Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
NOELLE
The alien’s eyes narrow and those horns—damn, but they’re impressive—rise very high, making the male very intimidating. “Why would you want to get rid of me?”
His suspicious tone pushes me beyond my limits and I swing my arms out wide. “Just look at this mess!”
“I will repair what I destroyed.”
All I see is stuffing everywhere, deflated balls, destroyed doll houses and…
It will take weeks to fix. I’m going to cry.
I can’t have this male, this warrior here, not after all the months I put into this.
I pick up a deflated soccer ball and throw it at him and can’t stop myself.
All my anxiety and frustration leach out as I pummel him with toy after toy, one for each word as I spout off, “Christmas… is… two… fucking… weeks… away!”
When I stop my little tirade, he steps toward me, one decisive foot at a time, a jump rope tangled around a horn, glitter from a craft set covering his hair and face, and green slime sliding down his left arm.
There’s no anger on his face whatsoever.
The male is the epitome of calm, resilience, and from the way those silver eyes that shine like tinsel lock on me… determination.
Fuck me, but I have this immense desire, need, to wipe the glitter off his face and apologize for losing my cool, but he doesn’t give me a chance. He circles an arm around my waist and pulls me in close with barely any effort, a feat considering I’m not a skinny minnie.
With a finger beneath my chin, he tilts my head up until our eyes meet. “I said, I will repair the damaged toys. I did not understand the nature of these items when I pulled them apart.”
“If you had, would you have left them alone?”
“No,” he says without any hesitation. “I still would have searched them, but I would have taken greater care. Human holidays are unique and rather confusing, but younglings are precious. This is why I cannot abandon my mission, even if it means damaging toys. The Brotherhood still exists, female, and they continue to undermine your world…. and mine.”
I can’t argue with his logic, or his intent, but having him here… Fuck, that’s a complication I don’t need.
But he’s really cute, standing there with a jump rope hanging from a horn like tinsel on a blue Christmas tree, and that serious expression of his. Forcing him to leave will only create bigger problems. And I’m not convinced I could make him leave.
“Warrior, if you promise not to tear apart any more presents, I’ll help you in any way I can.”
He nods. “I accept your terms.”
For some odd reason, I’m bouncing on the balls of my feet, like those few minutes before I received my first kiss. That was a horrific experience in the end, and yet I sense kissing this male would be rather pleasant. Problem is, the last thing I need is a zyanthan warrior underfoot.
“Perfect. Let Operation Santa Claus begin.”
“Santa Claus?”
“The figurehead for Christmas. The lore goes that he watches people all year ‘round, to see who’s naughty or nice, and then he makes lists, so he knows who to give gifts to on Christmas.”
“For how many humans?”
“All of them.”
“One male watches all the humans. Impossible.”
I roll my eyes. “He’s not real. It’s a holiday. Anyways, he’s got a beard, and hands out presents. He’s very respected all across Earth.”
“Ah, like a warrior on Zyan. This Santa Claus… Are his claws larger than mine?”
My jaw drops open when claws extend from the warrior’s hands. “You have claws. Real claws.”
“Yes. Warrior claws. Not Santa claws.”
I put my hand on his and lightly touch the claws. They retract after I touch them, but I’m still holding his hand. “I… I never saw a person with claws.”
“May I have my hand back?”
I peer down, surprised to see I’m still holding him. He has nice hands, slightly callused, probably from tearing apart toys or whatever he normally does, but they’re unusually gentle for being so large and having claws that retract. “What if I say no?”
“Are you always so contrary?”
With a twirl, I release his hand and get my skirt to flare up just enough to tease him. It’s a move I’ve never used before. “I’m a gal on a mission, Warrior. And seeing as how I’m stuck with you, I’m going to put you to work.”
“I’m already working.”
“No, what you’re doing is being in the way.”
“GI6 assigned me—”
I hold up my hand. “Never heard of them, not that it matters. Whoever sent you has no business here.”
“GI6 is a section within Galactic Intelligence. Our missions are not specific to any one region of space or issue. We tackle assignments not in others’ domain.”
“You’re presently in my domain.”
“You are citizen of Earth, which has joined the Galactic Alliance, for its own preservation. Which means this planet, and you, are under my domain.”
“Maybe I can’t force you to leave, but let’s get one thing straight.
I won’t put up with you scaring off all the wonderful people donating their time and belongings to make this a wonderful Christmas for others.
Or do your GI6 rules say you’re allowed to destroy all the hard work we put into helping our people survive? ”
His horns curve back as he bows his head slightly. “Our goal is not to interfere but to protect. And you are right. I should blend in. What do you suggest?”
“If you want to go wherever you please as you look for those blasters, then dress like you belong here.” I tug at his leather vest. “This has to go, along with those pants and weapons.”
“You wish me to be naked?”
Oh, my, talk about a conundrum. Do I tell him the truth, or behave?
“I don’t share my wishes with people I don’t know.”
“You know me, female. We’ve been talking for several minutes.”
So literal. I’ll have to remember that. I rush back to the office and grab my canvas tote.
“It appears I finally found me a Santa Claus.” I toss the Santa suit to him.
“I’ve been holding onto this, too busy with wrapping gifts, to find a Santa.
If you want to stay, you’ll be our Santa.
Put on the suit and show me what you’ve got. ”
“I’ve got four knives, one blaster, a wrist comm, horns, claws, and two cocks.”
“What?” I shake my head. “Never mind.” I’m hearing things.
I thought he said two cocks. Must have been two clocks or watches.
He speaks English fluently, but I can’t expect everything to translate perfectly from Zyanthan to English.
“You can change over there.” I point to an area containing boxes of medical supplies waiting to ship out to the local hospitals.
As he walks over, I stretch my neck, trying to sneak a peek of the upper part of his pants. While everything looks normal, planting my eyes on this male is proving quite dangerous. I’m having trouble looking away… until he turns to me and nearly catches me gawking.
“Just how many knives do you have on you?”
“Four.” Despite the serious answer, his grin says he knows exactly what I was doing.
Caught, but far from burned. “Four, not two or only one?”
His eyes narrow. “Are we still talking about knives?”
“Yes. You know, swords, in a manner of speaking.”
“I carry no swords, but my knives are quite sharp, and I assure you, female, I’m rather skilled with them.”
Heat spreads through my cheeks. “Good to know, Warrior. Maybe you’ll show me how expertly you wield them… after Christmas. I have a job to do.”
His eyes move down my torso. “As do I. But I assure you, I can wield my knives better than any male on your planet.”
I can’t wait to see him prove that…