“Body regulatory implants?” What. The. Hell.
Doctor Surnen turned a slightly darker shade of gold and I wondered if he was blushing? Seriously? Had he never seen a girl before? What, exactly, had they done to me before I woke?
“Microscopic implants have been inserted into all excretory cavities. They will be in constant communication with our system and eliminate all body waste as it is created via transport. All matter is collected and reassigned in our Spontaneous Matter Generators. We call them S-Gen units. I’m sure your mates will show you how to use them once you are in your quarters.”
Speechless. That was the only word I had. Had he just said what I thought he said? “So, I never have to empty my bowel or bladder again? Ever?”
The doctor nodded, his shoulders slumping in obvious relief that I’d understood. “Correct. So long as you remain within transmission distance of our systems, here, on the Colony, on Prillon Prime, or in one of our battleship groups.”
I didn’t know what to think. As a scientist, I was impressed. The technology he referenced was so far advanced from what could be done on Earth that my mind was thinking of that and not the ick factor I should consider.
But that thought fled my mind when the doctor traded implements and said, “Lie back, put your feet on the edge of the table and part your legs.”
He held up an object that looked like a dildo with a couple of things sticking off. I had a B.O.B, a battery operated boyfriend, in my bedside drawer. What single woman didn’t? That didn’t mean I wanted to have one used on me under the guise of medical science. With a lover, sure. If Maxim or Ryston had said the same command, I might have actually done their bidding just to see what kind of kinky fun might happen next, but not with the damn doctor.
I did exactly the opposite, squeezing my knees together. “I don’t think so.”
The doctor repeated his words.
“From your testing, you probably discovered that my hearing and brain function is fine,” I countered. “The answer is still no.”
His lips thinned into a line and he glanced at Maxim and Ryston.
“They may be my mates, but they don’t have any say. My body, my choice.”
“Is that Earth terminology?” he countered.
“Explain to me, in Prillon terminology, why you need to stick that probe in me.”
“The sensors will help determine that your nervous system is functioning at optimal levels and that you are healthy and fertile for breeding.”
My mouth fell open and I realized he was being serious. Actually, I realized the man—no, the Prillon—was always serious. So I glanced at Maxim and Ryston, who remained silent.
“I’m a scientist. I have a PhD. I am not naive enough to think that my vagina is where you test a human’s nervous system. As for the rest, no fucking way.”
I hopped off the table, tugged the blanket around me.
“Rachel—”
“Breed?” That word made me see red and I whirled around on my mates. “I’m not a dog and this isn’t a puppy mill.” I saw red, literally, swaying for a moment as I was sure my blood pressure spiked. “No. Take me back. I’m not playing this game with you. With any of you.”
When the men frowned in obvious confusion, I continued. “I’ll explain myself in terms you might understand. At the bride testing center you were worried about your contaminated flesh making you deficient in my eyes. And now you want to test me for fertility? What if I’m not fertile? What if I can’t have a baby? Will you find me deficient? Lacking? I thought we were matched because we were perfect for each other. Not based on whether or not I could get pregnant.”
“You will let your mate speak to you this way?” the doctor asked Maxim. His voice was harsh and held some surprise.
These guys needed a swift kick in the balls. Seriously. This place needed more women to bring them into some semblance of the 21st century. “And I thought you guys were an advanced race. What a joke.” I walked toward what I assumed was a door. It looked like a door, a big, gray sliding door that I hoped would open when I got close. I’d find my way back to the stupid transport room and chalk this up to a stupid, naïve moment of weakness.
I was thirty-two, not twenty-two. I knew better than to believe in fairy tales.
The door didn’t open and I gathered my will to demand to be released. I turned to find Maxim watching me intently. The doctor mumbled under his breath, but I didn’t want nor care to know what he said. Ryston stood by, waiting.
God, what kind of planet was this? People weren’t allowed to speak up for themselves? If the answer was no and I’d done something horribly wrong within five minutes of arrival, what was he going to do about it?
“Yes, my mate will always be free to speak her mind to me,” Maxim finally said. “And she’s right.”
I exhaled, not realizing I had been holding my breath.
“You can’t be serious,” the doctor countered. “The testing is a requirement of all Prillon—”
Maxim lifted his hand to silence him. “I’m aware of the testing requirements, but my mate is also correct. I don’t care if she’s fertile or not. It’s irrelevant.”
“But that was part of the reasoning for accepting mates from the Brides Program, to start families on the Colony. To grow.”
This wasn’t Noah’s ark, for God’s sake, but I doubted they knew that story and doubted they’d be happy to hear it. I was just glad Maxim was agreeing with me.
“It is not her sole responsibility to populate the Colony’s future generations, Doctor Surnen. Remember, the bond Ryston and I share with Rachel is stronger than regular Prillon mates. We have the collars and the bond that brings, but we also were matched by the Interstellar Brides Program’s matching protocol. We are doubly suited. I will not reject her, regardless of the results of your tests. Therefore, the testing is no longer necessary. She’s ours.”
The corner of his mouth tipped up as he held out his hand. I looked at it, so big, the fingers blunt and long, then walked over and took it. His touch was surprisingly gentle for one of his size. All at once I felt his emotions, his power, roiling through him. He was angry, whether at the doctor for his meddling, or for another reason, I had no idea. I could only hope he wasn’t angry with me.
“As governor, you need to lead by example,” the doctor added.
“Yes, I do. But finding mates through the Brides Program is unprecedented.”
“The very reason to ensure she is well.” The doctor was like a dog with a bone. Did he want to shove something in my vagina that badly?
Maxim reached out, took the probe thing from the doctor’s hands and tossed it to Ryston.
“Thank you for your professional opinions on this matter. We will see to our mate. Privately. If we’re going to put something in her pussy, it’s not going to be a probe.”
Oh. My. God. The combination of Maxim’s command and his blatant innuendo had me dripping in eagerness for him. I imagined exactly what he was going to probe me with. Then I glanced at Ryston and imagined his probe. I gulped, then again when Ryston studied the medical device and placed it on the exam table before moving to stand beside me. I was flanked by two big, very serious Prillon warriors who said I belonged to them.
The doctor nodded once. “As you wish, Governor. May I offer you the ATB? That is standard protocol for all new Prillon brides, and is meant to ensure her comfort and pleasure. She will experience extreme discomfort if not properly prepared for the claiming ceremony.”
Properly prepared? What the hell was this doctor talking about? I had no idea, but Maxim nodded and the doctor went to a cabinet to retrieve a small metal box. The ATB was about the size of a lunchbox, although without a handle.
Ryston stepped forward to take it as Maxim led me to the door, which slid open with a whooshing sound for him, just like in the sci-fi movies. What, was I not tall enough to activate the sensor or something? I searched the wall for a sensor, but could find nothing before Maxim led me into the corridor.
“Doctor,” Maxim called over his shoulder.
“Yes, Governor,” he replied.
“The she you are referring to is my mate. She is Lady Rone to you.”
“Yes, Governor,” he repeated, this time a little more contrite.
Maxim’s satisfaction coursed through my veins, which distracted me temporarily from my situation. I stalled, making Maxim tug on my hand before he, too, stopped.
“I do not know where we are going and I am walking around with just a blanket.” While I didn’t mind him stripping it from me, I wasn’t keen on that happening in this strange white-and-green hallway.
I felt his annoyance through our joined hands.
“If you are so frustrated and angry with me, then perhaps you would be happier with a new mate.”
Maxim looked down at our interlocked fingers. I felt Ryston’s satisfaction through our connection. How could he be so content with the situation and Maxim so disappointed in me at the same time?
“Ah, I see,” Maxim said, his voice losing all the harsh edges. For once, it was soft and smooth, quiet even.
“See what?” I asked, a snap in my voice.
“The collars share our feelings too well, don’t they?” Maxim asked, stroking his knuckles down my cheek, then sliding back and forth over the damn collar. I felt that, not just against my skin, but through my emotions. Maxim’s anger and rising lust. Ryston’s longing and envy at his touch.
“Our bond, the connection between us, is very intense. It will take some time, but you will begin to filter our emotions. For now, know I am not angry or frustrated with you, mate. I am angry at the doctor’s strict adherence to the rules. I am angry at myself for being a hypocrite. I am also upset with myself for not taking care of you and your basic needs, such as providing you with clothing and comfort. Ryston.”
He only said his second’s name, nothing more, and the man went ahead of us down the hall and around a corner out of sight.
Maxim stared down into my eyes, his sincerity and desire to make me happy coming through the collar loud and clear. “Being a mate is new to me. I am sorry for my shortcomings. Ryston will have clothes ready for you in our suite of rooms. In the meantime—”
He picked me up into his arms and carried me down the hall. I gripped his shoulders, afraid of falling, but I shouldn’t have bothered. I felt dwarfed in his hold, his firm embrace. He wasn’t going to let me fall. He wasn’t going to let anything happen to me. I sensed it in him. When I relaxed, I knew he sensed my trust and pleasure at his care as easily as I had sensed his frustration moments ago.
“In the meantime, I’m to roam the base naked?”
Maxim looked down at me with his dark eyes as he continued to walk. “While you can sense my feelings, do not doubt that I can sense yours. Arousal is pulsing from your collar to mine, and Ryston’s. Because of this, I feel I can be bold. You will remain naked when you are in bed with me.” Something shifted in his gaze and I felt a burst of heat, of longing through the collar. Yes, he was aroused too. I gasped at the quick flare, my clit pulsing. “Or against the wall, lying on the table with your legs spread wide, on your knees before me. Between me and Ryston. How would you like to be taken?”
His voice shifted from dark command to rough need. Images of being between the two warriors made my nipples harden and my pussy grow wet. I wanted that. It made no sense. These two were strangers from a strange planet and yet I wanted them with a fierceness I’d never known before. Oh yes, I wanted them, and based on the desire coming from my mate, I’d have them. Soon.
***
Maxim
Rachel was light as air in my arms, yet heat coursed through me everywhere our bodies touched. How something as soft and fragile as this female could hold such strength, implacable will, was a wonder I wasn’t not sure I would ever understand.
Yet, when she rested her head against my shoulder and relaxed in my arms, I felt like a conqueror of worlds.
The collars we all wore linked us together with an intimate telepathic bond I had heard about but could not have imagined. Such strong emotions coursed through me, and not just my own. My mate’s. Ryston’s. Their reactions to my feelings created a loop that rubbed me raw and made me vulnerable in a way I hadn’t felt since I was a very young boy.
Rachel rested against me and I hurried my pace through the long, empty corridors. The dark green striping along the base of the wall and in the center of the floor gave way to a dark orange and that faded to a subtle cream once we reached the living quarters of the base. The suite of rooms I now entered was new to all three of us. Prior to my mating, I’d lived in a small, two-room area above Base 3’s command center so I could be close to the action if the need arose.
But now I was grateful for the much larger living area. When the door slid open and I carried my mate inside for the first time, contentment settled over me. I set Rachel down on her feet and let her wander around the room, exploring the space.
Our new home. For the first time since I’d been banished to the Colony, I felt like I had a home. A family.
Her gaze flicked to mine, once, then again. Could she sense my feelings through her collar? The soft smile that she gave me as she glanced at me over her shoulder after peeking into the bedroom said she could. It was reassuring to know that she could understand me—as much as anyone could a governor of a banished group of warriors.
Rachel’s hand smoothed over the back of a large brown sofa. There were two in the room, settled facing one another. A workspace and chair was set against the wall just below the comm screen that was nearly as tall as my bride. In the far corner of the room, the S-Gen unit sat, waiting to answer my mate’s every command, to create anything she desired. And if she wanted something that had not been programmed into our system, I would find a way to get it for her.
Anything. I would give her anything.
A small dining area was off to the side, but most took their meals in the common rooms and cafeterias, meals often the only time many interacted with others during their workday. And the Colony warriors did work. We ran some of the deepest, most dangerous mines in the solar system. We monitored Hive activity and fed intel on all member worlds back to Prillon. We were analysts and builders, programmers and battle-hardened commanders. We planned battle strategy and monitored the front lines for shifts in Hive strategy. And we had every scientist, doctor and engineer on the planet working on a way to get rid of the implants that scarred us. That made us unfit. That denied us brides. Families. Lives outside this forsaken world.
But now, with my mate walking around our new home with curious eyes, everything inside me shifted.
When I first put the collar on when I heard I’d been officially matched, I’d felt no change. Only the physical symbol of a match occurring was heavy about my neck. When Ryston donned his, I sensed his pride in being my second, at the collar’s confirmation and permanence of the decision. He was eager to meet our mate as well. I’d been able to filter his feelings and emotions from mine. They weren’t a heavy burden to carry along with my own. Perhaps it was because we were both male, or that we were warriors together, or even that we were Prillon. A similar history, a similar sense of tradition, rules and custom.
When Rachel affixed the collar about her neck in the processing center on Earth, accepting both of us as her matched mates, was something else entirely. It was as if I was being held down by the Hive, my emotions, my feelings, hell, my brain being tugged and pulled on.
The sensation of absorbing a mate’s wants and desires, her fears and disappointments was powerful and had my cock turning rock hard in an instant. The need to sink balls deep into her had been immediate and intense.
But that had been dampened when every bit of her frustration at her incarceration, her innocence and her need to prove it hit me next. That was followed by her indecisiveness of becoming our mate and leaving Earth.
What the fuck? I’d known she had refused the match, but she’d been in a prison, with bars. No freedom. I would save her from that as I’d saved Ryston and others from the Hive’s captivity.
It was all there, her emotions and anger, in my head, bombarding me and knocking on my defenses.
As governor, I was responsible for a large group of men, or rejects, on the Colony. They weren’t easy to rule, to organize into a peaceful society. Who could blame them for their defiance after what they’d been through? What we’d all been through? I’d built walls to keep my personal opinions at bay in order to rule without bias and to remain mindful of what was best for all.
Now? Hell, now I wanted to track down those who’d framed Rachel on Earth and rip their heads off. They were mere earthlings. It would be an easy task to eliminate any who made her feel…feel anything but joy.
But I hadn’t considered that my feelings would bombard her. I hadn’t considered that my own anger and frustration would be oppressive for her, or that she would misconstrue it as directed at her. Even if I hid my feelings to all that looked at me, she would know the truth beneath the façade. She would sense it. Feel it all as strongly as me.
And Ryston’s emotions as well. He was as much a warrior as I, therefore she had to handle both of us. How she wasn’t curled up in a ball on the floor with all the intensity hammering at her, I didn’t know.
She was not weak-willed. No, she was strong. Brave. Defiant. Beautiful.
I’d known the second I saw her behind those fucking prison bars that she was mine. I’d traveled ten light years for her and a row of weak metal bars was not going to keep me from her. While she had mere human strength, Ryston and I weren’t just Prillon warriors, but altered ones. We had the power of a Prillon plus the technology of the Hive. The bars were like twigs beneath our muscles.
But Rachel? She didn’t break under our intense scrutiny, the condemnation of her justice system, even the fucking Prillon doctor. She had a spine of Hive steel to match her gorgeous dark hair and pale skin. The top of her head just reached my shoulder, yet she had lush, full-figured curves that were perfect for mine and Ryston’s large hands. I’d met Prince Nial’s Earth mate, Jessica, before and knew of their physical characteristics. I was not surprised at her coloring and how it differed so drastically from mine. I was surprised, however, by my attraction.
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