Page 24 of Stolen By Her Alien Mate

But no matter what I felt, apparently, she did not feel the same physical pull.

I glance back up at Lorraine, who is studying me. If she had marks, I would think she was reading my mind.

Somehow that makes my next admission easier. “I never imagined I would have to work to woo her.”

“Don’t beat yourself up. A guy who looks like you, I bet you normally have women throwing themselves at your feet.”

I just shrug. While I am aware that many women find me attractive, it’s always been irrelevant. Once my seed marks bloomed and I bonded with Joey, there was never going to be another woman for me.

It never mattered if anyone found me attractive or if I found them attractive. Which I did not.

She is my mate. Sex with anyone else would have been little more than an exercise in frustration. The bond between Joey and I, as slim as it is, means I am unable to bear children with anyone else. Unable to copulate at all.

“Looks are irrelevant,” I tell Lorraine, even though I know things are not the same on earth. “Joey is the only one I want.”

Lorraine gives me a sly look. “Perhaps. But somebody like Joey? She don’t trust people easily. Life has never given her a good reason to.” The older woman pierces me with a sharp look. “You better be sure you want her.”

“I will never want another.”

She gives another snort. “Yeah, those are pretty words for sure. Just make sure you mean them.” She points a brightly tipped finger at me. “And that you aren’t damn crazy. You hurt that girl and I won’t hesitate to pull some Fried Green Tomatoes shit on your ass. I don’t care how nice it looks.”

I give Lorraine my most winning smile. If she thinks I’m attractive, I’m not above using that to my advantage.

“I am not crazy,” I tell her, giving her my most sincere smile. “Please tell me how I can woo my Joey Kincaid.”

“First of all, stop calling her that,” Lorraine says, propping a bony hand on her thin hip.

“Mine? But she is mine.”

“I’m all over that possessive stuff, but Joey not so much. But I meant using her full name. That’s just weird. Call her Joey.”

I nod. “I can do that.”

She pulls a book out of the pocket of apron. “Read this. Should help you figure out what women want.” Then she winks at me. “Though I’d think you’d be able to figure that out.” Then she walks away, but I swear I hear her mumble, “Taking off your shirt would be a good first step.”

I look down at the tunic I’m wearing then to the book I’m now holding. Love Her Forever is scrawled across the cover with a picture of a man and a woman’s clasped hands. It looks to be some sort of instructional manual for how to romance a human woman.

Though my Joey isn’t human, she has been raised in their world, and believes herself to be one. She will likely respond to whatever I can find in this book.

I take another bite of the tart and sweet pie and open to page one.

Two hours and three pieces of pie later, I have read enough of the book Lorraine loaned me to know three things: First, cherry pie is indeed the best food on this planet. Second, human literature is surprisingly insightful–surprising because my expectations for their art were low, given their primitive technology. Third, human penises seem puny based on the descriptions in this book.

Although I suppose there is a chance that in real life, human penises are the size of a Persæn penis, and the author of this excellent novel merely wanted to inflate the ego of her own mate.

However, as good as the pie and the book are, my gut tells me it’s time to move on. I have more recon to do, even if Joey is occupied with her classes.

Once I’m out on the street where no one is paying attention to me, I start up a subvocalized conversation with the Adjunct as I climb onto my Harley.

“Can I assume you’ve been tracking my location?” I ask.

“Yes. For security purposes that seemed prudent.”

“Okay, then, without using earth miles, whatever the frack those are, can you direct me to the location of the other amulet?”

“Would you prefer I relay the distances in vohede?”

I ease the Harley to the exit from the diner’s parking lot. The town just isn’t that big. If I can’t find my princess’s home in a town this size, I probably don’t deserve to have her.