The silk of my wedding gown rustles as Trina leads me down a hallway. The floor is a pale shade of gray that matches the paint on the walls, and I wonder if the wedding is an experiment too. We enter a room with carpeting that’s slightly warmer in feel, but it still has the atmosphere of an overcast day. My throat squeezes shut, and I fight back the urge to make a break for it and run until the door opens to reveal Caiden. Inhaling deeply, I take in my groom’s appearance. He’s dressed in a black tuxedo that is tailored to fit his broad shoulders and tapers down to his waist perfectly. When he smiles at me revealing his dimple I want to melt.

He says, “You are the most stunning bride I’ve ever seen.”

“You’re quite handsome yourself.”

An older gentleman entered too, and he steps in front of us to say, “Okay you two. Time to have a wedding.”

Caiden’s fingers are warm on my cold hands as he grabs them. He asks, “Are you nervous?”

I nod just as the crack of interplanetary travel surprises me, and I turn to see Seline and Lexi appear. Lexi’s hair is sticking out as if she just woke up, and I notice she’s wearing a dressy blouse with sweatpants. “Did it happen yet?” asks Lexi.

“The wedding?” I ask as relief floods my veins at seeing my best friend. Hopefully this means I’m on my way home. “No.”

Caiden leans in close and whispers. “Let me do the talking and keep quiet.” The hair on the back of my neck rises, and I’m about to refuse when I remember how my big mouth got us in trouble in the first place. So I bite my tongue and nod in agreement.

“Great,” says Lexi. She glances at Seline whose brow is knit. “I think we’ve negotiated a plan to get you back to Earth.”

“Really?” I ask before an invisible hand I’m sure is Caiden’s slaps over my mouth.

Seline says, “If you agree to the terms I lay out, you may return.” I nod as Seline focuses on Caiden. “You are required to go to Earth and become Mandy’s husband.”

Caiden grins, and his grip is firm on both my mouth and fingers. “Happily.”

“And you, Mandy must agree to have children and allow us monthly tests during pregnancy as well as allowing your offspring to do the same for life.”

Testing? No way. I pull my head back from Caiden’s invisible hand and blurt out, “But--” I stop myself and take a deep breath to regain control of my emotions. Surely it’s not needles in the eyes like I’m imagining, because things like that don’t happen on Earth.

I glance at Caiden who says, “Yes. She will.”

“Nothing too stringent,” says Lexi. “Routine blood work. Stuff like that.”

I think about what might happen at Eroscia’s laboratory and recall my bland breakfast. I decide that while it sounds restricting, it’s probably not the worst that could happen. And while I feel rushed about marrying Caiden, given the alternative of wedding him but staying on Eroscia makes the compromise easier to swallow. I find my voice to say, “Agreed.”

Seline turns to the older man and speaks in their native language. Once he leaves she says, “There’s one more thing. We have a man that...” She pauses for a second before continuing as if she’s trying to find the right words, “doesn’t quite fit our dating requirements. You’ll be taking him to Earth, and the two of you will find him a match.”

I frown as I wonder what Seline means by fit. Trina had been quiet up until this point, but she gasps as a man is led into the room in handcuffs. He’s well-built and hot like Caiden, but there is a scowl on his face that is unnerving.

Selene says, “This is Hunter.”

Lexi’s voice rises in pitch as she says, “Wait. This isn’t what we agreed to. This man looks dangerous.”

Hunter lets out a low noise that might as well be a growl, and it makes my blood run cold. I whisper to Caiden, “No. There has to be another way.”

He says, “He’ll be fine.”

I gaze at him, and he says, “Trust me.” He breaks into a smile and winks at me. “We’ll keep him in line with bacon.”

I recall how I nursed Caiden’s hangover with bacon when he didn’t trust me about his excessive alcohol consumption. I paste on a smile in reply, because I know I need to trust him about the ways of his planet.

I’m not so sure though when I notice that Trina has put as much distance as she can between her and Hunter. The restrained alien’s eyes are squinted as if he’s daring anyone to fight him, and I guess he’s not any happier about moving to Earth than Lexi is about bringing him.

Hunter speaks in Eroscian with a tone that confirms my suspicions. He and Selene have a heated exchange that ends when Caiden says something firmly. I’m not sure what was said, but the handcuffs on Hunter are removed with a click, and his glare softens. I grip Caiden’s hand tighter, especially when Hunter’s gaze lands on Lexi. He gives her the once over as a smile forms on his face, and I wonder if Selene gave him the name he’s living up to by preparing to stalk his prey. I watch my friend as a blush heats her cheeks. Is that fear? Or desire? I know Lexi has a thing about bad boys, but this guy takes it a step further, and I’m concerned. “Lexi?”

Lexi straightens up to her I-mean-business stature and clears her throat without looking at me. “We should be going. We’ve got a wedding to organize.”

I glance down at the beautiful dress I’m wearing and think about how well if fits. I don’t want to part with it and turn to Trina. “I know I shouldn’t ask, but--”

“Oh goodness! Of course.” Trina flutters her hands in excitement. “Take the dress, and tell everyone on Earth I made it. I’d love to be on one of your bridal shows.”

I chuckle. “I’d be happy to. Thank you.”

Selene claps her hands to interrupt the conversation. “Time to go.” I barely have a moment to wave goodbye to Trina before I’m caught up in teleportation back to Earth. We land in Lexi’s living room, and I sigh in relief at the familiar surroundings of carpet and colorful furnishings.

“Whew,” says Lexi. “I don’t think I’d want to do that too often.” She opens her mouth and then snaps it shut again before swallowing hard. She glances at Hunter quickly before she focuses on Caiden and me. “Since you’re both already dressed for it, should we do the wedding this afternoon?”

I turn to Caiden, and as I gaze into his eyes I freely give him a little more of my soul, and it’s replaced with a glow I’m know must be his. My heart swells with a heat that warms me all the way to my toes. I’m in love with my sexy alien match. “Yes,” I say with tears in my eyes.

“Excellent. Call Eliza to come over while I shower and change. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen if you’re hungry.” Lexi glances at Hunter, who is in Eroscian skin-tight clothing. His arms are crossed and the smirk on his face seems to dare her to check him out. “And I suppose I should see if I can find him something to wear, too.”