Page 29 of Love Galaxy

“I still thought I was doing the right thing right up until the media found a whole lot of donations to the party hadn’t been properly declared, and everyone blamed me for the error. Sure, it was part of my job to update the database, but I can’t declare what nobody tells me about.

“Anyway, I got fired and my reputation was shot. And the guy who was actually the dickhead got away with breaking the law.” She rakes her fingers through her tangled hairs. “Sorry, ignore me. It’s been a long time since I’ve had someone I can talk to about this stuff, but it's not your job to listen to my whining.”

“I could no more ignore you than I could ignore myself.” I want to ask about her parents. I want to ask what a cock on a head is. I want to ask about every aspect of her life back on her home planet.

“You’re literally stuck with me sitting on your lap. I get it.”

“I did not mean—” I think she did not understand me, and I want there to be no misunderstandings between us. I want her to know how serious I am when it comes to convincing her to stay with me. “Briar, I wish to know everything about you.” I choose my words carefully, planning them before I speak. “I do not listen to you because it is my job but because it is my joy.”

“Oh.” Her eyes widen. “You’re not a big talker, but when you do speak, wow do you say the right thing.”

“I do?”

“Yeah. Absolutely.” And she presses her lips to my cheek.

Chapter Sixteen

Briar

It feels like the most natural thing in the world to kiss Sorin. It’s just a quick kiss. Light. Barely touching my lips to his scales. Something to distract us both from the heartbreak of our conversation.

And it’s a strategy that probably would’ve worked, were Sorin a Human man. But Sorin is Sorin, and his whole body stiffens. I swear I actually see the moment when his green scales transition into being blue, while his gaze is locked on my lips, unblinking.

I’m blushing too, my face hot, and I’m suddenly hyperaware of all the parts of his body that are touching mine. His shoulders where my arm lays. His chest against which my side is pressed. His thighs, twice as thick as mine, under my ass.

“What was that?” he asks, his voice hoarse.

“Just a kiss.” I flutter my eyelashes, trying to keep the flirty vibe alive. But I’m long out of practice, and he’s too busy staring at my mouth to notice.

“K-iss,” he repeats, as if practicing a new word. “Kiss.”

“I guess it must be a Human thing.” I attempt a shrug. “It’s what… ”friends dois how I’d been going to finish that sentence, but the words shrivel up and die under the intensity of his serious expression.

“It is what Mates do.” Although not framed as a question, it’s clear that’s what he’s asking.

“Mates? Oh, right. You mean married couples.” My heart’s racing. My hands are sweaty. If I’d thought the cart had felt small earlier, it’s nothing compared to how cramped I’m suddenly feeling. There’s not even a redsmash glass in case of emergencysign. No exit from the cart; no exit from this conversation. “Yeah, it’s something Mates like to do. It’s also what people do when they’re deciding if they’d like to mate a particular person or not.” I hurry on. “Or sometimes kissing is for fun, when two people aren’t serious but enjoy spending time together.”

“Akh.” He clamps his mouth shut, like he’s seriously considering what I’ve said.

I’mseriously considering what I said. If I’d had more time to practice, if I’d rehearsed, I could have done a much better job of explaining.

Are Humans really the only species to kiss? Did I freak Sorin out by touching him with my lips? Maybe for him that’s a giant taboo. Maybe I’ve thrown him insults after injury without even realizing.

“Why did you kiss me?” he asks, breaking the very awkward silence and my downward spiral into overthinking. “Because we are Mates? Because you are thinking about being my Mate? Or for fun?”

The way he saysfor funmakes it very clear he’s not having any fun at all.

“Umm… ” Why the fuck did I only give him three explanations?! There are so many more things a kiss could mean.

Possibly: I felt like it.

Like: Thanks for looking after me.

Or: You’re so adorable when you blush.

Even: I’ve been kidnapped by aliens and dumped on this planet in the middle of God-only-knows where. I’m feeling lost and confused and overwhelmed. I don’t have a good plan for escaping yet, and I’ve been separated from the only other Humans in outer space, AND I felt like it, AND you’re adorably hot, AND thank you for looking after me.

Instead of answering him, I take the coward’s way out and kiss him again. This time on the lips. Yes, I know I’m potentially making this entire situation a hundred times worse, but maybe this second kiss will wordlessly make it clear to him (and to me) what the first kiss meant. Maybe the first kiss got a tiny bit lost in translation.

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