by Amanda Milo
With a sexy glint in his eye, he’d backed me up to the bed, saying he would do all he could to make me happy.
It’s his motto. Two years after we were married, local laws were changed in regards to women’s rights in this region of Traxia—largely in part thanks to C’vest’s (and my) lobbying efforts. The ruling gained enough popularity to spread to other areas, and women here are finally starting to have a voice and legal protection.
If anything happens to C’vest, I won’t ever be put in the position I was. And if we ever have a daughter, she will be safe too.
“Sir? Ma’am?” Fuzzy, our foreman, calls. “We’ve got a bum calf. Just dried him off.”
“This is the only time an orphaned calf is exciting news,” C’vest comments.
Fuzzy sweeps his hat from his brow and bangs it against his pant leg, dusting it off, his weathered face smiling in agreement.
“Come here, Kaspian.” C’vest lifts him from the water. “We have something to show you.”
When Kaspian starts to fuss, sad to leave the river, I feel it’s worth ruining the surprise. “It’s time for you to meet your baby cow!”
“Cow?” Kaspian repeats with disbelief, flailing on his father’s palms in shock.
C’vest raises him onto his shoulders, fitting our son’s shiny-scaled legs on either side of his neck. “That’s right, Kas. You get your own Nfurian cow.”
Kaspian loves cows. When I told C’vest to prepare himself for owning a dog—because what child doesn’t want a puppy?—our son proved me wrong by endlessly asking us for his very own bovine.
C’vest said as long as it isn’t in the house, why not let him raise a steer?
Anticipation thrilling him, Kaspian giggles in excitement, hands on top C’vest’s head, enjoying the world from the vantage of his father’s broad shoulders as we prepare to meet his newborn pet.
C’vest holds his hand out for mine. I clasp it, stepping into my sandals at the river’s edge and touching my shoulder to C’vest’s arm as we walk the path to the barn.
“What will our daughter want to raise?” C’vest asks with a naughty tilt of his brow.
Ahead of us, Fuzzy calls out, “Horses,” not having a clue that C’vest is mentioning our future daughter as a way to flirt with me.
He also could have no idea how effective the endearingly inexpert attempts to woo me are.
“Probably horses,” I agree, smiling and secretly playing out how the next two hours of our afternoon will go: Kaspian will bliss himself out bottle feeding his new calf, and after spending our day off swimming, he’s bound to crash hard at naptime—wherein C’vest and I will get some quality alone-time. Maybe enough to make Kaspian a baby sister.
“I’m watching your brain’s activity,” C’vest warns me under his breath, his hand squeezing mine. “It’s arousing my senses.”
I squeeze his fingers and smooth my free hand up his arm, leaning into him, biting my lip. “That’s good. I’m preparing to take advantage of you when we have a moment to ourselves.”
“Only a moment?”
I toss a mischievous look up at him. “Think you’ll want more?”
Face serious, eyes earnest, C’vest brings our joined hands up until we’re cupping my face. “Stella, I want forever with you. I always will.”
My smile for him is soft and tender. “I love you too.”
His eyes flare. “I don’t think I can wait. Maybe Fuzzy can watch Kaspian.”
I grin. “We can’t miss out on our son feeding his first ever pet.”
C’vest’s eyes turn circuitry-blue and his gaze turns inward. “I’ve never tried it, but perhaps I can locate a sleep-switch in our offspring’s brain.”
“Don’t you dare.”
C’vest’s hand curls tighter around mine and he cuts me a glance. “I wouldn’t. But I am wishing I wasn’t so against the idea of creating a child alcoholic. Half a dram of whiskey and--”
I disengage our hands and whack him on the arm.
Watching it happen from his perch, Kaspian squawks down in surprise before giggling, and Fuzzy glances back at us and shakes his head. He calls, “If you two are going to keep getting sweet on each other, I can keep an eye on Kas. Y'all could slip into the barn office to do some ‘paperwork.’”
“And that,” C’vest declares, “is why you’re getting a raise.” He slings his arm over my shoulders and tugs me against his side.
I slide my hand under his shirt intending to lightly pinch him, but he shies away from me like a nervous stallion, making Kaspian cackle and clap with glee.
C’vest shoots me a sideways glance and taps low on his skull. “I saw this spot light up on you again. You always get dangerous when you have activity here.”
“Since you’ve escaped me, what’s lit up in my head now?”
“Amusement.” His eyes heat. “Arousal,” he adds, mouthing the word.
I let him catch me at the doorway of the barn. And when Kaspian’s calf has taken in half of a bottle and Fuzzy gives us a knowing nod and a good-natured smirk, I let C’vest drag me into the office where the thin walls require the use of his hand clamped over my mouth.
As my body shudders in pleasure under his, he whispers in my ear, “I love you, Stella.”
THE END
NOTE FROM AMANDA
Did you like this story? I’ll be on the lookout for reviews to see what you thought—and if you take the time to leave one, I appreciate it! Thank you so much for reading! =D
Love and Otter Hugs <3
*AND A RIB-SQUEEZING HUG FROM A RAKHII!!!*
~Amanda ♥
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Books & Audiobooks by Amanda…
Wondering what else Amanda has written? BLESS YOU. <3 Here is the list:
STOLEN by an Alien
Arokh and Angie’s story ebook: https://amzn.to/2A6sH9T
This book is also available in Audio, narrated by the talented Nick Cracknell: https://adbl.co/2N7WXHF
RESCUED by an Alien
Zadeon and Callie’s story ebook: http://amzn.to/2EZEitg
Audiobook voiced by Nick Cracknell: https://adbl.co/2Nx8WxR
(WARNING: This one has some Dark times. This couple’s love is beautiful though, and they get their Happily Ever After.)
WON by an Alien
Brax, Tara, and Tac’Mot’s story is here: http://amzn.to/2FeuFGl
Audiobook narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Callie Dalton: https://amzn.to/2zUkHWu
(If you had to classify this one, it’s almost Reverse Harem. This is an MFM book, which means there are two (alien) guys and one woman but it’s not *quite* menage, because Brax is a Rakhii, and you know this means he doesn’t share his female. Slight problem: his female is bonded to Tac’Mot.)
CRAVED by an Alien
Dohrein and Gracie’s story: https://amzn.to/2Qn4lwo
Audiobook voiced by Nick Cracknell: https://adbl.co/2s6gN96
An Alien Nanny for Christmas
This is Mitteeku and Gwen’s story. Gwen is a single mom, and when her options for child sitters suddenly fall through, her day goes from bad to worse. She knows if she misses work, she’ll lose her job. Her outlook is bleak, until a Rakhii who has always yearned to be a nanny appears at her door… https://amzn.to/3hrlW37
Blind Fall
The standalone story that answers the question you’ve all been asking me: “Is the guide dog okay?” Spoiler: She’s MORE than okay. ♥)
This is Breslin and Sanna’s story. If you read this one, I hope you have fun!
https://amzn.to/2PvoaAm
Audiobook narrated by Teddy Hamilton and Callie Dalton: https://amzn.to/2WImX17
Beth’s Stable
Five pirates and a baby. (Also: five pirates with a pregnant woman until Beth delivers said baby.) A reverse harem romance for movie-lovers. Just trust
me. ;)
https://amzn.to/2ZFxyLx
Side projects *Not* related to the Stolen series:
Humorous ALIEN Romances:
Contaminated: https://amzn.to/36RFbhS
Erreck and Nancy’s story, which features Simmi as a lovably gruff secondary character.
Contagion: https://amzn.to/2ElEVuk
Simmi’s standalone, germphobic HEA story
HUMANS IN ALIEN CAPTIVITY BOOKS:
The Pet Project: https://amzn.to/2UAU3ff
The Pet Project: Unnatural Selection https://amzn.to/2URRAxl
The Pet Project: JoAyyn https://amzn.to/2ybVHfV
Valos of Sonhadra Series
Alluvial, Book 1: https://amzn.to/2OhfX33
Tempest, Book 2, written by Poppy Rhys: https://amzn.to/2uPfihv
Galvanizing Sol, Book 3, by Amanda Milo & Poppy Rhys: https://amzn.to/2AgxDZE
DragonTribe
DRAGON HOOKER: https://amzn.to/32MNzjg
THE MERMAID AND THE DRAGON: https://amzn.to/2WKORau
About the Author
Amanda Milo is a collector of the randomest trivia. Did you know that Kiwi fruit plants have separate genders? You need both in order to make Kiwi fruits happen. Isn’t that cool??
She’s concerned about river otter bite pressure—she hasn’t had a chance to test this out, but frankly, this is the part that’s holding her back from appropriating and testing the relocation (aka wildlife theft) of a small family of adorable river otters.
...To the bathtub. (They’re basically like slick-furred rubber duckies, but with lots of teeth, right? Right.)
Extended contemplation of this plan has led to the permission to adopt more ferrets, which makes her very happy. So does her extensive, wacky-patterned, thigh-high sock collection—though ferrets, it must be noted, do not play well with pretty socks. The crazy, clawed thieves!
She invites you to hang out with her in the Amanda Milo’s Minions Facebook group. (She didn’t name the group! XD Readers have great senses of humor!)
Thank you for picking up this book. Amanda hopes that you had a lovely time. ♥