Page 49 of Married to the Alien Mountain Man

“The other three brides – Cherry, Darcy, and Magnolia – they all came here before they knew we were convicts,” Oaken said.

I tried to focus on his voice, but he made it difficult, because his thumb had begun stroking slowly along the inside of my wrist, lighting up my nerves.

“This will not be the case for future brides,” he continued. “They will be told of our convictions before they arrive. Before they have the chance to meet us. Tasha believes it may be much harder to recruit future brides to the program because of this. And I will be the only male on the planet who was rejected by two human brides in a row. The warden thinks that this may further hurt my chances.”

“WHAT?”

Oaken’s white eyes shot to mine and widened. “What is it?”

“What is it?”I was breathing too hard. My heart was beating too fast.“Oaken! No one told me this!”

I squeezed his fingers tighter.

He squeezed mine back.

“I had no idea you helping me out might cause you problems down the line!”

But now that I said it out loud, I realized how stupid I’d been. I should have put those pieces together long before now. Warden Tenn was right to be concerned.

This was probably why he tried to talk Oaken out of helping me…

The warden wasn’t being an asshole. He was simply looking out for Oaken.

I almost wished Oaken had listened. Yes, he’d helped me save my ship. But he might have totally fucked his own future in return.

“You shouldn’t have volunteered,” I whispered, tipping my head down. I couldn’t bear to look at him. “You shouldn’t have married me.”

“Don’t say that,” Oaken rasped. “Please, Jaya.Please.Don’t ever say that.” His free hand went to my jaw, his fingers prodding so fucking tenderly. Finally, I raised my chin to meet his gaze. Anxiety was etched into harsh lines around his burning white eyes.

“I have no regrets,” he said.

“Well, maybe you should!”

“I’m sure,” he said gently, “that there are a great many things that I should wish I hadn’t done. Marrying you isn’t one of them.”

I sniffed hard.

“Even if it means you might not get the bride you actually want in the end?”

Something raw and painful tore through his gaze. But his voice was steady when he replied, “Even so.”

“Well, we’ll just have to make sure that doesn’t happen, then! We’re going to make you into the most irresistible potential husband ever! So we’re going to work extra hard on the husband lessons, alright? Starting right now!”

I adjusted the position of my hand, lacing my fingers with his. Oaken’s nostrils flared.

“This is a good way to hold hands,” I informed him. “Holding hands is an excellent way to provide comfort to your partner, to show affection, or just let them know you’re there for them.”

The ghost of a smile touched his lips.

“Understood, Jaya.”

He must have been really eager to practise.

Because he didn’t let go of my hand once on the long walk to the barn.

20

JAYA

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