Page 11 of My New and Improved Alien Lovers

“Her chest is abnormal, no?”

“It is not, your excellence. This is her natural state.” He nods, then leans in to sniff her. “You have not exchanged much with her yet, why? Does she not meet our standards? Is she unwilling?”

“No, your excellency. We gathered her right before we were set to come back here, so we simply need a little more time.”

“I'll expect a report in one week.”

He dismisses us, returning to his throne and calling for his aid to bring his next meeting in.

I don't say anything as I rush us all to our quarters, waiting to be in the sanctity of our own home before we discuss anything else.

I believe Margaret understands my thoughts, or is picking up on my desires, because she is quiet as well as we walk. But that's not right. Why should she walk when I am here?

I sweep her into my arms against her protesting, reveling in the way her weight feels resting in my arms.

“What are you doing?” she asks, clearly uncomfortable. She's squirming, trying to get me to put her down, but that's not going to happen.

“Taking care of my mate,” I explain as I lick a stripe down her neck.

“Are you going to tell me what happened in there?”

Speaking of that, I make a harsh right turn and bring Margaret to the healer’s office so she can get her translation chip.

“He will not speak English, but that was the last time you will be in a room where you do not understand what is being said. Especially when it's concerning you. Will you accept a translation chip now? It's a little pinch in the back of your neck, and we have numbing spray.”

She nods and I tug her inside, getting it all over and done with very quickly.

“That is the healer,” I explain as we leave. “That is where you go if you need medicine or have health questions or anything ofthat nature. There is almost always availability to be seen if it's necessary.”

“How does your money system work here?”

“You will have access to our credits to purchase anything you need. We will get a wristband delivered that lets you do anything like that. Now, let's get home and have a meal together, and then you will sleep, because you look like you're about to pass out.”

Margaret

Dreamless sleep is not something I often can brag about having, but when I start stirring, it feels like I've been sleeping longer than normal. Wherever I am, it's the ideal temperature and the ideal softness and it smells absolutely delicious. What is it with me and smells lately?

I roll over to stretch, only to be met with a shirtless Owiin next to me. He startles me, because he's so quiet and still I had no idea he was there. “Uhh, hi?”

“You're very cute right when you wake up. Did you have restful sleep?”

I look around for any indication of what time it is or how much time has passed, but all around me the walls are just a calmingshade of grey. No clocks or anything. “I did; how long did I sleep for?”

“Something you should know about our life here, is that we don't operate on time the same way you do on earth. We keep hours for general purposes by bells, but here, we sleep when we need to, eat when we're hungry. There is no overall schedule to adhere to, everything is based on the individual's needs. So time doesn't necessarily matter, we have nowhere to be except together.”

“Wow, that's…cute. What about jobs? Do you guys not believe in those?”

“We spend our youth working hard to save up credits. This way, when it's time for us to try and find our mate, we get to take a lot of time off to spend with her to cement the bond. It is very important that we do so. The only way for things to progress is if we sequester ourselves properly.”

“And by sequester, you mean...”

“We are essentially locking ourselves in for a while. Don't worry, you can get out and exercise as needed, and there's a private path out back. But this space transforms into whatever we need it to be. We will not get bored in here.”

This is a lot to process when I just woke up. “I don't suppose aliens drink coffee?”

“Come with me,” he smirks as he pulls me from bed. I'm once again in just a long t-shirt, desperate for a shower. Right after I get some coffee. “This is our earth machine.” He walks to a giant silver contraption in the kitchen. “It’s designed to help your transition be easier. This can produce many of the common things found on earth for you to eat, and will you get used to our diet here. And yes, coffee is one of those things. We’re more of an herbal tea kind of species, but we know how important this is to you and your culture.”

He brews me up a fragrant dark cup topped with just a little bit of sweetened cream like I like, and it's not until I've had a couple sips that I feel like I can actually get my bearing. “Where are the others?”

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