by Olivia Black
Chapter Two
The next day, Grant was given a clean bill of health and cleared by Doctor Talr to leave medical. Grant hated to admit that he was nervous, but he was. Slowly rising to his feet, Grant removed the medical gown and dropped it onto the bed. He grabbed the Sweshian-issued blue-colored jumper and slid the soft material on. The one-piece suit snapped up the front, reminding Grant of a pair of coveralls that hugged his body snugly. It clung to him like a second skin, leaving nothing to the imagination.
It was perfect considering he was being delivered to his first prospective mate as though he were a brand-new sex toy. Easy on, easy off. Grant wasn’t bitter. He volunteered to leave Earth and come to Sweshan. Grant knew the score.
“Good afternoon, Grant.”
Grant jerked his head up. He’d been so lost in thought that he didn’t even hear the door slide open. The male looked similar to Doctor Talr except the clothing he was wearing and the fact that his hair was longer. The blue waves reached down to his shoulders.
“I’m Placement Officer Paed. I’m here to deliver you to your first prospective mate.”
Grant took a deep breath and slowly blew it out. “Okay.”
“There’s no reason to be scared.”
Grant nodded.
“You should know that we place humans with Sweshian males based on the documents you filled out before leaving Earth. We give our males the same questions. You are then matched with a pool of Sweshian candidates based on their scores. Our government takes the matching process very seriously. We want you to find a well-suited partner, and we want our people to find mates. Unfortunately, compatibility isn’t the only thing that matters. Our main concern is the survival of our race. For a permanent mating to occur, there must be a positive pregnancy test after one Sweshan week.”
Grant knew the answer to his next questions but asked anyway, “What happens if the pregnancy test is negative?”
“I will take you to your second prospective mate.”
“So, all I need to do is have sex with each guy you deliver me to and hope that I end up pregnant.”
“I know it doesn’t sound romantic. It’s not the way humans do things on Earth, but it is the way we do things here on Sweshan. And our methods won’t be changing anytime soon.”
“I understand.”
Grant knew what was expected of him. The manual, given to him when he volunteered to leave Earth, provided all the pertinent information. And Bryson had filled him in on all the fine details. Grant would be sent to a Sweshian male each week until he was pregnant. It could be one lover or dozens. Even though Grant enjoyed sex, like any other man, he was hoping the number was low. He didn’t really want to be bounced around from bed to bed as another nameless, faceless human that meant nothing.
“Are you ready to go?”
Grant wanted to say no. He wasn’t ready. He needed more time to think and mentally prepare, but instead, he said, “Yes.”
Paed smiled. “If you’ll follow me, I’ll take you to meet your first prospective mate.”
The male turned on his heel and walked out of the room. Grant took a deep breath, steeling himself before following after him. Leaving the privacy of his room was a little overwhelming. Now that he was in the belly of the medical facility, Grant realized just how busy the place was.
The sun filtered in through the tall glass dome ceiling, lighting up the open space. Sweshian males walked around, and a few stopped and stared openly as Grant passed. Similar to Glecerus, the males here on Sweshan looked almost identical. The only thing that separated them was the length of their hair and muscle mass.
Grant followed Paed onto an elevator that was shaped like a giant tube. The transparent door slid shut, locking them securely inside. The elevator moved smoothly, dropping down at a rapid pace. When the door opened, Grant stepped out. He quickly realized that they were on the bottom level. If he wasn’t safely tucked away inside the glass building, Grant would be standing on the ocean floor.
He tilted his head all the way back and looked up. In the grand scheme of things, Grant felt incredibly insignificant. One human surrounded by a planet filled with water.
Paed chuckled lightly. “It never gets old.”
Grant’s brows furrowed. He looked at Paed and asked, “What?”
“Seeing your reaction.” He grinned. “Every human has the same look on their faces when they see Sweshan for the first time.”
“Sweshan is amazing. I-It’s…” Grant shook his head, searching for the right words, but nothing came close to truly explaining how magnificent this new world was. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Sometimes I forget how unique this place is.”
“The water looks inviting,” Grant told him. “Are humans allowed to go swimming?”
Paed nodded. “The Sweshian people are amphibious, but we do have underwater breathing devices for humans. If you want to go swimming, talk to your prospective mate. I’m sure he would love to give you a tour of our planet.”
Grant glanced out the window. Excitement and anticipation rushed through his veins. He finally had something to look forward to. “I can’t wait.”
“Ael is your first prospective mate. He lives in that building over there.” Paed pointed at the building beside them, accessible only through a tube-like corridor. “Are you ready?”
“Yeah.”
Grant followed Paed. He stepped onto the conveyor transport device and held on to the railing. The floor beneath his feet moved, sending Grant and Paed through the glass cylinder at a brisk pace.
Grant stared out the side of the tube, watching bizarre alien sea creatures pass by. They came in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Some resembled animals he’d seen on Earth, except morphed into something completely different. Giant spiders with claws and fur. Snails with florescent-colored shells covering their backs. Snakes with fangs and fins.
“Holy shit!” Grant instinctively dropped down as a huge creature, bigger than anything he had ever seen, swam overhead.
Paed tossed back his head and laughed. The joyous sound echoed, bouncing off the glass surface surrounding them. Grant shook his head and rolled his eyes heavenward as he rose to his feet. He felt like a fool for having such a dramatic reaction. Grant took a deep breath, pulling the clean filtered air into his lungs before blowing it out.
Paed stifled his laughter, biting his lower lip, as he stepped off the conveyor belt. Grant followed after him. They took a few steps and ended up on another elevator. Paed pressed a button numbered twenty-three, and the elevator shot up. When the door slid open, Grant stepped out. He looked both ways and saw a long, empty hallway on either side with closed doors with names written in a different language that was probably Sweshian.
“Down this way.”
The hallway was empty. With each step he took, Grant could hear his blood rushing through his veins. He lifted his hand and covered his heart. He could feel the organ pounding as if it were attempting to break through his chest. Grant tried to calm his nerves, but when Paed stopped in front of one of the closed doors, Grant sucked in a sharp breath.
The door slid open without any warning, startling him. A Sweshian male stood on the other side. He was tall and muscular with his hair pulled back, tied at the nape of his neck. Grant eyed the male and found himself physically attracted to him.
Maybe this won’t be so bad after all. Grant’s heart slowed, and his tense muscles relaxed. His first prospective mate was incredibly handsome. Having sex with him wouldn’t be a chore at all. Hell, he was ready to pull his jumpsuit off and get busy.
“No!” the Sweshian male snapped. “Take him away.”
Grant’s eyes widened in surprise, and he took an involuntary step backward. The rebuke stung more than it should have. He didn’t know this male. He didn’t know anything about the guy. But the rejection hurt nonetheless.
“This is Grant Byers.”
“I don’t care who he is.”
“Your father—” Pae
d started.
The male scoffed. “I don’t care what my father said. I don’t want another human.”
Paed groaned. It was a sound that held a wealth of frustration. “We’ve been through this before, Ael. He wants you to find a mate.”
“No,” Ael said to Paed before turned his gaze to Grant. “Listen, I’m sure you’re a nice human, but I’ve done this before. I’ve had a few men in my bed, and after a week, they were taken away and given to another. I just…” He shook his head. “I can’t do it again.”
Grant remained silent for a moment. He actually felt bad for Ael. The Sweshian males were given a human for one week. They cared for the human, and some probably even fell in love. It must be incredibly difficult. Ael must’ve had strong feelings for one or all of his prospective mates, only to have to give them up in the end.
“I’m sorry,” Grant told him.
“I won’t accept you,” Ael snapped at him before turning on his heel and marching away. “Take him away,” he shouted over his shoulder before disappearing from sight.
Grant stood there in the hallway, unmoving. He looked toward Paed, waiting for the male to give him some instruction. Would he be taken back to medical or to his next prospective mate?
Paed sighed heavily. “I’ll be back in seven days.”
Grant stiffened. “You can’t be serious. Are you just going to leave me here? Even after everything he just said?”
“Yes.”
“But−but…” Grant stammered. “He doesn’t want me here.”
“I don’t have a choice, Grant. I was ordered to bring you here. The two of you are a match. And more importantly, Ael’s father is the ruler of Sweshan. If he wants you to stay, you stay.”
“So, what the hell am I supposed to do?”
“There are a couple of empty bedrooms within Ael’s home. Find a room and make yourself comfortable.”
“He doesn’t want me here,” Grant repeated.
Paed gave Grant a sympathetic look. “I’m sorry. I know this isn’t an ideal situation, but don’t worry, Ael is a good male. He’ll take care of you. And when the week is over, I’ll come back and collect you.”
Paed didn’t say another word. He simply left, striding down the hallway. Grant stood there, his feet firmly planted on the ground. He didn’t know what to do. Should he walk into Ael’s home and make himself comfortable? Or should he leave? But, if he left, where the hell would he go? After a few minutes, Grant realized he didn’t have any options. He was an alien in this world.
Grant stepped over the threshold, and the door slid closed. He stood in the foyer and looked around. Everything was beige and bare. It looked like a designer home that wasn’t even lived in. There weren’t any personal items, knickknacks, or photographs on display anywhere. He took a cautionary step, then another and another, until he was standing in the center of the room.
The kitchen, to his right, was spacious with a long white countertop and stools tucked neatly beneath the bar. The living room, to his left, had three sleek couches in a horseshoe shape facing an entertainment center. The technology was high-tech, similar what he’d seen on Glecerus. It wasn’t really surprising considering the two planets had an open trade agreement.
Grant turned in a slow circle and spotted a hallway. It was dark and looked uninviting, but that didn’t stop Grant. He took a few steps and ended up at the mouth of the hallway. Grant placed his hand on the wall and leaned forward, hoping to pinpoint Ael’s location. But he couldn’t hear anything.
He couldn’t stand around for much longer. Eventually, Ael would make his presence known, and Grant didn’t want to have a run-in with the guy. If he could find one of the empty bedrooms Paed had mentioned, then he might be able to stay out of Ael’s way.
Grant took small, measured steps down the hall, careful not to make a sound. His heart hammered wildly with each step, and the nervous energy he’d banished only moments before resurfaced with a vengeance. He was scared that Ael might make his presence known at any moment and yell at him. Grant pulled in a deep breath in through his mouth and held it.
He stopped beside the first opaque glass door and pressed his ear against the cool material. Silence greeted him. Grant pressed his hand against the button on the wall, and the door slid open. He stepped inside, and the door shut behind him. Not willing to take any chances that he might receive a surprise visit from Ael, Grant locked the door. The room was as bare as the rest of the house. There was a bed, a wall unit to store clothing, a desk with a chair, and an adjoining bathroom.
Grant strode over the bed and sat down. He fell back against the soft material, and the skylight above the bed opened, exposing the ocean. Grant let out a heavy sigh and managed a smile, even though he was feeling a little depressed. He volunteered to come to Sweshan because humans were in high demand. He was told that he would be treated like royalty. Ael might not want anything to do with him, but that didn’t mean that there weren’t other males that wouldn’t.
“It’s going to be okay. Everything is going to be okay,” he said aloud, giving himself a little pep-talk.
Chapter Three
Ael didn’t wait to see if the placement officer took the human away. He simply left Paed and Grant standing in the hallway. Ael couldn’t believe his father sent another human to his home. As if Grant’s presence would be enough to soothe Ael’s soul and magically fix his broken heart. Ael had decided a long time ago that he didn’t want another man in his home or in his bed.
Ael slammed his hand against the wall, and the glass door leading to his bedroom slid open, granting him access. He stepped over the threshold, and the door closed. Ael locked it, preventing anyone from bothering him. He started pacing around his bedroom, moving back and forth as he tried to cool his temper before it boiled over.
After several minutes, Ael dropped down into his favorite chair. He exhaled a harsh breath, pushing all the air out of his lungs. Ael leaned his head back and closed his eyes.
It took Sweshian males many years to become qualified for a mate. According to their laws, the male had to be able to provide for a human, both financially and emotionally. When the time came for Ael to claim a mate, his heart had been open and ready. Ael wanted a family. He wanted someone to love. And he wanted to be loved in return. But everything changed.
After losing his first prospective mate, Ael was hurt, but he didn’t give up hope. The second loss cracked his heart, the third shattered the organ into tiny pieces, and the fourth nearly broke him entirely. He couldn’t go through this process again. He couldn’t handle another bad outcome.
The worst thing about losing a potential mate was seeing that man pregnant and on the arm of another Sweshian male. It made the intimate moments they had shared together seem meaningless. As if their words of love meant nothing at all. Even though he couldn’t hold it against them, it still felt like a betrayal.
Ael’s communication device beeped, the shrill sound piercing the silence. He reached over and grabbed the device. Ael pressed the button, accepting the call from his father.
“Why did you order Paed to bring me another human when I told you that I don’t want any more prospective mates? I removed my name from the list a long time ago.”
His father sighed heavily, and Ael could sense the older male’s disappointment. “It’s been a few years since your last prospective mate, Ael. When are you going to be ready?”
“I can’t go through it again.” It was as if the scabs covering his heart were being ripped off, exposing fresh wounds. He felt the loss as though it were happening all over again. “I won’t.”
He tsked. “You’ve always had a tender heart.”
Ael ground his teeth together. It upset him that his father judged him so harshly. “You say that as if it is a bad thing.”
“When it comes to prospective mates, it is. I’ve told you to keep an emotional distance until the mating can be confirmed.”
“I’m not having this conversation with you again. I told you
I’m done. I don’t want a mate.”
“I looked through Grant’s documents myself. He’s perfect. His answers are almost identical to yours.”
“Finding a mate isn’t about compatibility, and you know it.”
“Let me help you, Ael.”
“I don’t want your help.”
“It’s too late.” His father’s voice hardened. “I’ve spoken with Paed. He left Grant at your home. The human is in one of the guest rooms. Do whatever you want with him. He’s yours for the week.” The male disconnected the call without another word.
Ael growled in frustration and dropped the communication device to the floor. It didn’t seem to matter how much he protested. Grant would be staying in his home for the next seven days. He knew his father only wanted the best for him, but the male refused to listen to Ael’s requests, which meant that he was stuck with Grant Byers.
He wasn’t experienced at staying detached and cold. Still, Ael needed to keep his distance. Although he wasn’t sure it mattered any longer. Ael didn’t have anything else to give. He was broken inside, emotionally destroyed.
Ael actually felt sorry for Grant. It wasn’t the human’s fault. He didn’t really have a choice. Even though Grant had volunteered to come to Sweshan, he was still a pawn. The human would be passed around until he became pregnant.
On their planet, the Sweshian people couldn’t reproduce. Without humans available to breed, there would be no such thing as Sweshan. Their numbers would eventually die out until their species was extinct, a fact they kept quiet from outsiders. Whichever Sweshian male put a baby in Grant’s belly would be able to claim the human as his mate. It wasn’t about love at all. It was about procreation.
It may seem harsh to others, but the people of Sweshan didn’t have a choice either. They needed humans for the survival of their race. Many years ago, toxic chemicals had been dumped onto their planet. The water was poisoned. Not only were the plants and animals affected but the Sweshian people were as well. The toxins destroyed their female reproductive organs, making it impossible to bear children.
