(This scene takes place while Bash and Isla are still in the kitchen (along with his mother, father, and siblings), and all the introductions have been made.)
Eight groans start to echo around the cave.
“—AND I don’t want to hear a word of complaint,” Jyzu speaks over them, her voice forceful and somehow silencing their protests without actually raising her voice. “All of you get in here and sit down. You’ll have Isla thinking we’ve raised the lot of you with no manners at all.”
I pat Bash’s forearm and smile. “Nah, Bash has excellent manners. You’ve got at least one success here.”
“Yanak pies,” the candy-colored brother, Kitmalo, states.
Bash’s chin drops on top of my head, and by Kitmalo’s paling scales, I’d guess he’s getting glared at hard.
“Isla,” Reiko, one of Bash’s other brothers purrs, obeying his mother and moving into the cave, and—consequently—moving closer to me. “So that’s this little beauty’s name.” His eyes travel up and down my body in a way that expresses appreciation. “Shame you’re essentially becoming my sister. When I have fantasies of you and me later, it’s going to make enjoying them so, so wrong.”
And just like that, Bash is no longer hugging me from behind.
He’s lunging around me to deal a death blow to his sibling.
Bash’s dad blocks his offspring from certain annihilation just in time. He slams one big, big hand on Bash’s shoulder—and I can’t miss that he sinks his claws into Bash’s skin, goes right through the fabric of his shirt, and warns, “Don’t let them get a rise out of you, Bubashuu. Concentrate on your female, not their prodding.”
“Yeah, Bash,” Sterigmos snickers. “Don’t mind us if we’re prodding your female—”
That’s all the teasing Bash can take.
Bash’s dad’s claws rip Bash’s skin when he leaps for his brother, taking him down to the floor where he begins to rearrange the other Rakhii’s face.
“Welcome to the family!” Xoknith calls to me heartily, a huge grin stretching his scaly mouth.
Books & Audiobooks by Amanda…
If you’re wondering who some of these characters were as you were cruising along, allow me to help! =D
(If you had to classify this one, it’s almost Reverse Harem. This is an MFM book, which means there are two (alien) 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.)
Five pirates and a baby. (Also: five pirates with a pregnant woman until Beth delivers said baby.) A reverse harem romance for movie-lovers. Just trust me. ;)
Amanda Milo is a collector of the randomest trivia. Did you know that Kiwi fruit plants have separate genders? You need both 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!)
Thank you for picking up this book. Amanda hopes that you had a lovely time. ♥