Penny awoke with a smile, her body sensitized from the all-night lovemaking. She'd orgasmed more times than she would have ever thought humanly possible. She hoped she'd also managed to change Reg's outdated ideas on women's roles. She'd lectured him at length on the advance of women's rights back on Earth in between bouts, and he'd listened to her, even if his gaze tended to stray to her naked body parts. She was pretty sure she'd managed to make him understand logically the reasons why they should stay together in space, and then to add sugar to sweeten the deal, she'd shown him physically. I can't believe he expected me to become some kind of Suzie Homemaker popping out babies. My research on the effects of space travel on pregnancy and children, rare as those cases seem to be, doesn't lead me to believe there's any reason why we can't continue on to travel the galaxy, which is where I know Reg wants to be. Speaking of whom, where was her sexy blue husband? She dressed a
"We should be arriving home within three full cycles. I will drop off the human as per custom and then, with your permission, I will return to space to complete my remaining missions." Reg said the words to the Oracle with a heavy heart. After last night's long talk with Penny, where, for once, her loquaciousness hadn't driven him nuts, it occurred to him to take Penny along with him as she wanted. But policy with alien females was very clear. They needed to be brought planetside for their own safety, something he could understand after the terror he'd felt when he'd seen her in danger and knowing now just how delicate she was. The thought of her coming to harm made his blood run cold with dread. "I realize that usually it's protocol for females to reside her at home. However, we have great need of you in space. I also have a confession to make. Penny was chosen long ago to be your mate." Reg stared at the screen and the veiled Oracle. "What do you mean? I told you I had no
Reg regained consciousness on the command room floor, his head pillowed and his body covered in a blanket. With a curse, he jumped up. "Ralph, where's Penny?" The AI still wasn't replying, and Reg took off jogging to check the ship. It didn't take him long to determine Penny was gone. He returned to the ship's command center and paced the area in front of the view screen. She left me! He'd known she was upset, but to do something this drasticÉ Why couldn't she have waited? He now wished he'd told her immediately about the Oracle's permission for them to travel together. Not that Penny had even given him a chance. No matter, he'd find her. "Ralph? By the moons, computer, I know you must have helped her. Speak to me, dammit." Silence reigned, but across the view screen, words appeared. Penny disabled my auditory function so that I couldn't warn you of what she planned. That human is much too smart for her own good. She managed to override my controls a
Penny awoke to a hand clasped over her mouth. The inside of the survival tent was dark, but she'd recognize those glowing violet eyes anywhere. Her husband had found her. I should have known I wouldn't get away that easily. Well, if he thinks I'm going to let him drag me back to his ship just so he can dump me, he's got another thing coming. She bit him. With a curse, he pulled his hand away. "Go away." "No," he said calmly, pulling her from the tent. She breathed in the fresh air of the sentient pink planet she'd chosen as a perfect place to hide and research while waiting for another alien vessel to pass by and hitch a ride on. When she'd first arrive, she'd sighed in relief when she hadn't convulsed at the first inhalation of the strange atmosphere. Her research had claimed the air wasn't harmful, but she'd had her doubts. With nothing more dangerous than four-eared bunnies, and with tantalizing reports that the planet itself was alive, she'd thought th
Reg watched his mate on her hands and knees examining the silken pink grass of the sentient planet they'd come back to visit. He never tired of watching her, and he'd even become used to her endless questions. He especially enjoyed her inquisitiveness in the bedroom, where she delighted in exploring his body over and over, as well as experimenting with techniques. Although he did draw the line at her taking notes during the act. He, instead, allowed her to videotape them, although he wasn't sure what value the videos had from a scholastic point of view, for, whenever she watched them, the result was the same. They both ended up naked and fucking wildly. Not that he was complaining. He didn't mind sacrificing himself for science. Ralph's voice crackled in his earpiece. "So, when are we upgrading to a bigger ship? I've got my eye on that new luxury model with the improved warp drive." "Bigger ship? What for?" Reg replied absently, smiling when Penny, with a giggle, threw hers
The day Diana met her first alien dawned like any other-with a dry, cottony mouth and a bad case of bed head. She didn't even have any warning because, unlike The X Files and sci-fi movies, she didn't see any lights in the sky and her TV image didn't go all snowy. That kind of pissed her off because, had she known she would be having an up-close-and-personal encounter with life from another planet, she might have at least brushed her hair and worn something other than her ragged robe, plaid boxer shorts, and loose tank top. This is definitely not my most attractive look. Anyway, there she stood, ironing her underwear-being single left her with way too much time on her hands-when, suddenly, it appeared in the middle of her living room. It wasn't a spectacular living room as living rooms went, outfitted with a second-hand, sagging couch and chair, a coffee table that wobbled, and some kind of Oriental print rug in bad need of a beating. A receptionist's salary didn't go far in the
Kor'iander Vel Menos stared at the slightly snoring form of his soon-to-be mate asleep on the floor and shook his head in disbelief. The Oracle had to be wrong. Of course, that had never happened before, but in this instance, Kor really had to question the Oracle's choice. Surely, this feisty, argumentative female could not be his life mate? Docile. He'd specifically written docile when he'd filled in his request for a mate. And this is who the spirits of his ancestors had chosen? A celestial jest on their part perhaps? Her looks at least seemed passable. Perhaps once she groomed herself, she'd even be attractive. The kogi nest that currently adorned her head made him want to shave it for fear of unsavory little critters. As for her shape, the ugly garment she wore did not give a proper indication, although she did seem plump and healthy. Thank the Three Moons. His poor childhood companion Rex'Anor had been given a very slim mate for bonding, and it had taken him many
Diana woke slowly, her mind still pleasantly befuddled from the dream she'd had about a handsome blue alien who wanted her as his mate. Diana wished only that the dream could have continued a little longer and that she hadn't been so prickly. She would have liked to touch that smooth blue skin and maybe even taste it. Oh, the things I would have done to his deliciously muscled body. Diana giggled and rolled over onto her stomach, the smooth, satiny sheets rubbing sensuously against her bare skin. Bare what? I never sleep naked. Diana opened her eyes and sat up in shock. Her gaze flicked down to see she wore not a stitch of clothing and that the bed she found herself in wasn't her own. Where on God's green earth am I? She looked around in consternation, not seeing anything familiar. Panic settled low in her tummy. Okay, let's not freak out here. Maybe I'm still dreaming. Diana pinched herself hard. Owww! Diana glared offensively at the red mark she'd