Aykeetan

by Harpie Alexander

  Aykeetan

  Ay’Kea’Terra Mates: Book One

  Science Fiction Romance Novel

  By

  Harpie Alexander

  Copyright

  Copyright @ 2019 by Harpie Alexander

  Editor: J Mills

  Cover Designer

  This novel is a complete work of fiction. Everything included in this novel: characters, places, events, accidents, storylines, etc. are drawn from the imagination of the author, not based on real life. Nothing told in this story is based on any real events, any real person, any real business or story. Any resemblances of the characters, or events that occur in this book are completely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. Under no circumstances may this publication be distributed, transmitted, reproduced in any form, by any means (including but not limited to: recording, photos, photocopying, hand writing etc.) without the explicit authorization documented and signed by the author prior, with the exception of brief quotations for critical review and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  About & Warning

  Looking for an incredibly sweet & steamy sci-fi alien romance? Look no further! This is the first novel in a stand-alone series with Guaranteed HEAs, No cliff hangers. (explicit, 18+ sexy times, m/f).

  Jane:

  I'm dying. All I want to do is spend the rest of my life doing what I do best. Relaxing, painting and taking strolls on the beach. Not so hard right? Wrong! All it takes is one sexy alien who claims I'm his mate to throw my life into chaos. One minute it's peaceful and sunny, the next minute it's a storm as I'm abducted by my Family Doctor. Turns out my life isn't exactly what I thought it was. Maybe, there's room for love after all.

  Aykeetan:

  I'm a hunter that traveled across the universe from my home world to find my mate, the one person who can complete me. I never anticipated being rejected by her, but I'll stop at nothing to prove she's wrong. Just when I think I'm making progress she's abducted. Rescuing her becomes my top priority. When I find her, maybe then she will come to her senses and realize that I'm the mate for her.

  Warning: This book contains explicit love scenes (18+) between m/f, abductions, allusions of rape/sex slaves (just a few references), some grief that doesn't affect the ending. Some people may be triggered or simple do not want to read a book that contains this subject matter, if this is you, please consider this your warning before diving in.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Disclaimer

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Epilogue

  Glossary

  Acknowledgements

  Stay in Touch

  About the Author

  Prologue

  Five years ago

  Jane

  I’m lying on the couch in my dorm room after I pour myself some tea. I had finished my last class at the college for my Visual Arts program, which I’m set to graduate. It’s a very exciting time for me.

  Knock. Knock. Knock.

  I answered the door.

  “Are you Ms. Jane Landers?” a short man in a suit asked me.

  “Yes, can I help you?”

  “Sorry,” he said, as he tipped his hat in respect. “My name is Frank Westley. I was your grandfather’s lawyer. Unfortunately, I’m here to deliver some unfortunate news. Your grandfather passed away last night around four am, and as his only living family member, he’s left everything to you.”.

  My heart flutters, and I instinctively place a hand over my chest. Passed away? This must be a misunderstanding.

  “I’m very sorry for your loss, Ms. Landers. Your grandfather was a good man. I’ll be back in a few days so you can gather yourself before we get his affairs in order”

  I barely heard the words come out of Mr. Westley’s mouth, or notice the letter he placed in my hand before he disappeared down the corridor.

  I didn’t even close the door behind me as I sat back down and opened the envelope with shaky hands.

  MY DEAR JANE,

  If you are reading this letter, I’m no longer here with you. I’m so sorry you must go through this alone. I know how deep your pain was when your parents passed, but you learned to become such a strong, young woman. I’m so proud that you went to school to fulfill your dreams. So proud, that when I suffered a mild heart attack, I decided not to tell you.

  The doctor told me that my arteries aren't good and that this may be the beginning. He fears that without proper treatment, I’ll suffer another heart attack, one I probably won’t survive. Jane, I’m not that young man I once was, and if I’m honest, I miss your grandma terribly.

  Please forgive this old man for his selfishness. I love you more than you can ever know, but it’s time for you to start living your life. It is my hope that you will finish school and fill the world with your art. I hope that you find someone, and fall madly in love, you deserve that.

  I know you're going to be angry that I’m being taken away from you, but don’t be. I’m in your heart, and I’ll be watching over you. You’ll be twenty-two soon. The cottage is yours now, along with the land and everything else we own. It’s not lavish, but it’s simple and honest. It’s a big responsibility. Before you headed off to school, you did such a great job helping with the chores, so I know you can handle the work.

  You were the biggest bundle of joy. Your grandma and I enjoyed having you in our lives. Now go and fill someone else with that joy. Learn to love again and open your heart. Don’t look to the past. When the time comes, we will see each other again.

  Love,

  Grandpa.

  BEFORE I'D FINISHED reading the letter, tears streamed down my face. Life was going well for once, before it decided to snuff out another person I loved. I just spoke with him on the phone a few days prior. The fact that he was sick and didn’t tell me unnerved me. I understood his reason for not seeking treatment, he would have hated himself if I dropped my classes to come back home. Yet, the thought of him gone, crushed me.

  I grabbed one of the pillows beside me and screamed into it until my throat was raw. It wasn’t long before Stacey my best friend, stormed out of her room and consoled me.

  Chapter One

  Jane

  “Damnit!” my voice moans as I jolt awake.

  The air is heavy around my body, and the aching is savage, like a permanent bruise gripping deep within my bones. It’s typical for me to have aches and pains most days because of my illness. It started several months back as a simple headache and transitioned into a monster of symptoms. If I just take my pain meds, I can ignore everything else.

  A yawn escapes and I stretch my limbs. Tossing my duvet to the side, I roll out of bed, careful not to plummet to the floor. That would be painful given my circumstances.

  I dilly-dally over to the window and peek outside. Relief spreads through my body, tearing my claustrophobia to shreds. Dark clouds no longer rag
e in the skies.

  Thank heavens.

  Rain poured down so hard over the past few days and trapped me inside the cottage like a prisoner. I can still hear the loud thunder from the storms as if it was expressing its disdain, rebelling against the pleasant weather.

  Glancing further out in the distance, I see the ocean waves smashing against the bottom of the cliff-side rocks, as if trying to beat them out of its path, while charming, overgrown forest trees sway as they reach for the heavens.

  It’s quaint and peaceful here.

  My eyes wander over to my family portrait. My chest aches as I look at the faces of my deceased family.

  I’ll be seeing them soon enough.

  Losing my grandparents and parents so young, has caused me to shield my heart. I found it so hard to let people in and now it’s too late. It crushes me that I’ll never know the soft and sweet touches of a lover, or the chance of starting a family of my own. These are the two things I’ve wanted more than anything in life, and yet I’m the one who will never let anyone get close enough.

  I’m grateful for the time I’ve had with my family. In my short life I’ve been able to explore my passions of art and nature, go to school and make some wonderful friends. There are numerous people who aren’t as fortunate as I, but whenever I’m feeling lost or down, I remember the good times rather than the difficult ones.

  My preference is to focus on the positive. A book I’ve read somewhere states that being optimistic can-do wonders for the soul, which I agree with. Besides, life’s too short of a ride to be negative.

  My morning ritual since coming back from the hospital is to start my day with a bath. It’s the perfect thing to raise my spirits and wash away bad thoughts. When I’m finished, I enjoy a cup of tea and head outside. With the weather cleared up I can walk down to the beach since exploring outside is a long-lived passion of mine.

  I crack open my closet, ignoring the creaking sound it makes, and sift through my clothes for my favorite outfit.

  Ah, here it is. The dress is a soft yellow color with a bodice that contains white and pale blue embroidery, with short sleeves and a hem that reaches just below my knees. It has several small buttons in the back and a thick, over-sized ribbon across the waist that ties into a bow above my buttocks. My grandma taught me how to sew and we stitched this dress together from scratch. That was a long time ago, and yet it feels like yesterday.

  I descend the spiral staircase to the main floor. It’s a beautiful piece, but it's strange to have it in a cottage. I believe my grandfather spent a fortune importing it out here in the middle of nowhere. I’m certain it’s the only piece in the entire cottage my grandfather didn’t build himself.

  Entering the bathroom, I turn the faucet of my claw foot tub on to test the temperature. With some essential oils, this bath will be perfect. I select a bottle and pour a few drops into the water.

  Pulling my nightgown off and slinging it to the floor, I step into the tub, lean back and submerge myself. “This is heaven,” I sigh.

  Nothing beats a hot bath when your body hurts like hell.

  Sometime later, I'm pruned beyond the point of no return. I climb out, snatch a comfy towel to dry myself off, then wrap a smaller one in my hair.

  Sitting down at my mother’s old vanity, I look in the mirror. If my grandfather was still around, he’d tell me what a wonderful young woman I’ve become and how much I look like my mother when she was my age.

  My mind wanders to the last time I saw my parents.

  I remember everything as if it were yesterday. After eating breakfast with my family, we all spent the day at the beach. The weather was so hot, my parents and I cooled off in the water and played beach volleyball while my grandparents stayed in the shade.

  It’s the last memory I have of my parents before they both died in a violent car crash. It took months to get through the devastation I felt. How does one process so much death at such a young age?

  I finish brushing my hair and dress myself. Today’s already off to a great start. Good weather, a bath, and I’m about to make myself some tea.

  Crossing the kitchen floor, I start the kettle. Waiting, I tap my fingers on the counter as I zone out. My mind wanders back to the past when I got the news of his death, by his lawyer no less. I had just graduated college and was ready to start my life, only to be bit by the loss of my last relative. If only my grandfather knew how soon we would see each other again, he’d be heart broken. It’s been five years since his passing, but it feels like forever.

  The kettle whistles and brings my thoughts back to the present.

  Turning the kettle off, I pour myself a steaming cup and add a teaspoon of my favorite hibiscus tea. As I inhale the delicious, fruity aroma, it blasts my nose.

  “Mmm.”

  With my tea in hand, I head outside to the swing in the front yard. My grandfather built it when I was seven, and it’s stood the test of time. Sipping my tea, my legs swing back and forth, rocking me while enjoying the serenity of country living.

  It’s a beautiful, early summer morning. The sun beams brightly in the sky, and I can feel the warmth kissing my skin. Birds sing and a gentle breeze rustle by. Taking a deep breath, I can smell the wildflowers in the distance. They grow sporadically through the plains. They look and smell breathtaking, maybe I’ll pick some and place them in a vase later.

  A large forest buzzes with wildlife, unafraid to visit whenever their curiosity gets the best of them. I see everything from deer, elk, fox, wolves, raccoons, squirrels, and sometimes, even bears. They all live in natural harmony here. A rustle in the distance attracts my attention, and I glance up.

  Speak of the devil.

  Two fully grown deer stand alert while their offspring graze at their feet. Both their ears turn, and bend, assessing for threats before they too, lazily gnaw on the weeds.

  Just past the deer are the open plains, which are parallel to the forest. Beyond that lies the cliffs that gently slope west until it becomes a beach. The sand there is pure white and finer than silk. I love to walk barefoot down there. I can almost feel the sand slip between my toes just thinking about it.

  With my tea almost finished, my mind wanders to the past few months, where I was away in a cold, sterile hospital, attempting to regain my health. Doctor’s couldn’t agree on a diagnosis, but my body continued to grow weaker while the pain became more of a constant. Tests would come back with conflicting results, which made everything discouraging.

  The doctors did agree on one thing, however; I only had a few months to live. They couldn’t diagnose me but could tell me how long I had to live. Which to me, is odd. I didn’t believe them, well, not at first, but as my health continued to rapidly decline, my mind quickly changed.

  Eventually, the doctors stopped pulling me in for tests or blood work. Dr. Shaw, my family physician, was the only one kind enough to still listen to my complaints. When I came to terms that I wasn’t going to get better there, I decided to come back home. They staff gave me a prescription for pain and they seemed almost relieved to see me go.

  I was relieved to be home all by myself, until one day I received a big fat medical bill in the mail. Yeah. I don’t plan on paying that back.

  I wasn’t going to spend the rest of my life living in a cold hospital room devoid of any emotion or inspiration. I didn’t even have a damn window to look out of, and I was restricted to leaving the premises. No wonder people got worse there. I signed my release papers, packed up my belongings and took a cab home.

  I’m not sure how much time I have left, but I don’t like to dwell on it. Knowing life is so short grounds me. Every moment I have could be my last and I want to soak it all in like a sponge and bask.

  Honk!

  My heart leaps in my chest, startled from the sound. I look up and see Matt, the courier man, pop out of his delivery truck.

  “Hey Jane. Got a big one for you today.” His muscles pop as he opens the side of his vehicle, squats down and hefts up a massi
ve box.

  “Really? I don’t recall ordering anything. Are you sure it’s mine?”

  He frowns, placing the delivery on my porch. I swear I feel the planks move under the massive weight. Pulling out a scanner he checks the barcode.

  “Order for Jane Landers from Professional Art Studio Inc...was placed eight months ago, but some of the items were on back-order.”

  My eyes bulge out of their sockets. “Damn. I’ve been waiting for this baby for so long I’d forgotten all about it.”

  “Need help carrying it?” he asks, and somehow, I know exactly where this is leading.

  I open my front door and gesture inside. “Sure, living room please.”

  He carries the most expensive art supplies I’ve ever ordered into my home, treating them with care.

  “So, any change you want to catch a movie with me this weekend?” He asks, while scratching his head in that way that people do when they’re nervous.

  I struggle to keep in my sigh. He’s been asking me out every chance he gets. Truth is, he’s sweet, but I’m not really the committing type. It's not that I don’t want to be, but I can’t since my days are numbered.

  “Uh, maybe next time? Just so much going on right now you know.”

  His face slouches making him look dejected, but the poor lad doesn’t know much about me. I almost consider adding him to the list of people I’ve pre-written letters for. They are currently sitting at the post office, set to be delivered a few months from now, after my supposed death. It’s already been paid for, but I guess leaving a personalized letter in the mail for Matt wouldn’t do any harm. He’s always been sweet and a nice guy to talk to. I don’t get many visitors out here.

  “Right, so I should get back to work. Catch you next time?”

  “Yeah, absolutely.” His smile is back as he walks past me and out the door.

  As he heads down the driveway, he turns once to look back at me and smiles. Yes, I’ll write him a letter, but next time he makes a delivery, I should be more obvious that I only enjoy his friendship. It’s time the lad moves on.