Free Victoria and the Alien Doctor (Intergalactic Brides 2) by Jessica Coulter Smith Page B

you didn’t look around the curtain that day. Just your presence was enough to arouse me. But then, I’m aroused every time I’m near you. Leather pants just make it a little easier to hide than not wearing pants at all.”
    Victoria laughed. “You don’t have to hide your desire for me, and I promise I won’t hide mine for you. I want us to have an open relationship, not open in the sense we see other people, but I want us to be able to talk to each other about anything. Don’t hide your feelings for me, even if you think it will embarrass me or overwhelm me. I want to know what you’re thinking and how you’re feeling.”
    “I want the same thing, but you’ve seemed so reserved. I was worried I would push too hard and ask for too much from you. Trust is important to me, and I wanted you to trust me.”
    She placed her hand on his arm. “I do trust you, Xonos. I have from the very first, I think.”
    “Let’s get you cleaned up and then we’ll go back to bed. It won’t be long before the sun rises, and our daughter seems to wake up early.”
    She smiled wistfully. “You really think of her as your daughter?”
    Xonos wrapped his arms around her and drew her close. “I think of both of you as mine. We may not have known one another very long, but I’ve come to appreciate the strength and courage in both of you. Even when Evie has to be in a great deal of pain, she suffers in silence so she won’t upset anyone. She has the spirit of a warrior, and I’m very proud to call her my daughter. We will cure her, Victoria. I won’t settle for anything less than a full recovery. Syl has the best scientist in all of the galaxies coming to help.”
    “What will life be like for us on your world? Evie will be the only human child. I don’t want the others to look down on her.”
    “A Terran would never make her feel like less because she’s fully human. Just because they didn’t want to become her father doesn’t mean they don’t care what happens to her. But you may not have to worry about it.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I’m going to ask the council if I can remain here and staff the clinic full time on a permanent basis. After seeing the things Syl has been able to give his mate, I want to do the same for you. On Terran, I’m not wealthy like I am here. Warriors are paid more than doctors and scientists, even though we’re the ones keeping them alive so they can fight.”
    “Xonos, I don’t need fancy things or lots of money. I can’t miss what I’ve never had.”
    “But I want to give those things to you. You’ve lived such a hard life, Victoria. Let me spoil Evie and you for as long as I can. If I remain here, the council may cut my earnings.”
    “You said you cashed out several hundred thousand. If we don’t go on wild spending sprees all the time, that money can last for years, Xonos.”
    “I want to buy you a house like Syl bought for his mate.”
    Victoria shook her head. “I don’t need anything that big. I’d hate to clean it.”
    “We’ll discuss it later.” He swung her up into his arms. “For now, we’re going to get you cleaned up and tucked back into bed.”
    Victoria sighed in contentment. She loved that he wanted to give her things, but it wasn’t necessary. A small home in a nice neighborhood would be more than sufficient. She thought about the life that could very well have been created just moments ago and amended that to a medium sized house.
    Regardless of the money, the one thing she’d learned tonight is that she wanted Xonos in her life always. She’d felt close to him before, but now she couldn’t imagine going back to her lonely existence. He was kind, caring, and made her tingle in all the right places. She’d be a fool not to fall in love with him, and if she wasn’t mistaken, she was already halfway there.

Chapter Eight
     
    Xonos came awake suddenly, feeling as if he were being watched. Bolting upright in bed, he came nose to nose with Evie, who