IDA - Hard Time

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Leaving the Terran Empire's POW camp, they thought they found their way home. Home, however, is taking a different route than these cyborgs expect. Most Wanted Alien Brides Book 2 Being mistaken for an Intergalactic Dating Agency client may be the best thing that could have ever happened to Rhimodian cyborg, Marcin. At least, that was his first thought. But when he meets his mate, she winds up being obsessed with something called eggplant. His Craving burns for her, but making the stubborn woman hear him becomes harder than he thought. Gianna Rosco, a writer from Earth, cannot believe this new dimension she and her BFF Tina find themselves in. Giant cyborgs searching for their mates? And they fit the bill? Heck yeah. They'll treat them, right, right? That's what she thinks until she finds out that Marcin is just like any other guy she'd ever met on Earth. But he's just as growly and demanding as anyone else. Besides, this guy doesn't have anything. Not a house, not a car, or spaceship or whatever it is they use, he doesn't have it. All he's got is a big ole eggplant that really likes her peach. While a month of enjoying eggplant is always fun, she's not ready to be bound to just one vegetable. Variety is the spice of life, right? Marcin, however, wants her forever. Gianna isn't really sure she's ready for that, even though her heart has other ideas. The thirty day escape clause is sounding better and better, especially when his secret comes out. Will she be able to accept him as her cyborg mate? Or will she run for the portal back home? series order Most Wanted Alien Brides: Volume 1 Slammer Hard Time Solitary Volume 2 Core Shaft Claim Volume 3 Savior excerpt Gianna walked along the beach, the sun a wisp of light over the horizon, and wind whipped around her. She pulled her sweater around her a little tighter as she listened to the sound of the water. The beer in her hand was cold—the only way to drink it, of course—and was about half-full. She took a sip and watched the way the tide came in. Her cell phone went off. It was a text from her BFF, Tina. She was running late because of work. Well, Gianna wasn't surprised. That's why she was walking the beach, anyway. Tina was always late to their get-togethers. But it was okay. The get-togethers gave Gianna an excuse to get off her computer and be outside in the fresh air, regardless of the weather. She saw headlights in the distance, and guessed it was probably Tina, so she walked back up to the house. She'd just gotten settled when Tina came around back with a bag from their favorite Mexican takeout place, orders of tacos and rice for them both. Because, of course, gotta have tacos. Especially when one gets done writing all the sex scenes like Gianna had today. Tacos didn’t make up for a lack of male attention, but they sure helped. "So," Gianna said as she slowly chewed on the best darn taco in the world. "You going to tell me what happened?" Tina shrugged. "Boys are stupid." "He had an IQ of 170 and a photographic memory." "Yeah, but it doesn't mean he knows how to be a boy." Gianna shook her head. "You were looking for something, weren't you?" “I don’t do that,” Tina said. “Whatever.” She picked up her beer and finished off the bottle. “What was it?” "He had funny shoes," Tina said just before biting into her food. Gianna put her hand up. "Whoa, wait. Did I just hear you right? You said you broke up with a guy because he had funny shoes?" "You can't really call it dating when you only go out on a couple of dates. It was more like getting to know each other. And I found out he had funny shoes and a bit of an obsession with comics." "Comics? Really? That cannot be a deal breaker," Gianna said. "He could have been a character on The Big Bang Theory." "Oh wow." Gianna took another bite. "See, this is why you don't date work colleagues." "It's not like I have time to meet anyone anywhere. Between work and Grandma and Grandpa, I am always running." "You seriously do not need to be their caretakers. You have how many aunts and uncles? Not to mention your mother?" "Just because they're there doesn't mean they'll do anything." "Why should they? You do it all anyway." "You know, you're awfully worried about my dating life, and I don't see you testing out your mattress with anyone for quite some time now." Gianna shrugged. "Like you said, boys are stupid." They both giggled. "Seriously, though, why not? You have a lot to offer a relationship." "I know, I'm awesome," Gianna said and they both laughed some more. "But seriously, I don't have time for that crap. The only boys I need are the ones in my books." "Gianna, we've had this talk before. You can't fall in love with the characters you create in your novels. They're not real." "They could be," Gianna said. "You write about aliens kidnapping women and taking them to space to marry them." "And have really great sex." "And have really great sex. But that's not the point. I mean, seriously--" "What? That I like the idea of alien abductions way better than I like the idea of dating a real man here on Earth? I should just want any guy out there because he's breathing, or I should be particular and want a guy who really gets my motor humming?" "You act like it'll really happen, that some spaceship will land and take us far, far, away into the stars." Gianna shrugged. "So, we both suck at picking men. Me because I don't take anyone, you because you can't seem to find one that doesn't do something to annoy you." "Why is that? Do you think?" "I bet our dream men are out there in the stars," Gianna said. Tina looked up at the sky and started laughing. "There they are! Our dream men." "What are you--" A police helicopter flew by. They both started laughing. "Yep, there they are. The men of our dreams, flying by," Gianna said. She stood up. “Hey boys! Come visit us!” Tina laughed even harder. The helicopter, of course, didn’t even shine the light their way. They visited a little longer and Tina had to go for the night because she had to work. Gianna waited until she left and stepped back out on her deck, looking at the stars and the waves. She scooped up some sand and held it in her hand. "Universe," she said. "You've given me a lot these years. You've taken very good care of me, especially when no one else was. Now I'm asking for you to bring me to the one I'm supposed to be with. Wherever he is, can we make that happen? Bring us together? My only request? That he is not super grumpy. I need someone that can make me laugh." She looked out across the waves. "And if possible, I'd like to live on a beach." She threw the sand into the air and hoped the wind would catch it and take it where it needed to go. Gianna had as much chance at that working as she did those dating sites finding her a guy. At least the universe was supposed to be working for her. Isn't that what all the self-help manifestation gurus say? Ask for what you want, and you shall receive it. Well, she asked. Will she receive it? Gianna doubted it. After all, it was a silly thing to dream of. She turned and walked back into her house. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a glow in the distance, over by the caves. It made her smile, because it was probably kids playing in the caves, shining their flashlights all around. The light was bright for a moment. She waited a second, and the light dimmed. "Huh, powerful flashlight," she muttered as she walked inside. other retailers Show more