Ral’s Woman

Laurann Dohner

To the love of my life, David. He’s always supportive in every way imaginable, always reminds me that true love really does exist, and is always eager to conduct “research” with me.

1

Ariel kept her eyes down. She’d learned to not look up. Her left cheek still hurt from the bruises she was sure marred her face. She knew help would never come. She was still in deep shock and it was hard to function as the hours passed. Her life was over, changed forever, and death would probably greet her really damn soon. This couldn’t be happening. How many times had that thought crossed her mind in the days since she’d been taken?

Her gaze drifted around the cave floor. Someone had painstakingly swept up the dirt and debris until it was almost clean. There were lights along the ceiling so the room was well lit.

She heard shoes striking the stones, and fear gripped her. What now? The thought barely surfaced before she heard one of the men who’d grabbed her enter the room.

“Useless,” he said softly.

She lifted her gaze. The man wasn’t human. The shock of someone not being human hadn’t started to dim yet. Days ago if she had been told other races existed she would have laughed and asked them what movie they had watched too much. It wasn’t funny anymore. Her gaze swept the man’s bluish pale skin and then dropped. His eyes were yellow. They were serpent-like and his voice was wispy in a creepy way that sent bad chills down her spine.

“Did you hear me, Earthling? You’re useless.”

She nodded. She didn’t speak. She knew if she looked at him too long or if she spoke, it would warrant another blow to her face. They were Anzons. That’s what she’d been told when they had grabbed her from the woods by her home. The days she’d been captive felt like forever to her.

Another set of footsteps. She glanced up. The females of their species had the same eerie yellow eyes and bluish skin tone. They had breasts and seemed to grow hair only in a strip from the top of their heads to the lower part of their neck but their body structure wasn’t that different. They were all lean and long.

“It has been confirmed,” the woman hissed. “She’s not capable of breeding with our men. Humans aren’t the answer we seek.”

“We could give the males some relief with her. She’s not hideous to look at and her form is similar enough to ours.”

The woman hissed loudly. “The physical exam I gave her when she was unconscious says otherwise. She’d die.”

“She’s useless anyway.”

The woman frowned. “Where is your compassion, Yoz? It would be excruciating for her. The hard shell at the tip of your staff would tear her apart inside. She would bleed out and the pain would be—” The woman shivered. “I wouldn’t wish it upon even an enemy. We’re not at war with her world.”

“She’ll die anyway and I am curious.”

“Yoz,” the woman hissed. “I will not allow it. I have another purpose for her.”

“We need a worker?”

“No. I thought we could award her to one of the miners. They probably aren’t breeding compatible but sexually it wouldn’t be harmful to hand her over to one of them.”

Yoz hissed. “Vhal, that’s disgusting. That’s cruelty. They are so hideous.”

“But they wouldn’t kill her. And they have hair like she has.”

The man snorted. Ariel sensed his eyes on her. “She has little body hair. They have more hair. They are also much bigger. Their skin texture looks the same though.”

“I’ve already discussed this with Mon. He agreed. It is done. Take her to the mines now. Mon awaits her.”

Fear struck Ariel deeply. She jerked her head up and locked her eyes on the woman. “What is going on? Please tell me something. Please.”

The man hissed angrily at Ariel. The woman—Vhal—gripped his arm and shook her head. Compassion filled her face as she released the man. Vhal walked forward, blinked at Ariel a few times, and ran a lizard-like tongue across her thin blue lips. She stared down at Ariel.

“You were taken from your planet as we passed because our males outnumber our females eighteen to one. We’re facing eventual extinction if we don’t find a race of females to breed with our men. Our female bodies only support one or two egg cycles in our lifetimes. We lay our eggs and hatch our young. We only have three to six children per egg cycle. We tested you and you are not breeding compatible with our species.”

Ariel was stunned. “May I please go home?”

“I’m sorry but no. We are on a large…” She frowned. “You would call it an asteroid. We send ships out to habitable planets. We are very careful with our fuel. Our mission is important and we must complete it before we are allowed to return to our home planet. If we do not find breeding compatible females we will eventually die of old age still searching for them. It is imperative that we save our race. There are other stations like this one out there searching for females. If we do find breeders we will need all of our fuel to take them to our planet.”

Hot tears filled Ariel’s pale blue eyes. “So I’ll never see my home again?”

“I’m sorry.” The woman’s hissing voice sounded sad. “We have miners. They mine this asteroid. It gives us fuel and then more living spaces. You will be awarded to one of them for his hard work. They are Zorn. It is another race of people we own.”

Own? She hadn’t missed that term. Dread filled Ariel. “What will happen to me?”

The woman blinked. “They treat the few females they have well. They do not share their females so you will be awarded to just one of them. The language implant in your ear will allow you to communicate with the male you end up with. Our commander takes pleasure in sports so the winner will get you. He offers them rewards. You are the prize.”

She stared up at the woman. “Please…no.”

The woman nodded slowly. “It is better than what Yoz had in store for you. One sexual mating with one of my kind would kill you very painfully.” The woman turned.

“Take her, Yoz.”

Ariel wanted to fight but she knew it would be useless. The man was six feet tall and damn strong, though he was thin. He gripped the chain attached to her wrist. It had to be some kind of alien touch-release shackle because it unlocked from the wall when he gripped it. He walked away, not waiting to see if Ariel would follow or not. She got to her feet to walk quickly after him so she wasn’t dragged. The man had long legs.

Their alien torsos weren’t that long but their legs were much longer than human legs.

Yoz led her through stone corridors. She gasped when she saw a large window of what appeared to be thick glass. She stared beyond the window into literal outer space.

She saw stars in a black sea. Yoz yanked hard on her chain and it made her jerk forward. Pain shot up her arm.

“Beautiful,” he hissed. “But stare at it later. You will see enough of it to be sick of it quickly. I am sick of it.”

He led her to what looked like an elevator. It was more of a rounded tube. No walls were attached to the platform. Yoz gripped the back of her neck and held on. The platform suddenly dropped out from under them at an alarming rate.

Fear gripped Ariel. She saw the rough rock around them sliding past. She was pretty sure she would tear up her skin if she touched one of the rough rock walls as the floor dropped them lower into the bowels of the asteroid. The man grasping her didn’t release her neck until the platform slowed to a stop. She saw more stone corridors.

Yoz walked off the platform. “Come fast. I am being called.” The man touched his ear. “I am nearly there, Mon.”

Ariel swallowed. She didn’t see any kind of device on the man’s ear, just skin. Then again she’d touched her own ear many times since she’d woken up after she’d been taken. She’d been so stunned by her surroundings at first it had taken her hours to realize when she was spoken to, the aliens’ lips didn’t move correctly to form the words she heard in her ear. She only heard them in one ear and not the other. She’d been informed that they’d implanted something so she could understand their language. Yoz must also have some kind of implanted two-way communication device in his cone-shaped ear.

She saw a large door and Yoz stopped to put his hand on it. Anzons only had four fingers—they didn’t possess thumbs. The door groaned before it opened up and cooler air hit them both. Ariel shivered as the air blasted them. Yoz started walking.

“Hurry or the door will crush you,” he hissed.

She ran to catch up with him. She heard a loud groan and turned her head back.

The door slammed down to the floor with a louder thud. She flinched. The halls were wider here and she heard something that sent fear up her spine again. It sounded like growling.

“It has already begun,” Yoz hissed. Excitement made him speak faster.

They turned a corner and the ceiling disappeared. The corridor ended in a large cavern. She saw more of Yoz’s kind standing there. They were staring below at the cavern floor. Yoz pushed forward shoving at another male alien. Ariel had little choice but to follow since he had her wrist leashed. She saw the bluish aliens staring at her as she walked past at least twenty of them. These aliens wore thick black clothing that looked like hard shells. She saw weapons strapped around their waists.

Yoz moved toward a very tall alien. The alien wore the black shell uniform with weapons attached around his waist. He turned his head and Ariel met a pair of cold yellow eyes. The alien eyed her back, his scary gaze wandering down her body. His gaze jerked to Yoz.

“Strip her down and chain her on the platform.”

Yoz hesitated. “Everything?”

“Is she wearing anything under her clothing?”

“There are small coverings over her breasts and her sex chamber.”

“Leave those on. I don’t want a riot.”

Yoz nodded and jerked Ariel out on a platform. It didn’t have rails. It was a long strip of flooring and then an open round platform like their version of an elevator. This one had two bars coming up from the floor. Yoz jerked her to the center of the platform and pointed to the center.

“Stand and hold.”

She was afraid. “Hold?”

“Do not move. If you fall you die.”

She tried to peer over the platform to below, but Yoz gripped her throat to jerk her head up as he pushed her to the center of the platform.

“Do as you are told.”

She held still and kept her head up. He released her throat, took the leash and yanked it upward so her arm was raised. He touched it to the pole and released it. The leash stayed attached to the bar. He turned and her eyes followed him. He held up his hand and another leash was thrown at him from one of the bluish aliens. Yoz caught it and he gripped her other wrist, wrapping the leash around it as he jerked her arm up, attaching the leash to the other pole. Her arms were above her, spread wide and high.

She could stand fine but she knew she could only move a few inches at most.

Yoz stepped in front of her to stare down into her frightened eyes. “I feel sorry for you.”

She gasped when he gripped her shirt to tear at it roughly—he was strong. She was helpless to stop the alien as the material was torn from her body. He reached down to shove his fingers inside the waist of her skirt. His sharp fingernails shredded the band from the inside out. He yanked her skirt from her so Ariel was left standing in only her bikini briefs and bra. Yoz eyed her with pity. Shaking his head, he walked away from her.

Ariel turned her head to track the alien. Yoz walked back across the strip of flooring to his fellow aliens. The platform she stood on suddenly dropped quickly. She gasped at the falling sensation, fighting a scream. The platform slowed to a stop with a stomach-churning lurch. She had probably dropped fifty feet to the cavern floor in just a few seconds.

She couldn’t help but stare. She saw a group of about eighty males. They were definitely males. She got her first look at what must be Zorn. They looked huge. They had hair all right. She remembered that comment from the aliens. The males had long, thick hair that ran down their backs to their waists. They had hairy chests. She could see that because none of them wore shirts. They had dark brown skin, almost looking deeply tan, and thick, huge muscles.

She saw one in the front the rest. She stared at his face. He looked almost human.

The difference was his nose was flatter and wider than a human’s. He had high cheekbones and thick lips. Those lips opened and she saw sharp teeth. Terror hit her.

They almost looked like what would happen if someone had combined a human with an animal. Her eyes locked on those sharp teeth before she tore them away to stare at another man who moved closer.

The light caught his eyes—bright electric blue. It was a color she’d never seen before it was so blue—they almost glowed. Terrified, Ariel started to breathe faster. She let the sounds around her penetrate her terror. The men were growling like vicious animals. She shut her eyes. She fought the wrist restraints but couldn’t get free of the leashes holding her arms above her.

“The winner takes her,” a deep voice hissed from above. “I want fighting in fours.

Clear the area and pick the fighters.”

Ariel forced her eyes to remain open. She didn’t want to look but she had to. The growling had stopped. She saw the men moving back into the shadows. She couldn’t see anything beyond the well-lit area in front of her. She took deep breaths to try to calm down. These animalistic men were going to fight over her.

They looked savage. Would the winner eat her? Was she dinner? She didn’t know what would be worse, the idea that they were fighting over her to eat or to have sex with her.

Four men walked out of the shadows. She stared at them. They didn’t look at her.

They looked up.

“Begin,” the male voice demanded from above.

The men split into pairs to attack each other. They used fists. They kicked out. The sounds of flesh hitting flesh were loud. She heard growling and grunts as blows landed.

Two men went down. The remaining two turned on each other. One of the men did a roundhouse move that threw the other man out of the lit area. He didn’t return. The last man standing walked to the side of the fighting area. He waited, crossing his arms over his chest.

Four more men came out. It began again. Ariel flinched at the brutality of it. These men were not messing around. Blood splattered on the floor. She heard one man’s arm break. It was that loud. The man roared as he went down holding his arm. Someone came from the shadows to drag him away. The man who’d won that match waited for the other two to finish. When one remained the two attacked each other.

Ariel shut her eyes. She didn’t want to watch anymore. The sounds of fighting continued. It was a brutal sound. Finally silence filled her ears. Her eyes opened from curiosity. Large, muscular men were waiting on the sideline. Some of them were smeared with blood. A few of the men eyed the others and backed away into the darkness to bow out of fighting. Ariel counted the remaining men who stood there waiting to fight.

“Begin,” the voice ordered from above.

All sixteen ended up in the lit area. They were fighting in groups together. Roars and growls erupted as they fought. The injured were dragged away into the shadows. It went down to three males. Two of them teamed together to attack the biggest one.

Ariel studied the lone man being attacked by the other two. He was a huge son of a bitch. He was bigger than his opponents by a few inches and he looked thicker in the arms and shoulders. He fought with amazing speed as he dodged fists and feet. He punched one man in the face. Ariel heard something crack. The man he hit went staggering back, collapsing on the floor. She saw blood on the fallen man’s face. He whimpered and rolled to his side to hold his face with both hands. He didn’t get up.

Her eyes flew to the last two men fighting. The larger one swung out a foot to hit the other man in the chest. The man gasped as he grabbed at his ribs. He dropped to his knees while blood dripped out of his mouth. He looked down before he crashed facedown on the floor. The lone man stood there growling. He threw his head back roaring out into the cavern. Ariel wished she could cover her ears so the terrifying noise could be muffled. The man’s roar cut off as he turned around to glare up at the bluish aliens.

“She’s yours, Ral,” the alien above her hissed. “Release her to him.”

Ariel felt terror as the man named Ral moved toward the platform. She heard someone close to her move. From the darkness, one of the bluish men in a black uniform appeared behind her. He gripped her wrist, freeing it with a jerk, and reached for her other one to free it too.

Blood rushed back into her arms as she lowered them to her sides. Ariel experienced that pins-and-needles sensation. She gasped as the bluish man gripped her arms firmly. He shoved her forward until she found herself staring up a good foot and some inches into the face of the man who’d won her. He had to be six and a half feet tall to her five foot three.

She recognized him instantly from his eyes. Those bright electric blue eyes looked like they glowed. He was breathing hard. She saw sharp white teeth peeking through his wide full lips. His flattened nose twitched and a soft growl came from his throat. His hands were large and warm as he gripped her hips. He tugged her from the platform, turning her toward the darkness of the cavern. He snarled.

Ariel’s knees started to buckle. She would have crashed to the rock floor if the man’s large hands weren’t gripping her hard enough to hold her up. He spun her around and stared down at her.

“Mine,” he growled.

Ariel opened her mouth but nothing came out. The man lifted her so they were face-to-face. She automatically put her hands on his chest so her upper body didn’t slam into his. Her hands were pale compared to his dark brown skin. She touched hard muscles covered by hot flesh. She stared into his eyes. He had long, thick black eyelashes that matched his thick black mane of hair. His skin was hotter than hers by far.

“Mine,” he growled softly at her.

Ariel gasped when tossed her over his shoulder. A thickly muscled arm trapped her legs against his chest while a firm hand gripped her ass, holding her in place. He stormed away from the platform into the darkness with her. Ariel couldn’t see a thing.

She shut her eyes and fought the terror she was feeling. What would he do to her?

2

Ariel could smell him. He didn’t smell bad. He actually smelled good considering he’d just been fighting. She realized he had skin under the hair that fell to his waist. At first glance she’d thought they just had hairy backs but the hair grew from their heads.

It was softer to the touch than it looked.

She heard low growls as he walked away quickly with her. She wished it weren’t so dark so she could see. Faint light started to penetrate as he walked so she could make out rough walls. The light grew brighter until she could make out the floor. It was an uneven stone, not smooth like the hallways she’d seen above.

“You won,” a voice growled softly. “Who will you give this one to, Ral?”

Ral stopped walking. “She is mine.”

There was a pause. “But you always give away what you win. I have been waiting the longest.”

“Not her,” Ral growled. “This one is mine.”

“But—”

“Enough,” Ral snarled. “Move or I’ll move you.”

She heard the other man growl. “Will you at least share her?”

“No.”

One word made Ariel feel relief. She didn’t want to be shared. The man holding her snarled. “Move out of my way. If you wanted a woman you should have fought harder to win.”

“But—”

“Move,” Ral snarled. “Get out of my way now.”

The man must have moved out of Ral’s way since they were moving again. She heard soft voices but she didn’t push against the man holding her to look up. She was afraid that whatever was around her wasn’t something she wanted to see. The man carrying her made some turns before he stopped. His hands left her, but he kept her tucked over his wide shoulder. Rock scraped against rock. He moved and turned.

Another scraping noise followed. He gripped her again so she wouldn’t fall. The room was dimly lit. Ral bent over slowly.

Ariel’s bare feet touched cool stone. The arm around her legs released her and the hand on her ass let go. They both straightened up to face each other. Ariel’s chin lifted.

She met his eyes before turning her attention on the room around her.

It was a small space. Rough rock walls surrounded them. A thick mattress with blankets sat in one corner and a pile of clothing took up another. She saw a rough door made out of a thin slate of rock. It was the only way in or out.

“What are you called?” His voice was deep as he growled the words.

She started, her eyes flying to meet his. “Ariel.”

He blinked, his eyes glowing. She swallowed, locking her eyes with his. A deep breath made his massive chest expand even further.

“I am Ral. I am Zorn. What are you?”

“Human. I’m from Earth.”

“They took you from your home planet as well?”

She nodded. “Days ago. They said they are looking for breeders but I am not compatible with them.”

His eyes lowered to her body. “Remove your clothing.”

Ariel backed up. Fear hit her hard. “No.”

He frowned. “Now.”

She backed up farther, shaking her head. “What do you want?”

“To see if you are compatible with me.”

Her throat went dry. “No.”

He softly growled. “I will not hurt you. I want to look at you to see if we are compatible.”

She shook her head again and looked for an escape. The man moved fast to grab her around her waist. She gasped as her feet left the floor. In seconds the man had her flat on her back on his mattress. It was soft and it smelled like him. His body straddled her hips as he grabbed her wrists. She fought but he was much stronger. He pulled her wrists together and locked them in one of his large hands.

She stared at his hands. They were like hers only larger. He had roughened skin on his palm and the pads of his fingertips. He reached for his waist to yank off the ropelike belt holding up his pants. He wound it around her wrists and shoved her hands above her head.

“Don’t move.”

She was terrified. “Please don’t hurt me.”

He blinked and frowned at her. “I have no intention to hurt you.”

She didn’t move her arms. The man was too strong and big. She knew she didn’t stand a chance to win in a physical fight with him. His eyes went to her bra as he reached for it. Ariel tensed. The man gripped the material between her breasts. With a tug her bra ripped apart. He shoved her bra cups to the side so he could stare at her breasts. He softly growled.

“The same.”

She fought the urge to move. Her heart was pounding and she was fighting the urge to whimper. “What is the same?”

“Your breasts are like our women.” He scooted down her until he straddled her thighs. He eyed her underwear and reached for them.

“Don’t,” Ariel pleaded softly.

He froze. His eyes lifted to meet hers. His intense eyes narrowed slightly. “I want to make sure I won’t hurt you.”

Ariel tensed hard as the man gripped her underwear and tore it off. He shifted his body, lifting up a few inches. He gripped her thighs, pushing them apart to put one knee between hers. He shifted again until he was sitting on his heels with his body between her spread legs. Ral’s complete attention went to where her underwear used to be.

He softly growled and his eyes rose. “Explain how you have sex on your world.”

Ariel pleaded with him with her eyes. “Don’t do this.”

“We are doing this. I want you.” He reached for the waist of his pants. “I will try to have sex your way but if you won’t tell me what I want to know then we’ll have sex my way.”

Her heart was pounding. “I don’t know what to say.”

He growled. “Have you shared your body with a male before?”

“Yes.” Her voice shook.

“How do you and your males have sex?”

“Look, until I was kidnapped I never even realized other people from other planets existed. Please don’t do this.”

He tilted his head. “Your world doesn’t have space travel?”

“We do but there is no planet close enough for us to reach where life exists. We looked at the nearby planets. They didn’t hold life.”

“Life exists on many other worlds.” He spread her thighs wider. His eyes roamed down her body. “Tell me what arouses you. This will happen so tell me what you need to enjoy it.”

She was afraid.

He growled. “I want you. Show me what you like or you might not enjoy what I will do to you.”

She fought a sob. She nodded. Her eyes traveled down his body. “What do you do for sex?”

He opened his pants. Ariel gasped. She stared at his cock. Mild fear hit her. He was very similar to humans only he was a little larger, thicker, and the head of his cock was more mushroomed.

“Do I look like your males?”

She swallowed hard. “You’re a little bigger.”

He touched her, spreading her labia with his fingers, and looked between her folds.

With his other hand he explored her slit. One finger sank into her pussy. Ariel gasped.

The man had thick fingers. He pushed into her deeper and growled.

“You can take me.”

“Please don’t do this,” she whispered.

He shook his head at her. “It is happening. I have a strong need. There is no use fighting, so show me what arouses you or tell me.”

“Release my wrists. Please?” Her voice shook.

He nodded. He held out his hand to her after he withdrew his finger from inside her. She lifted her arms holding them out to him. He unfastened the ropelike belt binding her wrists and tossed it away. He growled at her.

“Show me. Touch yourself the way you like touched.”

She stared up into his eyes. “Please don’t do this.”

He growled again and bent down until a foot separated them. “You have been taken. You are a slave now like we are. They won’t permit you to go home. You belong to me. I will protect you and feed you. I will be the only man who touches you. In exchange you will let me have you for pleasure.” His eyes narrowed. “I won’t hurt you if you show me how you like to be touched. Show me what you like so we both share pleasure or you can take your chances of me hurting you when I take my pleasure. Do we understand each other? I am your life now.”

She blinked back hot tears and nodded. “I understand.”

“Touch yourself and show me how you feel pleasure.”

She was shaking as she put her finger in her mouth. She wet her finger and reached between them. He leaned back to get a better view of her. He spread her thighs wider.

His eyes glued to her as she used her other hand to spread herself. She touched her clit with a fingertip and drew slow circles.

Shutting her eyes made it easier for her. She’d never masturbated in front of someone before. She was embarrassed. She was having a hard time getting over her fear. Opening her eyes, she gazed at him. He was watching her finger move in tight circles against her clit. He was breathing harder, his chest rising fast and harsh, and a look of hunger masked his features.

He suddenly inserted his finger inside her pussy again. He pushed in another finger a few seconds later. He pumped his fingers slowly inside her as she rubbed her clit. The sensation made her breathe harder. She moaned. He softly growled back.

She was getting turned on as her fear lessened and the feeling of him finger-fucking her while she rubbed her clit made her excited. Even his soft growls excited her. She felt perverse but it was too good of a feeling for her to care. She rubbed faster on her clit, crying out as she climaxed. A low moan rumbled from the back of his throat as he slowly withdrew his fingers.

“I feel you. You are tight against my fingers. You are wet now. You are ready for me.”

He gripped her hips as he moved back and turned her over. She gasped at his strength. Ral spread her thighs and moved back between her them. He sat back on his heels with his knees together. Gripping her, he lifted her by her hips off his mattress.

She fisted the bedding. Her inner thighs were against his outer legs. He had her facedown as he yanked her higher on his lap until he was pressing against her wet slit with his cock. He pushed into her slowly.

Ariel fisted his bedding and whimpered. He was thick and he didn’t pause as he slowly pushed into her body. He was forcing her to take him. He was so thick it almost hurt. A growl tore from his throat as he pushed into her deeper. Ariel found herself pressed against his body with him totally buried inside her as he hesitated. The sensation of being stretched by his thick cock was overwhelming.

He released her hips and large hands cupped her ass. His rough palms rubbed her skin and he growled.

“So good. So wet. So soft. Lord of the Moons, woman.”

She moaned as he withdrew a few inches and pushed into her again. He moved slowly at first and then increased the pace. His hands slid from her ass to wrap around her hips where he gripped her firmly. Ral lifted her hips a few inches over his lap. He started to pound in and out faster.

The sensations made Ariel moan and pant. He was making her feel more pleasure than she’d ever experienced. He slid one hand around her belly. He cupped her mound and found her clit with his fingers. Two thick fingers brushed against her sensitive nub with every movement he made. She was really wet, and with her face down, she could feel her wetness soaking her thighs. She was overloaded by raw pleasure. She screamed out as she came hard.

The man behind her roared as his body jerked violently. Ariel felt hot cum jetting inside her in strong bursts. Ral slowed his pace, finally stopping. They were both out of breath.

“You are mine to keep,” he growled softly.

Ariel shut her eyes. She shivered. Being seduced by a sexy yet scary alien was the best sex she’d ever had in her life. She fought tears. God, her life was so fucked up.

The man eased his cock out slowly as he left her body. He collapsed on the bed next to her and pulled her into his arms. He made her face him. She opened her eyes to stare at his flushed features. He frowned as he studied her eyes.

“Your eyes are wet.”

“Tears.”

“What are those?”

She blinked them back. “When humans are sad or hurt we get tears. Our eyes water and they spill down our faces.”

He frowned. “I hurt you? I thought you enjoyed that.”

“I did.” She wasn’t going to lie to him. “I enjoyed it too much. I don’t even know you.”

He rubbed her hip with his large hand. “This hurts you that you don’t know me before we bred?”

She nodded. “I have never allowed anyone touch me before without being in love first.”

“Being what?” He looked confused.

She bit her lip for a second. “When you want to spend all your life with one person because you have so many feelings for them you don’t want to live without them. They are everything to you. That’s being in love.”

He nodded. “Then do not get tears. We are in love. You are mine. I will never let you go. You will spend your life with me and no one else. I am now everything to you and you are now everything to me. I will die to protect and keep you safe. I will always care for you.”

Shock tore through her. “I don’t think you understand.”

He arched a black eyebrow. “I think you do not understand. You are mine for life. I claim you. I won you. I will keep you. We will breed often and I am hoping you will take my seed to root.”

“Seed to root?”

He touched her stomach. “I hope my seed makes you grow with my offspring.”

Shock tore all the way through her again. “You want to get me pregnant?”

“There’s no translation for pregnant. It is just the word.”

“You want me to have a baby?”

He shrugged. “Offspring.”

She nodded. “A baby.”

“Yes. I wish you to have one with me. Many with me.”

“What if we aren’t compatible?”

“It won’t make me give you up. You are mine. We take a woman to bound to with for life. I have taken you. You are mine whether we have offspring or not.”

She stared up at him. He softly growled.

“I want you again. Roll onto your stomach.”

He went to his knees again and sat on his bent legs. He patted his thighs. “Up.”

She hesitated. “Do you always have sex that way?”

“Yes. You do not?”

“Sometimes. We like different positions.”

“But I can’t hit your unis in any other position.”

“Unis?”

“The unis is what makes you enjoy sex. Without it you cannot enjoy sex at all.”

She eyed him. “I don’t think I have an unis and I did enjoy sex with you.”

He suddenly gripped her. He rolled her onto her stomach. “Relax.”

She gasped when he pushed two fingers inside her pussy. He was pushing deep into her, toward her spine. He twisted both digits, searching for something. Ariel struggled.

“That hurts.”

He withdrew his fingers. She heard him growl. She turned her head to stare up at him. A confused look was on his rugged features.

“You don’t have one.”

“What is it?”

“It is a hard, round finger-shaped nerve bundle that I must rub during sex.”

She rolled over onto her back. She spread her thighs so she knew he had a good view of her. She watched his gaze lower. “See this?” She touched her clit. “I think that’s where my unis is. The other side of this on the inside of me is another pleasure spot.

When you stroke me in those places it makes me come.”

Desire was evident on his features. He reached down to finger her clit. Ariel moaned. Ral growled low in response. Ariel lifted her hips and moved closer to him.

She eased her ass onto his lap.

“Take me this way while you touch me.”

She saw shock but interest too on his expressive face. He gripped his hard shaft, rubbing it against her slit. She was really wet. He groaned as he pushed into her all the way. His finger played with her clit as he started to rock his hips.

“Lord of the Moons,” he groaned. “This feels damn good.”

Ariel planted her feet on the mattress and moved her hips to meet his thrusts. She gripped the sides of his calves to get leverage to move faster on him. She knew she wasn’t going to last long. The man wasn’t letting up on her clit as he drove into her fast and deep. She tensed. She felt her body clamping down on his cock. Ariel screamed out as she came hard.

Her eyes flew open and she stared up at Ral, watching as he threw his head back.

His features tensed and his mouth opened. She saw sharp teeth revealed between his parted lips as he groaned deep in his throat. Ral’s cock pulsed strongly inside her and she felt his semen shot deep into her as he came.

They were both panting. Ral’s eyes opened as he dropped his head, staring at Ariel.

A grin spread across his face. “You are amazing.”

“So are you.”

3

“Wake.”

Ariel opened her eyes and turned her head. She had been sleeping on her stomach.

Ral was already sitting up and he smiled at her.

“It is time to eat and go to work. You must come with me.” He reached over to brush her blonde hair from her cheek. His fingers wrapped around a natural curl in her hair then moved to trail down the length of her neck before pulling away. “It is time to work.”

She nodded. “What do we do for work?”

He stood up, stretching his naked body. Ariel swallowed. The man was beautiful and his muscular body was perfection. He walked forward and leaned down. Ariel appreciated the view of his tan muscular ass. He withdrew some clothes and turned to face the bed.

“You will just stay close to me. You can fetch me water when I need it.”

She nodded. “Okay.” She crawled from the bed.

Ral handed her clothing from his pile. The shirt and pants were huge. She eyed them with raised eyebrows. Ral laughed.

“I will get you smaller clothing soon. This is what I have.”

She put them on. The pants were too large and fell down her hips. Ral went to his knees in front of her, still naked, and used the ropelike belt he’d used on her wrists to wrap around her waist. The pants stayed up. His shirt almost went to her knees. She wished he hadn’t destroyed her underwear.

“I need to go to the bathroom.”

“Bathroom?”

She flushed a little. “I have to pee. I have liquid inside I must release.”

He grinned. “Urinate.”

“Yes.”

He nodded. “We will urinate before breakfast.”

“Okay.”

He rose to his feet to put on his pants. He didn’t have shoes. He bent and picked up what looked like a hairbrush. He brushed out his long hair before walking behind her.

His hands were gentle as he brushed out her long hair. He threw the brush down on the clothes pile and walked to the door, pushing it open. Ral offered his hand when he turned to face her. She moved toward him and put her smaller hand in his larger one.

“Come.”

The hallway was dimly lit and empty of other people. He led her down a winding corridor. An open archway took them into a large room. She saw a crude bathroom with open shower stalls, some weird-looking toilets and three waterfall-like holes in the wall. She walked over to one of the toilets to study it. They almost looked like urinals.

He chuckled. “Not like your world?”

She shook her head. “No.”

He grinned. “I will guard the door.” His grin died. “Never permit another man see your bare skin.” His bright eyes narrowed. “They will want to breed with you and I will kill them. If another tries to touch you, yell for me. You never go from my sight.”

She nodded. “I don’t want anyone seeing me without my clothing or touching me but you.”

His large body relaxed. “Go. I will guard the door to not let anyone in.”

She used the bathroom quickly and retied her belt. “Ral? I’m done.”

He came back into the room and walked to a mini waterfall. He unfastened his pants. She watched him. He turned his head to grin at her as he used the wall. He looked amused that she was curious. He fastened his pants and walked toward her. He took her hand, leading her to a washbowl, so both of them could clean their hands.

He led her down corridors that twisted and turned. She smelled something good that made her stomach growl loudly. Ral turned his head to eye her.

“You hunger greatly?”

She nodded. “I haven’t eaten in a long time. I’m starving.”

“They did not feed you since they took you from your planet?”

“They gave me food once when they first grabbed me. It has been days.”

Rage hardened his face. “I hate them.”

She understood hating the Anzons too. They walked into a large room. Tables had been set up and she saw about fifty men but only two women. She couldn’t help but stare at the women. Their features revealed them as Zorn. She could tell what they were by their wide, flat noses. They had breasts and smaller facial features than the men.

They were attractive. The women eyed her back. Ariel gave them a smile. Both Zorn women looked away from her. Ariel sighed. It didn’t look like she would be making friends with them.

A buffet-style table had been laid out. A Zorn man was serving. He stared openly at Ariel. Her hand tightened on Ral’s. He smiled at her.

“They are curious. We have never seen a homin before.”

“Human.”

He chuckled. “Human.”

She smiled up at him. “Right.”

“From the planet Earth.”

“Yes. You remembered.”

He stopped at the table, studying it. “Do you recognize anything you can eat?”

She studied the food too and shook her head. “No.”

“This.” He pointed. “Is very sweet. This is bitter. This is strongly hot to your mouth.” He kept pointing out things to her and explaining their taste. She settled on a few things to try. Ral loaded down two plates and walked to a table where no one else sat.

“Sit. I will get us drinks.”

She sat down with both plates. She waited. Ral returned in moments. He placed water-filled mugs by their plates. He smiled. “Eat, Ariel.”

She loved the way he said her name. It sounded like “Ori All”. She tasted the food and gave Ral a smile. It was delicious. He looked relieved as he dug into his own food.

Sometimes he’d pick up something from his plate for her to taste. She decided she didn’t like the red banana-looking thing. It set her mouth on fire and made her choke.

She drank water.

When they finished their food Ral led her to a wide hallway. He paused. “Stay with me. Do not leave my side. It is dangerous.”

She nodded and felt a little fear. “What is dangerous?”

“My people were taken by force from our hunt planet. We are strong and we are hardy. Do you understand? There were few women taken with us. A woman is rare and much wanted here. Some will be angry that they lost yesterday when we fought for you. They will want to touch you. If a fight breaks out just get behind me. I will not lose.

I am very tough. I will win.”

She nodded. He reached up to caress her cheek.

“Some Zorn will think I only won you to mount, to quench my need for a woman.

They might think I won’t shed their blood for an alien. In time they will realize I am bound to you and not dare challenge me for your body.”

“Bound to you?”

He grinned. “In love.”

She smiled back. “Okay.”

“They will offer me things to have you. I will not sell you for anything so do not worry if you hear them make offers. You are mine. You will remain mine.”

Ariel put her hand on his naked hairy chest. The men didn’t wear shirts but he obviously owned them since she wore his. “I trust you.”

He smiled. “Good. We should go. Stay close to me.”

The mines were a large cavernous area where men were chipping away at the rock-lined walls to enlarge the space. Some men hung by their waists from ropes along the walls using tools to break large pieces loose. Ral sat Ariel on a large boulder, gave her a nod and then went to work. He picked up the broken pieces from the floor to load them into machines that wheeled away from sight when Ral pushed a button to tell the cart it was full, an empty one appearing in its place.

After a while Ariel got up to stand closer to Ral. She picked up the small pieces and started to work with him. Ral looked over at her with a surprised smile. She smiled back. They worked together for hours. She noticed three Zorn women in the cavern.

They all sat by men but didn’t help their men. She caught many eyes watching her.

A buzz went through the room. Ral dumped a basketball-sized rock in the cart. He turned. “We are done. Our shift is over. Thank you for helping me.”

“I can’t lift the big ones like you do but I’m good with the small chunks.”

He laughed. “Hungry?”

“Yes. I’m starving.”

He led her back to the large eating room. It was packed now. Ral gripped her arm pulling her tightly against his side. She knew she was in danger. She could see it in the alert way Ral watched every man around them. They moved up the line to the buffet table. Ral filled both plates for each of them, handed them to Ariel and got water with her this time. He led her to table. It was crowded. He put down the water and sat. He spread his thighs.

“Sit on my lap.”

She eased onto his lap after placing the food down. He scooted back so she had room between his thighs to sit on the bench. A man who sat down next to them sniffed loudly and turned his head. Ariel met his bright green gaze. The man sniffed again and growled. Ariel jerked her eyes from his. She could feel Ral tense as he snarled.

“Mine.”

The man next to them inched away about a foot. Ral leaned into Ariel so his lips pressed to her ear. He said something in soft growls. She frowned, realizing he was talking in the wrong ear. She turned her head so she could look up at him. She pointed to her other ear.

“This one is the only one they implanted. I didn’t understand a thing you said.”

He frowned. “Only one of your ears is implanted?”

She nodded.

“I said don’t meet anyone’s eyes and eat fast.”

She nodded and turned to face her food. She ate fast. Ral wolfed his down. He rubbed her arm. He lowered his face again, next to her implanted ear this time, to whisper to her.

“Ready to leave?”

“Yes.”

“We’ll go to the urinate room and then go back to our room.”

“Sounds good.”

Ral stood up and helped Ariel to her feet. He pulled her against his side. They headed for the door. They were almost out of the room when three men moved into their path. Ral tensed, easing Ariel behind him. He growled at the three men.

“Move.”

One of the men frowned. “Share her. We have needs and she’s a different species.

She’s not a Zorn woman.”

“She’s mine. I have bound her,” Ral growled. “Move away from my woman or I will kill you to protect her.”

Ariel turned her head. Some more men had moved closer. They stared openly at her body. She didn’t like the hungry looks on their faces. She inched closer to Ral, trying to mold herself to his back as fear set in. He turned his head and snarled. The men moved back but not far enough away for Ariel’s comfort. Ral turned his head to face the three men in front of them.

“Gru, if you do this you will die. Do you understand me? I have given to our people plenty. I will keep her. I will kill anyone who tries to take her from me. She is not to share. She is bound to me.” He eyed the men with Gru. “I will kill you all if you don’t back away now.”

“Then one of us will die but we want her.” Gru snarled.

Ral snarled back. He turned his head. “Rham, Ber, Hosh, protect her.”

Three large men moved forward. They shoved men out of their way. Ral met Ariel’s eyes. “My pack. They will protect you. Go with them.”

Terror hit her hard. “Ral—”

“You will be in my sight. They will make sure you stay there.”

The three large men surrounded Ariel. One of them gripped her arm and yanked her against the wall out of the way. She stared at the three men protecting her. She wondered what a pack meant to Zorn. She heard a roar and jerked her head toward Ral.

Four men attacked him instead of three.

Horror rushed over her. She looked up at one of the three big men. “Can’t you help him fight?”

One of the men shook his head. “You are Ral’s woman to fight for. We only guard you. It is our way.”

“Your way sucks,” she whispered. Terror for Ral hit her as she watched him fight.

Ral was damn good. There were four men surrounding him. Two of them grabbed his arms while the third man gripped him from behind. The fourth man came at him from the front. It was Gru. Ariel gasped and tried to get to Ral. She wanted to jump on one of those bastards. Ral needed help. One of the men ordered to protect her gripped her arm yanking her back.

“Stay.” He spoke softly. “Ral needs no help.”

Ral threw his head back slamming it into the face of the man behind him. Both of Ral’s feet shot out in the same instant to kick at the man coming at his chest. Both men gripping Ral’s arms staggered backward trying to keep hold of him. It knocked both of them off balance.

Gru roared in pain when Ral had kicked his chest. His body flew backward, slamming hard into a rough rock wall. When Ral’s feet hit the floor he yanked his arms together. It sent both off-balanced men crashing into each other in front of Ral. He yanked an arm free to slam his fist into the face closest to him.

It was brutal. It was bloody. Ral beat the hell out of all four of them. The men on the floor were bloody and some of them had broken bones. Ariel learned that Zorn also fought with their teeth. Ral had torn up one man’s arm when the man had tried to use that arm to batter Ral’s face. Ral turned to snarl at the room. He walked over to grab Gru by his hair. He yanked the man up to his unsteady feet.

“She is mine. I told you it would cost you your life, Gru.” Ral glared around the room. “Death to any man who tries to touch the woman I bound to.”

Ariel almost collapsed when she watched Ral snap Gru’s neck. He just twisted it and she heard the pop sound. Ral threw Gru’s body down. He reached down and grabbed up the next man. That man whimpered.

“Please, Ral—”

Ral broke his neck. He threw him aside. Ariel shut her eyes fighting a sob. She heard two more pops. Both of the remaining men had begged for their lives. Ral hadn’t hesitated to kill them.

“She’s mine,” he roared.

Ariel’s eyes flew open when a hand gripped her. A bloody Ral was panting as he jerked on her hand. She stumbled after him when he didn’t give her a choice. He dragged her from the room, around the dead bodies of the men he’d fought, and down the corridor. He didn’t stop until he reached the bathroom. He yanked her inside. Two men occupied the room. Ral snarled at both of them.

“Out. Baras, guard the door.”

One of the men nodded, glancing at Ariel. “Are you all right, Ral?”

“I had to kill four men stupid enough to try to take my bound woman.”

The man paled. “I will guard the door.”

“Appreciated,” Ral said softly.

He stared down at Ariel. She looked up at him fearfully. He frowned. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

“You killed all four of them.”

He softly growled at her. “I don’t know how things are on your planet but you aren’t there anymore, Ariel. If I did not kill them then I would have to fight to keep you every day. Would you prefer I let them take you? Do you know what they would have done with you? They would have bred you until they passed you to other men. You are little. You would not survive long. They would hurt you. You are mine. You and I are in love. Do you understand?”

She nodded. “I’ve just…” She fought tears. “It scared me and I’m not used to violence. I realize you had no choice and I appreciate that you did that for me. I really do. I’m just in shock.”

He sighed as his hold on her arm loosened. “I will wash. Remove your clothes. We wash together.”

She stripped quickly. She kept glancing at the door. Ral chuckled. “Baras won’t let anyone enter. Most of my people fear me. I am stronger than all.”

“You fight really well.”

“I am a…” He hesitated. “I don’t know how to make you understand. On my planet some are stronger than others. I am from the strongest family. My father leads our planet.”

She was stunned. “Like a king?”

“I don’t know that word. My father is the strongest. He leads all of our people.”

“Shit. You’re like a prince.”

He shrugged. “I don’t understand that term but my people follow me here.

Sometimes some of them get stupid. They forget I fight the best. It is our way. The strongest lead the weaker. I am the strongest of my people here.”

“So why do they even fight you?”

“To win you from the Anzons…” He hesitated. “We do not like to injure each other but we are good at inflicting enough injury to make it look real. Sometimes we pretend broken bones. Sometimes the fight is real. Some fought for real for you. I always win the fight and award the prize to one of my people who deserve it. This time I kept the prize for myself.”

She was shocked again by the man who jerked her naked body into the shower stall and waved his hand against the wall. A waterfall of warm water fell from above the entire shower stall area like rain. It startled Ariel.

Ral chuckled. “The water cleans us. It will clean all. Just rub it on your skin.”

“There’s nothing to wash our hair with?”

He touched the rain. “It cleans your hair. There are chemicals in the water. Do not swallow it. It won’t harm you or your eyes since it gets in our eyes but it doesn’t taste good. If you swallow much it will come back up.”

“So that whole fight to win me from the Anzons wasn’t real?”

He hesitated. “We learned long ago when we were first captured how to show a fight to make it look good or they would withhold food to all to make us fight for real.

Some fight for real to try to win prizes they desire with much greed. I give away what I win to who I believe is the most deserving. Many fought for real today for you. They were being stupid and they wanted to win you from me so they could have you. They knew they were not in favor with me and I would not find them deserving of you so they fought.”

“That is why that man stopped you to ask you who I was being given to.”

He nodded. “Gru did not like it that I kept you but I have more than earned the right to withhold you for myself. He thought he was deserving enough for me to give you to him.”

“You’ve won other women?”

“Yes.”

Jealousy hit her. “You bred with them?”

He eyed her with narrowed lids. “No. I handed them over immediately to what man I had deemed deserving.” He reached to cup her face gently with his hand. He brushed his thumb along her cheek. “You are the only woman I have had taken to my bed since we were taken from our planet. That was six months ago.”

She was shocked again. “Why did you keep me? Why didn’t you keep any of those other women?”

He smiled. “I was attracted to you so strongly I felt it in my blood when I laid eyes upon you. I had to have you.”

She nodded. “I’m glad.”

“I am glad as well. Let’s go to our room. I feel the need for you in my blood and I don’t think it would be safe for me to have you here.”

4

Ral shut the door firmly. “Remove your clothes.”

She stripped quickly. She watched Ral remove his pants. He was aroused. He walked to the mattress to sit on his legs. He tapped his lap.

“Up or down. Your choice.”

Ariel smiled. “Do you always sit on your legs?”

“Your kind does not?”

“No. Stretch out flat on your back for me.”

He hesitated but then lay back. She dropped to her knees to climb across the mattress. Her hands massaged his chest as she straddled his lap. Desire burned in his eyes as he watched her silently. He didn’t protest. She leaned over him opening her mouth. She licked his chest. Instantly his body tensed. Growling, he arched his back to bring his body closer to her mouth.

She took that for a good sign. She licked his nipple and sucked it into her mouth.

He slid his hands into her hair with a groan. “Lord of the Moons,” he whispered.

Ariel smiled as she released his nipple. “Who is this guy?”

Ral chuckled. “The protector and watcher of my planet.”

“God.”

“Is that who protects your planet and watches over it?”

She hesitated. “Is your Lord of the Moons a breathing person or someone you believe in?”

“A belief.”

She nodded. “I have God.”

“Do that again with your mouth.”

She lowered her face to play with his nipple in her mouth. She brushed kisses across his chest to tease the other nipple. She drew back an inch to blow air on his wet skin. She grinned as his nipple puckered. Ral groaned.

“I need you.”

She gripped his thick erection in her hand. She was turned-on and wet. She stared into his eyes as she adjusted him under her hips. She moaned as she slid down, taking him into her body. He felt damn good as she lowered herself until he was buried deep inside her. Ral growled low.

“Ariel, that feels so amazing.”

“Wait.” She moved on him, riding him.

Ral gripped her hips, tossing back his head. He thrust upward into her as she drove down. They moved faster together as the pleasure grew.

“Touch me,” she gasped. “I’m so damn close.”

He released one of her hips so his hand was free to touch her clit, rubbing it between his finger and thumb. That was all it took and Ariel screamed out, coming hard. Ral snarled and threw back his head as his hot body jerked under her, pulsing deep in her. She collapsed on his chest.

Ariel smiled against his skin. “So…was that as good as when you sit on your legs?”

“Better.” He chuckled.

“Your women don’t enjoy sex unless it’s just that one way?”

He rubbed her ass with his hands. “Their unis can only be rubbed by the hais of our staffs and that is the position that works.”

“Hais?”

He rolled them over so Ariel was pinned under his larger body. He withdrew from her slowly and went to his knees. He gripped his cock, touching the top ridge of it.

“Hais. Feel. It is rougher than the underside.”

She explored the tip of his cock. Ral had a harder ridged area at the top of his mushroom-shaped head. She saw him shiver as she rubbed her fingertips over him. He shut his eyes with a groan.

“Sensitive area?”

“Very.”

She slid her fingers to the underside. “What about here?”

“It feels good but the hais is the most sensitive.”

“Inside me that rubs no matter what position you are in.” She released him and moved back.

Ral nodded. “When Zorn men punish a woman some of my men will breed a woman in a position that will keep her from pleasure.”

“I don’t understand.”

He grinned. “We are a male-dominated society.”

“I still don’t understand.”

He pulled her into his arms so they were curled together. “If a woman is too willful and needs a reminder that her man is in charge he will breed her without her pleasure until she submits to him.”

“You’d hurt a woman?”

“No. Imagine me arousing you but I refused to let you come.”

“That’s mean.”

He laughed. “It is a lesson. When a woman submits then we make her come.”

She rubbed his chest with her fingertips. Ariel loved touching Ral. “That won’t work with me.”

“I would find a way around it. What would happen if I didn’t rub your unis in front?”

“I’d still enjoy it. Just not as much.”

“How else do you enjoy being bred?”

“Do you have oral sex?”

He got a confused look.

She grinned. “Using your mouth on my unis or me using my mouth on your hais.”

The confused look disappeared. He nodded. “Women can but unless a man has a very long tongue we can’t reach a unis with our mouths. They are about six inches inside a woman.”

“That sucks for your women.”

“They enjoy finger stimulation.” His hand ran down her body. He stopped at her hip. “Your unis is very accessible.”

She nodded.

He lifted her, pinning Ariel on her back, and smiled down at her. “Let’s see how this works.”

She hesitated. “I should take a shower first.”

He chuckled. “Because I’ll taste me on you? I don’t mind.” He moved down her and gripped her thighs. “I want to experiment on you.”

She spread her thighs wide. “Anything you want.”

Ral moved between her thighs studying her body closely. He lowered his head to stare between her spread legs. Fingers parted her to give him a perfect view of her clit.

“So pretty.”

Ariel laughed. “You think I’m pretty down there?”

He inhaled. “You smell really good too.” His mouth lowered and his tongue touched her clit. He sucked on her. Ariel moaned. His mouth released her.

“Good?”

“Yes.”

“You taste good. I will do to you what I like to see how you like it.”

“I can’t wait,” she said breathlessly.

Ral licked her and sucked. He used his teeth lightly to scrape against her clit. Ariel moaned louder and clawed the bed. “Ral, that feels so damn good.”

He growled, vibrating against her. His mouth was merciless as he played with her.

It didn’t take long at all for Ariel to scream out his name when she came.

Ral lifted his head from between her spread thighs. “I want to do this often.”

“I’ll let you.” She lifted her head, grinning at him. “Your turn. Roll over on your back.”

He chuckled as he sprawled flat on his back for her. Ariel rose up and climbed between his spread thighs. She stared at his hard erection.

“Tell me what you like.”

“Show me how your men like this.”

She licked her lips, gripped him and ran her ran tongue over the top of his cock. He groaned softly, fisting the blankets. His muscles tensed all over his body.

“Good,” he growled.

She ran her tongue down the underside of his shaft and licked upward. She wrapped her lips around his cock and sucked him into her mouth. Groaning loudly, Ral clawed at the bedding.

“Lord of the Moons. That feels so good.”

Ariel slowly took him deeper. Ral’s body twisted a little under as she moved faster, sucking on him harder, and used her tongue to tease him unmercifully. Ral shook. Ariel swallowed as he came in her mouth. His semen was warmer than anything she’d ever experienced and he tasted sweet like candy. She moaned and kept milking him until every drop was taken from him. Ral took a shaky breath.

“You are killing me.”

She released him with her mouth. The dazed look on his face made her laugh. “You liked that?”

He yanked her on top of him. “I like your way better. Lord of the Moons, was that amazing.”

“What was different?”

“Our women only lick the top. They don’t take us into their mouths like that. Your way is…” He shivered. “So much better.”

She cuddled into Ral. “We have great sex together.”

He laughed. “We do. I am ready for sleep. Are you ready for sleep? We did not sleep enough last sleep cycle.”

“Ummm. Someone wore me out.”

She snuggled closer to Ral’s large body. Ariel shut her eyes feeling happily sated wrapped in Ral’s arms. Both of them were about to drift off to sleep when someone pounded on the door.

Ral growled as he moved Ariel. He grabbed the blankets and covered her body completely from neck to toes. “Stay,” he ordered her. He jumped from the bed, grabbing his pants and yanking them on.

Ariel clutched the blanket over her body, feeling a moment of fear. Were more men at the door wanting to fight Ral for her? Ral shoved the door open and glared at whoever was there. Ariel couldn’t see around Ral’s large body that blocked her view.

She heard a soft male voice but she couldn’t make out the words.

“I will be there in minutes.” He shut the door. “Dress, Ariel. We must go fast.”

She was alarmed, but climbed out of bed to dress quickly. Ral helped her with her belt. She looked up at him. “What is wrong?”

“We have a meeting to go to. It is very important. One of my pack heard something they need to share.”

“What does pack mean? I don’t understand the term.”

“It means loyal to me and my family. They are trustworthy and won’t turn on me.

They have earned my trust and that of my family. It is a deep friendship bond. Do you understand?”

“Yes.”

Ral gripped her face and studied her. “Do you in love with me, Ariel?”

She stared up at him. She knew what he was asking her even if his words weren’t exactly right. He wanted to know if she had feelings for him. She nodded. She wasn’t sure how it had happened but she did love Ral. He’d killed to protect and keep her. He made her laugh. He made love to her. How could she not love him?

“I love you.”

“Can I trust you?”

She nodded, never looking away from his eyes. “Yes.”

“I have no doubt but I had to ask. Let’s go. This is very important.”

He pushed open the door and grabbed her hand. He walked so fast that Ariel had to run to keep up with him or risk being dragged along. They ended up in someone’s sleep room very similar to the one she shared with Ral. The room was crammed with men. Ral pulled Ariel in front of him, his arms locked around her possessively. The door was pushed shut behind them.

“What has been heard to help us?” Ral’s voice was low.

A man stood up. He nodded at Ral and then his eyes flashed to Ariel. “We can trust her?”

“She is bound to me,” Ral growled. He sounded angry. “Do not insult my woman.”

The man paled. “I meant no insult to your woman.” The man lowered his eyes.

“Speak,” Ral sighed.

The man nodded, looking up again meeting Ral’s eyes. “They are preparing one of the large ships. There is a large planet they are going to visit for more workforces. Their plan is to house them inside the ship until they can have us dig out more area for them to move down here with us.”

Ral grinned. “When?”

The man grinned back. “They leave tomorrow morning right at first shift. It is perfect. The plan we overheard was that they will bring back a few hundred workers they are plotting to steal.”

Ral’s grin faded. He eyed the men around him. “Our time has come. This is it. Make all the arrangements and do it very quietly. Do not tell the others what is to happen. We will surprise all. You all know what to do. We will wake two hours earlier than first shift to prepare.” His gaze swung to the man. “Is everything in place?”

“Yes.”

Ral chuckled. “We are so close.”

The men were all smiling. Ariel eyed each one of them. Why they were so excited about new prisoners was beyond her. Maybe they hoped that most of the prisoners would be women. Maybe they were just lonely and wanted new faces. She held her silence until Ral returned them to their room. He shut the door.

“Undress.” Hunger burned in his eyes.

She stripped. Ral suddenly grabbed her to lift her up his body. Their eyes locked.

They were almost nose to nose.

“If I take you facing me while I’m standing will you enjoy it?”

“Yes.”

He growled softly at her. Ariel locked her legs around his hips and wrapped her arms around his neck. Ral entered her in a heartbeat. Ariel loved the feel of him stretching her. He moved, gripping her ass, and slammed her up and down on him.

Ariel threw her face into his shoulder moaning loudly. She wasn’t sure what brought on Ral’s wild streak but she was enjoying the hell out of it.

“Lord of the Moons,” she whispered after she came and Ral exploded inside her hard enough for her to feel.

Ral chuckled. “Exactly. Lord of the Moons was that good.”

He eased out of her body and lowered her to the floor. He kissed her before stepping away. “We need sleep.”

Ariel nodded and climbed into bed. She held up the blankets for Ral. “Climb on in.”

He smiled and got in. He pulled her into his body until Ariel’s face was on his chest. “I in love you, Ariel.”

She chuckled at his wording. “I’m in love with you too, Ral.”

“I’m in love with you. Better?” He rubbed her back with his fingers.

“Perfect,” she said honestly. Joy tore through her. Ral was in love with her.

5

“Wake.”

Ariel opened her eyes. “Damn you get up early. Did we sleep long? How do you know what time it is?”

“I hear. We have patrols in the hallway that call out the time. My hearing is keen.

Get dressed fast. We must hurry. We have much to do, Ariel.”

She got dressed. She saw Ral put on a shirt. She watched him. “You’re wearing a shirt today?”

“Where we are going today is colder than down in the cavern mines.”

“Okay.”

Ral grabbed the blanket from the bed. Ariel watched him dump all of his clothes piled on the floor into the blanket. Something was definitely up with Ral but he wasn’t telling her what was going on. He hefted the bag of clothes over his shoulder and shoved open the door. He reached for her hand.

“You stay by me. No matter what, you stay with me, Ariel. You are bound to me. I am bound to you. We belong together.”

“I remember. I am to not leave your sight and I will stay very close to you at all times.”

“Very correct.”

He took her to the bathroom. Four men were ordered by Ral to leave so she could have privacy. When she was done he walked in and used the bathroom. Three different men walked in. Ral pulled her closer to his body and jerked his head at her to not look.

She shot him an eye roll but kept her gaze on Ral. She didn’t want to see three men piss.

She’d give Ral privacy if she thought he’d let her out of his sight. They washed up before leaving the bathroom. Ral took her to the eating room.

“Eat fast.” He handed the plates he filled with food to Ariel. He got them mugs of water. She eyed the room. It was packed, unlike the morning before. The room was unusually quiet. Ral sat on the bench at the end of the table, spreading his thighs wide.

He inched back on the bench to make room for her to sit.

Without him needing to tell her, Ariel slid onto his lap between his thighs. They ate fast. Ral gave a nod at men around the room. She glanced up. Ral’s people were tense.

She could almost feel it in the air. She wondered what in the hell was going on. She glanced up at Ral. He looked down at her and smiled.

“Ral?”

“Trust me and ask later.”

She shut her mouth and nodded. Ral wanted them to be on the move. She left the eating area with him. He didn’t walk toward the mine though. He gripped the blanket over his shoulder, took her hand and headed toward doors marked with words she couldn’t read. The markings looked like wiggles with some scratches. The hand holding hers tightened. He paused to look down at her.

“Stay with me. If something goes wrong, we will have to run. Run with me. Swear it to me, Ariel. I won’t lose you and I will die if they take you from me because I will fight to keep you regardless of the odds.”

Fear hit her. What in the hell was going on? Ral opened up the door that led to a smaller hallway. Ral jerked her forward and they nearly ran down the hall. It ended at one of those platform elevator things with the raw rock walls. Ral stepped onto it pulling her into his arms.

“Do not touch the walls.”

“I won’t.” She shivered. “It would be like touching an electric cheese grater at the speed these things move up and down.”

“Cheese grater?”

“Never mind. I was talking to myself.”

The platform slowed. Ral sniffed the air as he jerked her forward. They ran down halls until they came to another large door. It looked like the crush door she’d walked through when Yoz had taken her to the mines. The door swished open. Ariel was a little surprised to see that one of Ral’s men stood there.

“We are ready. The rest follow.”

Ral nodded and took off without warning. His hand on Ariel’s tightened as he yanked her behind him. She ran for all she was worth across the large room to another large door. Ral paused and looked back. Ariel glanced over her shoulder to see dozens of Zorn run into the large room with more on their heels. The room was filling with Zorn.

The man who’d let them into the room finally shut the other door. There had to be well over a hundred Zorn in the room with a few other species she hadn’t seen before.

The other non Zorn looked as confused as she felt. There were only a handful of them, all of them were females.

“Let’s do this.” Ral nodded.

The doors opened. Ariel spun to see what the room they were going into was. She gasped when she eyed the largest ship she’d ever seen parked in what appeared to be open space. She saw the glass dome then. It was barely noticeable with deep space as a background.

More Zorn men were by the ship. They waved frantically at everyone. Like a stampede, the Zorn started to run. Ral gripped her hand as he jerked her closer to his body. They both ran for the large ship.

It was a space ship. She understood that. She wondered about what was about to happen. Comprehension hit her as they neared the ship. They were trying to escape.

Shock tore through her as they ran up a ramp and into the belly of the ship. It looked like a large cargo area. More of the Zorn waited inside. Ral kept moving, yanking Ariel with him, as they ran through the cargo area into a metal hallway.

“This way, Argis Ral,” a man yelled. “We are getting ready for flight.”

Ral wasn’t even out of breath as they ran. “Have you damaged the other ships?”

“Yes,” the Zorn jogging beside them growled. “They won’t be able to follow us. Not for a long time.”

Panting hard, a pain in her side, Ariel started to slow down. Ral growled. He halted and spun, shoving the blanket and clothes at the other man as he released Ariel’s hand.

In an instant Ral grabbed Ariel by her middle. Her hips hit Ral’s shoulder hard. He spun around and started to run again as he held her tight against his body.

They ended up in an elevator. Ral stood there with the other Zorn man as the elevator jetted upward. Ariel pushed hair out of her face to stare at the Zorn man standing a few feet from her and Ral.

“The ship is full.” The Zorn touched his ear. Ariel saw a metal device clipped to the man’s ear. “They are securing the cargo doors. We’re ready. All are accounted for.”

“Let’s get out of here,” Ral snarled. “Do not wait for me to reach the command center.”

“Liftoff,” the Zorn ordered. “Argis Ral has ordered liftoff.”

The engines of the ship weren’t loud but Ariel still heard them as they vibrated to life. The elevator door opened as it stopped. Ral moved fast into the room. He bent over to deposit Ariel on her feet gently. He gripped her arm and spun her around.

Ariel stared wide eyed in astonishment at the large window. The room was some kind of control center. Five Zorn were at the controls. Ral moved to the large seat, tugging Ariel with him. He sat down, yanking her across his lap. He wrapped his arm around her waist securing her so she couldn’t move.

“Report,” Ral ordered.

“They triggered the alarm when the ship was started but we’ve overridden their systems.” The man behind them snarled. “The dome is retracting. Forty seconds to liftoff.”

Ral growled. “Faster, damn it.”

“We can only go so fast. The dome has started to open. They cannot reach the ship.

The pressure seals were broken when the dome started to open. They would be sucked out of the dock even if they could bypass their safety measures.”

Ral nodded. “What about their defenses?”

“They are destroyed.” The man sitting in a chair to their right laughed. “We blew them at once when you gave the order to lift off. Those blue bastards are busy right now dealing with the fires we set. We will be clear. They cannot stop us.”

Ral nodded. Ariel’s eyes flew to his. He didn’t glance at her. He looked grim as he gazed at the large window. “Until we are free and clear I will not feel too confident, Avi. Viz, have you accessed their charts? Do we know where we are and how to get home?”

“Yes, Argis Ral. We are three weeks from home at full capacity.”

Ral shut his eyes and smiled. “Home.” His eyes snapped open. “Time?”

“Ten seconds. We are ready. I will alert our people to hold on.”

Ral tucked Ariel tighter to his body. “Hold on, Ariel. This ship has strong engines and we are not easing out. We want to cause damage when we leave here. It will burn up their docking bay.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck to cling tighter to him. The engines of the ship vibrated harder as the ship shot forward into space. Her body was slammed into Ral’s. He held her tighter. She turned her head to look at the view as the ship flew into space.

“They have one weapon that didn’t blow,” a man snarled. “Evasive maneuvers.”

Ral growled. “Can we avoid being hit?”

The man laughed. “Not a problem. We are out of range in three, two, one, now.

We’re free.”

Ral laughed. He held Ariel in his arms as he stood up. He grinned at her. “We are free, my Ariel.”

Shock hit Ariel. She stared at Ral. He winked at her. “Open full ship communications.” He gently sat Ariel in the seat he’d vacated.

Emotionally Ariel was reeling from the shock. They’d escaped the Anzons. She hadn’t known they were even trying to escape. Ral hadn’t told her. That was what that meeting had been about last night. The Zorn hadn’t been excited about new prisoners.

They had been excited about a large ship being prepared so they could use it to escape.

Hurt washed over Ariel. Why hadn’t Ral told her? Hadn’t he trusted her?

“This is Argis Ral,” Ral snarled. “We are free. In three weeks we will be returning to our home. We will see Zorn again.”

The men threw back their heads in the room and howled loudly. Ariel started. Ral smiled widely at her. He ran his hand over his throat. The man to the left nodded.

“Communications are off, Argis Ral.”

Ral glanced at one of his men. “Any pursuit?”

“No, Argis Ral. We damaged them too well.”

Ral nodded. “Keep a sharp eye on it. I don’t want any surprises.”

“Yes, Argis Ral.”

Ral turned to stare at the large window facing space. He crossed his muscled arms over his chest. Satisfaction was the clear emotion displayed on his face.

Ariel swallowed. “Ral?”

He grinned at her as his arms dropped to his sides. “Yes?”

“Are you taking me home?”

He nodded. He moved toward her and crouched down in front of her. His hands gripped her face gently. “We are bound. You will be very welcome on my planet.”

“I meant Earth,” she whispered.

Ral’s smile died. “We are bound, Ariel. I don’t know where your world is or where to even look. I am sorry. My home is now your home.”

She nodded feeling a little numb. What else could she do? Ral smiled at her and released her as he stood up. He headed for one of the stations and spoke softly to his men.

Ariel sat in the chair he’d placed her in and just watched Ral. He was taking her to his planet. She wasn’t going to ever get back to Earth. Pain and anger filled her as she realized that his men had access to the Anzons Charts to find his world but he wasn’t even going to look for her planet. She shut her eyes and fought tears that burned behind her eyelids.

She finally opened her eyes and stared out into space when she had her emotions under control. She turned her head sometimes to watch Ral. He looked excited as he moved around the room from station to station. He finally walked toward her and held out his hand. Hours had passed.

“We are not being pursued. They don’t have anything faster than our ship and we have been watching for them. We made a perfect escape. I have memorized the floor plan of the ship. We are going to the leader’s sleeping quarters.”

“All right.” She let him pull her up to her feet.

Ral retrieved his blanket-wrapped clothing by the door. They left the command center and walked down a hallway. Ral stopped by a door and opened it. It wasn’t locked. Ral stepped in first and dropped his clothes. The lights automatically came on.

Ariel eyed the large room.

“Nice.” The room was huge and looked fitted with every comfort the Anzons had to offer.

“They put us in rock rooms with thick mats.” Ral looked pissed off. “Yet they lived in luxury.”

Ariel looked at the room again. It had a living room area with comfortable chairs and then there was a bedroom area with a large bed. One wall was a window of space.

It was beautiful. When they lay down in the bed they would face the view of space, staring out at it, she knew it would be an experience. Ral reached for her, pulling her into his arms.

“You will love Zorn.”

She locked eyes with Ral. “You could find Earth if you wanted to.”

“I can’t let you return to Earth.”

“I don’t understand.”

He held her tighter. “I could find your planet, but I can’t let go of you now, Ariel. I am in love with you. You are everything to me. We are bound.”

“What does that mean? Bound?”

“It means I have taken you as mine until death. It means we are together until death. I have committed my life to yours.”

“You mean we’re married?”

“Married?”

“That means committed to each other until death.”

“Yes. Then that is what it means. You are bound to me, Ariel. I will never give you up.”

“What is Argis?”

“My actual title.”

“And Ral?”

“My name.”

“Should I call you Argis Ral now like everyone else is?”

He grinned. “You are bound to me. You need not call me a title. Ever. When we were captured and taken I ordered my people to drop the title to protect my identity. I was just one Zorn of many.”

“If the Anzons captured you once will they come back to your planet to get you again?”

“No. We were not taken from our home planet. We were taken from another we were visiting. It was our hunting planet. The Anzons made many mistakes with us.

They thought we were not smart enough to deal with technology and they thought we were not worthy to even watch closely. We allowed them to think it. It worked well with us to have good access to escape.”

“What is a hunt planet?”

“My kind vacation on our hunt planet. It is primitive planet without civilization.

The ship that takes us there leaves us for a week. The Anzons thought we were a very basic species with no technology because we don’t allow it on our hunting grounds.

That would ruin the vacation if technology were allowed to poison the planet and the beasts we hunt for sport. The Anzons are seriously learning how they underestimated us now.” He chuckled.

“So they can’t come after us on Zorn?”

Amusement lit Ral’s incredible blue eyes. “No. We have ships far better than this and a defense system that would never allow them to even get close to our planet. They only got us because we were on our hunt planet. When I return home I will have measures taken to defend that planet from now on so this never happens again.”

6

Ariel was nervous. She sat between Ral’s thighs staring at the planet they were approaching. Zorn wasn’t a blue and white planet. Zorn was shades of red and had three large moons closely surrounding it.

Ral nodded at one of his men. “Open communications.”

“Yes, Argis Ral.”

“This is Argis Ral,” he growled. “We have returned home. Alert Hyvin Berrr.”

A male growled in response. “Argis Ral? Confirm your identity.”

Ral issued some growling. The translator didn’t give Ariel a translation. It was just harsh sounds.

“Welcome home, Argis Ral.” The man sounded happy. “Your father will be very pleased. We have searched for you and our people without success.”

“We have escaped our captors.” Ral hugged Ariel. “We will need transports.”

“Immediately, Argis Ral,” the man said.

They put the ship in orbit over the planet and Ariel couldn’t stop staring at Zorn. It looked so different from Earth—not that she’d ever really seen Earth from space, only movies and pictures of it from space. Zorn was definitely different. The planet looked bigger too than any pictures of Earth. She swallowed.

“Are you all right, Ariel?” Ral softly growled in her ear.

“Yes. I’m just nervous. What is it like?”

He chuckled as he held her tight. “You will like it. It is beautiful.”

That’s all he ever told her about his planet. For the last three weeks while they’d traveled to Zorn Ral had been busy. He’d left her mostly alone in the leader’s quarters, but he’d come to her at night to sleep and make love. He’d avoided all her questions and it was starting to concern her. To just say a planet was beautiful left a whole lot open.

Ral lifted both of them to their feet. He led her to the bowels of the ship with her hand in his. She saw most of his people gathered there. They looked unusually happy and excited, standing in groups. Ral smiled as he nodded at them as he pulled her closer.

“We are home. It has been too long since they have seen their families and friends.”

Ariel missed her home and family too but she smiled at him. Ral was her world now. To go home meant she’d have to leave him. After the almost month they’d spent together she couldn’t imagine life without him.

“They have sent transport ships to fly us to the planet. This ship is too large for our planet docking stations.”

She eyed the ship around them. “What will happen to it?”

He smiled. “We’ll keep it. They took us. We took their ship.”

A loud sound startled Ariel. Ral chuckled. “A transport is docking.” He motioned his head toward the far corner. “We will go first. My father and brothers will be very anxious to see me.”

She gripped his hand tighter, staring up at his face. “How will they feel about me?”

“We are bound. They will have to accept it.”

“Can’t your father unbind us? You said he was leader of this world.”

Ral frowned. “He won’t.”

Dread hit Ariel. Ral didn’t say the man couldn’t unbind them. He’d used the word won’t, which implied it was possible. What if his father wanted Ariel out of Ral’s life?

What would become of her then?

The doors by them slid open and large Zorn men dressed in black uniforms stepped out. Ral smiled. He walked forward, pulling Ariel along behind him as he closed the space between himself and the newcomers.

“Argernon.” Ral chuckled. “You came all this way to see me.” Ral released Ariel to yank the man into a bear hug.

Ariel saw the resemblance between both men then. Argernon kept his smile in place as he released Ral. “You look good, Brother. We feared you were dead.”

Ral laughed. “I am too mean to die.” Ral turned, reaching for Ariel. He pulled her forward.

Ariel stared up at the large Zorn. She saw his eyes widen as he stared back at her.

His mouth opened but immediately slammed shut. His eyes flew to Ral.

“She smells strongly of you.”

“This is Ariel. I am bound to her.”

Horror hit Argernon’s features. “You bound to an enemy?”

Ral growled. “She is no enemy.”

“She is one of your captors.”

“No. She was taken from her world as well as we were.”

Argernon still looked angry. “She is other world. You cannot be bound to one from another world. Father will not allow it.”

Ral growled viciously. “It is done. She is mine. We are bound.”

Argernon took a step back. He put up his hands. “I will let you take it up with Father.” His eyes lowered to Ariel. “She is too small and pale.”

“She is mine.” Ral snarled at his brother. “No one will take her from me.”

Argernon looked concerned and a bit angry. “Is she breeding compatible? Can she carry your offspring?”

Ral hesitated. “I do not know nor do I care. She is mine.”

Argernon sighed deeply. “Let us go. Father is in a strong desire to see you quickly.”

His eyes turned to Ariel. “Can she even understand us?”

“Yes.” Ral focused his attention on Ariel. “Speak to my brother to see if Zorn translators work with your language.”

Ariel swallowed. “Hello, Argernon. It’s nice to meet you.”

Argernon frowned. His eyes slid to Ral. He shook his head. “I cannot understand her. She speaks softly. She does not speak like us.”

Irritation made Ral frown. “We will have to have someone work on this. The translators they fit on us work. We’ll have to modify our Zorn translators for her language.”

“This is not acceptable,” Argernon growled. “You brought a woman home who can’t even speak or understand us.”

Ariel glanced at Ral. “I can understand him.”

Ral nodded at her. “Good.”

“What did she say?” Argernon looked grim.

“She can understand you perfectly. Let’s go. Contact someone and have them work on this immediately. I want my bound woman able to speak so all can understand her and not just the Zorn on this ship.”

Argernon looked furious. His glowing blue eyes narrowed on Ariel for a second and he could sense his direct gaze made her feel uneasy. He jerked his eyes to his brother. His head snapped an affirmative response before the man spun around to stomp for the door he’d come through.

The transport was about the size of an Earth bus. Ral pulled Ariel onto his lap as Zorn filled the seats. The doors closed and then they were flying toward the planet. Ral held her tightly and belted them in. When they hit the atmosphere the transporter shook—it was a rough ride. Ral chuckled at her fear and he held her tighter, nuzzling her cheek with his, he whispered into the wrong ear. He softly growled at her.

She didn’t remind him she couldn’t understand him—she knew the gist of what he had said. He was assuring her it was safe. The transport didn’t have windows so she didn’t get to see anything until it sat down with a small bump. Ral unfastened them from the seat and took her hand to lead her out.

She knew who Ral’s father and brothers were immediately. Ral’s father looked so much like Ral that she didn’t need introduced to know his identity. The four younger men who surrounded their father shared a strong family resemblance. Ral kept hold of her hand until he reached out to his father. Ral dropped Ariel’s hand to grip the older man in a bear hug.

Ariel didn’t move an inch as she watched Ral hug each of his family members. The men looked really happy to have him back. One of Ral’s brothers turned his attention to Ariel. He frowned and his eyes flew to Ral.

“What is she?”

Ral pulled back from his brother’s embrace. He turned, smiling, and reached for Ariel. “This is Ariel. I am bound to her.”

The old man roared—Ral’s father looked furious. Ariel gasped as she almost fell on her ass when she stumbled back to distance herself from the man. Ral caught her around her waist and hauled her against his body. He snarled at his father.

“What was that for?”

“You are not bound to that.” Ral’s father snarled back.

Ral’s mouth tightened into a grim line. “She’s from Earth. She’s human. She was taken from her planet by the Anzons who stole our people. I have bound to her. She is mine. Never roar at her again, Father.”

“She’s small and weak. Look at her skin. It is pale.”

Hyvin Berrr glared at Ariel as he spoke. If looks could kill she knew she’d be taking her last breath. This man ruled Zorn according to Ral. If the older man wanted her dead she had a sinking feeling she wouldn’t have much time left to live.

“She is brave and beautiful. I do not care what you think. I have bound her.” Ral snarled the words at his father. His body was tense and his hold on Ariel was almost bruising. “She is mine and I will not let her be taken from me.”

His father shot a vicious look at Ariel. “What kind of hold does she have on you?”

He turned his head to stare at a Zorn woman. “Take her to medical. I want to know if she is doing something to my son to make him lose his head.”

Ral growled. “No.”

Argernon got between father and brother. “Let her be examined. You will be at her side, Ral. It will make Father see she has not bewitched you with her other-world ways.

You can also have her translator evaluated to see if it can be tuned so others besides you can understand her.”

Ral was breathing hard and he was obviously still furious. He jerked a nod at Argernon. His eyes shot to his father. “If you try to take her from me I will take that ship in space and we will go to her world. You will lose me forever.”

Ral grabbed Ariel’s hand and stormed away. She had to run to keep up with his longer strides. Ariel got one glimpse of Hyvin Berrr’s furious face before he was out of sight. They followed the Zorn woman toward medical.

Ariel eyed her surroundings. It was beautiful. The buildings were mostly black and the sky had a red tint to it, reminding Ariel of a sunset at home, only all of the sky was a light red. The dirt was a dark red and the grass purple. She walked over a small bridge and paused.

Ral stopped with her. He followed the direction of her eyes. “What is it?”

“Your water is a dark purple.”

“What color is water on your planet?”

“Clear mostly but our oceans are blue.”

He rubbed her hand in his. “It sounds nice.”

“I’m just glad I can breathe. I was worried about that.”

He chuckled. “I wasn’t. We breathe the same. Let’s go.”

The Zorn woman was waiting. Her eyes were fixed on Ariel. The woman looked at her like she was a bug. Ariel sighed. She spoke softly.

“I don’t think your people like me.”

“You look different but you are beautiful to the eye.”

She met his eyes. “You think so.”

“They think so as well. You are just different and they haven’t seen such pale skin before.”

“What is she saying?” the Zorn woman asked softly.

Ral turned his attention on the woman. “She thinks you don’t like her. I was explaining that you are just curious.”

The woman looked at Ariel and nodded. “She can understand us but I cannot understand her. She speaks so softly and strangely but it is pleasant to the ear.”

“We figured that out.” Ral chuckled.

Inside the medical building they were taken to the second floor. The woman smiled at Ariel. It was a forced smile in Ariel’s opinion.

“I am a healer and a scientist. Do you understand me? I am Ahhu.”

Ariel nodded.

The woman looked relieved. She eyed Ral. “Will you stay so you can translate?”

“I will not leave my Ariel’s side.”

“Can you have her remove her clothing? I would like to examine her.”

Ariel tensed. “Now I feel like a bug.”

“What is that?” Ral arched his eyebrow.

She met his curious gaze. “Like a science experiment. Is that a better description?”

Ral pulled her into his arms to give her a hug. “I know this is difficult for you, Ariel.

I am sorry.”

She nodded into his chest and let him comfort her for a moment. Ariel pulled back.

“It’s all right.” She removed her clothing. Ahhu stared at her with open curiosity. Ariel flushed and stood as the woman’s gaze raked over every inch of her.

“You have bred her.” Ahhu glanced at Ral. “Correct?”

“Yes. I told you I bound her.”

Ahhu nodded. “How is she physically different from our women?”

“Besides her obvious looks?” Ral growled.

“Besides.”

“It’s all right,” Ariel sighed. “Don’t get mad.”

He was angry. Ariel could see it. Ral glared at the Zorn woman. “Her unis is in the front.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Her unis is in the front, exposed between her thighs when spread.”

The Zorn scientist’s eyes flew to Ariel. “May I please see this?”

Ariel knew Ahhu had to examine her, but she still felt embarrassment. She climbed on the exam table and spread her thighs, but she shut her eyes so she didn’t have to watch herself being stared at. When she felt the hand her eyes flew open and she started to jerk away. It was Ral touching her and she instantly relaxed. He spread her nether lips with his fingers to better expose her sex. Ral’s eyes locked with Ariel’s.

“Look but don’t touch her, Ahhu.” Ral warned. “You are making her uncomfortable and you will treat her with the respect of my bound woman.”

The woman dipped her head in a nod. “Of course, Argis Ral.”

Ariel saw Ahhu staring at every exposed inch of her. The woman reached for something. Ral growled. He looked furious.

“No.”

Ahhu froze. “I wanted to document it.”

“You will not take documentation of my woman’s sexuality to share with other scientists. Put that down now.” He snarled. “No other male sees my woman like this but me.”

Ahhu put the electronic device down. She moved closer to study Ariel. She was fascinated. “Her color is different. She’s pink.”

“She is softer inside too.” Ral released Ariel and slid his palm over her, cupping her mound to cover her sex. “You have seen enough.”

The woman backed up. “Can she enter your mind? Any signs of abilities like that?”

“No.” Ral’s hand left her mound to help her sit up. He handed her clothes back and started to help her dress. “She has no abilities that could control me.”

Ahhu was frowning. “Then why did you bound to her?”

Ral lifted Ariel up off the table to help her put on her pants. “Seeing her was enough. I was drawn to her fragile beauty. She smelled good and I wanted her intensely. When we were alone I got to know her very well. I knew she was mine to keep. I knew she was the woman I wanted bound to.”

The scientist studied Ral. “She pleases you?”

Ral nodded. Now that Ariel was dressed Ral’s anger seemed to dissipate. “More than I have ever been pleased in my life.” He looked down at Ariel. “Let her look at your implant.” He eyed Ahhu. “Can you download the program and load her language into our translators so all Zorn can understand her? How long will that take?”

Ahhu walked to a wall and got another device. She walked to Ariel. “Tell her to sit.”

Ariel sat. “Please remind her that I can understand her.”

Ral chuckled. “She can understand you, Ahhu. You just can’t understand her.”

The woman ran the device over the wrong ear. Ariel pointed. “This one.”

The woman moved and ran it over the right ear. The woman read the small screen and frowned. She looked at Ral. “Let me see you.”

Ahhu scanned both ears on Ral and frowned. “They put a new implant in your left ear, Argis Ral. I would like to remove the other-world implant from you. We do not know what their technology can do. It could be dangerous.”

“No. If you do I could not understand Ariel.”

“Your father is going to order all of the implants removed from the other world. We do not know if they contain tracking devices or even harmful tendencies. They could release poison.”

“What are the chances?”

The woman hesitated. “Good. Remember history.”

Ariel frowned. She met Ral’s eyes. “We won’t be able to able to understand each other, will we?”

“No. The Zorn translators obviously don’t know your language or they’d be able to understand you.”

“At least let us remove them for testing. We might be able to download their program to adapt it to our translators,” Ahhu said softly.

Ral frowned. “Remove the other implants from our people and test those.”

“They all must be removed, Argis Ral. I swear to you that I will work very hard to find the way for our translators to work for your bound woman.”

Ral growled. There was no translation. “Leave us and lock the door. We need some time together.”

Ahhu nodded. “The other Zorn recovered are coming in right now. I’ll remove their implants first.” She left the room.

Ral met Ariel’s eyes. “We need to do this. She could be right. We have had something like this happen before to some of our warriors who were captured by other world species. They were given alien implants that released poison that killed them all.

It happened days after they escaped.”

“But we’ve been traveling for three weeks.”

“We have been aboard their ship. We are out of range of any signal it could have sent out now that we are on the planet. It is safer if we do this. I won’t take the risk with your life or mine.”

“I understand.”

Ral reached for her. “It doesn’t matter if we can talk or not.” He pulled her into his arms. “We know how it is between us.”

“We do.”

“I will take care of you. It shouldn’t be too difficult for them to get a working translator. We have the Anzons ship as well with their programs. We’ll find your language and work it into our translators. We can do this together, Ariel.”

“We can do this,” she echoed, hoping they were both right.

“It won’t be long before they figure it out.”

Ariel stared up into his eyes and cupped his face with her hands. “I love you.” One of her hands lowered from his face to his heart. “I love you so much, Ral.” She touched his chest. She wasn’t sure his heart was where she touched but she’d heard a thump there under her ear when they slept. “My heart to yours.”

Ral smiled. “I am in love with you too, Ariel.”

She forced a smile that she didn’t feel. She was a little afraid of not being able to talk to Ral for a few days. Ariel wondered if Ral was putting up a brave front as well. She just had to have some faith that they’d make it work somehow.

“Just don’t feed me hot things that make my mouth burn. I won’t be able to understand you when you describe my food choices this time.”

He laughed. “I’ll remember. I’ll take good care of you.”

7

Ariel hated not being able to talk to Ral. After their implants had been removed, he had led her outside where a driver and vehicle waited. They’d left the city for a forested area. Ral’s home was at the edge of a village. Other large homes were within sight, but they were distant enough that there was privacy.

Ral had a beautiful home, though Zorn homes were not like houses back on Earth.

Zorn homes were made out of a pretty red stone. The walls were smooth to the touch as if they had been polished. They had wood furniture but the colors didn’t come from any type of trees Arial had ever seen—shades of red and deep purples, some were even black. The cloth material on the couches and on the Zorn clothing was thick, soft cotton-like blends.

Ral gave Ariel a tour of each room in his house. He smiled at her as he led her to a large bedroom last. He softly growled at her as he swept her into his arms, taking her to the bed. He growled at her again. She knew he was talking—it wasn’t just him growling at her—but she couldn’t understand him.

Their eyes met as Ral pinned her under him. He touched her throat with his finger and ran it up to her mouth. He growled at her.

“Do you want to hear what I sound like when I talk without the translator on?”

Nodding his head, Ral grinned. He either understood what she was asking or maybe he just wanted to encourage her to keep speaking.

“I love your house. It’s bigger than I thought it would be and I love the darker tones. I never really enjoyed the color red or thought there were so many shades of red but there are. I love them. I also never thought purple would be in a straight man’s home, but we’re not on Earth. Purple definitely is sexy around a hunk like you.”

Ral chuckled. No translation was needed for that sound. His amazing eyes sparkled with amusement as his head lowered. He brushed his lips over hers. Ariel wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him closer. She was addicted to sex with the man since she’d met him. They had no problem communicating when they touched. They both knew exactly what they were saying as the kiss deepened. They wanted each other.

A loud buzz sounded. Ral’s body tensed. He broke the kiss, reluctantly pulling his mouth from hers. He snarled something as he climbed off her. He eyed her body with a long hungry look. Holding his hand palm out to her, he turned around walking out of the bedroom. She stayed in bed like his hand indicated.

Minutes passed until Ariel heard a loud sound. It sounded like glass smashing.

Snarls were the next thing she heard. She jumped off the bed to run out of the bedroom.

Panic washed over her—something was wrong. She came to a halt as she saw the living room.

Ral was facing off with a snarling Zorn woman. The female was tall and muscular.

She was attractive. Dark brown hair flowed down her back to her knees. Much of her athletic body was showing in the dress she wore, low cut at her breasts and raised high on her shapely legs. Both of them were oblivious to Ariel.

The woman grabbed Ral’s arm with a snarl. He slapped her hand away, snarling something back at her that didn’t sound nice. The woman let her hand drop. They glared at each other. The woman’s nostrils flared. She snapped her head in Ariel’s direction to glare at her. Ariel didn’t need a translator to understand the woman hated her. Rage was evident. The woman snarled and took a step in Ariel’s direction.

Ral moved in the woman’s path to Ariel. He snarled at the woman for a while. Ariel got that he was angry from his tone. Ariel couldn’t see the woman anymore with Ral’s body between them but when he stopped snarling the woman snarled back. They were obviously arguing. Ral pointed to the front door and snarled.

Nope, Ariel thought. She didn’t need a translation. The woman was furious that Ral was with her and he wanted the woman to leave. The woman didn’t leave. Instead she lunged at Ral. He took a step back when the woman attacked him and grabbed the fists pelting him. He threw the woman away from him and she landed hard on her ass by the door. Ral snarled again, pointing at the front door.

Ariel could see her now. The woman shot her a glare as she softly growled. She got to her knees and reached for her hem. In shock, Ariel saw the woman yank the dress over her head. It looked like Zorn women didn’t wear undergarments because the woman was now completely naked.

Zorn women weren’t that different. Her breast looked the same but between her legs was slightly different. The woman obviously didn’t own a much-needed razor. It put a new spin on the term bush. The woman’s eyes locked on Ral as she dropped to her hands and knees. She softly growled at him, lowering her head, her arms bent at the elbows. She lowered her breasts to the floor and it put her ass high in the air as she spread her thighs about a foot apart.

“Oh hell no,” Ariel gasped. She was shocked but again she didn’t need a translator.

The woman was offering herself sexually to Ral.

Ral turned to frown at Ariel. She met his eyes. He pointed to the bedroom. Pain shot through Ariel hard. Was he going to accept the bitch’s offer? He wanted Ariel to return to their room. That was clear. She shook her head no at him. She felt a burst of emotions—jealousy and hurt were the strongest initial feelings. Anger and shock came in at a close second. Ral took a deep breath. He continued to frown at Ariel. He pointed again to the bedroom.

“Fuck you,” she said softly. She shook her head no, crossing her arms. “If you touch that bitch I’m out of here.”

Ariel hesitated and then pointed at the woman. She pointed at the door. She pointed at Ral and then showed him her hand. She pointed to him and then the woman.

Then she pointed to herself and the door. She hoped he understood what she meant.

She let her anger show. She growled at him.

Ral was still frowning. He looked confused. Ariel stormed over to him and looked up to stare into his eyes. She pointed to herself and then him. She pointed to the woman and then him. She shook her head no at him. He knew what that meant—no was no universally from what she had seen on the shaking of a head movement. Hot tears fill her eyes. If he touched that woman she’d leave him. She didn’t care what happened to her out on his planet. She wasn’t going to stay with a man who’d fuck another woman.

Ral’s frown softened. He pointed to the woman, shaking his head no. He touched his chest and then hers. He sighed as his eyes left hers to look down at the naked woman bent over on the floor. He growled something at her.

Ariel watched the woman’s response. The woman snarled as she lifted her chest from the floor. She looked pissed as hell as she reached for her discarded dress. She yanked it over her head and down over her body as she got to her feet. She snarled before she lunged at Ariel.

Ral moved fast and wrapped his arm around Ariel to jerk her out of reach of the furious woman. He dropped Ariel to her feet behind him and shoved the woman toward the door again with the arm not locked around Ariel. He snarled as he released Ariel.

The woman lunged for Ariel again, but Ral grabbed her by the throat. He lifted her, stomped to the front door and jerked it open. In seconds he dropped the uninjured woman outside the door and slammed it shut, locking it. His blue eyes met Ariel’s before he advanced.

Ariel gasped as Ral grabbed her. He softly growled at her as he hoisted her into his arms and marched for the bedroom. Behind them the woman outside pounded on the door. She rang the annoying bell over and over. Ral ignored it as he carried Ariel into their bedroom. He turned to kick the door shut. It almost muted the sounds of the woman attacking his front door and doorbell. He walked to the bed easing Ariel to her feet.

She undressed as Ral did. Relief flooded Ariel. He wanted her. He’d kicked the other woman out of his house. He climbed on the bed and flipped on his back. He smiled and softly growled at her. He patted his thighs, giving her a look she knew well.

Being ridden was his favorite position.

She climbed on the bed after him. Straddling his hips, she kept his erection behind her. Ariel grinned as she ran her fingertips over his chest wall. The man had a body she wanted to lick so she didn’t hesitate to do it. She lowered her head and started at his right nipple. Groans were also universal. Ral also suffered from heavy breathing after a few minutes of Ariel using her tongue and teeth on him.

Ral gripped her hips, lifting her. She gasped. She was always surprised at his strength as he lowered her onto his body so she was right over his cock. She spread her thighs a little wider. She was wet and ready as he eased himself into her. She threw her head back moaning as she settled down on him so he was seated deep inside her. The sensation was amazing.

Ariel rode Ral at a slow pace. She twisted her hips as she moved up and down on Ral so every thick inch of him hit nerves inside her that drove her passion level up. She locked her eyes with his. Ral ran his hands over her body down to the vee of her thighs to finger her clit. He brushed the sensitive nub gently as he softly growled at her. The look in his eyes told her whatever he was saying was good. She really missed knowing what he was saying to her. She knew he thought she was wet and tight. She knew he loved the way she felt surrounding him tightly as her body gripped his cock. She squeezed her muscles tighter when she moved faster.

Ariel came with a shout. The climax hit her when Ral rubbed her clit faster with his fingertips applying more pressure. Ral pulsed and throbbed hard inside her as he exploded. She collapsed on his chest.

Ral let his hands run up and down her spine. Ariel loved his rough-textured hands on her bare skin and she shivered. He started to harden again inside her, his rapid recovery time impressive. Zorn men were a lot like human men in some ways yet so different in others. Ral had the stamina of at least five human men. He gently rolled them over until she was pinned to the bed under him.

Ariel grinned up at him. “I love you.”

Ral eyed her and tilted his head. Ariel touched her heart and then his. A grin split his face. He shifted his hips and then drove into her. He moved fast and hard. Ariel locked her legs high around his waist so her heels dug into his moving ass. She clung to him and rolled her hips as he pounded into her. Ecstasy flowed through her body, her inner muscles quivering around his cock, and screamed out again minutes later as she came hard. Ral followed her and collapsed on her. He was careful not to crush her. He kissed her neck, a growl rumbling from him.

She had to admit when he softly growled like that into her skin it turned her on as much as his loving words did. She caressed his hair as her fingers slid into his thick tresses. She loved his long hair. She never thought she’d find really long hair sexy on a man but everything about Ral turned her on.

He climbed off Ariel. He smiled as held out his hand to her. She gripped his hand to let him help lift her off his bed. He led her silently into the bathroom where they showered together. She loved to wash Ral. He seemed to love to run his soapy hands over her body.

She realized as they touched each other that it was more than just cleaning. Her body heated up and she grinned as Ral obviously grew aroused. She let her soapy hands run down his stomach to wash every muscle along the way and finally her hand lowered to the hard flesh pointed at her. Both of her hands closed over him and she explored him with her fingers.

Ral leaned back against the wall and his eyes narrowed with lust. Ariel watched his expression as she rubbed him and let her fingernails lightly rake his balls. Ral’s eyes shut and a moan escaped. He tilted his head back. His lips parted so she could see his sharp teeth. Those teeth had once frightened her. Now she knew the wonderful feeling of when he raked them over her skin.

Ral came with a roar. He jerked with the violence of his release. Ariel smiled up at him when he finally opened his eyes. His grin was wide and happy as he stared down at her. He reached up and cupped her face with both his hands. He lowered his head to brush his lips over hers. They got dressed in the bedroom.

As she got dressed irritation surged through her that the woman outside hadn’t given up. The doorbell was still going off with the occasional thump from the woman kicking or punching the door. Ral eyed Ariel. He touched his heart and then hers. He walked out of the bedroom. Ariel followed him.

She was stunned as she watched Ral open the front door and move out of the way.

The woman stormed into Ral’s house snarling. Her dark eyes narrowed. Hatred poured from their depths as she shot a glare at Ariel. The woman snapped her head in Ral’s direction when she spoke to him softly.

Ral’s eyes went to Ariel and he touched his chest and pointed to Ariel. He was telling her that he loved her. Ariel frowned and her eyes went back to the woman. If he loved her then why in the hell was that woman in their home?

The woman dropped to her knees and reached for her dress again. She started to tug up her outfit. Rage slammed through Ariel. If Ral thought he could have them both he was about to get a serious reality check. Ariel stormed for the front door. She was leaving. She didn’t care what his people did with her. She’d probably end up at the medical center like a guinea pig but it would be better than watching Ral touch another woman.

She saw Ral frown as she stormed past him. Opening the front door, she stormed out and slammed it shut behind her. She just stared—it was foreign to her on Zorn. Red tinged almost everything. She started to walk for the road, fighting back tears. Ral had brought her to his world, refused to let her go home, and now he’d discarded her.

Maybe discarded wasn’t the right word she admitted. He hadn’t asked her to leave.

He’d just let a naked woman into their lives.

She heard a roar seconds before the front door was torn open behind her. Ariel didn’t turn around. She didn’t run even though she was a little scared. It sounded like Ral was pretty pissed off. Well, too damn bad, she thought. She was hurt by his actions and furious with him. She wasn’t the sharing kind. She’d be damned if she stayed with a two-timing son of a bitch. She made it to the street before Ral grabbed her arm and spun her around to face him.

Ariel saw the confusion and rage on Ral’s face. He spoke to her. She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t understand a damn thing you’ve said and I know you don’t understand me but go to hell. I won’t stand there while you fuck another woman. Screw you, buddy. I’m out of here. Don’t glare down at me like that and act all pissy. I don’t have a naked man on his hands and knees in my house, you jerk.”

He looked frustrated as hell. Ariel yanked hard to free her arm as she turned to start walking away again. Ral roared in rage as he grabbed her arm. All Ariel could do was gasp as she found herself spun and tossed over his shoulder. Two arms locked tightly around her thighs as he stormed back for the house. He’d left the front door wide open.

He gently put her down on her feet in the living room. Ariel took in her surroundings once she was right-side up. The bitch was still on her knees on the floor, still naked, and obviously still waiting for Ral to fuck her. Ral glared down at Ariel as he touched his heart and then brushed his fingertips over Ariel’s chest.

“You love me? You want to remind me we’re bound? What in the hell does that mean? Damn you, Ral!” She pointed to the naked woman on the floor and shook her head as she yelled at him. “No way in hell are you having us both, you jackass. If screwing around is your world’s version of a relationship then just forget it. Let your father unbound us. I won’t stay.”

Ral growled softly. He spun and walked to the communication device on the wall.

It was kind of like an amplified wireless phone in Ariel’s opinion. She listened to him talk to someone since the device broadcast both sides of the conversation. It was a female he spoke to. Minutes later he looked frustrated. His eyes went to Ariel as he made another call to a male. When he hung up he let his eyes shift to the naked woman.

He growled something at her.

Whatever he said, the woman wasn’t happy. She shot Ariel a murderous look as she finally got off her knees. She put her dress back on. Ral was going to send the woman away. He must have understood Ariel’s I’m-out-of-here-if-you-touch-her message. The woman didn’t leave though. She headed for the kitchen.

Ariel clenched her teeth. Ral moved to stand in front of Ariel, frowning down at her. His eyes softened as he rubbed her arms with his large, hot hands. It was a comforting gesture. Ariel didn’t know what in the hell was going on but she wasn’t happy.

She glared up at Ral before jerking out of his hold. He frowned at her. He reached for her again. His hand was gentle as it gripped her arm. He led her to the front door.

Shock tore through Ariel. Was he going to kick her out now? He’d just chased after her and carried her back into his house. He opened the front door, pulling them both outside, and shutting the door behind them. He walked with her toward the street. She saw a vehicle approach.

Pain sliced through her. Ral was sending her away. The vehicle stopped and Ral kept hold of her arm as he opened the back door. He gently pushed her toward the vehicle’s interior.

Ariel fought tears as she climbed inside the back of the vehicle. She sat stiffly and then gasped as Ral pushed at her to move over. He climbed in the back of the vehicle with her. He shut the door, closing them in together. Ariel stared at him still clueless about what was going on. He wasn’t sending her away.

He touched his heart and then her heart. He pulled her onto his lap to hold her as he spoke to the driver. The vehicle took off. Ariel cuddled into his arms. She had no idea where they were going but they were together. She felt relief that he wasn’t just sending her away. She was confused, angry and wanted answers.

Ral held her while they took a long drive back to the city. When they parked she recognized the building the driver had stopped in front of was the medical building.

Ral lifted her from his lap as he eased out of the vehicle. He held out his hand. Ariel took it. She hoped they had her translator fixed and working. She really wanted to talk to Ral.

Inside she saw other Zorn. Ral kept hold of her and moved down the hallway. She spotted Ahhu walking to meet them. Ahhu smiled at Ral but gave Ariel a grim look. Ral growled at the woman. She growled back. Ariel didn’t understand a damn word but wished she could so she’d know what was going on. Ahhu spun around. Ral held on to Ariel as they both followed the Zorn woman.

Ahhu showed them into a new exam room. Ariel watched the woman walk to what looked like a computer. Ral shut the door firmly behind them, closing the three of them in the room. Ral spoke to the woman as she worked in front of the console. Finally Ahhu turned to face them.

“Can you understand me now?” Her eyes went to Ariel.

Joy filled her. “Yes!”

Ral chuckled. “We can understand you too. I’ve missed your words.” He grinned down at her.

“This is a program of the ear device we took off you,” Ahhu explained. “The conis is running it for us. We haven’t worked it out fully so we don’t have a new implant to give either of you yet but in here you can talk.”

Ral’s eyes jerked from Ariel’s and glared at the woman. “Damn it, Ahhu. We need to be able to understand each other at all times. It has caused us problems.”

“I can copy the program so it can be run in your home in a room to communicate. It is tricky to try to implement a foreign program into our implant translators. It won’t read it. The only reason it works on the conis is because it can run most any program.”

“Conis?” Ariel said softly.

Ahhu pointed to the computer device. Ariel nodded.

“Got it.” She eyed Ral. “Do you have a conis at home? I don’t remember seeing one.”

“I can get one.” He eyed Ahhu. “Leave us please. Get me a copy of that program.

Tell Abroo I need a conis immediately to take home with us.”

Ahhu hesitated. “While you are here I need to run more tests.”

“No,” Ral snarled.

“Your father has ordered them, Ral. He is concerned greatly.”

Ral snarled again. There was no translation but it came across as “I’m really pissed off” to Ariel. “He needs not concern himself.”

“He is very concerned. Let me run the tests. It will set his mind at ease. He’s ordered the other-world species from our planet, Argis Ral. He will order her gone as well. Let me run the tests to prove to him that she is no danger to your health and well-being.”

Rage hit Ral’s face. “He’s ordered our men to give up their off-world bound women?”

Ahhu hesitated. “None of them bound to those women, Ral. Only you bound one to you. They just shared sex. The other males were easily willing to give up those women.

They are working to find their planets to return them to their worlds.”

“I will not give her up. If he orders her off our world then I will go live on her planet. Leave us.” He paused. “What tests do you need to do now? I won’t allow her to be pained in any way.”

Ahhu walked to cabinets along one wall. She removed a few things before walking to a table. She eyed Ral. “Your father has demanded I make sure she doesn’t have sexual control over you. I need her sex fluids to test to make sure they aren’t working as a drug into your system. I will also need sex fluids from you to test to see if her fluids cause a reaction in your own body.”

Ral growled. “Fine.”

“You can’t mix the fluids. Will this be a problem?” Ahhu eyed Ariel. “Does she have fluids?”

“Yes. Get out. I’ll take care of the testing. Lock the door on your way out.”

Ahhu nodded and left the room. It locked with a loud click from the other side. Ral sighed as he turned around, his full attention was on Ariel.

8

“Why did you try to leave my home? What have I done to anger you?”

Ariel crossed her arms over her chest as she eyed him back. “I don’t share. I thought bound meant loyalty. As in you wouldn’t fuck other women. I will leave, Ral. If you touch that woman I’m so gone.”

He cocked his head. “I see.”

“You see? That’s all you have to say? Let me tell you something, Ral. I’m human.

You’re Zorn. I know there are some differences, but I won’t be with a man who has sex with other women. It won’t happen. If you want to fuck that bitch…that woman…you go right ahead but you won’t be touching me anymore.”

“This wasn’t an issue while we were prisoners. Women were rare. On my world it is acceptable for a male to have sex with different women. I did not invite her to our home. My father gave her to me. He wants me bound with her instead. I told her I wasn’t interested. I did not wish to have her, Ariel.”

“You let her back in after you kicked her out. She took off her damn dress and you didn’t make her put it back on.”

“Some of my kind goes naked in home. It is not an uncommon or unheard of thing.”

“She goes or I do, Ral. It’s that damn simple. I’m really hurt that you’d even consider it.” She moved away from him to stare out the window. “You really have hurt me inside. How would you feel if I had sex with another man?”

Ral snarled. In seconds he was touching her as he gripped her arms to spin her around to face him. “I would kill.”

“That’s how I feel, damn you. Do you know the rage that you’re feeling right now when you think about another man touching me? I feel the same rage when I think about you with other women.”

“Our culture is different but I understand.” His eyes softened. “I promise you no other women. I didn’t mean to harm you, Ariel. I meant no hurt to you. I don’t want her. I told her no. You are the one I want in my bed. I just didn’t think you would find it offensive that she was naked. Now I know. No more unclothed females in our home.”

Ariel stared up at him. “Did you want to have sex with her?”

He didn’t look away. His eyes were locked with Ariel’s eyes. “I did not. I told her no. I meant no. You are who makes me hard, Ariel. You are different from women of my world and I am addicted to those differences. To touch another woman but you would be…” He hesitated. “Not worth my time or an interest of mine. Was that clear for you to understand? You are the only female I want to touch.”

“She goes.”

He hesitated. “She was given to me. If I kick her out she will be without a home.

She will starve or be harmed without protection. It would be cruel.”

“Then give her to someone else. I don’t want her with us.”

He caressed her cheek. “I will give her to someone else. Good plan. We do need house help but I will find a very old female to live in another room from us to do the home work. Then there will be no doubt that I do not want to have sex with her and older females do not walk around naked. They get too cold.”

“You didn’t have help before.”

His smile died. “I did. I got rid of my home help before I took you home.”

Ariel eyed him. He looked away and then let his eyes drop to her again. He looked slightly embarrassed. “I had two females that shared my bed. I do not want to make you angry or hurt but I was unbound before you. I have a strong sex drive. I knew there would be trouble if I didn’t give them to one of my brothers. They wouldn’t have been happy when I kicked them out of my bed to share it with you. I had no intention of having sex with others once I bound to you, Ariel. You have ruined me for other women.”

She smiled. “Good.”

He laughed. “House help will be good. You don’t know how to serve our food. I would not send you out to shop. I would worry and the females do the shopping. We would have great sex but we would starve.”

“We can’t have that.”

“Are you all right with me having two women before you?”

“I’m not overly thrilled. I’m glad you got rid of them.” She moved closer to him so they were chest to chest. Her hands opened on his shirt to rub him. “I mean it though. If you touch another woman I’ll leave you, Ral. I will be loyal to you but I expect it back.”

“That is a promise I can easily make to you.”

She grinned. “It’s a deal then.” She hesitated. “What exactly makes us bound? Is it like a ceremony?”

“I do not pull out of you.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I give you my seed. I plant it inside you.”

“Oh.” She frowned. “Don’t you do that with other women? I mean, haven’t you?”

“No. We pull out to spill our seed. I do not do that with you. I empty my seed deep within your body. It makes us bound.” His hand rubbed her belly. “You drank my seed as well. Our women do not drink our seed. They move away before seed is spilled. I told you they do not take me inside their mouth but you do.” He grinned widely. “It is amazing.”

“So that makes us bound.”

He nodded. “You are bound to me. You are offered my offspring with my seed.”

“If I am able to have offspring with you.”

He nodded. “If you can. Time will tell us if you are able to have my seed plant inside you.”

The thought of getting pregnant with Ral’s baby didn’t terrify her. It should have.

Ariel smiled up at him. “I’m glad we can talk.”

“When we leave we will take the program and they will get me a conis so we can communicate in our bedroom.”

“That’s the one place we don’t need to talk.” She laughed.

“We will do their tests and leave.” He backed away as he released her. “Undress and lie down.”

Ariel eyed the room uneasily.

“We will not be interrupted.”

Ariel stripped out of her clothes. Ral did the same. She eyed the exam table with a grin. “It is a little small for both of us.”

“Only one of us needs to fit on it. They want our fluids.” He dropped his gaze. “I will make you very wet and take a sample for them. You may put me in your mouth to coax my seed. I will warn you before I find my release so you can pull away.”

“Who’s first?” Ariel eyed his muscular naked body. She loved to see every hard inch of him. Her eyes lowered to his major hard-on and she grinned. “You look very eager. Should you be first?”

“No. I will only get hard again from your taste. I would want you after.”

Ariel smiled wider. “Good.” She yanked a pillow from the exam table. She dropped it to the floor sinking to her knees on it. She wiggled her finger at him. “Come here.”

He moved forward. Ariel gripped his cock to guide him closer. She wrapped one hand around his hard flesh as the other one gently massaged his balls. Ral growled.

“You first.”

She shook her head. “You first. Then it will be my turn.”

“I will want you.”

“We’ll be done with their tests. Then you can take me.”

She saw strong desire change his eyes. His cock jumped in her hand. “Good plan.”

“I have my moments. So where is that collection cup?”

He turned at his waist to reach for it. He held it up. He opened the container and sat it on the exam table a foot from Ariel. She lowered her head opening her mouth.

“So this is how Zorn women do it?” She licked the harder section of skin at the top of his head.

“Yes,” he groaned. “That feels so good.”

“What is better? You tell me.” She opened her mouth wide to accommodate Ral taking him into her mouth. She relaxed her jaw and took him deeper. She let her tongue tease him. She quickly realized her tongue could only tease the underside of him. The roof of her mouth rubbed his oversensitive spot. Ral growled as his fingers gently rubbed the sides of her head.

“That is so damn good. I like this so much better.”

Ariel gazed up at him as she released him from her mouth. “I have a better idea. I want to try something.”

He arched an eyebrow. “What do you want to try?”

Using his arms she pulled herself to her feet. She laughed at his confused look. “Lie down flat on your back for me.”

He climbed up on the exam table. He looked uncertain but he tried it. Ariel saved the sample cup when his bare leg hit it and knocked it over. Ral eased his large body down so he was flat on his back. He turned his head to watch her.

“You want to bend over me?”

She shook her head and climbed up on the table with him. “I want to try a new angle and since I don’t want you to try to hold me upside down this will work.” She straddled him so her ass was facing him and inched back until they were in the sixty-nine position. Her knees ended up near his armpits. Ral growled. Large hands slightly trembled as they gripped Ariel’s thighs.

“Lord of the Moons, Ariel. I love this view of you.” His hands slid up her thighs to spread her so he had a good view of her pussy. One of his thumbs brushed against her clit.

Ariel moaned. “Do that. Tease me. Don’t make me come though. Tell me how this feels.”

She took him into her mouth. She enjoyed the hard texture of his hais as it rubbed against her taste buds as she moved her tongue. He had pre-cum that tasted like candy.

She moaned as she enjoyed the taste of him. She sucked on him, taking him into her mouth a little deeper, moving her tongue to draw out more sweetness from him.

The hand on her thigh tightened almost painfully as Ral groaned loudly. His body under hers tensed hard. His thumb pressed tight to her clit, frozen there, before he slid it higher. His thumb pushed into her pussy. He fucked her with his thumb, hooking her inside to rub against her G-spot.

Ariel moaned against his cock. Ral groaned. She wasn’t sure it was possible for him to get any harder but the impossible happened. She felt how swollen and hot his cock got as she slowly teased him with her mouth. His already rigid shaft had turned to the consistency of steel. She knew he wouldn’t last much longer. Ral’s lower stomach muscles started to quiver against her breasts. He made a sound that sounded like a whimper. He jerked his thumb out of her body to grip her thighs with both hands.

She released him. Ariel turned her head over her shoulder and lifted her upper body to see over her ass. Ral’s eyes were shut tightly and his mouth was parted widely.

His sharp teeth were exposed. He looked like he was in pain.

“Am I hurting you? Oh, Ral. I’m so damn sorry.”

His head lifted as his eyes snapped open. The blue of his eyes looked darker so they seemed to have lost some of the glowing look. “That doesn’t hurt. Lord of the Moons.

You have to stop though. I will spill my seed. You do that and it feels so good I have no control. I almost shot my seed and would have if you hadn’t stopped.”

Relief hit her. She thought she might have hurt him. She laughed. “Too much?”

“It feels too good for words. It makes me want to come fast.”

“Okay. I’ll ease back more.”

“No. Just be ready. I am ready to lose my seed.”

She reached for the small cup and licked the top of his cock, tracing over the mushroomed edges of him. He shivered under her. She eased him into her mouth.

Using her tongue and her lips she tugged on him in shallow pulls of suction. His hands flexed on her thighs. Ral groaned.

“Now.”

She released him from her mouth to put the cup up just in time to catch his seed.

She got most of it to go in the cup. She shut the lid on the cup. Ral was still hard. She opened her mouth and licked him like ice cream. She shut her eyes. He tasted like melted cotton candy. He was better than dessert.

“Lord of the Moons,” Ral whispered. “Stop, Ariel. I can’t take it.” His large muscular body shivered. “You make me feel so good it almost hurts.”

She released him with her mouth. She moved off him carefully so the sample cup didn’t spill. She saw Ral’s face as she stepped away from him and the exam table. He was flushed. A sappy grin spread his lips as he sat up.

“I’m in love with you,” he said softly. “You just remind me why more times than others. This is one of those times.”

She put the lid on the sample and sat it down on the other table. She turned to him grinning. “One sample is down. Where do you want me, Ral?”

He eased his large frame from the table and reached for her. Ariel was always amazed at his strength as he lifted her into the cradle of his arms. They were almost face level. He planted a tender kiss on her and then moved, bending, stretching her out on the exam table. He released her and straightened, walking to the end of the table to grip her ankles. He grinned as he yanked her down the table until her ass was at the very edge. He released her ankles.

“Spread wide for me.”

Ariel spread her thighs wide and reached down, gripping her bent knees. She watched Ral’s eyes take in every inch of her. She’d been self-conscious about herself once. Not anymore. The look on Ral’s face turned her on. He was turned-on. He dropped slowly to his knees as his large hands caressed the inside of her thighs.

“I get so hard when I see you like this. You are so pink and wet for my touch. I get so hard from your scent of arousal and the taste of you. You are ready for me.”

“Always for you,” she whispered.

Ral lowered his head. Ariel shut her eyes. He slid his rough textured hands over her thighs and his thumbs spread her wider to his view. He hesitated for only a moment before his mouth descended. At the first touch of his tongue Ariel moaned loudly.

Ral had no mercy. His tongue found her clit immediately. He licked with hard strokes. Pleasure tore through her body. The man hadn’t known what a clit was when he met her but he’d sure learned how to handle one like a pro.

He sucked and licked her. One of his hands shifted and she bucked her hips as he pushed a finger deep inside her. He pushed in another finger and twisted them inside her to find the right spot. Ariel moaned loudly as he found it. Ral started to pump inside her in fast movements with his fingers as his tongue teased and licked her clit.

Ariel screamed out. She couldn’t last long with Ral. He knew too well how to touch her. She jerked under him. He didn’t stop. His two fingers moved faster as his mouth still sucked on her clit right through one of the hardest orgasms she’d ever had. He kept at her until she begged him to stop. Pleasure was turning to pain. He stopped instantly.

His face lifted as he slowly withdrew his fingers.

“I want you now,” he growled.

Ariel opened her eyes. She saw Ral twist around to grab one of the swab things that Ahhu had set out. He met her gaze and then lowered his to her exposed sex. He used the swab quickly before putting it in the sample bag. He threw it on the small table. His hands gripped her.

Ariel gasped as he lifted her off the table. She wrapped her arms and legs around Ral as he jerked her up his body and lifted her nose to nose with him. Their eyes locked for a few seconds. Ral growled deep in his throat as he kissed her. It was a wild kiss with enough passion behind it that it almost shocked Ariel. She moaned as one of his teeth grazed her lower lip. The taste of her blood was between them. It seemed to drive Ral higher in his passion. He eased one hand down between their bodies to guide his cock. The thick crown pressed against her. She knew she was soaking wet as he rubbed up and down her pussy in tight motions that teased her fervor higher.

She expected him to enter her fast and hard but he pushed into her slowly as he slid into her deep. She moaned into his mouth. His arms shifted his hold on her as he cupped her ass with both of his hands. He broke from the kiss to stare into her eyes.

“Tell me if I hurt you,” he growled.

Ariel nodded. Ral started to move. He moved fast and hard in her. Ariel threw her face against his shoulder. She cried out at the wonderful feeling of Ral inside her. He was thick and it felt incredible as he rubbed against every nerve within her pussy that he touched. He moved faster to drive up into her as his hands slammed her down on him. It didn’t hurt. It felt so good her moans turned into loud sobs of pleasure.

Her body started to tense and then her mouth opened on his shoulder. She bit down, screaming against his skin as she came hard. Her interior muscles went crazy, gripping his cock tighter as Ral threw back his head. He roared out as he came. Ral jerked violently as his cum shot inside her.

She realized her teeth were still gripping his shoulder. She released her hold and opened her eyes. She saw her teeth marks in his skin but she hadn’t made him bleed thankfully. She lifted her eyes and met Ral’s. He chuckled.

“Lord of the Moons, Ariel. Nothing compares to you.”

“Wow.”

“What does that mean?”

“Amazing. Wonderful. Incredible. I love you.”

He laughed. His gaze lowered to her mouth and his smile faded. “I made your lip bleed. I’m sorry. It is a little swollen.”

“I’m good. Don’t worry about it. I bit you too. I’m glad I didn’t draw blood.”

He shrugged. “I would not care if you did. It would be an honor to be marked by your teeth.” His eyes went to her mouth and he laughed. “But your teeth are too smooth to damage my skin.” He opened his mouth to show her his sharper teeth. “You need a set like mine.”

Ariel shook her head as she grinned at him. “I’d hurt myself if I had teeth like that.”

He eased out of her body still smiling. “We should get dressed now. I want to take you home.”

“I want to go home with you.”

“No other women, Ariel. I promise this to you.”

She stared up into his eyes. “You would break my heart.”

“I understand. If you left me you would break my heart as well.”

9

The new woman was much better than the last one. Ariel smiled at the ancient Zorn woman. She was still in great shape for her advanced age but she had long white hair, wrinkles galore on her face and she wore clothing.

Erra was sweet. A broad smile had been her first reaction to seeing a human. She’d spoken words Ariel couldn’t understand since the conis was in the bedroom and they weren’t. The older woman had slowly approached her. Ral had nodded at Ariel from the doorway with a smile to tell her it was fine.

Ariel felt short. Every Zorn adult was a good eight inches taller than she. Even the elder Erra was that much taller. The woman had walked right up to Ariel, giving her the equivalent of a bear hug, without squeezing her too tightly. It had been startling but then Ariel had recovered enough to hug the woman back.

Erra had pulled back and began to touch Ariel. Ariel hadn’t moved as the woman’s hands brushed her cheek and then her hair. She stared up into Erra’s soft brown eyes.

She’d seen curiosity in their depths. Ariel got it. She was an alien and Ral liked to tell her she was as cute as a horma.

A horma was a creature that was tiny and to the best of Ariel’s knowledge was something like Zorn’s version of a monkey. She wasn’t sure she liked the comparison but when Ral had pulled up a photo of one on the conis she’d understood. They were big blue-eyed, white little creatures that were cute. There were worse things to be compared to.

Erra loved to fuss over her. Sometimes Ariel felt like a doll. Erra would follow her into the bedroom so they could communicate with the conis. While they were in the bedroom Erra would grab a hairbrush to brush out Ariel’s long blonde hair. Erra also liked to put lotion on Ariel’s exposed skin. She said that Ariel’s skin was so soft she was afraid it would get damaged if she didn’t lotion her often. Ariel also felt mothered. She didn’t mind.

“You should remove your clothing.” Erra motioned to Ariel’s body. “You hide from Argis Ral.” Erra eyes locked with Ariel’s. “Are you so different from our women to look at?”

“I like clothing. I don’t sleep in it with Ral.”

“Our women are naked at home. Ral would appreciate you naked. You are his bound. You don’t know our culture.” Erra smiled at her. “He would be well pleased at the end of his day to see you naked waiting by the door. It is our custom. You shroud your body outdoors and from other men but never in your own home.”

“I’m not Zorn. I’m not so different physically. I just don’t feel comfortable walking around naked. My culture wears clothing unless they are alone with their bound for sex or sleeping or showering.”

Erra sighed. “You are bound to Ral. He is Zorn. You are Zorn now.”

Ariel thought about it and walked to her closet. Ral had clothing brought to her so she it was filled. He’d left out the fact that the clothing was in a Zorn teenager size. Erra found it amusing to tease Ariel about being a lot smaller than Zorn women. Ariel asked for something to cut with so she could cut up some of the outfits in her closet. She was decent, barely, but showed off more skin. She eyed herself in the mirror when she was done.

Zorn women wore loose knee-length shift dresses. If they wore bras or underwear she hadn’t seen it so far. Some working women like Ahhu at the medical center wore baggy pants with shirts. Ariel had limited experience with Zorn women. Ral kept her home, she wasn’t allowed to leave the house without him.

She had cut the shift high so it was like a minidress. She’d removed the arms and cut the front down so her cleavage was exposed. She even slit the hips up a few inches so the sides of her thighs showed. She’d have to be careful if she sat down. She was totally bare under the dress. She looked good. She’d never walk outside in the cut outfit, but she hoped Ral would like it. She wasn’t ready to walk around naked just yet.

Erra saw Ariel when she walked out of the bedroom. Ariel smiled at the woman and slowly did a full circle turn. She eyed Erra with raised eyebrows. Erra let her eyes take in the altered dress. Erra grinned. She met Ariel’s eyes and raised her hand. She stuck up a thumb. Ariel laughed. She’d taught Erra that gesture.

Ral worked six hours a day, four days in a row. He got three days off. He was some kind of judge. Ral explained that he listened to his people and dealt with their issues.

He swore he loved doing it. Ariel missed him when he was at work. Erra barely let her do anything around the house. Mainly Ariel napped or followed Erra around to watch and learn what the woman did.

Since Ariel wasn’t allowed to leave the house enclosed the area. It was the only fresh air she was allowed to have. Ral avoided questions when she asked why she couldn’t go shopping with Erra or why she wasn’t allowed to leave the house. He always distracted her. Ral was damn good she spent time in Ral’s backyard. It had a pretty red creek and black and purple trees. A high wall at doing that. He would just carry her to bed. After a few hours with Ral she was too worn out to keep questioning him.

She eyed the clock. She’d learned to tell Zorn time with Ral’s help. She knew he’d be home soon. When the little arrow hit the bird-looking symbol he would be home.

She bit her lip. What was Ral hiding? He had to be hiding something. Was she in danger from his people? Is that why she wasn’t allowed to leave the house? Maybe it was just a simple case of him worrying about her. She couldn’t communicate with anyone.

It had been just over a week since the medical center visit. The Zorn still hadn’t perfected the Anzons translator program to work with Zorn translators. She sighed.

Maybe they had wireless computers, uh, conis, that she could walk around with.

A conis was the size of about a thirteen-inch TV. She wondered if Zorn had wheelbarrows. She laughed at that idea of lugging one around with her.

Ral was late. She watched the arrow go from the bird symbol to the wiggly snake-looking one. She frowned. He was always home when the bird symbol hit. She went in search of Erra. She found the woman doing laundry. Ariel waved at Erra and did the sign for “we need to talk”. Erra followed her through the house.

“He’s late. I’m worried.”

Erra eyed the clock. “Perhaps he went out with men. They like to drink amond while they talk of male bonding things.”

Amond was probably like beer. Ariel didn’t bother to have Erra explain. Men were men on any planet. “Wouldn’t he have used the device to call you to tell me he wasn’t coming home?”

Erra grinned. “The males on your world do that?” She laughed. “Women rule there, do they not? The idea of one of our males asking for permission to bond with other men is funny.”

Ariel sighed. “Great. So on this world men don’t call to say they’ll be late?”

“No. Ral spoils you, Ariel. If other males saw the way he spoils you he would be teased unmercifully. They already talk about how he removed his two home helpers and refused the female his father sent to bound with. She was greatly wanted by all males. That is why she was offered.”

Ariel eyed Erra with a frown.

“It is true. He refuses all females. They are attracted to him and come on to him when he is outside. He is first son, Ariel. It means he will lead this world when his father hands over the position or dies. He is very powerful and wanted. Most men in his position have at least three women in their bed if not more. He is bound to you but males always share sex with other women besides their bound. A bound is a male’s favorite female who he gifts with his seed. It is a deep honor to be bound. Our men have strong sexual needs one female can never fill. Ral refuses all but you.”

“I fill his all needs.”

Erra grinned. “I have heard.”

A flush stained Ariel’s cheeks. “Sorry about that.”

“Do not be. You make Argis Ral very pleased. He spoils you this way and in many other ways. Most of our females work. He doesn’t want you to leave his home. He is very possessive and protective of you. I have seen him with you and he gives you all of his attention. Our males tend to only seek out attention from their bound during sex. He is always with you.”

“Maybe he doesn’t think there is a job I could do.”

“You are very smart. There are jobs you could do where you wouldn’t have to speak or be spoken to. He wants to take care of you and keep you to himself. All bound men are possessive and protective but he takes it to a new level. Everyone knows this.”

Ariel sighed.

“You have been with Argis Ral long enough to conceive. Do you know that bound men release their bound if those females do not conceive? It is one of the few reasons it is allowed. Argis Ral has no intention of giving you up. He means to keep you until death.”

Ariel’s anger slipped away. So what if he went out with the boys? He’d given up a lot for her. He wasn’t a human guy. She realized there were going to be culture differences. He’d given up a lot of his culture already to make her happy. She nodded.

“I guess I’ll play with the conis and try to learn more.”

Erra nodded. The doorbell rang. Ariel sighed. Ral wouldn’t use it, he’d just walk in.

Erra hurried away to see who was at the door. Ariel hesitated and then followed the woman. What if something had happened to Ral? Fear pricked at her. Maybe that’s why he hadn’t come home.

Four large males were at the door. Erra snarled at them. Ariel hugged her body. She prayed the men at the door hadn’t told Erra bad news about Ral. Was he hurt? Dead?

Her knees wanted to buckle under her at the thought. She loved Ral. He was her entire world. She couldn’t lose him. She’d die inside if she could never be with him again. She loved him that much. As the realization hit home, she wasn’t shocked by the depth of her love for Ral.

One of the males at the door snarled back at Erra. He shifted his body and his eyes met Ariel’s. He suddenly shoved at Erra. She snarled, trying to push the man back. He was too strong. He shoved Erra hard enough that she went sprawling to the floor. Ariel gasped and instantly stepped in Erra’s direction to help her up. The three other men walked into the house. The last one in slammed the door shut behind him.

Erra hissed as her head jerked in Ariel’s direction. Ariel saw terror in the woman’s eyes as their gazes locked. It halted Ariel in her tracks. Erra snarled something at her and pointed to the bedroom. Erra struggled to her feet before launching herself at the man who’d knocked her down. He had started to walk toward Ariel. The older woman leapt on the man’s back screaming out.

The man spun around quickly. The powerful motion sent Erra flying from his back to slam hard into a wall. Her body slumped to the floor. Erra didn’t move but Ariel saw her still breathing still. A soft moan came from Erra a second later. Her arms moved.

Terror had frozen Ariel. The four men turned their attention back to her. She saw the one by the door reach for his shirt. He tore it open. Her eyes flew to another one. He reached for the front of his pants. He opened them to reveal he was turned-on. It became damn clear to Ariel what they wanted as they inched toward her, leering at her body. They growled at her, softly saying God only knew what as they spaced apart to try to surround her.

Ariel screamed as she made a run for it. She made it to the bedroom and slammed the door behind her and locked it. She didn’t have anywhere else to go. She made it to the bathroom door and turned. Something hit the bedroom door hard. The door was thick and the lock wasn’t cheap, but she highly doubted that either of those things would keep out the large men for long.

She didn’t know what to do. She was terrified. They were going to rape her. She knew that. They’d hurt Erra who’d tried to defend her. She wondered if Erra was really hurt or if she would be able to try to get help. Something hit the door again and it cracked loudly. The thick wood was breaking. Her eyes frantically went around the room. If Ral kept weapons in his bedroom she hadn’t seen them. Instead she grabbed more clothes and hugged them to her body.

She heard a loud snarl as something hit the door again. She saw the door splinter and split in a few places. She sobbed, backing into the bathroom completely. She slammed the door shut and locked it. She was shaking as she put on pants under her shift and tugged on one of Ral’s big shirts over it. If she had to fight she didn’t want to do it mostly naked.

She frantically evaluated the bathroom—no windows. Maybe she should have tried to climb out the window in the bedroom but it only went to the backyard. The perimeter wall was too high for her to climb and there was no gate. She would have been trapped. At least in the bathroom she had another locked door between her and those men.

She heard when the bedroom door was breached. It crashed into the wall like a shotgun going off. Ariel yanked open drawers under the counter for a weapon. She found the cutting shears that Ral used to trim his hair. She grabbed them. They were like long scissors like back home and were wickedly sharp. She backed up into the shower and closed the glass-like door. She had no way to lock it, but it made it so there was only a smaller opening so just one man would be able to reach in the shower to try to grab her. She gripped the shears in a death grip.

They attacked the bathroom door. She knew she wouldn’t survive if they got their hands on her. It would be a horrible way to die. Ral was always gentle with her and she couldn’t imagine him touching her without care of harming her. Zorn men were big and really strong by nature. The four men who were coming after her obviously didn’t care about anything. She knew Ral would kill every one of them when he found out what they’d done.

Her thoughts turned to Ral. Agony ripped at her. He would mourn her. She knew he loved her. She prayed he wouldn’t blame himself. If he had come straight home he would have been there to defend her. She’d seen him fight four men before. The four men who had come in the house weren’t as mean-looking as the ones on the asteroid who’d tried to take her from him. Ral could take these assholes apart easily. The bathroom door crashed in.

Ariel’s time was up. They were in the bathroom. The man who’d attacked Erra yanked open the glass-like door. He reached in to grab her. Ariel screamed and, using the shears like a knife, threw herself forward and stabbed him in the chest.

The handles of the shears dug into her skin as well but they didn’t cut her. She felt warm blood pour onto her hands. She screamed again as the man roared out in pain.

He stumbled back with the shears embedded deep in his chest.

She threw herself back and hit the shower wall hard enough to knock the breath from her. She stared at the man’s face as he stumbled back into his companions. He looked down at the shears protruding from his chest. She saw shock on his face. He went silent before he collapsed to his knees. His companions were frozen in shock as they stared at the man whose blood was running down his chest.

The injured man pitched forward. He didn’t move. The shears must have pushed in deeper when he fell because she saw the sharp points sticking out of his back. His was shirtless. Blood ran from the wound and over his back to the bathroom floor. One attacker threw his head back, howling. Ariel screamed. The three men went silent. She saw their expressions. They were going to make her suffer before they killed her. She had no doubt of that.

One of the men had to step over his fallen friend to reach into the shower stall. He grabbed Ariel by the front of Ral’s shirt. She heard material tear in the man’s hand as he yanked hard. Her foot hit the low wall of the shower stall. Pain shot up her foot as she was dragged forward. Her feet hit the fallen man’s body as she was dragged screaming from the bathroom.

Ariel’s feet left the floor. The man threw her toward the bed. She hit it hard enough that it bounced her body off to the other side. She hit the floor hard. Pain exploded in her hip, thigh and arm that hit the floor hardest. From under the bed she could see them moving around it. She knew if she lay there she’d die.

She rolled under the bed. Zorn beds weren’t that different from her bed at home except they were taller and on sturdier frames. She inched to the center of the massive bed and lay there panting. She reached up and grabbed the bars of the frame. Her fingers barely had time to fight between the bars and the mattress before a large hand clamped down on her ankle.

She screamed out in pain as one of the men tried to drag her out. It almost tore her hold from the bars. He yanked her hard enough that now her feet were no longer under the bed and her arms were stretched painfully above her since she refused to let go.

“Get her out of there,” one of the men snarled.

The conis was still on. It would pick up and translate any speech in the room. She could understand them so they could understand her. She knew it probably wouldn’t help but she had to try. The hand around her ankle increased pressure until she screamed out in pain. It felt like he was crushing her ankle. The bastard was purposely hurting her to make her let go. The pain was enough to make her scream.

“Ral will kill you. Don’t do this.”

“Ral is busy,” another male snarled. “We will set fire to his house when we are done with you and there will be no scent of us left for him to track.”

“Get her out now. We don’t have much time.”

The man gripping her ankle yanked hard. Ariel screamed out again. Her fingers were torn painfully loose from the bars. The man brutally yanked her out from under the bed. She stared up at three half-undressed Zorn males. The one gripping her ankle didn’t let go. Instead he reached with his other hand and grabbed her pants in his hand.

He fisted them and yanked hard.

Ariel kicked at him with her free foot. Zorn males were freakishly tall in her opinion since she couldn’t reach his balls. Her legs were too short. She did manage to kick his thigh hard. She screamed as her pants were yanked down her body. She tried to roll and grab for the bed. If she could just get away and crawl back under there she could avoid being raped just a little longer.

Two of the men bent down, grabbing each of her flailing arms. They lifted her and she found herself dropped on her back on the bed. The man gripping her ankle put his knee on the end of the bed between her thighs. She yanked her free leg up to her chest and with pure terror she found the strength to kick at him again. This time she nailed the man harder and in a better place. His head snapped back as her heel slammed into his jaw. The hold on her ankle loosened as her attacker suffered from the force of his head slamming back hard. Unfortunately it didn’t break his neck because he roared out in pain.

She heard another roar and it sounded close. She saw the men who still gripped her arms snap their heads in the direction of the bedroom door. Ariel didn’t waste time looking at whatever got their attention. She jerked her free foot back to her chest again.

She was hurting. Her ankle might be broken or at least sprained but she ignored the pain. She looked down. The man she’d kicked held his jaw with one hand while still gripping her other ankle with his other hand. Taking aim, she kicked out as hard as she could. Her foot nailed his crotch.

She’d hit her intended mark. She saw his mouth open. His hold on her ankle was suddenly gone as he grabbed for the front of his pants. He fell slowly backward to crash to the floor. He made a high-pitched squeal. Joy hit her in that second. That was another way men were universal no matter what planet they came from.

Ariel twisted her body try to kick at another man who held her but they released her. Both of them backed away from the bed before she got the chance. Terror was etched on their faces as they stared toward the broken bedroom door. Her eyes followed theirs. Ral stormed into the bedroom.

Rage like nothing she’d ever seen before twisted his features. He roared. It hurt her ears. The conis didn’t translate. She didn’t need to be told what that sound meant. Ral’s eyes met Ariel’s. She saw his eyes flash over her body. He moved fast to throw himself at the nearest man to him. He attacked the man to her right.

Something warm sprayed her. She looked at her arm and saw bright red dots all over her body. Her brain registered it was blood. Her eyes turned in shock to Ral and the man. She saw the flash of a metal blade in Ral’s hand. The large intruder dropped to his knees. She saw that his throat was slashed. He pitched forward. Ral roared again as he dove for the other man before the first body even hit the floor. The second man didn’t even get out a sound before Ral was on him. Ral’s arm rose and she heard a grunt. She listened to silence for a second before she heard a soft whine from the end of the bed.

Ral rose up from the floor alone. He walked slowly to the end of the bed. He glared down at the man Ariel had kicked in the crotch. She saw Ral bend down. His expression was still masked in pure rage. A whine, louder this time, came from the man. Ral dragged him up by his hair and Ariel watched as Ral slit the man’s throat, tossing his body aside. Ral was breathing hard. He was bloodstained—it was on both hands, the blade he still held and splashed on his clothes. He turned to stare down at Ariel.

“I’m okay,” her voice broke. “You got to me in time.”

Ral dropped the blade on the bed as he reached for her. Ariel didn’t flinch as Ral reached for her with both bloody hands. He gently lifted her up into his arms and held her tightly against his bloody chest. He buried his face in her throat. He was still breathing hard and shaking with fury.

Ariel didn’t hesitate. She threw her arms around his neck to hold on to him for dear life. Ral had saved her again. He’d killed for her again. They had survived and they were both together.

10

Ral refused to put her down, refused to leave her side. Ariel didn’t mind at all. They sat on the couch with Ariel firmly on his lap. Ral’s arms were around her, holding her tight. After a shower, they were both clean with wet hair and fresh clothing. The dead men had been removed from Ral’s home. She’d been lucky. Besides some bruises, she’d just sprained her ankle. Nothing was broken.

The uniformed Zorn police force had come and gone. Ahhu had arrived to treat injuries. Erra was bruised but fine. She’d run for help but Ral had gotten home before the neighbors could rush to Ariel’s rescue. The conis had been moved into the living room. The bedroom was bloodstained and off limits until it could be cleaned up.

“I don’t understand why they would dare,” Erra said softly. “You are Argis Ral.”

Erra held ice to the large bump on the side of her forehead. “It was death for them if they harmed Ariel or not.”

Ral eased his hold on Ariel and gripped her jaw gently. He turned her face so they could stare into each other’s eyes. “I know why this happened. I know you will be angry. I am enraged. When we took the tests at medical we were monitored without our knowledge. Someone with access to that monitoring released them to the population to watch on the conis. We were seen by many.”

Ariel blinked. She was horrified as his words set in. The blood drained from her face and she felt a little dizzy. Her heart almost stopped. She stared into his eyes and saw his rage reflected there. He nodded at her grimly.

“Many males probably viewed the monitoring of us. I think that is why they dared come after you. They saw how it is between us.”

“Oh God,” she breathed. “I’m in a porn video on the internet with you.”

He frowned. “I…”

“I know. You don’t understand but I do. What we did anyone can see on the conis, right? Us naked and doing what we did together at medical?”

“I had it removed from the archive.”

“But once it’s on the conis it is out there. You can’t stop it from being seen.”

He frowned. “That is not true. Once it is removed from the archive it is gone from the conis.”

“Can’t someone store it and watch it later or put it back on the conis?”

“Our conis isn’t like that. It has to be in the archive to view it on a conis.”

Relief hit her. “You’re sure?”

“Positive. That is why I was late. I was told about it and had it taken care of. All monitoring of us was destroyed. It makes me burn with rage to think of the males who saw you naked. They saw what I see when I touch you. That is mine alone. I want to kill every male who looked at your beautiful body being touched by me.”

She shut her eyes. She opened them after taking a deep breath. “So why did they attack? I don’t understand.”

“You are very responsive to my touch and you are different from our women. You make males very hard, Ariel. Very hard and very stupid if they think they can touch you and come after you. I will make them very dead if they try again. I kept you home out of fear that you would attract males with your looks. I was afraid they might scare you by approaching you to talk to you but I never thought anyone would dare come after you like this. You are mine.”

The front door opened suddenly. Ariel gasped as she was moved from Ral’s lap so fast that the world spun as he leapt to his feet to snarl at whoever walked into his home.

He moved between Ariel and the front door to protect her. She could see Ral’s tense body.

His large frame slowly relaxed and he sat down. He reached for Ariel, lifting her back onto his lap. She stared in shock at their company. She felt instant anxiety. Six men entered the room. Ariel recognized the three brothers and Hyvin Berrr. The other two men were strangers but they were dressed like guards with weapons strapped to their hips. The front door shut firmly when the last male entered the room.

“What do you want?” Ral glared at his father. “I am furious with you. You ordered those tests. Only you could order us monitored without consent. This is your fault.”

Hyvin Berrr lowered his head slightly. His eyes, much like Ral’s, locked onto his son’s raging glare “I did not know someone would steal the monitoring to put it on the conis for all to see. That was not my intention. You are slated to take my place one day to lead Zorn. I needed to make sure you were not bewitched. I wanted her tested. I wanted to see how she was controlling you.”

Ral snarled. “You put her in danger.”

The man lowered his eyes, glancing at the floor and then back up. “I know. I have no excuse. I apologize. I know she is not bewitching you. I saw the monitoring and the test results state there is no chemical control.”

“Shit,” Ariel sighed. “Great. Did anyone not see us have sex?”

“I did not,” Erra said in a very soft tone.

Ariel shot her a grateful look. “Thank you.”

“We all saw it,” Argernon said with a growl. He shot his father a cold look. “We did not realize what we were to watch or I would have walked out of that meeting. He called us all in to evaluate what he called a threat.”

All of the color drained from Ariel’s face. “Great.” She glanced at Ral. “I guess everyone in your family has seen us having sex now.”

He growled and glared at his brothers and his father. “I am enraged.”

“I do not blame you,” Hyvin Berrr said quietly. “I never thought it would hit the population for viewing. I am very apologetic, Ral. It was not my intention to endanger either of you in any way. It was not my intention that this happened. It was to be a private family matter. We viewed the monitoring and realized what was between the two of you was not her controlling you.”

One of the brothers snorted. “She could control me if she—”

Argernon shot out a fist and him hard in the mouth. He growled. “That is your brother’s bound woman. Respect her now.”

The slightly younger brother winced and slapped his hand over his now-bleeding split lip. He nodded and lowered his eyes. He said nothing. Argernon sighed. He eyed Ral.

“What Father is saying is that he doesn’t know how to make this right. Not only has he caused you problems with your bound and with other males wanting her—”

“Desperately,” the younger brother said around his hand.

Argernon snarled. “Keep talking if you want to lose some teeth.” His eyes went back to Ral. “Father has really made a mess of things. Unfortunately, that monitoring was viewed by many males. It has caused widespread trouble. We need your help. We need you to set aside your rage because there is serious trouble brewing with our people.”

Ral tensed. Emotions filtered across his face. Ariel saw his mouth press into a tight line. He looked pissed as he shot his father a glare before giving his brother his full attention.

“What is the problem?”

Argernon hesitated. His eyes flickered to Ariel and then back to Ral. “They want one of her. Some demand we allow them to go to her planet to find women to bound with.”

Ariel knew she wasn’t the only one shocked by Argernon’s statement. She heard Ral hiss as his body tensed. He relaxed a second later shaking his head no.

“Tell them we are not into slavery. What they want is wrong. We do not go to other planets to steal women. We have a good population of women right here. Our males do outnumber our females but it is not an issue.”

“We tried.” It was the brother who hadn’t spoken yet. “They are willing to revolt, Ral. We’d have a war on our hands. They would attack our family en masse and we would be stripped of power. Too many of them want to bring her kind here. They want one like her.”

“I’m not a damn toy,” Ariel was pissed off. “Ral is right. You can’t go to my planet to kidnap women.”

“They are not the same as our women.” Ral frowned.

The younger brother snorted. “No shit.” His lip had stopped bleeding. “She’s built for pure enjoyment. She’s way better than our women. It was so hot watching you do her standing up facing you with her in your arms.”

Hyvin Berrr turned this time to punch him. The father hit him hard enough to make him stagger back. Hyvin Berrr growled.

“Enough.” He turned to give Ariel an apologetic look. “He is young and his mouth is run by his lower region. Please forgive his youth.”

Ral lifted Ariel from his lap and gently sat her down next to him. He slowly stood up to glare at his youngest brother. “One more word to embarrass Ariel and I will knock you out.” He shot his father a glare. “They do not understand that she is different in more ways than sexually.”

Hyvin Berrr hesitated. “Will you share how?”

“They do not share with others sexually,” Ral tone was quiet. He shot his youngest brother a glare. “That means only one woman to share sex with until death.” He looked back at his father. “She is conscious of her nude body. She won’t walk around naked unless we are alone. It is their way. They need strong emotions from a male to have sex.

She needs strong commitment and attention from me to be happy. I am happy to do it but will others be?”

Ral eyed the quiet brother who had only spoken once. “Rever, they are very uncontrollable. I find it refreshing but most males would take issue with a woman who will not submit on demand. Her kind resists that from what I have learned from her.

She has not conceived so it is doubtful we will have offspring. It matters none to me. I want her more than anything. I know many males demand to bound to women who can provide offspring.”

Argernon smiled. “We will release this information. It will make them think about wanting a female like her no matter how interested they are sexually. It might work.

Otherwise we still will face this problem.”

Rever met Ariel’s eyes. “Is your world very different from ours?”

She hesitated. “The water is blue and so is the sky. We only have one moon. The trees are brown for the most part. Men and women are equal. Women fought for that right. We do love a good fight. We have a history of fighting back when we are attacked. If I didn’t love Ral you’d have serious problems with me.”

“She killed one of her attackers,” Ral said in a soft voice. “They will kill to protect themselves. They are a strong people. They deserve our respect. If some of our men wish to find women to bound with it should be voluntary on the female’s part.”

“Agreed,” Hyvin Berrr growled. “We will give them the facts of your female along with the drawbacks. We will say if any wish to attempt to bound to one they must get the female’s permission and do so without giving us away.” The man looked at Ariel.

“Do your people know of us?”

“We think we’re alone in the universe. We suspect and hope that other people exist on other planets but I don’t think we’re ready for someone to openly come to us. It would make them afraid and my people are dangerous when they are afraid. Most would attack what they fear. My planet is divided by many leaders and not all of them are of the same mind. We still have fights between them that sometimes turn into wars.

I think they would attack you if they knew you were there. We haven’t the technology yet to travel too far into space. We’re getting there though. One day perhaps, but I don’t think my people are ready for first contact with your race.”

“What would you suggest?”

She hesitated. Her eyes went to Ral. She loved him. He was everything to her. If some of his men were willing to love one of her kind as much as he loved her, who was she to stand in the way. She turned her eyes to stare at Ral’s father again.

“Swear you’ll make it so the women have to agree to leave with your men?”

“I swear.”

“You’d have to go to remote areas to find women and not allow my people to know you are even there. You’d have to hide your visit. We have great communication systems with portable devices to call for help if need be. We have mechanical eyes in space around my planet that tracks movement. We have weapons. I’d land a small space ship at night. There are tons of sightings of space ships at night in remote areas of the United States. People just think they are crazy when someone says they saw one. No one really takes it that serious unless they have proof. Don’t give them any. We also speak many different languages. I speak English. You will want to make sure you look for a woman who speaks this language so you can understand her. I’m from the United States.”

“We’ll work it out.” Hyvin Berrr nodded at his son. “I made this mess and I will clean it up, Ral. I have set guards around your home to protect your bound. I have asked Rever to take your duties for a few weeks so you can bond with your bound and soothe her from the trauma that happened here today. I never meant for this to happen.

You have my deepest apology, my son. Somehow I will make this up to you.”

Ral sighed. “You accept Ariel as my bound?”

Hyvin Berrr bowed low. “I do, my son.” He stayed bowed and his eyes turned to Ariel. “You are to remain bound to my son. I give you my apology as well.”

“Thank you,” Ariel whispered.

“You could make this up to us by making it a priority to integrate the translation program from the aliens into our translation implants. I would like to be able to communicate with Ariel at all times and not just in a room with the current program running on the conis.”

Hyvin Berrr nodded his head at Ral. “Consider it a priority. I will inform medical to put all their staff on it before the day is over.”

“Thank you, Father. Thank you for the guards as well to help me protect Ariel.”

Ral pulled Ariel against his body. He was silent as his family and the guards left.

Ariel smiled at Erra as the woman quietly got up and walked toward the kitchen to her bedroom that was on the other side of the house. Ariel and Ral ended up alone in the living room. He sighed.

“My family made a mess of our life.”

Ariel snorted. “There’s something humans and Zorn have in common. Families can screw up big-time when they think they are doing the right thing by putting their nose in someone’s business.”

He frowned. He opened his mouth.

She laughed. “I know. I lost you. It’s a universal family thing to try to protect who they love and making a bigger mess of it.”

He grinned. “Humans do this as well?”

“Oh yes.” She grinned back at him. Her smile fell with a thought. “How many of your people do you think saw us have sex?”

He shrugged. “I am sorry the monitoring was put on the conis but it is done. We have no way of changing that.”

“At least your father accepted us.”

“If I knew that was all it would take I would have invited him to watch us have sex.

Since we returned he has been shoving females at me while I was at work to try to lure me from you. It has really angered me.”

“You never said anything.”

“Would you have wanted me to leave? I have a job to do.”

“You don’t have a job for a few weeks. You heard your father. He’s making your brother cover your duties.”

A grin split Ral’s face. “That means we can be alone and you will stay naked for me.” He stood up swinging her into his arms and started to walk for the bedroom. He froze. Rage crossed his features. “Our room has been violated.”

“The guestroom.”

He nodded. “Tomorrow I will have the room stripped of everything and made whole. We will make it our room again.”

She wrapped her arms tight around his neck. “I love you, Ral.”

He tilted his head to kiss her. His eyes sparkled. “I love you, Ariel. I am about to love you for many hours.”

11

Ariel was nervous. She didn’t know what anyone could really do for her. She eyed Ral. He actually looked frightened for her. He gripped her hand.

“If they have no help for you we can have you back on your planet in a week. I contacted my father. He had someone study the Anzons charts with the description you gave me of your world. We think we have found Earth. It would be a week of fast travel but I would get you there so your medical can look at you. I won’t allow you die, Ariel.

You are everything to me.”

Ariel fought tears. She felt ugly. She had a fever. She was a blotchy red, like she’d gotten a mild sunburn. She was also experiencing swelling. It was like PMS symptoms but worse. Her stomach was bloated, her breasts ached and her fingers were swollen.

“I don’t think this is going to kill me. I think I’m having some kind of allergic reaction. I probably ate something that caused it.”

He softly growled. “You are suffering. I hate this. You do not feel well. Your skin is hot like mine. Your skin is usually cooler. You have redness to your skin. I know your breasts hurt. You keep moving your shift from them and you get an irritated look on your features.”

She smiled at him. “Do you usually watch me that closely?”

He smiled back. “You always have my full attention when you play with your clothing or remove it.”

Ahhu was the medical personnel assigned to Ariel. She was the top in her field and took care of the entire Berrr family. She walked in smiling. Ariel relaxed on the exam table. If Ahhu was smiling after running all those tests on her then it must be something they had a cure for.

“Lean back and go flat,” Ahhu ordered Ariel. “I have found the cause of your discomfort. This is a first so we have to watch you very closely but I think you will be fine.”

Ariel eased down on her back. Ahhu turned on a screen on the wall and opened up a cabinet under the exam table. She held some kind of wand. She smiled as she lifted Ariel’s shift. Ariel almost protested as the woman shoved up her dress revealing the naked lower half of her body. Ahhu waved the wand over Ariel’s revealed skin.

“Look.” Ahhu pointed at the screen.

Ariel stared at the shadows on the colors on the screen. It looked like green mist with a darker shape. She heard Ahhu chuckle.

“Do you see what I see?”

“Green. That’s what I see.” Ariel shot Ral a look. “Do you know what she’s talking about?”

He shook his head and growled at Ahhu. “What is it?”

Ahhu chuckled clicking something on the wand. She set it down and walked to the frozen screen. “See this dark mass here? There is the head. Here is the body. There is an arm and there are the bent legs.” She grinned at them. “You are successful at breeding.”

Shock hit Ariel. She stared at the screen and saw the shape of a baby there once it was pointed out. Tears fill her eyes. She had cried last week when they’d implanted a working set of translators in her ears. She thought that was the best news she’d ever get from medical. Her eyes flew to Ral.

He was staring at the screen in shock. She saw that his mouth had dropped open.

He swallowed hard and then threw his head back and let out a roar that made Ariel jump. It startled her that much. She stared at Ral as his head dropped down. His grin was almost painfully wide. Excitement and happiness were crystal clear in his eyes as they locked with Ariel’s.

“We have made an offspring together.”

She laughed. “We have. Oh, Ral. I love you.”

Ral kissed her. He lifted his head and his smile died. He growled as his eyes flew to Ahhu. “Is she in danger? She isn’t well. If the offspring risks her life you must save Ariel. She is the most important thing to me.”

Shock hit Ariel. She hadn’t thought of that. She turned her head and met Ahhu’s eyes. The woman smiled.

“Do not worry, Argis Ral. I have run tests. The offspring is healthy and strong. I believe that she is feverish because our bodies run hotter so the baby is running her body hotter. She is in no danger. We will cool her body down a little. It will help her color and body heat return to a more normal temperature. We will monitor her very closely. The bloating is normal with our women. It is the body’s way of making sure it has plenty of fluids. Your offspring-carrying women do the same?”

Ariel frowned. “I don’t think so. I’ve heard of swelling late in pregnancy. Uh, carrying offspring. How far along am I? Can you tell?”

Ahhu nodded. “Two moon cycles.”

Two months. Ariel smiled. “And how many moon cycles do your females carry offspring inside them? On my planet it is nine.”

“Eight.”

Ral sighed in relief. “So it is not that different?”

Ahhu smiled. “I’m sure it will be fine. You breed. That means we are compatible.

This is good news. Your father will be thrilled, Argis Ral.”

Ral chuckled. He grinned at Ariel. “He’s always wanted one of his sons to have offspring. You will be very spoiled by him. Be prepared.”

Ariel laughed. “We’ll make a list of things he can give us.”

Ral laughed. “Ask for me to have more time from work.”

Ahhu laughed. “I will leave you alone. I must make your father aware. This means that human women are breeding compatible. For any males who would like to bound with humans this will be a joyous occasion as well.” She fled.

Ral lifted Ariel into his arms from the table and sat down on the table she’d just been lying on so she was sitting on his lap. He eyed the screen with their baby still displayed there. He grinned as his eyes lowered to her stomach.

“We have it all now, Ariel. I am the happiest man on Zorn.”

Ariel wrapped her arms around his neck and wiggled on his lap. Ral’s cock hardened under her ass. Ral always wanted her. “We do have it all. I am the happiest woman on Zorn.”

Ral stood holding her to his chest. “Let’s go home. I want to show you my love.”

She chuckled. “Walk fast.”

About the Author

I’m a full time “in-house supervisor” (sounds much better than plain ol’ housewife), mother and writer. I’m addicted to caramel iced coffee, the occasional candy bar (or two) and trying to get at least five hours of sleep at night.

I love to write all kinds of stories. I think the best part about writing is the fact that real life is always uncertain, always tossing things at us that we have no control over, but when your write, you can make sure there’s always a happy ending. I love that about writing. I love it when I sit down at my computer desk and put on my headphones to listen to loud music to block out the world around me, so I can create worlds in front of me.

Content

Ral’s Woman
Laurann Dohner

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About the Author