Taken by the Alien Next Door (Aliens Among Us #1) - Tiffany Roberts Page 0,72
Zevris’s sofa with her elbow propped on the armrest and her head cradled in her palm. Dexter lay next to her, his head in her lap, as she absently petted his back. It was late, and her belly was full after another delicious dinner. The food had tasted all the better because she hadn’t had to cook it. Zevris had insisted on catering to her. He’d even shooed her out of the kitchen when she’d offered to clean up afterwards, and once he’d finished, he’d taken Dexter out before disappearing upstairs. So here she sat.
Despite the circumstances of her being here, she felt…good. It’d been a good day.
Well, apart from him leaving her tied to his bed and on the verge of peeing herself for over an hour that morning. But she had forgiven Zevris for that incident shortly afterward, while she’d taken her shower. His expression when he’d released her from the restraint had been so contrite, so ashamed, and his apology so sincere… She knew he hadn’t done it on purpose.
The day had passed faster than Tabitha thought it would, and true to his word, Zevris had allowed her free rein of his home. She’d explored, but there hadn’t been much to discover. His house really was decorated like a model home, furnished tastefully but sparsely enough that it left room for prospective buyers to envision themselves living here. It was nice, but there were no personal touches, there was no décor that showcased his personality, there was no real vitality. Just the basics. This place said nothing about the man who lived in it.
What was his favorite color? What did he enjoy? What were his hobbies?
Did aliens even have hobbies?
Of course they have hobbies, Tabby. He’s still a person.
Well…Tabitha was determined to find out what they were. The time she’d spent with Zevris today had only further endeared him to her. He was kind, thoughtful, and funny, and he flirted with her at every opportunity. She wasn’t used to that kind of attention from men, and most definitely not from any who looked like Zevris. But she found that she wanted to take the time to get to know him.
Four weeks.
Could things actually work between them? Once those four weeks were over, could she actually agree to become his…lifemate, after so short a time? He must’ve been sincere in his proposal, in his attraction to her. Why bother going through all this trouble if he didn’t really want her? And if what she saw in his eyes every time he looked at her was real…
Tabitha’s entire body flushed, and she turned her face into her hand.
Now that it was night and bedtime was fast approaching, she didn’t know what to expect. But if this morning had been any indication, well, she’d be struggling against a whole lot of temptation pretty soon.
Take it slow, Tabby. You have four weeks. Don’t rush into anything you’re not ready for.
“He wants babies, Dex,” she whispered, looking down at her dog.
Dexter raised his eyes to meet hers, and his ears perked.
“Oh, don’t you look at me like that. Four weeks is a little soon to be asking me for babies, don’t you think?” Tabitha scratched the top of Dexter’s head. “Isn’t it supposed to be first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a baby? The key word in all of that being love?”
Dexter rubbed his face against her belly, his tail wagging.
Her brows shot down, and she pushed his nose away. “Whose side are you on, anyway?”
God, was she even ready to be a mother? Would she make a good one? She’d never known her birth mother. Amanda Davidson had abandoned Tabitha when she was an infant, leaving her in the care of her father, Luke Mathews—who had also soon run off on his child, leaving Tabitha in the care of his mother. Nan had been Tabitha’s mother in every way that mattered. She had set the example for Tabitha to follow.
Tabitha would do everything in her power to make sure her baby was happy and knew it was loved.
Though there was no rush for a baby to begin with…
You have four weeks, Tabby. Better get used to the idea, especially because you know you’re going to get in too deep.
“That’s if we’re even compatible,” she said quietly, frowning.
But she was already falling, and she had a feeling it would be just like he’d said—even if the mating bond thing his people made didn’t work with her, she’d want him anyway.