by Sabrina Kade
His hand lifts, and I’m worried he’s going to try and cop a feel. I don’t think he would, but he’s always so fucking horny that I wouldn’t put it past him.
Instead, he taps the area between my breasts.
“You,” he whispers.
My eyes widen. Me. He wanted to come here because of how much I wanted to go. He risked his health. He knew beyond the second triss was colder than the lairs. He knew there was a chance something could go wrong. And though he’s probably going to be okay, there was a risk he didn’t have to take. He took it because of me.
Guilt pulses against my throat, leaving me breathless.
Dolan’s hand lowers, but not before I’m able to catch it within mine and bring it back up to my face. He’s chilled. Uncomfortably so. I kiss his hand several times, trying not to focus on the number of scales. Thankfully, they’re not on his palms. Dolan licks his lips as I continue to drop soft, tentative kisses to his skin and arch an eyebrow at him.
“Don’t get any funny ideas,” I mutter, trying to keep the tone light.
He nods, continuing to watch me intensely.
Thunder and lightning continue to rage outside, but I realize that just because Dolan isn’t able to say a lot doesn’t mean we have to sit in silence. I can fill the air with my voice. Awkward conversation seems to be a strength of mine.
“You mind if I talk a little?” I say between soft kisses.
Dolan shakes his head, patting the spot next to him on the floor. He wants me to lay beside him. And though I want to keep a lookout, there’s not much I can do behind the shelter walls. I swallow hard and lay on my back next to him, staring up at the ceiling as rain batters the surface above.
“What’s this tent made of anyway?” I ask. Dolan mutters an explanation, but I wave my hand. “Don’t worry about it. I guess it doesn’t matter, does it? We’re stuck here no matter what. At least until this storm blows over.” I chuckle, and it’s the most forced sound in the world, but Dolan’s smiling a little bit, so I nudge him with my arm. “Try not to grin so much. It probably doesn’t feel good.”
He nods sheepishly.
Poor Dolan, I’m not sure if he wants to listen to me blather on about my life on Earth, but what else I can offer to the conversation? I don’t want him to think my life is only filled with sad memories. There were good times, too. Shep wasn’t always in a rage. Sometimes he was kind. Sometimes he protected me when racist bigots messed with me in a new school district. Sometimes we had stretches where things almost felt like home. We went to a dance. His homecoming. He was a freshman. I was a senior. I didn’t mind. His medications were working at the time. I tell Dolan about how we danced to every song that wasn’t a slow one. I babble on and on about the good days, wishing I had some pleasant memories about my father to share, but unlike Shep, there isn’t that much. My father was a cold man. He was always detached from Shep and me unless Shep was having a good day. My father loved Shep more than me because he was his boy.
I swallow hard. I’m trying to keep things light, but my past always creeps into the darkness. I shake my head, noting that Dolan’s eyes are sleepy but somehow alert. He’s listening to every word. This isn’t the same alien I knew months ago.
That alien would have never listened so attentively like he expected a test at the end of the day.
That alien wanted to become a lover before he became a friend. But this Dolan? He wants to be a friend. He can’t move, but he wants to be there for me.
“You can fall asleep,” I offer. “If you’re tired.” He shakes his head, smiling gently. My pussy tingles. My stomach whispers with butterflies. He sniffs, grinning more widely. “Yeah, you caught me,” I say, hoping to tease him. “It’s your smile, you know. You have a gorgeous smile. It makes you less alien.”
He furrows his eyebrows.
“Yes, yes, I know. I’m the alien, not you. But guess what, Dolan? You can’t talk much right now, so I guess you’ll have to take my word for the gospel truth.”
He frowns at this for a moment, only to break out into another smile. Oh, Dios mío, my alien is attractive when he smiles.
Wait. Did I call him my alien?
I guess it doesn’t matter. I didn’t say it to him, so my secret’s safe.
I fall silent for a little while, listening and counting the rumbles of thunder beyond the tent. It’s moving away (at last), but that doesn’t mean we’re in the clear. Dolan continues lying there, and he’s blinking a little more than usual, so once again, I have to take this as a good sign.
“Is there anything you want to know about me?” I dare him. He can barely speak, but I’m still curious if he wants to know more. There’s not much to me, but the silence in this shelter is getting to me. I want to be outside. I’m not like York, but I would rather face the elements than spend another few hours in this cramped shelter while we’re still awake.
Dolan mutters, groaning with effort to form the words. I lean closer to him. “I wish I could tell you more about me.”
My heart hiccups. I’m not sure why. But I don’t doubt his words. For hours, I’ve been going on about my family and my life on Earth. And all the while, Dolan has to sit here in silence. There’s probably so much he wants to tell me, but he probably can’t get the words out. I can tell he’s in pain.
I hate seeing him in pain.
Dolan. My overly confident, Mr. Manly Man isn’t looking so manly at the moment. And as much as I want to gloat, I hate seeing him like this. I lean forward, rising on my side so I can push my fingers through his silky hair. I love the texture, and I can tell he enjoys my touch. He can’t do anything, so maybe I should take the chance and explore him as well. But before I can go any further, my hand curls into a fist, and I look at Dolan entirely.
“Tell me; you’re not seriously going to get sick because of this, are you?”
He shakes his head. Can I trust his words? Maybe he’s telling the truth. Or maybe he doesn’t want to admit how bad things are.
“I’m only asking because I would hate to lose you.”
His eyes widen. I wonder if he believes me.
“I don’t want to lose you,” I admit. “You’re one of the few things I like about this assignment. About work in general. About my life in general.” I lower my eyes, embarrassed to admit something so serious, but of course, Dolan doesn’t mind. When I lift my eyes, he’s smiling again, and there’s not so much strain. “Ugh, I hate that you wore me down. Just like everyone said you would.”
“You Choose me?”
Instinctively, I want to shake my head no. I always have, but things are different now. He’s always been there for me. He’s always been patient in the most annoying, impatient way. He took me on this trip because I wanted to get away from the lairs on a whim. And now he’s lying here, sick or tired or weak or whatever, and he's still attentive. I bite down hard on my lower lip, wondering if this is what I want, but there’s no question. Not really.
I can’t imagine life without Dolan now. His arms. His smile. His kindness. His warmth. His incredible awkwardness and pushiness. Honest to God, I’ve come to love it all. I don’t think I could go back to be a machine with my head forced down to keep pushing and making money for Shep. I have to face it. Shep’s never going to get a dime of the money I earn. If I’m gaining anything, Dad may have got a down payment for all but selling me into sexual slavery, but he’s probably not going to get anything else. I wish I could ask him why he was so comfortable selling me.
What did I do wrong? Why did he feel that selling me was the only answer?
I’ll never be able to ask him. I’ll never know if Shep is all right or if he got the medication he needed to function in society. I’ll never know. There’re so many uncertainties now, but Dolan isn’t one of them. He doesn’t have to be.
He cares about me. He wants me for his Chosen mate.
And I… I want him.
I want a shot at my own happiness.
I cup Dolan’s jaw in my hand, stroking
my thumb across his lower lip. Despite the canines, his lips are soft, supple and human. He’s an alien, sure, but he’s so much more than that. He makes me smile. He makes me laugh. He brings out a spark in me that Shep, my father, or Sloane never could. Dolan is special.
I want him to be mine.
“I Choose you, Dolan.” My voice is whisper soft, and Dolan probably can’t hear it over the fading storm beyond the shelter, but his eyes widen. Maybe he watched my lips. “I Choose you,” I say it louder and more clearly this time, leaving no room for misinterpretation. There in the tent, I realize now that happiness isn’t something everyone receives. Even back home, I probably wouldn’t have a chance like this. No one wants to marry into a family with an aggressive brother and narcissistic father. Dolan will never have to see any of that.
We can be happy together.
Dolan coughs. “Say it… again.”
I break out into a smile. “I Choose you.”
“Again, my mate.”
“I Choose you.”
“Louder.” He smiles despite the pained expression on his face.
“I Choose you!”
I can’t take it any longer. Sick or tired or not, I lunge forward and press my lips against my alien’s, claiming him as mine. His lips are dry and chilled, but this isn’t a romantic kiss. I’m claiming him as mine. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life working for something no one appreciates. As far as Shep and my father are concerned, I’m dead.
Maybe that’s for the best.
Dolan. My Chosen mate. My alien. I smile against his lips, deepening the kiss as the storm moves past us. He may be Mr. Manly Man, but this short trip has shown me he isn’t perfect. Maybe no aliens are. Maybe there’s plenty out there who have secret weaknesses. Maybe all aliens are just different versions of humans. Maybe, they’re just better at hiding their flaws.
***
The storm takes its sweet ass time moving over us, and I have to say, I’m happy when the temperatures turns warm and muggy once again. I guess no matter what, Dolan’s going to be a bit weak without heat or a sun rayer, but at least now he doesn’t look like a corpse about to be buried six feet underground. As time passes, his smiles grow wider, his touches more aggressive. And when we fall asleep, I’m shocked that I’m not worried about him. The thunder is all but gone now, and the rain has become nothing more than a drizzle. I open the shelter. It’s dark and chilly outside, and though Dolan can’t go outside himself, I went outside to take in a few deep breaths of fresh air.
I still can’t believe that cold weather weakens Sidyths so much. Or more importantly, weakens Dolan so much. I’ll remember that from now on. Despite the confidence in his steps, the smiles on his face, and the muscles in his arms, he’s not a machine. He’s a sentient being. He hurts. He can become weak.
And though he’s feeling better the following morning (thank God), his heart isn’t into hunting feichkas. He admits that the water would be too cold for him to wade in, and somehow, the waterfalls aren’t as remarkable knowing that Dolan can’t enter them with me. We pack up our shelter and decide to make our way back to the lairs. I think both of us ache for something familiar at this point. I link my arm through his at first on the way back but then decide against it, teaching him how to hold hands. It’s so middle school, but I’m still giddy beside him. I’m glad he’s okay. I’m so excited that all is well. I’m happy that nightmare of a night is over.
“Remind me never to let you travel again,” I say brightly.
“You worry too much, my Chosen.” His voice is rumbling, soft, and completely back to normal.
My mind wanders to the intimate moments we shared. Now that he is well and we’re heading back to the lairs as Chosen mates, what happens next? Do I move into Dolan’s private lair? Do we have sex? I blush at this. Do aliens get married? I sure as shit don’t remember a ceremony, but maybe it’s something private that can’t be shared unless the pair experiences it. I’m girlish and giggling all the way back to the shelters.
There’s so much newness right now. So many things I don’t understand, but Dolan’s already promised to share more about himself. I kiss his arm as we cross over the first triss and the lairs come into view.
Someone emerges from the shadows of the lair opening. It’s a bigger body, so I assume it’s a Sidyth. I grip Dolan tightly, worried that we’re in trouble for some reason and narrow my eyes into the distance, trying to put a name with the hulking body. A flash of red catches my attention.
“Is that…”
Dolan frowns. “Azan. I wonder what he wants.”
The massive Sidyth runs up to us, panting hard, and York’s right on his tail with a shockingly fast waddle. I can’t for the life of me figure out what’s upset them so much, but when Azan looks down at his brother, he doesn’t look amused.
“The weather patterns,” Azan grunts. “They changed.”
“They did,” Dolan says.
“Why did you not return?”
“How could I?” Dolan bristles under his brother’s harsh tone, and I’m more shocked when he acts like a child needing to be reprimanded. “The weather changed. It would have been more dangerous if we returned—”
“You should have tried,” York says. “Azan was so worried about you.”
I can’t help frowning. “I’m fine, too,” I say sarcastically. “Thanks for asking.”
York presses her lips together. I can tell she’s upset, but if anyone knows what it’s like to have an unpredictable Sidyth for a mate, I thought she would. But she’s only staring at Dolan. “Layla, you know what I mean. You can handle the weather—”
“I know,” I snap. “Everything was fine. For both of us.”
Azan hisses. “I’m assuming you took care of him during his time of weakness?”
“Azan,” Dolan hisses.
“What? Am I to pretend that you are all right in the cold and rain? Am I supposed to not speak of how you grow weak in certain weather conditions?”
“Dolan’s fine,” I scream, unsure what the big deal is. “Everyone’s fine. What’s the big deal?”
“The big deal is that you are not an acceptable mate for my brother,” Azan rumbles.
My face feels like it's been set on fire. “W-what?”
“Azan, don’t,” York whispers, bringing her attention to me. “We’re just glad you’re okay.”
“Really?” I sneer. “Because it sounds like no one was worried about me.”
“I was worried about you,” a new voice enters the conversation. Thankfully, it brings Azan’s growing anger to a standstill, but the person joining is the last person I expected.
Dolan hisses at the newcomer. “Layla has Chosen me for her mate. None of this conversation concerns you.”
“Sloane was worried. And therefore, so was I.”
“Don’t bother,” Dolan hisses again, dropping his voice to a lethal tone. I’ve never seen him act this pompous before, but he’s puffing out his chest and hissing as Exer remains. The moody Sidyth tries to look me over, but Dolan isn’t giving him a chance.
“Seriously, Dolan,” I grumble, embarrassed by his behavior.
“You are my Chosen. You have no reason to speak to Exer,” he hisses back.
This shocks me. I don’t like his tone. Being mates or whatever doesn’t mean the only male I’ll ever speak to is him or his mated brother, especially considering that he doesn’t think I’m a suitable mate. I don’t have scales, but if I did, I’m sure they’d rise with annoyance.
“If Sloane were here, I’m sure she’d look her over herself,” Exer explains. “But she is with Blythe at the moment. I am only here in case Dolan decides to take you on another trip.”
This time Azan hisses. “My brother is not irresponsible like that.”
Exer doesn’t answer, trying to move closer, but Dolan won’t let him through. My temperature rises.
“Get out of the way, Dolan,” I say, trying to shove the massive Sidyth aside. Dolan doesn’t budge. He’s o
nly watching Exer, who’s nostrils flare while inhaling deeply. Dolan reaches out and pushes his shoulder.
“You will not take in her scent like that.”
“Dolan, seriously?” I’m completely shocked. Finally, I manage to move away from him and stare up at Exer. “You see? I’m perfectly fine—”
“Send the bloody-haired one if she is so worried about my Chosen.” Dolan steps in front of me again, blocking Exer from my sight. I hate it. I’m hidden behind his bulk and getting more and more upset with Dolan’s behavior. Other Sidyths and some of the other girls are out of the cave now too, probably making sure they don’t miss a show. Without a TV, I guess Dolan’s drama is their best bet.
“Dolan…” I’m still grumbling, and luckily, York rushes up to my side and seizes my elbow. I’m annoyed when Dolan doesn’t try to stop her.
“Just, let him go. He’s only possessive because he’s excited.”
“I don’t give a shit about whether he’s excited or not,” I snarl. “He’s acting like a douche.”
And he is.
Back at the waterfalls, Dolan was patient and kind. He had so many opportunities to take advantage, but he never did. I thought he was changing after our time stuck in the shelter together. But back at the lairs, Dolan is still the same fucking Dolan. Annoying. Arrogant. A moving wall of testosterone. I try putting my hand on his arm to calm him down, but he only swats it away. Like I’m a gnat.
I’m sure Dolan thinks he’s doing the right thing protecting me like this. After all, it was only a few days ago that I would have done anything for Exer’s attention. But I’m no longer as interested in him. He’s human-like, yes, but he’s not special. Not anymore. He’s only here to check on me because he knows how much Sloane will worry. And poor Sloane, she’s so lovely that she’s probably putting up with Blythe because no one else will.