Contents
Title Page
About This Book
Copyright
Prologue
1 - Jenna
2 - Biast
3 - Jenna
4- Jenna
5 - Biast
6 - Jenna
7 - Jenna
8 - Biast
9 - Jenna
10 - Jenna
11 - Biast
12 - Jenna
13 - Jenna
14 - Biast
15 - Jenna
16 - Jenna
Afterword
Sneak Peek - Dragon's Baby
Full Copyright
Join Miranda Martin's Sexy Aliens List
Ribbed for Her Pleasure
Celestial Mates Agency
MIRANDA MARTIN
Hi! I'm Miranda Martin, and I wrote the book you are about to read. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. It's set in a shared universe with several of my author friends but this story also ties into my Red Planet Dragons of Tajss series. It takes place before the events of that series (if you've read them and wonder). I hope you enjoy it.
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Copyright © 2016 Miranda Martin
All rights reserved.
PROLOGUE
CHERUB
"Portal, find mate," I order the vision portal on my desk.
It swirls and spins, searching the galaxy for the perfect match. While it works I reach over to the time viewer and replay the scene I've been watching. Futures are never set, mutable things, changeable by the smallest of actions.
"Load former time arc," I order and it flashes then loads a scene.
I watch it through once again. The track of an entire race as it slowly comes to an end, dying out.
"Go to the crux point."
The images flash going backwards rapidly then stop.
"Play."
A bright light flashes in the red sky and then debris is raining down. Touching the controls I speed through to the point I need.
"There, those two, they start it. They are the hope but it won't work." Frowning, I lean back, trying to think before speaking aloud to the vision portal. "Calculate odds, scenario sixty-two thousand four hundred forty-two."
It whirls and the images change. I move them forward a year and… there! It works! Damn if it isn't an illegal pairing but what choice do I have? If any superior Celestial Mates Agents find out they're going to be so pissed at me. However, if I don't make the match…
The door to my office bursts open just as the match springs up in the vision portal. Dara storms in. She's tall, blue, with light gray accenting her cheekbones. Her eyes, though, are a fiery red right now showing how righteously angry she is.
"You know you can't use that scenario," she yells. "It's against every regulation we have!"
"I know," I shrug. "What choice is there?"
"You can't do this. What if we all just start breaking the rules?"
"I know," I say again. "It would be chaos."
"Chaos is an understatement. They're not natively compatible. You'll have to manipulate their genetics."
I can't suppress my grin so I look at the ground, pretending to be abashed for having considered the option.
"I see," I feign agreement.
"It's an illegal pairing."
"Yes."
"So why?" she asks, her anger deflating.
That surprises me. I wasn't prepared for her to not be angry so I look up.
Her eyes widen and anger returns the moment she sees the truth."You've already done it!"
I try to stall, "Uh…"
Damn her insightfulness and empathy.
"Don't you lie to me. You know what I have to do now. That pairing is illegal in every possible way."
"Yeah, but…"
"No buts," she says, waving a finger in front of my face. "No, this is the last straw. You better have a damn good reason for this."
"Oh, I do!"
1 JENNA
"Cloud, you silly fluffball what are you doing?" I ask my cat who is stepping back and forth while bobbing his head.
He lifts his furry white head up then back down before looking at me and meowing. I grab my iPhone from my pocket and snap pictures of him. Instagram can't get enough Cloud cuteness. He resumes stepping once to the left, once to the right then raises his head back and meows.
"Are you dancing Cloud?" I ask him. "You're so cute, are you dancing with me?"
I mimic his moves stepping in time with him which seems to make him happy. He tires of the game quickly though so I plop down in my over-sized, comfy chair. He crawls up in my lap and nuzzles me until I scratch behind his ears.
"Did you miss me Cloud?" I ask and he purrs in response. "Awww, I missed you too."
Gamecon was fun, I suppose. Well, I'll tell all my social media followers it was fun. Actually it was hectic, stressful, and full of people who wanted me to be as funny in person as I am online. Those people I'm sure were disappointed. Making YouTube videos is easy, being social in real-life is an entirely different situation. When someone is really there and wants to talk to me directly my mind goes blank, my mouth dry, and my palms sweat. I have no idea what to say or do. The best ones are those who just ask to snap a photo. I can do that. No talking needed thank-you-very-much.
"Why is it, Cloud, that I can talk to you but not real people? I talk to them in videos all the time but if I meet them in person? Totally screwed. Maybe I should talk about that? No? Too real? Yeah, I agree."
Cloud extends his claws and works at my leg until he's comfortable then lays his head back down.
"You love me don't you Cloud?" I ask.
He jumps off my lap and darts towards my still open suitcase.
"Thanks Cloud!" I yell after him, then lay my head back and close my eyes.
I'm wiped. Gamecon was a six hour flight on top of only sleeping four hours the night before. I tried going to my room early on Saturday to get some sleep but I was so stressed I couldn't. Spent the entire time tossing and turning. Cloud makes an odd sound so I sit up to see what he's doing. He's pulled my eighteen-inch Minecraft ghast plushie out and is dragging it around by it's leg. Letting it go he stalks away from it swishing his long, white tail but I can see he has a plan so I grab my phone and start recording. This is definitely going on my Vlog channel.
"Hi hi guys!" I say, smiling into the camera. "So here we are and do I ever hope you're doing awesome!"
Facing the camera at Cloud I continue my monologue.
"So I just got home from GameCon, maybe I met you there? If so I hope it was great! I was so tired by the end it all became a bit of a blur. I really appreciate all of you though. You're the greatest! While I was there I did get out and do some shopping. Something I brought home was supposed to be for my bedroom but Cloud just found it. I think he likes it?"
While I'm talking and filming him Cloud has crouched down a few feet from the plush toy. His eyes are narrowed behind his massive mane of white fur and his tail is swishing confidently back and forth. He blurs into action leaping into the air and forward to land on the plush. As he hits it, the ghast moves and the electronics inside emit the iconic, high pitched squeal they make in-game. Cloud leaps straight into the air, all f
our legs sticking out to either side and his long hair makes him look like the white cloud I named him for. His legs scramble at the air while his head shakes side to side. He lands and scrambles back away from the plush darting behind the couch and disappearing. I'm laughing so hard I can't continue my monologue.
"Oh… Cloud," I laugh. "My poor kitty. He just got shook by a Minecraft Ghast!"
I turn the camera around and dab away my tears of laughter with a tissue.
"As I was saying, the Con was amazing. So many people were there and everyone was so wonderful. I really enjoyed myself. There are a ton of really great new games on the horizon that I'm really looking forward to checking out. A couple of them I got beta invites to so I'll be talking about those as soon as I get time to check them out."
Standing up I pan the camera to show my bags still sitting by the door.
"See? I haven't been home long enough to unpack! I wanted to update you guys on the Con as fast as possible. Now though, I have to say, I need to get some sleep."
I turn the camera back around.
"Were you at the Con? Did we meet? If so tweet me! Did we take a photo? Share it with me on Instagram or Twitter! I'll add you to my scrapbook! Okay folks, be well, play nice, and be awesome!"
I hit the stop button then walk over to the computer and set the phone down in the docking station. The video transfer starts automatically. While I'm waiting I open up my Twitter and look through the posts I'm behind on. I've been tagged a lot.
"Celestial Mates Challenge huh?" I muse, looking at the hash tags.
I enter the name into the search bar. An app site comes up so I scan through it. Romancing the Galaxy it says. Okay, well… interesting. I hit the button on my keyboard that shortcuts my camera to turn on.
"Okay, well having just come home from GameCon I've got an update video preparing mostly of Cloud but while it was uploading I was looking at Twitter. As a lot of you have let me know, my friend, Pinkyblue_78 challenged me to the 'Celestial Mates App' Challenge. So I'm looking at their website. This looks fishy but hey, a challenge is a challenge right?"
I hold up my phone in front of the camera and show that I've got the app installing.
"The app says it's Romancing the Galaxy. Well that sounds good I guess. Let me see, I'm looking at the rules of the challenge here. I have to install the app, fill out my profile, then hit submit. This will then tell me what alien I'm 'fated' mates with which I have to share with all two and half million of you."
I type quickly into Twitter while I'm waiting on the app to install.
About to do the #celestialmatesappchallenge! Wish me luck!
Responses flood in fast as soon as I hit enter. My speakers chime like mad.
"Okay guys, well a lot of you seem pretty excited about this. Do you really think I need an alien boyfriend? Is that what this is all about?"
Cloud jumps up on the desk next to me and sticks his nose straight into the camera.
"Cloud!" I exclaim, pushing him away.
"Okay it's installed now to open it up," I talk my way through the motions.
This is weird. I don't want an alien. A nice, normal guy who makes me laugh, that would be good. If I did meet my fated mate I wouldn't be able to be witty enough or say anything right anyway.
"Hmm, I have to put in my profile. Oh, that's nice it pulls straight off Facebook. Okay, linking my accounts. It's spinning," I say as the phone spins and flashes.
Something BAMFs behind me and I jump, spinning my chair around.
"Hello, hello, hello!"
A short man is standing on the back of my chair looking at me.
He's a dwarf, or a little person, or whatever- but he has wings! I mean they have to be fake, sure, but he has wings. He looks like a cross between a cherub and a troll doll. He's wearing a red robe tied at the waist with gold rope and a couple of bags hanging off of it. He smiles broadly and his eyes twinkle.
"What are you doing in my house?" I ask.
"Taking you to your mate of course!" he smiles broadly.
"My what?" I ask, rolling my chair back until it hits my desk.
"Oh, don't worry, you're going to love this!" He grins then flaps his wings and lifts into the air.
He flies across my office and towards my bedroom.
"What are you doing?" I ask, jumping to my feet and running after him.
He's in my bedroom! I should call the police or something. I reach for my phone but I left it on the dock on the desk and I hear him knocking things over in there. Screw it, I run in after him.
"Oh," he says, looking up from my bed in surprise.
He has my Link plushie in one hand and my Pikachu in the other.
"Who are you and what are you doing in here?" I ask, barely keeping myself from screaming.
"Oh, you're going to love this," he repeats with a grin, then he gestures towards me.
A spray of glitter flies through the air then everything flashes white.
2 BIAST
This is dumb. I mean this is really, really dumb.
Pushing aside my better judgment I continue to climb. No matter how stupid this is, the guys are going to laugh. That will make it worth it. There's not enough laughter in this crew. Everyone is so serious all the time. I don't know how they'd deal with the stress if not for me. I hear them below talking. Demyan is giving orders while Gavriil and Lyov jump to obey.
"Where in the stars is Biast?" Lyov asks.
"Who knows what he's up to now," Demyan grouses.
Just you wait, I think smiling. They're going to crack up at this.
Some gravel slides under my hand and I slip. Scrabbling I try to find a new handhold but there's nothing in reach. I'm about to fall, damn it!
"You hear that Lyov?" Gavriil asks below.
"What?" he asks.
"Aahhh!" I cry out as I fall off of the arch I was climbing.
I spread my wings hoping to catch a draft and avoid falling into the zemlja tunnel below. That would be really, really bad. As I fall, the rope I was dragging up along with me hooks my foot. Catching air with my wings I'm gliding to safety when the rope reaches the end of its length, jerking me backwards with a sudden snap. My head is rocked backwards and my spine cracks. I pull my wings closed but they're still bruised. I'm hanging upside down from the overreaching finger of stone that stretches across the cavern looking down into the deep hole left by the zemlja's passing. The huge, subterranean monster worms are the most dangerous thing on this planet.
"What the hell are you doing!" Demyan yells.
Gavriil and Lyov are laughing so hard their tails stand straight out. They double over holding their sides so I grin.
"Just hanging out boss," I say, making the best of the situation.
"You're a menace!" Demyan continues yelling at me but I don't care, the boys are laughing and that's all I wanted.
"Do you see… that…" Lyov gasps pointing up at me.
"How… did… he…?" Gavriil says between guffaws of laughter.
"Get the hell down from there right now," Demyan screams.
His tail shifts side to side and the scales around his eyes are darkening the madder he gets. Gavriil points at Demyan directing Lyov's attention and then they're both laughing harder. It's a long running game to see how many shades we can get Demyan to turn during a day's work.
"Sure thing boss," I reply, bending in half to look at the rope holding me up.
As I curl over to look I hear a snap. In that instant of realizing what's about to happen a dozen thoughts flash through my mind at the same time. Plans to escape the inevitable come and are rejected as fast as I can think. I'm screwed, there's no way around it.
"I said now Biast, quit screwing around! We have a quota to hit," Demyan yells.
"Uh boss," I manage to say before the rope snaps and I'm falling like a rock.
"Catch him!" Lyov or Gavriil yells, I'm falling too fast to distinguish their voices.
The black tunnel yawns below me coming up fast. I spread
my wings and they catch but the pain is blinding. The edges of my vision tint with gray. I'm losing consciousness. This is bad. Swinging my legs I tilt my wings and thrash my tail madly back and forth trying to turn my fall into a glide. I shout a wordless scream. A high pitch screech echoes from somewhere and it takes me a minute to realize that it's me. That's not cool so I add some words. If I'm going to die I want it to at least be funny.
"LET'S DO THIS!!!!!" I yell, which is a much more appropriate thing to scream when I'm about to be smashed.
I can see the boys talking about it at my aftermath. They'll have some drinks and tell the tale for years of how I yelled all the way to my doom. It's a good way to go.
A hot draft of wind comes down the cave and my wings find precious purchase. As they do my feet swing under me where they properly belong. Using my tail I steady myself and then I'm riding the gust backwards. The black maw of the tunnel below me drifts away and then I'm over the far side of it with solid ground below. Just because I can, I do a somersault as I land in a perfect three point touchdown.
Looking across the gaping tunnel at the boys I grin. They cheer, waving and spreading their wings wide.
"Biast! Biast! Biast!" they chant.
Rising up I take a bow.
"You stupid, ignorant, son of a motherless majmun!" Demyan screams. His scales are tinged black he's so pissed, which is a new record, meaning I win the pot for this month unless someone comes up with better.
"Yes sir," I reply. "My mother had no mother."
Demyan sputters unable to form words. He raises a fist as he stalks around the tunnel towards me and I'm fairly sure he's going to hit me, regulations be damned. I don't mind though. It was part of the risk I took to make the boys laugh. Gavriil and Lyov are sobering in the aftermath of my near-death experience gathering up tools and preparing to go to work.
"We have a quota due today and we're already behind but you decide to play games instead? What is wrong with you Biast? Why don't you take anything seriously?"
Ribbed For Her Pleasure: Scifi Alien Dragon Romance (Celestial Mates) Page 1
