by Rena Marks
Anita looked at her. “Ask the others.”
All eyes settled on Marcie, because she had the largest man of the lot. “I don’t feel comfortable revealing my sex life…”
“Bitch, please,” Anita snapped. “We all hooked up with these guys for a reason. After Diamond sampled Kresna’s charms, we all jumped in thighs-wide.”
“Well, yes,” Marcie admitted. “But who could resist? Bajoc was the biggest and baddest. That scar across his face. The horns. And he makes the cutest silver babies.”
“She is cute,” Anita said. “I have to admit, she does look like a dandelion. Kriekjan got it right.”
The front door to the ship opened, and Kriekjan himself walked in, a baby sling strapped to him with a large bulge inside.
“Pariah, my dear. Is everything all right?”
“Of course!” she snapped. “Don’t be so smothering, Lennard.”
He was instantly contrite. “I’m sorry, my chickapea. Lara’s nutling is still a bit hungry, and I volunteered to bring him to her, just to catch a quick glimpse of you. I didn’t mean to invade your space.”
Technically, it was Pariah and the Puritans invading his space, his ship, his everything, but he didn’t seem to catch on to the fact.
“I know, Lennard. You mean well. You’ve just never had an elusive bird like me slip through your fingers.”
“No, my delicate bug. I’m trying hard to catch you.” He gave her a big wink.
“I will not be caged, Lennard. No matter how gilded the bars. He who cageth the bird eateth feathers for the week.” Her voice deepened for the last sentence, “for the bird shall surely die.”
He looked stricken. “Die? My dear?”
“Die, Lennard. Die from being caged.”
Lara moved to the Supreme Commander’s side. “Let’s let the girls finish with the ball preparations. I’ll just get Hagan from you.” She ushered a stunned Kriekjan out of the room, winking at Marcie to continue.
“Well, ladies, why don’t you all change back into your own clothes?” Marcie said. “Pariah, Anita and I will set up the conference room. We’ll go over a few educational pointers you may need to know.”
The Puritans nodded, but didn’t seem to be in a hurry to change. Instead, they flitted back and forth, giggling as the gowns swished together.
Marcie, Anita and Pariah made their way into the sleek conference room of the commander’s ship. It was all smooth metal and shiny glass, with cool technology like a 3D projector for holograms. Definitely a step up from their Helian Six ship.
Pariah sighed deeply.
“Are you all right?” Marcie asked.
“Of course. I simply must keep him at bay. What better way to hold a man’s interest?”
Marcie was somewhat bewildered. “Are you interested?”
“I am now.”
“Now?”
“Now that I know what Lennard holds within his package.”
Oh, eek. “Of course,” Marcie murmured. “So you’re being rude to keep him at bay? So he’ll stay interested?”
“Men love the chase,” Pariah said. “As soon as you’re snagged, blam. Fun’s over.”
“Do you intend to keep him chasing forever?”
“Why not?”
Marcie wasn’t quite sure how that was going to work, so she pulled a small laptop from a drawer and began to research pictures of sexual toys. Since they were far from Earth, quite a few foreign contraptions popped up. She began saving the simpler images for the hologram to display on a 3D spinning display for the others. Jannie, Lisette, and Anita came in, followed by Lara, who sat down to nurse Hagan.
“Is he gone?” Marcie asked her.
Lara winced. “He left a bit broken-hearted. Pariah has him wrapped around her finger. He’s terribly worried about insulting the Madonna of the Puritans. It’s like you’re the supreme goddess,” she said to Pariah.
“Why are the girls called Puritans?” Anita asked suddenly.
Pariah sighed. “We are to remain pure. Pure-i-tans. When we are ready, we will be married to the highest officials of the planet. We’ve been groomed for this moment since birth.”
“Wow, that sounds like such an honor,” Anita snickered, rolling her eyes.
Marcie gave her a sharp glance. Anita cleared her throat and spoke again. “I mean, so not every woman gets to be one?”
“Not at all. It is of the highest honor. The first to be married will be Wilma Ann, as she had the unibrow before all the others.”
“Uh, which official will she get?”
“Each lady aims for the highest, of course. If that official doesn’t look her way, she’ll attempt her wiles on the next. And so on and so forth.”
Lara rocked Hagan in place, rubbing his little bottom through the baby sling. He let out an enormous burp.
“Just like his daddy,” Anita said.
Again, Marcie gave her the eye, and Anita shrugged innocently.
Suddenly Marcie squealed. She’d picked up on an image of Titi and Reese playing in the schoolyard from the laptop thingy that belonged to Kriekjan. She managed to cut and paste the image to put onto the hologram that rose from the center of the table, and then added movement so it appeared real.
“Ta da,” she announced. “Figured it out. I rock.” She did a little shimmy, and turned in place in a circle, spirit fingers waggling.
“You’ll have to forgive them,” Jannie said. “The ones who gave birth are still battling their hormone levels.”
Marcie blinked. She’d heard others say they were hormonal, but she didn’t quite see it.
“The other four ladies are nowhere near ready,” Pariah said. “I’m afraid…if they don’t reach sexual maturity soon, they’ll be deemed failures and put to death in order to wait for the next batch.”
That stopped the in-fighting among the humans.
“Death?” Anita squealed. “Are you fucking kidding me? How medieval is that? Ladies, we can’t let that happen.”
She was elbowed when the two frozen children looked up from the hologram as if they could hear her curses. “That’s a tad creepy,” Anita said, referring to the hologram, but the robotic image of the children simply continued to play in slow motion.
Pariah continued on. “That’s why I’m so hard on the chits. Wilma, too.”
“The sexual maturity is when they gain the unibrow?” Lara asked, staring at Titi and Reese thoughtfully, and the matching brow they sported.
Pariah nodded again.
“We can’t fake a unibrow,” Marcie gasped, knowing where Lara’s mind was headed. “Eventually that sucker has to come off.”
“It could buy us some time. They could gain the growth here, and hopefully when it falls off, it’ll be replaced by new, natural growth underneath. Or they could say it was a false growth caused by the undetermined Hespriian atmosphere.”
“Especially if we train them in the art of seduction,” Jannie said. She winked at Pariah. “It’s how I got my man. I churned butter, and Chautles was all over me for it.” She mimicked twisting her hips and holding out her arm to churn simultaneously.
“I had two men fighting over me,” Lisette bragged.
“It’s a better plan than we have right now,” Pariah said.
“Here comes another picture,” Marcie said.
The image of Reese and Titi disappeared, replaced by their men as they consoled Kriekjan in the yard.
“That’s better,” Lara said. “I can’t imagine giving a sex talk with the image of Reese and Titi watching. It’s much easier on the eyes to stare at our guys.”
The guys paused, and looked around confused. Marcie and the group hushed suddenly, afraid they could listen. They knew they were being a bit paranoid, but they couldn’t help it.
Then Kriekjan said something else, and the rest of the men huddled in again.
“We’re good. They were just consoling him.” Marcie left the hologram on that channel.
“Whew. It was weird, like they could hear us.�
��
“Nah. Just a coincidence. It’s just a still picture, with slow digital movement to make it appear as though they’re really there.” Marcie turned toward Pariah. “It’s not taken in real time. They’re an image collection Kriekjan already had. We’re just a little paranoid because a while ago, the guys had downloaded our language without us knowing. They used it to spy on us.”
All head swiveled again to the Freijians, but the men were still simply huddled.
“That’s so sweet the way they’re consoling Lennard,” Pariah said after a while.
The men huddled even closer to him.
“Maybe this thing kind of predicts what we want,” Marcie said. She shrugged, and turned back to Pariah. “What about you?” Marcie asked, phrasing the next part of her sentence delicately. “I mean, your brow looks much more mature than Wilma’s. Why haven’t you picked a man?”
“I’ve dedicated my life to walking with the Lord. I will look after and train every group of Puritans at the sacrifice of my own marriage.” She winked, the single movement looking rather owlish. “That and the fact that this sexual body cannot be contained for any one man for any length of time.”
“Ahh,” Marcie said, nodding. “Hence the six-year affair.”
“That was regrettable,” Pariah said. “I just could not contain the overwhelming lust. I am such a sexual creature—a Scorpio, you know—but I’m stronger now. It’s also a large part of the reason why we face a temporary banishment. The wife was a bitter shrew and her father is one of the judges of our planets.” She looked down at her feet. “I cannot let my Puritans suffer over my sins! I cannot let my people die,” she said dramatically, her arm sweeping dramatically. Then she leaned in. “So when I heard about this purple planet, and how the homely Earth women snagged some of the galaxy’s most eligible males, I thought something in the atmosphere of the planet would enforce the transition into maturity. But alas, nothing so far has happened.”
“Homely?” Lara started as Lisette elbowed her in the ribs. She cleared her throat instead. “I don’t think it was something in the purple mist that rises each morning on our planet. I think it was the fact that we Earthlings know how to snag our men.”
Pariah gasped, leaning in with an eager look. “You planned this? Will you teach us? Please. I am not too proud to beg when it comes to survival…the survival of my girls.”
“We’ll try,” Lara said, leaning in. “You say once the girls attain their unibrow by becoming…um…sexually aware, they’re ready for marriage? And the banishment will be over?”
Pariah nodded. “There are no guarantees that they’ll lift the banishment, but there’s no reason to shun perfectly raised Puritans. Men are men, after all.”
“I think we can handle that.”
“I would be most grateful,” Pariah said. “But let me warn you. Should my girls be harmed, there will be repercussions.”
She narrowed her eyes, and looked vicious as she threatened.
Chapter Six
Bajoc:
“Does anyone else hear a faint murmuring of the mates talking?”
The warriors that had been huddled around Supreme Commander Kriekjan immediately quieted. Sure enough, the voice of Lara was plain. “I can’t imagine giving a sex talk with the image of Reese and Titi watching. It’s much easier on the eyes to stare at our guys.”
“What the—?” Tristan growled.
“Shhh,” someone hushed. “They want to stare at us. Pay attention.”
“Where are they?” Dronan asked, looking around.
“They can see us,” Chautles said. “They’re watching from somewhere.”
“Oh, I know,” Supreme Commander Kriekjan said. “It is my camera. I have a drone that takes images for my hologram unit. I believe the delicate teachers are using it to teach. Perhaps they think they are still images, but instead have it on real-time? And Marcie seems to have left the microphones on.”
“Let’s stay quiet and listen to what is being said.” The men stepped in even closer.
“We’re good,” Marcie said, relief in her voice. “They’re just consoling him.”
“Whew. It was weird, like they could hear us.” The voice of the Quaker Madonna said.
“Quick,” Bajoc whispered. “Act like the Supreme Commander is sad.”
Several of the warriors wrapped arms around his neck, and those of each other. Kamau rubbed Kriekjan’s back, which made several raise their eyebrows at him.
He shrugged. “Women like a bit of touch,” he whispered. “I learned that early on.”
“Stand down,” Tristan snarled in a harsh whisper.
The interaction between those two made Bajoc curious, but then the women continued, and so he strained to listen to their words over the stench of the gathered men.
“Nah. Just a coincidence,” Marcie said next. “We’re a little paranoid because the guys had downloaded our language without us knowing to spy on us.”
“That’s so sweet the way they’re consoling Lennard in his time of need,” Pariah said.
“Told you,” Kamau whispered. “We’re consoling.”
Without having to say a word, the warriors huddled closer. Bajoc growled, as they were already so close they could smell each other. And whatever aftershave Kriekjan used was detestable. He believed it was manufactured from the piss of the Lintec.
“Shh. It’s working,” Dronan said. “This is just like the old days.”
“What happened in the old days?” Kriekjan whispered.
“We found the mates’ language—Heenglish—and downloaded it so we could understand them. But we didn’t dare implant them with a translation device without their permission.” Bajoc was proud of himself for remembering the story they’d stuck to in order to lie their way into promotions. “So we were only able to listen in. It was shocking, the things we learned.”
“So the entire time, you knew what they were saying?” Kriekjan said. “Damn, that was slick.”
“It’s why we have promotions,” Chautles grinned. “Always thinking ahead. Now, get sadder to string them along.”
Kriekjan hung his head. It was pathetic.
“So how in the world did you end up having an affair?” Anita asked.
Pariah answered. “Back when I started letting him fool beneath my skirts, I never knew he was being solicited by the then-mayor’s niece. The prestigious position went to him while I was banished. Pride goeth before a fall. The entire planet knew of my indiscretion and of Millie’s self-imposed hatred of me.”
“But now that you know about sex…Commander Kriekjan has been chasing you relentlessly. Why haven’t you just given in and done the dirty?”
“Well, I didn’t know what was beneath a Freijian’s belt until you all told me. But even then”—she sighed deeply—“a woman likes a bit of a rougher individual. He’s too agreeable. Too sensitive. Just once, I’d like someone to pull my hair from its bun. Slap my ass and make it tickle. Rip the bodice from my dress. Toss my skirts over my head and have a heyday. But alas, that’s not Lennard. No, Lennard is my gentle, meek little pet. I cannot round up the excitement unless he drags me around a bit. Caveman style.”
Kriekjan’s mouth dropped open. “My sweet dove,” he whispered, horrified. Kamau rubbed his back again, and Bajoc averted his eyes at the obscene sight. Tristan looked down at his boots. Something was fishy there.
The undeniable sound of footsteps clattered across the floor.
“Okay, ladies, have a seat,” Lara said.
“Hmm. I can’t get the internet to replace the guys and hook up the pictures of the toys to the hologram thingy. I’m going to have to just put them up on the main screen instead.” Marcie’s voice rang with disappointment. “If the guys come back, there’s going to be stuff blasted all over the walls.”
“Serves ‘em right for surprising us,” Anita said.
After a few minutes, a shocked Puritan’s voice rang out. “What is that thing?”
“Thank you for asking, de
ar sweet Molli.” Marcie giggled. “That, my dear Puritan sisters, is a dildo. The difference between dildos and vibrators is in the movement.”
“It’s not the color?” Beatrice giggled, and the others shushed her.
“No, both come in a variety of colors, though the preferred is black,” Lara said.
The voice of Anita could clearly be heard. “Most middle aged white women have an ongoing fantasy there,” she snickered.
Bajoc could see Tristan’s chest puff out. Seriously?
“We’ve learned to appreciate all shades of silver,” Marcie said. “The female vagina is quite adaptable to size, shape, and color. I’m sure you’ll find you’ll enjoy the Quaker, er, member.”
“Member?” Jannie snorted. “It’s a tallywhacker.”
“And if there’s not a whole lot to enjoy,” Anita said. “Voilà. Vibrators for a wild ride, dildos for quiet times.”
“But while we’re on the subject of the vagina, ladies,” Marcie said.
“What’s that word?” Kriekjan mouthed.
“It’s not a human dog, that’s for sure,” Tristan mumbled. “I learned what it was during the birthing of our young.”
“Shh,” Bajoc hissed.
Marcie was still speaking of the vagina. “It’s your secret garden, ladies. And what do we do with a garden? Take pride in it. We prune it, and make it lovely.”
“There are no wildflowers here,” Anita said.
“You mean…you take scissors there?” Molli’s voice was shocked. “Those delicate bits?”
“And more. Sometimes our secret garden needs tilled for the winter.”
“Tilled?” Joy’s voice was a soft squeak.
“Tilled,” Anita said firmly. “You’d be surprised at the difference. With bare skin, every touch, even a kiss of air is intensified as sensation is magnified.”
“I know what that is,” Kamau said. “Once Anita has allowed me—” He was immediately hushed.
“I believe males of any species prefer the natural, woolly look on the lady-garden,” Pariah argued. “What you young things do is your own business, of course. But should you wish to keep a man happy for life, well, give it to him the way the Lord gave it to us. Like the mane of the most glorious lion.”
