Page 35 of Grumpy Alien Billionaire

"I need you to do some recon. Bob's been sniffing around the homeless shelters. Find out why."

"You want me to play homeless?" Gordo's nose wrinkles. "I'll need hazard pay."

"Done. Just get in there and figure out what he's up to."

"Fine. But you owe me a case of Fratvoyan ale for this one."

I end the call and turn back to the monitors. What are you planning, Bob? The homeless population would make perfect cover for infiltrating Grolgath agents. Nobody looks too closely at the people society tries to ignore.

I pull out my compad. The screen lights up, and I tap out a quick message to Tyler.

How’s the puppy settling in?

The reply comes almost instantly.He’s great! Cindy’s obsessed with him too. She’s been carrying him around like a baby all afternoon.

I smirk, imagining the scene. Chop Suey probably looks like a tiny, wrinkled dictator holding court over Tyler and Cindy.

Good to hear. Sounds like he’s already running the place.

Her next message makes me pause.It’s been a while since I spent the night, though.

I raise an eyebrow, my scales shifting slightly as I grin. Subtle, Tyler. Very subtle.

I’ve got meetings until late, but I’ll send a car for you after 9. Be ready.

The response is immediate, and it’s not a text. My compad buzzes, and I open the attachment. It’s a photo—Tyler, naked, her skin glowing in the soft light of her bedroom. She’s lying on her side, one hand resting on her hip, the other holding the phone. Her lips are parted, her eyes half-lidded, and the look she’s giving the camera is pure sin.

I feel my body react instantly, a low growl rumbling in my chest. My scales ripple, the heat of arousal spreading through me. I stare at the image, my mind already racing with all the things I’m going to do to her tonight.

You’re playing a dangerous game, little human,I type, my fingers moving quickly.I hope you’re ready for the consequences.

Her reply is teasing.I’m counting on it.

I set the compad down, forcing myself to focus on the task at hand. Gordo’s report should be coming in soon, and I need to be ready to move the moment it does. But my mind keeps drifting back to Tyler, to the way she looked in that photo, to the way she’s going to look when I have her in my bed tonight.

Soon, I’ll make all of her dreams come true. And mine, too.

As long as the Grolgath don’t kill us first.

CHAPTER 17

TYLER

The pug puppy, Chop Suey, flops onto his side on the living room rug, his little belly rising and falling in a contented rhythm. Cindy scoops him up with a laugh, cradling him like a baby.

“Look at you, you little menace,” she coos, scratching behind his floppy ears. “Three hours of chaos and now you’re out cold. You’re lucky you’re this cute.”

“You’re really taking him to bed with you?” I grin, leaning against the arm of the couch. “He’s supposed to be my dog, you know.”

Cindy shoots me a playful glare. “Oh, please. You’re ditching him tonight to go play space princess with your alien boyfriend. Someone’s gotta keep him company.”

“Space princess?” I snort, even as my cheeks heat up. “That’s not a thing.”

“It is now.” She adjusts Chop Suey in her arms, his tiny tongue lolling out in his sleep. “Besides, you’ve got that glow. You know, the ‘I’m getting laid by a literal alien who looks like a billionaire supermodel’ glow. I’m just saying, if I were you, I wouldn’t be hanging around here either.”

I roll my eyes but can’t fight the smile tugging at my lips. “You’re insufferable.”

“And you’re adorable.” She heads toward her room, calling over her shoulder, “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do. Wait, no—doeverythingI wouldn’t do. Have fun, space princess.”

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