Dangerously Hers by A.M. Griffin @AMGriffinbooks #LovingDangerously

Jess stepped off the transporter and right into the bustle of alien activity around her.
What kind of fresh holy hell did I come to?
Alien races, some of which she recognized, others she didn’t, streamed up and down the walkways, coming and going. Transporters of various sizes occupied every available space of the four long rows of docking stations. She and JB had waited half the day just to get a spot in line for landing. From what she could see, the Sonis palace had a slew of visitors.
She could have easily retreated back into the confines of secured safety. But to do so would be an open admission of fear and weakness. She was neither. The days of being scared of every alien who came her way were long over.
Jess took a long breath, filling her lungs with so much air that her chest puffed out. It burned as she held it there while a group of Zarcarians, blue aliens with small, seemingly vacant slits for eyes, meandered by her, deep in conversation. Their white hair was cropped just above where their ears should have been. Silver robes covered their tall, lanky frames and brushed the ground as they walked.
Although she couldn’t make out the hushed whispers that came from mouths that were devoid of lips, she still stood ridged, prepared to fight if needed. She didn’t relax even after they finally moved past her and away.
Stay calm. Deep breaths. In, out, in, out.
JB rustled from behind her at the transporter’s door. She didn’t startle as he held onto her  waist and pushed her gently to the right, out of his way. He exited and stood by her side. Unlike her, concern and apprehension didn’t show on his face as he raised his arms in the air and stretched. Standing six-feet-two, he was only two inches taller than her.
“Whew, sweet Jesus. Look at all these people.”
“They’re not people.” She scanned the transport bay. “They’re aliens and…things.” She cringed as she caught a pair of Rasdons emerging from a transporter.
Their species resembled a snarling dog. They were taller than her and JB with black, coarse hair covering most of their body. Long snouts sat just above yellow fangs that hung out of their mouths. Their beastly black eyes darted from side to side, taking in everything around them.
Their sexual tastes…ran to the obscene. She’d been the subject of their affection at the brothel more times than she could remember. To her, next to the Loconuist, Rasdons were what nightmares were made of.
One of the Rasdons turned her way and ran a tongue over the tips of his fangs. At her hiss, JB followed her gaze. He straightened, prepared for a confrontation. “You know them?”
She shook her head. “No.” She didn’t need to know them. She knew of them and it was all the same.
“Don’t pay them any mind then,” JB said, relaxing.
Right. Ignore the dogs.
“What about them?” Jess nodded in the direction of two males golden in appearance and with more muscles that should be allowed on aliens. Each towered above eight-feet tall. “They’ll be too hard to ignore.”
The tribal tattoos covering one side of their faces, necks and exposed torsos indicated they were members of the Sonis Royal Guards. The jangos strapped to their backs and blasters clipped to their black indicated they were dangerous. Their pants were so tight that every muscle was visible in their legs as they walked.
She grabbed a hold of her own blaster that she kept strapped tightly to her thigh. Her heart sped up. The erratic beat sent blood rushing through her veins, drowning out the other sounds of the room. Against her will, she took a step back, almost falling into the transporter.
JB gripped her arm firmly, stabilizing her. “Whoa, take it easy. They’re not coming this way. You’re safe.”
She closed her eyes and took the breath that had begun to burn in her chest.
Safe.