Page 20 of Whisked Away By the Alien

Getting a female pregnant that is not mated doesn’t happen on Zyan. It can’t. A male’s mating cock only rises for his sholani, his heartmate.

“Sten, my mom left the stroller on the sidewalk. Would you mind carrying it up before someone steals it?” Golda asks while glaring at Bubbe. I sense my commander is about to lay into the troops, so I nod and do as she asks.

When I reach the stroller, there’s a male there picking it up. “This does not belong to you,” I inform him.

He looks at me, drops the stroller, and runs through the falling snow. Fast, for a human. Several other people cross the street to avoid me. This behavior is not new, but it reminds me how isolating life on Earth will be for me.

Except now I know Golda. That fact fills me with joy and warmth.

I pick up the stroller. The design is clunkier and heavier than what we have on Zyan. Humans are not as advanced as much of the universe, but they are an interesting and worthy species. I believe they will do well as part of the galactic alliance.

Yelling pours out from the Birnbaum home and my horns straighten. I’m on alert, but I hear only female voices. A family squabble. I fear my presence has caused a problem for Golda and her family.

I carry the stroller to the top of the steps and wait outside. My assignment was to learn, not cause trouble. The few aliens who live on Earth have to be on their best behavior at all times and try to repair the damage the Coalition caused. The physical damage is merely a matter of time and resources, but the emotional damage may last decades.

I will not leave unless ordered. My heart tightens at the thought of not seeing Golda again.

The door opens, and my beautiful female stands there, the tightness in her face quickly relaxing the moment she sees me. “I thought you’d left.”

“I would not disobey orders, Commander.” Her face brightens… because of me.

“I’m glad you’re still here.” A snowflake catches on her eyelashes and I’m incredibly tempted to reach out and touch it… to touchher. “I was afraid our little argument scared you off.”

“A warrior does not scare easily.” I peer past her shoulder. Her mother and grandmother scrutinize us, their eyes moving from Golda to me and back to Golda. I swallow. Warriors don’t scare easily, but we’re also not fools. These females were definitely arguing because of me.

“Good, because eating with my family can be like sitting down with the enemy. Any minute, someone could lob the next grenade and break the fragile truce. You need to stay sharp, expect the worst, and hope for the best.”

Without delay or hesitation, Golda grabs my hand and pulls me inside. Her mother and grandmother haven’t taken their eyes from me.

I lean down to Golda. “I will wait in the kitchen while your family eats the meal.”

“Nonsense,” Mrs. Birnbaum says. “You’re our guest. You’ll eat with us as soon as my husband arrives.”

“Have you met my son-in-law, the schmendrik?” Bubbe asks.

“I’ve never heard of schmendriks. Are they located in coalition space?”

Golda’s hand brushes my arm to gain my attention. “Schmendrik meansfoolin Yiddish. Bubbe doesn’t exactly like my father.”

It’s all I can do to focus on the conversation and ignore the electricity her touch sends through me.

“It all goes back to the pregnancy before they married. Dad’s been with Mom for thirty-three years, given her everything he can, and still my grandmother complains.”

“I had an instructor like that. No matter how well we performed, he never praised us, only told us our performance was acceptable. But when a warrior failed, his comments and scorn seemed unending. His ways appeared harsh at the time, but looking back I see his approach motivated many warriors to push themselves harder than they did for other instructors.”

“I don’t want you to be insulted by anything Bubbe says.” Large brown eyes pull me in. I could get lost in them. Nothing her family says or does could make me leave here, not as long as she wants me to stay.

Golda leans into me, subtly bumping her body against me so her family doesn’t notice. “Are you okay, Sten? You look uncomfortable.”

“I’m fine. I fit my cocks back into my jeans without much problem.”

CHAPTERSEVEN

GOLDA

Lesson learned. Be very careful what questions you ask an alien, especially when your mother and grandmother are in the room.

“He put his what back into his jeans?” my mother asks. She looks like she’s going to faint.

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