by V. Vaughn
My chest tightens with the urge to cry as I think about never seeing my family or friends again. Caiden told me he lived underground on Eroscia, and the idea that I won’t breathe fresh air again makes my skin itch. I begin to scratch. A hand I can’t see gently grips my fingers to stop me. “Caiden?” His familiar touch strokes my cheek, and tears spring to my eyes. I look at the ceiling. “Lexi, please be on your way to fix this.”
As moisture rolls down my cheeks, I remember kissing my alien in the rainstorm at the park. In intimate ways. Ways he insisted we shouldn’t do. But did I listen? No. And now we’re both about to become lab rats because I had to have my way. A sob escapes me as desperation fills my mind, and the mattress bounces wildly under me when I throw myself on the bed. The plush comforter cuddles my body as I weep. Fingers I’m sure belong to Caiden smooth the hair back from my face, and light kisses flutter along my cheeks. My crying subsides as I let him soothe me. The sensation of him lying next to me on the bed and holding me in his arms makes my heart swell with emotions as warmth travels through my bloodstream. I imagine the deep tone of his voice and the way he firmly said he loved me. Exhaustion makes my muscles relax, and I settle into the comforting embrace of my alien as I fall asleep.
* * *
I wake to the sound of birds chirping, and a stream of yellow light makes me squint when I open my eyes. What appears to be a window is on the wall, but since I know my room is underground it must be more alien magic.
“Will you marry me Bi-ill.” sings a young woman as she enters the room and dances her way over to the bed holding a long white gown that looks like a wedding dress. “I’ve got the wedding day blu-ues,” I sit up as the girl stops to face me. She’s just as beautiful as Seline from yesterday and it makes me wonder if all the remaining Eroscian women are tall and thin before the reality of the white dress she’s holding hits me. “Rise and shine, earth girl. I decided you can call me Trina. Do you like the name?” I frown for a second before I realize the girl must have picked an earth name for herself. “We’ve got to get you ready.”
“Hold on. Ready for what?”
“Your wedding, silly,” says Trina as she fondles beads on the gown. “I can’t tell you how jealous I am that you’re going to make this dress look better than mine.”
“You’re kidding. With your tall slender figure I’m sure you looked like a model.” I shake my head to focus on what’s happening instead of fashion. “Am I really getting married today?”
“You are, and your curves in this gown are going to make more than Caiden drool. Now get up so we can try it on you. Then while you bathe I can get the alterations done. Your wedding is at eleven.”
Oh god. I take a deep breath as I try to think of a way to stall. I’ve known Caiden for three days and that’s not nearly enough time to be ready for marriage. “Um. Tell me how weddings work on your planet. Do I get bridesmaids or anything? Because I’d really like my two best friends, and my parents. They’ll want to be here and--”
The girl is shaking her head as she frowns. “There’s no time. You’re supposed to start breeding right away, and the arrangement with Earth was you can’t do that until you’re married.”
“Right.” I let out a heavy sigh. “Breeding.” I think about how I got Caiden into this mess and wonder if he’s anxious too. As if he knows I’m thinking about him the sensation of his lips brushing mine makes me smile. There are a lot worse things I could endure than ending up with my sexy alien for life. But I wonder if marrying Caiden will it make it harder for Lexi to get me back to Earth, because I’m not giving up hope my friend can save me in time.
The bed creaks as I climb out of it. “Fine. Let me get coffee first.”
“Nope.” Trina’s voice is stern when she says, “I told you, we don’t have time to waste. Now strip down and put this dress on.”
I resign myself to doing what Trina orders even though my pulse begins to race with panic. The silk is cool on my skin as I step into the gown, and it’s heavy on my shoulders as Trina zips it up. I resist the urge to scratch and notice Trina’s eyebrows are raised as if she’s waiting for feedback. Her face is so hopeful I push aside my panic to say, “I’m surprised you have such ornate wedding dresses considering you all wear clothing like a second skin.”
“Oh, we never used to. But now that we’ve seen what humans do, everyone is obsessed with your culture.” She snaps her fingers, and a mirror appears on the wall to replace the sunny window. “Seamstresses like me are now busy creating clothes like yours. It’s great for business.”
I remember the ideas about Earth that Caiden had and how they were gleaned from television. “I bet the next big thing will be human names,” says Trina. “I’m so glad I’m one of the first to get one. Hey! I’m a trendsetter.”
I chuckle as the girl pinches fabric at my waist, and I glance in the mirror to notice the way the garment flares out at my hips emphasizing my hourglass shape. “You are. And if you made this dress I’m impressed. It’s gorgeous.”
“You really think so? I’m so glad.” Trina steps back and surveys the gown. “Perfect. Be careful sliding out of that so you don’t get poked by a pin.”
When Trina leaves, I walk over to the serving station and select coffee and breakfast. Even though my stomach is knotted up with nerves considering I’m about to get married, I need to eat. A bowl is held out to me along with a steaming cup of coffee.
I sit on the bed to eat a gray substance that is the consistency of oatmeal. The mashed food is warm, but it seems to have the flavor of cardboard. I hold it in my mouth hoping for a different taste to happen, but it never does. “Are you kidding me? Haven’t you people heard of sugar?” I glance around the room and my panic returns. As my skin burns with the need to scratch, I send a silent prayer to Lexi, because even with Caiden, life as a lab rat on Eroscia doesn’t look good.
Chapter 10
The silk of my wedding gown rustles as Trina leads me down a hallway. The floor is a pale shade of gray that matches the paint on the walls, and I wonder if the wedding is an experiment too. We enter a room with carpeting that’s slightly warmer in feel, but it still has the atmosphere of an overcast day. My throat squeezes shut, and I fight back the urge to make a break for it and run until the door opens to reveal Caiden. Inhaling deeply, I take in my groom’s appearance. He’s dressed in a black tuxedo that is tailored to fit his broad shoulders and tapers down to his waist perfectly. When he smiles at me revealing his dimple I want to melt.
He says, “You are the most stunning bride I’ve ever seen.”
“You’re quite handsome yourself.”
An older gentleman entered too, and he steps in front of us to say, “Okay you two. Time to have a wedding.”
Caiden’s fingers are warm on my cold hands as he grabs them. He asks, “Are you nervous?”
I nod just as the crack of interplanetary travel surprises me, and I turn to see Seline and Lexi appear. Lexi’s hair is sticking out as if she just woke up, and I notice she’s wearing a dressy blouse with sweatpants. “Did it happen yet?” asks Lexi.
“The wedding?” I ask as relief floods my veins at seeing my best friend. Hopefully this means I’m on my way home. “No.”
Caiden leans in close and whispers. “Let me do the talking and keep quiet.” The hair on the back of my neck rises, and I’m about to refuse when I remember how my big mouth got us in trouble in the first place. So I bite my tongue and nod in agreement.
“Great,” says Lexi. She glances at Seline whose brow is knit. “I think we’ve negotiated a plan to get you back to Earth.”
“Really?” I ask before an invisible hand I’m sure is Caiden’s slaps over my mouth.
Seline says, “If you agree to the terms I lay out, you may return.” I nod as Seline focuses on Caiden. “You are required to go to Earth and become Mandy’s husband.”
Caiden grins, and his grip is firm on both my mouth and fingers. “Happily.”
“And you, Mandy must agree to ha
ve children and allow us monthly tests during pregnancy as well as allowing your offspring to do the same for life.”
Testing? No way. I pull my head back from Caiden’s invisible hand and blurt out, “But--” I stop myself and take a deep breath to regain control of my emotions. Surely it’s not needles in the eyes like I’m imagining, because things like that don’t happen on Earth.
I glance at Caiden who says, “Yes. She will.”
“Nothing too stringent,” says Lexi. “Routine blood work. Stuff like that.”
I think about what might happen at Eroscia’s laboratory and recall my bland breakfast. I decide that while it sounds restricting, it’s probably not the worst that could happen. And while I feel rushed about marrying Caiden, given the alternative of wedding him but staying on Eroscia makes the compromise easier to swallow. I find my voice to say, “Agreed.”
Seline turns to the older man and speaks in their native language. Once he leaves she says, “There’s one more thing. We have a man that...” She pauses for a second before continuing as if she’s trying to find the right words, “doesn’t quite fit our dating requirements. You’ll be taking him to Earth, and the two of you will find him a match.”
I frown as I wonder what Seline means by fit. Trina had been quiet up until this point, but she gasps as a man is led into the room in handcuffs. He’s well-built and hot like Caiden, but there is a scowl on his face that is unnerving.
Selene says, “This is Hunter.”
Lexi’s voice rises in pitch as she says, “Wait. This isn’t what we agreed to. This man looks dangerous.”
Hunter lets out a low noise that might as well be a growl, and it makes my blood run cold. I whisper to Caiden, “No. There has to be another way.”
He says, “He’ll be fine.”
I gaze at him, and he says, “Trust me.” He breaks into a smile and winks at me. “We’ll keep him in line with bacon.”
I recall how I nursed Caiden’s hangover with bacon when he didn’t trust me about his excessive alcohol consumption. I paste on a smile in reply, because I know I need to trust him about the ways of his planet.
I’m not so sure though when I notice that Trina has put as much distance as she can between her and Hunter. The restrained alien’s eyes are squinted as if he’s daring anyone to fight him, and I guess he’s not any happier about moving to Earth than Lexi is about bringing him.
Hunter speaks in Eroscian with a tone that confirms my suspicions. He and Selene have a heated exchange that ends when Caiden says something firmly. I’m not sure what was said, but the handcuffs on Hunter are removed with a click, and his glare softens. I grip Caiden’s hand tighter, especially when Hunter’s gaze lands on Lexi. He gives her the once over as a smile forms on his face, and I wonder if Selene gave him the name he’s living up to by preparing to stalk his prey. I watch my friend as a blush heats her cheeks. Is that fear? Or desire? I know Lexi has a thing about bad boys, but this guy takes it a step further, and I’m concerned. “Lexi?”
Lexi straightens up to her I-mean-business stature and clears her throat without looking at me. “We should be going. We’ve got a wedding to organize.”
I glance down at the beautiful dress I’m wearing and think about how well if fits. I don’t want to part with it and turn to Trina. “I know I shouldn’t ask, but--”
“Oh goodness! Of course.” Trina flutters her hands in excitement. “Take the dress, and tell everyone on Earth I made it. I’d love to be on one of your bridal shows.”
I chuckle. “I’d be happy to. Thank you.”
Selene claps her hands to interrupt the conversation. “Time to go.” I barely have a moment to wave goodbye to Trina before I’m caught up in teleportation back to Earth. We land in Lexi’s living room, and I sigh in relief at the familiar surroundings of carpet and colorful furnishings.
“Whew,” says Lexi. “I don’t think I’d want to do that too often.” She opens her mouth and then snaps it shut again before swallowing hard. She glances at Hunter quickly before she focuses on Caiden and me. “Since you’re both already dressed for it, should we do the wedding this afternoon?”
I turn to Caiden, and as I gaze into his eyes I freely give him a little more of my soul, and it’s replaced with a glow I’m know must be his. My heart swells with a heat that warms me all the way to my toes. I’m in love with my sexy alien match. “Yes,” I say with tears in my eyes.
“Excellent. Call Eliza to come over while I shower and change. Help yourself to anything in the kitchen if you’re hungry.” Lexi glances at Hunter, who is in Eroscian skin-tight clothing. His arms are crossed and the smirk on his face seems to dare her to check him out. “And I suppose I should see if I can find him something to wear, too.”
Chapter 11
Two hours later after we drop Hunter off at Lexi’s office building for processing, Caiden and I are standing in front of a justice of the peace in the town hall as Lexi and Eliza watch. Our vows were read from a piece of paper, and it would feel cold to me if not for the way Caiden managed to wrap his alien touch around my heart while we spoke. I know that will be the part I always remember.
“I now pronounce you man and wife,” says the justice. “You may kiss the bride.”
Caiden takes my face in his hands with a feather light grip and says, “I love you, Mandy.”
His gaze is intense, and I experience the now-familiar sensation of give and take that I believe is more than just our souls. It’s pieces of our heart too. Neither of our forces is overpowering or taking control. I realize that’s what our marriage will be, a compromise of power that will keep both of us safe as we navigate the new world of interplanetary life. “I love you too, Caiden.”
The thick muscles of his arms flex in my grip as Caiden kisses me, and he tugs me against his firm body. I press against him trying to fill every nook and cranny as we melt into each other. I’m sure I made the right decision to marry Caiden now, and when we break apart the desire I see on his face makes my insides tingle. I rise on my tiptoes to whisper in his ear. “Race you back to my--our place.”
Caiden grins down at me, and I yelp when he scoops me up in his arms the way he did in the rainstorm. “This way we both win,” he says.
His jacket is smooth on my cheek as I lean against his chest. “That we do.”
* * *
As Caiden and I approach our apartment he says, “I know how this works. I must carry you across the threshold.”
“You must.”
When he walks through the apartment entrance Caiden kicks the door shut, and it slams behind us like it did the first day we met. He says, “I wanted to do so much more than kiss you once I laid eyes on you. I knew we were a perfect match.” He takes me to the bedroom and eases me gently onto my feet as if I’m a treasure.
“We’re only ninety-seven percent,” I say.
“And that makes us perfect.” He leans down and brushes his lips against mine. “The three percent is what keeps us interesting.”
Caiden steps away from me, and his jacket swishes as he takes it off to set it on a chair. I say, “You definitely keep me interested.” As he begins to unbutton his shirt I ask, “Getting comfortable?”
Caiden shakes his head as he steps closer. “I’m giving you what you want.”
I bite my lip as he slides the shirt off his arms and tosses it to lay on his jacket. “You are one sexy alien, Caiden TS-461.” I place a hand on his chest over his heart. The beat is steady and strong against my palm. “And I’m so glad I pushed that initiate match button.”
The zipper of my dress hums as Caiden tugs it down, and he steps back to let me slither out of it. He lets out a sigh of pleasure as I reveal my naked body. “You are the most gorgeous creature I’ve ever seen, Mandy.” He places his hands on my hips and slides them slowly up the sides of my torso sending waves of desire through me. “Everything I dreamed about and more, my earth girl.”
When he gets to my breasts he cups them, and I let my head fall back as he
lowers his mouth to suckle one. Tiny currents travel to my core. “So nice,” I whisper. He takes his time ravishing me before he moves his flitting tongue down to my stomach.
Pushing gently, Caiden guides me to the bed where I sit. He lowers himself to his knees and his touch is light as he spreads my thighs. “So many new tastes on Earth, but this one is my favorite.” My core trembles as Caiden laps at my sensitive slit, and I lie back. His hair is silky in my fingers as I thread them through his thick locks. My stomach quivers as he brings me higher, and waves of pleasure wash over me as I begin to moan. He adds in his alien touch that intensifies everything, and when I can hardly stand it any longer I crash with an orgasm that makes me cry out louder than ever before.
Caiden rises to remove his pants, and his thick cock juts out as I move back to lie completely on the bed. The mattress sinks around me as my beloved alien climbs over me and sighs. “I’ve been thinking about being inside you since the first time I saw you.”
I grip him in my hand and stroke his hard length. “I think you know I’ve wanted you that long too.”
He grins as he guides himself toward my slick channel. “I do.” He slides in slowly, stretching my sensitive flesh until he’s seated deep. Caiden lets out a low groan as he holds still. “You feel amazing.” He begins to move slowly.
Shifting my hips to meet him I say, “This feels so good. So--” He adds his magic touch and words escape me as I shake.
Caiden grins down at me. “Out of this world?”
All I can manage is a small nod as he begins to move faster, and I grip the sinewy muscle of his butt as he works on bringing us both to the edge of ecstasy. The sound of our panting fills the room along with small cries of pleasure. As I climb to my peak, Caiden tenses and lets out a low noise that I don’t recognize as an earthly sound. But it’s sexy as hell as it reverberates through my body, and I find I’m crying out along with him.
