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 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
The day Diana met her first alien dawned like any other-with a dry, cottony mouth and a bad case of bed head. She didn't even have any warning because, unlike The X Files and sci-fi movies, she didn't see any lights in the sky and her TV image didn't go all snowy. That kind of pissed her off because, had she known she would be having an up-close-and-personal encounter with life from another planet, she might have at least brushed her hair and worn something other than her ragged robe, plaid boxer shorts, and loose tank top. This is definitely not my most attractive look. Anyway, there she stood, ironing her underwear-being single left her with way too much time on her hands-when, suddenly, it appeared in the middle of her living room. It wasn't a spectacular living room as living rooms went, outfitted with a second-hand, sagging couch and chair, a coffee table that wobbled, and some kind of Oriental print rug in bad need of a beating. A receptionist's salary didn't go far in the
Kor'iander Vel Menos stared at the slightly snoring form of his soon-to-be mate asleep on the floor and shook his head in disbelief. The Oracle had to be wrong. Of course, that had never happened before, but in this instance, Kor really had to question the Oracle's choice. Surely, this feisty, argumentative female could not be his life mate? Docile. He'd specifically written docile when he'd filled in his request for a mate. And this is who the spirits of his ancestors had chosen? A celestial jest on their part perhaps? Her looks at least seemed passable. Perhaps once she groomed herself, she'd even be attractive. The kogi nest that currently adorned her head made him want to shave it for fear of unsavory little critters. As for her shape, the ugly garment she wore did not give a proper indication, although she did seem plump and healthy. Thank the Three Moons. His poor childhood companion Rex'Anor had been given a very slim mate for bonding, and it had taken him many
Diana woke slowly, her mind still pleasantly befuddled from the dream she'd had about a handsome blue alien who wanted her as his mate. Diana wished only that the dream could have continued a little longer and that she hadn't been so prickly. She would have liked to touch that smooth blue skin and maybe even taste it. Oh, the things I would have done to his deliciously muscled body. Diana giggled and rolled over onto her stomach, the smooth, satiny sheets rubbing sensuously against her bare skin. Bare what? I never sleep naked. Diana opened her eyes and sat up in shock. Her gaze flicked down to see she wore not a stitch of clothing and that the bed she found herself in wasn't her own. Where on God's green earth am I? She looked around in consternation, not seeing anything familiar. Panic settled low in her tummy. Okay, let's not freak out here. Maybe I'm still dreaming. Diana pinched herself hard. Owww! Diana glared offensively at the red mark she'd
Diana's eyes fluttered shut as he kissed her, his full lips surprisingly firm against hers, and she felt an electric shock run through her body. Make that more like a lightning bolt, as his touch made every nerve ending in her body come alive and sing with pleasure. Diana wanted to push him away, but her body betrayed her. Melting instead under his sensuous onslaught, her lips parted on a soft sigh to let his alien tongue plunder her mouth. She felt his hands move to grab her around the waist and pull her closer to his body. This close to him, she could feel the hardness of his arousal pulsing against her tummy, making her damp. Diana sighed into his mouth and moved her hands slowly up to grasp his shoulders, then . . . An amused voice broke the embrace. "Kor, while I see you are busy, you are being hailed by your mother on the status of your mission. Should I tell her to call back?" Diana, shocked to discover their kiss had been witnessed, found the strength-barely-t
Kor walked in and stopped. For the first time since he'd laid eyes on Diana, he thanked the Oracle. And, yes, he'd finally relented enough, or should he say groveled enough, that Alphie had given him his mate-to-be's name, along with some basic information about her, but not too much. Kor, for some unfathomable reason, looked forward to discovering more about his chosen. He especially couldn't wait to see how she'd look naked with face flushed and her body aroused. That erotic thought presided at the forefront of his mind as he viewed his intended looking radiant as the moon goddess wearing the flowing garments of his people. Her shapely curves, both hidden and revealed by the strategically draped cloth, made her look good enough to eat. As soon as Diana opened her mouth, though, Kor rolled his eyes and lost his appetite. "I demand you find me some proper clothes," she stated, hands on her hips, glaring at him, not realizing what a fetching picture she made. "I refuse to be dress
Diana allowed him to seat her, still somewhat stunned by the reality of her situation. I'm really on a spaceship flying through the universe on my way to a new world. Holy crap! And by the sounds of it, I'm not the first one. A giant screen that had dropped down from the seamless ceiling lit up, and Kor stood beside it, pointing to the large planet that appeared in the middle of it. "This is my home world, Xaanda, or, translated, Planet of Bounty. You'll notice it resembles your planet Earth quite a bit, although we are several times larger. We have a bright sun much like your own and a second, smaller, red sun. Rotating around our planet are three moons, the resting place for our ancestors. But that is a history lesson for another day." Kor touched the planet on the screen and zoomed in quickly 'til the view shrank to a panorama of a city-a futuristic one by Diana's standards. It gleamed silver, white, and cream with some buildings towering high while others se
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