Page 5 of Lorrd: Intergalactic Dating Agency (Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides Book 8)

The Vaxxlian warrior named Lorrd was huge. He was so tall, he’d had to duck when he entered the bakery, and his head nearly touched the ceiling. He was also exceedingly muscular. Tight black pants and an equally snug shirt clung to his massive frame, emphasizing his brawn.

What if he wasn’t a good man?

What if the commercial was wrong?

Blaire and Harlow might be happy with their mates, but there was no guarantee that all Vaxxlian males were sweet, honorable, and protective.

The firm command Lorrd had issued moments earlier echoed in Wren’s mind. Pack your things if you haven’t already. All three of you. I’d like to leave for New Vaxx immediately.

She didn’t understand. Did he really intend to bring Emmy and Myles with him? Why? Was it because he assumed they were her friends or family?

She hadn’t provided those kinds of details in her VAMOB application—only her name, age, location, and a list of hobbies.

He didn’t know she was on the run from Harmony guards.

He didn’t know she’d recently escaped a cult.

And he certainly didn’t know she was desperate not to be dragged back to that horrible compound.

She cleared her throat and tried to summon the courage to speak.

“I am pleased to meet you as well, Lorrd,” she said, though her voice quavered more than she would have liked. “But, um, what do you mean?” She glanced at Emmy and Myles, both of whom looked equally shocked. “Are you truly offering to bring all three of us back to New Vaxx?”

Lorrd glanced over his shoulder at the door, then fixed an unnervingly direct look upon her. A stern look. She fought the urge to cower.

“Yes, I am offering to bring all three of you to New Vaxx.” His voice held a note of impatience that further rattled her, and she began to seriously worry she’d made a terrible mistake.

Was it too late to back out of the Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides program?

If she announced she’d changed her mind—if she said she no longer wanted to become his mate—would he still force her to leave?

Would he kidnap her and take her to his alien planet?

Lorrd glanced at Myles and Emmy. “I am Lorrd, and I am pleased to meet the two of you as well,” he said, even though they obviously already knew his name. But proper introductions hadn’t been made yet, not really, and Lorrd peered at the elderly couple with a questioning look.

“Hello there, Lorrd,” Myles said with a huge grin. “We’re delighted to have you visit our little corner of Earth. I’m Myles, and this is my wife, Emmy.”

Emmy smiled, waved, and muttered a greeting that Wren didn’t quite catch because her pulse was suddenly pounding in her ears.

Perhaps it was because she felt a tad embarrassed that she’d spoken very little thus far, and she’d also failed to introduce Lorrd to her new friends.

She hoped he would overlook her temporary lapse in manners.

“It’s very kind of you to offer to bring us to New Vaxx, young man,” Emmy said. “Why, I must admit, my husband Myles and I weren’t expecting to receive such a generous offer.”

“I cannot leave my mate’s grandparents in a dangerous situation on Earth.

In addition to the encroaching conflict from the nearby towns, there’s that group of armed human males across the street who seem to pose a threat.

” Lorrd frowned at the old-fashioned shotgun in Myles’s hands.

“I mean no offense, but I don’t believe you’d be able to defend yourselves against either of those dangers. ”

“Grandparents?” Emmy chuckled. “Myles and I were never blessed with children or grandchildren—not that we wouldn’t be happy to claim Wren as ours.

We just like to help runaways from Harmony out whenever we can.

Well, maybe runaways isn’t the right word.

Hm. Escapees? Yes, escapees sounds a lot better. ”

The tips of Wren’s ears burned. Why was she letting Emmy do most of the talking? She felt like a fool for having said only a few words to Lorrd so far. Never mind that she was still worried she’d made a mistake by signing up for VAMOB. Never mind that she was still having second thoughts.

“Forgive me for the error. I assumed you were Wren’s grandparents,” Lorrd said, a touch of confusion in his voice. He squinted slightly and peered from Wren to Emmy and Myles, then back again, as if just realizing she didn’t resemble them in the slightest.

Wren flushed when he stared at her unblinkingly, his glowing green eyes so alien… yet so beautiful.

“What is Harmony? Lorrd asked suddenly. “Is it one of the towns currently under attack by the rebels? What about the identity of the armed males across the street? I would like answers.”

Wren cringed inwardly. Did they really have to do this now? Must she admit to her Vaxxlian mate, only minutes after meeting him, that she had recently run away from a repressive cult?

It wasn’t her fault, she reminded herself. Her parents had forced her to move to Harmony when she was a child. She’d had no choice in the matter.

But even though she wasn’t yet sure she wanted to go through with becoming Lorrd’s mate, she still hesitated to unload her entire dark backstory on him during the first few minutes of their acquaintance.

She had hoped to make a good first impression on the alien male that the VAMOB program had matched her with.

Emmy drew in a long breath, clearly preparing to answer Lorrd’s questions, but Wren decided it might be best if she spoke instead. She stepped forward, just one small step, and immediately felt the waves of heat radiating from the huge otherworldly male.

Her neck strained as she looked up at him, but she didn’t back away. If anything, she wanted to move even closer, though she didn’t quite dare.

She forced herself to hold his gaze, which wasn’t easy because his stare was intense, and he rarely blinked.

“Harmony is a town, in a way,” she replied slowly, trying to formulate the best response.

Did Vaxxlians have cults? She didn’t know, and she worried he might not understand.

“Harmony is a private, well-guarded compound that holds about five thousand residents, and everyone follows a man who’s declared himself the leader of the compound.

I don’t know his real name, but he calls himself the Prophet, and in Harmony, his word is law.

The Prophet isn’t a kind man, he rules with fear, and Harmony is a repressive place.

Most residents of Harmony aren’t allowed to leave or interact with the outside world in any way.

I wasn’t happy there. I wasn’t free. So, six days ago, I ran away.

Then I found myself stranded in Hillsboro, but thankfully, Emmy and Myles offered to help me. ”

“So, your real family—your biological family, I mean—they still live in Harmony?” Lorrd asked. He didn’t appear pleased, and she prayed he didn’t think she was an awful person because she’d run away from her family.

“Yes, my parents and brother still live in Harmony. They adore the Prophet, and I doubt they’ll ever want to leave.

Those men across the street… they are guards from Harmony, and my brother is one of them.

Somehow, they know I’m in the bakery, and they’ve been trying to get in.

The sheriff of Hillsboro has sent officers to chase them away a few times, but they just keep coming back. ”

“I see,” Lorrd said, and a pleased look entered his eyes. “You need protection. That is why you signed up for Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides.”

Wren didn’t understand why he seemed so gratified by her explanation.

She was basically using him for survival.

She hadn’t signed up for VAMOB just because she longed for a mate and wanted to start a family on a beautiful, newly settled planet.

She’d signed up for the bride program because it was her only option.

Yet the pleasure flaring in Lorrd’s green gaze only increased. In fact, he looked close to smiling, though his lips didn’t quite curl upward.

“I will protect you, little star.” His muscles tensed. “I will happily deal with the armed males from Harmony. I can chase them away, or I could even kill them. But I promise you this—they will never hurt you. No one will ever hurt you again. I will vanquish anyone who dares to try.”

Little star . The unexpected endearment sent warmth through her. Suddenly, Wren became breathless as she stared up at the handsome alien.

They’d known one another for just a few minutes, but it seemed he was truly eager to protect her.

So eager that he was offering to kill the Harmony guards—not that she would ever accept such an offer.

She just wanted Alec and the others to return to the compound and leave her alone.

She wanted them to forget about her entirely.

“Thank you for offering me your protection,” Wren finally said, and she couldn’t help but flush when Lorrd’s visage softened.

“Also, thank you for not judging me for running away from my family. As for the Harmony guards, I don’t want you to kill them, especially not my brother.

If we were going to stay in Hillsboro, I would probably ask you to chase them away, but it sounds like you want to depart for New Vaxx as soon as possible. My belongings are already packed.”

Lorrd reached for her hands, threading his long fingers through hers.

His touch sent a sizzle through her, and she was suddenly sweltering in her clothing.

A shaky breath escaped her as she held his gaze.

He leaned down slightly, and for a moment, she thought he meant to kiss her.

Instead, he just moved his face closer to hers, giving her a look so intense, it made her pulse flutter.

“I assume if you ran away from your family, it was because they were mistreating you. If they were forcing you to live in a repressive place like Harmony, where you weren’t happy, then that is cause enough to run away.

You are brave for having done so, little star. ” He gave her hands a gentle squeeze.

Wren struggled to formulate a response. Maybe Lorrd did have a sweeter, gentler side, just like the commercial had promised.

Sure, he was a bit rough around the edges, but the vehemence in his tone as he’d promised to protect her had made her feel…

special. Cherished, even. Though perhaps cherished was too strong a word, considering they’d only just met.

And if he called her little star again in that deep, sensual voice of his… well, she just might swoon.

Emmy cleared her throat, reminding Wren that they weren’t alone. She’d become so lost in Lorrd’s gaze, she had almost forgotten about the elderly couple standing nearby. Heat seared her cheeks.

She considered Emmy and Myles’s predicament. Did they even want to stay in Hillsboro? She supposed she’d better find out before Lorrd took her back to New Vaxx.

If the rebels set their sights on Hillsboro and her new friends got harmed, she would be heartbroken. But would they agree to abandon their beloved bakery—and Earth—forever? And even though they weren’t really her grandparents, did Lorrd’s offer to bring them along still stand?

“Thank you again for your understanding.” Wren felt a smile tugging at her lips, and hope blossomed in her heart. She still felt wary around Lorrd, but maybe once they got to know one another a little better, that nervousness would fade.

Lorrd gave her a deep, respectful nod, then he straightened and glanced at Emmy and Myles.

“Though you are not my mate’s grandparents, my offer to take you to New Vaxx still stands.

You helped my little star. You provided her with shelter, and you kept her safe from the Harmony guards.

I am indebted to you for your kindness toward my mate, and you would be welcome to live in the Vaxxlian city of Starzzia. ”

Emmy and Myles looked stunned, and neither of them spoke right away.

Eventually, Myles said, “I appreciate your offer, Lorrd, but I think my wife and I need to discuss the possibility of leaving Earth for New Vaxx in private.” He wrapped an arm around his wife and pulled her toward the staircase. “We’ll return shortly.”

Wren watched the elderly couple disappear upstairs, then she focused her attention on Lorrd. The instant their eyes met, her face flushed anew.

“You are very generous to offer my friends a ride to New Vaxx. I-I had no idea the outside world would be so dangerous. Not long after the nearby towns came under attack by the rebels who are trying to overthrow the government, Emmy found me wandering down the street, scared and lost. She recognized me as a stranger to these parts, and before I even introduced myself, she somehow knew I was from Harmony. Over the years, she’s helped other runaways from the compound.

She was the one who told me about Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides.

She showed me an advertisement—a commercial posted on the Internet—and strongly suggested I sign up for the bride program. ”

Lorrd retracted one of his hands from Wren’s, then he brought that hand to her hair, and he slowly, very gently, combed his fingers through her dark locks. At first, she froze. But after a few moments, she leaned slightly into his touch.

She could scarcely believe what was happening.

A handsome alien from a planet called New Vaxx had traveled to Earth to claim her as his mate. And he was touching her. Petting her.

She had never been touched so familiarly by a man before.

She liked it. She wanted more.

Even though she was still nervous around him, she wanted to explore the tension that was building between them.

Did he feel it too… that spark of excitement and newness?

“You are so tiny and delicate, little star, yet there’s an undeniable strength inside you.

I can sense it.” He leaned closer to her and took a deep inhale.

A pleased growl emanated from his throat, and the noise vibrated straight to the area between her thighs that was suddenly aching to be touched.

Wren appreciated his words, though she didn’t feel particularly strong at the moment. She was trembling in his arms, though she suspected that had more to do with desire than nerves.

She was still cautious of Lorrd’s size, and she hadn’t forgotten how brash he’d been earlier, but she was beginning to feel more at ease in his presence. She prayed it was a sign of good things to come.

Another distant blast sounded, and the ground shook again. Wren gasped and instinctively stepped closer to Lorrd. He took her in his arms and rubbed his hands up and down her back. His eyes glimmered with warmth. Comfort. He was trying to comfort her. Her spirits lifted at the realization.

“You’re safe with me, little star. I promised to protect you, and I always keep my word.”