Alien Best Man

by Amy Redwood

  Alien Best Man

  Amy Redwood

  When Jana leaves Earth to get married, she discovers that her fiancé has kept a secret. On his planet, the groom isn’t the only one having sex with the bride. It’s the best man’s privilege too. And the best man is someone she knows. And fears.

  The best man takes what he wants—and he wants Jana. In his bed, she embraces both males and her darkest desires. And she experiences how pleasurable the use of a riding crop can be when wielded by a dominant alien.

  An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

  www.ellorascave.com

  Alien Best Man

  ISBN 9781419930249

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Alien Best Man Copyright © 2010 Amy Redwood

  Edited by Mary Moran

  Cover art by Syneca

  Electronic book publication September 2010

  The terms Romantica® and Quickies® are registered trademarks of Ellora’s Cave Publishing.

  With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502.

  Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the author’s imagination and used fictitiously.

  ALIEN BEST MAN

  Amy Redwood

  Prologue

  Earth, Year 2217

  “May I suggest not using the riding crop,” I said, keeping my voice polite.

  “What, this thing?” Zyn hit the flat end of the crop against his palm.

  The smacking sound startled me enough that my horse reacted with a sudden jump forward, which made me increasingly aware of the way the animal’s rolling stride rocked the saddle between my thighs.

  “Just ride slowly and don’t use the crop please.” I couldn’t afford to piss off aliens who came from planets rich in natural resources. Still, if he broke his neck, he couldn’t sign the trade contract, could he?

  “Offi zzz er Jana,” he addressed me, his slight accent making me smile, “these animals would look splendid running across Dezra’s plains. It would also make our negotiations so much easier.”

  My amusement vanished. To keep him entertained, I’d taken him and his delegation to see one of Earth’s rarest attractions. Horses were nearly extinct, worth the amount of a small spacecraft. But if I denied him his demand, the contract negotiations could be in danger. And making the contract happen was my job.

  “The confederation will gladly ship half a dozen horses with the next trader toward Dezra,” I said, wondering if the day could get any worse.

  His mouth curved to a satisfied yet cruel smile, revealing sharp canines. He exuded a sexuality so raw it made my stomach tighten.

  As if he sensed my physical reaction, he twisted in the saddle toward me and ran a hand down his horse’s neck. He wore pants and a sleeveless shirt, both made from a black material. Not leather, not rubber, definitely organic and not synthetic. His bare skin shimmered as if someone had blown metallic dust all over him. He was like a copper-colored lion, big with lazy movements that hinted at lethal strength.

  I shouldn’t be alone with him.

  “May I suggest this way,” I said, pointing to my right. “There is an area where we can rest and wait for your delegation to catch up.” He snorted, flicked the riding crop lightly against his horse’s flank and dirt swirled up in a huge cloud as the animal charged forward.

  He was taking the wrong path.

  I pressed my thighs together, which sent another sensuous tingle between my legs, and loosened the reins. A couple of exhilarating heartbeats later I caught up, just in time to see how his horse dug its hooves into the ground and bucked.

  The sudden violent movement sent him flying through the air before he hit the ground.

  I screamed, sure the fall would break his neck, but he landed on his feet like a cat. I slid from my saddle as his horse took off alone. Too rattled to stop my own horse from following his, I looked him over for injuries. His wide shoulders shaking, he was laughing. He seemed to be fine. Better than fine actually. I nipped the thought in the bud, locked it away.

  He was done laughing but so clearly fully aroused that it wasn’t easy to keep my gaze away from the large bulge in his pants. Need pulsed between my legs, and I couldn’t blame it on the saddle. Damn.

  A breeze touched my face, hot and sudden, but not one leaf moved in the still summer air. Odd. I didn’t back away when he stepped close, too close to me. His mouth crushed down on mine as his hand slipped around my neck. He forced his tongue between my lips, kissing me as if he were staking a claim, and I finally surged awake.

  He drew me tighter until every ridge and curve and muscle of his body pressed against me while his tongue stroked the insides of my mouth in a way that made me liquid deep inside. When I moaned, he swallowed it, took my breath too. Another blast of wind hit me, moved along my body until I felt hot everywhere. The sensation of heat came from him and my eyes widened—was he trying to read my mind?

  In a moment of weakness, I turned into his embrace, opened myself up, gave him a chance.

  Heat sliced into my mind as he unearthed my thoughts, my secrets as easily as if he were turning over stones. His kiss deepened and sharp teeth nipped into my lip. And like the ghost of a touch, like a thought, I could feel him hard and thick between my legs, inside me, moving, thrusting, fucking.

  He pulled my wrists behind me and arched me back. My hips rolled against his and the pressure mounted, and it felt so good. Another thrust and I harshly exhaled into his mouth, my climax crashing over me while he turned over more stones in my mind, finding every last depraved sexual fantasy I’d ever had about him. And I’d had many.

  He broke the kiss, a satisfied gleam in the depth of his eyes.

  I staggered away, seeing him lick his bottom lip as if he was still savoring my taste.

  Why had I allowed him this glimpse into my mind? I should know better than to give a male like him that kind of power over me.

  “You allowed me to read your mind, Jana,” he said quietly, as if he knew I was shaking inside. “After I sign the trade contract, you’ll come to Dezra with me,” he said with the conviction of a male who probably had never been denied anything. “I want your thoughts, your sex, your very soul. And you will submit.” Sudden fear, bone-deep and cutting, held me captive. From underneath my shirt, I pulled the phaser from its holster and aimed at him with unsteady hands. “I will not.”

  Chapter One

  Earth, five month later

  I arrived just in time at the outer rim of the space harbor. When I saw Qay standing on the platform, his delegation already onboard, I broke into a smile when our eyes locked. It was bittersweet, saying goodbye to him. Bitter, because as soon as the huge space traveler took off with him, three lonely days and nights awaited me. And sweet because I would be seeing him again after the three days—on Dezra as his bride-to-be.

  I ran the last yards and into his arms, my heart dancing a ji
g in my chest. Drawing in his familiar scent, I buried my fingers into his thick coat and clung to him while he drew me into a tight embrace.

  “You shouldn’t have come,” Qay said. “We said goodbye last night. Wasn’t that satisfying enough for you?”

  “Very satisfying.” I raised my head, sought his slate-gray gaze. His eyes were cool and stern, but he was the most warm, gentle male I’d ever met. And he loved me. I still had a hard time believing it. Grinning, I rose on tiptoe to press a kiss against his chin, not tall enough to reach his mouth. “But you knew I’d come, admit it.”

  “I counted on it.” He freed himself from my tight hold and reached inside his coat.

  “This is for you.” The book he held was as thick as my thumb.

  “Thanks,” I said, taking it. I’d seen a book like this, leather-bound and cracked with age, in a museum once. There wasn’t a title and the back was blank as well. I flipped it open, scanned a couple of pages. “It’s written in high Dezrian. Not my strong suit, you know. What’s it about?”

  “Dezra. The book shouldn’t be here on Earth. It’s against protocol, but we bent a few rules.”

  “Who’s we?”

  His gaze slid away from me , as if I made him uneasy. “I guess here, you would call him the best man.”

  “Well, what do you call him on Dezra?”

  He answered in high Dezrian, saying something I’d never heard before. “What’s it mean?”

  “He has many names.”

  “Well, pick one,” I said, laughing.

  “King.”

  “King?” I replied, stunned. “Are you kidding me? No? But there’s no such person on Dezra. You are Dezra’s elected ruler, aren’t you? Dezra is a democracy, right?”

  “It’s a bit more complicated, Jana.”

  “But he’s our best man?” I tried to stomach this new tidbit about the planet I’d soon call home. “Well, thank him for sending me this.” I grinned, hugging the book to my chest.

  “Goodbye, my heart.” His lips found mine in the same tingling sensation I’d felt in our first kiss. But only now, after spending day after day, week after week together, did his kiss reach my heart as well. I wrapped my arms around him, the feel of his hard body underneath his thick coat making need rise within me.

  “Just take me with you now.” I felt every bit the lovesick fool. “Why do I have to wait?”

  “You know why. Once I’m onboard, my three days of solitude and silence will start. It’s tra—”

  “Tradition,” I said, defeated. “Well, I’ll let Kyra know so she can block out her schedule.”

  He brushed his thumb over my cheek. “It is good that Kyra will fly you to Dezra.”

  “She needs to be on Dezra anyway, being a bridesmaid and all that.”

  “Listen,” he said, gripping my shoulders hard, as if he wanted to make sure I paid attention, “on Dezra, the bride always gets three days and nights to make up her mind.

  The traditional ceremony, our wedding, won’t happen before the three days and nights are over. Jana, don’t ever think you have to do anything you don’t want to do. Kyra can take you back to Earth anytime.”

  “I love you,” I said, my throat tight. “Why would I want to leave you?” He didn’t answer, kissed me instead, and I stared after him as he boarded. I held the book between my knees and clapped my hands over my ears to block out the noise.

  The platform vibrated as the traveler geared up and pulled away. Within seconds, the ship grew smaller as it navigated toward open space.

  Trying not to feel abandoned, I brushed the back of my hand over my eyes and grasped the book again. I flipped it open, scanned the pages until I spotted the Dezrian word for wedding.

  “Tra Mar’ge Deflar. ” My tongue tripped over the unknown words. What did it mean? Three joining? The joining of the three? I turned the finely written pages.

  Everywhere, the word three caught my eye.

  My gaze fell on a sharply drawn picture, its minute details clearly visible. A huge bed, probably made from a kind of wood, was at its heart. Atop, a man and a woman—or bride and groom—were adorned with slim crowns and both buck naked. The artist had placed emphasis on how the groom plunged himself between the bride’s spread thighs.

  But it wasn’t the explicit coupling that had me holding my breath.

  The bride didn’t gaze at the groom, her hand didn’t rest longingly on the groom’s buttocks to guide him into her. No, she reached for a man next to the bed, a man with a ferocious smile and eyes like a cat. Mind and heart and soul read the caption, or something close to that, if I translated it correctly.

  I lowered the book, aware that I was in danger of hyperventilating as the full meaning hit my stomach like a one-two punch. That was some wedding night tradition.

  One bride, one groom and one very disturbing best man.

  Qay’s last words haunted me suddenly, “Don’t ever think you have to do anything you don’t want to.”

  Like a threesome with the best man? Should I even take the book at face value, take it literal?

  Mindful not to bend any pages, I closed the book. I’d find out once I was on Dezra.

  But I wouldn’t walk away from what I had found with Qay, the trust and love. Never.

  Too deep had he touched my heart with his wit and smile and words. Soon, I would board the ship that would fly me into a still unknown new world. And after three nights, I would marry Qay.

  Even if I had to spread my legs for a catlike devil.

  * * * * *

  My stomach was grumbling, not with hunger but with a mild case of nerves. The sky was still dark except for the light beams of arriving and departing ships. I was granted access to the small docking station where private space jets and shuttles waited for their owners. I waved, spotting Kyra. Clutching an extra-large drink in one hand, Kyra wore only a plasma thermal tank top with matching black pants. She looked like a space pirate.

  I probably looked ready to throw up.

  “Here, drink,” Kyra said by way of greeting, and pressed the drink into my hand.

  “Or you’ll hurl for the next eight hours straight. And that’s with the gravity switch pulled.”

  “Not funny,” I muttered, but sipped. It sloshed over my tongue like liquid teeth cleaner.

  “That’s all you’re taking with you?” Kyra looked at my bag. “After twenty-nine happy years on Earth, all you take is one lousy bag?”

  “I don’t need much as long as I have Qay.”

  “By the stars, you are in deep.”

  “I love him if that’s what you mean,” I replied, raising my voice over the hissing noise of a big-bellied trader.

  “I guess his looks don’t hurt either,” Kyra said with a grin.

  I shook my head, thinking about Qay’s gorgeous body, his copper-colored skin, the tender touch of his hands. But it wasn’t his looks that had gotten to me. It had been his show of character during the negotiations, during late-night meetings, and his ability to truly listen. And the way he made love to me. “He was the best thing that happened to me after…after—” I broke off, shoving the thought aside.

  “After what happened with that…guy? Sorry,” Kyra said quickly, “I know you don’t like to talk about it.”

  “It’s okay,” I said, surprising myself. It was as if the drink not only made me sleepy but talkative. “I aimed my phaser at him, threatening I’d shoot him if he didn’t back off.

  He not only backed off, next day he was gone. Qay came to continue the negotiations. I fell for him.”

  “Wow. Amazing that they didn’t fire you.”

  “They waited until Qay signed the trade contract then they fired me.”

  “That’s the confederation for you. Follow me, you haven’t met my girl yet, have you?”

  The sleek space glider Kyra owned gleamed chrome black under glaring white security lights. I boarded and strapped myself into a too-wide chair, which made me feel like a toddler.

  “Ready?” Kyra che
cked if I had downed the drink.

  “Can’t wait.” I was tired and excited at the same time. “And I can’t wait to kick ass as Dezra’s new trade official. My old boss is in for a surprise.” Kyra whistled. “So, Qay bagged himself a confederation insider as his wife. You sure he’s not just using you?”

  It was so absurd, I laughed. “Kyra, he loves me.”

  “Is it true that Dezrians can read minds?”

  My throat closed up a little. “Qay can’t. I asked.”

  “You fell fast for him. Maybe too fast.”

  “Since when are you the word of caution?”

  “Well, Dezra is not in the allied confederation yet, as you know best. They don’t adhere to common laws.”

  “But they will be in a couple of weeks.”

  “Still, it hasn’t happened yet. On Dezra, you’re at Qay’s mercy.” A cold shiver gripped me, why I couldn’t tell. I glanced out the cockpit screen as Kyra navigated through the checkpoints toward the open space. Kyra wasn’t telling me any news, but from her mouth it sounded as if I headed to my execution instead of my wedding.

  * * * * *

  “I’ll go insane if I can’t see Qay soon.” I knew from the book that some kind of feast awaited me, but damned if it had mentioned as to when.

  Instead of being met by Qay, an apparent welcome committee—solely women—

  had greeted Kyra and me. They escorted us from Dezra’s docks to a large glasslike dome that was large enough to hold a small city, which in fact it did.

  I spent my first night on Dezra, while not lacking for food or comfort, utterly alone.

  I tried to sneak out and was gently but determinedly shoved back into my rooms by the fiercest-looking female I’d ever laid eyes on. She either protected me or held me prisoner. I hoped it was the first. I assumed Kyra was well, as she was in separate rooms. Now late afternoon, women were leaving and coming into my quarters like a flock of birds. The concept of personal space seemed to be nonexistent. I let myself be washed, groomed, shaved and braided—all in the name of tradition. They didn’t address me directly—only the groom was allowed to speak to the bride before the wedding. I was given a loose-fitting dress in a material I’d never seen before. It had a silky feel to it but was even more lightweight and in alternating shades of red—from a faint pink to a rich dark purple. And they’d given me panties of a sheerness that equaled spider webs. I let out a long sigh when my guard opened the door and motioned me outside.