Abducted

by Adera Orfanelli

  “Those are mani flowers, my lady,” the woman behind her whispered. “They are said to bestow joy and fertility where they grow.”

  “Interesting,” Jacey murmured. She followed Aidan to the stairs leading to the patio that ran the length of the palace.

  Aidan turned. With his hand on her shoulder, he gently led her up the stairs to stand by his side. He cupped her elbow, and Jacey tried to ignore the heat of his touch. His fingers, so long and sure, held her fast by his side. She looked out at the throng of people. Are these his subjects? He called them his household. I know so little about his world. The prospect scared her that she might have been kidnapped by a domineering lord. Sure, the people standing in front of her looked as if they wanted for nothing, but she didn’t know if it was a show put on for her benefit. On his ship it had been just the three of them. Returning to Earth seemed like a futile hope now, she realized, and she tried to abate the sorrow rising within her.

  “I present to you Jacey. Treat her well, for she will be your lady as I am your Lord.”

  A cheer went up from the assembled crowd. Jacey couldn’t help but notice that the people appeared to want Aidan happy.

  A man stepped forward. His thick dark hair fell unbound nearly to his waist, and he wore breeches of supple black leather. A matching vest covered his torso. Rippling muscles covered his arms and his abdomen. She turned then and saw Aidan’s expression harden. The hand at her elbow tightened into a nearly painful grip.

  “Who is that?” Jacey whispered.

  Aidan glanced from her to the man, then back again. “Someone I hope you never meet.”

  Jacey shivered at the inherent threat in Aidan’s words. Looking at the challenger’s imposing figure, she hoped she’d never meet him either.

  “Does she love you?” the man asked. His voice rose above the crowd.

  “She will.” Aidan’s certain words made the crowd cheer once more. He nodded once to those assembled, then turned on his heel and led Jacey into the palace.

  Just inside the door Jacey halted. The finality in his words hit her. He’d declared victory without consulting her. How did he even know if she was going to fall in love with him? The fact that she was halfway there only made her angrier. She yanked her arm away. Hands on her hips, she turned to face him.

  His high-handed tactics infuriated her. She was a stranger on this planet, far from her home. How dare he tell the crowd that she would grow to love him? If anyone asked in this moment, she had to admit she kind of hated him.

  “You bastard,” she growled.

  Aidan stepped back. His expression changed to confused, and Jacey forced herself to remember that he didn’t have feelings. He was a machine. Someone had programmed in his responses. He reached for her. “Come, I’ll show you to your rooms.”

  Jacey yanked her arm back. Overbalanced, she stumbled against the wall and glared at him. “The hell you will. You bring me to a strange world. Inform me that I have to dress like the natives, and then tell everyone that I’m going to fall in love with you. You don’t have the slightest idea what love is all about.” Her voice rose, but she didn’t care if the entire planet heard her. Balling her fists at her side, she struggled against the urge to slap him.

  “That is why we have Deactivation Day,” he said in a soft voice. He stepped forward and lightly brushed his fingers across her cheek. “I know this is an adjustment for you, but it will be all right. I promise.”

  “The only way you can make it all right is to take me back to Earth.”

  Aidan shook his head. “There are other ways.” Lightly, he stroked his thumb across her full lower lip.

  A shock of awareness rushed through Jacey, and she cursed her body for betraying her. I have nothing waiting for me on Earth. The traitorous thought rolled through her mind. She dipped her head, avoiding Aidan’s touch.

  “Please, Jacey.” His soft voice entreated her to listen, and she raised her gaze to look directly at him. Had he been human, she would have said pain filled his eyes. He wasn’t human. She had to remember that.

  “Please what?” I am not being unreasonable. Her mental words failed to reassure her. He should have asked me before making an announcement like that. An image of the man in the audience rose to her mind. Who was he? Why did he seem so antagonistic toward Aidan? Aidan’s answer only created more questions.

  “Please give me a chance.” He leaned forward and brushed his lips across hers. “Give us a chance.”

  Jacey sighed heavily. “I suppose,” she muttered. “I kind of have to, don’t I? It’s not like I can go home anytime soon.” She blinked away sudden pinpricks of tears.

  “Don’t cry, Jacey. I’ll do anything within my power to make you love BelaZed, and me.” Aidan offered his arm. “Why don’t I show you to your quarters? You can rest for a while, and then perhaps we’ll dine together and I can show you more of my world.”

  Jacey relented. The idea of sitting alone somewhere to gather her thoughts had appeal. She let Aidan lead her down the hallway, noticing the intricately woven tapestries covering the wall. The pale beige and pink stone looked almost like marble, and where beams of sunlight slanted across the floor, it sparkled. She swallowed hard, trying not to feel like a pauper who had just entered the prince’s castle. He’s a ruler. I sure as hell won’t get that on Earth. The thought did little to cheer her.

  After walking down long, twisting corridors, Aidan showed her to her rooms. The heavy oaken door swung open easily, and Jacey paused in awe at the first chamber. A hearth with an inviting-looking fur rug in front of it dominated the far wall. More beautiful weavings hung on the wall, and a long couch covered in plush brown fabric sat clustered with matching chairs around a low wooden table. Overhead, a crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling. A door led off to the right.

  “Through there is your bedroom and a bathing chamber.” He reached for a small gold-tasseled pull rope that hung not far from the door. “There is one of these in each room. Simply ring and your servants will bring you whatever you desire.” He pointed to a dainty silver filigree chain that hung next to the gold tassel. Crystals hung from the end, sending a rainbow of light cascading over the floor. “This one will ring in my chambers. You may summon me with it. I have a matching cord in mine.”

  “Can everyone summon you?” It seemed to Jacey that the idea of everyone in the palace calling for Aidan’s presence would be a horribly inefficient way to operate.

  Aidan laughed. The warm notes of his laughter flooded over Jacey. Spirals of awareness darted through her. She stood with him in her private chambers. Tantalizing glimpses of the bedroom beyond, the wooden footboard for the bed, another hearth with matching rug, shone through the open door.

  “No, this is the room for the woman who will eventually be my wife. Only you can command my presence.” He pulled the gold cord once, then leaned forward and brushed his lips across hers.

  Jacey stilled herself against his touch. The gentle pressure of Aidan’s lips on hers only reminded her of the tender way he had made love to her. Reaching up, she twined her arms around his neck and pressed closer to him. Her lips parted.

  Aidan deepened the kiss. His tongue stroked along hers. With hands on her hips, he pulled her against him. Through the thin fabric of their gowns, the length of his hard cock pressed against her, and Jacey clenched her hands at the back of his neck.

  Heat filled her. Aidan might be an alien, but he kissed like a god. The slide of his tongue against hers made her want him inside her. Her pussy grew damp with need.

  She pulled her lips away and drew in a shaky breath. Standing on tiptoe, she kissed him again, this time demanding that he service her needs. Her hands slid over his shoulders, along the line of his back, until she could clench his ass.

  Aidan’s moan reverberated through her body.

  “Oh!”

  A woman’s startled cry from behind them penetrated the haze of desire that filled Jacey’s mind. Reluctantly, she dragged her lips from his. Looking over Ai
dan’s shoulder, she saw a woman standing there. A light blue cloth was tied around her breasts, and she wore a loose, flowing skirt in the same sheer material.

  Jacey stepped away from Aidan. He followed her gaze and turned to see the serving woman standing behind him. “Please bring Jacey the companion’s garments.”

  With a brief nod, the woman scurried out the door.

  Aidan stepped forward. He cupped her cheek with his hand. “I am sorry to have to leave so soon, but I should see if any business arose during my absence. I will hurry back.” He brushed his thumb across her kiss-bruised lips, then turned and left.

  Jacey stood there, staring after Aidan as the serving woman entered again. She carried several garments over her arms, and, looking at them, Jacey found herself relieved that they weren’t the scarves worn by most of the staff.

  “Your clothing, my lady,” the woman said as she carried them into the bedroom. She emerged moments later. “Do you need further assistance?”

  “No, thank you,” Jacey replied as she accepted clothing from the servant.

  The woman gave a hasty bow, then left.

  Jacey walked into the bedroom, marveling at the opulent furnishings around her. A large four-poster bed dominated the room. A dresser sat off to one side, and next to it a vanity table complete with a mirror. She glimpsed the bathroom, a pink marble confection with a tub big enough in which to swim, through the open door. Her clothes hung in a closet, and she walked over to stand at the rainbow of jewel-toned dresses. Reaching out, she caressed the soft fabric with her fingers. The idea of having this slide over her skin sent shivers down her spine.

  She chose a midnight-blue gown, thankful to see that while it caressed her body like a lover, it was far more modest than the clothing worn by the servants. She saw no shoes, but on the vanity sat a small pile of jewelry. She chose a silver toe ring and an array of silver bracelets. Staring at herself in the mirror, she could hardly believe she was the same person that had run off the road just a few days ago. I look like a princess, she thought, and then chastised herself for her foolishness. She should be thinking about getting back to Earth, except she wanted to give BelaZed—give Aidan—a chance.

  The palace beckoned with its marble floors and beautiful tapestries. She wanted to see every inch of her prison, for although its bars might be gilded, as far as she was concerned it was a cage. Smoothing the fabric over her hips, she slipped her feet into soft house shoes before leaving her room.

  Jacey made special note of the tapestry on the wall beside her room, fixing it in her mind for a reference point. The weaving boasted a bare-chested man standing over his opponent. Along the bottom, she made out the word Dajarka, though Jacey had no idea what it meant.

  She started down the hall, noticing a large, ornately carved door. For a moment, she wondered if it was Aidan’s door. Low, throaty laughter came from inside, and she instantly recognized the husky notes as belonging to Aidan. A higher-pitched giggle followed. A child?

  Jacey paused. She curled her hand around the doorknob. Heart pounding, she turned it, then paused. What if she intruded? Aidan had told her he was going to work, and his laugh sounded too lighthearted for work. Surely he hadn’t lied to her.

  She pushed the door open.

  Aidan sat on a rug in front of the hearth, a pile of small furry creatures in his lap. Beside him stood a tall, slender blonde woman. Her silver scarves barely concealed her breasts, and the skirt gave ample view of the woman’s trim buttocks. A towheaded boy stood beside her, clearly the woman’s son. He giggled again as one of the furry creatures covered in gray tiger-striped fur lunged from the pile to lick Aidan’s chin.

  Aidan tipped his head back. His booming laugh filled the room. With gentle hands he picked up the four-legged animal. Its small ears swiveled toward the man holding it, and it made a small cry, almost like a meow. The creature turned its head and Jacey saw the pointed snout. It looked like a cross between a cat and a dog. The quivering mass of bodies made her think of a litter of puppies.

  Aidan swung the tiny creature above his head. The beast made a light growling noise, then shrieked. Instantly, he pulled it back to his chest, cuddling the animal. He made soothing noises and patted the creature on the head.

  He looked up. His eyes widened when he saw Jacey standing at the doorway. With a smile, he held out the wriggling gray body toward her. “Would you like to play with a furmarup?”

  “A furma-what?” Jacey asked. She stepped fully into the room and closed the door behind her. Some of the catlike creatures were crawling out of Aidan’s lap and she didn’t want any to escape.

  “A furmarup.”

  “They look like kittens with pointy noses to me,” Jacey replied. She strode toward the group, noticing Aidan’s gaze caressing every inch of her body. In the silken gown with no undergarments, she felt sexy. The fabric caressed her breasts, her nipples hardening against it. The slinky material moved over her buttocks, and she wondered if they made sheets out of the stuff. For a moment, she imagined Aidan laying her down, his lips moving over her body until he drank from the heart of her, the silken sheets sliding against her back. Her pussy tightened and grew damp. She knelt in front of Aidan, which put her breasts at eye level. His gaze seemed riveted to the points of her nipples pressing against the fabric. “I thought you were going to catch up on work.”

  Reluctantly, Aidan drug his gaze back to her face. “My steward, Ailissa, handled everything in my absence. This is her son, Bani. His furmarup had a litter shortly after I left, and he couldn’t wait to show me the kits.”

  “I see,” she said, her gaze suddenly riveted by his hardening cock as it pressed against the fabric of his robe. The gown barely covered his knees, his bare calves and feet poking out from beneath the hem. She licked her lips, and Aidan’s gaze followed the movement.

  Aidan scooped up the furmarups in his lap. “I think the kits have had enough excitement for today,” he said, handing them back to Ailissa.

  She nodded. “I’ll see to it that you’re not disturbed.” With a soft smile for Jacey, she herded her son and the furmarups from the room. As soon as she’d left, Aidan reached for her.

  He clasped her ribs, pulling her down into his lap. Jacey straddled him, her skirt riding high on her thighs. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. Something shifted inside her when she saw Aidan with the kitten-like creatures. He seemed so tender that her kidnapping seemed like a horrible dream. Her lips moved over his, drawing a broken sigh from him as he tightened his arms around her. Against her pussy, his arousal throbbed through the thin fabric of his robe. Her hands threaded through his hair and held him to her.

  With gentle strokes, Aidan moved his tongue along hers. His cock pressed against her, hungry for entry, and Jacey shifted on his lap to bring him even closer to her. Slowly, he caressed her back. The fabric slid sensuously over her skin, and Jacey pulled her lips away with a moan.

  She nibbled her way along the line of his jaw to the curve of his throat. No pulse beat a steady tattoo against her lips, and she sucked greedily where it might have been. She shifted, allowing Aidan to slide his hands beneath the dress.

  His skin against hers sent shivers down her spine. He tugged the dress toward her shoulders, and she leaned back, allowing him to skim the fabric from her body. Reaching for her, he cupped her breasts in his hands. “So perfect,” he said, leaning forward to lave her nipples with long strokes of his tongue. “So tempting.”

  Jacey smelled the scent of her arousal. The rug cushioned her knees, and she wondered what it would be like to be fucked on it. She rose, impatient now, and tugged at Aidan’s robe.

  He chuckled softly, a husky sound that wrapped around her and went straight to her core. He quickly shifted position and sent his robe floating through the air to join her dress. Wrapping his hands around her waist, he pulled her back to him.

  The first touch of his hard cock at her opening forced a cry of desire from Jacey. She lowered onto his hard shaft. With her h
ands on his shoulders, she braced, and when Aidan reached between her legs to rub her clit, she nearly climaxed.

  His thumb moved in sure circles over the tight bud, sending wave after wave of pleasure cascading through her body. So gentle with the furmarup and now with me. The cords on his neck stood out. She knew he wanted his release and wanted it badly. The thought that he waited for her only made her burn even hotter for him.

  Jacey moved her hips against him. Each touch brought her closer to the edge, until she finally fell over in a ground-shattering climax. Her cry echoed in the room.

  Then, Aidan moved.

  He thrust shallowly against her. Beads of sweat emerged on his forehead, and Jacey leaned forward and licked the salty drops. Rising on her knees, she moved over his cock, sliding down again until he was buried deep inside her. She rocked over him, retreating, returning, lost in the sensations of his cock inside her body. Higher and higher she soared, the desire thrumming through her body intoxicating.

  Aidan’s thumb rubbed her clit, sliding down to stroke where they joined. Pleasure shot through Jacey, and with a harsh cry, she arched her back above him. Her release pounded through her, harder and faster than any she had experienced. Her breath came in tiny gasps as she shattered above him.

  Aidan grabbed her waist. He hammered himself home, stroking inside her hot, tight sheath. Bonelessly, Jacey let him. He thrust into her slick depths, then with a guttural cry, he came.

  Jacey slumped against him. I could really feel for him. The thought made her sit upright and stare at Aidan. He rested his forehead against her shoulder, his softening cock sliding from her. Lightly, she ruffled his hair. My God, I actually could care for an android.