eyes.

“Um… Going to the bathroom? Or, outhouse?” Baby Girl shifted, pressing gleefully down upon my full bladder, making me wince. “Can we continue this conversation when I’m done?”

He huffed out a little breath, then snapped, “Hurry up.”

A very patient man, this Zohro.

But even as I fisted the handle of the outhouse door, I was smiling.

Because, though he was impatient, and probably grumpy from the pain and the inconvenience I’d caused him, he was still helping me. He’d gotten injured saving me. When a predator came prowling into view, he got me – a complete stranger – up into Wyn’s saddle before even thinking of himself.

He was snippy as hell and not all that polite.

But I was becoming more and more sure that he was a good man.

By the time I was done peeing, my mind was made up. All that was left to do was ask.

When I emerged, I found Zohro in the exact same spot I’d left him. He could have gone back inside to bandage his wounds, but instead he was waiting for me, which only reinforced my decision. My pulse raced. My skin skittered with heat.

“Zohro?”

Reckless. Impulsive.

Funny. I didn’t feel like either of those things right now. I felt like, for the first time in a long fucking time, maybe the first time in my life, I was on the right track. Like this planet I’d never been to before tonight, this alien male I’d only just met, were exactly what I needed right now.

Deep breath. Here goes.

“Would you like to be my husband?”

7

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