by Becca Colton
No wonder I could never find Mr. Right. He was a billion miles away from the planet I was on.
Chloe, hearing shouts and pounding feet behind them, turned and aimed the blaster as Corsar, holding Thal, looked at the controls for the teleporter.
“Hold them off for just a minute,” Corsar said. “This shouldn’t take long.” His fingers flew across the control panel, tapping buttons and flicking switches.
Chloe nodded and started firing at the oncoming aliens. They returned fire, flashes of light launching from bracelets on their wrists as Chloe and the others hugged the wall to avoid the enemy blasts as much as possible. A familiar grinding sound started up behind her and she took a quick look over her shoulder to see the ring start to slowly spin.
“The controls on the side of the blaster,” Thal said. “Push all the power settings to full power. When the button on the side flashes red, push it. Don’t fire it after that.”
Chloe did as she was instructed and looked at Thal. “What’s that do?”
“Pressing that button turns off the energy dampeners. The TalonRazr will overload and explode in thirty seconds.”
Chloe’s eyes widened. “Why would you have me do that?”
The stone ring slammed to a stop and a blast of light exploded within the center of it.
“They can’t follow us,” Thal explained. “Drop the blaster at the base of the teleporter as you go through. It will explode, sealing off their access to the other side.”
“Go,” Corsar said. “We’re right behind you.”
With a last look at the advancing aliens, Chloe jumped through the center of the ring, dropping the blaster right before entering. There was a blast of white light that dazzled her senses and another kick to the stomach as she appeared back in the bunker. She sucked in a breath, grabbing her stomach as she moved away from the teleporter. She closed her eyes, willing herself to not throw up.
Using a transporter looks a lot more fun on Star Trek.
Corsar and Thal appeared, silhouetted by the bright light behind them.
“Run,” they both shouted in unison.
The three of them exited the lab and Corsar slapped a button on the wall, making the door close just as an explosion blasted out of the teleporter. When Chloe peeked through the tiny window in the door, the teleporter was nothing but random pieces of metal and stone tossed about the lab.
As Thal sat on a bench along the wall to rest, Corsar quickly suited up in his kilt, his Razr blaster hanging from his hip and the handle for his LazerMace tucked into its pouch on his belt. Chloe had no choice but to remain in her makeshift toga since the clothes she had worn into the bunker had been shredded, which was something she was perfectly fine with. She wouldn’t change that moment for anything in the world.
Corsar approached Thal, ready to support his friend again, but Thal shook his head. “I’ll wait here for a rescue team. I’m too weak, too damaged, to make it back to Stratos on foot. I’ll just slow you down, and it’s important that you let everyone know what’s going on as soon as possible.” He glanced around at his surroundings. “The teleporter is destroyed so this bunker should be secure enough.”
Chloe could tell Corsar wasn’t thrilled with the idea but he reluctantly agreed. He handed his Razr to Thal in case he needed it, took Chloe’s hand in his, and together they headed out on a two-day trek back to the city in the sky.
◆◆◆
The water swirled around the drain, taking the dirt and sweat from two days of walking through the jungle with it. Chloe sighed as the hot water beat down on her. They had traveled fast, only stopping for a couple of light snacks, a few hours of sleep, and a hot quickie against a tree.
She was in Corsar’s quarters while he talked with something called the Nest—the governing body that made decisions for the city. She had a pretty good idea of what they were talking about. One of their own had been abducted and tortured, his wings ripped from his body. And all he had been doing before that was traveling to another planet. There really could be only one response to something like that. War.
Chloe sighed heavily. She had been in a lot of war zones but this would be her first intergalactic one. And she didn’t even have her camera.
The door to the shower cube opened and Corsar stepped in, naked and looking as delicious as ever. She had almost laughed earlier when he had shown her the shower and called it a cube. The “cube” was bigger than her whole bathroom back at her apartment on Earth. But there was nothing funny about the man now in the shower with her. She watched, almost hypnotized, as rivulets of water ran across the muscles of his skin. She could feel a familiar warmth between her thighs. The man made her horny just by being close to her.
He stood so close they were almost touching. “A rescue team is headed to the bunker to rescue Thal.”
“I thought you might go with them,” Chloe said.
Corsar shook his head. “I need to rest so my wing can continue to heal.”
Chloe looked up and almost squealed with happiness. “The hole’s gone.”
Corsar grinned. “Yes, I am whole once again.” He took her in his arms and pulled her tight against him. She could feel him grow hard, his cock pressing against her tummy. “And I don’t mean just the wing, my sweet Chloe. Here, with you, I am whole, complete in a way I never imagined possible before.”
Chloe could feel herself blush, her cheeks growing warm. She looked into his golden eyes. “I feel the same way. I knew as soon you held me that you were what I was missing. I just didn’t know I was missing anything until you found me.”
He ran his fingers gently down the curve of her cheek. “I will understand if you wish to return home. You did not leave your planet, your life, willingly. But I would like for you to consider staying here on Kriath with me . . . as my mate.”
Chloe gasped, a slow smile appearing on her face.
“Before you answer,” Corsar continued. “Know this. Andar and your friend Leah discovered that Earth women are compatible with Kriathians.”
“Compatible?” Chloe said. Her eyes widened. “We can have kids?”
Corsar nodded.
“Yes,” Chloe squealed. “Yes, I’ll be your mate, and yes I want to have your babies.” She stretched up on tiptoe to kiss him but still didn’t come close to even reaching his neck.
Seriously? Does he have to be so frickin’ tall?
Corsar leaned over and cupped Chloe’s ass in his big hands, lifting her up easily and pulling her tight against him.
Okay. Tall isn’t bad. Not bad at all.
His lips claimed hers and Chloe moaned as their tongues danced. She could feel his cock pressing against her slit and she purred as she rubbed against it. Pulling back, she smiled mischievously. “Aren’t you supposed to be resting? What would the doctor say about this?”
Corsar seemed to consider the thought for a moment. “You’re right. I should check with her and get her opinion.” He began lowering her to the floor but Chloe tightened her legs around his waist.
“Fuck that,” she murmured before stretching up to press her lips against his. Corsar chuckled as they kissed, sending a pleasant vibration through her.
“Fuck me, Corsar,” Chloe said. “I need to feel you inside me.”
Corsar slowly lowered Chloe onto his cock. Her nails dug into his shoulders as he stretched her inner muscles.
“God, you’re so fucking big,” she moaned, his shaft throbbing within her, the ribbed textures along the sides already driving her to heights of passion she’d never experienced before him. Corsar lifted her up and down on his thickness, controlling the depth, the speed, everything, including her. All she could do was hold on to him and enjoy every sensuous moment.
Corsar kissed her neck, flicking his tongue over her sensitive flesh, then nipped her with his teeth. He changed his position and all of a sudden he was grinding against her clit with each thrust.
“Oh fuck,” Chloe gasped. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.” Her head fell back and her eyes rolled
back as she came, crying out Corsar’s name. As soon as she tightened around his shaft, Corsar grunted and thrust up into her one final time, his cock spasming as he filled her.
“Can we shower like this all the time?” Chloe asked, her breathing slowly returning to normal.
Corsar chuckled. “Anything for my precious flame.”
Chapter Thirteen
Corsar sat at a table in the dining hall with Chloe, Andar, and Leah. He would be looking into upgrading his living quarters soon, switching to something that included a kitchen. Something more fitting for a man and his mate . . . and eventually their family. In the meantime, he was happy to catch up with Andar and the Earth woman he had become attached to.
“How is Thal?” Corsar asked as he took a bite of his roasted tikka. Chloe had given the dish a wary look until Leah told her it tasted like something called chicken, and then she had eaten one whole bird by herself, much to the amusement of everyone at the table.
Andar shrugged. “I’m not going to lie. He’s having a rough time. I can’t even imagine suddenly having to live without my wings.”
“Can anything be done?” Chloe asked. “Corsar had a hole the size of my head in his wing and it’s good as new now.”
“I’m afraid not,” Corsar said. “My wing was repaired by stimulating the DNA to make it heal itself. In Thal’s case, there’s no genetic material to replicate.”
Chloe frowned. “I knew we should’ve found a way to bring those wings with us.”
Corsar took her hand and smiled gently. “It wouldn’t have mattered, my love. The cells were already dead. Nothing could’ve been done with them.”
Leah stood and touched Chloe’s shoulder. “Let’s go see the desserts. If you think the tikka is something, wait until you try some of their sweets.”
Chloe rose. “After being held prisoner by space slavers and running through the jungle, I am all for satisfying my sweet tooth.” She flashed a smile at Corsar. “Besides, I need to keep my energy up these days.” She blew Corsar a kiss and headed off with Leah.
Corsar watched her for a couple of minutes, then noticed Andar’s attention on Leah. He laughed. Andar glared at him for a second, then laughed too. He held up his glass of nectar. “To love.”
Corsar raised his glass. “To love.”
They drank their drinks and enjoyed the silence for a moment before Corsar brought up the concern that was growing in his mind.
“Are we going to war?” he asked.
Andar shook his head, frowning. “Not yet. Mainly because we need to know who to go to war with before going to war with them.” He sighed. “I sent a ship to confront that base behind the sun. Scanners detected an explosion before the ship arrived. All that was left was debris floating in space.”
Corsar shook his head and swore. Another dead end. “The bunkers. They need to be destroyed. I’d always assumed they were forgotten relics from the war. I never imagined there were teleporters. They make us vulnerable.”
Andar nodded. “Already on it. Teams are being assembled as we speak. The bunkers will be nothing but smoking ruins by nightfall. The Corvus have been informed as well so they can destroy the ones in their territory.”
“Good,” Corsar said. He glanced over to where Chloe and Leah were talking to another woman from Earth who had been captured by the Struun. “We need to keep our women safe.”
Andar followed his gaze and nodded. “We will.”
Chapter Fourteen
Chloe grabbed a bowl at the buffet bar and loaded it down with a variety of berries, Kriathian chocolate, and a few tiny globes of the cheese-like kass she had earlier with Corsar.
“Someone looks exceptionally happy,” Leah said.
“The food here,” Chloe replied. She rolled her eyes. “Girl, I’m going to get so fat on this planet.”
Leah laughed. “I kinda doubt that. I’ve seen how Corsar looks at you . . . and I have firsthand experience with how . . . amorous Kriathians can be. You’ll work off any extra weight in no time . . . and even if you don’t, do you think he cares?”
Chloe chuckled. “I doubt it.” She shook her head. “Nothing like most of the guys on Earth.”
“You like him,” Leah said.
Chloe shook her head. “No. I love him. I never imagined using the ‘L’ word, but I’m in love with him.”
“You know we can have babies with them?” Leah asked.
Chloe nodded. “Corsar told me . . . and then he asked me to be his mate.”
“What did you say?”
Chloe rolled her eyes. “Duh! I said yes.” She noticed her friend frown. “What?”
Leah shook her head. “It’s nothing. Andar asked me to be his mate and I couldn’t say yes fast enough. But I’m not really giving up anything.” She shrugged. “I had a job I hated . . . but you have a career back there.”
“I can find another career, but how many times does a girl stumble across her true love?” Chloe shrugged. “Besides, I’m a war reporter . . . and I’m getting a feeling that war isn’t too far from happening.”
Leah sighed. “Yeah. Unfortunately.”
Someone whistled and Chloe tensed up.
Holy hell! Corsar sees someone whistling at me and there will be a war happening right here. And I think Andar will have the same reaction about Leah.
She glanced over to see who was about to die at the hands of their men and immediately relaxed as she saw a short Hispanic woman with black curly hair approach them.
“Look at you two,” Sofia said. “Going native works for you.”
“You’re not looking too shabby yourself,” Chloe said. While she and Leah had gone for the warrior-style attire the Kriathian women wore—a light brown tube-top-like thing, a dark brown knee-length leather kilt, and leather sandals—Sofia had gone for the more formal Kriathian look, wearing a long-sleeve white cotton shirt with a light blue decorative design (and slits in the back), white cotton pants, and leather sandals, which were apparently the preferred footwear for all occasions. The only person Chloe had seen who wore something different was Dr. Rokan, who wore something that reminded Chloe of Crocs. White, of course, to go with her white robe.
Sofia smiled. “Thanks. It’s super comfortable . . . even with the slits in the back. There’s no way I could do that warrior look.”
Chloe rolled her eyes. “Puh-leeze. You put those big ta-tas of yours in one of these tube top things and you’ll have warriors falling over their wings offering to . . . take you for a flight.” She waggled her eyebrows. “If you know what I mean.”
Sofia blushed and laughed. “I’m pretty sure there’s a law against anyone over thirty wearing one of those things.”
“Looking good doesn’t have an age limit,” Leah said.
“And neither does love.” Chloe winked. “Get out there and get into some interplanetary action. Just remember. It’s not the size of the wing; it’s the . . .” She laughed and shrugged. “Sorry. I’ve got nothing to go with that.”
Sofia laughed. “You’re crazy, Chloe. Try not to get into too much trouble.” She turned to walk away.
“How are the others?” Chloe asked. “I haven’t seen anyone else.”
Sofia smiled. “Everyone’s okay. The lizard sisters and the others not from Earth were taken home. Paisley and I are sharing a room together.”
“What?” Leah frowned. “You didn’t get your own rooms?”
Sofia’s gaze dropped to the floor. “We did,” she said softly. “But those rooms were huge . . . and . . . well . . . we just prefer the roommate thing.” She glanced up at them. “Not being alone.”
Chloe nodded. She could understand. She didn’t know their stories but Sofia and Paisley were already on board the Struun ship when she woke up in the cage, along with the lizard sisters, the jello girl, and the porcupine girl.
“Are the two of you headed back to Earth?” Chloe asked.
Sofia shrugged. “I don’t think I am. I don’t have some alien hottie sweeping me off my feet but”—
she smiled—“we’re on an alien world. How cool is that? There’s so much to learn here, and I’m looking forward to it. Paisley hasn’t said anything about her plans. She doesn’t seem especially thrilled to be here, but she hasn’t asked about leaving either.”
“What about Reagan?” Leah asked.
Sofia frowned. “She won’t even give the place a chance. She stays in her room, only coming out to get something to eat. She says she’s had enough of outer space and will be on the first ship headed to Earth.” She offered a weak smile. “I guess we can’t really blame her.”
“Definitely not,” Chloe said. “But it’s a bummer that she won’t even give this place a chance.”
Sofia nodded, then saw Corsar and Andar approach. She nodded politely toward them and glanced back at Chloe and Leah. “Guess I’ll let you get back to your guys. I just wanted to say hi.” She waved at each of them and headed for the exit.
“Is everything okay?” Corsar asked, taking her in his arms.
She smiled up at him. “Perfect.”
Epilogue
The flowers almost glowed, the moonlight giving them an otherworldly glow. Sofia chuckled at the thought. You couldn’t get more otherworldly than being several lightyears away from the planet that was once called home. She wandered aimlessly down the walkways between the rows of flowers. The gardens on the highest level of the city were one of her favorite spots in Stratos, and she walked among the alien flowers at night when she couldn’t sleep, when her arm ached, reminding her of what happened before.
She shrugged the dark thoughts of the past away, concentrating on the beauty that surrounded her. She heard a sound as she approached the next turn in the path and stopped. It was uncommon for others to be out here this late at night, but she had seen other late-night visitors every now and then. She peeked around the corner, not wanting to disturb or frighten whoever it was, and was surprised to see Thal.
