Lex found himself swirling with a confusing mixture of emotions, the most prominent one being lust. The woman who'd rescued him looked nothing at all like his picture-perfect Amanda with her blonde locks. Yet this female, whose name he hadn't yet gotten, with her wild brown curls, smooth, tanned skin, and mouth-watering curves, made him want to forget the Oracle, forget his intended. He wanted this feisty beauty. In her soft, pillowy curves, a male could lose himself and never want to leave. He couldn't blame confusion on his near-death experience anymore either. He knew full well she wasn't his for the taking, and yet he wanted her with a desire that almost frightened him with its intensity. Could the Oracle have made an error? Had his ancestors not looked hard enough? And since when did he doubt his betters? Part of what made Lex a good warrior, and the reason he'd become eligible for a mate, was his unquestioning of orders. His superiors gave him a mission, and he did it. Sim
Maya looked at him strangely. "Ai, you must be alien to be so ignorant. I am human, or earthling, if you prefer, but my people are called Hispanic, or Latina. We tend to have dark hair"-she pointed to her halo of curls-"and tanned skin. Don't tell me everyone on your planet is blue like you?" And she wondered if the blue extended to all his body parts. "No, we have different shades depending on the purity of the bloodline and the occasional other color depending on the mixing of alien genes." Maya shook her head at the remark that skirted the edge of racism. "I'm not even going to touch that one," she said, shaking her head. "Now, it's time you explained exactly what you're doing here. And you'd better tell the truth, or I'll call the military police myself. You said something about marrying some human girl?" Actually Maya wouldn't turn him in. Somewhere between the hotel where she worked and her home, she'd begun to believe his strange tale-kind of hard not to when his eye
"You'd help me?" Lex sat up straighter. "Yeah, I guess I will. First, though, I need some dry clothes then some sleep," she said, hiding a yawn behind a hand. "I worked all night. So let me grab a couple of hours' sleep, and I'll help you find this Amanda person." "Thank you," he said, standing when she did. Her cheeks blossomed with color, and Lex had to fight an urge to cup her face and kiss her 'til that bloom spread all over her body. Taking a deep breath to dispel his thoughts, he caught an acrid whiff. Sniffing, he realized the smell came from him. "Do you have cleansing facilities that I might dispel the aroma of that pool?" he asked with clear disgust. It still appalled him how they squandered water. "Sure. Just go through that door," she said, pointing with a finger and stifling another yawn. Lex, who had no modesty, began stripping as he walked, grinning at her squeak behind him. He could hope only that his intended reacted the same way at the
Maya didn't even think. She heard him yell and bolted into her bathroom. Upon seeing him, she stopped dead-well, motion-wise, that is. Her body was anything but dead, flushing from the tips of her toes to the top of her head and soaking her panties, barely covered by the T-shirt she'd changed into. The reason stood in front of her-six feet plus inches of naked, eminently lickable blue skin and muscles that had to be illegal. Narrowed violet eyes glared at her. "Your bathing cubicle shoots water!" Spoken in clear accusation. "It's how we wash ourselves," she said, stifling a giggle while trying to keep her eyes above his waist, but curiosity, like gravity, drew them down. ÁDios m'o, he's hung like a god! Too fascinated by the sight of his large blue cock, she couldn't look away. Hell, she didn't even blush, but desire roared through her, and she licked her lips, wishing she could lick something else. As if he read her mind-or his shaft did-it lifted in greeting
Lex, breathing heavily and painfully aroused-again-watched her answer a communication device. Had they not been interrupted, he would have taken her like a rutting beast against the wall. He still wanted to, and judging by her flushed cheeks and the nipples that jutted prominently through the cloth of her shirt, so did she. Raking his hand through his hair, he turned back to the cubicle and stepped back in. He needed to find his famous discipline and control. With no other choice, he swallowed his shock over the earthlings' use of water for cleansing and turned the metal knobs, this time expecting the frigid liquid that hit his fevered body. The coldness of the water cleansed his body and helped ease his tumultuous erection, but it did nothing for his turbulent thoughts. How can I want Maya when I am promised to another? He needed to find his mate quickly before he did something foolish-like take Maya as my mate instead. A treacherous thought that did not appall him as it s
"Sir, we've found something." General Beckworth strode across the concrete deck to the edge of the pool, where a scuba diver clung to the side and held up a tiny object. "What is it?" he asked squatting down to squint at the blob the diver held out in a gloved hand. "Possible electronic device, sir." "Can we tell who designed it?" The real question-was it of human or alien origin? "We'll have to get it back to the lab to take it apart, sir." "Do it." Immediately the evidence was bagged, tagged, and taken away for a prompt analysis. The military, unlike other legal agencies, had the means and resources for immediate action in these types of matters. The general surveyed the milling personnel who flocked all over the outdoor swimming area for the hotel the dogs had led them to. Inside, even more staff had the daunting task of questioning all the hotel's guests and employees, so far to no avail. No one had seen or heard anything-yet. Wands
Maya woke to hardness-throbbing, decadent, moisture-pooling hardness. ÁDios m'o! She lay sprawled across the alien's chest like some plump, slutty blanket, and instead of jumping off like a good little girl, she snuggled closer. In her twenty-six years, she'd only rarely slept with men. Her work hours made it hard to date, and her plump size, while garnering male attention, always seemed to be of the temporary kind. Maya preferred the men in the books she read, strong men who took a woman and cherished her forever. Would Lex be that type of man? From what she'd experienced, he'd be a giving lover, a thought that made her flush. Either way, it didn't matter. He hadn't come to Earth for her. Sighing, she made to move away, but thick arms wrapped around her like steel cord, and a husky voice said, "Stay." Her heart fluttered, and the throbbing between her legs intensified, naughtily so. "I shouldn't." But oh how she wanted to, and honestly, she couldn't really thi
Lex watched with hooded eyes as Maya covered her delectable curves, her face expressionless, even as her slamming of drawers indicated ire. Didn't she enjoy my touch? Actually, he knew she had. The taste of her-ambrosia, for sure-still lingered on his tongue. Why her displeasure then? Fabric came flying at him and hit him in the face, along with a terse, "Get dressed." Confused by the earthling's reaction, and even more by his-I want her back in bed, naked-he dressed in the odd clothing she'd given him. The shirt, with short sleeves, stretched tight across his shoulders and featured a faded picture of a rainbow. A pair of short pants that left his legs bare completed the makeshift outfit, and thus attired, he went looking for her out in her main living area. He found her in the food preparation area banging around, and he approached tentatively and slowly like one would with a ready-to-bolt Jelaxian mount. "May I inquire as to your apparent anger?"
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