Page 32 of The Alien Who Saved Christmas
Her brain started catching up with her euphoric emotions. “You want to move into my apartment?”
“Yes, I will acclimate easily. Earth can’t be so very different from other planets.”
Sadie winced, picturing the marriage license guy’s reaction to a green, four-armed, horned alien showing up as a groom.
Not even Vegas would be okay with that. And the CIA would probably get all pissy.
And NASA would be calling off the hook. And then a bunch of other acronym agencies would get involved.
Sooner or later, Xane would end up in a sci-fi lab, getting dissected by government agents in white rubber suits.
“Um… I don’t know if that’s such a great plan…” She began.
“I know it is a great plan.” He interrupted, like she was about to refuse him and he wouldn’t let it happen. “I know I will stay with you forever.”
Hathgarr’s head swiveled back and forth, watching them argue.
“Yes, obviously we’ll stay together.” Sadie told Xane. “I want that, too.”
He relaxed.
“But…” Her mind raced for a way to sugarcoat human bigotry. She never wanted Xane to feel like he’d forced her to move away from Ohio or that he wasn’t perfect just the way he was. “Earthlings aren’t all that welcoming to people who look different.”
He scoffed, like it was a non-issue. “It will be fine. I excel at blending in.”
“Right.” Sadie agreed. Yeah, time for a new strategy.
“I don’t have a ranch, though.” Heck, her apartment didn’t even have a view.
She looked at Xane’s beautiful face. Now , she had a view.
“Wouldn’t you rather live on a ranch? I’d rather live on a ranch.
It would remind me of growing up on my grandpa’s farm. ”
“We will buy a farm for your ‘apartment,’ then. I deposited the two-million credits you won at the casino, using the other ship’s banking-transport module. Is that currency on Earth?”
“Your wife is rich, and she refuses to contemplate another husband, and she looks like that?” Hathgarr made a frustrated noise. “This becomes very unfair, brother.”
Sadie and Xane disregarded his grousing.
“I don’t really miss my old life very much.” Sadie assured her husband. “Don’t you think it makes the most sense for us to move to Rtaharion? It’s so much more convenient than trying to squeeze crops into my studio apartment.”
He blinked. “You wish to go to Rtaharion?”
“Excellent idea!” Hathgarr pronounced quickly and slapped Sadie on the back. If Xane hadn’t been holding her, she would have toppled right to the floor. Hathgarr didn’t notice. “You heard the princess.” He bellowed, heading for the other members of the crew. “Direct us home.”
Xane shot his brother a frustrated look and then refocused on Sadie. “You’re sure this is what you want?” He seemed reluctant to believe her change of heart. “I would not have you giving up your home world, for my sake. I do not mind living on Earth.”
Sadie really didn’t want to explain to him that humans would call in the National Guard and maybe the Ghostbusters, if he showed up in Toledo. It would dampen the mood. “I’d like to be a princess.” She reminded him instead. “And I can only be that on Rtaharion, right?”
“This is true.” He nodded thoughtfully, tension easing from his shoulders. “We must live on my planet, if the title is ‘super-important’ to you.”
“ So super-important.” She deadpanned in her gravest tone. “And I don’t have any family on Earth, but you have a brother. I’ve always wanted a brother. You can share him with me.”
“Share? You can have Hathgarr, if you want. And I have other relatives, who are even worse. Take them all.”
She snorted at his tone. “The 1 family Thanksgiving will be fun. I can already see it.”
“What is Thanksgiving?”
“A big dinner where relatives get into fights about politics.”
He nodded, like that translation made perfect sense. “A royal feast, we call it.”
“Yes. A royal feast, with midnight electronics sales and turkey. It’s my second favorite holiday, next to Christmas, even though I always have to work.” She paused. “Maybe third favorite, because I also really love New Year’s. Do aliens have New Year’s?”
Xane frowned a bit, still caught up on Thanksgiving. “We cannot have a turkey farm, like your grandsire had. I’m sorry. I remain unclear as to what they are, but I know they do not grow in Rtaharion.”
“So, we’ll plant some other kind of bird.” She stood on tiptoe to brush her lips against his. “It’ll be a challenge, no doubt. But just so you’re with me, we can do anything.”
“Always, Sadie.” His fingers tangled in her hair. “I am always with you.”
She grinned up at him. “Then take me home, husband.” She lowered her voice, so only he could hear. “Also, it’s about time you took me to bed.”
Xane groaned and swept her up into his arms. “Hathgarr, we’ll be in my cabin.”
“Mere princes-- who are not even princes-- do not get cabins.” Hathgarr protested, just to protest. “I decree it belongs to the princess now and, if she chooses, she can keep you out of it.”
“She doesn’t choose that.” Sadie breathed, leaning up to press her lips to Xane’s. “Not at all.”
Xane managed to kiss her back and still smirk at his brother. “My wife and I are on our third date. Do not bother us until we reach Rtaharion.”
“Hurry.” She whispered, nipping his lower lip, and Xane forgot all about taunting Hathgarr.
He nearly knocked men down as he carried her down the ship’s main corridor. The other Rtaharions jumped out of his way, eyes wide, as he barreled into their suite and sealed the door shut. Sadie’s joyful laughter sounded from inside the room.
For a second, no one else said a word.
Then Hathgarr grunted and looked at the other men on the bridge. “Someone tell me: What does dried fruit have to do with sex?”