Free Mated to the Alien King (Lords of Astria) by Juno Wells

Chapter one

    "So," Abby says looking up from her salmon with an ear-to-ear grin. "When are you going to 'settle' down?" She arches her eyebrow just like our mother.
    Laughter bursts out. I cover my mouth quickly to keep from spraying food across the table and embarrassing myself in front of the other restaurant guests. This, of course, is hilarious to her.
    "Seriously, have you been practicing that in front of a mirror?" I ask.
    "Oh you know, an innate talent to channel Mom. She asks me every week if I think you're going to find a 'nice young man' to settle down with. Preferably, you know, rich, handsome, and of course well hung."
    "Hung?" I chuckle. "I'm sure Mom says that ."
    "Oh yes, absolutely. Mom's very concerned about the manhood of your prospective man that doesn't, you know, exist."
    "I've been busy-"
    "Avoiding men," she interjects.
    "With work! And hey, it's not like you've settled down with Mr. Right."
    "Ah, but I'm the baby of the family. Privileges come with that."
    She's right. Mom and Dad dote on her. I can't deny it but I do it too. I love my little sister. Her cherubic face, infectious smile, and bright shiny green eyes fill me with warmth. She's my best friend as well as my sister.
    "Must be nice," I snort.
    "You have no idea!" she laughs. "But seriously, how is the love life?"
    "Non-existent to be honest."
    "No one? When's the last time you went on a date?"
    It makes me sad that I have to actually think about it. When was the last time I went out? Her frown deepens as I try to remember.
    "Well..."
    "Yeah. Too long if you have to think about it."
    "I've been seriously busy with work."
    "Look, I know you're like this super-genius and doing all that science-y stuff but there's more to life than trying to create the next... whatever the hell it is you work on."
    "Trans-space drives," I fill in for her.
    "Sure, whatever that is."
    "It's an engine that will allow us to travel to other planets."
    "Yeah, super genius techno-babble. So anyway my dear Star Trekker you still need to, you know, get a man. One here on Earth preferably. One who you can-"
    She fills out the sentence by holding her closed hands out in front of her and moving them and the lower half of her body below the table in a circle. She looks ridiculous so I laugh then she's laughing too.
    "Finish your fish," I order.
    "Yes Ma'am," she says with a mock salute.
    We laugh our way through the meal but now I'm thinking about things I don't have time for. It'd be nice to have someone to come home to but I want someone who can keep up with me. Someone smart, driven, successful. Is that too much to ask? Good looking is nice but I want a man who's my intellectual equal too. Who won't get lost when I start talking shop. That's been the downfall of my dating. Every date I've had, their eyes glaze over as soon as I start talking.
    "Let's get out of here," I say pushing my plate away.
    "Sure, want to catch a show?"
    "I've got an early day tomorrow."
    "Okay but I'm telling you there's this all male revue at this small bar downtown..."
    "Tempting."
    "Surely you can splurge for one night?"
    "Screw it, sure, let's go."
    I don't know why I let her talk me into things like this. It's either such a habit or she has some magic power that I don't even resist anymore. She asks and I just go along.
    The streets are wet from recent rain and empty. Really empty. The cab drops us off in front of a battered green door with a single bulb hanging over it which is flickering.
    "This isn't a very nice area," I say as we climb out of the cab. It pulls away, my gut tightens, and a cold chill runs down my spine.
    Abby pulls her phone out and looks from the screen to the numbers over the door. "This is the right place." 
    A bottle rattles along the pavement to my left. I turn with a start and see two shadowy figures. I grab Abby by the arm and push her towards the door.
    "Let's get inside, now," I order.
    I don't look at her or the door as I push her keeping my eyes on the two men