Kyro: A Sci-fi Alien Abduction Romance (Captured by Aliens Book 5) by A.G. Wilde (best summer books .txt) 📕

Evren noted immediately how relaxed and happy the other woman looked. “Sorry to pop by so suddenly. I was just heading out to the market to do some shopping. Wondered if you want to come with?”

The market.

The last time she went there she’d been accosted. But, on the plus side, she’d gotten free fabric and maybe a new friend? She wasn’t sure where to place the merchant called M’Agunt.

Athena must have noticed her hesitation because, with one jerk of her blonde head, she motioned to the street below.

“Don’t worry, Xul will be coming along. He’ll be keeping a low profile behind us, but he’ll be there to carry our bags—or baskets.” She grinned again.

Sure enough, down in the street below was the large alien, his horns piercing the air. Xul was looking right at them and as Evren met his gaze, he jerked his head in greeting.

“Ohh, okay. Sure.”

Why not? Maybe it would take her mind off things, give her something to think about apart from the memory of Kyro’s lips. “Let me just grab my basket.”

In a few minutes, they were down on the street heading toward the market. As she walked side by side with Athena, Xul did indeed keep his distance behind them. But she noticed that whenever she turned around, his gaze was purely focused on his woman.

It must be nice.

The jealous thought came out of nowhere and shocked her.

What the hell was wrong with her? It wasn’t Athena’s fault she felt so unsatisfied.

As she looked at Athena now, happily babbling away about things she’d seen or beings she’d met, she couldn’t help but feel a little embarrassed and even guilty about the way she felt.

Athena seemed to be adjusting to their new life just fine. She was happy.

Glancing back at Xul, she wondered if he had anything to do with that. And, by the way he was looking at Athena, she was pretty sure he did.

Could she have anything like that with Kyro?

Was it possible?

She liked him enough. Well, actually, a lot. She liked him a lot. Much more than she was prepared to face.

“—vren?” Athena was looking across at her as they walked, having obviously asked a question that she didn’t hear. “Everything all right?”

“Y-yea, sure. Don’t mind me. You were saying something?”

“Ya, I was saying”—Athena stepped around a short alien with bright orange skin whom she was lucky to not fall over.—"I was saying that you’re a star for wearing that dress. Doesn’t it itch? I don’t know if I’m allergic to the material, but it itches like crazy!”

Evren glanced down at herself then at Athena.

She’d been in her thoughts so much she hadn’t even noticed Athena was dressed in the standard black-and-white kit.

“I couldn’t wear it,” Athena continued.

“Didn’t want to look like an itchy baked potato any longer?” Evren quipped.

Athena’s laugh had a male alien with tall antennae turning to look in the direction of the sound but his antennae visibly drooped when he spotted Xul behind them. When she glanced behind her, Xul looked so thunderous, if she didn’t know him, she’d have picked up her pace to get out of his way.

The image of Kyro with the same look on his face came into her head and made her grin. He’d done something similar when he’d threatened Shive on her behalf.

“What’s so funny?”

“Nothing.” She was sure that came out a little too rushed. “I’m just...remembering something.”

As they entered the market, Athena grabbed her by the arm and steered her forward as if she knew exactly where she was going. And when the market opened up into a large clothes shopping area, Evren understood why.

“When you said shopping...”

“Oh, I didn’t mean food shopping.” Athena grinned. “Come on! This will be fun!”

She had to admit. It had been fun.

It had even felt like normal life again—if it hadn’t been for the holographic models and the fact that some of the clothes were so different from most things on Earth.

They did manage to snag a few pieces that looked suitable for everyday wear and she had even found a summer dress made from the same material she’d gotten from M’Agunt.

As they left the market and walked the street back to her dwelling, Athena was still in high spirits.

They were just passing a set of apartments when Athena stopped abruptly.

Turning, she realized the other woman was waiting for her partner to catch up.

Laden with shopping baskets, Xul still looked as if he would easily injure any alien who dared to walk too close to Athena.

He had still been purposely walking a few feet behind them and Evren assumed it was because he was still trying to give them some privacy.

Or, possibly, he wanted Athena to have some sense of normalcy in her new life without him being her only companion.

Despite his scowl at the aliens around them, when he reached where they stood, his gaze softened as he looked at Athena.

“This is where Kyro lives right?” Athena pointed up at the building. Mention of Kyro had Evren’s gaze flying to Athena.

Had she been saying her thoughts about Kyro out loud?

Xul’s gaze moved in the direction Athena was pointing. “Yes. Why?”

“Well, you said he’s the one who’s been researching all things about Earth and I can ask him about things I might need, since he’s doing the research, right?”

Xul grunted.

Turning to face her, Athena continued. “You can go to Kyro if you need anything. Floor two apartment two.” She glanced at Xul for confirmation and the bull-like alien grunted again. “I know Kyro’s kinda strange, but he doesn’t bite.”

No, he doesn’t bite. He kisses. Soft, sweet, gentle kisses.

Evren looked up at the building and made note of it.

“Hey, Xul has this recipe he wants to do for dinner tonight. You can come and eat with us if you like.” Athena continued.

“I’d love to but maybe some other time.” Evren smiled, her gaze still on the apartment building.

Later she would pop into his place and apologize for forcing herself onto him the day before.

Despite