by Amanda Milo
All my thoughts die. They've swooned to death. The ecstasy of that tiny gesture killed every last brain cell I had.
“Do you want to spend our nights lying together?”
By some stroke of luck, I still possess the ability to nod—so I do—emphatically.
His hot, wonderful breath heats my face with his soft snort. “Then we leave together. Dohrein will no doubt see—”
Ack! I don’t want someone scrutinizing what we have between us just yet. I want to enjoy this—this new, beautiful thing in the peaceful quiet, just like this. I never want it to end.
Hotahn must see it on my face, because his lips form a line. Not unhappy; just resolved. “Then you leave first. Act as you normally would. Obsessively check the handles—”
I do that. Faucet handles, door handles, drawer handles. I didn’t know he knew I did that.
“They will believe you are returning to your room after your normal nightly foray to empty your bladder—”
His postcoital pillow talk could improve.
“—And I’ll wait to take my leave. When he checks his recordings, he’s unlikely to notice we crossed paths in here.”
On one hand, I’d curl up anywhere—right here on this bathroom floor if it meant I could spend the night with Hotahn. But there’s a perverse sense of satisfaction in pulling off an event this monumental right under the nose of an extremely curious hob and his surveillance equipment.
Secrecy adds an illicit-feeling thrill I didn’t expect, and a sense of giddiness hits me like a teenager trying to sneak out the window to my boyfriend’s waiting car.
I never did that.
I’ve always done everything so properly. Who knew it was fun to be a little naughty?
Looking up into his beautiful eyes, I whisper, “I guess this is goodnight then.”
He kisses his goodnight rather than expressing it in a word.
And that’s just fine by me, I think as I crawl into my bed, rolling onto my back, the ache between my legs both shocking me and sending waves of satisfaction crashing through my system. The cat joins me again, and this time when she purrs, it reminds me of Hotahn, and I wrap my arms around her, and fall into the deepest, most comfortable sleep I’ve ever known.
♥
Craving Popcorn Yet? ;)
Awwww, the end of this adventure! I get all the feels writing these. Did you have fun? ♥
Dohrein and Gracie are based off of a hilarious real-life couple, proving that outrageous, generous, loyal, ‘off their trolley’ (i.e. slightly crazy) women really meet their match with cool-headed, droll academics (even if there are no super-cool wings involved).
Hotahn though, he was only supposed to be a secondary character. But he did as Rakhii tend to do, stealing a semi-willing woman and sweeping her off her feet. (Or forcing her into his mini-spaceship. Same difference!) I’m glad I could drop his bonus story in this book—he’s too fun not to share.
So, whew! What a ride. =D Thank you for reading Craved! Thank you for every time you set aside your life to leave a review! You make people take the leap and try out my stories, THANK YOU. I’ve said it before, but YOU sell my books. And every time you chat my books up at work, or in your book club, or on Facebook, and when you accost a person on the street because you see them wearing a shirt that reads “Coffee isn’t a drug: it’s a VITAMIN” … THANK YOU =D
You are THE ABSOLUTE BEST. ♥
You’ve made every book in this series a number one bestseller.
*CRASH!*
*shakily picks up self off floor*
I can’t even… just, FREAKING *HUGS*!!!!
You guys have asked if I’m going to get the series in paperback and the answer is I WILL—Naomi Lucas has even offered to help me because she’s the biggest sweetheart ever (and because she knows I should never be left unsupervised with technology).
You’ve asked if I’m going to set up a Signing event and the answer is: WHOA, WHOA HOW COOL THAT YOU ASK =O
*picks up jaw from floor*
Well… WOW I’d love to!
We’re looking into it!
Let’s see, what else… you’re wondering if you get to see the inside of a Na’rith pirate ship, aren’t you? The answer is YOU DO >:}
And you’re wondering if Crispin will get his story told with Laura: he will! ♥
And you’re STILL wondering if a certain guide dog is safe, and God love you, because you guys warm my heart and make me laugh every time I get this question!!!! XD I can confirm a happy yes!! *I wish I could add a dog paw emoji right here, but I can’t because technology limitations (which seems ironic, yeah?)*
I think that’s it for now. Oh! Yes, it’s totally true that armadillos can host a strain of leprosy. (Moral of the story: Don’t hug an armadillo today. Hug a Rakhii instead!) ]:D <—Check it out, sort of a horned Rakhii-smilie, ha!
MUCH LOVE,
Amanda
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cR_CNf
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmandaMiloAuthor/
Amanda Milo's Minions Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/325214527918396/
The *SERIOUSLY: THANKS* Page
Kind words can bring a book back to life.
Early feedback had me setting Dohrein and Gracie’s story aside until sometime last year, when author K Webster championed this couple with these words, "...you can tell Dohrein is a freak in the sheets and he's all nerdy until he turns fierce alpha. So hot. I love that hob.”
She thought Gracie and Dohrein were a riot together, and it was exactly what I needed to hear.
My confidence was further restored by each and every one of you that asked for this couple’s story in your reviews.
THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.
This book is thanks to YOU.
An extra shout out to ALL OF YOU INCREDIBLE MINIONS. You’re shinier than the contents of a Gryfala’s treasure chest!
And to author Ripley Proserpina, who is wonderfully, beautifully, generously kind. Thank you for being You.
To author duo Tiffany Roberts for tossing down everything to read a hob story. THANK YOU!
To Kelsey Nicole Price, keeper and creator of my Cyborg harem, who makes me feel like I can write anything.
To ED: You had me at Firefly. I hereby claim Z (& L!) and tell you: YOU CAN DO IT!!!! ...Because you have to. I need a hero who loves what we love!
About the Author
Amanda Milo is a collector of the randomest trivia. Did you know that Kiwi fruit plants have seperate genders? You need both to in order to make Kiwi fruits happen. Isn’t that cool??
She’s concerned about river otter bite pressure—she hasn’t had a chance to test this out, but frankly, this is the part that’s holding her back from appropriating and testing the relocation (aka wildlife theft) of a small family of adorable river otters.
...To the bathtub. (They’re basically like slick-furred rubber duckies, but with lots of teeth, right? Right.)
Extended contemplation of this plan has led to the permission to adopt more ferrets, which makes her very happy. So does her extensive, wacky-patterned, thigh-high sock collection—though ferrets, it must be noted, do not play well with pretty socks. The crazy, clawed thieves!
She invites you to hang out with her in the Amanda Milo’s Minions Facebook group. (She didn’t name the group! XD Readers have great senses of humor!)
If you haven’t been sucked into Facebook yet, she’s not quite as easy to capture—but when she has an internet connection, she’ll do her best to reply at [email protected]
CAST LIST RECAP
Dohrein: this is our alien hero. He’s sardonic, broody, scholarly. He’s gruff and comes off as being a little bit prickly at times but only because he’s socially inept and doesn’t know how to show he likes people. Other books have revealed he’s attempting to make friends despite Arokh still holding a bit of a grudge for that one time Dohrein wrapped Angie in his wings and got her all turned on.
(...And he
kissed her.)
Touch a Rakhii’s woman one time and he never forgets, sheesh!
Gracie: This is our human heroine. Gave herself the nickname ‘Bitchy’ in Stolen by an Alien. She was auctioned to the Undewater Dome, but escaped with the help of the Aneark, an amphibious alien. Gracie’s got a little bit of an abrasive, outrageous personality, but she’s fiercely loyal and shows in her own way that she cares about her friends very much. She’s on a mission to bring chocolate and coffee to the planet, and she’s letting the aliens believe their misconception that these two beans are essential minerals to the human body.
Callie (aka ‘Weepy’): This is the human woman that Gracie takes under her figurative wing. Callie’s auction buyers brutalized her. She’s rescued by her alien mate Zadeon. They have a special connection that Callie’s afraid isn’t safe to share with others just yet. At the end of Rescued by an Alien, one of their sons (Zamu) reveals he shares the same type of connection with his own (future) mate (Dohrein and Gracie’s daughter, Nisha). Callie was a professional dancer on Earth, and on this new planet, she’s finding she enjoys teaching others to dance too.
Zadeon: Callie’s Rakhii mate. He loves and is very protective of Callie. Most Rakhii are politely deferential to Gryfala and human women by obligatory manners, but not Zadeon. He’s a famous, accomplished gladiator, but his battles were hard on his body and repeated blows caused permanent damage to his ears. He’s almost entirely deaf, and he becomes frustrated when he can’t hear or lip-read what others are saying to him, or in conversation around him.
Factoid that’ll be referenced later: Zadeon occasionally lights his friends on fire when he feels they need correction. (He has some behavioral issues.) Humans realize that when hobs get burned, their skin smells like... S’mores.
Arokh: Angie’s mate and Zadeon’s brother. He was a badass gladiator, but now that he’s happily settled with Angie, he’s done competing. He and Zadeon begin a sort of pseudo-underground training ring for young hobs who want to learn the skills they need to protect their future mates.
Angie: Human woman, friend to Gracie, Callie, and Beth. A bit snarky, this one. Is racking up/gaining midwifing skills by default.
Crispin: an alien hero. He’s affable, down-to-earth, good-natured. He’s captured by alien space pirates and during his torture, his wings are destroyed. When he’s rescued by Beth’s husbands, (GOOD pirates) he’s got a human woman clinging to him. This is Laura. You’ll meet them soon. They make a great couple.
Beth: a pregnant human woman who is auctioned to the keeping of five Na’rith pirates, or as she likes to call them, ‘resale technicians.’ Angie helps deliver Beth’s human daughter. Na’rith pirates make really great dads, just like they make really fun husbands. You’ll meet them—ready for this answer?—soon. (I KNOW, I’m writing as fast as I can! XD)
Tara: Human heroine, distraught single mother separated from her children (Twins girls, Megan and Simone) when she was abducted by aliens. Her auction buyers treat her well enough but it’s all very Hashtag TranslationIssues as she tries to explain she must return to Earth.
You know how it is.
Not to worry: the Gryfala planet’s inhabitants payroll a trip to Earth to pick up the kids, who were being cared for by Tara’s sister Amy. Grake, an alien who befriended Tara, calls in a marker in order to get an intro and a good word in with Amy. They pair up. Tara pairs up with Tac’Mot the Wanbaroo alien *and* Brax the Rakhii.
(Yeah, there are some slight hiccups.)
Mandi: the youngest human heroine in the alien auction. Too young. She arrived to the Gryfala planet with a mysterious cat-like alien, but he keeps himself separated from her. You’ll meet them...
(Wait for it.)
Soon.
(Hee! ;D)
Mandi preys on Callie, who for a time, isn’t in the frame of mind to defend herself. Zadeon wants to eat her. Gracie encourages this. Callie puts a stop to it. Gracie decides enough is enough of this shite, and takes matters into her own hands.
*WHEW!!!!* I think… I think that sets you up! The very next page has links to the books that this info is referencing should you be curious. READY? I feel like you’re a player in a game. Your life meter is full, you’ve got your sketchy pixelated map: LET’S DO THIS! Tap CHAPTER 1 to BEGIN! =D
Book Linkage!
Arokh and Angie’s story: https://amzn.to/2A6sH9T
This book is also available in Audio, narrated by the talented Nick Cracknell: https://amzn.to/2uPivO5
Zadeon and Callie’s story: http://amzn.to/2EZEitg
(WARNING: This one has some Dark times. This couple’s love is beautiful though, and they get their Happily Ever After.)
Brax, Tara, and Tac’Mot’s story is here: http://amzn.to/2FeuFGl
(If you had to classify this one, it’s almost Reverse Harem. This is a MFM book, which means there are two guys and one woman but it’s not *quite* menage, because Brax is a Rakhii, and you know this means he doesn’t share his female. Slight problem: his female is bonded to Tac’Mot.)
A fun side project *Not* related to the Stolen series:
Valos of Sonhadra Series
Alluvial, Book 1: https://amzn.to/2OhfX33
Tempest, Book 2, written by Poppy Rhys: https://amzn.to/2uPfihv
Galvanizing Sol, Book 3, by Amanda Milo & Poppy Rhys: https://amzn.to/2AgxDZE
