His Human Surrogate (Monsters Love Curvy Girls #2) - Michele Mills Page 0,18

security service. They don’t know I have almost as much currency as my brother. And they don’t know that I carry on my father’s legacy by saving the world on a regular basis.

I’m a male of few words but much action. I speak with my fists, with my weapons and my flash flames. I understand that females want to mate with me because I’m considered to have the physical attributes of a perfect male Hyrrokin—my barbed tail has a deadly spike at the end, and my claws have serrated tips. Along with the fact that Touchstone males are intemperate fire-throwers.

When I walk into a room, conversation stops and beings often step aside.

But I have little desire for pleasure mating. Occasionally my head turns at the sight of a particularly large ass or flashy horns. But I’ve only pleasure mated three times in my entire life. One-night stands in faraway locations, usually as the result of a “mission accomplished” adrenaline rush. But other than that, I ignore female advances that are often thrown my way. I focus on my work, my family and the restoration of my hunting lodge.

I began to wonder if I’d ever meet my bound or start my own family. Maybe I’m too unsocial to have a mate?

What’s strange is the moment I met Chloe Chang, I felt an instant connection to the tiny human. I fell horn over tail in love with her.

I looked at her and thought: There she is.

Chloe bypassed her fears and spoke boldly to me through the vid screen, asking personal questions. She’s a human from a backwater planet and therefore not fully aware of the celebrity status of the Touchstones. She doesn’t treat me like a celebrity or incessantly invite me to pleasure mate, as most unmated Hyrrokin females do. She treats me like a new friend she has interests in common with. She never asks me for anything and simply enjoys my company. My adorable female is green as a new tree.

I fell in immediate lust and soon after she had my heart in her small hand. We share many of the same hobbies and interests, and we easily converse in a genuine way. I reveal stories of my childhood to her and truths I’ve never told anyone.

But still, she doesn’t know Bergelmir Touchstone, the soldier. The killer. She knows I was in the military and I presently run a security service. But she has no idea what I’ve done to get her here, what I’m willing to go through to keep her and our offspring safe. I love this female with all my heart, but she has no idea of the depth of my feelings for her. I allow her to think I am only her friend, because I have to keep my feelings hidden for now.

I exhale, trying to keep my mind off my female and instead on the mission at hand. I lift my night vision goggles and stare at the compound we’re scoping out. I’m hidden with my team in the high, craggy mountains around the headquarters of the dregs of the Xylan Mafia. Their main organization was recently decimated due to an internal civil war amongst their ranks, but the remains have been interfering in Hyrrokin elections. This is unacceptable.

Hannibal taps my horn and jerks a claw over his shoulder, reminding me it’s my turn for rest and he’s taking the next shift. I nod and crawl away. When I get far enough, I stand and walk over to the alcove I’ve created behind a boulder. I lie down and check again on my Chloe. I’ve checked my tablet often, always disappointed when I see that she hasn’t communicated with me yet. But finally, I find a message from my human and I smile. I read it immediately because I only have a short window of shut-eye before I need to team with Skoll for some good, old-fashioned flame throwing.

Hi Berg!

My chest warms and my smile widens. I love the nickname she’s given me. Only my innocent Chloe would feel comfortable enough to give a deadly Hyrrokin Black Ops Captain a lighthearted nickname. I love this about her. She treats me like a regular male—nothing special. She considers me her friend, but I want her also as my lover. She’ll discover this soon enough.

I found the tablet you left me! Thank you! You said to message you and that your replies would be delayed. I totally understand. I know your life is very strict right now