Taken by the Alien Next Door (Aliens Among Us #1) - Tiffany Roberts Page 0,126

flutter and her chest tight.

“Tabitha,” Zevris said, combing his fingers through her hair, “tell me what ails you.”

Tabitha smiled up at Zevris. “I’ll be fine.”

He scowled. “Tabitha, this is not fine.”

She lifted her head and sat back on her heels, shivering now that her skin wasn’t flushed with heat. She didn’t want to tell him yet, not until she was sure. She didn’t want to get his hopes up. Knowing what his people were suffering, knowing the reason he’d come to Earth, it seemed to cruel to even suggest it without being certain.

“I’m feeling better already,” she said. “I’ll go to a walk-in clinic today just in case, but I’m sure this is just…an upset stomach, or something simple. The kind of thing that’s over and done in a day or two, no problem.”

Both his frown and the crease between his brows deepened. “We will go this morning, as soon as you are dressed.”

“I will go alone.”

“Tabitha,” he growled.

She reached out and placed her palm on his chest, only then realizing that he was also naked—though for once, he wasn’t sporting a massive hard-on. “I’m fine, Zevris. I promise. You don’t need to come with me. I’d like to do this myself, and you have a coffee table to get to work on for Hank, right? You told him you’d have it ready before his anniversary in a few weeks.”

“You are more important, Nykasha. I need to know you are fine.”

“I am fine, Zevris. Trust me. And I won’t be gone for long.”

He clenched his jaw. “You will go as soon as they open?”

Tabitha could tell it was taking everything within him to keep from arguing the point further, to keep himself from ignoring her wishes and going with her regardless.

“I’ll brush my teeth, take a quick shower, be out the door as soon as I’m done getting ready,” she said.

He was silent for several seconds, staring at her as though searching for something.

She brushed her thumb across his skin. “Just think about how happy you’ll be to see me…and all the things we can do when you’re ready for a break.”

“Fine,” he finally said, and his expression communicated what he’d not spoken aloud—but I don’t like it.

Tabitha might have lied. Just a little. A teeny, tiny white lie. Barely even a lie at all, really. She had brushed her teeth, showered, and stepped out the door as soon as she’d finished dressing, just as she’d promised.

But she hadn’t gone to the clinic.

Definitely a lie, Tabs.

She glanced up at the gas station she was parked in front of. Reaching for her purse on the seat next to her, she set it in her lap, took out her cell phone, and searched the internet for early signs of pregnancy, clicking the top link.

Missed period was the first on the list, followed by nausea and vomiting, and tender breasts.

Now that she thought about it, her breasts—particularly her nipples—had been more sensitive. So much so that she’d nearly orgasmed a few times recently just from Zevris sucking on and playing with them.

As she read further, mentally checking off each box that seemed to apply, she grew more and more certain that her suspicions were right.

“I still need to be sure.”

Putting her phone away, she took a deep, calming breath. She opened her car door, locked it, and shoved it closed before making her way into the convenience store. It was busy inside, with several people lined up at the counter despite there being two clerks at the registers. Everyone was in their morning rush for gas, coffee, or breakfast. The rich aroma of coffee was strong, but thankfully didn’t trigger her stomach. It actually smelled really good, good enough that her empty stomach rumbled in hunger.

She walked down the center aisle, glancing back and forth at the items on the shelves until she found the section she was looking for.

“Please let them be here,” she whispered as her eyes skimmed over lip balms, travel-sized medicines, nail clippers, and tiny sewing kits dangling from pegs. Finally, at the very bottom, she spotted her quarry—a rectangular box with bold print that said, Pregnancy Test.

Tabitha snatched it off the peg and took her place at the back of the line. Though the line moved smoothly enough, time seemed to pass increasingly slower as her anxiousness increased. When she reached the register and set the test on the counter, she felt like all the world was staring at her, but she didn’t care. She had nothing to