Entered in the Alien Bride Lottery by Margo Collins (easy readers txt) 📕

All I wanted to do was eat in silence. But I knew my friends back home were watching, and I couldn’t bring myself to be rude to these two guys. It wasn’t like they were personally responsible for bringing me here. Not exactly, anyway.

“Your information card says that you are still a student,” the yellow guy said. What the hell was his name? If I had to go back to Khanav Prime with some guy whose name I didn’t even remember and who made me think of bananas every time I looked at him, I might just decide to space myself, instead.

“I am. I’m majoring in biochemistry.” They both stared at me blankly. “I’m studying the effects of .”

Assuming I don’t end up trapped in a forced marriage to an alien.

“I am a guardsman at the Prince’s Residence on the southern continent,” Banana-Man said.

Oh, thank heavens. Apparently, he was one of those guys who asked a question only so he could answer it himself. That could be useful. If I could get him talking about himself, maybe I wouldn’t have to say anything at all.

“I’m wondering,” Cav said, tilting his head to address Banana-Man, “how often has the prince been in residence in, say, the last five years or so?”

Banana-Man whipped his head around to glare at Cav.

Interesting response. I didn’t know what kind of significance the question might have. After all, I hadn’t ever really anticipated being here. I knew some girls studied Khanavai culture as if their lives depended on it. But those were the ones who generally volunteered for the Bride Games. All I wanted to do was go home.

“His Royal Highness may not have been in residence often, but we are expected to keep his home in perfect order for when he does arrive.” Banana-Man’s tone had turned haughty, as if he were offended.

Ooh. This could be interesting.

I took a bite of my food and settled in to enjoy the show. I almost wished I had popcorn. Someone needed to introduce the Khanavai to that tradition. I might not know a lot about Khanavai culture, but I had watched enough of the games on television in previous years to know that there was some kind of verbal sparring going on.

I wished I had Vos Klavoii’s commentary running over everything that was happening.

Yep. I definitely liked watching the Bride Games more than I like participating in them.

“Oh, I’m certain of it,” Cav said. “Just as those of us on patrol have to keep our ships ready to fight the Alveron Horde at any moment.”

Oh. I got it. Cav was a soldier and Banana-Man wasn’t. I had forgotten how much that meant to these warriors.

Okay. Maybe I could play this game, after all.

I picked up a long strand of some Khanavai pasta-like thing that was slightly sweet and a little sour, took a bite, chewed and swallowed, and then leaned forward. “Tell me, Cav, as a military man, are you away on missions quite a lot?”

The corner of his lips tilted upward, revealing a dimple in my blue suitor’s cheek. “That is often the case, yes. Of course, Command Central prefers for mated warriors to spend more time on the home front.”

“Really? I didn’t know your commanders cared so much for your happiness.”

“It’s less about our happiness than about Khanavai survival. That’s the whole reason for the Bride Games,” Cav replied. “Our job is to repopulate our planet. They certainly wouldn’t want to send me on too many missions until I had plenty of time to make sure I helped with that.” He leaned toward me, that sexy grin and the heat in his eyes matching up with his emphasis on the word help in a way that left me in no doubt of what he meant.

Heat flashed through my belly, and my nipples tightened at the thought of spending time with Cav, doing nothing but having tons of sex.

Dammit, Natalie. You are here to lose, not to get laid.

How many times was I going to have to remind myself of that?

Banana-Man jumped in. “Of course, as a guardsman, I would always be home.”

I didn’t even bother to glance at him. Cav’s gaze held me entranced.

“And there are some officers who are granted special permission to bring their mates aboard with them,” he said, his tongue darting out to lick his bottom lip. “So as to ensure plenty of mating time.”

My gaze kept dropping from his eyes to his mouth. Suddenly, I couldn’t quit thinking about that kiss in the hallway.

He was gorgeous, and he was teasing me. And damned if my body wasn’t responding — more than I ever wanted it to. If I had been here to actually find a mate, I could have fallen into that stare of his forever.

Instead, I dragged my attention away from him by sheer force of will.

“Tell me,” I said to Banana-Man, “what is a typical day at the Prince’s Residence like?” Not that I cared, but I needed to find a way to block my body’s reaction to Cav. Besides, as long as Banana-Man was talking, I didn’t have to. All I had to do was make encouraging noises periodically while I shoveled food into my mouth. I didn’t even taste it. For that matter, I didn’t hear anything that Banana-Man said.

Because although I could pretend to be fascinated by Banana-Man, my entire attention was riveted on Cav. Just a few feet away from me, Cav reflected every bit of my physical right back at me, like a furnace burning hot enough to make me break out in a sweat.

Yes, he was sexually attractive. Fine. I could admit that. But it wasn’t enough. I had a degree or three to finish—and for that matter, dates to finish with David.

I murmured something noncommittal to Banana-Man’s long-winded description of the exact times and routes he took around the palace when he did his guard duty.

This man would be mind-bogglingly dull on any planet.

I glanced up and saw Cav watching me