Victoria and the Alien Doctor (Intergalactic Brides 2) by Jessica Coulter Smith Read Free Book Online

define your social status on this planet, but it doesn’t define who you are. Just because you didn’t have the same opportunities as, say, a woman who became a lawyer, it doesn’t mean that you’re nothing. You’re a mother who was willing to do anything to save her little girl, including selling herself to an alien and giving up everything she’s ever known.”
    Victoria snorted. “I didn’t have much to give up. I figured whatever I faced on your world had to be better than what I had here.”
    “Most women wouldn’t sign up for a loveless match, not with one of us. Every pairing I’ve seen since the bride exchange started has been a love match. But you were willing to give that up just so your daughter could live, or at least have a better life until…” He shook his head. “I already think of Evie as mine, and I’m going to do everything I can to save her. You have my word on that. And once she’s healed, if you no longer wish to be with me, I’ll petition the council to break our mating. It’s never been done before, but I’m sure we could work something out.”
    “Xonos…” Tears gathered in her eyes. He really was the most selfless male she’d ever met. “I don’t want to break the mating. You’re a good, kind man, better than I could have ever hoped for in a partner. Do I love you? No, but I believe that love can grow in time.”
    He smiled and pulled her into his arms, holding her close. She felt the thump of his heart under her cheek and closed her eyes for a moment, savoring the feel of his arms around her. It had been so long since she’d been held, so long since she’d felt the comfort of being this close to another being, other than her daughter. She hadn’t realized how much she’d given up by keeping people out of her life until this very moment.
    “Let’s order something to eat. We can set aside a plate for Evie in case she wakes up,” Xonos suggested. “And if she sleeps through the night, we’ll just have to make sure she gets a big breakfast.”
    Victoria smiled. “All right, but no more breakfasts where you order everything on the menu. That was a little much. Just eggs, bacon, and toast will be sufficient.”
    He raised an eyebrow. “No pancakes? No omelets? You’d give up grits, oatmeal, and whatever that fruit thing was?”
    “Yes, I’d give that up.” She laughed. “Oh, all right. Maybe we can have pancakes. Evie hasn’t had them very often, but she seemed quite taken with them.”
    He snapped his fingers. “Muffins! We didn’t have muffins this morning. I’ll have to request some for tomorrow.”
    Victoria shook her head and led him over to the sofa. With a smile, she handed him the phone. “Keep dinner simple.”
    Xonos stared at the device a moment before lifting his gaze to hers. “Steak and potato? Maybe some pie on the side? I have to admit, I rather like Earth cuisine. I think I’ve tried one of everything on the hotel menu and requested some things they had to venture out to find.”
    She smiled wistfully. “I haven’t ever had a steak. They were always too expensive for me to buy at the store, even when they went on sale.”
    “Then steak is what we’re ordering. I’ll make sure they send up a dish for Evie as well. Would she like the same thing?”
    Victoria nodded.
    “Pick a movie while I place our order, then we can spend the rest of the night getting to know one another.”
    As far as plans went, it sounded rather perfect to Victoria. There were lots of things she wanted to know about Xonos. Was he an only child? Were his parents alive? She knew there were some Terran females, had read the brochure on his species, but she wanted to know more about Xonos himself and not just Terran in general.
    She had to admit that he fascinated her. And not just because he was an alien. The way he looked at her, the way it felt when he touched her… it made her want to explore more with him, made her wonder what it would feel like to have his hands