Page 47 of Kidnapped By the Beast
“It’s market day,” he’d said without preamble.
She’d blinked at him from under the moss-leaf covers.
“Uh…what?”
“The Terians hold a grand market once every seven cycles,” he explained. “Merchants from across the region gather to trade food, crafts, clothing, and other items. It’s quite a sight.” He paused, his voice softening slightly. “I thought you might enjoy seeing it.”
Lexi pushed herself up on one elbow, squinting at him suspiciously.
“Wait. You’re saying instead of strapping me to the dairy machine and milking me, you’re going to take me shopping? Why do I feel like there’s a catch?”
Brandt’s mouth quirked slightly, almost breaking a smile.
“No catch, Alexandra. You’ve been producing nectar reliably. Dr. T’Oo-loo has confirmed the Bacillus is thriving in your system, so we’ll be leaving in a day or two. But before we do, I want you to experience some of the culture here. What’s the point of going to a different planet if you only see the inside of a lab?”
Something in his tone—gentler than usual, almost indulgent—had made her stomach flip. Was this a date? Or just a Kindred science field trip with his human cow?
It was hard to say.
Still, Lexi had agreed eagerly. Which was how she now found herself in the middle of a sprawling Terian bazaar, surrounded by more sights, smells, and sounds than she could process at once.
The market was enormous—stretching as far as she could see, every stall draped in fabrics that shimmered like iridescent beetle wings. The air was thick with scents—roasting mushroom meats…sweet alien fruits…sharp herbal smoke from incense braziers. Music drifted from somewhere, high-pitched and haunting, played on instruments that looked like glass spirals and emitted chords when light passed through them.
Crowds pressed in on all sides—tall, purple-skinned Terians with their four eyes blinking curiously at her. And every single one of them seemed fascinated by her chest.
Lexi tugged irritably at the slight, gauzy scrap Brandt had insisted was enough clothing. Her nipples tightened under the breeze, making it obvious she was bare under it. She had on a short skirt—though no panties—which covered her bottom well enough, but her breasts were definitely on display.
“Remind me again,” she muttered, leaning closer to him, “Why exactly I had to come topless?”
“You’re not topless,” he corrected mildly, leaning down from his great height to murmur in her ear. “You’re wearing Telinga gauze, which is one of the only fabrics that won’t inhibit your nectar production.”
She shot him a look.
“Oh, well, in that case, I guess I’m totally covered. Clearly my dignity is safe.”
His golden eyes glinted with amusement. “Nectar production is best when your breasts are unrestricted. You know that.”
“Yeah, but do we have to advertise it to the whole alien farmer’s market? Look at them.” She gestured toward a cluster of Terian women, their lavender heads bent together as they whispered and stared. “I’m like a sideshow act.”
“They are curious,” Brandt admitted. His voice softened as he bent closer to murmur near her ear. “But they’re also impressed.”
That gentler note made her heart give a weird little flutter.
Stop it! she scolded herself. He’s not flirting. He’s just making scientific observations about your boobs.
Still, the way the big Kindred stayed close to her side, occasionally brushing his hand against her back to guide her through the crowd, felt…date-like. Which only confused her more.
Instead of thinking about it too much, she tried to concentrate on the sights around her. The stalls were endlessly fascinating.
At one, a Terian merchant proudly displayed racks of sunglasses—if they could even be called that. Each pair had four interconnected lenses, stacked in two vertical rows, connected by delicate filigree metalwork.
Lexi picked one up, turning it over in her hands.
“Huh. So this is what happens when you’ve got twice the number of eyeballs. I’m sure they’d be a hit at Coachella.”
Brandt raised a brow.
“Coachella?”
