Page 41 of Whisked Away By the Alien

“That was food in her hair? Did her mate throw food at her? I can imagine a youngling throwing food, but not a mate.”

“Not exactlythrowing. He…ah… I think he was licking it off her… other parts of her body.”

I gain new respect for Eli in this moment. “This human ritual intrigues me. We shall try it.”

Golda’s face flushes, a deep red. I restrain my chuckle as I hold the door open for her and we enter a crowded shop with a long line at the counter. The smell of fresh baked goods entices me, though still not as much as the female beside me.

The murmurs start the moment we step inside. Insults and slurs reach my ears as the humans whisper to one another, some pointing at me. It’s not the first, nor will it be the last time I encounter such behavior. Words do not hurt. Except when they are slung by family.

“I don’t understand why you said your sister has always been the pretty one. You are beautiful. Did you grow into your beauty over time or did your sister grow homely with age?” I ask as we step into the long line.

Golda’s eyes widen. “You think I’m prettier than Rachel?”

“Golda, you are exceedingly beautiful. Beyond measure. How do you not see this?”

She shrugs. “I’m heavier than I should be.”

My eyes roam over her body again and I love every curve I see. I remember how she shook her ass at me getting off the bus. Nothing is sexier than a confident female.

I pick her up and sling her over my shoulder, then twirl around. Golda’s laughter and shrieks of delight fill me with joy. For a brief moment, I forget where we are, until I hear nearby tables and chairs scrape against the floor as the other humans flee. This dampens my spirits, but I will not let Golda see this.

Carefully, I set my Golda down on her feet and press my lips to her forehead. “Not heavy. Heavenly.”

Her smile reaches her eyes. I didn’t think it was possible to fall for her any more than I have, but I am.

“Hey, we’re in the front of the line!” she says.

“Golda, there is no line. Everyone left. Because of me. I scared them.”

“We were having fun. Nothing wrong with that.”

“I do not wish to scare the humans here. They are not the enemy.”

Golda hooks her arms around my neck and kisses me on the lips. “No they’re not. But neither are you. If it helps, look at it this way… We moved up to the front of the line because you’re a VIP.”

“What is VIP?”

“Very important person. People get out of the way for and give benefits to VIPs.”

While I’m glad Golda considers me important, I do not think the other humans agree. The only one who remained is the owner behind the counter. He’s glaring at me. I must apologize to him for scaring off his patrons.

The male points at the door. “This is why I have a sign that saysno aliens.”

“I am on Earth legally.”

“You’re causing trouble and no one wants coalition scum here.”

“Stop acting like you have a stick up your butt,” Golda says with her arms on her hips and a glare that could melt snow.

“He scared everyone off, woman!”

“He twirled me around, that’s all. If he were human, you would have ignored it. And he’s from Zyan, you idiot. An allied world. He has a good heart, that’s all that you should care about.”

The short man with mousy hair raises his voice. “This alien just cost me a lot of business. Though you look like you’ll eat enough to make up for everyone who left.”

When Golda charges forward, I grab her around her waist before she attacks the male. I will not chance her getting injured. I was wrong. Words do hurt. This male wounded her with his comment, and I see the hurt in her eyes.

With Golda safely tucked behind me, I lift the male by the front of his shirt until his feet dangle two feet off the ground. He grabs my wrists but cannot break my hold. Now that I have his full attention, I question my next move. As a warrior, I know what I should do, but as the one who holds the honor of protecting my female, I’m tempted to pound him into the ground.

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