"I met your brother today," Diana finally told Kor after they'd made passionate love when he came home, skipping dinner to taste her. Kor froze in the process of pulling on his breeches. "What did he want?" he asked, his face carefully neutral. "He wanted to come in and get to know me. I'm afraid I might have been a little rude. He kind of took me off guard. I told him to come back when you were home." Kor's face turned glacial, and he grabbed her tightly. "Don't ever let him in when I'm not home. Do you understand?" "I don't intend to let him in. Like I said, he was creepy, but I don't understand. Isn't he your brother?" "Half brother, and very dangerous. I'm sure you noticed how he differed from others around here with his greenish-cast skin." Diana nodded her head. How could she not notice, especially his freaky eyes. "His mother was pregnant with him when the sickness struck. She survived only long enough to give birth, but the disease had
After Diana went to sleep, Kor called his father, who answered brusquely. "What is it?" "Kil visited Diana today." Kor's father's face aged in a moment, his strength of will sapped by those simple words. "Did he hurt her?" "Not this time," Kor replied tightly. "But he frightened her. You need to do something about this, or I will." Kor's father looked suddenly haggard on the view screen, and he rubbed his aging blue face with a big hand. "I'll talk to him. If I he shows up again, let me know, and I'll talk to the institution." Kor felt a moment's regret that it had come to this, but truth was they should have done something about his brother a long time ago. There was something not right about the plague children, and it went far beyond their different skin tones and looks. Their entire psyche seemed damaged. Kil had remained free of the madness longer than most of his ilk. However, Kor finally gaining a mate, it seemed, might be the catalyst that finally
Diana sat nervously in Lisa's living room, whose turn it was to host the monthly mates' tea. Diana had giggled when Lisa told her about it. "Tea? Seriously?" Lisa had laughed too. "I know it sounds dumb, but apparently this is a long-standing Earth-wife tradition. A way of bringing us together to help us cope with our new lives and to find friends so we aren't so lonely for home." "Does it work?" "I guess, although to be honest, most of the chosens didn't leave much behind. It's like their ancestors look for women who have no real close family or friends. Someone who would welcome a fresh start." A chiming sound ended their deep discussion, and for the next while, a parade of women of varying styles and personalities came through, but the one thing they all had in common, make that two things they had in common, was they were all plump-nothing smaller than a size twelve, it seemed-and they all adored their husbands. All, that is, except for one woman who a
When Kor came home for dinner, Diana threw herself on him and clung to him desperately. He hugged her tightly. "What's wrong?" he asked with concern. "Did Kil come back?" Diana shook her head against him then, her voice breaking, told him, "Claire killed her mate and herself. She was pregnant, Kor. How could she do that? I know she was unhappy, but why?" Kor said nothing, just scooped Diana up and carried her to their living area, where he sat down with her cuddled on his lap. Diana shook in his arms and cried. She couldn't have even said why. She'd barely known Claire. She obviously didn't feel the same way about her marriage as Claire had. But Diana cried anyway. Cried for the loss of the life she knew, cried for the loss of the child who wasn't wanted, cried because she loved her husband but he would never say the words back because his culture didn't have a word to say love. And Kor, understanding her need to release, it seemed, just held her. He said not a
Diana rubbed her tummy and smiled as she pictured what grew inside. Her visit to the doctor with Lisa had confirmed it. I'm pregnant. Diana almost giggled as she pictured the headline back home, boldly displayed in a newspaper title. Woman Gives Birth to Blue Alien Baby. The physician who'd examined her had been unable to confirm the sex yet-that would have to wait a few more weeks-but the baby so far seemed healthy with a strong, rapid heartbeat, and Diana herself felt great. She couldn't wait to see Kor's face when she told him. She'd even set the romantic scene for her announcement. She'd picked flowers from her garden, not too many because her garden still was in the baby growth phrase but enough for some color. Then she perused her electronic cookbook looking for dishes that Kor's mother had mentioned were his favorites so she could order them with her built-in culinary chef. And finally Diana dressed in a soft pink veil gown, a color he said made her skin look rosy and edib
Diana didn't even register the splendor of the Oracle's palace, too intent on her mission, a purpose that the acolyte in front of her was impeding. "I want to speak to the Oracle," said Diana, tapping a foot impatiently. "Now." "But," said the flustered, veiled attendant, "you do not have an appointment. One cannot just show up and expect admittance. It's simply not done." "I don't care. I need to talk to her. She's the reason I'm on this goddamn planet and more miserable than I've ever been in my life. She owes it to me to at least speak to me." "Go home, and we will relay your request. If the Oracle chooses-" A voice interrupted. "She does choose," said the heavily veiled figure that appeared from seemingly nowhere. The acolyte gasped and dropped to the floor, head bowed. "You can take me to see her?" asked Diana. "I am her, child. Come and walk with me. Let us speak of what disturbs you so." The Oracle, a slight figure, gowned he
Diana watched the newscast and cried. They'd found him. Kor was alive! He looked battered and worse for wear, but he lived, and that was all that mattered. Diana smirked as she imagined Kil's reaction to the news of Kor's resurrection. Diana answered the vid comm and saw a jubilant Ele'Anor. "He's alive," she squealed, and Diana, too overcome, just nodded, her own eyes wet. "Do you want me to pick you up on the way to the hospital?" "Yes, please." Diana switched off the screen and, smiling, dressed in her best karimi. She paced, waiting for Ele'Anor, elation bubbling through her. When she heard the knock, she flew to the door and opened it, expecting to see her mother-in-law, but Kil hulked menacingly on her step instead. Diana's smile faltered for a moment before she injected steel into her voice and spine. "You need to leave. Kor is back." "His return changes nothing. You will be mine." Diana felt a flutter of fear at his snarled words.
Kor suffered the attentions of the healer, barely. He felt a desperate urge to see Diana. His mother came in a rush of veils, her face a mask of panic. "Kor!" "I'm fine, Mother. Now calm down. Where's Diana?" he said, peering around her robust form, looking for his mate. "I can see you're fine. It's Diana who's not. He's taken her, Kor." "What? Who's taken her?" Fear and anger gripped his heart in equal measures. "Kil. Lisa, your neighbor, saw him." "Where did they go?" asked Kor, ripping the tubes that were rehydrating him from his arms. "I don't know. Kil has somehow slipped the video relays." "I need some clothes," said Kor, realizing his state of undress when he pulled back the covers. His mother, ever one step ahead, opened her bag and dumped out pants and a shirt. "I don't have boots," she said, shrugging apologetically. Kor quickly dressed and cursed the fact that he didn't have an earpiece so he could contact Alp
Reg watched his mate on her hands and knees examining the silken pink grass of the sentient planet they'd come back to visit. He never tired of watching her, and he'd even become used to her endless questions. He especially enjoyed her inquisitiveness in the bedroom, where she delighted in exploring his body over and over, as well as experimenting with techniques. Although he did draw the line at her taking notes during the act. He, instead, allowed her to videotape them, although he wasn't sure what value the videos had from a scholastic point of view, for, whenever she watched them, the result was the same. They both ended up naked and fucking wildly. Not that he was complaining. He didn't mind sacrificing himself for science. Ralph's voice crackled in his earpiece. "So, when are we upgrading to a bigger ship? I've got my eye on that new luxury model with the improved warp drive." "Bigger ship? What for?" Reg replied absently, smiling when Penny, with a giggle, threw hers
Penny awoke to a hand clasped over her mouth. The inside of the survival tent was dark, but she'd recognize those glowing violet eyes anywhere. Her husband had found her. I should have known I wouldn't get away that easily. Well, if he thinks I'm going to let him drag me back to his ship just so he can dump me, he's got another thing coming. She bit him. With a curse, he pulled his hand away. "Go away." "No," he said calmly, pulling her from the tent. She breathed in the fresh air of the sentient pink planet she'd chosen as a perfect place to hide and research while waiting for another alien vessel to pass by and hitch a ride on. When she'd first arrive, she'd sighed in relief when she hadn't convulsed at the first inhalation of the strange atmosphere. Her research had claimed the air wasn't harmful, but she'd had her doubts. With nothing more dangerous than four-eared bunnies, and with tantalizing reports that the planet itself was alive, she'd thought th
Reg regained consciousness on the command room floor, his head pillowed and his body covered in a blanket. With a curse, he jumped up. "Ralph, where's Penny?" The AI still wasn't replying, and Reg took off jogging to check the ship. It didn't take him long to determine Penny was gone. He returned to the ship's command center and paced the area in front of the view screen. She left me! He'd known she was upset, but to do something this drasticÉ Why couldn't she have waited? He now wished he'd told her immediately about the Oracle's permission for them to travel together. Not that Penny had even given him a chance. No matter, he'd find her. "Ralph? By the moons, computer, I know you must have helped her. Speak to me, dammit." Silence reigned, but across the view screen, words appeared. Penny disabled my auditory function so that I couldn't warn you of what she planned. That human is much too smart for her own good. She managed to override my controls a
"We should be arriving home within three full cycles. I will drop off the human as per custom and then, with your permission, I will return to space to complete my remaining missions." Reg said the words to the Oracle with a heavy heart. After last night's long talk with Penny, where, for once, her loquaciousness hadn't driven him nuts, it occurred to him to take Penny along with him as she wanted. But policy with alien females was very clear. They needed to be brought planetside for their own safety, something he could understand after the terror he'd felt when he'd seen her in danger and knowing now just how delicate she was. The thought of her coming to harm made his blood run cold with dread. "I realize that usually it's protocol for females to reside her at home. However, we have great need of you in space. I also have a confession to make. Penny was chosen long ago to be your mate." Reg stared at the screen and the veiled Oracle. "What do you mean? I told you I had no
Penny awoke with a smile, her body sensitized from the all-night lovemaking. She'd orgasmed more times than she would have ever thought humanly possible. She hoped she'd also managed to change Reg's outdated ideas on women's roles. She'd lectured him at length on the advance of women's rights back on Earth in between bouts, and he'd listened to her, even if his gaze tended to stray to her naked body parts. She was pretty sure she'd managed to make him understand logically the reasons why they should stay together in space, and then to add sugar to sweeten the deal, she'd shown him physically. I can't believe he expected me to become some kind of Suzie Homemaker popping out babies. My research on the effects of space travel on pregnancy and children, rare as those cases seem to be, doesn't lead me to believe there's any reason why we can't continue on to travel the galaxy, which is where I know Reg wants to be. Speaking of whom, where was her sexy blue husband? She dressed a
At Penny's cry of pain, Reg found himself submerged in remorse. While he'd meant to punish her, he'd not intended to cause her lasting harm. It would seem, though, that his Earthling wife was of a more delicate constitution than he'd realized. He dumped her onto the bed on her stomach and, naked, jogged to the infirmary to retrieve a jar of lotion to ease her abused buttocks. He returned to the bedroom and found her watching him when he strode in. She gave him a half-smile that made his heart stutter oddly. He'd have to run himself through a medical later on and see what was the matter with him, for he'd suffered these heart palpitations since he'd met Penny. While he'd balked at marriage, now, suddenly wed to his exotic human, he realized he wanted a long life with her. But forget his funny heart problems, he could now see the brightness of her ass, and his chagrin grew. "I'm so sorry," he apologized, sitting beside her on the bed and opening the jar. "I didn't mean to pun
Penny squealed at the first spank on her bottom. Fiery pain shot through her, and she struggled in earnest on Reg's lap. But his muscles were more than just hot to look at. They also contained strength. He held her bent over his lap effortlessly and proceeded to paddle her bottom, turning deaf ears to her pleas and tears. "You meanie," she railed. "Stop it right now!" When threats didn't work, including a rather inventive one about what she'd do to him and his manparts with a beaker of acid, she resorted to bribes. "I'll be a good girl. I promise. Let me prove myself." She proceeded to recount in embarrassing detail what she would do to his cock, and while said rod poked her ribs solidly, he didn't falter. "I'm doing this for your own good." Penny wanted to retort, but deep down-really deep where she would never admit it-she knew she deserved it. Funny how getting spanked forced her to reconsider her decision to flout his command. In the end, he was right
"Get us out of here, Ralph," Reg said, breathing hard. He threw himself into the command chair and, with lightning-quick taps, pulled up the defense systems for the ship. The sound of the docking clamps releasing sounded faintly, and with a slight shudder, the ship lifted. Reg drummed his fingers, waiting for signs of pursuit. Only after they'd reached the edge of that particular solar system with no alarms or signs of other crafts did his tension leave him. Another tightness took its place, though, as he thought of what had almost happened to Penny, his wife. "Ralph, I'm off to see to my mate. Notify me immediately if there's trouble." Reg stalked to the decontamination chamber, his body taut with anger. He wasn't furious at having been tricked into getting mated-which surprised him-but he was livid that Penny had disobeyed him and put herself in so much danger. She could have died. When he didn't find her in the cleansing room, he went to the bedroom nex
The dark blood that spurted from the slaver's neck made Penny blanch. She'd never seen or experienced violence firsthand. And apparently, she wouldn't have the time to come to terms with it, for Reg pushed her toward the door at the back of the dais. She stumbled along, hearing numbly the roar at her back as the bidders expressed their displeasure at the turn of events. She still couldn't believe Reg had arrived to save her, and in the nick of time, too. And he'd married her! An event she'd love to analyze when he stopped dragging her through the maze of corridors. "Ralph," he barked aloud. "Prepare the ship for immediate departure." Penny didn't hear a reply and assumed Reg wore some kind of transmitter. "Are we close?" she whispered loudly. "More or less, but I expect we'll have to fight our way on board." "Why not teleport?" she asked as he tucked her behind him to peer around a corner. "The whole asteroid is shielded against it," he replied, tugg