Page 9 of Grumpy Alien Billionaire (Mates of Veritas #2)

CHAPTER 9

TYLER

I burst through the door of Doggone Elegance, the bell jingling like an alarm clock I’d already snoozed five minutes too long. Cindy’s leaning against the counter, arms crossed, a smirk plastered across her face like she’s been waiting for this moment all morning.

“Well, well, look who decided to grace us with her presence,” she says, her voice dripping with mockery. “Late night, huh?”

“Shut up,” I mutter, rushing to the time clock. My fingers fumble with the card, and I jam it into the slot like it’s personally responsible for my tardiness. The machine beeps, and I’m officially late. Great.

Cindy’s already got a poodle in the tub by the time I join her, the smell of flea dip hitting me like a chemical slap to the face. She’s scrubbing away, but her eyes are on me, sharp and knowing.

“So,” she starts, her tone casual but her grin anything but. “How’d the date go?”

“Fine,” I say, grabbing a towel and avoiding her gaze. The word feels too small, too inadequate for what last night was, but I’m not about to spill my guts to Cindy of all people.

“Fine?” she repeats, raising an eyebrow. “That’s it? Just ‘fine’?”

“Yeah, fine,” I snap, my cheeks burning. I can feel her eyes on me, scanning, dissecting. Then her gaze lands on my neck, and her smirk turns into a full-blown grin.

“Oh, honey,” she says, laughing. “That’s not just a ‘fine’ kind of hickey. That’s a ‘we’re not getting out of bed until next Tuesday’ kind of hickey.”

My hand flies to my neck, and I can feel the heat of the mark even through my collar. “It’s not—I mean, it’s not what you think.”

“Uh-huh,” she says, clearly not buying it. “Sure it’s not. Here.” She tosses me a collared shirt from the lost and found bin. “Wear this. Unless you want Sandy to see it and start asking questions.”

I catch the shirt and duck into the bathroom to change. The fabric scratches against my skin, but it’s better than the alternative. When I come back out, Cindy’s still grinning, but she doesn’t say anything else. For now.

The rest of the shift drags on, every second feeling like an eternity. I can’t stop thinking about last night, about Lanz, about the way he looked at me like I was the only thing in the universe that mattered. But then there’s the hickey, the mark on my neck that feels like a neon sign flashing “BAD GIRL” for the whole world to see.

I catch my reflection in the mirror while I’m drying off a schnauzer, and for a second, I don’t recognize the girl staring back at me. She’s different, changed. And I’m not sure if I’m ready for what that means.

The clock finally hits noon, and Cindy grabs her purse, slinging it over her shoulder with a dramatic flair. “Lunch break. Let’s go before Sandy finds another dog to shove at us.”

I follow her out the door, the sun hitting my face like a warm blanket. We head to the little park across the street, where we usually eat on the bench under the oak tree. Cindy unwraps her sandwich, but I just sit there, picking at the edge of my Tupperware.

“Okay, spill,” she says, mouth half-full. “You’ve been weird all morning. And not just ‘I’m tired’ weird. More like ‘I just had my world flipped upside down’ weird.”

I sigh, staring at the grass. “I don’t know who I am anymore, Cindy. Yesterday, I was… me. Naive, boring, predictable me. And now? Everything’s different. I’m different.”

Cindy stops chewing for a second, then swallows hard. “Different how? Because you had sex? Tyler, the world didn’t change. You did. And that’s not a bad thing.”

“But what if I don’t like who I’m becoming?” I blurt out, my voice cracking. “What if I’m not the same person who loves peanut butter fudge and rainy days and curling up with a book? What if I’m just… someone else now?”

Cindy sets her sandwich down and turns to face me, her expression serious for once. “Listen to me. You’re still you. You’re still the girl who makes the best fudge in Sunny Cove and reads romance novels like they’re going out of style. Having sex didn’t erase any of that. It just… added a new chapter. That’s all.”

I blink at her, surprised by the sincerity in her voice. “You really think so?”

“I know so,” she says, grinning again. “You’re still Tyler. You’re just Tyler 2.0 now. Upgraded. With bonus features.”

I laugh despite myself, the tension in my chest easing a little. “Thanks, Cindy. I needed to hear that.”

“Anytime,” she says, picking her sandwich back up. “So, are you seeing Alonzo again?”

I nod, my cheeks heating up. “Yeah. He’s picking me up after nine.”

Cindy raises an eyebrow, her grin turning wicked. “Well, at least you’ve got the day off tomorrow. You can have a sleepover at his place. Maybe even breakfast in bed.”

I groan, shoving her lightly. “You’re impossible.”

“And you’re welcome,” she says, taking another bite of her sandwich. “Now eat your lunch before I start asking for details.”

I roll my eyes but finally open my Tupperware, the smell of leftover pasta reminding me that, yeah, I’m still me. Just… with a few new layers.

The shop is slow after lunch, and Sandy sends us home an hour early. I'm eager to catch a nap so I'm ready for my date with Lanz later tonight.

I flop onto my bed, the springs creaking under me like they’re judging my life choices. My head hits the pillow, but my brain’s still running laps, replaying last night on a loop. Lanz. And then there’s the whole alien thing. Red scales, golden eyes, the kind of strength that could probably bench press a car. But honestly? That’s not the part that’s keeping me up.

It’s the voices in my head. The ones that sound suspiciously like my parents. “Pride is a sin, Tyler. Modesty is a virtue. Good girls don’t…” Ugh. I bury my face in the pillow, trying to drown them out. But they’re persistent, like a song you can’t get out of your head.

I roll onto my back, staring at the ceiling. The fan spins lazily, and I count the rotations, hoping it’ll lull me to sleep. No such luck. My body’s still humming from last night, like I’ve been plugged into an outlet and can’t unplug. I want more. I want to explore this new side of me, the one that feels alive in a way I’ve never felt before. But every time I think about it, there’s this little voice whispering, “What would your parents think?”

I groan, throwing an arm over my eyes. “Shut up,” I mutter to no one in particular.

The silence of my room feels heavy, like it’s pressing down on me. I need to do something, anything, to quiet the noise in my head. My hand drifts to the nightstand drawer, fingers fumbling for the little silicone toy I keep tucked away. It’s not like I use it often—okay, maybe more often than I’d admit—but right now, it feels like the only way to shut off my brain.

I pull it out, the smooth surface cool against my skin. My heart’s already racing, and I haven’t even turned it on yet. I hesitate, the voices in my head getting louder. “Good girls don’t…”

“Good girls don’t what?” I snap, sitting up. “Don’t feel good? Don’t enjoy their own bodies? Screw that.”

I lock my bedroom door with a decisive click, the sound sealing me in my own little world. The soft flicker of scented candles fills the room, the scent of lavender and vanilla wrapping around me like a warm blanket. Cindy’s out, probably on some Tinder date, but I’m not taking any chances. This is my time.

I flop back onto the bed, the mattress bouncing a little as I settle in. My hand reaches for the vibrator on the nightstand, its smooth surface cool against my palm. My heart’s already racing, but it’s not just anticipation. It’s something deeper, something I’ve been trying to push down for weeks. Or maybe years. Tonight, though? Tonight, I’m done holding back.

I close my eyes and let my mind wander, and of course, it goes straight to Lanz. Not Alonzo Ramone—the billionaire facade—but Lanz. The alien with the golden eyes and scales that shimmer like liquid fire. I think about the way he looked at me last night. The memory is electric.

But then, my thoughts take a turn. I imagine him standing over me. “You’ve been naughty, Tyler,” he’d say, and just like that, I’m over his knee. The first spank is sharp, a jolt of heat that makes me gasp. The second one is harder, and I can almost feel my skin turning red under his hand. It’s not pain—it’s something else. Something that makes my whole body hum.

I press the vibrator against me, the buzz low but steady. My free hand clutches the sheets as I imagine Lanz’s voice in my ear. “You’re mine, Tyler. Say it.”

“I’m yours,” I whisper, my voice trembling. The vibrations build, and I’m right on the edge, teetering there like I’m about to fall. And then I do, the orgasm crashing over me like a wave, dragging me under and leaving me breathless.

For a moment, I just lie there, my chest rising and falling as I come back to myself. Normally, this is the part where guilt creeps in, where I start second-guessing everything. But not tonight. Tonight, I feel… good. Really good.

I yawn, my body heavy with satisfaction, and roll onto my side. The candles are still burning, their soft glow casting shadows on the walls. There are still a few hours before Lanz picks me up. A smile tugs at my lips as I close my eyes, already imagining what’s next.