Alien Protector: Sci-Fi Alien Invasion Paranormal Romance (17 page)

“I don’t mean just that,” Draco said. “I mean all of it. If you hadn’t met me… If I hadn’t brought you here… I’ll take you home. I swear it. As soon as I’m better.”

It was funny, really. When she’d been in that darkness with the Triptherus hissing at her and telling her they were going to play with her if Draco didn’t bring the blade, all she’d been thinking was that she wanted to go home. Things like that didn’t happen at home. But then Draco had come charging in, glowing blade held aloft, and she’d realized that what she wanted wasn’t to go back but to be safe. And to be safe with
him.

“I don’t want to go back,” she said.

“Stephanie…” Draco sighed and shook his head. “Your friends will be missing you. Your family. You can’t just...stay here.”

“And why not?” she demanded. “I like it here. The people like me now. Even Plintos likes me now, and we’ve been talking about him opening up a museum here, and he’d need help with that, and who better to do it, right? And I can call home and tell people I’m not coming back. If you can get a signal from Earth all the way here, I can get one from here to Earth, right? We can go exploring together, and I can examine things with Plintos when we bring them back. It’d be perfect.” She bit her lip and took a breath, meeting his eyes. “I want to stay with you.”

She’d already thought it all through, really. If she went back home, she’d always be wondering what she’d missed out on and nothing there would feel the same anymore. It wouldn’t feel right. Her head was full of the idea of her and Draco exploring different planets, finding treasures and then bringing them home to study. She’d learn all she could and then share that with the people. Of course, he had no way of knowing that she had similar thoughts soon after they’d first met, and they had kept her from being too scared when she was in Draco’s bed without him on the nights while he’d been unconscious in the infirmary, and she
wanted
it. Probably more than she had wanted anything for a long time.

Draco let out a shaky breath, and she could see cautious hope on his face. “Are you sure?” he asked. “I mean, I can take you back if you change your mind, but it would be hard to explain where you’ve been, and you can’t just go back and forth like that because it’s not technically allowed, and-”

Stephanie laughed and leaned in, cutting off his breathless spiel with a hard kiss. “I’m sure.”

And she was.

About The Author

Ashley West was raised in a small Midwest town. She has always been a big fan of science fiction and paranormal books and movies. Her all-time favorite movies are the first three Star Wars movies.

She started writing at a young age and has not looked back since. Ashley brings her worlds to life with vivid details and likeable characters. On her spare time, she enjoys painting, jogging, and curling up next to her favorite books.

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