Page 18 of Having the Alien Overlord’s Baby

“I’ve been ready.” I inhaled his scent, now mixed with the salt sea air.

“One more ship to get on before we can sleep in our own bed.” His hand trailed lower to rest on my hip. “Of course, I don’t want to do much sleeping.”

His voice, coupled with his suggestive touch, sent my body tingling. And, perhaps I was imagining it, I sensed the tiniest flutter in my stomach.

Our ship landed at headquarters a little after ten at night. As usual, a couple of aides waited at the entrance of the main building to brief Rone on the activities while he was away. Since we’d been gone for weeks, I was sure they had plenty to talk about.

“I’m going to unpack. See you in a few.” I left Rone downstairs while I rushed on ahead to get to our living quarters. I let go of my rolling suitcase in mid-roll, dropped my smaller travel bag, and went straight towards the bathroom. Did I not just pee right before we landed? Gads.

I finished up business and then came back into the bedroom. There, I saw I goofed and left the front pocket of my travel bag half-zipped. The corner of the brown paper bag that held my pregnancy test stuck out. Good thing I stashed the stick into the bag instead of its original bright neon packaging.

Rone’s voice carried from outside. I grabbed the paper bag and gave a frantic look about the room for a place to hide it. Our minimalist décor left no place for me for conceal it. As Rone got closer to the door, I scrambled into the bathroom, pulled open the cabinet under the sink, and tossed it in there.

Whew. Close call. I shook my head at my reflection in the mirror. I was supposed to be a serene and poised ambassador and here I was, frazzled, hiding nausea and my pregnancy test. Rone had to know sooner or later.Get it together, Camille.

I heard him come in through the front door. I padded out into the bedroom. It wasn’t long before he entered. “The band on my com link is broken. I have an extra one around here somewhere.”

“Oh?” I sat on the bed, fluffed a pillow behind my back, and grabbed a book on the nightstand. I watched him wander around the bedroom. “Need any help looking for it?”

He opened and closed dresser drawers. Then he snapped his fingers. “I remember. I left the band in my storage box.”

“Where is your storage box?”

“Under the bathroom sink.”

I dropped the book on the bed and jumped up. I hurried to follow him into the bathroom. “I don’t think what you’re looking for is under the sink.”

He must not have heard me. I saw him open the cabinet under the sink and stick his head in. “No. Rone, stop.”

My shout made him jerk. I heard a dull thud as he banged his head beneath the sink. His horns broke through the sink bowl. The whole structure shook and moved with him when he tried to extricate himself.

He retracted his horns. They disappeared below the sink. Finally, he put both hands on the sides and launched himself free. His horns and head were covered in plaster.

I rushed to help him dust it off. “Rone, are you hurt? I’m sorry. This is all my fault.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll find maintenance and get it fixed in the morning.” He plucked plaster bits off his horns and swept his hand through his hair. Something crackled under his feet. We both looked down at the same time. He stood on the edge of the paper bag that held my pregnancy test.

“What’s this?” He bent down and picked it up before I could.

“Uh, just something I’m looking into.”

“Do you mind if I look into it, too?” He opened the bag and pulled out the test stick.

I waited a few beats for him to say something.

“Is this all of it?” He rattled the bag and looked on the floor as though there were something else that may have fallen out.

“I was going to tell you. I was planning on an unexpected way to do it. But what’s more unexpected than getting your head stuck beneath the sink?”

He stared at the pink lines on the stick. “What does this mean?”

He still didn’t know? “Rone, it means I’m pregnant.”

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