by Ruby Dixon
(I'm kidding. Mostly.)
Your neck tattoo is lovely! I actually thought it sounded horrific (sorry) when you told me about it, but the tattoo is very tasteful and slender and looks like you're wearing a collar, actually. All those symbols are his name? It's a really long name! But I'm glad it gives you freedom. That's so damn important. I hope you two are happy! He looked at you like he could eat you up with a spoon the entire time you were here, and I admit I'm envious. I need Rektar to look at me like that!! I hope married life is treating you well.
Please write back. Send me a recipe of some kind! I'm bored and tired of sewing. I can't make my necklines any lower or my tits will hit the ground. When did you say you were coming to Risda III for a visit again? Since I can't take a gift without sending a gift, I'm enclosing a vial of seeds from a flowering plant here. It's called “noli” and it's very pretty, but I'm told it makes praxiians horny. Maybe don't invite any praxiians over if you decide to grow this.
Your friend,
Lucy
Dear Lucy,
Thank you for the flowers! They are growing in a pot in our bedroom under an artificial light. I can assure you, no praxiians will ever be in my bedroom. :) Just Zakoar.
As for the data pads, I'm glad you got use out of them. I'm enclosing a couple of maintenance chips that should improve performance on your bots, along with printed instructions. Zakoar says you can vid-call if you have trouble with them, but mind the time since we're on a night schedule compared to you.
As for being married…I've never been so happy. I always thought I wanted to leave the station behind and never see it again, but when I'm with him, I don't care where we are. I just like being in his presence. Being here with him is different. Everything with him is different. Sometimes I'm scared that I'm so happy, but maybe this is just the universe giving me balance after years of hell in the cantina. It's changed hands again, and last I heard, the new owner freed all the girls and is paying them a wage now, which is lovely. I haven't gone in there. I avoid it, in fact. I don't want any bad memories, you know? And Zakoar's so protective I don't think he'd let me go in even if I wanted to, unless he was with me.
Speaking of marriage, we won't be coming by Risda in this next month. We're going on vacation! Zakoar is taking me to a planet that has private beaches. No one will stare and I'm told I can wiggle my toes in the sand for as long as I want. It sounds like a dream. We'll come to Risda next time, I promise, and you can laugh at how sickeningly sweet we are on each other. Zakoar's assistant Tikosa always catches us kissing (or worse) in Z's office and he's starting to cringe every time he sees me, poor man!
He'll just have to get used to it! I have no plans on stopping.
I'm sorry Rektar is proving to be so clueless. Here I was hoping I'd have an invitation to your wedding. Perhaps those necklines aren't low enough. Go get your man, Lucy. I know you can do it! You deserve a man that loves you, and I know he would if he just bothered to notice you there. Maybe cook him something special to win him over? You've probably already tried that. Heck, give him food poisoning. He'd remember you then!
(Okay, don't give him food poisoning. I'm only throwing ideas out there. I just want everyone to be as happy as I am with my wonderful Zakoar.)
Your friend in happiness,
Tessa
Author’s Note
Hello there!
I have a character problem. Basically it seems like I can’t create a character without deciding to give them a book. Zakoar of the Broken Back came to me with his name, because I was inspired a bit by Jerrok. A prosthetics professional would be very into his own work, of course, and so the idea of a guy utterly covered in metal and prosthetics seemed like the perfect fit. And I gave him a broken back because I wanted his need for prosthetic/cyber assistance to be on the extreme end. Or maybe as someone that’s had back surgery in the past, I just dream of being able to fix such things. :)
At any rate, the moment he showed up, I wanted to write his story. Luckily, all you enablers on Facebook encouraged me and this book pretty much poured out of me in no time at all.
Tessa was a fun heroine for me, too. She’s practical, unashamed of her body and what she does, and quick to adapt. I think you’d have to be, given what she’s lived through. As Lucy says later in this book, she rolls with the punches and doesn’t ask much from the universe. I have a soft spot for pairing a heroine in a fragile position with an ‘ugly’ hero who just needs love, and of course, it’s just fun to write. That’s my catnip.
Speaking of Lucy…of course she’s getting a book, too. Hers will most likely be another novella, but I love tackling a heroine that’s been put in a shit situation and still manages to be cheerful and positive. You can guess who she’s going to end up with. :)
Overall, I’m still having too much fun playing with my aliens, blue or otherwise. The plan is to have November’s release be Bridget and A’tam back in Icehome, and December will most likely be Lucy’s novella and probably another novella (Harlow and Rukh’s honeymoon, perhaps?). I’m wiggling a few things around on my schedule but that’s the plan at the moment.
Meanwhile, if you’re needing some alien love between releases, head on over to Facebook. I’ve just started the next daily serial, and it’s called CORSAIRS: ADIRON. It’s the first in a series starring our favorite Corsair brother who’s into fistfights and noogies and is determined to have fun no matter what. If Facebook doesn’t play nice, you can always follow along on my website, as well! I’m trying to make the world a little brighter in 2020, one chapter at a time. <3
Hang in there! We’re in October now. That’s the home stretch!
- Ruby
Want More?
All of my books are in Kindle Unlimited, so borrow to your heart’s content! Here are my suggestions if you’re looking for more to fill up your kindle!
Want more Risdaverse or stories of a similar nature? These all stand alone!
When She’s Ready (novella)
When She’s Married (novella)
When She Purrs (full-length novel)
When She Belongs (full-length novel)
Or maybe you’ve only got a little bit of time to read and want something sweet & safe that stands alone?
The Alien’s Mail Order Bride
Pretty Human
Or maybe you’re in the mood for a good binge with big, protective alien heroes, more spurs than you can shake a stick at, and icy adventures?
Ice Planet Barbarians series
Enjoy!