## **Contents**

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

About This Book

CHAPTER ONE - Hannah

CHAPTER TWO - Hannah

CHAPTER THREE - Bren

CHAPTER FOUR - Hannah

CHAPTER FIVE - Bren

CHAPTER SIX - Hannah

CHAPTER SEVEN - Bren

CHAPTER EIGHT - Hannah

CHAPTER NINE - Bren

CHAPTER TEN - Hannah

CHAPTER ELEVEN - Hannah

CHAPTER TWELVE - Hannah

CHAPTER THIRTEEN - Bren

CHAPTER FOURTEEN - Hannah

CHAPTER FIFTEEN - Bren

CHAPTER SIXTEEN - Hannah

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - Bren

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN - Bren

CHAPTER NINETEEN - Hannah

CHAPTER TWENTY - Bren

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE - Hannah

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO - Bren

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - Bren

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR - Hannah

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE - Hannah

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX - Bren

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN - Bren

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT - Hannah

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE - Bren

CHAPTER THIRTY - Hannah

About the Author

Sneak Peek of Matthias's Miracle

BREN'S BLESSING

By Pearl Tate

Copyright © 2018 Pearl Tate

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner.

Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Book Cover Design by Alena Marie

Website: http://pearltate.com/BookCovers

Instagram Account: http://pearltate.com/covers

Thanks to my girls for believing this was possible and to my husband who never doubted.

BREN'S BLESSING

I'm living my dream, rotating in space around Mars on the Mars Hope Skylab.

As the first American woman this far into space, I've accomplished more in my twenty-eight years of life than most. I'm a doctor too.

I enjoy my job, so when things go sideways as aliens board the Skylab, I try to stay positive and make sure that I just observe and stay alive. But I'm immediately grabbed and taken to their ship!

Unable to understand them and not knowing what they have planned for me, I have to make some hard choices about whether living is the best way to go. And how far will I go to live?

It appears that I'm now the property of the alien that grabbed me. He's big, possessive and seems to want to get to know me a lot better...

CHAPTER ONE

\- Hannah

I'm still in awe every time I look out the window, even after six days in space orbiting around Mars. The view of the planet captivates me. It's amazing that I was the one chosen by human-kind to experience this.

I've always wanted to explore and push my limits. Now I have. In a world dominated by men, I'm the first person—man or woman—to orbit Mars. The first human to make it this far from Earth. The journey here took ten months, but truthfully it's been a lifetime of pushing boundaries. I've broken the ground for future generations of women to go out and do exactly what they want and make a difference in their own world in their own way...

"Something isn't right," I mumble to myself while scanning the readings in front of me. The more stressed I am, the more I tend to talk to myself. It clarifies my thoughts, solidifying the end goal and making that goal seem more tangible. Either that or the isolation of space has muddled with my brain. "Exactly what I need right now," I add, still grumbling to myself. It's been over an hour since I last received an update from Earth. We have a very strict protocol of pings, what we call the in and out transmissions between us. Normally, a twenty-four minute lag is standard, but the cursory check-ins have not been arriving as expected. I have no way to know if they are receiving mine either.

"Not receiving transmissions. None since thirteen ten. Please respond." Well, this is probably a waste of time, but I send it anyway. At least I can say I followed protocol. If they receive that, and they respond, it will take at least forty minutes. But since I haven't been receiving anything on our scheduled check-in times, my guess is I won't hear a thing. What would cause mission control to go dark?

"I have no idea. I'm a doctor, not an engineer." I'm talking to myself again and my frustration grows with the situation. I am literally in the vast reaches of human-explored space. Could the radio silence mean the surveillance cameras are down too? The possibility that they are not getting any kind of transmission—that I am totally cut off, is frightening.

I can't help wondering whether my parents are thinking about me as much as I'm thinking about them. My mom and dad were so proud when I was selected for this mission! Embarrassingly proud. And entitled too, based on what they spent on my education growing up. They never spared a dime when it came to the best schools, the highest-ranked professors and the most prestigious extracurricular programs. They didn't let me forget about it either. They always had high expectations and while they certainly gave me the foundation to succeed, they expected me to exceed those expectations. Failure was not an option.

My surgeon mother was the most detail oriented and exacting woman I ever met. There was a grade point average that very clearly the set the bar impossibly high and falling under that mark was not an option. A concept that my father still drills into his computer engineering team he manages at NASA. Their professions didn't leave much time to interact with children and the most attention my sister and I received was when we were held accountable for our grades. Since we were in boarding school from the age of six, it usually only occurred twice a year. I was ten years old the first time I brought home a B on a report card. You would think someone had died when they spotted it. In addition to the grounding and subsequent tutor, I learned quickly that "Beckers don't get B's."

Following in my mother's footsteps, I studied Pre-Med at Harvard before applying for a prestigious residency for various medical studies at NASA. The studies monitored the effects of lack of privacy, sleep disturbances, monotony, and the discomfort of being in microgravity. The debate over sending a doctor versus an astronaut with a typical military background for the first trip to Mars lingered well beyond my appointment to the mission. The fervor eventually died down a month or two after the final decision was announced, when I easily ranked leaps and bounds higher than everyone else in the psychological resilience and self-awareness studies conducted to clear astronauts for space travel.

As the only crew member on board, I'm tasked with keeping notes and diaries on everything. From the high-risk and stressful situations to bone density and muscle strength in this environment, to the fact that the enormous tin can I have been sailing through space is now clearly malfunctioning. The last hour has been a real test of my patience with technology that should have been updated a decade ago. Calmly, I start through the checklist of everything I'm monitoring on the communication transmission console to see if I can identify a possible cause on my end for the silence.

I've been called cold and emotionless by colleagues in the past, a stark contrast to my appearance since I inherited my father's red hair and light blue eyes. They give off a playful, carefree vibe. Right now, I am anything but emotionless as my mind reels with the implications of what could possibly be happening right now. Communication lags were one of the largest concerns at NASA for this trip, due to how they can isolate the astronaut and put a strain on relationships. Though that hasn't been an issue for me so far, the gnawing feeling that something is wrong is an uncomfortable sensation that I'm not familiar with processing. I was raised, with boarding schools and busy parents, so I've always been great at finding my own sensory stimulation to pass the time.

I keep a very structured schedule and right now I would much rather be in the hydroponic garden where I should be cultivating the plants that not only provide an organic air filtration system, but also makes a pretty tasty salad, if you can accept the absence of dressing. Twenty-eight years of being a proud meat eater and here I am craving rabbit fodder. Space will do some funny things to you once you've been up here long enough.

Focusing back on the console in front of me, I admit that everything looks normal. Nothing is obviously malfunctioning besides the wayward communication system. Logically, if everything else appears to be working properly but communications are not getting through, then something must be blocking them, right? That would make sense if I was in occupied space, but I'm not. I'm the only thing out here unless you count Mars twin moons and any mythological little green men that are on the surface of the planet. I chuckle at my humorless joke.

It's not that I don't believe there are other inhabited worlds out there. I do, but I think it's silly to think they would be this close to Earth. What are the odds? If there are any aliens on Mars, or in this area of the Milky Way, they would likely be some offshoot of humanity. At least, I like to think so. I like to think that we'd have at least something in common with them, whether it's our determination to evolve at a steady pace or perhaps physiological similarities.

Frustrated, I stretch back and try to relax. I need a break. I'm not really hungry, but I could eat a fruit bar. Just as I select the peach flavor, I'm rocked by a sudden jolt that sends my snack flying out of my hand. The cabinet handle in my right-hand jerks as the impact runs through my body. I grab onto the side rail near my hip, as I steady myself instinctively.

I didn't imagine that. It was slight but it was noticeable. That can't be good. Has an object hit us? Has the Skylab been penetrated? I wonder if I'm about to die? Hull penetration would be fatal quickly...

I gasp as my thoughts are cut off abruptly by a squeaking noise behind me. Spinning around as quick as I can with no gravity, I stare at the hatch door. After almost a year of being sealed shut, the squeaking noise is coming from the handle as it spins. It starts slow but is picking up speed as the tension of disuse gives way.

If my heart could speed up more, it would. As it is, the traitorous organ is thundering in a panic in my chest. An overwhelming sense of dread floods my system and I hear my blood roaring in my ears. My body is hyper aware of everything around me as my breathing hitches in a staccato rhythm. What is going on?

"Fucking hell." I press my body back against the cabinetry as I watch the hatch slowly keep turning. Isn't that thing locked? Where did that thought come from? Grabbing my head on each side, I rub my temples acknowledging that hysteria is settling in. Of course, it's fucking locked. But it's turning now.

Who could have unlocked it or...who did? There is no mistaking that I'm not imagining things. Something is most definitely trying to open that hatch.

A warning blast that sounds like an air horn snaps me out of my daze. Springing into action, I float back to my control console and start typing furiously. Calling up Protocol Eight Point Two, I try to manually override the countdown that has already begun. Whatever hit or attached to the Skylab has either caused significant damage or triggered some kind of alarm. The onboard computers have detected a breach somewhere, whether structural or perhaps a security measure. The fact is that the self-destruct has been activated and in ten minutes, the Skylab will explode and I'll be dead.

CHAPTER TWO

\- Hannah

My attention goes back to the hatch over my shoulder. I watch the wheel on the door spin faster, round and round. My mind is slowly starting to pick up speed, just like the hatch turning in front of me.

So, there's life out here. That is the only viable explanation for what is happening right now. Someone or something is out there and it's trying to get in here. And now, due to a NASA fail safe that I don't have the ability to turn off—or contact them to turn off, I'm about to be killed. Protocol Eight Point Two was designed as a last-ditch effort to keep our technology from falling into anyone's else's hands. I always thought I'd only use it if I crashed on a planet or got knocked off course or whatever. I never imagined I would be alive when it activated or that I would have to watch the countdown screen as the numbers ticked lower and lower to my destruction along with the multi-billion dollar Skylab.

Who fucking knows what tripped it? That's one thing you definitely learn as you are studying for years to travel into space. You learn what you need to know and prepare for the worst, but you don't dwell on the negative possibilities. Come on! There's so much fine print that no one could ever anticipate all the potential possibilities or outcomes. Everything is hypothetical anyway. I just never thought too much about it.

How could anyone know what happens when the hatch to a space station is opened from the outside? Nobody realized it was even fucking possible! "Well, NASA, if anyone can hear me, something or someone is trying to open the hatch from the outside. It's triggered the damned self-destruct." They should add that to the warning label on the hatch. Warning: Traveling to space may be hazardous to your health. You may die in a fiery explosion as some unknown entity triggers fucking Protocol Eight Point Two.

Well, if I'm going to die, at least I'll get to see some aliens first. I can add that to the long list of firsts I've accomplished in this lifetime. Except nobody will ever know. Not NASA, not the asshole at university who told me I'd never make it, not my parents who expected perfection...I shove thoughts of my parents and sister aside, packing them tightly into another time box. No dwelling on the what ifs. Stay present with now. It may be inevitable, but I'm not dead yet.

A hissing sound starts as the seal to the door releases and begins to open. How will this work? Will they be wearing space suits? Will they breath air? Will they kill me immediately? Just who are they...questions are still whirling through my head as the door cracks open. On second thought, maybe I should've tried to hold it closed?

I'm not immediately pulled into space—that's a relief. I'm having a hard time thinking beyond the next instant or so. Knowing you're about to die will do that to a girl.

It swings wide fast and hard and I'm glad I didn't try to hold it closed after all. My breath catches in my throat as an enormous shadow falls across the room. The opening for the hatch is approximately four feet around but the thing casting the shadow is huge! As it steps through, it has to bend over in half just to get through it. He's easily seven or more feet tall! A gigantic alien just boarded the Skylab, except it's not alone. My eyes widen and I press my body against the metal walls as four of them stream in behind the initial intruder.

No, they are all huge. Humanoid too. Two arms, two legs.

It takes a minute for me to realize they aren't exactly floating even though I still am. They have some kind of boots that enable them to walk in zero gravity. That's awesome! The one who boarded first comes directly at me and my brain processes that it's humanoid. From a distance, it might even be passable as human. It has two arms, two legs, a broad expanse of chest, but it's not quite human.

"Um, hello?" I stupidly hold out my hand. What am I expecting? For it to shake my hand like a neighbor stopping by? Maybe I was wrong about the life support compensating for the open hatch? I think I'm becoming oxygen deprived as I stare at the alien in front of me. It could almost pass for a man. A really big man. He looks vaguely familiar somehow. Of course, that could be a by-product of my brain dying a slow death from oxygen deprivation.

My hand drops slowly as I study him more closely. He definitely looks like a man. He's tall, and even though he's wearing clothing, I can see his skin is tanned and pulled taut across muscles that could easily squish me like a bug. His face is clean-shaven but the dark brown hair on his head is woven into an elaborate style that trails down his overly broad back. I wonder how long that took to do? My mind wanders to the sister who I'll never see again and the many childhood memories I have of doing each other's hair.

The deep rumble coming out of his mouth makes absolutely no sense to me but it does pull me back to the present. The present where I'm going to die any time now. Smiling absently, and trying to look as non-threatening as possible, I consider my options.

Here I am. The very first person to ever meet an alien race—except for those people that get abducted. But those must be different aliens, right? These guys are hunks compared to the gray-skinned, thin aliens that people have been claiming abduction by for hundreds of years. My innate curiosity wins out. I have to know more.

Pushing off from console area, I slowly float across the few feet between us. It's hard to process exactly how tall he is because our faces are at the same level as I float towards him. I'm aware my perspective is skewed by multiple factors right now—my fragile human system shutting down, the unadulterated fear of my impending death, and the literal awe of seeing an alien for the first time.

I use both hands to lightly grab his shoulders as he comes into reach. We stare into each others' eyes as my heart tries to flail out of my chest. I can hear my blood roaring in my ears. He doesn't appear afraid of me at all, more curious. If I had to judge his expression, I'd say he's bemused. He's probably wondering what the hell I am doing but these are the last minutes of my life.

I'll do what I want, dammit.

He's still rambling in what I assume to be his language periodically as we stare at each other. His face in general appears flatter than ours, including his nose. But he has full lips and I can see teeth briefly as he speaks. They look white and clean. His eyes are captivating. Green with a red color around the elongated pupil. Almost like a cat. As the red blends into the green, there's a fiery shade of orange.

When he directs his attention to one of the other aliens behind me, I slowly bring my hand up to his cheek, running my fingertips lightly across his skin. It's almost fuzzy feeling. Like velvet. My fingers drop lower and I ponder the lack of facial hair. Nothing on his jaw, just more smooth velvet fuzz.

I smile as naughty thoughts run through my head of places where this could really come in handy. No more whisker burn on inappropriate places. He could run his velvety face all over my inner thighs as he licks between my legs. I clench my knees together, surprised by the direction my thoughts have taken. So inappropriate.

As I pull my hand away, I realize he's been watching me. His nostrils, more horizontal than vertical from a face on view, flare as he appears to be smelling me. Or does he smell something else?

I sniff thoughtfully looking around. His mouth curls into a grin that would almost be panty-dropping if he were human.

His loud, barking voice has all the aliens behind him scrambling for the door. They're leaving already?

Strong arms wrap around me so quickly, I don't even see them coming. He moves so fast! He may be big but he's as smooth as a dancer. It isn't until we are stepping through the hatch that I manage to turn my head.

A sudden feeling of lightheadedness overtakes me as I realize I'm on an alien ship!

CHAPTER THREE

\- Bren

"How long do we have?" I know that Selas is right behind me as I exit the floating craft and board our much larger vessel. The human's vessel activated a detonator. Obviously, they didn't realize we'd immediately smell and sense it. But why? Why would they do that?

"We won't know until the sync between systems completes." Selas sounds as frustrated as I feel.

When we saw the Earth-based craft orbiting Mars, everyone assumed it was another unmanned vessel. I didn't correct them even though I could sense her. Selas and I have both been in and out of a few of their primitively constructed crafts. We can easily manipulate their computer systems.

"I need their language upload immediately. You get it too." Gravity reactivates and the soft bundle in my arms gasps. I don't let her go, even as her weight increases. She still feels like nothing in my arms. Like a child.

As the decontamination mist starts, she grabs my shoulders and buries her face in my suit. Selas laughs as she wraps her legs around me, trying to disappear. My cock is twitching with an almost uncomfortable tingling at the base. This has me worried. She shouldn't affect me this way. Nothing ever has. Not to mention military uniforms aren't made to hide an erection.

I give him an evil look over her head, but he just laughs harder. Ignoring him, I concentrate on cradling her gently. I've never held anyone like this before and a strange possessive feeling tightens the muscles in my arms. It feels right.

She starts coughing, shaking in my arms as she frantically covers her face. I'm beginning to worry that her fragile system can't handle decontamination. I consider stopping it early but it's almost over. As it dies down, I quickly exit. I hear the three other team members enter from behind me after disengaging from the human craft.

Not looking back, I head straight for the view room. Her coughing tapers off and she resumes watching where we are going. I like that she doesn't drop her grip from my waist and shoulders as she curiously looks around. This is good. She's intelligent. She will need to be to survive in our world.

I've known this day would come for almost a year but there is still so much I don't understand or know. My daily reflections have shown her to me over and over. Much to my chagrin, these interactions have often been sexual and arousing.

Don't get me wrong, I like it. I just don't understand why my subconscious is taking it there. I'm not surprised to find the viewing room full of crew members. Anyone who is on duty will be watching this.

Sitting down, I settle her on my lap. I'm relieved to note that the language upload is already at seventy-five percent. That is going much quicker than the data sync with their unknown craft.

"What is that?" A junior support technician finally airs the question everyone in the room wants to know. Everyone takes his words as an invitation to stare. "Is that a human?"

"So small..."

"Female? But the size..."

I don't like the way they are looking at her. More than one is sniffing loudly as they all start commenting out loud. Not that I can blame them. She's so different looking. Small, tiny, and helpless. She triggers our protective instincts into overdrive. And she smells heavenly. It's hard to describe but I can't imagine putting her down.

"Mine." Every eye turns away at once at my statement. They wouldn't dare challenge me for her. As primary captain, I get first right of refusal on anything we come across. It's a lot of responsibility. Of course, I'm duty bound to the council, but their interest is narrowly in line to our prime directive to seek out potentially habitable planets. And the human's planet "Earth" isn't in our allowable air space.

We've known it was there with an emerging species, but it only borders our zone and is protected by the Ashen. But as I inhale again, a world of possibilities is blooming in my mind. I've never questioned my daily reflections before. I learned that questioning was a childish endeavor. Why question what is? Why wonder why what is to be, will be?

Instructor One would have said that questioning is counter productive to the entire process. Instead of calming our thoughts and bodies, questioning the visions will only bring stress to your system. Accept and adapt to what you see. Feel, relax, and accept.

Taking deep breaths of her intoxicating essence, I try to relax. But what I feel is the tingling in my cock heighten and spread as I relax and accept that she is here with me. Safe.

Mine.

Fuck! I don't believe that I am supposed to keep her like a pet. Not that I wouldn't enjoy that. Having her would make me needed beyond the obvious profession of primary captain. It would be intoxicating to be the most important person in someone's world. Could that really happen?

She's a sentient being that shortly I'll be able to communicate with. She is in my path for a logical reason. Until then, she's mine to protect. I'll help her. I'll fulfill this duty that has entered my life.

There is too much in my world that I have no control over already. I don't want another aspect of it taken over by duty or fate.

Ignoring the stares that I know continue on every side, I reach up to run her hair between my fingers.

It's so fine and thin. More a filament than fiber. Each strand looks like a ray of light beaming down from a sun. It's been too long since I've seen one.

She mimics my movement by lightly stroking my head over my ear. To my surprise, hundreds of fibers detach and wrap around her hand, startling her as she jumps. They tug on her fingers they're woven around as I try to pull them back into alignment with my mind.

I'm surprised. I haven't lost this much control over my hair since childhood. As she withdraws her hand slowly, they stroke her face timidly before sweeping obediently back into place.

Neither one of us speaks as we stare at each other. This exotic, female human is inspiring some strange reactions in my body. Mentally, I can't help being extremely wary. I wouldn't be captain of this ship if I didn't have excellent control and the drive to maintain and keep order in every aspect of my life and career. This slip of a female is already testing every boundary I've created. The quicker she is in and out of here, the better.

Pulling my gaze from her smoky, blue eyes, I lock my attention onto her ship centered in the viewing screen. Tightening my grip on her in anticipation, I wait for it to explode.

CHAPTER FOUR

\- Hannah

I'm starting to shake. Excitement...fear...shock...who fucking knows. As amazing as it was to see aliens for the first time, once would have been simply fine. Now, I'm surrounded by them. There must be forty in this room alone.

Big, big men...or aliens. Whatever.

There are chairs everywhere and they're all filled. Some are just lounging against the wall. If they aren't looking at me, they're staring at the wall that looks out into space. I feel like I could just step out of the room. It's that clear.

Most of them are looking at me. When they stare, I just stare back. All of them have long hair done in elaborate styles. They are also all huge, muscular, and intimidating. It feels like being in a football team's locker room.

I'm guessing they're over seven feet tall. I'm only five foot three, so they seem mammoth. When the big guy I'm sitting on notices more and more are starting to stare, he barks at them and they all look away as one.

It's eerie.

The Mars Hope Skylab grabs my attention. It looks so tiny already and it's shrinking fast. It doesn't feel like we're moving at all.

When the lab explodes, I flinch. The flash from the explosion seems to swell and come right at us, lighting up the room with bright light. Even expecting it, I'm stunned. Less than a second later, the arms around me tighten even more as the ship shakes. The effect seems slight and I briefly wonder just how big this ship is. It must be fucking huge and now I'm stuck here.

Why did NASA have to do that? I mean, I get having protocols, but why couldn't I stop it? I knew once they opened the hatch the count down would begin because of the breach but it started even before that. The aliens must have tripped some sensor on the exterior.

Silent tears fall down my cheeks as the gravity of the situation settle on me. Sniffing discreetly, I wipe the tears on my sleeves as they continue to fall. How long will it take NASA to realize that the Skylab is gone? With the communications down, will they ever know for sure?

Conversations between the aliens are starting to quietly pick up around me. I'm pulled from my shocked musings as they start to register. It slowly dawns on me that the blast was an expected event that they knew was coming. Now that it is over, their earlier conversations are resuming. And I can't understand a word.

Fuck, this is bad! What in the world am I doing here? My tears start all over again.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. What was I thinking letting them take me off the Skylab? This is very bad.

It's not like they're treating me like an ambassador from another planet. I'm sitting on a lap, like a dog. He's even started petting my hair like one while he speaks to the other alien guy we walked in with.

I freeze as these thoughts continue to tumble through my brain. Something that looks suspiciously like an old-fashioned handkerchief is waving in front of my face. I look slowly at the big alien I'm sitting on.

"Th-thank you." I whisper.

Slowly, I clean up my cheeks as best I can. Sniffing and dabbing my nose, I try not to get too much snot on it. At least I'm not wearing mascara. I haven't worn makeup since I left Earth. And see, those are just the sort of dumb, random thoughts that keep popping up in my head right now. Who cares?

"You're welcome." The words are barely discernible behind me and I quickly whip my upper body around, bracing my hand on his chest to look at him. Our faces are inches apart and I'm looking into his green and red gaze.

I didn't imagine that. "You speak English?" My tone is almost accusatory, as if he has betrayed me by hiding this.

"Almost." He taps his head to the side of his eye two times before slowly saying, "Learning now."

Okay. Really? I don't even know what he means. Learning right now?

His words are slow and stilted with a deep, guttural accent, but still clear. I understand him at least!

Sitting up straighter, I wiggle forward on his thighs to slide from his lap. I'm fine and a little distance and formality would be good. But as I brace myself on his leg, he anticipates what I'm doing, and his arms tighten, effectively stopping me.

Okay. So, I'm not going to stand right now. When I look back at him again, he's gazing at me with a questioning look. I'm not even going to try and explain that I feel like a child sitting on his lap. Instead, I slide my butt back until it's at the edge of his thigh with my back against the arm of the chair. Now I can slide my feet up and put them on the chair seat between his legs.

It angles me towards him, so I can feel involved in the conversation.

His attention is still riveted to my movements. Slowly, I reach up and put an open hand on my chest. "I'm Hannah. What's your name?" That seems like a wonderful place to start.

Of course, I also want to know what he plans to do with me! As quickly as possible would be ideal. But starting with names is a good idea. Instead of telling me his name, like a civilized person would, he completely ignores me and starts talking to his friend again. I give him a minute.

Maybe it's important?

His friend's hair is a bit darker and so is his skin tone. Their outfits are identical though. They look like one-piece dark gray jumpsuits. Most guys would look ridiculous in that. Even the male astronauts at NASA were not in anywhere near the physical shape that all these guys are.

My gaze travels the room slowly.

Nope.

And their nice jumpsuits mold to their butts perfectly. That's a nice perk a girl could get used to. I don't know why I am even noticing that though. I've been fine with not thinking about men sexually for almost a year now. I'm not sure what changed but seeing these guys with their big bodies and muscular physique, it's definitely getting to me.

Even though they look a lot like human men physically, I wonder what their differences are? I squeeze my legs together and notice the muscles flex in the legs under me. I need to stop thinking like this!

I hope they don't have some weird laws about women working because I haven't seen another woman—or would that be a female alien—yet. I turn my head and do a room scan again. Definitely don't see anyone with boobs.

I'm brought back to the present by the jostling under me. As if I'm a child, he picks me up, spreading my legs around his waist and I automatically link them behind his back. As he strides quickly for the door, I throw my arms around his neck, clinging to him like a monkey. I stare back over his shoulder as every set of eyes in the room watch us leave.

My arms tighten a bit reflexively. There are so many! And I don't think it's my imagination, but some of them look pretty angry.

I try to see where we're going, but he has my crotch pinned to him by his arms around my low waist. It's way easier to see what we've already passed.

A few of the alien guys even come out of their doors to stare at us walking away after we pass.

Great! Just great.

Stopping briefly, I think we made it to wherever it is we are going. But then the wall opens, and we step into a cylindrical room that seals us inside.

Immediately, I can tell we are moving. Quickly! So, this is some kind of personal elevator?

"I'm Bren." I shift my upper body away from him at his rumbling of words in my ear. The elevator is so small, my shoulders start brushing the wall behind me even though our faces are only inches apart. It feels so intimate and I can feel myself blush.

Damn, Hannah. Get a fucking grip. Stop making this into something uncomfortable! God damn it, focus!

Taking a deep breath, I clear my throat as I exhale. "Bren?" I repeat, pointing at his chest almost touching mine.

"Yes." Now we're getting somewhere. I wiggle a bit in my excitement and then freeze appalled. I have to keep in mind where and what I'm rubbing on. I feel excited though. In an inappropriate way and it's embarrassing.

I still smile though. At least he's speaking to me. "Hannah." I turn my finger to myself, still grinning.

"Hannah." He repeats it pretty well. His voice is deep, and he cuts the syllables really short, but it's definitely my name. "Hannah." He repeats it as he leans into me, bringing our noses within an inch. It's a bit startling and I pull back, but the elevator wall is right there!

"Yes. Yes, that's me." My voice is low as he continues to lean into me and at the same time uses one of his arms behind me to pull my upper body into him.

I tilt my head up, settling it against the wall and he immediately buries his face in my neck. Is this an alien thing? His lips tickle my neck as he runs them up and down from my hairline to my collar bone. His warm breath near my ear drives me crazy.

I freeze. Startled and aroused, I try to not let it bother me. It's humiliating how he's hijacked my libido with a hug. It's been a long time since I've felt this way so it's not totally surprising. I need to cut myself some slack and try to relax. Giggling and squirming a bit, I fall into him, arms around his neck, giving up in hopes he'll stop once it no longer interests him.

After a few seconds though, I can't stand it anymore. It tickles. "Bren, Bren!" I squeak out his name and arch back again, scolding when he doesn't stop. Thankfully, the elevator door opens, distracting him from me.

The lights are dimmer on this floor as he quickly turns to the right and heads down the hall. We only go about five doors down before we reach the end. The door slides open automatically, and he strides inside what appears to be a basic apartment. It's small and compact, but it's clear that there's a food prep area, a bed and another door that goes to what I'm guessing is a bathroom. Which reminds me...I could go.

Slowly, he lowers me to the floor. Stepping a foot or so away, he looks at me speculatively.

Oh, right. Turning in a slow circle, I take in the twenty foot square room and shake my head admiringly. "This is great." I smile up at him appreciatively. "Thank you so much."

His eyes narrow a bit as he looks me up and down. Maybe there's more I should be doing in his culture?

Clasping my hands palm to palm over my chest in front of me, I bend forward and lower my eyes. "Thank you for the room."

When I look up, he's reaching out for my arm. He pinches the fabric of my light space suit. His massive hand looks human enough even if his nails look darker than ours. They have a pearlescent tint to the deep brown nails.

"Take off." His words are clear but what? Yeah, eventually I'll want a clean set of clothes, but I've got a few other things to worry about right now. A little alone time to think this all through would be a clever plan.

"I'm okay. Thanks." I back up a little towards the bathroom door and peek in briefly. Looks safe enough.

"Remove clothes." He moves beside me as I access the kitchen prep space. Nothing looks familiar yet.

"Maybe eventually. But these are fine for now." His intent stare is starting to weird me out. Does he want to see me naked? That seems abrupt and I'm not going to start reading into things.

"Remove this clothes now." His voice is deeper and more demanding this time. That was pretty fucking clear but I'm not giving up yet.

"Why?" Does he know that word yet? Today is getting weirder and weirder but I'm not getting naked in front of my new alien friend. I'm sure he's just curious, and don't get me wrong, I am too! But there has to be some kind of formality here. He can't treat me like a pet. A novelty or toy or something. And with how turned on I am from just sitting on his lap, it will be a crushing blow to my ego.

It's pretty damn clear that he isn't as into me. His outfit doesn't hide the curvature of his cock. It's big, but not hard.

This is just some kind of alien formality that I don't know or understand.

Right?

CHAPTER FIVE

\- Bren

She wants to know why?

I don't even know why.

Well, I do. I've seen her in my daily reflections and I'm curious. She has a marking on her arm. Certainly, if that is on this tiny, female human, it is fate. I've never had a visionary reflection like this.

In our history's past, they weren't uncommon. They were normal, even necessary. But we aren't that race any longer. Our nano technology changed us all long ago.

I know it's a bad idea, but the pull I feel towards her is undeniable. I can't help but push. "I want to see you without them. Your skin?" Her mouth drops open a bit as her eyes get wide. That looks like fear. Ah, so that is what her fear smells like. That is not what I have been smelling on her though.

"No! I'm not taking off my clothes right now." Her face is turning an incredible color. Red. Her fear is turning into anger now.

I need to change this. Assure her. "Why? Why won't you take off your clothes right now?" Slowly, I move forward and sit on the edge of the sleeping platform. She's within reach.

"Because it isn't proper." She's relaxing a bit as I lean back on the bed on my arms, feigning nonchalance.

"It's not proper to take off your clothes in your bedroom?" This English isn't so bad, and my language download has done a great job at lining up our words. She understands everything I've said so far.

"It's not proper unless you are going to clean up in the bathroom or change to go to bed. I don't have anything to change into." Her hands flutter towards the bathroom before she starts wringing them in front of herself.

Now she is making excuses.

"Why don't you get cleaned up and I'll find you something to wear? Do you need me to show you how to use anything in the facility?" This relaxes her some more. I can almost taste the smell of her fresh scent returning to the normal alluring flavor she seems to give off naturally.

She walks into the facility room and looks around. "Is there water in here?" She sounds surprised again.

Standing, I move to lean across the door frame. "Yes, of course. Do you need me to turn it on?"

"Yes please!" She's excited and claps her hands a few times as I go through the motions and show her how to turn the spray on and off. She smiles at me and I can't define what I feel from it. All I know is that I want to make her do it more.

"I don't have any oils for your skin after." I don't know why I'm saying this. I'll get her some if she wants, but I don't want her to turn into the pampered and entitled females I've dealt with all my life.

"Don't worry about that! It's been a year since I've had a decent shower. Thank you so much." I freeze as she hugs me before pushing me back towards the door. She can't move me, but after my brain restarts, I begrudgingly move out of the room. I'll give her a couple minutes, but she can't keep me out.

She shuts the door and I hear her taking off her clothes and moving into the water spray.

Quickly, I pull a shirt from home out of my drawer and then walk into the bathroom. I can't see her through the opaque water shield, but she immediately cries out. "What are you doing in here?"

"I've brought your clothes and I'll take your dirty ones away." I switch them quickly before walking out to throw her old clothes in the trash. The smell of fear along with other unidentifiable odors makes it an easy decision. She needs to be in my clothes now. I don't know why I feel that way, but it makes total sense. I don't have to tell her that right now. Not yet.

Unfastening my crew suit, I throw it in the cleaning unit before quickly returning to the facilities.

The warm, humid air hits my skin and breathing it in, I smell her intoxicating scent. Incredible.

My entire body is tingling. This is how I felt in my daily reflections—only times one hundred. It's as if joy has become a living entity and entered my body. Exhilaration seems to sing in my veins.

It's her. Somehow, being with her is causing this reaction. I don't understand it, but now that we are in the same room together, I never want to be apart.

My cock is vibrating softly too. It's thicker than I've ever seen it and as I gently grasp and stroke it, it twitches in my hand. It feels incredible but all I really want is for her to do that. He seems to know something is different more than I do.

Shaken, I stare at myself in the reflecting glass above the sink. She calls this a mirror. The random thought distracts me, and I realize that my life is now entirely out of my hands.

Petrified now, I start running through the clues. Visions in my reflections, tingling head to toe, the undeniable attraction I feel for her. These are all attributes in the myths for mating pull.

Instead of entering the shower with her, I wrap a drying cloth—towel?—around my waist and sit down to wait for her to come out.

Her soft murmurs and chatter in her language along with moans of joy only make me tingle more. I want to leave but physically, it seems impossible.

Mentally unthinkable too. I sit in a daze and try to breathe slowly, reflecting on what I'm feeling. It's hard to think. Hard to process with my body screaming.

I drop my head to concentrate, clasping my hands tightly in my lap. Fine red lines trail from my fingertips up my arms in a symmetrical pattern. The markings on my arms and chest seem even more detailed than I noticed earlier this morning.

Astounding!

Abruptly, the water cuts off and she opens the door to the wash area.

Hot, steamy air flows out, and she spots me at once. I stare at her. Drinking in her naked form has me stunned. She's more incredible than any of my visions.

The baggy suit she removed to wash herself hid her form, making her appear round and shapeless, but she has a beautiful hourglass figure with larger breasts than I've ever seen before on a female. I'd never considered whether this would be attractive to me. Does it matter?

Will I ever have a choice? Why torture yourself with considerations that will never be options?

Mute, I hold up the drying wrap in front of me, so she has to come to me for it.

She tries to grab it from my hands but I hold firm, and pull her to me as I wrap it around her.

I can't speak as a symphony of sensations crash into me on all sides.

I don't want to cover her. I want to touch her, but this may be the only way.

CHAPTER SIX

\- Hannah

The water feels delicious, pouring over my body. I feel my muscles relax as I run my hands lightly over myself. There's no soap or shampoo in here, so I just scrub myself up as best I can. I'm just so happy and thankful to be taking a shower! Carefully, I make sure I don't get water in my mouth—just in case. I'd be grossed out to find out how they process this, no matter what.

I need to figure out how to talk Bren into taking me home. Back to Earth. I'm sure they can.

He never looked surprised to see me. They appear to know about humans and it didn't take him long to learn the language. I've got to get him to teach me that trick too. Languages were never my strong suit.

They're obviously a very advanced race.

So...number one, I need to try to talk him into taking me home and just dropping me off. But then how will I explain how I got back? Where I've been? Fuck!

I'll just have to tell the truth, but I want to get back to my life, and my career. Is that even possible now? The more I think about it, the more my head hurts.

One thing at a time. I'm here. With an advanced race of aliens, and I'm going to spend as much time as possible learning as much as I can. I'd be kidding myself if I didn't admit that I'm fascinated with them. There's so much I would love to study about their biology and the similarities and differences between us.

But with the way Bren is acting, I'm not sure what to think. Stroking me, carrying me—like a pet.

He could sell me. If they're anything like humans, I'm in a world of trouble.

No. It's better to get back to Earth ASAP. I've just got to deal with whatever he throws my way. He's a big guy. He could squish me like a bug.

Now that I'm clean and a bit relaxed, I brace myself mentally.

I can do this! Be their guest and represent humans. Show how smart, progressive, and kind we are.

Stay alive. And get home.

Simple, right?

With my body clean and my mind firmly set, I shut off the spray. The shower door disappears as the spray dies.

I gasp and grab my chest. Fuck me.

Bren is sitting right there with just a towel wrapped around his waist. He scared the shit out of me! Is he planning to shower next?

Trying to be modest, I cover myself with my hands but it's a pretty futile effort. He's seen everything and holds up a towel, opening it for me.

"Thank you." Reaching forward, I try to grab it from him, but his large body dwarfs the space as he pulls me towards him and wraps the towel around me, effectively tugging and trapping me against his chest.

His very warm, defined chest. He smells good too. He doesn't need a shower.

Trying not to stare at his impressive body, I quickly categorize the toned muscles and ornate, light tattoos that travel from his neck and chest, down his arms. They swirl with green, blue, and even mauve. It doesn't look like a normal tattoo since the colors aren't stationary but I don't want to stare too closely.

We are eye level since he's sitting, arms pressing us tightly together. His nostrils flare and eyelids droop sensually as he starts to rub the towel, soaking up the water on my body. Starting at my shoulders, his hands run up my arms before moving onto my back.

His touch sends tingles through me as he slowly runs his hands and eyes over me.

Okay. I can handle this. I just told myself I was going to do whatever it takes to survive.

Whatever it takes!

If he figures he needs a little alien anatomy lesson, so be it. I'll use this to my advantage, right?

Pulling the towel slowly away from my body, he moves it up to dry my hair. It's a matted mess down my back, but that's what happens when you don't have conditioner and you haven't cut it in a year. I just haven't bothered to keep up with it during my time in space.

Drying my face and neck, he lets the towel drop next to us. His hands trace from my neck to my chest. He seems fascinated as he slowly circles my nipples with his thumbs before cupping them gently. Tingles shoot out from his fingers and dance across my skin, right to my clit. I should be mortified! I should be snatching the towel back up and wrapping it around myself, slapping his hands away and yelling no. But it feels so good. Like I'm walking through a desert and he's the water. Every touch is electric and the more he touches me, the more I feel like I need it.

"You are so smooth and soft." His voice is deeper now as he watches my nipples pucker in the cool air.

Despite myself, I can't help the thrill of arousal that shoots through my body. It's been a long time since anyone has touched me. Is that why I'm so attracted to him?

Reaching out slowly, I put my hand on his neck and run it down his arm, tracing a fine line. There are markings that cover his chest, arms and even part of his neck. Are these tattoos or part of his genetic makeup?

His skin is like velvet with fine, soft hair that seems to come up to reach my fingers as I graze it. "You feel like velvet." My voice is breathless and barely above a whisper before I clear my throat.

Concentrate, damn it! "Did you find any clothes I could wear?"

He blinks and then grabs me into his arms, pressing my naked body to his sculpted, firm chest before walking out to the bedroom. "You don't need them here."

Lowering us both down to the bed, he lays me down under him. He's holding himself above me on his knees and elbows.

I have a terrible urge to stroke him all over. Or rub against him like a cat in heat. He feels so good against me with those soft hairs against my naked body. But I'm also petrified.

Even though I'm attracted to him, he's an alien and I'm at his mercy. And he's just so big! All I can see is the broad expanse of his chest and arms, caging me in.

His face lowers to mine slowly and I think for a second, he's going to kiss me—and I want him to...but instead, he leans in to run his nose and face up the side of my neck to my ear.

I hear him inhale as goosebumps break out everywhere on my body. It's like an electrical volt went straight up and down my spine, tightening my nipples and I feel my pussy clench. Liquid gushes from me and I can't help gasping in dismay and embarrassment.

What is going on with me? I've never reacted this way to a guy. Sure, I've been horny, but this is ridiculous.

Squeezing my legs together, I feel moisture slick between my legs. Panicking, I can't help asking, "Do I smell clean? There wasn't any soap or anything."

He audibly inhales above me and I watch in fascination as his eyes close as if savoring the smell. "You smell so wonderful. Don't move."

The words are barely out of his mouth before he starts slowly moving his face down my body. His sniffing isn't loud, but I'm frozen in shock and fear as he keeps getting lower before stopping over my crotch. "Spread your thighs." His breath is warm on my pussy as he breathes deeply, waiting for me to comply.

Sitting up on my elbows a bit, I hesitate. "What are you doing?"

His eyes meet mine as his head lifts. "I want to taste you. You smell so good and this is where it is coming from." Licking his lips, his eyes drop to my pussy again and he moves his arms quickly tucking them around my thighs and pulling them apart.

I gasp and drop onto my back at his move. Fuck me, he's fast!

"Wait!" I lift up onto my arms again to look at him hovering over my spread body. "I'm sensitive there. Please be careful." I lay back and close my eyes, resigning myself. It's not that I don't want this. I'm super horny and every touch from him just seems to ramp that up more. But I've never been comfortable with guys going down on me. I guess in my own head, I can't understand what would attract them to do that.

"I'll be gentle. Just relax." His tongue immediately starts sliding along my slit, working it's way inside.

It feels incredible and I jump and grab his head without thinking. My hands sink into his hair as he uses his hands wrapped around my legs to expose me more to his mouth. My back arches as I throw my head back and moan.

Yes! Did I say that aloud?

Does it matter? I'm grinding my pussy on his lips, as I start to breathe harder. Jolts of fiery pleasure shoot through me and I can't help but surrender to the bliss.

He doesn't stop either. He picks up speed as his tongue slides up and down my now gushing cleft. I absently note that there is something about it that feels different from anything I've experienced before. But this whole experience is so much more.

More wetness. More pleasure. More need. I need this now. With my head thrown back, I see bright lights in my vision as I feel an impending orgasm rushing towards me.

Hot and thick, he penetrates me with his tongue as he moans, adding a nice vibration into the mix.

I arch my back, squirming at how good it feels as he continues to plunge his tongue inside me.

His arms tighten more as I start to pant.

His tongue is roaming back and forth, hitting my clit repeatedly, shooting pleasure through me at a speed my mind can't keep up with.

My body is tightening at the instant pleasure his tongue creates. Moaning, I pull him tighter against my clit as he starts to apply just the perfect movement against me.

I feel his hair start to unravel in my hands as it gets knotted around me, holding my hands to his head. That's...interesting. It moves on its own, running up my wrists to my shoulders. But there's no time to question it. I can't concentrate on anything but his mouth!

His hot, textured tongue teases and torments me. I don't even recognize the keening noises I'm making as I look down to watch him dominate me with his mouth.

He sucks, then licks before scraping his teeth lightly down me to plunge his tongue inside me again. It's incredible and I know I'm going to come soon if he doesn't stop. I don't want him to stop either. It's just too damn good.

Licking back up, he pushes at the hood of my clit, tormenting that tiny spot making my legs shake and driving me wild.

I clutch him tighter, moving my hands in his hair and arching into his movements. One of the arms around my legs loosens and I feel a thick finger pressing inside me.

I squeeze it instinctively, milking it while he licks. The ache inside me builds as he rubs and pushes further inside. That's all it takes.

My body tenses, freezing as I explode. Moisture rushes from my cunt as moans tear from my throat. I see stars as my body shakes and squeezes his finger.

His tongue laps at me gently and moves down again to plunge inside me and his moans join mine. Whatever he's doing to me is way beyond anything I've ever felt before. Never have I come so hard or for so long. Even my handy vibrator never topped this!

Bren's mouth moves away as he pants over me, each breath sending shock waves through my system. His finger slowly slides out of me and I can tell I'm soaked.

He uses his fingers to spread my juices around, up and down.

I moan softly as he brushes my oversensitive tissue. He coats me with my slick release.

When the bed moves, I open my eyes to see him moving up my body. His hair floats all around his head, totally wrecked from the ornate style it was in earlier. It seems like it is reaching for me.

I stare at him in shock as he climbs over me and pins me again under him before pulling the towel off his lower body.

I'm not going to panic—or look down. He just gave me the most incredible orgasm of my entire life. And he looks like he enjoyed it too with his wild hair and lust-filled eyes. I'm sure I'm looking at him the same way as he slowly lowers himself down and I feel his cock nudge my opening.

CHAPTER SEVEN

\- Bren

My cock brushes against her wet cunt and begs me to plunge into her.

My hard cock. Something I've never seen before and I'm not even taking the time to admire it. But it's throbbing along with my entire body to mate her. She's so small though. And my cock is enormous right now.

When I put my finger inside her, she clenched it like that was all that would fit. She's a woman though and her body is designed to accept mine, so she should stretch, but I hesitate as I lower myself. Logic says this wouldn't be happening if we weren't compatible.

Rubbing against her, I spread her juices down my length. My hair helps by stroking and coating us both as it enjoys her warmth and wetness. Never have I tasted anything like her. She's an aphrodisiac. When I smell her, I want to taste her. When I taste her, I want to fuck her.

When I first noticed her scent, I thought it was a chemical pheromone she used on her body but it comes right from her cunt. Incredible. And delicious.

Pressing slightly against her opening, my cock head breaches her channel. Her face is flushed from her release and I'm encouraged as she spreads her legs wider and tilts her body towards me.

Slowly, I push forward, feeling her squeeze and tighten as the pressure in her channel clamps around me. It's pleasure like I've never experienced and opening her to me is easier than I anticipated.

Hannah gasps below me as I lower more and her legs wrap around my waist. Her small hands grab my shoulders. Our eyes lock. Her blue eyes with their round pupil seem much rounder than a normal eye as they widen while I push forward slowly. Even through the borderline panic, her moan of pleasure spurs me on.

When I'm half way in, I stop and slowly pull back as her eyes flutter shut and she exhales beneath me. "Am I hurting you, Hannah?"

Her eyes snap open and up to meet mine and she smiles softly. "Not at all. It's wonderful."

I smile back as I move inside her again, pushing in further this time and she arches and allows me entrance. "You are so tight. Tell me if I hurt you." She nods as I spread my legs wider to get more leverage, relieved that she is accepting me.

I'm torn between passion and pain as her wet, tight channel squeezes me, making it hard for me to keep control. Working my hard dick, in and out, I slowly penetrate her. When I'm almost completely inside her, I feel the top edge of her as my cock hits deep inside her channel.

She gasps and moans, tightening around me as I slide the last of my male member deep into her. We are both panting as we gaze at each other. Her eyes are big but there is a small smile on her lips.

"I'm in." Groaning, I rock against her gently. "We are one." Saying the ritualistic words seems to spur my body into action.

I see the markings on me. Before they were just light outlines on my chest and arms, but now they are darkening and pulsing. They swirl with my passion, deepening as the colors reflect off us both as I move inside her.

I can see passion in her eyes as she tightens with my small movements. Her body is made for me. I knew she was the one when I saw her.

Everything I ever wanted is going to work out, I just know it. "Are you ready?"

She gives a small nod and smiles again as I let out a relieved breath. Thank fuck. It is killing me to stay still. She feels so good, too good.

This won't last long but I didn't expect it to the first time.

Moving slowly, I slide my ridged cock slowly out and in, penetrating her completely as I pick up the pace.

I fuck her with long, firm strokes that have her groaning loudly beneath me. It feels incredible. Perfect. And right.

Shifting my hips, I angle up and new wetness gushes around me making my cock harder even as my mouth waters.

She's bucking under me in time with my movements as I slide my arms under her upper body to cradle her to me. Our hair entwines, even though hers doesn't respond. It doesn't matter to me though. I know we are different, but not so different...

I stroke her everywhere, inside and out. I'm careful not to crush her as I start pushing deeper inside her, my tip is getting squeezed with each dip in.

It's time. She's mine.

My cock explodes deep inside her as I hold her to me, wanting to be together forever. Lights explode behind my eyes as my cum shoots into her. My skin feels on fire as the markings pulse in time with each burst deep into her and I hear my roar of satisfaction and conquest.

It goes on and on as she arches and moans beneath me, rubbing her entire channel on my hard rod buried deep inside her. I keep coming as she milks me, squeezing and relaxing, growing fainter as her body winds down with mine.

Immediately, I feel her contentment blanket mine, reassuring me that everything is falling into place perfectly. Completion is a rarely discussed topic, spoken of in hushed whispers and never with any descriptions coming close to what I'm experiencing.

This is the difference. What we've lost as a people. I wasn't even aware I've been searching for it.

Watching with utter satisfaction, our mirrored mating marks pulse with colors in a fine, detailed swirling design on our skin. The tops of her shoulder blades and back of her neck are just starting to deepen and pulse in time with her slowing breath. They are the surest sign that our mating is complete, and I'm relieved to see them developing on her.

Dropping to my side, I pull her body snug against me. Rolling I keep us connected and my cock buried inside her. She sighs and settles quietly on top of me, slowly rubbing her cheek on my chest before dropping her head and closing her eyes.

I can feel her contentment tinged with confusion through our bond. The confusion I can understand too. Who would have guessed our species were compatible? Of course, we've never actively searched for other species to mate with, just other worlds to inhabit. The council wouldn't be too keen on making that part of their mandate!

But it's done. My arms tighten briefly before I arch my cock deeper inside her and begin to softly stroke her back.

She's mine. Perfectly mine. And I never will let her go.

I'll figure out how to make her happy, so she'll never wants to leave. Feeling her contentment now gives me hope that I can do it. I can overcome my lack of knowledge of the opposite sex. She enjoyed my lovemaking now.

The other obstacles seem so far away, and I don't want them to intrude on this contentment and the joy we are sharing of our bond. It makes sense that new couples would go away to celebrate and just enjoy one another for weeks after their mating. The intimacy and pleasure are extreme and even now, still enjoying her tightness around me, I want to hear her cries and watch her gush around me.

My thoughts cause her to tighten and press into me and I feel her pleasure wash over us both just as my door alarm sounds.

Fuck the gates of hell!

There is only one person that would drop by without letting me know first and I didn't expect to see him so soon.

Gently, I roll us onto our sides so that I can ease my still hard cock out of her channel. Hannah smiles up at me as I lower her down. "The door. Stay here." Her moan of assent makes me groan in reply.

Quickly, I throw my legs over the side of the bed and pull the covers up and over her naked form. He's not going to get a free show while he's here.

Smiling grimly, I rethink that thought. He's not going to get a free show of my mate.

Checking the viewer, I confirm it's Atticus. He's the ship's medical doctor and one of my closest friends. But even with him, I feel territorial and letting him in feels like sharing even though I know he's only concerned.

Crossing my arms over my naked chest, I activate the door and watch his face change from grim determination to horror. His eyes jerk back to mine quickly as he mimics my stance, crossing his own arms slowly.

"Should I come back?" He steps forward and into my place despite his words. "Never mind. I'm not leaving."

He turns, and forces closed my door, too impatient to wait for the auto close sensor to engage. Spinning back towards me, his eyes roam over my markings slowly.

"Tell me everything."

CHAPTER EIGHT

\- Hannah

Slowly, I start to make sense of what is going on around me. Bren's voice is a low murmur, joined by a much more antagonistic tone. They are twenty feet away, but they could be on the moon for as much as they affect me.

I'm wiped, literally and figuratively! My eyes pop open to look at the ceiling. That orgasm took the last of my strength.

Too bad he had to take off and answer the door. What could've been that important? Not what I was expecting. No— "honey, that was wonderful", or "you blew my mind". Figures.

I can't help the tiny bit of disappointment I'm feeling. I guess there won't be any cuddling and basking in the after great sex euphoria. But then I snap out of it.

This is survival. Yes, I'm using sex as a tool here to survive and get back to Earth. Hopefully.

Right?

I can't let one great—no spectacular, sexual encounter derail me from wanting to go home. My face heats a bit at the reminder.

Stretching, I pull the covers down enough to watch Bren's butt as he talks to our visitor. Perfect.

Yes, that was amazingly effective. I'm not exactly pursuing all my options as I lay here. My hand slides between my legs where our combined juices soak me.

Quickly he turns and smiles at me. Obviously, he can't really realize that I am remembering him licking between my legs so perfectly. His full lips curve and eyes sparkle, I admire the symmetry of his face. He doesn't look away as he barks at our guest. "Leave. My..." The rest of what he says is lost in translation as he takes the few steps towards the bed and my mind scrambles.

I barely register the opening and closing of the door as we are left alone again.

His wild hair dances around us as he slides into the bed next to me. It's flowing and almost vibrating as it moves closer to my head. "I think I need a nap?" I pose it as a question, but it's really a statement.

His hair moves in closer as he leans in, our noses almost touching. "You rest. You are mine. I will keep you safe and you will stay in this room when I can't be with you. Understand?"

Anger makes my brow furrow and lips purse. Oh, I understand all right. But I also know and understand that arguing right now is not in my best interest. I don't have the energy for it. And shouldn't I be saving my energy for more important arguments?

"Got it. I understand that I need to stay in the room if you aren't with me." My hands brush his hair that is still wildly haloing his head. The strands cling and wrap around my fingers and hands, not holding me but stroking and sliding as I pull them away. It distracts me instantly. It's like it has a mind of its own. "Are you doing that? Can you control your hair and make it wrap around me?"

Propping his head up on his elbow, he smiles as his hair continues to slide and wrap and release my hand. Moving up, it strokes along my arm slowly. "Not exactly. It just wants you as my entire body does, although I can force it into submission."

Slowly, his hair pulls away and most of it stands up on end before starting at the bottom, it slowly laps and weaves into the intricate design down the back he was wearing when I met him.

"Wow!" I hop up onto my knees to watch it finish the intricate design. "That is incredible." I'm speechless really.

My eyes immediately drop to his cock. This is the first time I've really looked at him—there. It looks surprisingly similar to a human male and lengthens as soon as I lay eyes on it. Yep. That's pretty normal.

The hair here is shorter, a couple of inches or so. It dances around just like the hair on his head did. As I watch, it settles into a circular, intricate design around his still lengthening cock.

"Very impressive." I smile as I glance up at Bren. He looks smug, but a bit pained.

Slowly, I reach for his cock, and stroke from the base to the tip. It's silk over rock and my pussy clenches in anticipation. The hairs spring up reaching for me and when I lower my hand to the base, they caress and dance around me as if in joy.

Laughing, I put a few between my fingers to stroke them and gauge their width. They are definitely a bit thicker than hair. I move my attention to his dick that is hard as a rock and almost poking me in the face. I'm so impressed with myself. I can't believe that fit in me! If I had seen it before, I don't know if I would have attempted it. As I lightly stroke it, I note it's thicker than my wrist and comes to the bend in my elbow as I grasp the base.

Fucking hell. The head is thicker than a human's too without the distinctive head cap and I don't see any scarring that would indicate he was circumcised.

Speaking of cutting...

"Do you trim your hair?" Sitting up, I stroke my damp mass and realize it desperately needs combing.

"Trim meaning cut? With a knife?" He looks at my hair and then at his cock with worry.

"My hair needs trimming on the ends to help it stay healthy and keep growing properly." I hold up the end of my hair. "Do you trim yours?"

He shakes his head. "It isn't necessary. My hair sheds like skin and it wouldn't help it grow. It stays healthy."

"Does that mean it bleeds when it's cut? Like skin?"

He looks even more puzzled now. "No, it seals and heals."

I'm not sure if it's a language barrier or what, but I'd like to get a comb. I look doubtfully at his hair, already pristine without a piece out of place. Bastards.

"Do you have a comb I could use to fix my hair?" Pulling my fingers through it, I try to demonstrate what I mean.

He laughs! It's a deep chuckle and I'm surprised and enthralled at once. He is much better looking when he smiles. Devastatingly so. My heart leaps and I feel like a school girl. What is going on with me? He's making me feel like a crush and I'm as horny as a virgin too.

"We don't have anything like that, but I'll call down to engineering and see what they can produce."

"Thank you." Smiling, I keep working on my hair, starting at the bottom and trying to pull out the biggest clumps first. He quietly watches me before sitting up and spreading his legs at the head of the bed.

No modesty here. I'm immediately treated to a full view of hard cock and long firm legs.

He pats the bed in front of him. "Come sit. I'll work on it."

Slowly, I move in front of him and between his legs.

Grasping my hips, he pulls me snug against his body. I'd have to be an idiot not to feel him hard and firm against my lower back. But his hands are gentle as he starts to separate my auburn hair with his fingers like I was down my back.

His legs are long and hairless but not. The hair on his body is more like the fuzz on a peach and I tentatively run my hand down his thigh. The tiny hairs are what has felt so smooth against me. Even they seem to respond and reach for my touch as I watch fascinated as they sway towards me.

"Where is this ship going?" Do they call it a ship? Is it a spaceship?

"This ship is called Destiny and we complete this circuit twice a solar rotation of our planet Quasar. Our scientists on board keep logs they update of the planets we pass, and we keep an eye on undeveloped civilizations on them. Like your Earth, we categorize the information we gather from satellites and report back to our planet's council."

"So, we'll go by Earth soon?" I can't keep the hopefulness out of my voice. I'm excited to think that with their technology, I should be able to get home.

His hands still and then settle on my shoulders. He turns me slightly towards him and looks me in the eyes.

"We are already far away, from the planet you were rotating that you call Mars and from Earth where you come from. You can't go back. I'm sorry if that is hard to understand, but I will take care of you."

Tears fill my eyes as I scrutinize his face and see only sincerity. That's all well and good, but I can take care of myself. If I can just get back home.

"I don't understand though. If you know where I come from, why can't I go back?" I hate how whiny I sound but what is the problem? "I can keep a secret. I won't tell anyone about you or anything."

I don't really know if I could pull that off. I'm chipped just like every other citizen and as soon as I walk down the street a scanner would read my identity and know who I was. I'd be caught instantly.

There really isn't any way to hide nowadays.

"You're chipped. Even if we removed it, don't you think eventually your government would catch up with you and wonder how you made it back to Earth? We can't take that chance."

Well. So much for him not knowing. He goes back to working on my hair as I think it over. It's interesting he seems to know so much. There must be a way I can convince him. Maybe they go there regularly and he just doesn't want to tell me? I'm not going to give up that easily. I just don't want to piss him off either. Going with the flow is the key.

Stretching upright, I feel the day start to catch up with me as his slow movements in my hair start to lull my eyes closed. He does make me feel relaxed. With him at my back, I feel like I have a pulse running through me, tightening my nipples. He makes me so horny again just laying here against him. But also content. Happy even.

I can't change anything right this second, so I may as well enjoy the good as it comes. This is the most clean and comfortable I've felt in a year now. For now, I need to take the good and worry about the rest tomorrow.

My eyes droop and I'm having a hard time keeping them open. I love his velvety, hard body below me and I snuggle into his warmth and doze.

CHAPTER NINE

\- Bren

Releasing the hold for the door to my room, I see Atticus standing in the hall with a tray. It holds two bowls and the makeshift comb for Hannah from engineering. They had no idea what I was referring to, so I had to create a quick mental sketch to upload for its creation.

Atticus takes a deep breath as he sees me, still naked, waving him in. Ignoring his rush in the door, which has nothing to do with my nudity, I take the tray from his hands.

Setting it on the prep area, I pick up the comb and look it over carefully.

"The scent in here is even stronger than before." He sounds like he's strangling.

Turning to look at him, I realize he's backing up to the doorway behind him.

"So leave. I can't help it." Hannah's scent is alluring. Combine that with her arousal, and it's a strong and pleasing pull to our physiology. No one can fault me for taking her. We don't pillage planets or even other ships. Information gathering is our main priority along with scientific study.

Everyone will just have to get used to the idea of her being here with me.

"There is no doubt that you're mated." I glance up, not surprised in the least. Of course, I know it is still a surprise for him. There is so much we still don't know about how this will affect us all.

"Yes, but did you find out anything else? Will our bond emotionally keep getting stronger? Will the markings get larger or darker? What other effects can I expect?"

Leaning back against the door, he listens to me patiently. I'm trying not to vent but the unknown is so much worse than just having all the facts. I haven't even mentioned how drawn I am to her body. Even now, I am replaying sinking into her wet, hot cunt. I'm driven by my instincts to mate continually. Will this stop soon?

"There is clear, basic information in my physician textbooks about what we no longer have occur and the aspects of our DNA that have gone dormant. But it's all the physical stuff. Lack of libido and erections, no longer getting mating marks, etc. Nothing that will really help you now. It only confirms what you already knew or suspected."

I shake my head in defeat and settle carefully onto the foot of the bed so I don't wake Hannah up. I'm not super surprised but it's defeating. It would have been nice to be able to tell Hannah everything, but she will be in the dark along with me. We are not alone. We have each other.

Atticus is a great friend and I know he and his partner will make sure that this gets recorded. "Does she have the markings? Do they match yours or complement them in some way?" His interest isn't sexual, and I have to keep reminding myself of that as my breathing picks up and anger immediately floods my system.

He's a doctor. He must document this. Over and over I repeat this to myself as I motion him closer and lift the sheet covering Hannah's naked form. She's on her side with her back exposed and the marks flow down the back of her neck where they wind in a spiral design to her tailbone. The colors are deep and light, shifting, moving and changing with her breathing.

The same designs come down the front of my neck and arms. They are thicker on me, but proportional to our size.

Reaching out, I run my finger along one and we watch it deepen in hue on her skin while my own markings mimic the change. They pulse. We now appear to be breathing effortlessly together.

It's beautiful.

"It's a miracle." Atticus's whispered words break me out of my reverie and the brief trance I was in. Pulling up the sheet, I move some of her hair to the side to expose her face with the lighter markings up the back of her neck that extend into her hairline.

"It is." Her fine hair is going to work perfectly in the comb Atticus brought that we made up for her. "She is different than us. Her hair can be cut. She says it keeps it healthy. And she can't control it by thought. But their species doesn't appear to have nano technology."

"It's hard to say how the nanos will react in her. We should know in the next rotation or two if there will be any detrimental feedback." Atticus appears thoughtful as he leans in closer and shines a light that I didn't even realize he was holding into her ear. "You did know that coming inside her would share your nanos and give her our language, hopefully our immunities?"

Pulling her sheet up higher, I tuck it tighter around her. "I must admit I wasn't really thinking too much about anything. Especially not the nanos. My cock was a pulsing rod, pulling me towards her." Just thinking about it makes me hard again. "I've extraordinarily little control even now. How long do you suppose it will be like this?"

Standing, he runs a hand down his hair and looks thoughtful. "It's hard to say. She smells incredible. Arousing to even an untried male like myself."

My face is instantly hot as anger triggers a red tint to flood my field of vision.

"Calm. Breathe through it." His low whispered commands talk directly to my psyche. Breathing hard but deep, I rest my hands on Hannah and enjoy the relaxation and peace she shares as she slumbers. He continues after I've taken a few more breaths and he can tell I'm more settled. "This may be the way she smells while ovulating during her cycle or it may be the way she is all the time or until she is impregnated. There is no way to tell."

His words make sense but don't make me feel any better. "When will I get over this rage and possessiveness? If she smells like this and is so tempting to me, it is hard to imagine that everyone doesn't feel the same. It's not logical how I feel!" Closing my eyes, I concentrate again on settling my libido and anger. "There must be something you can find out." The words come from my gritted teeth as I begin to feel the calm come over me. If this keeps occurring, I'm never going to be able to let her out of this room.

"Well, I was going to tell you to contact Matthias. He's your brother and should be the first you share this information with. He has a better chance of having access to the information you need right now too. As part of the Historians, he has clearance to the old libraries and should be able to physically go look for the information we need. If I do a search through the systems, I'm bound to set off some alarms. Why would I need to look that up? I may get questioned, or denied, and we will be under scrutiny before we need to be."

I follow him closer to the door as he talks. "We aren't going to be able to hide this for long. Maybe...if we are lucky, a few days? But I'm afraid that rather than share any information, they may hide or destroy it. We have the element of surprise to dig for this before they know. Lack of knowledge has always been how the council keeps us under control."

Shaking my head, I agree with his words even though it is treason to even have this discussion. My brother, Matthias may know exactly where to get information that will help us. I haven't spoken to him in almost a year, because he has refused my calls on most occasions.

Briefly, I ponder what I should say to get him to agree to speak.

"Worst case scenario, we stumble through this and find out everything we need to know as we go. The only thing that would be nice is knowing if this is a fluke or not. Are we compatible with humans? You had no idea?"

I know what he is asking. Did I have visions. Was I really an unwitting puppet in this too?

"No. I did have the visions. For almost a year during my daily reflections. Of her and the ship she was traveling on. Just everyday things she did, I'm assuming. I would get feedback on what she was doing. I haven't had a chance to discuss any of this with her but when I met her, I didn't see any recognition on her end."

Wrapping a robe around me, I fasten the closures and try to relax. "I'm relieved to see the mating marks on her skin. It would be horrible if this was all one sided."

Atticus laughs lightly. "Highly unlikely. Not with that scent either. She may not have had visions but those are advanced level teachings that may not be in their society. If they don't have nano technology and Mars is the farthest they've traveled from their planet, we are many thousands of years ahead of them."

We stare at each other for a moment before I break the silence. "I'll put a post out to my brother and see if I can set up the call with him. I'll have to tell him it's an emergency because otherwise, I may not hear back from him. I'm sure you will be able to come up with some particular things he should be looking for in the records. Can you send me a list?" Atticus nods. "I am totally in the dark on what to expect but I can give feedback on what he finds out and if it pertains to Hannah and me."

"That sounds great. Hurry. Sooner rather than later."

Atticus leaves as I settle into the one chair in the room to contact Matthias. I'm certain he is unhappy. He doesn't contact or communicate with me because he doesn't want me to worry about him. After all, what can we do to change this aspect of our lives?

Fucking hell.

CHAPTER TEN

\- Hannah

I hear the door open and Atticus say goodbye before a new voice has me listening more intently.

First of all, I can understand them in their language. Which is new. How could that have happened?

Shifting, I arrange my body, so I have a clear view to the door.

A new alien, someone I don't remember seeing before, is leaning against the wall outside the door. Arms crossed, he looks determined.

"Travek." Bren's deep voice isn't welcoming, but Travek steps quickly across the hall and enters the room. He waits for the door to shut behind him before answering.

Bren leans back from where he is sitting on the bed by my feet, to wrap the blanket tighter around my ass, making sure there is maximum coverage for me. When he turns to look back at him, I wiggle a bit to get a better view again. "What do you want?"

"I want to see if I can buy or trade something for the female. I would be willing to pay well."

I stiffen in shock and Bren flinches in response. Could my translation of what he said be correct? Maybe this is just a language barrier issue?

Bren must realize I am picking up some of this. Which is super strange, right? He and the doctor must have done something to me, but I feel the same.

I stretch and try to access if I can feel any pain or pricks from a needle or anything.

"What are you offering?"

Mother fucker. Bren had better not think he can pass me around! How can he be entertaining this? I thought we had something special and my heart sinks with the realization that I am just a convenience. My neck and back heat in anger and all my muscles tighten as I consider hopping up and screaming at them both.

Bren gives him a hard stare as Travek's eyes drop to me, perusing my backside before meeting Bren's. "The vacation home you visited last year." Interesting. This guy must be loaded.

"What would you do with her?" Bren's voice is steady and cold. He isn't betraying any emotions at all.

"I'm sure you've heard that there are quite a few interested parties around here. Especially after we all scented her going through the halls." He pauses for effect.

My scent? Like I smell? Do they want to eat me?

I feel, rather than hear Bren's groan internally as he sits in front of me, obstructing my view.

"I thought maybe there was some exaggeration but no. Someone like her could make some real money around here. I could rent her out and it would be quite profitable." I'm totally lost but Bren nods in front of me.

"I assume that she would be rented out with drugs for the interested parties?" Bren reaches back and puts a hand on my leg, squeezing and rubbing it as I lay frozen in fear. Could he mean rented out for sex? Drugs and sex with me?

"Of course, of course. I have all the right connections and would make sure everything maintained confidentiality." He shifted and is now peering over Bren's shoulder at me. I haven't really known Bren that long, but I can tell his laugh is forced as he turns around to look at me.

Slowly he grabs my hand nearest to him and squeezes it too. "Relax Hannah." His English is still stilted but I understand him perfectly. He lifts my hair and strokes it off my shoulder, back and temple before turning to Travek and unfastening his robe to expose his chest.

Travek's eyes shift between me, to Bren's chest and then drop. He turns pale, taking a step back. "No."

"Yes. She is mine." Bren's words flood me with hope. I didn't realize how much I had grown to like the big lug until I thought he was going to dump me.

Travek deflates back against the wall. "Well so much for that. Fuck! Who would have thought that was possible?"

Bren smiles coldly. "Indeed. Who would have thought this was possible? But I would like to keep this aspect secret for a few more days if you can manage to do that."

"Yeah, this is now promising in a whole new way." There's a calculating gleam in his eye. "I'll talk to you later." He takes off quickly and disappears out the door.

"How are you feeling?" Bren opens his robe the rest of the way and drops it to the floor before crawling up the bed towards me.

"I'm doing great now that he's gone." Stifling a yawn, I watch Bren's cock harden as he hovers over me, trapping me between his arms and legs. "And you aren't going to change the subject. What was that guy talking about? Buying me? Pimping me out?"

He cocks his head as if he doesn't totally understand all my words but seems to get the general idea. He scared the shit out of me there for a minute. And worse, he hurt my feelings. I really thought we had a connection, even if a part of me feels like I'm just using him. Aren't most people using each other all the time?

"Don't worry. I'm not going to sell or trade you to anyone. I am very attracted to you and you are mine. They will give up in time."

He's just so reassuring. All this declaring I'm his. I wonder how long that will last? Maybe he is just going to keep saying that and finding out what people will offer until he gets a high enough price?

Pulling the sheet down, he lowers himself to rub his hard cock on my hip.

"I can't believe that some of these guys around here would just pick up some human women and then turn them into prostitutes. That won't work, you know." I need to shut that down quick.

He looks puzzled. "Are you sure? Is there something that Travek has missed? Certainly, you don't look like you will wither away and die in captivity. He will keep them fed and clothed, even on duty on the ship. Will that not work?"

I guess I'm the first line of defense now for our species. This needs to be played very carefully. "Humans don't take to being owned very easily. We're independent. We like to be free. Free to make our own choices and do what we want." I hesitate as he reaches forward to stroke my nipple.

"What will happen to them if they don't get to be free? If Travek were to enslave one to use for sexual pleasure?" Bren seems genuinely interested. It makes my gut churn to think about it. "What will happen?"

I look him in the eyes seriously. "They will die. They'll kill themselves or kill their captor. They won't last too long. Basically, you'll break them." I tap my head for emphasis. "Up here. They may even be able to keep going physically but their mind will be lost." I look away before asking him quietly, "Haven't you ever had slaves in the history of your planet?"

He stops to consider the question. "We have had conquering and enslavement, but it is so long in the past. But there are many other alien species that we have met that still use the practice. That is why there is a coalition now. There were species that just conquered and enslaved and by banding together we all put an end to it. Unfortunately, unless you are more developed and well known, the laws don't apply to your planet. There are laws about pillaging underdeveloped planets, but most of the restrictions are for resources or species that are dropping to extinction levels. Pets and other kinds of items brought back from space don't fall under any of those protections." He strokes his hands one at a time down my neck, taking his time to knead my tits before pulling one into his mouth.

I soak up the attention, gasping as he pulls hard and it makes my clit pulse and wetness spreads between my folds. Just that touch and my brain is scrambled. After a few seconds, he stops to add, "I will take care of you though. You don't have to worry about anything. You'll like my home and it is much bigger than this room. The planet is not perfect but I've no doubt that you will enjoy it."

He takes his time, running his fingers through my hair and rubbing my body. I'm getting more turned on despite the conversation we are having. I'm definitely losing focus.

"Yes, but you have to realize that I'm not a possession. I'm a sentient being that has feelings and I don't deserve to be ripped away from my life." I shift back from him slightly to get control of my body and look him in the eyes. I'm trying to be serious but he's very distracting and he's hijacked my hormones—again.

"That may be, but I can't change the law. You would be dead if I hadn't taken you from your ship. You want to live, right?" Dammit. He does have a point. But what if Bren gets tired of me? Is that my fate eventually? To be passed from man to man on a ship in space? Used and abused and then discarded?

So far, Bren is the constant here for me and I want to make sure he knows how much I appreciate it.

Slowly, I turn to meet his eyes as he hovers over me. Reaching up, I run my hands down his sides. "Of course, I want to live." Pushing on his chest, I try to tip him to the side. "Roll over. It's my turn to touch you."

CHAPTER ELEVEN

\- Hannah

Surprise flickers across his features, but he drops onto the bed and slides up to sit upright against the pillows.

I love the way his gaze turns predatory as I crawl up closer and reach for him. His hairless body is smooth under my hands as I run them up his legs, enjoying the velvety peach fuzz feeling of his skin. His hard muscles are perfectly proportioned.

I nuzzle his upper thigh and breath on his balls. They tighten up in response. When I reach out with my tongue and slowly run it over the puckered skin there, the longer hair starts dancing next to my face. It's cute and almost seems like it's urging me on. It's like their happy dance.

"Are you trying to study me?" His voice is sharp as he looks down at me. It's almost like he's intimidated by me being here, between his legs this way.

Slowly, I wrap my hand around the base of his cock. Enough fucking around.

I lick the tip and smile at his gasp of surprise as his hips lift involuntarily towards me. "No, I'm not studying you, silly. I just want to make you feel good." Obviously, this is not something that he's had done before. He's in for a real treat! "Just don't move, okay? You're really big, and I don't want to choke." He looks at me in amazement as I run my tongue from his balls up the length of his cock. As I get to the top, I slide my lips slowly down his length, sucking tightly around him and hum appreciatively.

Popping off the top with some nice suction, I look up at him to gauge his reaction. If I'm going to be stuck here for any length of time, I'm going to make sure that Bren takes care of me. I know food is supposed to be the way to a man's heart, but this works too!

Running my tongue along the head of his cock, I suck the first couple inches in again, slowly stroking with my hand. The hair here has picked up speed and is stroking my hand. His skin is flushed darker and with his huge size, I'm having trouble getting more than two to three inches in my mouth. I give it another good suck and then start moving my tongue down and around it, trying to gauge his interest in where I am on him and whether he's enjoying it.

His hands are fluttering around my head which I'm taking as a very good sign that he likes it. "Does it feel good?" I breathe the words onto his cock while I move down to draw one of his balls into my mouth.

"Ah, Hannah. It feels spectacular. Wonderful. Uh..." His words are jerky, and he is starting to squirm a bit under me. Traveling back up his length with my tongue, I hold the base tight with one hand and explore down his balls while I suck on him. His breathing is labored and precum starts to drip from the end in copious amounts.

At first, I'm startled because it doesn't seem like he is coming but there's quite a bit. It's similar to a human man but it tastes—sweet? The consistency is more of a granular texture and yes, it's sweet like sugar.

Score! What are the odds of that?

Drinking him in, his arms and abdomen are twitching and flexing as he tries to stay still under my hands and mouth. I just keep sucking until I start to feel sorry for him. I'm super turned on myself. My pussy is soaking the bed between my legs and I'm tempted to ride one of his legs while I suck on him but I want this to be just for him.

I'm not sure if he's holding back or what but he looks in pain. "Are you okay?" He doesn't even answer me, just pulls me up by wrapping both his big hands around my face and pulling me up towards him. He's so strong and his muscles barely flex as he moves his hands to my waist and plops me down on his hard cock. It settles neatly between my wet folds and we both moan at the contact.

Slowly, I gather my weight more onto my knees and grip his shoulders tightly. We're looking into each others' eyes as I pick up speed and work him against my clit. It feels incredible and I know he's enjoying it too as I twist and rotate my pelvis on him.

Carefully, I slide to the top of him and notch him against my opening.

Reaching behind me, I grasp his length and then slowly put a couple inches of his length inside me. He's just breaching me. It feels incredible as he splits me open.

Standing up on my knees like this, I enjoy his caresses to my tits as he plucks and squeezes them. I tighten around him in unison. "You feel so good. So welcoming and warm." His words make me squirm and sink down a couple more inches before bobbing back up.

Reaching my hand between my legs, I start rubbing my slippery clit and trying to relax as I lower down on his huge length. I'm a little worried about getting him totally inside me but it'll just take time.

He latches onto my nipples and the added sensation helps as I work his huge member inside me. I can feel every ridge and rock-hard vein as he opens me to him.

"Ah Bren, you feel perfect too." And he does. It's fucking incredible how great he feels. His hair has come unraveled and reaches forward to wrap around me, enclosing us both in our own private cocoon. I can feel it fluttering around my pussy as I lower down too.

Taking my time, we both take turns moaning as I work his hard length into me. Finally, I settle him deep inside me and clamp around him tightly with my muscles.

He gasps and thrusts towards me. I must be too slow for him.

Pressing him down onto his back again, I lean over him, so he can latch onto my nipple before starting to bounce on his length. It feels incredible as I start to leverage my weight over him. His hair reaches up to me and parts my folds, zeroing in on my clit. I squirm as it starts to flick and circle. I moan, frozen.

His hands wrap around my ass and start helping me go up and down on him. It doesn't take long before he is taking over from beneath me, pinning me in place above him with his big hands wrapped around my waist and hips. He arches and moans below me, thrusting deeply and using his hands to grind me down on top of him. Even though I'm supposed to be the one in control, I'm just along for the ride and not complaining one bit! It's spectacular.

His hair dances across my skin everywhere, arousing me as we moan and thrust against each other. "Hannah! Ah, Hannah!" His groans of ecstasy joins mine as my clit rides along his skin and his hair has started vibrating against me. I don't know how he does that! Whether he has actual control of it or whether it just has a mind of its own and is starting to learn what I like, but I'm certainly not complaining!

Clamping around him tightly, I throw my head back and cry out as he moans, buried deep inside me and explodes. It's almost painful in its force as he twitches deep inside me. With his head still buried in my chest, his breathing starts to slow as I fall forward and wrap my arms around him. His hair is nice enough to part, allowing me to breath. It flutters across my skin, picking up my hair and caressing my body and face.

"Mmmmm." I moan suggestively in his ear. "That was incredible. Again."

He pulls back to turn his head so we are both resting on the pillow and looking at each other. "You are the most incredible thing I have ever felt or smelled." I can see the sincerity in his face, but smelled? He needs to work on his pillow talk.

"So, I smell really good?" His nostrils flare as he rolls me over on my back and pins me beneath him.

"Oh yes." His head lowers down my neck and skims across my skin, pulling out of me with a groan until his nose reaches the V in my legs. "This is it here. The most incredible, exotic and edible thing I've ever come into contact with."

Spreading my legs with his hands, his tongue flattens against me and swipes my full length. His raspy tongue feels sensational! But it's too much, too soon. I twitch under him and try to draw my legs together.

He laughs. "What? Doesn't it feel good?" He does it again, giving me a full body shiver in the process.

I grab his head with his dancing follicles surrounding us both and give a tug. "Hey! Stop for now! You're killing me." I'm starting to giggle and twist to the side, trying desperately to shift my weight so I can wiggle away.

Abruptly, he pulls back and looks at me solemnly. "I'll stop now, but I want you to know that you are mine. I won't ever let you go."

Now I'm getting shivers for another reason.

CHAPTER TWELVE

\- Hannah

His statement should piss me the hell off, but right now, happy and sexually sated, it's hard to be mad. It's kind of flattering. I don't really want him to let me go.

Yeah, yeah. I won't get to go home, and I'll miss my family and maybe a few friends. Is it really the end of the world? The end of the world would be being dead. Right?

My parents have their own lives that they are super absorbed in. My accomplishments have just given them something to brag about with their friends. Technically, with me being missing, I'll be considered dead and go down in history as a hero. Or is that heroine?

With the space program, relationships and boyfriends have been very rare. There was one man, Brad, that showed some interest in me before I left, but I think I drew admirers that wanted to share the spotlight, not that really cared for me. I don't expect someone to wait years for me. There really isn't much I'm giving up from Earth.

Of course, I should be fighting a captor, especially someone who is so demanding and possessive. I don't know why I don't hate Bren for taking me from the SkyLab. I should. I was so excited to see aliens after my initial shock. If he had left me there, I would have died, and my life would be over anyways.

When I think of it like that, he really did save my life as he claims. I'm so drawn to him and those feelings go way beyond the sexual. Sure, he's fabulous to look at and great in bed but it's more than just that. He makes me feel something I've never felt before. Possessive for one thing.

"No other women or whatever you were talking about with those guys. If you plan to keep me, and keep me all for yourself, I expect the same."

He looks puzzled as he pulls further away. "It angers you to think of me with other women?"

"Well sure. You don't want to share me with other men, right?" Sitting up, I pull the blanket up to cover my torso a bit and look at him earnestly. Is it wrong that I feel supremely smug as his face darkens and his body literally starts to twitch?

"I won't share you!" He's yelling! He's so angry.

"Good." He deserves to be as angry as I've been. Flinging the sheet onto the bed, I stand and put my hands on my hips. His eyes zero in on my chest like a homing device. "And I won't share you." I effectively end the conversation by swinging around and going into the bathroom.

Fuck! He's maddening sometimes. I'm relieved he feels so possessive, but he needs to understand that if he is going to act that territorial and dominant than I can do the same. It's hard to say, one day into this, what a relationship with an alien is going to be like.

My annoyance with him fades when I see the comb sitting next to the sink. He really is thoughtful. "I'll have food for us when you get out." His muffled words through the door emphasize my thoughts.

See? Sex. Food. Maybe more sex?

Probably more sex.

I make quick work in the shower, rinsing and cleaning myself up.

When the water cuts off, I hear Bren's voice, low and earnest.

Figuring he must be getting the food delivery, I towel off slowly and only glance briefly in the mirror as I start to work the knots out with my new comb.

"You know our itinerary doesn't have us coming for sixty-three rotations." Bren's voice is cold and factual. But the feminine voice that answers is anything but.

"I've taken care of that." The sweet tone is a direct contradiction to the words. "I've waited long enough for us to come together and formalize our relationship."

The next pause was long enough that I wondered if there were parts of the conversation that I couldn't hear. That's the shitty thing about these spaceship doors. There isn't any "cracking it" to eavesdrop. If I open it, it will be all the way open.

"I've been patient. I gave you the two years you formally requested for an extension on your education. I thought that we had an understanding?" Her voice has hardened up a bit after that.

Another super long pause. Enough time for me to wonder who the fuck this is? His boss? Are they formalizing a business venture? I'm trying to give him the benefit of the doubt but that isn't what it sounds like.

It might be a really bad idea for me to open the door. I'm not sure of any kind of range if it's a video conference they might have going. "Your lack of response is as insulting as your attire." Yes, she can definitely see him. She lets out a big sigh that easily carries as loud as her words through the door.

Maybe it's his mom and he owes her money for the additional education? I definitely don't want to open the door if it's his mom. Awkward!

"As the prime councilor for the territory, I'm owed your respect and responses of acknowledgment are required. But as your Ermada and promised mother to your children, the lack of respect is an indignity that I don't intend to ignore."

Wait! What?

Promised? Mother to his children?

That little fucker!

Fucking hell! I should have known!

I can hear them both still talking. She's going on about proprietary rights and dignity or some other bullshit. I'm just so fucking mad that I can't concentrate.

Bren doesn't have much to say either. He's listening to her just like I am, but he isn't arguing or contradicting. She's talking about their ceremony that she has all planned, running over some details and talking about the timeline change.

I let my back sink into the door and then slide down to the floor in shock.

I didn't see that coming.

I'm immediately thrown back to the last time I'd had a boyfriend hide his long-term relationship from me. It was the first time I'd fallen for a guy hard. And I mean hard.

Just starting cadet school, I'd been flattered when another very good-looking boy, two years older than me, showed an interest in taking me out. A month-long relationship bloomed into the most exciting period of my life. It wasn't until a week after we'd started our sexual relationship, that one of his friends casually mentioned his girlfriend "at home".

You know, the one waiting for him to come back and marry her. It sounds like the same thing here.

The hardest part is always feeling like the second fiddle. The side fling. The hidden one. The back-up plan.

Fuck!

And it sounds like he has kids. This time I'm a home wrecker as well.

I give myself thirty seconds to let the nearest tears brimming in my eyes leak out. Yeah, I'm a baby too. My feelings are hurt.

Which is so fucking stupid! It's only been a day.

The tightness in my chest seems immense as I rub it and struggle to my feet, letting my rage drive my emotions. Anger is much better than pain and this one is not on me!

Sure, I didn't ask. I should have though.

Damn.

Live and learn. Lesson five hundred twenty-eight, be sure to ask any male, human or otherwise, if they have a significant other or children before fucking them.

Yanking the comb through my hair, I look around and realize there still aren't any clothes around that I can wear. I've pretty much been naked since I showed up in this room. That is changing right now.

Dropping the comb in the sink, I think "fuck it" as I open the door. I get a brief glance at the communication screen. She's a dark-haired and tanned beauty with even more hair than Bren, intricately styled on top of her head.

The picture flickers off.

Bren turns to look at me with an angry set to his face. He's going to be mad at me?

"I want clothes." My demand makes his fierce expression fade into confusion.

"Clothes motherfucker. Clothes." He seems frozen to his spot on the floor. I think it's just dawning on him that I heard some of his conversation.

Well, I don't have the patience for his brain to catch up.

Grabbing the sheet off the bed, I start carefully winding it up and around me. Fuck him. He's wearing his robe I see. I wonder if he has any more of those? It covers him from just under his jaw to the floor.

"Hannah. I was going to tell you about this." He sinks into the chair and tries to smooth down his hair that's floating up in agitation.

"Really? So when?" Tying off the knot on my waist, I throw my hands on my hips again. "In a couple months when we land on your planet?"

He just looks at me blankly. So that was his plan. That sounds like a guy. "Don't you think that maybe you should have mentioned you are promised to another woman before we started having sex?"

I don't think he's listening to me at all. I'm still getting a really blank stare. "Are you going to answer me?"

Nothing. Oh wait, his mouth opened a bit.

Whatever. I'm just going to lay it all out there then. I haven't done anything wrong. "Maybe this is all casual to you, but I don't hop into bed with just anyone. I've only been sexually active with a few people and it's always meant something to me."

I pause and sink down onto the end of the bed. Now his face is turning red. He straightens up, gripping the arms of the chair he's sitting in across from me. "I know it was quick between us, but everything about the way we met was intense. You came on the Skylab and then you saved me before it blew up. Everything just happened so fast!" I never realized his nails were so sharp but they're piercing the fabric on the chair arm as he listens to me. "I can't let myself get any more attached to you if you're involved with someone else." There.

He can't be surprised. But he definitely looks surprised. And mad. I don't get how he can figure he's entitled in any way to be mad! "Let's just plan on ending this here and be friends. I really appreciate everything you have done for me." See how grown up and diplomatic I sound?

Fuck! Who am I kidding? I want to go home and he is my best bet. He's still the captain of this ship. "Why don't we talk about taking me home again? I don't really think your fiancée is going to appreciate you bringing someone you're involved with back to your planet. There has to be something we can work out, right?"

Now his mouth is hanging open again. How can he not have thought of this? What if I go back to his planet and they have some weird laws about infidelity and they want to kill me? What if I have no rights in his country and I'm classified as a pet?

There are just way too many unknowns and I'm not going to just get passed around and be dependent on some other person on his ship. I'll end up with someone like Travek eventually. Someone who doesn't care about me at all and doesn't treat me as an equal. Someone who decides to pimp me out!

The odds are never in my favor. Look at where I am now!

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

\- Bren

How can this have gone so bad so quickly? Hannah wants to go home? Doesn't she realize that I will never let her go?

"No." Releasing the arms of the chair, I pull my lengthening nails from the fabric and settle them lightly onto my knees. This is another thing that I've only ever read about. Mating fever. Discussed in hushed tones as a curse, it's when the mate bond is threatened and control is lost.

"No, you won't take me home or no, your promised won't mind you bringing back a girlfriend?"

What is she talking about? She is not something casual like a friend. We will always belong together. "No, you cannot go back to your home world. Earth is not a choice for you."

I can tell she is angry, and tears have begun to leak down her cheeks at my words too. Her confusion and anger is clear through our bond. It makes me hurt to feel how I have made her feel. My anger fades and I move across the space between us to pull her into my arms.

"No! No, no!" Her words are emphasized by pounding on my chest as she bursts into tears.

Standing, she stumbles back and trips on the sheet she has wound around her body. Catching her, I hold her until her fluttering hands grab my forearms to stabilize herself. "You can't do this!" She pushes herself away from me again and leans against the washroom door frame. "I can't be around you and not want you. I don't know why you did this to us! We could've been good friends without sex. Now how can I deal with you?"

Tears are streaming down her face and I can barely understand her words. The pain through our shared bond is strong and I know she is truly hurting. I understand that I should have shared more of my past and commitments at my home world, but I thought we would have time.

Now even that has been taken from us. But nothing is changing and I will just have to convince her of that. She is mine.

"You will get over this in time." Reaching for her again, when she strikes my chest, I pull her into me, trapping her arms. She struggles as I lift her and move us towards the bed.

"No Bren. No." Her words dissolve into tears as I lay her down.

She immediately rolls away from me, giving me her back.

Ignoring her flinch as I touch her, I trace her mating mark lines on her upper back, watching the colors dance under my fingers. Her tears and anguish sit heavy in my chest as she struggles to regain control.

It takes a while before she talks to me again. But I can wait. I'll wait for her for eternity. It feels like I already have.

"I hate how good that feels." The dull throb in my chest lets me know she is speaking from a place of pain.

"Everything between us will always feel good." The words tumble from my mouth without thinking. In hindsight, they aren't the most insightful.

"That is hard to believe Bren. I don't feel good right now. I just want to go home."

Of course she says the one thing I can never give her. I'm sure I would never be welcome in her homeland. Even if Earth wasn't in the Ashen's zone, humans on Earth don't know of other species and it will be a long time before they accept them.

"We will always be together. It will work out. It has to." The platitudes you feed a child spill from me, but I can't help feeling like I will do whatever it takes to keep her. Is it possible she doesn't feel the same?

"Wouldn't you miss me if you went home?" I hold my breath while I wait for her response, straining to understand what I feel from our bond too.

"Sure." She looks over her shoulder at me seriously. "But I'm going to be in even more pain now. I'll have to see you and miss you. Right? It's not like you broke off the big ceremony she was discussing. Everything is still on, right? Where does that leave me?"

What is she thinking?

The door rings and I realize that our meal has arrived.

"Stay here." Pulling another sheet from under the bed, I cover her and open the door for the delivery.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

\- Hannah

I've had about thirty minutes to myself before I spot the first weird mark on my back.

Bren left not long after the food arrived. He spent five minutes trying to hand feed me like a baby. Was it any wonder that I batted his hands away and told him to fuck off? I'm not a baby.

Sure, I'm crying like one right now. That's true. But a girl's got a right to be a little let down when the hot, sexy alien she's been sleeping with ends up being engaged with kids. And a big, fat fucking liar about it too!

Now I certainly have something else to worry about.

After eating the broth and interesting food that they brought for me, I went to clean up in the bathroom and decided to comb out my hair properly. I got a little sidetracked from that the last time I was in here. That wasn't my fault for sure. And just being in the bathroom made the whole conversation play over in my head again.

Through the haze of tears leaking out, I caught a glimpse of something on the back of my upper arm. My first thought was a bug! I fucking hate spiders, beetles, bugs, snakes—basically any little creepy-crawlies. As I shifted and looked down my arm, it did look like a snake for a second. But then I totally turned!

Holy fucking shit. I didn't just have something on the back of my arm. Oh no. I had tattoos just like the ones on Bren all over my arms, my back, all the way down to my tail bone!

How did they do that to me? I'm not an idiot. He had to have done this to me. I just don't remember when.

Add it to the list of things I am planning to kill him in his sleep over. I just feel so duped. Almost violated with the way he seems to have railroaded me. Not just my career, by extracting me from the Skylab and technically saving my life, but also my emotions. I've never been this fucked up over a guy, especially not in this short a period of time together.

This is so unusual for me. So out of character. I'm not even sure what to think.

They don't have another mirror in this bathroom, so there's no way for me to check out the entire extent of the damage they did to me. They're incredible tattoos. There's something in their ink that makes them change color and shift with an iridescent sheen.

I honestly didn't think they were tattoos on Bren. I've seen them gleam and change color with his emotions, even when I just touch them, they seem to ripple from each side towards my touch. As if they want to come to me...

But from what I can see on myself, there are a lot. A real lot. They're on the back of my neck and even under my hair I think. They spiral out over my shoulders and travel down each side of my spine, criss crossing and forming a pattern identical to what Bren has on his neck, chest and yes, even all the way down into his pubic region. He had to have done this to me. What other crazy tests and markings have they done?

Has he made me want him like this? Is everything I'm feeling some kind of mind control of my life? Shit. If you want to get really technical, am I even still alive?

Now, I know I'm starting to freak out as tunnel vision sets in and I slowly turn and stumble to the bed. My breathing is heavy as I start hyperventilating as the stress of this entire ordeal crashes down on me. Collapsing onto my back, I take deep breaths and try to slow down my racing heart, telling myself to think about nothing, Of course, I immediately start mentally cataloging my last twenty-four hours.

Is it possible that I've been on the ship for way longer? That one of the times I slept they put me in some weird hibernation or stasis? I'm starting to second guess everything.

I haven't even slept much and my back and neck aren't sore.

My girlfriend, Serena, decided to get a tattoo on vacation the year we turned eighteen. She thought she would be able to hide it from her parents too. Between the healing process and the fact that she wasn't supposed to go into the ocean, the whole entire episode was a huge failure. And her tattoo was small. Very small. Just a little heart and rainbow on her hip. Kind of dorky if you ask me and it didn't have nearly the color tones and variations of what's on me.

My stomach revolts and I scramble to the bathroom to throw up the meal I just ate. Fucking great!

Not super surprising though with all the stress. First, I find out that Bren has a fiancée and pending wedding and now I've been totally violated and match him. Maybe this is some kind of branding of ownership for slaves he just hasn't had the balls to tell me about yet. There seems to be quite a bit he is leaving out.

How long does he think he can keep me in the dark? It's time that I demand some answers. Up until now, I've speculated and wondered and worried. I'm in this now. I need to know what's going on and what to expect from my life. Then at least I can prepare myself.

Somehow deal with it. Decide if it's worth it.

The Skylab blowing up was to keep me from having to make any tough decisions. Of course, suicide is always an option but I believe there's usually something to live for. I thought Bren was going to be one of those things, but I don't even know if he'll be in my life after the next couple of weeks. That thought brings an extreme pain to my nervous system. I want him. My heart throbs in agony. Why does this hurt so bad?

A brand-new society with new social habits and requirements? I was never particularly good at the one I was born into. What's going to make this any different? Do I really want to start over?

A heavy sadness drops over me and I wonder briefly if he's going to care if I use his equivalent of a tooth brush that looks like it's in a drawer here. Too bad, so sad. I'm using it. Especially since I just lost my lunch and have a horrible puke taste in my mouth.

Moving forward, I know what I must do. I need facts. Data. The truth.

That's the real question, right? How much will be the truth? But I need to at least try. When Bren comes back, I have to express to him how important it is that he lets me know what he's done to me, where we're going and what he thinks my future really looks like.

Until I get his watered-down version of the future, I can't plan my next move. Because I do have options. They may not all be great but I'm a survivor.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

\- Bren

The private conference call to my brother went better than I expected. My only regret now was how quickly I had to leave Hannah. I know she is hurting and the timing couldn't have been worse. But when I received the private acceptance and signal that I could reach him, I knew I needed to take the chance and leave her. At least I was able to feed her before leaving. She seems so small and fragile right now, with her red eyes and sad demeanor.

"What are you doing?" He demanded as I started unfastening my flight suit. His disgust turned to shock though, as I peeled it back and exposed my chest. There was no point in trying to explain. Who would believe me? If the roles were reversed, I would not believe him either.

He recovered quickly and after studying my mating marks, said that he would find out everything he could in the old archives. Unfortunately, it has been thousands of years since we were able to mate with the opposite sex. The general consensus is that mating was a primitive need before nanos and cloning and selective breeding programs. I don't pretend to understand all of what happened over the years, but the mating phenomenon has faded into history as a phase of our life that is better forgotten.

Now that I have experienced it though, I realize the truth of the lie. To be able to have attraction and need flow through your body, not needing drugs or nanos to help have and keep an erection and to actually feel the pull sexually to another? These are all things that have been missing in our reproduction for so long, no one even realizes they exist!

How is that possible?

My brother, trapped in a marriage for the whims of his wife, is the perfect example. He looked at me in horror and pity when I first showed him. He doesn't see it as the blessing it actually is.

Now, all I can think about is Hannah. I'm drawn to her and want to be with her. She's everything to me. All my hopes and dreams are now wrapped up in one tiny female.

Quickly, I open the urgent message that was interrupting my call with Matthias every thirty seconds. "Play," I command and settle back into the conference room chair bracing myself.

This could be another message from Vina Likana and I would rather get it here than back in my room in front of Hannah. "Bren Khar, you have been summoned back to Quasar at the request of The Ruling Council. You are being relieved of your duties for the foreseeable future to fulfill your Ermada Commitment. Congratulations to you and your entire family and we will see you soon."

The air leaves my lungs in a wheeze as I digest what Vina has done. It's not unheard of but definitely not common. And why? Why now? Could she have heard something that made her do this in the last rotation?

I have always heard the rumors, that different ships have spies reporting back to The Ruling Council. It always seemed like a conspiracy theory to me. And what is the down side? If you aren't doing anything wrong, then it's not a big deal.

This is the first time that I have been in a position where I purposely want to keep some information from the council. I'm aware it can't be for long. Just a couple of days or weeks, until I can find out what my rights are and how they are likely to legally respond. I have no idea how they are going to react to the fact that one of their eligible males is now mated to an unknown race.

Not totally unknown though. We are aware of all the planets with civilization and the point they are at in their development. There are ranges for the categories and we don't have all the details. Earth and humans fall under the Ashen's protection, which limits everyone. This is done purposely due to greed. The more of their information that is available, the more likely it is to fall into unscrupulous hands and their resources may be exploited.

Now that I have listened to the message, it's undoubtedly been passed along to everyone on the ship. Quickly, I input Atticus's connection while I still have the privacy. "Sir." His respectful greeting is almost a mockery.

"I'm coming over right now."

"Yes sir."

Striding quickly through the halls, I'm congratulated on every side. Lucky me.

Travek falls into step beside me as I exit the elevator for the medical floor. "Let me know if you need me to help with your situation in the next little while. I'm putting together a transport to separate from the Discovery in the next half rotation. It would be great if you could ignore that too."

Fuck! He sure knows how to make a shit storm into a cyclone. Travek is one of the only people who can get away with just disappearing for an extended period of time. His family connections are ideal for that although he never throws them in your face or uses them to get out of trouble. He's gone before I can respond. I have enough other issues to deal with.

The door to Atticus's Medical Bay slides open soundlessly and I'm not surprised to see his partner Brock there with him waiting for me. Ushering me back to a more secluded area, I follow them through a narrow hallway and into their combined living space.

Brock starts making tea while Atticus motions me into a chair across from him.

"What is going on? We received the communication that we are heading back early." His eyes drill into mine as if this is all my fault somehow.

"How the hell would I know? I'm almost thinking someone told Vina that we picked up a human female and she is in my quarters. Everything is happening so fast." Scrubbing my hands over my face, I let out a sigh and try to gather my thoughts. "She contacted me to let me know that she is planning things early. She had some irrelevant excuse about a star alignment. Then, I heard from Matthias that now was an appropriate time to contact him. I left my quarters to have a private conversation and by the time I was done, the message from the council was distributed."

Atticus just stares at me thoughtfully. He is probably having the same thoughts I am. Tea is set in front of me by Brock and he settles into a chair. "So it wasn't you who contacted her? We wondered." Brock takes a sip of his hot drink as his eyes flicker to Atticus.

"No, of course not. She must have been checking on me. When she called, I was in my room with Hannah. Thankfully, Hannah was in the shower but she heard part of the end of the conversation and now knows about her. She was terribly upset and says she wants to go home. I can understand her disappointment, but it doesn't change what happened between us. It's done."

"So you were dressed?" Atticus smirks.

"Yes. Vina didn't see my mating marks."

Brock interjects again. "Does Hannah know what has happened? Have you used the words mating and life long attachment?"

My mind blanks as I review what we have discussed. It's not much. I thought I showed her. "No, but we had sex. We've had sex multiple times."

Brock rolls his eyes and Atticus laughs. "Yes Bren, but most of us have had sex. I understand that you haven't but most of us have taken the opportunity to get Canasta and have sex. It doesn't mean we are committed to that person. It's just sex." He cracks his knuckles and then leans back in his chair. "Has she said whether she has ever had sex before? With a human man?"

A growl immediately crawls up my throat and my voice deepens as I answer. "She did allude to previous relationships, but I was so preoccupied with staying calm that I tried not to think about it. I'm now dealing with some uncontrollable rage. That is actually something that I was coming over here about."

Lowering my voice, I lean forward. "I can't explain to you what I'm dealing with, but it seems to be getting worse. I can't think of anything but her. And I want to kill anyone who wants to see her, let alone does. How am I going to live like this?"

Atticus looks serious but Brock just barks out a laugh, making fun as he answers. "What? I think part of the reason you probably feel that way right now is because you are separated. Separation anxiety is a classic symptom of being away from one another and it only heightens that mating weakness."

"Brock did a study on the biological changes in our society over the last millennium for one of his classes. The mating process was a part of his paper." Atticus raises his eyebrows and tilts his head towards Brock.

"Only because we know so little about it. There would be a lot more done on it if we could find information on it. This happening to you is going to bring up a lot of questions. There are many doctors who are going to want to document it."

Gods no. The fear must show on my face because Atticus quickly cuts in. "Bren, you must have considered this? You have potentially disrupted our society and reproductive social classes, not to mention the religious implications."

Slumping back, I drop my head into my hands. I'm beginning to shake from the realization of what all the repercussions from this could be.

"Don't panic. We are here and will step up and take over any studies as your private physicians. We will try to keep a hold of this. We are already on our way back in and I almost think that we should be setting this up and getting everything structured before reaching orbit."

What he is saying makes sense. He takes a sip of tea before continuing. "But right now, the most important thing is getting Hannah informed. She needs to know what our society is like. What a phenomenal, ground breaking event this mating is in our world."

"Hasn't she noticed the mating marks?" Brock turns to Atticus quizzically. "Didn't you tell me she has them on her neck and back?"

"As far as I know, she hasn't noticed them. I believe she would have mentioned them if she saw them. She traces mine. She would recognize that they are identical." I sigh as I consider all the possibilities and consequences this all has.

"Well, let's go discuss this with her. Tell her our history and make sure she understands what a miracle this is." Atticus hesitates. "This is a miracle, right? You are happy about this?"

"Of course I am! I'm not an idiot. I was about to go back and end up in a marriage with twelve other males, one of them my brother. I have my own woman now. If we end up being compatible, I'll have my own children conceived without genetic interference or drugs. That is a miracle."

"We don't have any reason to believe that you won't be compatible. The very fact that you have mated means you are compatible." Atticus finishes the last of his drink before dropping it unceremoniously.

I've never considered children before except in a vague, abstract way. But now with Hannah, I want them. I can't help the broad smile that spreads across my face.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

\- Hannah

I'm semi-dressed—in a sheet—when Bren comes back. Sitting on the bed, I've been trying to compile a list of questions that make the most sense to ask and contemplating their order. It would be nice to get as many answered as possible before he gets pissed and takes off again but some of the more sensitive ones are the most likely to inspire him to leave!

He doesn't come in alone though. At first, I'm petrified. It's the doctor and another alien who is huge. And when I say huge, I mean fucking way big. He has to be eight feet tall and everything is proportional. Big head, big body, big feet...

I think you get the general idea.

The new massive guy immediately sits down in the chair just inside the door while Bren moves to sit by me on the bed. I'm so taken aback by these new circumstances that I don't even push him away as he wraps his arms around me and tugs me into his lap. "It's fine, Hannah. Relax." He kisses my head and squeezes me tighter.

At once, I feel safer and relieved that he isn't going to just pass me off. It might only be a short reprieve but I'll take it. "Don't worry, Hannah. I know you are worried but we will work this out." His soft voice in my ear, brings me back down to Earth. I guess that isn't right though! I'm not on Earth.

I turn my eyes to Atticus. "What did you do to me?" His puzzled look just makes me angrier as he tries to act all innocent in this. "The tattoos on me!" I wave my hands in the air and towards my shoulders, like I'm trying to cool down or something. The fact that I'm close to tears again makes me livid.

"Tattoos?" Atticus and Bren repeat the word back at the same time. Atticus shrugs acting all confused and looking at Bren over my head. It's the huge man in the corner who answers. "Tattoos in her language are markings put on the skin with a primitive needle and ink. I'm Brock and work with Atticus. It's understandable that they're confused with your words. Tell me, doesn't getting tattoos hurt?"

His question makes me smile despite the seriousness of this accusation. "Yes, but the result is usually nice. When people get them done, they plan them out and they always have a meaning." That might be stretching it a bit, but it works for my purposes. I turn my eye daggers to Bren behind me, twisting in his lap. "I don't remember agreeing to anything. Are these a sign of ownership? Like a brand?"

The sputtering laughter from the chair behind me doesn't make me turn. Bren just looks confused. "Don't try to look so innocent. I want to know if these mean you own me since they're the same as the ones you have." Understanding finally dawns on his face but it's Brock who answers.

"Look at me Hannah." Brock is unbuttoning his gray suit, exposing his muscle-defined but unmarked chest. Bren gives a low growl behind me and his arms tighten. Brock rolls his eyes and continues as he refastens his clothing. "You will see that Atticus doesn't have any markings either. In fact, no one does. We don't have tattoos in our culture. We wouldn't put a primitive paint under our layers of skin just for decoration."

Now I'm confused.

"Those aren't tattoos and until you showed up, Bren didn't have them either." He directs his attention to Bren behind me. "When did you start seeing any markings on your skin?"

I turn again to see if this is just some kind of game at my expense but Bren looks thoughtful. "I saw them faintly show up in the week I first saw her in my daily reflections. They darkened in the week before I came across Hannah in the Skylab. I didn't know what they were until I held her in my arms and they completely darkened. I could feel them, pulsing with our heart beat, in rhythm with each other."

I'm shocked and speechless for a moment. Wait. "So, you are telling me that you got these marks when we met? That's why I got them too? Because we met?" I'm having a hard time keeping the derision out of my voice. This sounds like a bunch of bullshit.

"Yes, you are what we call nemete, or fated mate. No one owns the other. You're one and meant to be together." Holy cow. If what Brock's saying is true, it kind of makes a bunch of my other questions unnecessary. But could this be a dramatic excuse for what they've done to me? But why? And why me?

"So, if you all have fated mates, why were you supposed to go home to your promised wife and kids?"

"Kids?" Bren and Atticus are having a tough time following along.

Brock answers again. "Kids is a human replacement for offspring. They also use the words babies, children, juveniles, and rug rats."

"Vina Likana has seven children that I would be a father to. It would also be my responsibility and duty to try to conceive more both naturally and artificially. Many of her husbands have breeding difficulties, so we all have to help and contribute." Bren's serious tone belies the disbelief and actual shock I'm feeling at his explanation.

My mouth is hanging open. I can't even speak as I run through that again in my head. His fiancée has seven kids and it sounds like she has other husbands. He's supposed to fuck her but also donate his sperm to try and artificially impregnate her? This is confusing.

Shaking my head, I just sit for a minute and try to digest this. I need other questions answered to make sense of this. "So, are all the families on your planet structured this way? Multiple husbands with multiple children by different fathers?"

I slide off his lap and turn around to look at Bren a little more closely. I can't help feeling like they're trying to pull the wool over my eyes. It's so far-fetched.

"Yes. It's been this way for thousands of years. Mated couples just stopped occurring. When that slowed down and tapered off, it was blamed on the nano technology integration that happened around the same time. Instead, new family structures were made to keep our people reproducing and our society alive."

"I don't understand why this happened for us then? If it's been thousands of years, what happened? Is it just because I'm human?" That seems to be the question they all want to know. I can feel their excitement rippling through the room.

"We don't know for sure. Maybe it's because you don't have nano technology?" Brock shakes his head and continues. "But I'm sure you do now since you've been with Bren and this started happening for him quite some time ago."

"What does that mean?" I just shake my head and look at Bren in confusion.

"We don't know." Atticus's confused voice has me turning to look at him. "That is why we all came to talk to you together. I know you don't understand but really, we don't either. This is uncharted territory for all of us and even for me as a doctor."

Sitting down on the bed next to Bren, he sits forward and looks at us both seriously. "I know some of the effects that we lost when the mating went away. They always touted them as wonderful consequences. Sex with more than one person. No separation anxiety. No more mating fever. But even those things have major trade offs for the males in our society. We can't naturally get hard. We've had to resort to drugs to get and maintain an erection and even though it's only discussed in hushed whispers, I don't believe sex is the same." He waves a hand at us. "Bren wouldn't know because he doesn't have anything to compare it with."

Bren shrugs but I don't understand. "What do you mean? He doesn't have anything to compare it with?"

"I've never had sex before you." His voice is casual and even. "I've been promised since I was a child and most women don't like to find out that their promised has illegally obtained the drugs to try out sex with someone else. In my case, she could have had me killed. Banished for sure. It wasn't worth it. There are too many people that could report me and would report me just to get a chance at my position as captain."

Wow! So, all this time I was feeling sorry for myself, thinking he was using me and that I was just convenient and now I'm finding out I've had sex with a virgin. I'm such an asshole.

"This entire situation has put Bren in a somewhat dangerous situation right now. His promised is on the council and must have a spy on the ship. Less than a day after you came on board, she contacted him and now we have been ordered back early. That is highly unusual."

Great! I've pissed off one of the heads of their planet's council by stealing one of her men. I look at Atticus in shock. "So, you are saying that she's really fucking pissed?"

Bren laughs as Atticus and Brock both just nod. "Yes, she's really fucking pissed." Wrapping his arms around me, he pulls me onto his lap again. "This is worth it. It wasn't intentional and it's a miracle, for all of us. I don't know exactly what she knows but she is probably just figuring that I have a slave on board, that I'm planning on having sex with. Hard to say. Maybe she knows I've had sex and figures that I was able to get some Canasta." He shrugs as if it's no big deal.

"How can you be so casual about this when you said she could banish you or kill you?" My voice is shrill as I think about this crazy society that kills people over infidelity! "What the hell is going on with her and now what are we going to do?"

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

\- Bren

Brock stands and starts to pace in the small area in front of Attticus and me as I answer her question. "It's hard to say what is going through her head but this is just the way it is. We don't have any choice in what is going on and really, no one actually gets killed. Banishment is usually a three to five-year sentence, either in space serving on a ship identical to this one or on a planet somewhere, learning a trade. We really are a very civilized society." I don't want her to get the wrong idea. I've been trying to convince her that she is going to enjoy living with me and this entire conversation isn't helping.

"That was Chevepak." Brock stops his pacing right in front of us. His voice is grave. "Your brother Matthias has been sent into isolation."

"For what?" Bren's arms tighten in agitation as Brock lowers himself across from us, folding his too big frame into the chair.

"Nobody knows why. My guess is that this is all about you right now. Her way of controlling you. Everyone is aware you could just disappear—not go back. There are places that you could disappear to. It wouldn't be easy, but it has happened. You haven't considered that at all?" Brock seems surprised that Bren hasn't considered it.

"Yes," Atticus adds, "I'm a bit surprised we haven't discussed it yet either but I'm assuming this has more to do with your brother than anything else."

"Yes, of course. He hasn't handled his family joining well. The only positive outcome was he could continue his studies in what he wants but he hates just about everything else." Brock nods but Atticus just considers me with his arms crossed. If there is anyone that I can confide in, it is them. "Don't repeat this, but Matthias considers his family joining as a kind of slavery." My voice drops lower although if anyone is listening we are already caught. Everything we are saying can be considered treason in some way. "I never really agreed until I met Hannah. She expresses her views on the control of her life in the same way that Matthias has. Because I care so much for her, I have to agree. But my brother is family and I told him when he was younger I wouldn't abandon him. I can't. I have to go back and deal with this. I can't let her make his life miserable because of me. Somehow, I have to show that this was out of my hands."

Hannah's face is darkening as I speak and I feel her agitation through our bond. At first, I think it's because she feels empathy for me and my brother, but she cuts in as soon as I finish. "Please tell me you don't view this as another form of slavery too. I mean, I'm scared about the position we are in but I do want to get to know you. I don't want you to feel trapped with me either."

All of us laugh. I just can't help it. My mate is frustrated and hops up to go into the prep area, filling a glass with water. "I don't know what's so funny. I don't think any of this is humorous!" I watch her throat flex and markings dance with her agitation as she drinks.

"You just don't understand how much this is going to change things. You are a miracle to me. And if human women are compatible with our males, you will be a miracle to our world. I'm blessed."

Slamming the glass down, she looks at me seriously. "I'm really confused. I just feel like a burden. This is messing up your life and your brother's life. Aren't you worried?"

I can't be away from her. There is a pull between us that keeps drawing me back. Springing up, I pull her hair from her neck and inhale her scent. She is mine and perfect for me. She shivers and her nipples harden. I wish we were alone so I could pinch and suck on them, making her call out my name over and over. "I've never had anything that was mine alone. We grow up in large families with many brothers. Our sisters are separated from us at a young age and we go to different schools. We're groomed to be perfect house mates and know that we will always share. But you...you are mine."

She doesn't say anything. Instead, she turns in my arms to press her lips to mine softly. Startled, I enjoy the plush feeling of them pressing on mine. Wrapping her arms around me, she lets me pull her close and up into my arms. "I'm sorry." She sounds like she is crying which makes no sense.

I tug her to the bed by Atticus, so I can gaze at her. "For what?"

Her eyes are tearing up and she looks from me to Atticus. "I'm sorry that you all were raised that way. That's so sad."

Atticus shrugs. "Maybe, but it's what we know. I never thought too much about it. But I am pretty jealous of Bren right now."

Brock gives us all a hard look. "I am too. It was never something that I considered before but it seems like a miracle all right."

"Yes, even with the negative side effects. At this point, they are going to be minor compared to what you get." Atticus looks at me and Hannah with envy. I feel sorry for them and wish there was something that I could do.

Hannah furrows her brow, making her nose scrunch up adorably. "What other negatives are we talking about?"

Atticus looks at me as though asking permission but I just ignore him as he continues. "Well, we don't know everything, but it sounds like we get very territorial and aggressive. This all has to do with protecting your mate and physically, we get bigger."

Hannah shakes her head slowly. "Yeah, that sounds like Bren although I wouldn't know if he's bigger. You have always seemed really big to me." Her wink lets me know that she is talking about my cock which at the mention of him starts to harden under her butt. My concern for my brother fades as my hormones kick into overdrive. Hannah's scent increases and sweetens and both Atticus and Brock stand to leave.

"I'll stay in touch with your brother through Chevepak." The door slides open and they both step into the hall.

"That would be good. He was supposed to be looking into the old records for me. I don't know how much help he will be now." My chest aches when I think about him, set aside and with limited interactions.

"Don't give up yet. I'll keep you updated." Brock smiles tightly. The door shuts behind them as they move away. I just want to sink into Hannah and let the rest of the world fade away. I need her. Her arms holding me, her warmth around me and the comfort and closeness inside her depths.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

\- Bren

She must feel my need. Her eyes don't appear to be focusing on me until a second later when she grabs her knotted wrap and opens it, letting it fall to the floor before climbing into my lap. Pulling at my robe, she pushes it past my shoulders, so it falls apart and down my arms onto the bed. Her perfect, soft body is now on display as she moves over me and straddles my legs.

My cock is hard and straining, pointing at what I want above me. Seeing her naked will always affect me and I would have to be blind not to have a reaction. Even then, her tempting scent would draw me from miles away. My hands smooth over her silky thighs as she wiggles closer to me and wraps her arms around my neck. Staring into her eyes, I admire the gray to blue color they are. My mate is so unique and different than anyone I've ever seen before.

"I'm glad that I understand our relationship better and I'm sorry I overreacted earlier and didn't let you explain. I just jumped to conclusions based on my past experiences..."

I cut her off because even though I appreciate her apology, what she is saying doesn't matter. She doesn't need to apologize. I remember how Atticus and Brock pointed out that I am assuming she understands how I feel. I need to tell her. "I need and want you all the time. You are mine and I will always be yours. Never doubt this. Instead of thinking about the past or the future, think about what we have together. Now. You don't have to worry with useless fears. It's done, and it will work out."

Her head tilts to the side as she considers my words. I remember how she pressed her lips to mine earlier. Leaning forward, I distract her by bringing my lips to hers. They feel soft and pliant, and my mind wanders to imagining them on my cock, sucking and teasing me. She presses back, tilting her head slightly and I pause, uncertain where she is taking this. Her arms wrap around my head and sink into my hair. I'm fascinated and aroused even more, which I didn't think was possible. I run my hands up and down her bare back, feeling how small she is compared to my larger, muscular body.

She's taking the lead with this and I'm fascinated—and aroused. Her hands tighten in my hair. Then her tongue slips through our lips and touches mine. I forget all about her vulnerability and pure lust rages through me. I slowly rub my tongue against hers. She tastes just as delicious here as her cunt. The smooth, slick slide of our tongues mating, is different that anything I've every felt before. Moaning, her hold on me tightens as my hair wraps up her arms, locking her close. But she doesn't pull away, as we continue to rub our lips together. I slant my mouth over hers and mimic her motions that she began.

My lust makes me bolder and more aggressive. Over and over, I use my tongue to fuck her face. It feels amazing.

She pulls away after a few moments, looking up at me. There's a dazed look on her face that I'm sure she sees just as clearly on me. "You are a damn good kisser."

"Kisser?" I press my lips to hers again before pulling back. "This is a kisser?"

Laughing a bit, she lets go of my hair and squeezes and rubs her entire body on mine. "It's a kiss so that makes you the kisser."

Kissing her again, I pull back and tweak her nipples. "Undress me now. I want you."

Slowly, her hands slide from around my neck to the front of my robe at my waist. Pulling it apart the rest of the way, her hands slip inside, and her soft fingers skim across my skin as she shuffles the layer off my lap. Impatiently, I cup her bottom that is on my thighs and pick her up, sitting her back on the edge of the bed and standing in front of her as I finish opening my robe and letting it fall to the floor. She tilts back onto her elbows and continues to watch me.

"You look so good, baby." Her words are confusing since I am not an infant. Tilting her onto her back, I grab her ankles and step between her legs. The sleeping platform is a little low so I bend my legs slightly to reach down and rub the head of my cock against her rosy, wet folds. Her body opens like a bud to me and she arches her back and moans. I catch a thrusting nipple in my teeth as I lean over her and rub my entire length slowly up and down her slit. She feels ready for me but I don't want to hurt her.

Drawing her taut nipple into my mouth, I suck it hard as she tenses beneath me. My hand explores her wet opening and I slowly pierce her with a finger. Her body is so tight, gripping and pulling me in. Wanting me as much as I want her. "Bren." Her breathy moan makes me pause.

"Does it feel good?" I lick over her chest to her other nipple while I wait for her answer.

"Yes," her hands flutter through my hair as it reaches and entwines, loosens and strokes, trying to pleasure her. "Just take me." I want to, but I don't want to hurt her either.

Pulling back, I look down and rub my extremely hard cock along her again, coating it in as much of her juice as possible. Grabbing her feet, I rest them on my chest and tilt her knees out as far as looks comfortable.

Pressing against her opening, I start strumming my thumb across her clit as I begin rocking inside her. She arches and moans, crying out and pressing back against me. Hands flutter against my chest, in my hair and then inevitably land on my ass as she begins thrusting against me. Her body opens slowly, engulfing me like warm, silky vice around my steel-hard rod.

My body's reaction to the sight and smell of her can't be stopped. I know I'm becoming more frenzied as I feel myself sink deeper into her cunt. It's heaven but I just want to pound into her until she knows I'm her master. I want to own her in every way. Where are these thoughts coming from?

Reining back my lust, I start a slow, deep rhythm inside her as she spurs me on with her legs, hands, and words. "Yes, Bren. Deeper. Ah..." She's less coherent as I pick up the speed and realize I don't have much longer until she will squeeze all the cum from my balls.

When she starts a keening cry, I pound harder and faster, fighting to get inside her completely as she tightens like a vice. I feel her coming as her body seems to relax and sink even further around me, spurting wet liquid over my length and further allowing me deep inside her. Burying myself hard, I groan over her, grinding against her as I spray deep inside her.

It's incredible and I start to sink down on top of her before I grab her and pull her into my chest as I roll onto my side. Perfect.

Life altering. She's like a drug that I know I will never be able to go without. It scares me a bit. When she opens her eyes next to me and smiles though, I can't help smiling back.

"Good?" Her husky voice is sexy from her cries.

"Yes." I pull us both up the bed and wrap my arms tight around her, trapping her against my chest.

I feel like I should sleep like this tonight. My body's instinctual need to have her close and protected scares even me. These feelings seem primal and it will take time for my mind to adjust. Thousands of years ago, they were accepted, and no one thought about them, unusual or otherwise. But with our technology came the changes making it possible for us to be separated from our mates for prolonged periods of time. It should be interesting to see how that works out for us.

Not that I will ever allow that to happen. She is thoroughly mine and always will be. There isn't anything that can change that now. It becomes clearer hour after hour.

My eyes drift closed with her tight in my arms. I smile as I feel her yawn and she burrows into my chest like a child.

Satisfied, my brain slows and all the emotion from the last day seems to drain out, leaving me limp and happy.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

\- Hannah

I wake from what I hope was a cat nap with the blanket wrapped tightly around me again. I can hear Bren, Atticus, and Brock talking in low voices at the foot of the bed. Bren's hand is on my ankle. He squeezes gently and then rubs his hand up and down as I start to come to my senses.

I feel happy. Now that I know that my alien doesn't have a wife and kids he has been cheating on, I can relax. Of course, I could feel this sated from the incredible sex we had earlier. Even though it's hard to say what will happen once we reach his home, it's hard to get too worked up about it when I feel like I have absolutely no control. It's in my best interest to just enjoy the moment like Bren said. I feel like I have been telling myself that a lot but the very simple fact is, I should've been dead already. I've been given a new life. One with Bren. Whether that ends up being in a zoo on his planet or in a spaceship traveling the universe doing whatever the hell it is that they do, it's done.

I'm done. There is nothing more to fight. Not him or the way I feel or the facts. From the sounds of it, we're not going to make it if we're separated. I'm not exactly sure what would happen if we were apart for a long period of time, but it doesn't sound like it's good. And I certainly can't take Bren back to Earth with me. Can you imagine?

He's so big! His features are just different enough that he wouldn't pass for human. He isn't chipped and there is no way we could pull that off. Especially with my notoriety. Not that I've done anything bad but it's better to just leave my history the way it is.

Holding the sheet carefully, I pull up and stroke my hand down his hair watching strand after strand pull out to wrap around my fingers. Every part of him seems to crave me and I feel the exact same way. I can't even leave him alone when he is sitting in front of me like this! "I have a shirt here for you." Bren pats the bed to my right by my leg. It's a nicely folded blue garment.

Wow! I must've done something right if he's going to allow me clothes. "I can feel your shock but it's really just practicality. Maybe jealousy." Laughter from the other two makes him shrug a bit as he holds it up and starts to put it on me like a child. "It helps that I brought it from home and it's mine. I'd keep you naked all the time if I could." My head pops out the head hole and he winks as he says this.

Smirking, I put my arms through the arm holes and try not to feel like everyone is staring at me even though they are. I'm getting the vibe that there is more to this than I realize. Even though we were just bantering, there is a serious look on everyone's face. "What's wrong?" Both doctors look away but Bren just holds my gaze.

This is the most serious I've seen him since he grabbed me off the Skylab. "What? You're starting to scare me here." He pulls me forward and I go up on my knees, so he can wrap his arms around me tightly.

"Brock heard from Chevepak and he has a message from Matthias."

"That's good, right?" My gaze bounces from Bren to Brock. "Is he alright?"

Bren pulls back to kiss my nose. "You are sweet and yes, he's fine. But the message was somewhat cryptic and what we do understand is concerning." Bren sighs and drops his head on mine.

Pushing him back, I wiggle in his arms and slap him lightly on the chest. "What? What is concerning?" Why does he keep me in suspense like this? I'm only going to think it's worse than it really is! "Spill it."

They all look confused for a minute, but Atticus shifts closer and picks up the conversation. "His brother's message was that all the old laws for mates are still in effect. They were never changed or negated in any way. I don't know exactly how much that is going to help us because really, not many of us even know those laws. Brock knows some but not a real lot of the specifics."

Swinging my gaze to Brock, I wait for him to fill me in. I think I understand where this is going. It's like how our laws have a precedent. So, their laws still have to abide by the precedent.

"The main one, the biggest one I do remember, is when a couple become mates, they are automatically accepted into each other's territory. It'd be up to them where they preferred to live and there couldn't be any territory disputes or not allowing them to travel together. We still have separate territories even though we are a united planet in the intergalactic government. Does this make sense?"

"I think so." I'm trying to wrap my head around what they are saying. "Your planet has territories or areas with different governing bodies?"

"Yes." Everyone nods.

"Earth is similar with different countries and governments. Even most countries are broken down and can even smaller ruling bodies. So, if someone in another territory or area ended up being mates, they couldn't stop them from automatically being part of each other's territory?"

"Correct. At the time, the planet was much more divided. This kept mates from being separated. Which is another positive on our side." Bren squeezes me and nods his head, as I listen to Brock explain for them all.

"So basically, I'm automatically part of Bren's country or territory, right?"

"Yes, exactly. They can't kick you out and they can't separate you. What Matthias was trying to point out was that the old laws are what they have to try and use and there are more in our favor than we realize."

Well, that is a relief! Maybe this can really be easy. There are a lot of factors but once they realize we just want to live in peace and enjoy each other, we can blend right in.

"What about his fiancée?" I turn to look at Bren. "This does mean you aren't engaged anymore, right?"

"Engaged?" Atticus turns to Brock who seems to be his new walking English dictionary.

"The human term for the promised commitment. Fiancée. Marriage. Engaged." Brock answers while I'm still looking at Bren pointedly.

Curiosity wins out though and I turn to Brock confused. "I'm puzzled how you manage to have a much more advanced grasp of the English language. You get the terms a lot faster than these guys."

Brock laughs. "I didn't get the streamlined download. I took advantage of all the information in our records and can also speak hundreds of other Earth languages and dialects. It just takes longer. These two were in a bit of a hurry to communicate."

Atticus scowls. "I do know this term though—show off." Bren's laughter barks in my ear at Atticus's fast comeback. His laughter relaxes me. If he feels comfortable enough to laugh about this, he must think that things will work out. I have to take my cues from him on this. I want to enjoy the shared joy he seems to have, and we can deal with this as a team. I'm glad they are finally talking to me and I feel like I'm getting up to speed. As long as they can not try to talk around things I want to know!

"No getting off topic though!" I won't let them side track me on this. "If we are mated, then Bren is off the market for 'Vina the Busy Vagina', correct?" I use air quotes around my joke and Brock howls with laughter.

"Yes, of course." Bren rubs his hand easily down my back as I visibly and mentally relax. That's a heavy weight off my mind. But the others are looking at Bren pointedly, as if waiting. I can feel the other proverbial shoe waiting to drop.

"What?" Swinging to Bren, I look at him like the others. "What aren't you telling me?" My eyes narrow and I notice that there is still some tension that I don't think is mine, in my chest area. It's as though I can feel his tension now that mine has subsided.

"We don't expect her to take it well. I'm just worried—maybe unnecessarily." He seems to add that on for me. Bren is good at this. It flits through my head that my alien mate is the captain of this ship. He's used to only giving out the details that need to be at any given time. I've been playing catch up for a long time now.

Such bullshit. Turning to Brock, I zero in on him since he seems to the most forthright of the bunch.

"What other laws are in our favor?" Closing my mouth, I wait. No one else is jumping in, that's for sure.

Now he looks uncomfortable, sifting in the tiny chair under his large frame. "See, that's the thing. We don't know. We have a pretty tight class system and the historians would be able to investigate that, but we don't have one of those on board. If we start poking around, contacting different historians on the planet, we tip our hand before we get there. We were going to talk to you about YOU getting that information."

"Me?" I'm confused. How the hell am I going to be able to get it if they can't?

"Yes. As Bren's mate and now a citizen of the territory Purlese, you have all the rights of a Quasar woman and Mated Union Lead. You can request them."

"Okaaay. That sounds good. I think." My hesitant voice gives away my serious fucking confusion. "But I still don't really understand. Why will they give them to me and not Bren?"

Brock looks at Bren strangely and they all laugh.

"It sounds like Bren forgot to mention that our world is run by the females. As such, you are now a full citizen of Quasar and have the same rights as all the other Family Union Leads on our world."

What the fuck?!

CHAPTER TWENTY

\- Bren

I hadn't intentionally kept this information from Hannah. Not purposefully. Not the way that Atticus and Brock are now insinuating. Granted, if she was a Quasar Family Unit Lead, lies of omission are still considered lies. Punishable as a lie by law. And I guess technically, we all now know—she is considered that. But it's hard to view her that way. She's just so different from them.

"I didn't not tell her in an attempt to deceive or coerce something. I swear it." Putting her next to me on the bed, I drop my knees to the floor and open my palms to her at chest height to show my sincerity. Not just to her either but to Atticus and Brock who are watching closely.

"Is this a joke?" Hannah's eyes squint suspiciously as she questions me. Of course, she doesn't understand the severity of what I could be accused of.

"No. And the fact that she thinks it is, means we have some work to do before we reach the planet." Atticus is now looking nervous. "If we are going to pull this off and have her integrate into our society, you can't carry her around and keep her in the dark. She has to sound like and act like one of our women."

Fuck that. I don't want Hannah to be anything like them. She speaks up before I can though.

"I heard that bitch on the call and I'll never be like that! And I like when Bren carries me around. What's the big deal?" My beautiful, feisty mate. She knows what she wants and says what she feels. She can do this easily.

"I agree that I never want Hannah to be like our women. She's kind and thoughtful. I've never had her demand anything unreasonable." I stand from my knees and move back to her side on the end of the bed.

Hannah cuts me off. "Hey! I think the only thing I've asked for is a comb. Maybe food too..."

"The point is, yes, I understand what you are getting at. But there is only going to be so much that we can do. There aren't any women on the ship and we can't contact anyone's mother or sister because there is no way that call won't get intercepted and then we won't have the element of surprise."

Everyone is silent for a few seconds before Hannah looks up. "I have an idea."

"What are you thinking?" I stroke her hair and feel the silky strands flow under my fingers. Her brow puckers and she bites her lip.

"Simple stuff. I'll sit with each of you in turn and run through what you think will happen when we reach the planet. I can ask questions and each time I go through it with one of you, you'll give me new variations of how the circumstances will play out. That'll give me new questions. You can each teach me how you think I should talk, and act and I'll take notes. When the time comes, I'll have to figure it out how to deal with things depending on the circumstances."

Her idea is not bad. I look at Atticus and Brock and they seem to be thinking the same.

She doesn't wait for any of us to answer. "If you have some more people on the ship that I could run through it with, besides you all, it would help too. How much time do I have until we reach your planet?"

"Fourteen days or rotations." I'm impressed with her mind. She seems strong and determined. This would never work if she wasn't willing to try. She's going to be the only thing between us and the council when we arrive.

"I'm sorry that you have to go through this." She waves away my concerns as I continue. "I know you don't know my brother Matthias, but I have to show Vina that none of this was intentional, so she doesn't take it out on him."

"That is wishful thinking." Brock stands and faces the door before swinging around quickly. "Who else knows about your mating?"

"You mean that I've told?" I roll my eyes. "I've only told you all and Travek. He stopped by and wanted to have a look at her and I showed him she was mine. I have no idea who he may have told." I can feel Hannah's annoyance with Travek through our bond and it makes me smile.

"Well, Travek is gearing up to take off here at the third jump. He thinks that he and a few associates will be able to get to Earth for their own profit, if you know what I mean." Brock leans back against the wall and crosses his arms.

Hannah growls to hear this and looks at me like I can do something about it.

"Is it worth death? The Ashen will be well within their rights to stop and kill him. We may never see them again." Atticus seems surprised to hear this but I'm not. Travek plays by a different set of rules than the rest of us.

"Must be worth it to him. But since he knows, he would be a good one for Hannah to spend some time with quizzing. Maybe we can find out who else he may have told." Brock's casual attitude about it is annoying.

It does bothers me, especially considering the true nature of why he stopped by the first time. Thinking about Hannah being passed around and other males touching her...I almost lose my mind just thinking of it. I'm not even sure how Hannah will feel about talking to him either. I'll try to control myself and leave it up to her. Pressing down my feelings, I grind out, "It's up to Hannah."

"We may find out if he told someone. Although I think that they may already know. Or have heard. The thing is, I don't think they believe. They don't want to believe so they think someone made it up as an excuse of some sort." Atticus looks at me. "Don't you think the entire thing is very odd? There must be a leak since we are heading back. I think if we asked around, more people on the the ship have heard the rumors than not. They probably just don't believe it either."

"It is hard to believe." Brock interjects. "It would be considered a joke or lie."

"I agree. It happened to me, but I still can't believe it." I can't keep the smile off my lips as I look at Hannah. Yes, there will be trouble, but the blessing outweighs any consequences.

"So you're still happy to be stuck with me?" Hannah's sing song voice makes me smile.

"You have no idea." I answer sincerely. My heart swells with pride that she is mine. Strong, smart, and brave. How did I get so lucky? As she climbs into my lap, Brock waves to Atticus and they head out the door.

"Call us when you are ready to start." I barely hear them as Hannah lowers herself onto my lap and her shirt rides up. Lifting up a bit, she pulls it even higher to settle her cunt directly on my cock, barely contained in my uniform.

"Well maybe—since they left, you should show me?" I don't bother to mention they specifically left so that I could show her. I don't think it dawns on her that we can all smell her beautiful fragrance when she becomes ready for me.

"I can show you whenever you need me to." She pulls apart the front of my uniform, opening it to my cock and grasping it firmly in her hand. Stroking once, twice, I twitch as she tortures me. Thrusting into her hand, I can't control myself any longer. She will tell me if she wants something different. My Hannah is not shy and so far, she has been pleased with all of our sexual encounters.

Lifting her up, I twist to the side as she releases my cock to throw her arms around my neck. Pinning her against the wall, our faces are close as my rigid cock rubs against her firmly. My hips rotate round and round, rubbing her juices and making her squirm in my arms.

As I slide my length down, I settle against her opening and feel the slight give into her welcoming depths. Warm, wet, and inviting. She feels like this everywhere for me. Pulling my face closer, she tilts her head slightly and presses her lips to mine. Now we are locked intimately in two places and I thrust my tongue into her mouth, fucking her face with the abandon I feel in my heart.

As I revel in these erotic connections, I sink deeper, feeling her opening around the tip of my cock. Her tongue presses inside my mouth as I sink my cock into her. At her deep moan, I pause. Throbbing, I enjoy her tongue and suck on it as I imagine her cunt sucking on me as I rock into her.

It's heaven. So wonderful and inviting. She's starting to come apart in my arms as I suck and meet her tongue with my own. I can't control myself as I sink balls deep and feel her moan deep in my throat, joining it with my own. Pinning her to the wall, she arches and grinds her clit on me as I rub against her in small circles, never retreating as I wait for her to adjust to me.

Breaking our mouths apart, she breaths, "Move, Bren! Please! I need you hard and deep inside me." Locking our lips together, I firmly grasp one of her butt cheeks in each hand. Gently tugging her open, I use my larger body to plow in and out of her.

I try not to over think and worry about the brutal pace I set. I'm far from gentle but it feels so incredible. Her groans and breath matches my own as I spread her thighs with my hips, pushing deeper into her. Dropping lower at a new angle, her body tightens in my arms so I speed up even more to intensify the sensation.

"Bren!" She screams my name as she violently comes minutes later. Tensing, I more snarl than speak as I explode, pumping into her in jerky short motions. I can feel my release pouring into her body in heated spurts.

"Hannah," I groan. Tightening my arms, I pant heavily as she kisses my lips and cheeks. "You're mine and I'll never let you go. Never."

"No, never." She breaths back in between kisses. "That's perfect." Shutting her eyes, her body relaxes even though her legs stay locked around me.

Moving us to the bed, I settle her on top of me, still buried inside her as we catch our breath. I need to get moving and line up all we need to carry out, but I can't help pausing to stroke her back and enjoy her slight weight on me.

My heart is now on my chest for all to see. There can be no mistakes. Fourteen rotations will go quickly. I need to make sure that Hannah is confident and prepared to wield the power in our society she has inherited with our mating.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

\- Hannah

TWO WEEKS LATER

There wasn't anything we discussed that prepared me for this!

"Where is Bren?" The large alien guarding the door looks at me impassively. He's about six feet tall and doesn't say a word, just drops his eyes back to my feet.

The door he's guarding opens and closes swiftly as an older female alien enters. The biggest shock and why I'm taking a step back even now, is how big these women are. I thought Bren is big—Brock is big. But the females are bigger. Not a lot bigger than Brock, but remember he's got to be seven feet tall. It was hard to see that scale on a video monitor display. So, it's starting to make more sense why the women run the planet. It's very similar to how men do on Earth. Might makes right and all that happy horse shit. It's not that men don't have rights or aren't considered equal. It's just equal in their own way. Not that there aren't exceptions to the rules but in general, that's the way it is.

"Now, my dear, he's been instructed not to speak with you." Despite their generous size, they still are beautiful. The size they are is proportional and except for their hair and somewhat different features, they aren't that different looking from humans. Long flowing robes float around her as she moves around me and back to the seating area. "We will be convening here shortly to finalize and make public your good news, but until then—let's talk."

Letting out a pent up, frustrated breath as I sink into the chair across from her, I try to relax. Sure, I spent hour after hour with Travek, Bren, Atticus, and Brock, running over what they envisioned would happen when we arrived. I think about how it almost killed Bren to let me interact with Travek for the long hours it took to run through all my questions. Even with him there the whole time, there was a permanent snarl on his lips.

Kind of endearing in a weird—you have it bad—way.

Travek was an invaluable source of information though. I learned a lot from him. One of the reasons he knows more than most and seems to get away with a lot, is he is part of the ruling family of the planet. Typical. It seems they really aren't that much different than Earth. His mom has a dozen kids, three quarters of them male, so even though they expect him to sow his wild oats, they don't want him to end up dead. He's one of the main smugglers of the non-mainstream and outlawed items that end up in their cities. A profession inherited from an uncle. And it's all very well known.

Even though I don't agree with his newest plan to start importing women from Earth, he swears he will only grab the ones with mates. When I asked how he planned to make sure of that, he said he doesn't have that figured out yet.

Right. But focusing on the here and now, there's no way we could have seen this coming. We were still planning to have the element of surprise. Either they definitely knew a mating had occurred because they had a spy on board or they had plans either way, whether it had happened or not. I don't know who I'm kidding anyways. These are fucking advanced alien civilizations. Their surveillance systems are probably so advanced, I wouldn't even comprehend them.

It doesn't matter at this point. And this isn't necessarily bad. This is hopefully the result where we wanted to end up—in front of the council.

"I'm Marquel Sune of the Sune Lineage, one of three head council members that have multiple divisions under my ruling and I've been appointed to just ask a few questions before we head out in front of everyone."

Yes! This was exactly what we wanted. I'm sitting with the head of the historian and religious sects. This is very, very good.

"Certainly. What are your questions?" I'm genuinely curious too. What's the council going to ask me? I'm the first Earth representative they have run across. This should be interesting.

"Do humans on Earth, that is the correct terminology of your species and what you call yourselves?" I nod at her polite pause. "Do humans on Earth have mates?" She doesn't have gray in her hair. I think the only thing that made me feel she's older are the faint lines around her eyes and on her forehead. They're accentuated as she raises her eyebrows with her question.

"We do commit to life partners in most cultures on the planet, but it isn't a biological match and commitment like what has occurred with Bren and me. We meet someone, spend time with them and then make a commitment. Sometimes in front of others. The ceremony is called marriage."

"Interesting." Her head cocks as she seems to scrutinize me.

What does that mean? Her clear, only lightly lined skin furrows again as she asks her next question. "How did you know that Bren was your mate?"

"When I noticed the tattoos...uh, markings. You know? I'm just starting to realize and separate out when I feel my emotions compared to his." I bring my hand unconsciously to my chest, palm over my heart.

"So you didn't know before you met? No dreams or premonitions before your initial meeting?" She seems honestly interested. I hope that I'm not making a mistake by answering these questions but they do seem harmless. None of these things can change. They happened.

"No. I'm not sure if it would be that way for everyone on Earth but most humans don't have much ESP. That's what we call extra sensory perception." I put both my hands over my heart. "I can feel Bren's worry. Where is he?"

"Just in another room being questioned like you." She waves her hand casually. "This is all very standard when a mating is discovered."

Perfect opportunity. "Yes. Bren mentioned that I could request the full history and all laws surrounding and pertaining to mating. I'd like to get access to that and understand better this new culture I've been welcomed into." I smile sweetly. A very rehearsed line and smile but it seems to have pleased her.

"Certainly. Certainly." She nods. "After the confirmation ceremony, we can get that to you." Standing, her flowing robes drop to the floor. "If you will follow me, we can go and head into the amphitheater."

Finally! I know it's only been a little while but Bren's face when we were separated is still on my mind. He fought, and I yelled out all the rehearsed phrases that were supposed to keep him by my side. But I was quickly cut off by three council representatives who assured me this was very temporary and only until everyone was assembled to make our mating formal and complete.

They apologized of course, but also said it was totally normal and I remembered that this whole assembly was our end goal. So, here I am again. Following another robed figure through humongous halls, decorated with full height painting on the walls in fresco style artwork of the aliens. They look so similar to humans. The significant difference being the size and their hair.

Marquel Sune's hair is artfully wound up on top of her head. The only comparison for the height and style that comes to mind is Barbie! No human woman would ever have that much hair, even if she grew it to her ankles. They also all appear to have darker skin and hair tones. If they have blond-haired people or red heads, I haven't seen any yet.

Following her through doors, slowly opened by guards clad in gauzy material, it's hard not to stare. I can easily see their junk and I feel the demeaning reverse gender roles in full force. None of them are wearing shirts, except a few seem to have a sash of some sort. Their pants, if they can be called that when you can see right through them, are high waisted with a thick band around their middle and the sheer material stops about six inches from the floor. Like floods. This makes me want to giggle but I'm sure it is highly inappropriate. It's just the stress.

Of course, no one compares to Bren, which makes me start worrying about him all over again.

I'm led out onto a stage that opens up into an amphitheater, the size I've never seen before. It's huge! I've been to concerts in stadiums and this is a lot bigger. What look like tiny drones, the size of a hummingbird, buzz around coming within ten feet or so, silently zooming in and out.

"As you can see, this is an excessively big event. Please sit. Bren will be here shortly." She sits as if to show me how, waving her hand to the seat next to her. Even as she led me out onto the stage, I could still see people moving in and out of the seating but it's eerily quiet. I only hear my own ragged breathing and the fine shuffle of her robe material. Lowering myself into the chair she gestured to, it takes me a minute to realize there is some kind of a barrier between me and the audience.

"No one can see you until the event starts, but don't be fooled. Some of the more sophisticated drones can pierce the shielding and what happens here on stage will eventually come out. Technology, you know?" She grimaces and settles back with a placid look on her face.

I laugh sounding like a hyena to even my own ears. My nerves are wound tight and I can't believe how many people are out there! It's a zoo already and more seem to keep filing in. I don't know how they will all fit.

"There he comes." Following where she is looking, I look to the right and see Bren being led out from the other side of the stage by three other males with one female. He's been changed into what I think of as a male costume. It's a pale blue and he looks fucking great except everyone can see his—no my cock! The same barrier that divides me from the audience, keeps us apart.

"Can he see me? Like I can see him." I'm automatically waving but he isn't responding.

"No, not yet. One of the mating tests will be him identifying where you are in this theater."

What? "One of the tests?" I try to keep me voice light as I start to panic. From the way Bren is frantically starting to look around, I know I need to cool it. He obviously has a much better handle on feeling which emotions are his versus mine. He can feel my distress. I knew I should have worked on that more!

"Yes. Relax. It's all very standard. More for show really. And it's best to make sure everyone believes this actually occurred. You are an anomaly. And different. This is the best way to make sure you are accepted long term into our society."

Fucking hell. As if I give a shit about that. What I'm more worried about is failing. It's no secret that I don't have a handle on the whole mating thing like Bren does. What happens if I fail?

What would happen to both of us?

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

\- Bren

I am panicking as they pull Hannah from my arms and they tell me that there must be a mating challenge. I have no fucking idea what that is. If it wasn't for my brother being there, which I'm sure they knew, I would have killed them right then. What I do know is that I would be within my rights.

"Bren, listen to my words. You must do this now. If not, the challenge will always have to happen. They won't let this go." Matthias's familiar voice breaks through my haze of anger and panic and the relief that he is alright and there to help, makes me hesitate.

Everything was going well until we landed. Not a hint of any issues and I thought we were just going to meet my brother. Of course, it wouldn't be that easy. "It will be fine, Bren. He says it won't be long." Hannah's voice is growing faint and my brother grabs my arm and pulls me into a room to make me focus.

"Here, Bren. Right here. On me." Grabbing my head, he tries to pull me down to his height and lock our eyes. "Damn, you've gotten taller. That's impressive. Breathe."

Focusing on his voice, I breathe in fast before exhaling heavily. "What is it? What is the mate challenge?"

"Vina Likana's last ditch attempt to prove this is not real. She's extremely angry."

Now I am too. "Well it's real but I want to know what they plan for us to do for the challenge." Matthias is still pulling me towards him, making me maintain eye contact and taking long, deep, slow breaths, trying to get me to do the same.

He pauses as I start to echo his behavior. "I've managed to find most of the archives but haven't read everything yet. In the past, if there was a question about the pairing or a dispute in the family, they could issue a mate challenge to test the bond. I honestly hadn't gotten into it enough to find out exactly what they may do to you. But it's fine. Right?"

"Yes, of course the bond is good. But she's human and doesn't have the same instincts and she can be hurt. She's small and defenseless." Running my hands through my wild hair, that's now floating all around my head, I try to smooth it as I breath off my tension. Matthias keeps breathing with me for a few more inhales, trying to slow me down.

"We will deal with it as it comes. I'll help you. Don't panic yet. That's what they want. The more you panic, the more you won't think straight and can potentially be tricked."

Handing me a glass of water, he settles into a chair in the small room he's pulled me into. "Sit. Try to relax. You don't want her freaking out where ever she is—which is probably right next door."

As I take the glass and sit down, I realize that this has all been very carefully choreographed. Before I can think too much about what that might mean, the door swings open and Vina walks in. She's livid. Red faced, she glances around the room stiffly before her eyes land on me.

"Matthias, leave us." My obedient brother doesn't question her. I'm sure she has her way of punishing her committed who step out of line. He's never talked about it, but I know he's very unhappy.

As soon as the door shuts, she crosses the room quickly to rip at my shirt. "Let me see these markings that make you mated!" Tearing the neckline, she rubs her fingers across one of my mating marks and down my chest, trying to see if they will come off. Her touch makes my skin crawl as her aggressive hands stroke over me, rubbing and touching. The markings deepen, some blacken and red rises up next to them. A sure sign that they aren't just some coloring in my skin, chemically altered as Hannah originally thought and called tattoos.

She isn't deterred. "What game is this you are trying to play. Why?" Her hands continue traveling down my chest, and she quickly grasps my manhood and strokes me. All my life I've been groomed to please her, but now I can confidently claim she will never have me. As I step away from her grasping reach, she continues to rail, almost screaming. "Am I so hateful? So horrible and ugly? What does this human have that I don't?"

I laugh with derision in my tone. For the first time, I realize I'm now her height. She no longer towers over me. She isn't stronger than me or larger than me. I can defend myself. "She's kind and loving. Gentle and she's mine. Mine and mine alone. You wouldn't understand and I'm not going to bother to explain any more." She doesn't follow me as I move further away from her.

I think she's shocked that I answered and didn't just defer to her. As she starts to visibly shake, her hands curl into fists. "Well, we'll see! I'll see if this is actually a true mating, and so will the rest of the planet. It may be a mating on your side but she doesn't know how to make it a mating that will help you both survive. So, we'll see!"

Vina practically runs to the door and flings it open, yelling, "Change and let's go!" Waving to a pile of clothes on a small table near the entrance, she adds, "You better hurry because I'll be back shortly to get you and we will leave whether you are ready or not."

Even though I hate the promised garb I see sitting in her colors near the door for me, I realize it is better than having Hannah see me in this torn flight suit. I change quickly and am relieved to see that the ceremonial sash is missing. My mating marks are prominently displayed and are deep with color from my anger.

Matthias pops his head in and waves me out with one arm. His eyebrows are raised, questioningly even as his eyes look over my mating marks. Mouthing, "What did you do?" He smirks as I walk past him and out. There are a couple other males on each side of us. Not that they could stop me if I really wanted to get away. But the point is, I need to just get this over with.

The fact that Vina could punish Matthias for the rest of his life over this isn't lost on me. He deserves to live in some peace, even if he'll never be happy.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

\- Bren

I hear the dull roar of the crowd as we get close to the amphitheater. It sounds like half the planet is there and it wouldn't be shocking if a large majority of them are. As we file in to a small area, there are five chairs waiting for us. We can't see anything but black beyond that.

"Sit. This will start shortly." All of us obediently drop into chairs and as I settle my breathing, I realize that Hannah is quite close.

Yes! But she is starting to panic. What could be going on?

"Ladies and Gentlemen. Please take your seats quickly. You have three minutes." The speaker's announcement area lights up and I listen carefully while the noise dies down and a hush falls over the massive audience that I still can't see.

Hannah's presence drops to a low throb in my heart although she is still worrying about something. I can relate.

"Remember brother, no matter what. I am here and with you. You can do this." Clenching my jaw in anger, I nod briefly to Matthias, thankful for his support, even if it's just to have someone with me.

Relaxing into Hannah's familiar and comforting heartbeat, I let my own match hers and try to relax so she can feel me too. It's less than a minute later that I notice her heart beat pick up with anxiety before a spike of fear travels through our connection. What could be going on?

Instantly, I know where she is in the darkened area across from me and I stare, trying to penetrate the cloud they put between us on the barrier. It's frustrating to be so close and I wish that we could just communicate through our bond.

Of course, I can. Deliberately, I relax more instead of letting her fear affect me and then us both. I slow my breathing more and imagine reaching out to her through the darkness I know she is in. We don't have long to wait. Once this is over, Matthias thinks they will let us be. I have to assume he's correct and think positive.

The speaker announcement comes on giving us a one minute warning and the crowd becomes even quieter. Ignoring the distraction, I continue to dwell upon Hannah. Her soft skin and warm embrace and how loving she is. It calms me, and I can feel her settle down as I stare into the darkness. She needs me and right now this is all I can give her. It has to be enough until we are reunited.

If this doesn't go well tonight, I won't let them keep us apart. But for my brother and everyone's else's sake, I'd like to get through this and prove without a doubt that she is mine. Truly and in every way mine. It will give hope to so many.

Without any preamble, the stage lights up.

"Bren Khar, we are gathered here today to review the filed complaint from Vina Likana and the Likana Lineage, that you have defaulted on the Familial Commitment to her Line. As you are claiming that you now have taken a mate, and are now bound by a Mating Unit Lead, the classic trial by location will be used to test this bond. As the accused party, it will be up to you to locate your mate to show your tie."

A low murmur goes through the crowd and I'm sure they are all wondering what the hell is the plan here. I'm actually curious myself. If my brother wasn't here I would have been totally in the dark. "In order to continue," her gaze turns directly to me, "Please point out the location in the amphitheater that your mate now occupies."

Our area must be the only block that can't see her. I can only imagine all eyes are locked on me. Standing, I point directly to where I know Hannah is located. The murmur grows into full out talking and a few indignant voices make comments about how this is all a trick, scam or some magic show for the public.

I really couldn't care less if they think that. I just keep staring at where I know Hannah is. The lights snap on in the entire amphitheater and the thousands and thousands of spectators are revealed. Matthias stands up next to me as Hannah rises in her seat too. She's less than a room away from us across the stage and she takes a step forward before the council member Marquel Sune, who she's sitting next to, grabs her arm and pulls her back. Marquel leans over and whispers in her ear. Hannah's mouth firms in displeasure but she turns back to her chair.

"Hannah obviously doesn't understand our technology. She believes she could just come over to you." Matthias's sad voice is in my ear.

"Yes, and we're showing her such a great side of our society." My voice is a growl. "I promised her she would like it here. It isn't beautiful any longer, but it's our home. I thought we could be happy, but everyone views this as entertainment. And as if I'm a charlatan, conjuring up a trick. This is no joke, it's my life."

Matthias grabs my arm as council member Kirley Pelack, the commentator speaks again. "As the challenge has been accepted, there will be a two-hour head start for Bren Khar's mate, known to be Hannah Becker from Earth, to be taken to the Malakin catacombs. Bren Khar will have an added two hours to locate her. If he fails, they will go their separate ways and Bren Khar will be obligated to fulfill his Familial Obligations to Vina Likana and the Likana Lineage and Hannah Becker of Earth will be escorted off planet. If he succeeds, there will be no other contesting to the bond. Hannah Becker from Earth will be bestowed all rights as a female of Quasar and Unit Lead."

The murmuring starts again as everyone lets the repercussions of the situation sink in.

It's bad enough that the Mate Trial seeking is in the Malakin catacombs. It's a dangerous place and my gaze swings to my Matthias. "The Malakin catacombs? Must it be there? There is much Hannah does not know. We don't know how any of our wildlife will effect her."

"Bren, we must follow the old law." It's council member Kirley Pelack who answers my questions, even as she moves closer to our barrier and within feet of us. "It's been two thousand, three hundred fifty two years since the last mate pairing. The laws still exist and we must follow them. The trials were done in the Malakin catacombs and in the tradition of our elders before us, we will follow them."

She pauses as she looks down at me. Her eyes trace the mating marks on my neck that trail into my waistband. "This is a monumental day for us all. You give many hope. Best luck to you both."

Spinning around, she strides quickly from the room. All the lights disappear in the other areas and it's like we are back in our own small box of a room.

"It's fine. She will be fine." Matthias's nonsense starts again and I try to pick up the chant in my head. I realize I am shaking, and it dawns on me why.

I fall into the chair as I notice Hannah moving away, our connection thinning.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

\- Hannah

I marvel at the technology like the geek that I am. I'm trying really hard not to panic about this whole situation. For all I know, they could be taking me to some remote prison, never to be found again.

Even though Marquel Sune seems on the up and up, Vina Likana is a horrible person and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out. It seems that all the women here treat the men like slaves or the hired help. Even the one who is mostly just sitting in the front while he "drives" this car. I'm not sure why we need him. Maybe in case it breaks down? Because he isn't doing much. But you still don't have to be rude.

The hover type car we are in is super tiny and there was a bit of a question about this as we climb in and situate ourselves. I'm happy to be crammed in the back with Marquel Sune and Vina Likana is in the front. I wouldn't want to be sitting that close to her. I have a really terrible gut feeling and I don't think it's just because she wanted my man.

I definitely don't feel Bren any longer. It's terrible. When we were in the amphitheater, it felt like I was sitting right next to him. All I want right now is to curl up in his lap and have him stroke my hair and back. I think I'm addicted to his touch.

They talk around me about where we're going and the spot that's been picked in the catacombs for leaving me. The map comes up in the air around us, and everyone's seats swivel to face each other although the guy driving doesn't bother to turn except briefly, as if noting where we should be heading.

It looks pretty standard to me but what do I know. I just want to have this all over with. Just a few more hours... I keep chanting that in my head, a soothing melody to drown out my nerves.

"This is the locking mechanism you will be tied into the chamber with." Marquel picks something up off the floor by her feet. It looks like a metal collar attached to a chain! The horror must show on my face. "I know." Her face is apologetic. "It's really old technology but remember our laws for this are ancient and they were made and developed over time. The last time they were updated was over three thousand years ago. They were considered traditional and served the purpose."

"So that gets put around my neck and then you drill the end into the rock or something? I'm getting collared like a dog?" What the fuck is up with these guys? This whole situation is pretty weird and I'm just trying to keep in mind that when this is over, I'll be accepted. We can be happy and hopefully be left alone. By everyone!

"I'm not sure what a dog is—is that one of your Earth animals? Never mind." She shakes her head as I nod. "The answer is yes. We will put this around your neck, but no drilling will be needed. There are already points set up in the catacombs for this purpose. The records clearly show where all of them are and it was just up to Vina to pick one."

"So, there's no worry of cheating on this though? Like someone getting the map and knowing where all the chain points are?" I'm very curious and have to ask. We don't want anyone disputing this after the fact.

"No. The main reason is because there are so many scattered around the catacombs that it would take days to check them all. He either knows or doesn't. Someone couldn't memorize them and then find someone. It would take days. He only has two hours to find you. We will be going less than half that time in. Understand?"

Yes. I nod and take a deep breath. He can do this. I couldn't but he can, right?

I'm distracted from this train of thought as we get closer and closer to what appears to be a big, rock mountain. I passed through the Rockies when I was a kid and this imposing mountain looks very similar in height. Twenty feet off the ground, is a small opening and we slow down as we enter. There are flood lights in a circle around the opening, but they only travel about twenty feet inside on either side. I see why we are in such a small hover vehicle. Slowly, we navigate through the tunnel. There are rocks and jagged formations protruding out from the sides. We wouldn't want to scrape one of them. There are lights on the hover car all along the exterior and often I would see a flicker of animals in the lights, scurrying away.

I'm curious but not! In fact, I'm pretty sure if I start asking about their wildlife, I will definitely start over thinking this. They wouldn't put me out there if there are things around here that could actually kill me, right?

I can feel us heading down and realize we must be traveling more into the underground. Everyone is quiet as we each look out the sides contemplating our own thoughts. I feel like I may have napped—time went so fast, but I don't think I did. I'm too busy trying to keep calm and not let the environment get to me. But it isn't long before we stop.

Everything happens so quickly after that! The driver and Vina step out and check on the ring drilled deep into the rock. There is a bit of banging out there while Marquel attaches the collar around my neck. She holds the end of the chain while I climb out before joining me under the lights on the exterior of the vehicle.

The collar doesn't feel super tight, just heavy. It pulls me down with substantial weight because of the long, eight to ten-foot chain attached to it. I realize they probably don't feel like it's as heavy as I do. They are almost two feet taller than me and a lot more solid. I take my first careful step away from the vehicle on the rough, rocky ground. I'm surprised to notice it feels a bit spongy, like there is a layer on top that gives under even my weight and its color is more red than gray.

I stop thinking about any of this as they walk me over to the ring and attach the chain. They all leave to climb back into the hover car except Marquel who passes a small bag to me. In the lights of the hover car, she opens it to pull out a round disk she wraps around my wrist.

"This is a light. Push here," she demonstrates, strategically turning the light away from our eyes as she puts it on. "Please don't turn it on until we are a little further away. There is also a bottle of water." Pulling it out, she clips the water bottle onto my chain.

"Will Bren have a key to this collar?" My hand unconsciously tugs as if testing its strength. Nope. I won't be taking this off myself.

"Yes. But don't worry, if there are any issues with the key he won't have a problem getting you out of it." I don't question her before she turns and starts to walk away. "Best luck to you, Hannah Becker of Earth."

I watch the doors to the hover car close behind her. It doesn't even turn around. It just starts going backwards out of the tunnel. It isn't super narrow here and as their lights recede, I turn on the light on my wrist. It easily illuminates the ten foot wide tunnel. The light carries fairly far in both directions. I'd say a good fifty feet each way.

Well, fuck. So now I just need to stay calm and wait for Bren to arrive. Two hours, that's not long. Two hours. That's the worst this can be. It's not so bad.

Okay. Yeah. I do hear the occasional scurrying further down the tunnel and mostly out of sight. One of the reasons it wouldn't have done any good to ask Marquel if there are any animals around is because I'm sure I can't imagine what they would look like. They could look like a teddy bear but be the most dangerous animal on the planet. How would I know?

I don't want to touch anything, but the day has worn on me. I'm tired and tempted to sit or lean against the wall. A faint tap tap tap, sounding like light footsteps travels to me from the way we were going when we came in.

That couldn't be Bren, right? Wouldn't he come from the way we did? It would make sense that they brought me in the quickest way. And don't they need to totally get out before his time starts? How does that all work?

The footsteps seem to fade away and I decide that I'm not going to freak myself out. Mimicking the way Bren sits to meditate every morning, something I was never big on before I met him, I finally give into the urge and sink onto my butt cross-legged to try and relax as best I can.

Settling in and leaving the light on, I close my eyes and just try to concentrate on feeling him. Nothing—or nothing yet. I don't know how much time passes but I do hear light, freaky sounds that I refuse to acknowledge. It smells musty and moist in the air and I can just imagine how much my imagination could run away if I let it.

Again, I hear the pitter patter of footsteps very faintly. Unfortunately, still off in the tunnel end that Bren probably won't be coming from. Only this time it keeps getting louder. Opening my eyes, I look down the tunnel but don't see anything. But I hear it. It's quite clear.

In fact, there may be more than one thing coming! Just based on the sound of the footsteps I hear.

It's almost on top of me before I realize it's on the ceiling. And it's big!

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

\- Hannah

I feel all my hair stand on end. Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! I'm screaming in my head but I don't make a sound or move.

It's not a spider really—but it's body is over a foot in diameter! It's so big. Although I don't really know all the different kinds of spiders on Earth, it's definitely looks in the same family!

It's past me before the squeak totally leaves my mouth. Breaking out into full body shivers, I start to shake. Springing to my feet, I perform the traditional insect on my body dance, slapping and jumping in a circle! I just can't help it!

What the hell was it?

Its footsteps retreat back towards the way we came in but that isn't the end. As I'm standing frozen in fear, I hear another coming!

Maybe that one is being chased by this new one? But what can I do? If it doesn't stop to visit me, I think I will survive. I think.

Even as I shake in place, I keep my eyes open and try to get a better look at it as the next one comes by. Easily as large as a dinner plate, with multiple legs, they definitely look somewhat like a spider. Black and gray, they blend in with the ceiling here perfectly and even with my turbo light, I have a tough time making out features.

Maybe that is for the best? Yes. I'm still shaking uncontrollably.

As the second one disappears the other way, I'm not surprised to hear more coming. Of course, there are.

Fucking hell. Over the next few minutes I count twenty-six more zooming by at top speed. None of them hesitate or slow down which is ideal. But more are still coming and the sound they make as they run is starting to become more of a loud hum. There are a lot more on their way!

Fuuuck. Crossing my arms over my chest, I try not to panic, telling myself out loud, "Don't panic, don't panic." I can't audibly hear myself though since I'm so freaked out my air supply is just a wheeze.

They reach me before I have time to try to run which was what every fiber in my body was telling me to do. Just run! I would have broken my neck for sure. They aren't just on the ceiling this time. They are on the ceiling, the walls and the floor, hundreds of thousands of the not-quite-a-spider creatures. It's a black wave of them.

I close my eyes in terror but pressure on my legs makes me open them to see their bodies pouring quickly around me. One has stopped for a few seconds, resting two of it's six legs on my thigh, looking up at me with four eyes that protrude from bony looking protrusions off it's three segmented eight-inch round body. A part of me thought it looked intelligent or pleading.

It hops up and clamps its jaws around my left arm, pulling it away from my body almost pulling me off my feet as it surges behind me, tugging me along. Stumbling a step or two, I shuffle through the bodies surrounding me gasping as it's grip on me tightens. I'm afraid it's going to break my arm it hurts so bad!

Five steps later and I'm at the end of my chain and the creature is yanked from my arm by the momentum of the others surrounding it. Only my right hand's grip on the tightened chain and collar around my neck keeps me from being overrun as I fall to my knees, cradling my left arm. It was practically pulled out of its socket. The sharp flare of pain dies down now that I'm not being dragged by it.

My nerves settle a bit realizing they are more like humongous ants than spiders. Yeah. So much better. I struggle to my feet, afraid of being bowled over or grabbed or trampled!

I think I'm in shock. I'm not thinking clearly. Hard to say and as their numbers taper off and most of them running by are on the ceiling again.

I start to recover. I'm still shaking uncontrollably and crying but yeah. I'm alive.

I didn't pee my pants. Close.

As the pitter patter of their feet tapers off in the distance, I hear a crunch and scrape sound. Fuck. It takes me a minute as the sound gets louder but could these guys have been running away from something?

Pulling on my collar, I feel it cut into the back of my neck drawing blood. Whatever the fuck they were running from, I feel really inspired to run from too!

I'm stuck though, and I know it. Should I close my eyes again? The choice is taken from me as a shadow moves across the floor and into my light.

Fucking hell! It's a fucking snake! I watch in horror as the biggest snake I've ever seen moves slowly across the floor towards me. It's not stupid either. It was going much faster until it spotted me and now it has slowed and is eying me up.

When it reaches thirty to forty feet away, I can see the vibrant green and blue on its body reflecting off the scales in my light.

My panic is full blown and manic as I cry out loudly, pulling on the collar holding me to the rock.

I have to get the fuck out of here!

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

\- Bren

I try to send Matthias away. He must go with Hannah! She can have escorts and protectors. She needs someone but Matthias points out the old laws are clear. He quotes them calmly. Explaining that he has researched and she is only allowed family. Blood relatives to her only.

The old laws need to fucking change! This whole entire situation has made me stop thinking. I just have a heavy, throbbing pulse and roaring in my ears. Always the voice of reason, Matthias yells to keep me sane. "These situations were not common, but they did happen. Once this is over, there can never be any question or dispute." He holds me and keeps me in the room.

We stumble to the floor as my legs give out. "Calm, brother." Holding my head, I double over and try to focus. "Breathe." I start my noisy inhale and exhale, but I sound like I've been running for years.

"Are you sure? Positive there isn't anyone that would qualify to go with her. Stay with her?"

"No. I tried."

"She's going to be all alone in there. You know what is in there. The animals and danger. She's not a warrior Matthias!"

"I know, but we will leave as soon as we can. You are going to find her so fast. She will only be there a few minutes alone." He's placating me, but I eat it up like an infant. I just can't bear the thought of Hannah chained and alone in the dark.

I have no idea what kind of immunities she has built up in her system yet and if she can even stand the bite of one of our sheeva's. But in addition to smaller insects, there are often larger animals that live in those caves. All kinds and forms with the larger ones able to remove a limb with razor sharp teeth.

"Stop dwelling on it. You will get there in time. She will be fine. Relax and stay focused. Being new to this, you will need to concentrate so you can get there as quickly as possible."

I pop up into a sitting position, almost flinging him totally off me before looking at him. "Find out how close we can get to the catacombs before the signal is given that we can go in. Can we sit right outside?" Matthias hesitates. "What? Tell me!"

"We can go down to our vehicle, but I thought we should wait until we are actually leaving. They are going to be archiving all of this. As soon as you step out the door they will be there. This is big news for everyone." His voice drops, and he leans in. "I'm the one that tipped them off to what was going on. When the council was asked, they had no choice than to let everyone know. It's a trade off really. If people know you exist, you are more likely to stay alive. You wouldn't want to be a secret, right?"

Standing quickly, I head to the door. "I don't fucking care about that. They can watch all they like. As long as we don't all watch her die because she doesn't have family on this planet to stay with her during the mating trial."

When I swing the door open, I almost trip over all the people waiting for me to come out. Drones buzz in the air and as I put pressure on the crowd and start through them I yell to Matthias, "Where am I going?"

He's right behind me but answers by pointing. "Follow the crowd." Yells and questions are thrown at us from every side, but I ignore them all as I push through to get to the hover vehicle. The commentator and council member Kirley Pelack is standing by the entrance to the catacombs. I will take my time killing every single council member slowly and painfully if Hannah is not alright at the end of this. But not right now in front of all these archiving machines.

"Bren Khar, I see you are early. We can't leave yet." Well, I certainly don't want to talk to her. Turning away, I grab my brother and pull him away.

"What do the people of the planet want to know? Why are they here? Should I talk to them?"

My brother looks eagerly at me. "They are curious about Hannah and what's happened between you. It gives them hope that the future may be different for us all. Let me talk to them and you can just interject if necessary." Matthias moves away to address the crowd while I wait and concentrate on what I can feel of Hannah.

No panic, which is good.

"My brother is trying to send warm, comforting thoughts to his mate while she waits for him to come locate her. With no family on the planet, she will be alone and chained inside the dark catacombs."

"Is that unusual?" The loudest question gets his attention.

"Yes, in all the records I reviewed, which detail out the previous mate trials, every one had the maximum three family members with the mate at the pick up location. This was for protection from wild animals and to keep them company. Hannah Becker from Earth doesn't have that. And as I am Bren's only brother, we will be traveling out in the hover vehicle with councilor Kirley Pelack and my friend Chevepak Dall. It will all be archived and available so you can keep track of our progress. Please pray together that Hannah Becker from Earth will not be harmed during this. My brother will be shattered but also, none of us will know whether this is a true mate compatibility and whether we are able to successfully, naturally produce offspring."

He has been thinking about this quite a bit. His thought provoking words start a murmur through the crowd.

"If that's the case, how do you think this will impact our family structures in the future?"

Acting like this is the first time he's thought about that at all, he looks earnestly at them. "Well, we can only hope that our family structures will be revisited in the laws by the councilors so that more mate pairing can potentially breed new blood and a new future for Quasar."

Councilor Kirley had obviously heard enough. "It's time." Her voice is a combination of stern and annoyed as she goes ahead and climbs gingerly into the back seat, effectively cutting off any more communication with the news suppliers.

I quickly follow her, hopping into the front. Glancing back at Matthias before dropping inside, I see him heading over to follow me. Finally we will be on our way.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

\- Bren

Hopping in the front, I recognize Chevepak as one of Vina's other husbands. My former future brother. "Good to see you Chevepak."

He smiles brightly. "It's excellent to see you. Are you ready to get her?"

"Oh yes!" He takes off like a rocket when Matthias's door latches and leaves my stomach on the ground. Racing over to the side of the entrance to the catacombs, we wait for the drop off party to exit. They come out a moment later, as they slowly roll out and move off to the side, and we can finally enter.

"They are following us." The announcement from my brother isn't a surprise. Within one hundred and fifty feet, Chavepak slows as we reach an area with three tunnel choices. "Get out and walk around to each one. It will help." Matthias leans forward to point. "Walk each entrance. It looks like that one has another intersection only a few feet in. Ready?"

I'm already out of the vehicle and walking in a fairly small circle. But it isn't hard. Walking a few feet into the option on the left, I know that is it. Getting back inside quickly, I point to the tunnel I just left. Chavepak doesn't hesitate and takes off immediately.

"Was it hard? Are you positive?" Councilor Kirley leans forward, the recording light in her eye flashing as she asks the questions everyone around the world wants to know.

"No. I'm positive." I can't help the antagonistic feelings I feel towards our whole society and especially the councilors right now. I know we are just following the challenge laws, but my mate is alone and her anxiety is escalating the longer we are in the tunnels.

We stop three more times at tunnel choices. One of them was a cavern with more than six exits at different points around the room. Jagged rocks and strange shadows move around the area as our lights flash. Hannah's panic escalates and I yell at Chevepak to go faster even as I wave to the branch he should enter.

"I'm trying Bren, but this is the top speed between the walls and the terrain we are covering. The auto pilot keeps it from going any quicker in this environment." We are all stunned as we pull up to another tunnel and see thousands of sheevas pouring out of the mouth of it. I know my time has run out.

As I spring from the vehicle, the sheevas dart away from me. They are everywhere on the floor as I cut through them, sprinting into the dark. A yellow haze is descending into my vision as the darkness creeps in, but I see perfectly. Everything is magnified, from Hannah's accelerated heartbeat to her cries for me that are now bleeding through our connection. I can feel my own body respond as I accelerate, jump, and sprint towards where I know she is.

My clothes tighten and constrict before giving way and I can feel every hair on my body standing up, testing the air around me for the predator I know must be here. I see Hannah then, standing as still as a statue, not looking my way and my eyes are instantly pulled to the medica directly past her. I've never seen one in real life before. These are creatures of the caves, depicted in archives and documentaries but left alone to maintain the ecological system of the caverns.

No more! This one has come much too close to my Hannah. Springing past her, my body is on autopilot as I instinctively grab its neck from the back. I startle us both with my speed as it flips and tries to throw me off, hissing and arching.

When its jaws open, I take advantage by clinging to it with my legs and putting its upper jaw in my right hand with its bottom in my left. Sharp teeth graze my fingers as I pull with a mighty jerk and snap its jaw back and to the side. It's still writhing beneath me as I pull its jaw bone off its head and flip it to the side.

"Bren! Oh, Bren, thank fucking god!" Hannah's voice is elated as she calls to me from her tether. Grabbing the collar around her neck, she tugs it insistently. "Get this off me!" I'm by her side instantly and grasp the collar gingerly next to her hands, breaking it off her with a slight tug.

She's climbing me the next second, and I embrace her. I'm so relieved! She wraps her entire body around me, squeezing me tightly.

I just breathe her in. I can hear not only my vehicle pulling up, but also the others behind it, doors opening and closing.

"What is that?"

"Is it alive?"

"Look at Bren!"

"Did he do that?"

The murmurs behind me continue and as I glance over, councilor Kirley Pelack is walking towards the carcass, assessing it for the archives, circling where she can.

Matthias clasps me on the shoulder and I'm surprised to look down at him. "Well, you did it now! You're fucking huge, Bren. It's a bit freakish but it will subside."

"Don't call him a freak! He's perfect." Hannah's kind words make me speak up.

"I don't really feel bigger."

Matthias and Chevepak laugh. "Well you are. It will settle a bit. It's the stress and a common side effect of the mating. A protective overdrive built into our system. You feel okay? Are your hands bleeding?"

"Bren! Are you bleeding? I'm sorry, I'll get off you." Hannah tries to wiggle away but I keep her planted firmly against me with no struggle.

"I'm fine and I am going to be holding you until we get the fuck out of here. I may not be able to put you down for a while." I'm admitting this to myself as well as her. I feel better with her close. Our hearts settle into a familiar rhythm.

"Okay. I don't want you to put me down but don't squeeze too hard. My arm and shoulder are a little sore." She winces, straightening and curling her arm back in.

"What happened?" I'm berating myself for not checking her for injuries right away.

Matthias pulls her arm from around my neck and starts pushing poking at her torn sleeve as she tells us. "One of those ant things tried to pull me along with it. I think it was trying to tell me to run. Is that possible?"

My heart freezes as the implications of what she says sinks in. "A sheeva bit you?"

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

\- Hannah

"I'm not sure if it bit me...more like grabbed me with it's mouth and dragged me." Bren's brother is tearing my sleeve totally open. Bren has gone still as he holds me.

"Her skin is unbroken." Matthias's voice is tense but relieved and I feel Bren relax.

"Let me at least see your hands." Bren won't let me wiggle away but I'm thankful his brother echoes my words. To be honest, I'm glad he won't let me go. I never want him to put me down. He can plan to carry me the rest of the time we're on his planet.

His friend who drove, pulls out what must be a first aid kit from the vehicle and Bren begrudgingly holds out one hand for inspection. Matthias sprays what must be a disinfectant and everyone breathes a sigh of relief as the blood is cleaned off, running to the ground. His skin is perfect with no cuts or abrasions.

"Fucking lucky." The dark-haired friend says quietly.

Now that this is over, I feel exhausted. I'm tired but I want to go lay down with Bren and just relax. Be together and snuggle. Maybe more than snuggle? Yes, definitely.

I'm interrupted from my totally inappropriate thoughts by Kirley Pelack's voice. "Congratulations Bren Khar, you have successfully proved your mating bond to all of Quasar. How do you feel?"

"Like I need to get my mate to safety. Any interviews will be scheduled through Matthias." When he turns and walks away, I get a perfect view over his shoulder of councilor Kirley's incredulous face darkening with frustration and anger. I wonder if they're anything like Earth where there's compensation to get the first exclusive interview on an event.

Bren arms tighten as he starts to jog. "Are you truly alright?"

Squeezing my arms around his neck tightly, as I watch Matthias, Chevepak and councilor Kirley Pelack climb into the vehicle to follow us.

I kiss his neck before answering. "I'm perfect now, thanks to you. You came just in time. That snake thing was definitely going to make a move on me. But that wasn't even the worst of it. I just hate snakes!" I shiver convulsively just thinking about it.

Bren's arms tighten, and his speed picks up, but I hear him perfectly in my ear. "Forgive me for letting that happen. You never should have been left alone. They claimed it was the way of the mating trials, but I believe that Vina Likana pushed for it to move forward that way to try and get rid of you. I hope you can forgive me for getting you into this."

"Bren, there isn't anything to forgive. This whole experience has been a turning point for me, but I wouldn't trade it for you. You are worth it and that fucking bitch Vina knows it." That fucking bitch needs a smack-down although I don't think I will be the one to do it. How am I ever going to be nice to that woman? She's my sister-in-law, just the same!

"Her pride was wounded and didn't have anything to do with me personally. She just didn't like having something that was supposed to be hers taken away." Maybe. Maybe they are just all crazy.

Bren doesn't hesitate at any turns and when the lights fade behind us because he is going so much faster, I just close my eyes."You can see okay?" I whisper quietly as I melt into him.

"Perfectly. We will be out soon. Just relax." I do and he's right. I'm not sure if I fell asleep or what but it seems like only a few minutes later, we're walking out of the catacombs and the end of the tunnel is clogged with people.

"Bren! Wow! You look incredible! How do you feel?" There is a small ring of protection, pushing the crowd back behind a barrier set up near the twenty-foot drop, but Bren answers quickly.

"I feel great! I have my mate and she is safe. No thanks to the council who left her chained and alone in the catacombs."

"What do you plan to do next to celebrate?"

"Take her to my home. Have a shower. Make love and be happy." He isn't looking at anyone but me now. His eyes smolder and I know exactly how serious he is.

"Bren!" Laughing, I slap his chest, smiling at him.

"What? It's the truth." The crowd is starting to push forward more as Bren's brother hops out of the vehicle coming up behind us.

"Come on! I'll take you home." Bren doesn't miss a beat and climbs in the backseat with me still in his lap. This time I know I fell asleep because I am having the best dream. It feels so good.

Smiling, I realize my side is pressing into a soft bed with a big, warm body cocooning my back. There's a nip to my neck before a rough, spine tingling tongue teases the same area. I shiver slightly as warm breath soothes my skin after those teeth inspire an arousing spike through my body.

I moan. The hand sliding from my hip to the inside of my thigh, grips it firmly and spreads my legs. I can't help groan from the pleasure as I feel the hard, thick cock tease my clit before lowering enough to enter me in a firm, slow thrust.

Perfect!

I grab at the arm, connected to the hand holding up my leg. I need something to hold onto.

Bren slides deeper into me as he utters a sexy rumble next to my ear. He starts fucking me slowly as I moan louder in response.

Gripping my leg up higher, I instinctively hook my foot behind his leg to get some traction. When his hand traces my inner thigh to my clit, I throw my head back against his chest and buck my hips to meet his thrusts.

His fingers find my center perfectly as they circle over the swelling bud.

Definitely not dreaming. And I don't want to be. It's too good to end.

Opening my eyes, I moan and my nails dig into the silky sheets beneath me along with his skin on his arm.

When he shifts his legs between mine, he drives into me a little deeper. Never stopping the perfect, slow rhythm that will drive me crazy.

My breathing gets ragged and I feel my nipples hardening. Bucking against him more frantically, I feel my release so close.

"Faster, Bren." I'm begging softly. "Please, faster."

"Soon but not yet." His controlled growl just makes me hornier.

Gripping the bed sheets tightly to get a good hold, I move my hips, arching and shoving back at him.

His groans match mine as he slides into me harder. Deeper and faster, his fingers never stop applying the friction I need on my clit.

My bundle of nerves swell, loving what he does to them as his cock pounds inside me. He's going to make me come.

My muscles tighten, the ecstasy is so intense, it's nearly too much. Screaming, I jerk violently against him while he buries himself deep inside my pussy. The climax tears through me.

Bren roars his own release behind me as his hand leaves my clit and he pulls me tight against him.

I smile and relax as his own satisfaction leaks through our bond. It's amazing how I can feel his arousal and release through our connection and each time aftershocks rock through him, they shudder pleasure through me and straight to my clit.

It's soothing.

Turning my head to look at him, I decide that he looks perfect in the morning with his crazy hair. The happy smile on his lips make him look breathtaking. His eyes glint shades of green that I could happily stare into forever.

"I'm sorry I passed out on you."

He just grins wickedly. "You just made up for it."

"Did I?" I look at him closely to make sure he really feels that way. I feel kind of bad, but all the stress just really caught up to me. My thoughts are interrupted by a strange noise and for the first time, I take a look around.

The bedroom is small with the large bed dominating the room and Bren moans as he slowly pulls his still hard cock out of me. "That's the door. It shouldn't be anyone but my brother Matthias but stay here until I confirm that."

He's thrown on his robe before I can even move and I only get a brief glimpse of his fine ass before he shuts the door behind him.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

\- Bren

When my brother hears the locks release, he immediately enters, barely letting the door open all the way before slipping inside. "I'm sorry to be bothering you. I know it hasn't been long, but I need to talk to you." The panic in his voice makes me wonder what is going on now!

Clenching my fists, I try to relax and not jump to any conclusions. "What? Is there more trouble with the council?"

"No, everything is still going as scheduled but...I have a personal issue." He's panicking as he slides by me and settles into a chair, dropping his head into his hands.

"Personal issue?" Now I'm baffled.

I'm still clueless as he sits up straight and starts to shrug off his shirt.

"Nice! But I don't understand?" Hannah's arm snakes around my waist as she comes to stand by me. But her touch and questions don't break my stunned stare. "I thought you guys got these naturally from mating? Like we did? Those look like light tattoo outlines."

"I noticed these this morning. After my daily reflections. During which I had my first vision."

I can't help the huge smile that spreads across my face with this announcement. "Congratulations brother! This is wonderful." I pause. "Tricky but wonderful. Where is she?"

He doesn't smile or look particularly happy about this. "I have no idea, but she isn't on this planet. It's clear that things are not good for her. I have impressions, surprise then fear and now nothing. Almost as if she is not there any longer but the marks are still on me. From what I've read, if a mate passes, the marks will fade. She's out there." His eyes look tired and haunted as he waves absently into the air.

"But out where? Does this mean she's human?" Moving to the seating area across from him, I pull Hannah into my lap.

"I'm positive she is human. What are the odds that after three thousand years, within weeks of each other, we find two different species that trigger the mating? No. She's human."

My mind is whirling with all the implications. "Travek," I grit out.

Matthias looks confused, but Hannah is starting to understand.

"Travek must have her! Maybe they are getting close and that is why this happened." Hannah's excitement is infectious. I immediately move to contact him, but here is nothing but dead air and no response.

Matthias comes to his feet in anticipation, watching me carefully. When I shake my head no, his face shows defeat. "I know you were planning on taking some time off, maybe even being decommissioned from your station, but I need to go look for my mate." Starting to pace, his agitation leaks into his hair which is starting to flare around his head.

"Will they let you? Is there anything in the laws about this? The mating urge showing after you have married another?" I think back to what I've ever heard but it's so little.

"No because it's never happened. When the mating died out, they literally just ended. It wasn't a sporadic thing. It just ended and it took years before they realized that there would need to be other arrangements made. Our numbers dropped significantly and then by the time births started again, the male births outnumbered female three to one."

Matthias stops to stand in front of us again. "But, I did find out that when the mating urge came up that you could file a notice with whatever apprenticeship you were involved in for a six month leave to go find your mate and get things finalized. They were always granted and that's what I want to do. And I was hoping you would take me. What was Travek's plan? Can we assume he planned to meet up with the Discovery on the next rotation?"

"I don't think there was a plan." Hannah shrugs.

"Oh, there was a plan, but he never shared it with us. He and his men took off to go to Earth and see if the mating urge would affect them, or so he said. You know that isn't our territory and the Ashen are very dangerous when crossed. What I don't understand is why this is happening now. What are the similarities here now, that make it how Hannah started showing up in visions, that are now making this happen to you?"

"I have an idea." Hannah cuts me off and shifts on my lap to turn to look at me. "I've thought about this a lot and you'd mentioned that you had visions of me for about a year. Basically, the whole time after I'd left Earth. I bet if you have an exact date of when you first felt impressions, it would have been right after I entered space—not that our dates and time match up, so I never bothered to ask and try and see if that was it."

I'm starting to understand where she is going with this. "Maybe Travek just got your mate off the planet too. Maybe something on Earth is suppressing, not only you—but all Quasarians, from feeling the mating urge but once humans are in the atmosphere, your natural telepathy can pick them up?"

"I think you're probably right, but it's interesting that Travek picked up more than just his own mate while he was there! He was supposed to be just going to see if it would happen for him." I could throttle him and when I see him, I might do that. What was he thinking?

"Even if that is the case and even though I don't know what kind of a mate I can possibly be, I can't thank him enough." Matthias's voice cuts in and brings my vengeful thoughts to an end. "I'm petrified but if nothing else, it will get me out of the hellish existence here with Vina Likana."

No one says anything for a few long seconds, but we all look at each other carefully. I know what he's alluding to. I've known things didn't go well in his relationship with Vina. "I was going to talk to Hannah about leaving the planet this morning." Wanting to set his mind at ease and get this out in the open as soon as possible, I turn to Hannah.

Her eyes are big as she stares at me. "Really? I thought you were looking forward to being here. At home." She starts biting her thumb nail like she does when she's uncertain.

"Yes. At first that was all I could think about. You and I here, starting a family. But now that we are back, I'm scared for you. For us." Hannah's eyes get bigger.

Matthias nods. "I understand. They won't let this go." He sinks back into the chair across from us. "You are turning their lives upside down."

"Exactly. They would have been happy to see Hannah die. Maybe that was only the first try. And now with others showing mating marks, they will try to stamp this out quickly. I think the sooner we all get off the planet the better." It makes me sad to say it but both of them nod soberly.

"Hannah, will you be my sponsor onto the ship to take me as an active crew member?" Hannah acts shocked at Matthias's request. It still hasn't sunk in how much power she wields.

"As my mate, you are the head of the household and he is your mates' brother, so you can act as a sponsor. We have to assume that these mating marks annul any lineage promises or Family Unit Lead commitments. Right?" Matthias nods. "Then this will be the easiest way to get him onto the ship without having a formal technician capacity job."

She's nodding enthusiastically. "Of course, I will. But how do I do that?"

I hear the relief in the laugh Matthias spits out. "We can fill out the appropriate documentation together and then get it ready for the confirmation ceremony tonight. They won't dare to deny us there and it will give everyone else hope. I'm sure you are both as excited as I am about it."

Hannah rolls her eyes but then gives me a hug with one arm. "As long as this big lug will be there, I'll survive." I'm not even sure if she realized there was a formal confirmation ceremony to come but she doesn't seem surprised. Someone may have let her know while we were separated.

My arms tighten, and I squeeze her gently back. She doesn't realize it yet, but we will never be apart again. I won't allow it and I don't think my heart could handle it. So, I'm relieved to hear she feels the same.

"I love you Hannah Becker from Earth." Our lips lock and I enjoy her warmth and contentment both physically and through our bond. She's mine. Forever. A wonderful blessing, I never suspected.

CHAPTER THIRTY

\- Hannah

We all watch the planet shrinking slowly as the Discovery accelerates away from Quasar and back into space. I don't know about everyone else but I'm super fucking relieved.

"Are you sure you're okay with this?" Whispering in Bren's ear makes him shiver slightly under me in the view room seat. He squeezes my ass before pulling me closer into his side, and looking down at me, still stroking as he smiles.

"I'm absolutely positive I'm perfect with this decision." Glancing over to his brother Matthias, who's halfway across the room watching the same view as us, he nods seriously. "Very certain."

Settling back against him, I relax and enjoy his warmth while he goes back to work around me. After all the primping and care that we took to go to the council's confirmation ceremony "celebration" Bren and his brother couldn't get out of there fast enough. It was uncomfortable! Even knowing that we were in the right and everything should be good, they'd made me paranoid.

It was a lavish event and only the top families were invited but the entertainment and news had picked up on the story and followed it very closely. Leaving the planet was the best thing to do considering the life we would have to lead there. The only correlation I could think of was movie celebrities. Even at home on Earth, as an astronaut, I wasn't immediately recognized and mobbed like we were here on Quasar. It was incredible.

The hate groups forming were the most surprising and disturbing element, I thought. Catty women were showing up on the news channels to talk about how this was going to ruin their economy and family units if more human women came and "stole their males." That sure didn't take long. One day. One day after proving that our bond and mating was real and then all human women are the villains.

It was just as well that Bren and Matthias had already been working on leaving. Can you imagine how it will be once they find out about Matthias?

By the time we were ushered into the party in our honor, they had everything planned so we didn't even go back to Bren's place afterwards. Just straight to the ship.

Vina Likana was there with the other council members and I felt sorry for Matthias even though I was the one that had to stand up and actually decree that we were filing the "Petition for Mate Location Leave."

Vina may have hated me before but now I'm sure she wants to kill me. Slowly. Skin me alive or something. If looks could kill, the one she gave me across the room was a death sentence. I guess due to the mating laws, any claim she had to him was now null and void and a whole new social class exists for every male this happens to in the future.

Matthias would have liked to investigate the laws even more and see how other family members would fare under it but since we needed to get the fuck out of there—that is the last thing Bren was worrying about. I'm still pushing to get that information from Marquel Sune.

As soon as I made the announcement, they made Matthias take off his shirt and there was a lot of touching and exclaiming and drones buzzing around. It created quite the stir! But they let him go. Six months.

If he isn't back in that time with his mate than he is considered almost AWOL or something. I don't even get it. As big as a surprise it was that Matthias ended up with mating marks, that isn't even what is blowing my mind right now.

I'm pregnant!

When we got back onto the ship, Atticus insisted on checking me out after my "ordeal". How they can tell I'm knocked up already, is beyond me but they can. At least they seem very confident about it.

Bren is beyond ecstatic although I can feel a bit of his worry through the bond. I think we're both hoping to find a place to live before I ended up knocked up. He's just a potent guy—alien or whatever. There is a part of me that is a little bit worried about having a new interspecies child with him but then I look at him and the love I feel for him just overwrites everything else. If our baby is half as kind and beautiful as him, we will have the most magnificent child in the world.

So, I'm off to discover new worlds with my new alien husband. I couldn't have dreamed up a more perfect life for myself.

Bren surprised me with the news that he got me a job too! He spoke with Atticus and Brock, and I'll be able to work with them right here on the Discovery. I can't wait to get up to speed on all their physiology and technology. And once we catch up with the freak Travek, I can't imagine that I won't have a few human women to hang out with.

We will have to continue the circuit the Discovery takes. Continuing to check on the areas, planets, and readings for the council's review. They don't know that the guys are planning on totally leaving their society eventually. We're also given strict orders to stay on the route while looking for his mate but that is still going to have to take priority.

Matthias is freaking out and I can't blame him. I have my happily-ever-after and can't imagine being separated from him. I'm safe and loved. Feeling Bren's big body shift under mine, I notice it puts my chest over his and I feel our hearts sync. As they do, I know everything will work out fine.

About Pearl Tate

I'm super excited to be spreading my wings and sharing what I enjoy!

I'm happily married to the love of my life and working on being the best mom possible to our great children.

I love all kinds of stories but there is a special place in my heart for all forms of romance. The good, the bad and yes, even the ugly. When I write, I get to make sure there is always a happily ever after and that is the best part of all!

If you like what you've read, don't forget to stop by my website to get on my mailing list. I'll let you know when the next book should be out as well as when I run specials.

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for the first chapter of

Matthias's Miracle

Book Two of the Quasar Lineage

MATTHIAS'S MIRACLE   
CHAPTER ONE

\- Susan

"Everyone is going to love these brownies! Chocolate and peanut butter, right?" Lisa's chatter next to me is only interrupted by our sneaker noises cutting through the damp grass. I hate how early it gets dark now. It's only seven thirty as we walk up the stairs to the old building, but in the November evening, it's full dark.

"I hope everyone hates them because I'd like to have two." Holding the door with a smile, I inhale their scent as the basket she's carrying them in goes by my face.

"I know! Maybe nobody else will show up. You never know. I plan to think positive!" Lisa's infectious laugh echoes in the stairwell as we start up the stairs. We've been meeting with this small group of other girls for a little over a month now, once a week. As second year students, we have banned together to try and figure out our physics class.

It's an informal study group. Shelly is the coordinator who set it up on the meet-up website. Most of the college study groups have use online platforms to get their groups together. Shelly's appealed to me because of the amount of detail she included. Women only, on campus and she even had this time slot and room reserved for us to use at the school. Much less distracting than a coffee shop.

My first year, I had a math study group that started studying in a coffee shop. By the end of the semester though, some of the guys had decided to change the spot we met to a bar. Who does that?

Oh yeah, horny-ass guys at college!

My mind wanders as Lisa goes over the brownie ingredients. She was able to make them up between a hot plate and her toaster oven. She doesn't remember that she showed me how to do it about two weeks ago. "I love them. I don't even care what they have in them. You showed me how to make them, or at least the hot plate part, remember?" Reaching our study room door, I smile as I hold it open for her again.

"Oh yeah! I was thinking it was Stephanie, but it was you." Stephanie is her room mate and I'm right next door with Jill. "Damn! Are we late?"

Following her in, I see that there are six other girls already spread out in chairs at the round table.

"No. You guys are right on time. Especially since you have food." Beth waves us over and pulls out a chair for Lisa. She drops gratefully into it as I pull off my hoodie onto the chair next to her. By the time I settle into my chair, the basket is circling around the table with everyone chattering away.

"How are ya?" Shelly, the organizer of our weekly group, is to my left and I smile noncommittally.

"Can't complain really. I wanted to thank you for coming out for the rally yesterday. It really means a lot to all of us. Every person counts." The campus MeToo movement is picking up speed. She waves her hand at me like it's no big deal, but I can tell I'm embarrassing her so I change the subject. "I'm a little stressed out about the test next week. Do you feel prepared?"

"Fuck no. But let's do this." Clapping her hands wildly over her head, her blond shoulder length hair flies. "Ladies, ladies. Oh yeah! Brownies." Grabbing one from the basket that stalled in front of her, she slides it over to me before continuing. "Let's break into groups for our specific issues. With eight of us here, that should make it, so we can cross reference our strengths and weaknesses for each other."

She stands and starts pulling out some of her own paperwork. Everyone starts talking quietly again.

A bright light pulls my attention behind Karen. She's directly across the table from me with the window behind her.

What the hell? The light has lit up all the windows on the wall behind her. Even with the lights on inside, it's easy to see that it's super bright. My first thought is a helicopter. We are three stories up, so it can't be someone on the ground or a car or something. What the fuck?

"What is that?" Lisa's brown curls bounce as she stands up next to me and Beth quickly jumps up too. I don't even realize I'm on my feet and moving to the window until I'm around the table and almost there.

The light isn't like a normal light. It's like rays of the sun, beaming through the window in individual strands. As I stop at the window, it's so bright, there is no way that I can look and see exactly where it is coming from. Using my hand, I shield my eyes a bit and try and get a fix on the actual source.

Angling my body away from the light, I see Lisa, Beth and Karen are just behind me. Still around the table, Jo-Anne, Jenny, Shelly and Rachel are standing. Their mouths are hanging open. We've all gone silent.

Pulling my hand away from my face, I feel the strands of light prickling my skin! It feels like static electricity. How is that possible?

"Can you feel this..." My voice dies out. All the individual streams of light dance with iridescent colors around me. They don't seem to be coming at me anymore. It's the prickling on my skin that makes it feel like they are attacking me. I can actually see the individual strands of light and all the colors of the rainbow. It makes a waterfall of light color around me. It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I'm about to say that and see if they see the same thing when I realize that I can no longer see anything.

How is that possible?

Now I'm freaking out but afraid to move. The light is everywhere. Did you ever see those old oil lamps that beads of oil are like rain coming down in a circle around the lamp figure? That is what it reminds me of only millions of them as fine as a strand of hair. Every color in the rainbow and some of them are so mesmerizing that you don't even want to move.

"Lisa! Can you hear me?" Where is everyone? Is just my vision effected? What the hell is going on?

"Yes! Susan! I can't move though." Lisa's voice sounds much farther away than it should, but I'm relieved knowing that she is there. She sounds as scared as I feel.

Unfortunately, her words register, and I realize the same thing. I can't move. I can't even seem to close my eyes and now my mouth won't move to even respond.

So, is this it? Am I dying?

Are we all dying?

Is this the end of the world?

That's my last thought before my eyes mercifully close and my brain shuts off.

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