by Cara Bristol
We were about to leave when Torg and Enoki rode into the clearing, and I remembered a pendulum still swung over Darq’s head.
“You found her! Thank the fates,” Enoki said.
No, thank Darq, thank Gretchen. Hell, even thank Apogee. I didn’t see the fates helping out.
“Are you all right?” Torg asked.
“Please don’t banish him,” I said. “He only left the ward to rescue me. He has a good excuse.”
“A matter to be addressed at camp,” Torg said.
“And by the council,” Enoki insisted. “Two tribes were involved, a mate was stolen, agreements were breached—on both sides.” He looked at me. “I’m greatly relieved you came to no harm.” Then he glowered at Darq and Romando. “For you two, the matter is not over.”
* * * *
“Obah! Obah!” Men shouted as we arrived at camp. The entire tribe lined up to cheer for my homecoming. “Sunny! Sunny!”
The warm welcome choked me up. Like Miss America, I waved and smiled through tears of happiness. This was my home; I hoped I wouldn’t have to leave it, that we wouldn’t be banished, but Darq and I would remain together no matter what. If Torg forced him to leave, I would go with him. I would stick to him like snow to an icy planet.
After leaving Romando’s hideaway, we’d made a pit stop at his camp so I could clean up. Even frozen, effluent left a nasty odor. Other than from Gretchen, who’d been thrilled to see me, I’d received no “obahs” there. The reception had been decidedly cool, but Gretchen had set me up with a bath and given me one of her kels.
I owed her a lot. She and I made a date to do lunch at the meeting place. We’d have to bring the meal, but we could grab some ales at the tavern.
Darq parked outside our cave. We dismounted, but instead of heading inside, he grabbed me to him and kissed me.
“Obah! Obah!” shouted our clan.
I was blushing when he released me. “I have to return to the warding cave,” he said.
“I understand.” I nodded, but I wanted to cry. I needed to be with him!
Torg, who had pulled up behind us, cleared his throat and motioned. “Forget the warding for now. Go inside,” he said, and glanced at the crowd. “I’ll be back soon with a decision.”
We needed no further encouragement to amscray, as they say in Pig Latin.
Starr latched onto me. “I was so worried about you. Everybody was frantic. Thank goodness you’re home. Can I get you a cup of tea? Are you hungry? What happened out there?”
I laughed and hugged her. “I’m fine. I don’t need anything except a little rest.” I didn’t want to waste a moment alone with Darq in case he had to go back into warding or we got banished. “Can I fill you in later?”
“Of course!” Starr embraced me again. “I kept the fire going in your chamber for when you came home,” she said. Until they’d learned Romando had me, they hadn’t known if I was dead or alive. For Starr, the fire had been a refusal to admit defeat. Fire represented life, and as long as it burned, I would be okay. It was superstitious, and very, very sweet.
“Thank you.” Emotion clogged my throat. These people cared about me. They loved me. They had become family. I hadn’t wanted to come to Dakon. Apogee and Devon’s condition had forced me to, but it had turned out to be the best thing that had ever happened to me.
Darq tugged on my hand, and we headed for our chamber. Great minds think alike. We weren’t halfway there when we started disrobing. We littered the passage with clothing.
Naked, we tumbled onto the bed of kels. His big, warm body blanketed me, and we meshed mouths. His leg slid between mine, and I clung to him, trying to absorb him, to make him such a part of me that nobody could separate us.
I touched him everywhere, his neck—mine—his back—mine—his ass and thighs—mine. His erection—oh, yes, mine. Those horns, definitely mine. With frantic, almost-rough caresses, we pleasured each other, claimed one another, reassured one another.
“Don’t leave me,” I said.
“I won’t. Don’t leave me,” he said.
“Never.”
“I love you.” I buried my face in his throat. “So much.”
He cupped my cheeks in his big palms and stared into my eyes. “I love you, my mate.”
With his mouth, he anointed my throat, my shoulders, my breasts, abdomen, thighs, my needy center. He brought me to the peak of pleasure, and he then claimed me with a hard, sudden thrust.
The union of our bodies was physical and symbolic. What Sunny and Darq hath joined, let no tribe put asunder. He growled, and I groaned at the sheer bliss of our union; we rocked, meeting thrust with thrust, in a passionate, satisfying coupling. We hit the peak of ecstasy in a shower of sparks. I swear, for a moment, I saw the light.
We floated back to our bed of kels in a cloudy haze.
Literally. Starr’s fire had begun to smoke and fill the room. Darq got up to poke at the logs before diving back into bed and poking at me for round two.
Finally replete and complete, we rested. Some people spoon post coitus. We were like a gnarled tree, limbs twisted around each other.
We dozed, but then Torg’s voice boomed from the main chamber. Darq kissed me hard. “Whatever happens, it will be okay, I promise. I will make it okay.”
“If you get banished, I’m coming with you,” I said. “Don’t even think of leaving without me. I may not know everything about wilderness survival, but I’ll learn. I’ll have you to teach me.”
He nodded. “Let’s go find out.”
We slid out of bed and dressed.
As soon as we entered the chamber, Starr gave everything away—she wasn’t just beaming, she was jumping! I’d never seen a pregnant woman bounce like that before. The baby must have been getting quite a ride. Darq squeezed my hand. A whoop rose in my throat, but I stifled it, waiting for the official announcement.
To Torg’s credit, he got right to the point. “You’re not going to be banished—the tribe consensus is that you both should stay. They are very fond of Sunny and recognize the extenuating circumstances. We are a clan, and we stick together—their words not mine. ‘A chit is a chit, but nobody takes our mates!’”
The tribe had spoken!
“In light of the trauma Sunny has suffered, and the tribe’s goodwill, I commute your warding to time served.”
I let out that whoop, Darq grabbed me, swung me around, and we kissed. Starr clapped and bounced, and Torg grinned.
Then, he sobered. “Enoki intends to address the tribal leaders about changing the selection process. The disagreement between two men spread to both clans, which stirred dissension in other tribes as people took sides. We must cooperate and get along. We belong to our tribe, but we are one Dakon. Depending on what the council decides, you might still be required to pay reparation to Romando’s tribe.”
“Beyond the five kel he owes now?” I asked.
“As far as I’m concerned, the abduction voided the need for recompense,” Torg said. “However, the council may issue a judgment.”
“Fair enough.” Darq kissed me again and swung me around the room.
Marrying an alien had turned out to be my most excellent adventure.
Epilogue
Sunny
Four months later
The council met and ordered Romando and Darq to deposit ten kel each at the trading post. Dakon kept its lottery but tightened up the process, recording names as numbered chits were drawn. Because his original chit had been misappropriated, giving some justification to his actions, Romando would be allowed a female, but lost his first-place status, and was knocked back to dead last.
I experienced my first Dakonian spring—soggy, due to the snow melt, but sunny and mild—and spent all of it helping Darq tan and prepare his council-ordered kel hides. We finished seven of them before winter stormed in, leaving only three remaining for the next year.
Starr delivered a beautiful baby girl, which sh
e conceded to name Starlet, who immediately became the camp darling. She and Torg never wanted for a sitter.
I made peace with Apogee Productions. Through the ’net, I contacted my producer to say thanks. They’d subjected me to a load of crap over the years, but in the end, like the Grinch, my producer discovered he did have a heart. Maybe he’d done it to try to save the show, but I was grateful he had alerted Darq to my whereabouts. And, if not for Apogee, I wouldn’t have met Darq at all. He had become a celebrity, too, and the production company asked both of us to consider continuing with the show, but we declined. The only excellent adventure I wanted to experience was between the kels with my mate.
And to reunite with my sister and Devon. I’d gotten word they’d arrive on the next shuttle.
* * * *
I rubbed my hands together with nervous excitement. The waiting was killing me. “What’s taking so long?”
The men behind me, anxious to meet their mates, murmured in agreement.
The first woman entered the lodge.
“Obah! Obah!” the men roared.
The woman froze, and the one following plowed into her. They both stared, jaws down, eyes wide. Had I looked like that when I caught my first glimpse of Dakonian men? Madison Altman nudged them to move aside so others could enter. More women with expectant, excited, nervous expressions dashed in, but I was only interested in one particular woman.
I fidgeted. “Come on, come on.”
“She’ll be here.” Darq touched my elbow.
Then Stormy entered, clutching a large box and Devon. My nephew had grown half a head taller since I’d last seen him. “Stormeee!” I launched myself across the room, shrieking like a game show contestant who’d won the big money.
“Sunneee!” she squealed, and we grabbed each other, jumping and screaming. I broke away to hug Devon tight. “Oh my goodness, you’ve gotten so big! Let me look at you.” I studied him, ruffled his hair then smothered him in another embrace.
“Auntie Sunny, I was on a spaceship!”
“Yes, you were, Handsome! Was it fun?”
“Uh huh!”
Stormy and I hugged some more.
His expression annoyed, Madison motioned for us to get out of the way.
“Here!” My sister shoved her box at me.
“What is it?” I asked, but I could smell heaven through the wrapping. It had been so long…
“You told me to bring chocolate when I came.”
“You brought one box?”
Her mouth twisted wryly. “You know me better than that. There’s more in my luggage.”
“Come meet Darq.” I grabbed her arm and Devon’s hand and dragged them to where my mate waited. I introduced everybody.
“I’ve heard so much about you,” Stormy said.
“I’ve heard a lot about you, too,” he replied. “I feel like I know you.” What he meant was I hadn’t shut up talking about her since learning she’d be on the next ship. “I’m so happy you were able to come to Dakon. Sunny has been so excited.”
Devon’s eyes were wide, focused on Darq’s horns. “Are you an alien?”
His mouth quirked. “I am.”
“You’re not green or scaly.”
“Not all aliens are green and scaly. Sunny told me you’re a cyborg?”
“I am.” Devon puffed out his little chest.
“You look just as I imagined a cyborg would look.”
Devon beamed.
“Oh, he’s a charmer, and good-looking, too,” Stormy whispered.
A blush staining his cheeks revealed he’d heard her. Damn, I was crazy about that man.
“What happens now? How do we meet our aliens? Do they present us with a rose?” Stormy’s gaze swept over the men.
“They had a lottery. The winners do a schoolyard pick. A man will approach you and ask if you want to be his mate. You can say yes or no. If you say no, someone else will pick you.”
“What if I see somebody I want to approach me?”
“I guess you could let him know you’re interested the old-fashioned way. Smile, bat your eyelashes—flirt.”
Her gaze settled on a brooding man with waist-length hair.
Oh, no.
She smiled at him. “What’s his name?”
“You don’t want that one,” I said.
“Why not? He’s cute. He has that bad-boy vibe going on.”
“More than you know. You don’t want Romando, trust me. You came here for a fresh start, remember?”
My sister had a weakness for inappropriate men. Wouldn’t you know she’d zero in on Dakon’s resident jerk?
“Welcome, females!” Enoki boomed. “Now that you’re all here, let me explain the selection process…”
“I’d better get with the group! I don’t want to miss out.” She grinned. “I’m so thrilled to be here with you, and I can’t wait to meet my alien.” Her gaze slid to Romando again. Fortunately, she wasn’t the one doing the picking. The lottery would save her from herself.
I hugged Devon, and then he and Stormy rejoined the crowd of women. Darq clasped my hand. I eyed Romando. He caught me looking and glowered. He still resented Darq, and he loathed me. What if…
Nothing—that’s what if. He was in last place. He didn’t even get a pick—he’d get whoever was left after everyone else had chosen. My sister was cute, bubbly, and fun. She’d be snapped up right away. Even if Romando had had a choice, he wouldn’t approach my sister if she was the last female on Dakon for no other reason than he wouldn’t want me as a mate-in-law. He’d avoid Weathers women like a virus on an asteroid.
Reassured, I tore the wrapper and lid off the box, and offered it to Darq.
“What is it?”
“It’s called chocolate,” I said. “Try it.”
Gingerly, he picked up a piece of fudge and bit into it. His eyes lit up. “We must speak to Andrea and get more of this.”
“Yes.” I popped a truffle into my mouth and groaned with pleasure. The only thing better than chocolate was a romp in the kels.
Enoki consulted his ledger. “Number one, Jofvan.” A beaming man made a beeline for a woman of African and Asian ancestry. “I would be pleased if you would be my mate…”
The Dakonian lottery was stupid, and yet, so romantic. Darq and I had found each other that way. We’d both had secrets and strikes against us, but from the moment our eyes had met, we’d had chemistry, that indefinable bond that caused two people to gravitate to one another. You could see it with these couples, their attraction sparking with the first hello.
Darq picked out another candy from the box. “Do these melt?”
“Quite nicely,” I said. “Why?”
He waggled his eyebrows and then whispered in my ear.
“I like the way you think,” I purred, and gave him a chocolatey kiss as a promise for later.
We held hands and smiled.
The End
Find out what happens with Stormy in Alien Mate 3: Alien Attraction!
Get your free book here
Titles by Cara Bristol
Alien Mate series
Alien Mate (Book 1)
Alien Attraction (Book 2)
Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance series
Stranded with the Cyborg (Book 1)
Married to the Cyborg (Book 1.5)
Mated with the Cyborg (Book 2)
Captured by the Cyborg (Book 3)
Trapped with the Cyborg (Book 4)
Claimed by the Cyborg (Book 5)
Rescued by the Cyborg (Book 5.5)
Hunted by the Cyborg (Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance 6)
Breeder sci-fi romance series
Breeder (Book 1)
Terran (Book 2)
Warrior (Book 3)
Other titles
Krinar’s Desire
Destiny’s Chance
Goddess’s Curse
Longing
Naughty Words for Nic
e Writers (A Romance Novel Thesaurus)
Anthologies
Portals
Body Talk
Audiobooks
Stranded with the Cyborg
Mated with the Cyborg
Books in Print
Alien Mate
Captured by the Cyborg
Claimed by the Cyborg
Goddess’s Curse
Naughty Words for Nice Writers
About the Author
Cara Bristol writes character driven science fiction romance with humor, heart, and heat. She loves introducing new readers to science fiction romance and likes to say she writes sci-fi for readers who don’t like sci-fi. She’s been a number one best seller in multiple book categories and has hit the USA Today bestseller list twice! She has three science fiction romance series: the action-packed Cy-Ops Sci-fi Romance cyborg series; the dark, intense Breeder series; and the new light and funny Alien Mate series. When she’s not writing (ha ha ha – she’s almost always writing) she enjoys traveling to exotic destinations and chillaxin’ with her favorite reality TV shows. Cara lives in Missouri with her own alpha hero, her husband.
Cara’s Website: http://carabristol.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cara.bristol.3
Reader Newsletter: http://carabristol.com/get-your-free-book/
Chat with Cara (Reader Facebook group): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1761424733891183/
Twitter: @CaraBristol https://twitter.com/CaraBristol
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carabristol/
Acknowledgements
Writing a book is a solitary act. Editing and polishing? That takes a committee! Special thanks to my beta readers Lisa Medley and Fern Robin Manor and my editors Kate Richards (copy editor), Nan Sipe (line editor), and Celeste Jones (proofreader). A big shout-out to Jaycee DeLorenzo of Sweet ’N Spicy Designs for the awesome cover.
