Hackles and a Honeymoon by Poppy Rhys

Author:Poppy Rhys [Rhys, Poppy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: KU2023, √
Publisher: Poppy Rhys
Published: 2023-03-26T04:00:00+00:00

13

BIRDIE

My days blurred together. I didn't think I'd ever understand what it meant to be a trophy wife on Earth, but among aliens? It was like a never-ending existence of constant confusion.

About everything.

What to say, what not to say. Apparently in some alien cultures it was considered rude to inquire about basic stuff most humans discussed with random people they met.

Such as asking what someone did for a living or if they were here on vacation or about their family.

At the banquet last night, one extremely tight-lipped benefactor nearly raged when I asked her if she was enjoying the nice weather.

Later on, Omen explained the weather was a sensitive subject for her. A terraforming species had previously invaded her home planet and rendered it unlivable for her people.

I'd felt terrible.

I was fucking up left and right as Omen's mate, and I detested falling short. When I agreed to something, I saw it through. Even if it was grueling or uncomfortable.

After that I'd ordered a pile of guides on alien cultures that frequented New Allu, and hit the books. If I was going to be Omen's fake mate, I was going to fucking own that role. At least for a couple more weeks.

The information I'd garnered from studying all day could be used for my report to ABT too. If clients were going to honeymoon here, they'd probably appreciate a few tips on how to be respectful to the locals.

The water swished around me as I moved to the edge of the pool and reclined against the built-in seat.

I'd raised the temperature, turning it into a giant hot tub. Wild curls of steam lifted off the surface while I stared at the night sky, a canvas of a million stars, and listened to the waves on the beach below crash against the shore.

I was desperate to claim the bed tonight. It was my turn again. After last night's torture, I didn't think I could take another round of the couch. The steaming warmth of the water was taking off the edge, though.

What would've been amazing? Another massage from Omen's miracle hands. Not that I'd actually ask him for one, but I wouldn't say no if he offered...

He'd acted strangely after we had dinner with Lykree. I didn't know what transpired between them while I was in the bathroom, trying not to vomit, but when I got back to the table, Omen's gruff attitude had returned.

I closed my eyes and relaxed.

Aliens are so weird.

****

OMEN

I leaned against the doorframe that overlooked the deck. Birdie rested against the edge of the pool, her eyelids closed and her head tilted back.

She didn't know I was there. It gave me a moment to appreciate her scantily clad body.

The garments she had on were barely more than knotted lengths of string strategically covering her most sensitive bits but failed to hide the soft curves.

Maybe I was a pervert, but her poor human hearing was becoming my new favorite thing. If I stayed silent, she could go whole swaths of time without knowing I was lurking, studying her.

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