by Tessa Anders
“Think about it, Alex, we could live together in their realm. Maybe even be neighbors.”
Laughter bubbled up at Jessie’s innocent notions. Things were never that simple and she was a fool if she thought they would be. Had Jessie learned nothing at all from my struggles of being a single parent? And yes, technically she would be married and have help, but you couldn’t count on men. “I’ll go with you, but I’m fine right where I am.”
A mischievous grin lit her face. “Once you see them, you’ll change your mind.”
I rolled my eyes. “Did you ever think that maybe I’m happy?”
The knowing look she shot my way made me squirm a little. “Content, yes. Happy, no. There’s a difference.”
“Whatever.” I looked away, staring out the window. I was happy enough.
In her mind, Jessie believed that she could marry an alien, be treated as a queen, and never want for anything. That sounded like chasing unicorns. That kind of happily ever after didn’t exist.
Besides, it wasn’t my dream to live in a rundown apartment on the bad side of Atlanta, working long hours unpacking inventory at Dara’s dress shop to barely make ends meet. Like anyone else, I wanted a husband, a family, to live in a house with a fenced yard so our two Labradors could run loose. But that dream shattered a long time ago and I didn’t believe in fairytales anymore.
Life was hard.
There was a time when I believed in people. Believed that some girl from the poor side of town could fit in with the rich popular kids. One horrid night they turned me into the Carrie of their bonfire party except I didn’t have any cool superpowers to exact my revenge.
Mother tried to warn me but like a fool, I thought I knew everything. Three months later, everything fell apart.
But every time I looked into Maddie’s sweet dark eyes, they reminded me that something wonderful came from that hellish night.
And Mother, who I rarely talked to, didn’t want to know her granddaughter. I refused to ask her for help. Instead, I worked doubly hard and relied on friends and neighbors to help out with Maddie. I guess sometimes it really does take a village.
At least I had learned a valuable lesson. People, in general, were not to be trusted. And if it sounds too good to be true, well, go with your gut feeling. It’s the only thing that won’t lie to you.
Pulling into the unassuming parking lot, Jessie shifted into park and cut the engine. The building, ten miles outside of Atlanta city limits, looked more like a grocery store from the outside. The sign at the top wrote in elegant letters said, Drata Inc. I didn’t know what that meant. Maybe a dating agency?
Beautiful women were coming and going from a plain one-story brick building. They probably had the same idea as Jessie. Good luck to them, I thought, opening the door and stepping out, before slamming it closed. I was here for moral support only, nothing more.
“Oh my God,” Jessie squealed as she grabbed my arm, excitement bubbling out of her.
I shook her hand away. “Calm down for cripes sakes! You’re only filling out an application. Not marrying someone today.”
Jessie frowned and fisted her hips. “Gees, I know that. Can’t a girl dream a little?”
I drifted up next to Jessie, annoyed with the entire situation. Nothing ever went as easily or as smoothly as Jessie thought. She would learn.
“Come on.” I headed for the double glass doors. “Let’s get this over with. I’ve got to get home.”
Shoving open the door, all eyes turned toward the two of us when the bell clanged against the glass. “May I help you?” a pleasant woman with kind eyes and perfect teeth asked.
The woman looked to be around thirty, pretty with her porcelain skin. If being married to one of them is so great, then why is she working here and not married?
“Um, I’m here to fill out an application.” Jessie hooked her thumbs into the front pockets of her jeans and rocked back and forth with nervousness. Unusual for her.
“Of course.” Eyes turned toward me. “And you miss?”
“Nope. I’m here for moral support only.”
“Are you sure?” The lady nudged.
“Yep, I’m sure.”
“Okay,” she grabbed the clipboard and smiled. “Follow me.”
Leading the way, we trailed along behind her like good little puppies as she showed us to a small wooden desk with one chair. I felt like I was back in high school again with the same people I tried to get away from. Except for Jessie. She was all original, never trying to be like everyone else. I admired someone with their own sense of style and personality.
“Take your time,” the woman said with that same pleasant smile while handing Jessie a clipboard and pen.
Jessie slid into the chair, leaving me to stand behind her. I might as well be an ice sculpture standing in the center of a table for everyone to gawk at.
Gorgeous women with long hair of all colors, dotted the tables around the room. All nicely dressed with their perfect everything. I, on the other hand, wore a black shirt with red polka dot leggings paired with second-hand slip-on shoes. Thank you, Goodwill!
I so did not belong here!
Not only did I wear my polka dots proudly, I sported thick long wavy auburn hair with blue tips, but unlike those hour-glass figures, I had a proud mom-bod, complete with the pooch and large boobs. Losing the last ten pounds had been on my bucket list for a while, but to be honest, between work and taking care of Maddie, I didn’t have time for that crap. And when I did find a few minutes for myself, exercise was at the very bottom of my non-existent list, two slots below visiting the dentist for a root canal. And, ice cream was one of my favorite comfort foods.
I gazed longingly at those gorgeous women and sighed knowing I would never look like that again. It wasn’t worth the effort. And as time had proven over and over again, not just for me, but nearly everyone, the problem wasn’t landing a guy, it was keeping him.
“What should I put for this question?” Jessie asked, catching my attention.
Peering over her shoulder, I squinted. “Which one?”
“This one.” She pointed with the end of her pen.
I read silently to myself then grimaced. “It’s just asking which you find more important.”
“Hmm,” Jessie tapped her chin. “Would I break plans to help a friend?” She glanced up at me with round indecisive blue eyes. “What if I really had something I wanted to do and my friend didn’t really need my help? Should I still…”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s just a question.” I quipped. Jessie was my best friend, and to be honest, I wish I wasn’t jaded and could see things through her eyes.
I was the twenty-two-year-old mother and Jessie was the twenty-two-year-old free spirit.
“But what if I get it wrong?”
I sighed, raking fingers through my wavy hair. “You won’t. You’re beautiful and that’s all they will care about.”
Her face lit. “You think so?”
“Yep.”
“Okay, I can do this.”
“Yes, you can. And while you do, I’m going to go pee.”
Jessie dismissed me, already reading over the next question.
Weaving around desks looking for a restroom sign, I ignored everyone that glanced my way. It was a large room, and there had to be forty or fifty tables spaced evenly throughout. Neutral colored walls, plastic trees standing in each corner, overhead skylights doing their job at conserving energy. It should have felt open and airy—inviting. And yet, I felt eyes following my every movement. The hourglass women were probably wondering who let someone like me in a place like this.
Eyes forward, I hadn’t made it very far until I heard a deep, “May I help you?”
That masculine voice sent a shiver down my spine. Startled, I abruptly stopped, and then slowly turned. My eyes landed on a large muscled chest barely hidden under a tightly stretched white collared button-up. My mouth dried up as my gaze inched upward until they locked with slate-colored eyes, chil
ly with dark centers. Like frost in the early morning light before the sun rose. Odd, yet mesmerizing.
“Um…ah…” I stammered, unable to form the right words as I searched his angular face. Plump lips glistened as his dark tongue darted out to wet them. I couldn’t draw my gaze away.
A hand reached out and touched my shoulder. When electricity ripped through my body, I shuddered as every nerve ending sparked to life, igniting a desire I had never felt before. I wanted to fall into his arms, taste his lips.
When my eyes met his once again, anger swirled like a raging storm. I didn’t know what I had done that made him so mad. My heart stuttered and somehow, I knew I needed to get away.
“Sorry,” I said, and then bolted around him, frantically trying to escape under the guise of searching for a bathroom.
I stood in front of the large mirror and splashed cool water on my face. What the hell was that? The electrified touch still rattled my cage, but his stern face and death glare seared me from the inside out. I knew I didn’t belong here but his reaction confirmed it. I gritted my teeth and gripped the edge of the sink.
I shouldn’t have come with Jessie. She belonged here but I didn’t. And the sexy angry alien knew it too. If only—I sighed, taking a deep breath.
“It’s a lot to take in isn’t it?”
Startled, I looked over my shoulder and saw a bleach bottled blonde applying red lipstick.
“Yeah, it is.” What else could I say? Sorry, I’m not into the whole arranged marriage thing but good luck to you, while shooting her a smile with two thumbs up. Yeah, that’s not really my thing.
“Have you seen any of them yet?” The blonde grinned. She had that ‘excited let’s gossip’ look on her face.
“Only one. You?”
“I’ve seen a couple of them. They’re certainly handsome enough but it takes a little getting used to their non-human features. I mean, the caramel colored skin looks human enough, but the sharp facial angels definitely do not. Combine that with the eyes and blue tinted silver-colored hair,” she shrugged, “but those muscles…” her eyes turned dreamy.
“I hadn’t really noticed.” Not how moist his lips looked, or how his blue-silver tinted hair framed his face and curled around his ears. I hadn’t noticed how strange electricity had surged from him into me. Nor how my shoulder still throbbed with that odd sensation. Okay, that was a lie. But I refused to let lust cloud my judgment. And he wasn’t interested anyway, I knew that from the angry look on his face.
“Hadn’t noticed?" Bottle blonde’s eyebrows shot to her hairline. “Are you blind?”
“No,” I defended. “My eyes are wide open. Besides, I came here with a friend, not to get hitched.”
“Well,” she puckered her lips in the mirror, making sure she looked spot-on perfect, “I did, and I have the perfect guy in mind.”
Not able to stop, I snorted. There was no such thing as the perfect guy but I still took the bait. “Okay…” Knowing that was all that needed to be said to keep her talking.
“He’s the one in charge—the head honcho. And he’s going to be mine.”
She sounded so sure of herself. It made the poor girl in me, the one who endured the humiliation in high school want to shatter her perfect fantasy. It was a defensive flaw of mine and I not only acknowledged it, I owned it.
Now a little intrigued, not by the man but by bottle blonde’s matter of fact attitude, I grinned before goading her on.
Turning around, I rested a hip against the sink. “Have you and the head honcho already made arrangements for this marriage?”
“Well…no…” Her eyebrows pulled close in confusion.
“Are you dating?”
“Ah…no” She crossed her arms over her low-cut top.
“Have you spoken to him?”
Blondie huffed as her lips tuned downward. “No.”
Good. I was beginning to piss her off. Time to put the last nail in the proverbial coffin. With a mischievous grin, I asked, “With all of the gorgeous women out there, please tell me how you plan to win the head honcho over? You know, the one who probably doesn’t even know you’re alive.” I batted my eyes innocently and tried not to smile. It was hard.
She threw her shoulders back and relaxed her arms. “What do you know? Look at you and your secondhand clothes.” Her eyes raked up and down my body as she sneered. I deserved it. It also made me feel better with her acting like this toward me instead of being friendly. Call it my comfort zone.
Jessie strolled in as just as the other lady tossed her blonde hair over her shoulder and stomped away.
Jessie glanced her way with a frown. “Really Alex?” she sighed, “What did you do?”
“Nothing.” I shrugged. “You know how I am with uncomfortable situations.”
“I know. But you have to stop thinking that you’re not good enough. Believe it or not, there are some really nice people in the world. Even if they are good-looking.”
“I know. But she’s the one who wanted to talk. Boast really.” And it brought all of my insecurities front and center. Call it a defense mechanism but it was easier to make someone mad than to put yourself out there and eventually get hurt.
“Alex, you have got to stop pushing everyone away.”
I turned, a fake smile playing on my lips. I knew and understood exactly what Jessie was talking about. Whenever someone knocked me out of my comfort zone, like electricity man had done, my defense was to piss people off so they would leave. It was easier than giving them the chance to hurt me first.
Jessie shook her head. “Come on.” She grabbed my sleeve and nudged me toward the door.
“Wait…” I backpedaled, yanking my sleeve free from her grip. “What about the questionnaire?”
“I answered without putting too much thought into it and zipped through the questions.”
“Good. I’m ready to get out of here.”
Leaving the bathroom, my feet dragged as we headed toward the front door. For some reason, I didn’t want to leave. I wanted to search the building and find electricity man. Gaze into those chilly eyes and feast on his shifter beauty once more. Was it okay to call men beautiful?
The smiling greeter nodded as the two of us neared the glass doors. A bell chimed when another beautiful woman pushed open the door and held it.
“Thanks,” I heard Jessie say.
Looking over my shoulder, I searched for the strange feeling that now held me rooted in place. The owner of that deep sexy voice with the caramel-colored skin. I took one last look before I faced forward and left.
2
___________________
Black
“Remind me why I need to stay here, act as mediator between our people and theirs?” I grumbled while putting on the human garb even though I already knew.
“You negotiated a trading contract. Also, some of the males have expressed a desire to find their bond mate.” Arkin, my youngest brother said while leaning a hip against the wall.
I scoffed. The human realm was ruthless with their demands. They had an overpopulation of females and since Tyran had found a human bondmate, some Kirzuns wanted the chance to search for theirs.
My second, or middle brother Tyran, had chanced upon a human, Amelia, when he opened the portal, and to his surprise, an instant bond formed with a female from this realm. A true bondmate was scarce on our homeworld, making it a rare unity.
A deal was struck between Drata Inc from the Shifter Realm and the United World Government of the Human Realm. The leader, Constantine Steinburg brokered a deal. In exchange for a lucrative contract, one which also meant the purchase of technology to build a portal and to exclusively trade commodities with our realm alone. The human realm would also allow our males to search for the bondmate.
“And what kind of name is Black?”
“The one I chose to make me appear more human.” And Amelia, Tryan’s mate could not properly pronounce Blaktu’n. Neither could the leader, Ms. Steinburg, or the other officials
that we interacted with. They asked if they could call me Black.
When my brother and I had gleaned all the information possible about the human realm, it was time to initiate contact with the governing officials. Amelia had been essential, making sure contact went as smoothly as possible.
I needed to stay in the Human realm to oversee the progress, address any complications that might arise. I was the U’Tuk, the leader of the Kirzun people.
As U’Tuk, it was my job to oversee the first contact, and then to pound out an agreement for the good of my people, along with a sizeable trading contract for my company.
I did not need, nor want an instant companion. I had enough willing females at any given time. My work demanded most of my attention.
Looking down at my clothes, the dark dress pants fit too tight, stiff, and felt very uncomfortable. How did humans’ function in such drab clothing?
“You could have chosen something more common. Here, I think black is an emotion, not a name.”
“That does not make sense. Black is not an emotion.”
“I don’t know if I can call you that. It’s not normal to suddenly change one’s name.”
I whole-heartedly agreed. But every time Karen McKinney, the human official from Atlanta, mispronounced my name, it made my blood boil. It almost felt disrespectful.
Buttoning up the white shirt, I stuffed the hem into the pants, and then zipped and fastened the black leather belt, as customary for official human attire. Although I didn’t understand why they wore items that limited natural movement. I rolled my shoulders, then my neck, trying to loosen the stiff fabric.
Tugging on the collar, I needed to move the process along. “We need to go through the applications and select a few to attend a gathering between our people. Hopefully some connections will form.”
“I agree,” Arkin said.
“This should be a regular event, perhaps once a week.”
