Page 18 of My Christmas Alien Mate

"You're not going to hurt them, are you?" I blurted out and realized too late that I might offend him with my question.

He shook his head. "No, I just want to get to know you, get a feeling of how evolved your planet is."

"Oh." I nodded as if that made perfect sense. "I could take you to town, but…" With his blue skin, he would stick out like a sore thumb.

As if reading my mind, he pointed up and down his body. "Earthlings would notice me."

I nodded.

He waved into the air and the hovering tablet I had seen before appeared as if out of thin air. Curiously, I asked, "Is that always there?"

I couldn't resist touching it, but when I reached forward, there was only air. He laughed. "It's only a projection to make it easier for my mind to move through the database."

"The database is in your head?" I asked, stunned.

He shook his head and reached behind his ear where I now noticed a small object sticking out. "It's here. A few years ago, our scientists tried implants, but it turned out they were too much for us, so they created this interface and the projected screen. It's easier to adapt to."

I nodded as if this made perfect sense and, in a way, it did. Tangible objects, even if they were projections, would be easier to handle. I could only imagine the data tsunami an implant would create inside any active mind.

My musings stopped cold when Galexor's skin color began to change in front of my eyes. It became lighter until an olive hue made him look… more human, making me wonder if his whole persona was an illusion. Did he look like a lizard underneath? Strangely, I didn't really care, but still, I had to ask.

"Can you change everything about you?"

"Do you not like how I look?" he asked back, looking insecure.

I giggled. "No, I like how you look, blue, brown, yellow, I don't care. I was just curious since you changed your color this easily, if what I see is really you."

He nodded. "Yes, big and blue, that's me. Will I fit in like this?"

"All the women will fawn over you," I said before I could stop myself. But it was true. With his now olive skin, dark brown eyes, and black hair he looked like… well, tall, dark, and handsome, almost every woman's wet dream, but I wasn't going to tell himthat.

He laughed. "I only want one female tofawnover me."

There it was again. I swallowed. Could this man be any more perfect?

"I have a favor to ask," he said before I could make a complete fool of myself by jumping over the table and attacking him.

"Name it. I owe you big for saving me."

"I don't want you to feel that way at all." He tilted his head, and his expression said that he meant it.

A nervous giggle escaped me. "Alright. Still, I would like to do a favor for you."

"Would you be my guide and show me around?"

My little heart fluttered at the idea of walking through town with him. "I would love to."

"Good." His wide smile made my stomach somersault. He rose and began to collect our dishes. Funny, I didn't even remember eating, but miraculously, our plates were empty.

"Here, let me," I protested, but he shook his head.

"You cooked the food, allow me to clean up," he offered before he added, "just tell me how."

"Why don't we do it together, and then you can do it next time?" I suggested.

"Does that mean you will cook for me again?" His eyes were so warm, I nearly melted.

"Of course," I promised.

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