by Terri Lane
He sounded like he was struggling with someone, or something. Pushing herself to take a closer look, she walked further up the path to see he was manhandling one of the tentacles from a plant she’d been working with over the last few weeks.
“Hey!” she shouted.
The prince turned around with an expression of shock that melted immediately when he saw it was Raven standing there.
“What are you doing to that plant?” she asked in an accusatory tone.
He chuckled before releasing his grip around the tentacle. “I was trying to extract a bit of its sap without severing the entire arm. It was being finicky with me.”
“Well of course it would be when you attack it,” she shook her head and approached the tentacle. Raven had learned the hard way about that particular plant when tried to draw her first specimen. A series of welts and bruises later, she learned the best way to get what she wanted was by getting on her knees. She put herself as close to the base of the plant as possible. She massaged the base of the plant delicately until its tentacle laid flaccid across her lap. Once it was still, she held her hand up to the prince who handed her his knife. She made a small incision as if she were going to insert an IV and the viscous liquid inside the plant seeped out in abundance. He passed her his container and she collected as much as it took to fill it. Once she was done, she picked up some of the black sand and smoothed it over her incision point. The plant sealed up almost immediately.
“You don’t have to fight with everything you know,” she giggled. “Sometimes it takes a softer touch to get what you want.”
“I see,” he nodded while helping her off the ground. Just like clockwork, the energy surged between them again. Her heart raced, but the shock nearly knocked her back down. Raven found herself stumbling, tripping over her own feet, and could do nothing else but grab onto Prince Eoch for support.
With both of his hands holding her steady, the charge travelling through her body sending jolts of pleasure straight to clit was overwhelming. She climaxed right there in his arms.
Her face turned a bright shade of red as she looked away from him. This had never happened before. She wasn’t sure if he was aware of what happened, but another surge was coming as he was still holding onto her.
“Please,” she begged him, with her breaths coming in short and riddled with anxiety.
“I enjoy this feeling that you have over me,” his breathing was becoming more labored as well, “but I know that we should not.”
The prince let her go and they both took a step away from each other.
“Thank you,” she panted.
“No, thank you. It is because of you that my mother is up and moving about, healthy once again. I would have surely been in grave pain had she left us prematurely.”
“I understand. Losing a mother, a parent, when there is time for something to be done about it, is a dreadful feeling,” she tried to be compassionate but images of her own unsupportive mother danced around in her head. She didn’t wish death upon the woman, but somewhere deep inside she wished things were different so that she could care more.
“No, I mean there’s a subtle connection that I share with my mother. We’ve always been connected. We can tell when something is wrong with the other. That’s why I had Guarin send for you. She wouldn’t listen to me. She wouldn’t listen to reason. I had to do what I could to save her. The only time it will not hurt is when she’s truly meant to leave this realm.”
“You’re lucky to have such a strong bond,” she told him with yearning in her eyes. “I think I should go. Maybe I ought to check on her.”
“I’ll let you go for now, but Doctor Glass?”
Gazing at him she lingered for a moment.
He smiled and told her subtly, “Eventually we’re going to have to find out how deep that charge goes.”
The simple way his words rolled off his tongue made her quiver and ache for his body to be pressed against hers. She couldn’t stop the fantasies from replaying over and over in her mind as she fled the garden, away from her growing and insatiable hunger for Prince Eoch’s touch.
As Raven made her way through the palace, she finally found the queen alone in the king’s study. King Vohdar hadn’t been around at all since Raven’s arrival. Although, she caught a glimpse of him on a call once, that was all she could attest to in regards to her interactions with the leader of Xulara.
The queen sat delicately across the huge sill of the palace window. Her face was a far more vibrant shade of lilac, almost lavender now that she was feeling better. A heavy sigh escaped her that rippled throughout the ethereal silk and lace gown she wore.
“Are you alright Queen Ozhenia?” Raven almost whispered not wanting to disrupt her moment.
The queen sighed again before turning to Raven with a modest grin, “My husband is coming home.”
The warmth of her love for King Vohdar was overwhelming to Raven. It was as if it were in the room with her.
“When?” she asked almost excitedly. Raven would love to meet the king as she was sure her time on Xulara was coming to a close.
“He shall be here tonight, but tomorrow there will be a huge celebration of his homecoming. I shall want you there, as a guest, not as my doctor. There will be royal garb brought to your room for you to wear, and I expect you to honor me with your presence at my table. There is great anticipation for you two to meet, and I am happy it is finally happening. I’ve been telling him so much about you and your treatments. It will be a spectacular time and I’m sure my son will be pleased to have you at our table as well.”
Raven couldn’t help the shade of crimson rouging all over her cheeks. “It will be an honor to join your family for the dinner. I am very thankful to have been able to serve you.”
“The honor is ours. Now…I’m doing fine. Stop running from Eoch. He won’t bite, unless you tell him to, of course,” she laughed.
Raven was taken aback by the queen’s humor. However, it was truly a testament to how well she was doing. The woman before her was high spirited, witty, and humorous. It was a far cry from the crumbling woman lying on a heated stone mat when she first arrived.
***
Glamorous, elegant, extravagant, luxurious…the softest silk she’d ever felt glossed over Raven’s skin as she spun around in the cerulean colored dress that was given to her by Queen Ozhenia. Her jet black hair was slicked back and ornamented with gold flakes which complimented the gold embroidery along the fringe of the dress.
Its neckline plunged deep, stopping just above her navel. Her soft skin sprinkled with shimmering powder making her appear luminescent under the lights. To top off her look, she was given beautiful pearls and rose gold bracelets to compliment it all.
Guarin stood at the entrance of the palace ballroom waiting for her. But the halls were silent. There was no one to be seen or any music to be heard.
“Oh no, am I too late?” she asked him. “Is it over?”
“To the contrary,” Guarin told her. “It’s just beginning. Wait here.”
She watched him knock on the large door and whisper to someone on the other side. It was only a few seconds before the doors opened and she was ushered into the large ballroom. An announcement was made, but the translation was delayed.
“All Raven could tell was there was a standing ovation for her as she entered the celebration and was escorted to a small table next to a grand one. The overwhelming energy of the room consumed her as loud instruments played, aliens of all kinds mingled around the dance floor, and servants brought her drinks in elaborate champagne flutes. Prince Eoch stood up as she approached with his hand outstretched to her.
Like a jolt through her system, the charge between them ignited and spread all over her body. It made the shimmering powder illuminate even more with the heat from her skin blasting through from his touch.
“You’re stunning,” he told her quietly.
“Thank you,” she smiled. “I can’t believe the queen went to all of this
effort just for me to be here.”
“Well she’s thankful for all that you’ve done,” he told her.
“We all are,” a voice said from behind her.
Raven watched as Eoch let her hand go and stood at full attention. Turning around, she was met by a tall Xularese male with skin the color of the darkest blue, and stark white hair that practically glistened in the light. It was cut short to allow the trail of spiked peaks on his head show through. They appeared razor sharp, and were gold plated to match the body armor which adorned his torso. She took a deep breath and curtsied as deep as she could without falling.
“Please, rise,” the king told her.
“It is an honor to meet you and to have been able to treat your wife, Your Majesty. Thank you for your gracious hospitality,” Raven spoke softly before she felt the charge of Eoch’s hand on her shoulder. He helped her to her seat while King Vohdar made his way toward Queen Ozhenia.
The fanfare blared as the King of Xulara made his entrance and grand return to the palace. With the queen by his side, they motioned for the festivities to commence. Raven was in shock and awe as they watched from high above the soiree. Their tables sat on a mezzanine type platform that overlooked everything.
“This is unbelievable,” Raven’s smile couldn’t be contained. “Do we get to go down and mingle with the guests?”
Eoch cocked his head to the side with a slight chuckle. “Do your leaders mingle with guests at large celebrations?”
“HA!” Raven scoffed. “Not without an army of security around them.”
“We prefer to avoid that. The Xularese, and all others, have a firm understanding that the Royal family shall not interact in a setting as vast as this. We allow a select few to enter the palace ballroom and the rest of the celebration takes place at different venues around the planet. Even the few that you see here aren’t allowed anywhere else but this ballroom.”
“That makes sense, especially with your father here,” she nodded.
Their conversation continued through the night and they even shared a dance or two. It was all magical as they ended up walking through the palace garden while the celebration wound down.
The black dirt paths glistened under Xulara’s four moons. The subtle movements of the plants around them only lent motion to the ambiance around them. It was the perfect way to the end the night.
“You know my father wants to have a private dinner with you as a thank you for what you have done here. I would like to thank you as well,” he smiled.
Lacing his fingers through hers, the charge was subtle, or maybe Raven was getting used to it. He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it gently.
“There’s something magnificent about you. I’ve never felt like this with anyone before. And believe me they’ve been trying to marry me off since my crown was fitted,” Eoch laughed.
“And how would they feel about this,” she held their interlocked fingers up into the moonlight.
“They could feel how they want,” he shrugged. “I choose who I want to be with. There’s nothing anyone can say or do about that. While they would prefer me to be with royalty, it isn’t the law of the land. Mother has made it very apparent that she wants me to be happy, as happy as she and father are together. You’re the only person who I’ve ever felt this charge with. I can’t let this go. I will not let you go.”
Raven was floored by his proclamation. It moved her. Her heart skipped a beat as he moved in closer to her. With their eyes locked onto each other, Eoch kissed her. Their lips pressed together with a passion that appeared to be emboldened by the light of the moons.
Engulfed by the moment, Raven melted into his arms as Eoch held her tight. The heat of his tongue warmed her entire body. Her pussy quivered with anticipation and excitement as she wondered what making love to a Xularese prince would feel like. All her inhibitions were gone the moment she opened her mouth and her heart to Prince Eoch.
The ground was softer than Raven imagined as Eoch laid her down right there in the middle of the garden. His hands travelled all over her body, removing her dress, exploring every inch of her tender flesh. The tingling sensation that accompanied his fingertips grazing her most sensitive areas was orgasmic.
Raven moaned with every pass of his fingers. The warm sensation of his tongue soon followed that. Eoch moved around her body like a skilled surgeon, and his tongue was his scalpel. He was exacting, following her responses, being especially gentle. It was better than any lover Raven had ever been with.
Panting, trying to catch her breath, she pushed back on Eoch to gaze into his eyes. His face was covered in the shimmering powder her body was doused in. A sweet and tender smile spread across her lips. Just when she thought she was going to protest them going any further, she threw caution to the wind. “Let me see and taste you too.”
“Your wish is my command.” Eoch grinned seductively as he rose to sit on his knees. He let the metallic kilt fall to the ground revealing a long, thick, navy blue cock.
Raven’s eyes lit up as she watched Eoch undress and let his grey hair fall around his shoulders. She truly thought him to be gorgeous. Without hesitation, she went to him, stroking him gently until the throbbing flesh between his legs firmed tightly in her grip. It was warm with a very low vibration.
Her mouth wrapped around the tip. Eoch tasted sweet, earthy… He was able to fill her mouth as she began to move up and down around him. His groans egged her on. She used her tongue as masterfully as he’d used his and she wanted more. More is what she got when she released him from her mouth and let Eoch slide into her waiting wet walls.
He moved with so much rhythm that Raven lost herself. She didn’t care that they were of two different species. She didn’t care that this violated most of her own professional codes of conduct. She didn’t care that they weren’t being safe. Their bodies moved as if they were in sync with the breeze moving through the night air.
Love was in the air that night. It was undeniable what Raven felt for Eoch. She was enamored with him. There was barely anything they had in common except for what they felt whenever they touched. It was electric. It was charged. And in this garden, it was everything Raven could have hoped for in a lover. Their bodies together, wrapped in their lust, rolling in love. Raven wished for it to never end.
***
The door to King Vohdar’s study was larger than Raven remembered. Only a few days had gone by since she met the queen to discuss her attending the celebration. She’d been summoned by the king to meet him there and her expectations were to finish the discussion they’d began the night before. However, when she entered the room there was a much more somber tone than grateful.
“Good afternoon, King Vohdar,” she curtsied to greet him.
The more she looked at the king the more she saw Eoch in him. Their presence was indescribably similar. But she put thoughts of Eoch out of her mind to focus on why the leader of Xulara had called for them to meet privately.
“Please have a seat,” he motioned for her to sit at his desk. Vohdar stood tall in front of the large window. He gazed out at the land before him, never looking directly at Raven. After a moment of silence, he cleared his throat and asked her outright, “What is your relationship with Eoch?”
Her cheeks flushed a shade of crimson as thoughts of their passionate night replayed in her mind. Raven wasn’t sure how to answer the question, so she did so as vaguely as possible.
“We have become close during this time that I’ve been caring for your wife. I believe we care about each other. Our friendship is something we both appreciate and cherish.”
He held his hand up for her to stop speaking. A subtle groan escaped his lips. “And do you believe it’s suitable for someone of my son’s stature to associate himself with someone like you?”
Raven didn’t like where this conversation was headed as she replied sarcastically, “Well while your son is considerably taller than myself, it didn’t pose a problem for us relating to each other. I th
ink he rather likes me this short, but I’m tall for an Earthling female.”
“Your humor is unwarranted, Doctor Glass. You are aware that you were brought here under the premise to care for my wife and you are violating that contract by fraternizing with my son. I appreciate all that you have done here, and you shall be paid for services rendered, but I cannot continue to allow your presence here. You are a disruption to the plan I have set forth for Eoch and you shall return to your home planet immediately. You are dismissed!”
“Wait,” Raven’s heart thumped against her chest. She could hear her pulse pounding in her ears as she hadn’t realized the seriousness of the discussion. “I apologize for my crude comment. You’re right. It was unwarranted and I sincerely apologize but I can’t just leave. What about the queen? She needs me! I can’t just disappear. I must say goodbye to everyone, I need time to pack. I’m not ready to go!”
“It’s already done,” he waved her out of his study. Raven closed her eyes trying to fight back her tears wondering if she would get to see Eoch before she left. That idea became void as she exited the study to find Guarin waiting for her in the hall with all three of his eyes glued to the ground.
“I am terribly sorry, Doctor Glass. Your things have been gathered and your notes have been confiscated. The shuttle awaits your presence for its immediate departure back to Earth,” he told her in a calm tone.
Tears streamed down Raven’s cheeks as she walked through the palace wondering when she would be able to return; if ever. It was as if the halls emptied just for her exit. No one was around. Hopes of seeing Eoch were dashed as she made it aboard the shuttle without spotting a single inhabitant of Xulara.
Staring at Guarin, she bent down to hug him. “Thank you for all that you have done for me while I was here. I appreciate you. And if you could give a message to Prince Eoch for me?”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” he whispered looking around. “The king is very upset with your relationship with him. I do not wish to upset him any further.”
