Alien by Tara Nina Jaid Black Leora Gonzales Laurann Dohner

There is cleanup to be done.”
    “Understood. Ending transmission.”
    Coto turned it off and returned it to his pocket. He held
Lynn’s gaze. “Our time is shorter than I estimated.”
    He was leaving in the morning. She wasn’t certain how to
feel about that. It wasn’t as if he were moving to another town or even another
state. It would be impossible for her to visit him. She glanced up at the blue
sky, then at him. Her chest tightened and it was difficult to breathe.
    “Why don’t we all go inside?” Vhon motioned to the other
men.
    “We should return to our camp,” Holion argued.
    “Geez, you’re thickheaded.” Vhon sighed. “Get inside and
give them a little privacy.” He spun, striding toward the broken front door. “Follow
me. That’s an order as your Argis. Not you, Coto.”
    Lynn waited until they were alone and swallowed hard. Coto
stepped closer and brushed her hair away from her cheek. They just stared at
each other until she finally couldn’t take the silence anymore.
    “Are you coming back to Earth soon?”
    “It’s uncertain. Berrr won’t be happy that we were attacked.
He might station a warship to protect the planet from Collis. It would mean
they’d have to stay far enough away to prevent Earth technology from detecting
us. He’ll also be concerned that we weren’t able to hide our visit and ban
anyone from returning here for a long time. We don’t wish to frighten humans.”
    “Oh.”
    “It’s possible I won’t be able to return for years, if ever.”
    That pain in her chest increased.
    “Have you considered leaving with me?”
    Part of her was tempted to say yes. It was a terrifying
concept though. She’d have to leave behind everyone and everything she knew and
face so many uncertainties that she had a difficult time trying to imagine
them. She had a job, a house payment, and how could she give up one life for
another?
    “Can you stay here with me? I mean, you could always contact
Zorn if you wanted to go home later.”
    “I can’t do that, Lynn.” He wrapped his fingers around the
back of her neck, gently cupping her there. “It would be impossible for me fit
into your society.”
    She studied his features, knowing he spoke the truth.
    “We’re aware of the kind of reception Earthers could give an
alien. We’ve been studying your society. They would fear me, examine me, and I
wouldn’t live long in captivity. They wouldn’t allow you to be with me. I’d
face certain death.”
    He was right. She knew it. They’d probably dissect him
within a week of discovering him. That would be the least of it if the military
wanted to torture him to learn everything they could about his people and their
technology.
     
    Coto tried hard to think of what to say to convince Lynn to
return to Zorn with him. “I’d do anything to make you happy. I know you reacted
badly when I told you women and men are not equal on my planet. I’m larger and
physically stronger but I see you as my equal. We would be married.” He wasn’t
sure if it would be a good thing or not to point it out but she was a woman. “We
can have children. It’s been done. Our races are compatible.”
    “Do you want children?”
    He couldn’t determine from her expression or tone how she
hoped he would answer. He decided to be honest. “I would with you. I would be
honored for you to be the mother of my sons and daughters.”
    “I have family and friends…”
    “I understand that. It would be difficult for you, but you
would have me. We would have each other. There you would have a family of your
heart. They will accept you with gladness. You will have other Earth women to
talk to and spend time with. I’m certain you will grow close to them and bond.”
    “I don’t know. This is so fast.”
    He was losing her. A sense of panic struck. He didn’t want
to leave her behind and never see her again. Argernon had just taken his Casey.
It was tempting to toss Lynn over his shoulder and refuse to let her