by Linda Mooney
“You can take it off, but it will never react to another person the way it did with you. If someone tried to take it away from you and resell the stones, the evadium would be worthless.”
“Do not take this wrong,” Diad added. “I do not intend to demean your worth, Merry, but why would a client spend what most species consider to be a fortune equal to several lifetimes, on a product on a—”
The ship literally shook, as if it had been hit with an enormous earthquake. Seconds later, the lounge dimmed, and a sound like cats squalling and screeching blared overhead. Meredith dropped to the floor in surprise as a few of the others shrieked in panic.
“Go to your room!” F’Orlo yelled, trying to be heard above the din. The ship jumped again, sending everyone and pillows temporarily flying. With the gravitational drive still operable, they landed hard.
Meredith hit the wall sideways, but found herself not too far from the doorway. Remaining on her knees, she hurried for the entrance, pushing aside pillows and other debris that had fallen in the way.
Loud buzzing sounds filled the corridor, and appeared to be getting closer. Grabbing the door frame, she managed to crawl into the narrow hallway and start for her cubicle.
The ship must have rolled. Still clinging to the floor, she felt her equilibrium somersault. Her stomach also did a three-sixty.
Crawling along wasn’t getting her anywhere. If she didn’t get to her room soon, no telling what else would happen to her. For once, she was glad her cubicle was small enough to prevent her from sustaining any major injuries if she was going to be tossed about, or in the event the ship lost gravity.
Jumping to her feet, she sprinted down the corridor. Racing around the corner at the first intersection, she was nearly hit by a beam of light that exploded into a rainbow of colors when it struck the wall. Her survival instincts ramped up several notches as she continued down the hall without looking back to see what had fired at her.
“Get her!”
The yell sent cold shivers down her back as she ducked and tried to evade being hit. The ship jiggled again, and she was hurtled against the ceiling. Gravity was gone, leaving her unable to run any further. Recalling what she’d seen astronauts do, she got her feet beneath her and launched herself from the ceiling, much like a swimmer into a pool. Another bolt of light sprayed above her head where she’d been seconds before.
She made it to the last intersection, and grabbed the corner to pull herself around. Her room was ten yards away. Close. Not much further!
Gravity was restored. The shot aimed at her missed by a mile.
She fell hard on her side, banging her head against the wall. Vaguely, she could see fuzzy figures running toward her. Something glinted. She was jerked sideways, and the shot struck the floor.
“Merry!”
“Pudrith?”
“Come! This way!”
The creature undulated over the wall, moving with a grace and speed Meredith would never have imagined the alien capable of doing. She found herself hard pressed to keep up. At some point, someone had turned off the howling cat alarm, and she said a prayer of thanks. Maybe she would be able to hear those things coming now.
Pudrith led her down a hallway, then turned and took another avenue. By this time, Meredith was completely lost, but the little creature continued as if it knew what it was doing. It paused momentarily in a tiny alcove, heaving for air. She bent over her knees as she labored to catch her breath.
“Where…are we…going?”
“To the big room.”
“Where?”
“Come! Hurry!”
Pudrith took off again. “Is it far?” Meredith called out, rushing to catch up. She could still hear weapons firing, but they sounded muffled and distant. For all she could guess, the ship was under attack, which left her to wonder if there was any safe place on board.
The alien disappeared around another corner. By the time she got there, the hallway was empty. Meredith slumped against the wall.
“Pudrith! Where’d you go?”
A doorway slid open inches away from her arm, and the alien reached out for her.
“In here!”
As soon as she nearly fell into the room, Meredith knew where she was. Over in the distance, cubes sat stacked in neat, orderly rows. And many of them were still filled with creatures.
“Come on!” The little creature grabbed her arm and jerked on it, leading her over to where the translucent cages were piled. At the sight of the cells, she halted.
“You want me to get back inside one of those things? Fuck no!”
“We must, Merry! They are safe. They will protect us!”
“I said no! Once those things are closed, I’ll be locked inside again, and that ain’t happening twice in my lifetime!” Meredith scanned the room. On the opposite side of the dome-shaped structure appeared to be more doorways. She pointed to them. “Where do those go? Do you know?”
Pudrith shook itself. “I am not familiar with that part of the ship. Please, Merry.” It tugged on her shift. “Save yourself.”
The ship shuddered again, this time more violently. Meredith went flying into the pile of cubes, which remained adhered firmly to the floor. However, the creatures inside were not as lucky, as they all were tossed about until many were left lying motionless. She searched the boxes for sign of the little alien, finally spotting it crawling inside an empty cell. As she’d suspected, the lid immediately slid shut, sealing Pudrith inside.
The hold was the worst place to be because of its vastness. Meredith could envision herself being thrown upward, toward the high, arched, dome ceiling. If that happened, the resulting fall would kill her.
“I gotta get out of here.”
She struggled to reach the doors at the other end of the room, but the first one she came to didn’t respond. Neither did the second one.
“Fuck!” She slammed a hand on the panel. Either she needed a code, or the doors sealed automatically in case of emergencies. That left her with just two choices, back through the door she’d come in, or…
Up.
Meredith scanned the catwalk circling the room. She couldn’t see any kind of a ladder, which meant access had to be behind the door. Frustrated, she screamed again and hit the door with the side of her fist.
She heard the telltale hum a second before the light struck the door. Automatically, she threw herself backwards and looked overhead to see what had fired at her.
The creature was humanoid and immense in size. What she could see past the dark gray uniform were the wide shoulders and powerful chest. The neck was so thick, it extended from beneath the pointed ears to the clavicle.
Pointed ears.
She froze in place. The alien also remained where he stood, a large silver tube held at his waist. He was a dark reddish-brown, nearly the same color as the walls in the pleasuring room. Jet black hair or fur swept down to his shoulders. His eyes were an indistinguishable hue at this distance, but the nose was wide and flat. Thick lips jutted above a square jaw, and a pair of glistening white tusks braced the bottom edges of his mouth. Meredith glanced back up at the thing’s face, but he was no longer staring at her. His wide-eyed gaze was directed downward, down at her…
Her hands clutched the jeweled waistlet, and a look of sheer joy came over the being’s countenance. Her heart leaped.
It’s him!
She started to lift her hand to wave at him when he raised the silver tube, aimed it directly at her, and fired.
Chapter Seventeen
His
Neeveer laid the woman across his bed, then stood to stare down at her. Now that he could see all of her, he silently rejoiced. Although she was not Alcatian, she was a dazzling beauty. Her musculature was well-toned and fleshed out. Her skin held a pale radiance that almost glowed in the cabin lights.
Reaching for her hair, he ran his fingers through the thick, dark tresses surrounding her face. She was of a species with body hair. That pleased him. It made her more
like him.
He let his gaze roam across her body. At the fullness of her breasts. Her round hips and thighs. Already he could feel himself tightening, wanting to have her again. To feel her envelope his thickness and bring him to shuddering completeness.
But not when she was unconscious. He needed to be patient until she awakened. He had to finally be able to look into her face, to meet her eyes to discover their true color. To watch her find her own release.
“Master.”
Straightening, he nodded to the Harubrek. “Keep watch over her. The moment she comes to, send word.” Reaching into the slit in the thigh of his uniform, he pulled out a sheer red piece of material he had saved from one of their encounters. He let it fall to the bed beside her. “After you notify me, request she wear this.”
The Harubrek bowed his pendulous head to show he understood.
“Wait outside,” Neeveer ordered. He knew he had to report to the navigation chamber, but he needed to remain a moment longer with her. With this incredible woman who had miraculously claimed his body and life.
The Harubrek melted outside to give him the privacy he craved, however brief this moment would be. Dropping to the side of the bed, Neeveer leaned over to dip his face against hers. To breathe in her breath. To marvel at her facial bone structure. To draw in her dizzying scent and hold it in his lungs.
He had found her. He had found her!
He wanted to run through the corridors and shout it to the heavens. He wanted to plaster the passing galaxies with the news. He wanted to announce it to every Alcatian on his home world.
See? I have found my seela! She exists! She exists, and I have found her! I have claimed her! She is mine!
But he knew he currently was restricted by his rank and orders. He could not rejoice with unbounded enthusiasm. He had to maintain decorum. He would have to keep that joy and blessing within himself until the proper time.
“Fine. I will accept those limitations until we are finally allowed to publicly proclaim the news. Until that time, I will celebrate within myself. And with you, my mysterious One. My seela. My life.”
Nuzzling the delicate ear, he reluctantly pulled away and stood. If he remained any longer, he doubted he would be able to keep himself from encroaching upon her unconscious body. How would she react to awakening to find him inside her?
I can not think on it. My duty is now my sole focus. My sole focus.
Until she awakens.
Chapter Eighteen
Meeting
Initially, she believed she was back in her room. Her dazed mind was aware of the deep hum vibrating through the ship’s walls, floor, and ceiling. Her pallet was unusually soft, but maybe that was because it had been cleaned.
When she opened her eyes, fear lashed through her with a vengeance. Giving a little cry, she scrambled backwards, away from the tall, lumbering being halfway hanging over her. The creature had one eye and a mouth full of spiked teeth. It also had several long, thin, nearly skeletal arms, two of which held out what looked like a square of maroon material.
“Do not fear me. I am Axol.” Its voice hissed in her head like a bad radio connection.
“What are you doing here?” A quick glance around confirmed her trepidation. This was not her bedroom, and she’d place odds it wasn’t the whoreship, either. “Where am I?”
“You are in the commander’s chambers. I was instructed to watch over you until you awoke. Here.” Axol held out a piece of reddish material to her. “The commander wishes for you to place this over your head before he comes to take his pleasure of you.”
It started to come back to her—the attack on the whoreship, Pudrith, seeking safety, the domed bay, and the huge alien standing on the catwalk. The humanoid with the pointed ears and tusks who shot her.
“Is your master an Alcatian?”
“Yes.”
“Are you an Alcatian?”
“No. I am Harubrek. I serve the commander.” Axol extended the material at arm’s length, letting it dangle over her lap. Meredith snatched it from its grasp but didn’t place it over her head as requested. Her lack of obedience seemed to bother the creature, which pressed its arms against its body.
“The commander is waiting.”
“Then tell him to come on in! I have a few questions to ask him.”
“He requests you wear the veil.”
She snorted. “All right, if that’s what it’s going to take to get him to come and talk to me.” Pulling the material over her head, she leveled it out. The edges hung almost to her thighs. As she’d also suspected, the fabric was sheer enough to allow her to see through it.
Axol appeared content with her action and left the room through an opening that didn’t open. Instead, it seemed to turn into a fine mist, which the creature went through, then re-solidified. After a few moments, the mist reappeared, and the immense humanoid she’d seen on the catwalk entered the room. He stopped once inside and stared at her. This time, Meredith was able to get a good, close look at her new abductor.
First off, he had to be close to seven feet tall. Fortunately, she noted the ceiling was higher. He looked human enough to pass off as some guy in a Halloween costume, but that is where all similarities ended. She took stock of the main details—the two legs, the big bulge between them, the small waist, the wide chest, and two arms.
Wait. Two arms? Not three? Then how the hell did he manage to do what he did to me?
Give yourself a little time, Merry, and you might find out.
She glanced again at the man’s face. Foregoing the tusks, he wasn’t bad looking, and could almost pass as appearing vaguely human. But she also had to admit, the rest of him was definitely droolworthy.
His gaze remained on the waistlet circling her body. Taking a couple of steps toward the bed, he paused again.
“I am Magia Neeveer Arn Vees Tubor.”
“And I am pissed.” She pointed to the fabric. “Why am I wearing this, when we already know what we look like?” Snatching it off her head, Meredith glared at him. “You kidnapped me!”
The creature scowled. “I made an offer for you. They refused.”
“So that gives you the right to just take what you want?”
“You are mine by right. You are my seela.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I claimed you. I also left full recompense.”
His remark surprised her. “You what?”
“I left behind payment. Twice what I originally offered.”
“Why?”
Instead of answering her, he began to shuck the gray covering on his body, which she now suspected was his uniform, starting at the top. He was all hard muscle, covered in reddish-brown skin that glistened as he moved. Both arms were thickly corded, extending down to hands that had four fingers and a thumb. His chest and shoulders were nearly as wide as she was tall, and he bore a rippling eight pack abdomen. She had been correct to note he had no nipples, which made her wonder how he knew to suckle on hers.
His waist was narrow, and he had no belly button, which also surprised her. Her eyes widened further when he shoved the outfit over his hips, revealing his pelvic area. As far as she could tell, he had only one scrotum sac. His penis was what she considered to be of average size and girth. Nothing new or frightening about it. Except for the tiny bit of muscle lying on top of his dick, his anatomy was flawless.
He kicked the garment aside with wide, flat feet bearing four toes, and advanced toward the bed. Meredith hurried to press herself against the wall at the head. The alien paused.
“Are you rejecting me?” he asked.
It was difficult to tell from his tone or facial expression if he was mad or saddened. Meredith locked her eyes on the thing’s genitals.
Remember how he made you feel, Merry. Remember how they were the best fucks you’d ever had in your life. Remember how he kissed you with such tenderness. And he called you, “My one.”
She looked back up into his face, forgetting the tus
ks rising from his lower jaw, and stared into his dark eyes. “I’m not rejecting you. I just need a little time to get used to this new situation.”
“How much time?”
Meredith involuntarily gasped as a movement caught her attention. She glanced downward to see what she’d thought was an already extended erection beginning to thicken even further. Plus, the little muscle just above the root squirmed ever so slightly. The truth hit her like a two-by-four to the back of the head.
It wasn’t a hand or his fingers playing with my clit. It was that thing!
Oh, but remember the orgasm it brought you, the little voice whispered.
The realization shot through her, landing in her innermost core with a cream-inducing jolt. She’d seen vibrators much like his dick. Fat dildos with a small clit extension hanging above it, sometimes shaped like a little rabbit or tongue. Although she’d never used one of those types of battery operated boyfriends, she did have close friends who swore by them. They even promised she would have…
The best orgasm I’d ever experience in my life.
She started to answer him, when he turned and started for the door. “Wait. Wait a minute.”
He looked back at her.
“What did you say your name was? Magia?”
“Those close to me call me Neeveer.”
“Neeveer, I’m Meredith. My close friends call me Merry.”
“Mer-ree.”
“Am I a prisoner here?”
“No. You may go anywhere you wish. I have left orders you are to be allowed access to all parts of the ship.”
“Like this?” She gestured to her nude body, using her left hand. Immediately, her eyes locked onto her bare wrist. The neon pink cuff was gone, leaving only faint pink ring on her skin to show it had ever been there. She looked up to see his eyes rake over her, and she would swear she saw the glint of hunger burning in his eyes.
