Ramliel: The Teague Bride Experiment: Intergalactic Dating Agency
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But this one. He would’ve gladly waited for this human.
This human was the same skin tone as his mates. Although he couldn’t remember his mate’s face he did remember liking the brown on her. Radiant black hair was pulled into a tight bun on the top of her head. He wondered what it looked like if it were freed. His fingers itched to touch it. She was short in stature. The top of her head probably reached the middle of his chest. She was small, not skinny, but not thick as the females of his species.
She watched him with large dark round eyes that had hair slashed above them. Her skin wrinkled between them as she pulled her eyebrows together. Her nose was tiny and upturned and she had full, plump, pink lips that were almost the color of Varona’s skin. Ram briefly wondered if her lips and Varona’s skin were made of the same substance, because as people who viewed Varona’s skin longed to touch it, Ram longed to feel this human’s lips on his.
She pulled her gaze from his and turned to Ivo, angling her head up to talk to him. Ivo frowned, gave Ram a quick glance, then replied to her. She shook her head and Ivo placed a hand on her shoulder.
They were close. His mate? Ram hadn’t known that Ivo also participated in the human mating program. Ram had never asked him. Ram didn’t talk about the mating program with anyone. In truth, he didn’t know who the other participants were. There were only four thousand males on Teague who’d signed up (or had been signed up for it).
Ram advanced. The female tensed, her body stiff as she refused to glance his way again. Her eyes stayed locked on Ivo. Ivo turned at Ram’s approach. He smiled brightly, with a hint of nervousness. “Ramliel! So nice to see you again. You haven’t attended this event in ages.”
Ram stopped before them. While he watched Ivo, his focus, his entire being was tuned to the female. “I had business on planet that needed tending to.”
“Ah, well, I hope we will see more of you. How is the transport business?” Ivo asked. There was admiration and love in his voice.
“Before I make a decision about the company, I ask myself, what my father would do, and that usually puts me on the right path for success,” Ram answered.
The Yatur female who stood with them nodded toward Zephon across the room. “We use his diamonds for the x-ray machines. The results are astounding. The Torqs want us to train them on how to output our results.”
“I would love to claim that I was the one who brought him onboard. But I can’t. I wasn’t aware of the fact until now.” Ram made a mental note to himself. He would bring that point up to Zephon in hopes of sparking a conversation.
“I would love to pick his brain about how he came up with the concept,” the Yatur female said.
“Where are my manners?!” Ivo exclaimed. “Ram, this is Doctor Haliel. We borrowed her from the top facility on Capitalia. She’s studying our technology in hopes of improving bone scanning techniques.”
“I’m learning so much,” Haliel said. “While I originally came to study the bone scan technique, I have to admit that I’m getting sidetracked by the humans. I’ve only read about them in the files. Never met one up close and personal until Mia, here.”
Mia. That name tickled at his brain. It sounded oddly familiar. “Mia? That is your name? I like it.” It made him feel warm inside. He said it again in his head and the same strange feeling lingered. Familiar.
She finally turned to look…no…she glared at him. Ram tilted his head to the side. What had he ever done to this female?
Ivo fidgeted with the hem of his tunic. “Yes…um…Mia…um Takeria.”
“Takeria is my name too.” Was there another distant relative who’d also joined the bride program?
Ivo shifted on his feet and rubbed a hand across the back of his neck. “Um… Well…Yes, because this is your mate.”
“Oh, my,” Haliel said, glancing from Ram to Mia.
Chapter Nine
Steam practically spilled from Mia’s ears.
His name too!
Inside, she seethed with fury and embarrassment. She’d known exactly who Ram was the second he’d sauntered into the room with what she could only describe as a fairy, sans the wings, on his arm. She’d tried to remain composed, hid her hurt under her smile and with upbeat chatter.
There was no ignoring this.
Ram stood in front of her, looking and smelling better than she’d ever imagined, staring at her like he’d forgotten he had a mate. She squinted at him through her thick eyelashes. If he wasn’t seven feet tall, built like a Mack truck and she wasn’t on an alien planet, she would’ve balled her fist and punched him in the face. Well, maybe not the face because she couldn’t reach it standing toe-to-toe, but she would punch him in the nuts.
Her fingers twitched and curled into balls as she dipped her gaze to where said nuts would be. There was a noticeable bump in his groin. She didn’t know if that was a hard on or him at a resting state. But she liked it.
Ugh. Don’t.
Mia caught herself and the intrusive thought and stopped it immediately. No thinking about bulges or anything of that nature. He’d brought her here and abandoned her. For weeks!
“Mia.” He said her name again, slowly and with deliberate intent. His tongue flicked along the underside of his top front teeth as he did. Dark eyes framed in black watched her intently. “I’ve said that name many times in my head. Never have I spoken it out loud.”
She forced her lips into a weak smile. “Nice to meet you, Ramliel.” She turned to face Ivo, her boss. “Would you like anything to drink? I’m going to hop on over to the bar.”
“Hop?” Ivo asked. “Why not walk? I think hopping might be a problem with those shoes on.”
She’d chosen a light blue dress and flesh-colored stilettos for tonight. She could’ve gotten something made specifically for tonight but she’d wanted to wear something from Earth. This was her first gathering outside of work and she’d wanted to bring a touch of her culture to tonight’s events.
Mia chuckled lightly, despite the rage threatening to overtake her emotions. She had to remember to stop talking in euphemisms but it was hard. She never knew how much her speech was laced with them. “It’s a figure of speech. I’m going to walk.”
“In those shoes…” Ram said.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. How dare he show up and have something to say about her clothes? “There’s nothing wrong with my shoes.” Before she or he could say anything else she opened her eyes, did an about face and headed to the bar. She needed a stiff drink, not that fru-fru stuff the waiters had.
She wove her way through the crowd. Although she was much smaller than most everyone here, she was an oddity. There was only one other human here, but after a brief sighting and a wave, she’d lost her. Mia had hoped to speak with her. So far she was the only human at her job so to see another at a work event piqued her interest.
The crowd stared as she made her way through. No one tried to stop her or engage in a conversation. She got the feeling not everyone was happy with human women on Teague. Her mate not wanting anything to do with her was a big indication of that.
Mia reached the front of the bar and made her selection at the kiosk. A few minutes later her drink arrived. She took it and gulped it down in a breath. She knew this beverage. Hinduru had programmed it in her food processor. It wasn’t bourbon, but it was damn close to it. After the last gulp she wiped her mouth and set the cup in the receptacle and turned around. Ram still stood with Ivo and Haliel. His heated gaze on her.
Her heart skipped a beat and hammered. He’d grown into a very handsome man, er, Yatur. His once small face and puny body was well-defined now. His clothes were expertly made. She’d been on Teague long enough to distinguish between the different fashion statements and styles. Ram’s fashion sense was rich.
The material of his suit reminded her of silk. Blues and silvers intertwined in designs that appealed to her. They molded to his body, stretching in places they were supposed to stretch and loose where needed. She sp
ecifically appreciated the tightness over his arms, chest and thighs.
She licked her lips. Then Ram licked his. Their gazes stayed locked on each other. Her chest felt too tight. Breathing became difficult. Neither one seemed to want to break the connection.
The woman he’d arrived with came to his side. The fairy wannabe. Tall, like him and stunning. She glanced in the direction Ram looked, focused on Mia then sniffed at the air. She stepped in front of Ram, giving Mia her back and blocking Ram from view.
Just as well.
Mia turned and called up another drink. Just like the last, she gulped the second one down. This time, instead of turning to watch Ram again, she headed for the door. Thanks to Ram she had a car service and couldn’t be more grateful for that now.
* * *
Mia woke with a raging headache. Her skull felt like it was splitting in two, her mouth like cotton. Very bad smelling and tasting cotton.
“Ugh.” She rolled over and stared at the dark wall.
Thanks to the light dampening blinds, it was pitch black in her bedroom. The only light came from the clock on her nightstand. It was nine in the morning. She didn’t have work this morning. The Teague three-day work week was one she could get behind. To them, work was something done to better the society, not something to enrich corporate America or the few who were already gazillionaires.
Mia blinked, trying to clear the sleepiness from her eyes and get her brain in working order.
“What do you eat for breakfast? There’s no eggs or milk stocked in the food processor, but I can order some supplies.”
Mia yelped at the unexpected deep voice. She turned over. A big figure loomed at her bedroom door. She twisted in her blanket and fell off the opposite side of the bed, hitting the cushioned floor hard.
There was a chuckle.
Mia’s heart slammed against her ribs. “Lights!”
Her room lit up. She kicked the blanket from her legs while simultaneously pushing it away. Once semi-free she scrambled to peer over the bed.
Ram.
He was shirtless and in loose pants that hung low on his hips. His hair was pulled up in a messy bun and his feet were bare. A far cry from the immaculately put together specimen she’d met last night. “What are you doing here?”
One side of his mouth lifted. “This is my house.”
Chapter Ten
In a word, Ram was intrigued.
And Mia was the source.
He’d known immediately after meeting her that she was his. He’d felt that down to his bones. He needed her. The thought was overwhelming and overpowering. Even when Varona had tried to sever their connection by standing between them, he’d still felt Mia’s presence. He’d wanted her back at his side where she belonged.
By the time he’d moved Varona out of his way, Mia wasn’t where he’d last seen her standing. A quick inquiry with the car service revealed she’d left.
Left!
While he was so intrigued he couldn’t think of anything else.
He’d done what anyone would do if their mate had left without them. He sent Varona home and followed Mia. On the way to Mia’s house…his house, he called Hinduru and learned all he needed about his mate. Her likes, dislikes, food choices, what she did in her free time and to his absolute horror, that she had a job.
Why would she need to work when he provided everything for her? She had a house, vehicle and a monthly allowance even Varona couldn’t spend in that amount of time. Upon arriving to her house, he wasn’t exactly sure what he would say to her.
Sorry for not meeting you sooner? Are you enjoying life on Teague?
Gah!
His questions sounded so…so…mundane. When he really wanted to ask her, “Where have you been all my life?”
He knew that answer. She’d been on a transport from Earth. After she’d arrived, instead of greeting her as a mate should, Ram had left her to figure things out. At least she hadn’t been alone. Hinduru had stayed in close contact with her and done everything Ram should’ve.
“I know you own this house,” she said, dark brown eyes glaring at him. “But what are you doing here?” She glanced up and down. “And where the hell are your clothes?”
He leaned a shoulder on the door frame, not sure why there was a smile stretched across his lips. She was obviously confused and upset, but that only added to her appeal. She looked like a dazed and confused child.
He nodded toward the bedroom across the hall from hers. “In there.”
Her eyes widened. “What?!”
Ram chuckled. He couldn’t help himself. “I came last night. I was going to wake you, but it looked like you needed the rest. Your snores were really loud.”
He’d come to talk to her and ended up watching her sleep for a little while. It wasn’t a peaceful sleep. A frown scrunched her pretty face. Her eyebrows pinched together and plump lips were pursed tight. She tossed and turned. And snored.
He couldn’t bring himself to wake her. He’d thought briefly about leaving and returning to speak with her in the morning, but then he had a better idea.
Stay.
She reared her head back. “I. Do. Not. Snore.”
He laughed again. “Yes, you do.”
She frowned then shook her head. “None of that matters. Why are you here?”
Maybe she hadn’t heard him the first time? “I told you. I own this dwelling.”
“Yes, but why are you here,” she said slowly. “Hinduru said you live somewhere else.”
“Oh, I moved in last night.”
She sat back, going out of view. Only the top of her flower printed bed hat could be seen. “What the actual fuck.”
“Why do you wear a hat to bed? Is it a human custom? I don’t remember reading about that. But all of the information I have on humans, I studied long ago. I should review those files.” If he had he wouldn’t have needed Hinduru to tell him about his mate. He had everything he needed to know at his fingertips, but he’d needed to hear it from someone who actually knew her.
She touched the top of her head. “It’s called a bonnet. People who want to protect their curls wear them at night. It helps to keep the curls hydrated and the frizz down—wait. Why am I even explaining this to you?”
He raised a shoulder. “Because I asked?”
She grumbled, getting up to stand. Ram caught his breath. Last night she’d been wrapped in her blanket pulled up to her chin. Now, she stood in her underwear. Plain black panties hugged nice hips. Her legs were shapely and smooth. Her stomach was flat and waist small. She had a black band covering ample breasts that would fit nicely in his palms.
His cock hardened, straining against his pants.
Mia pulled the bonnet from her head and tossed it on the bed. Dark curls spilled down her neck and past her shoulders. Ram inhaled a sharp breath. His only thought was crossing the distance between them and taking her on the spot.
Mia was in trouble. Serious trouble if the look in Ram’s eyes were any indication. She was scared. Nervous. Turned on.
Wait. No.
She couldn’t be turned on. Not by Ram.
She shook her head adamantly. “You can’t stay here with me.”
“Why not?”
Oh, God. Even his voice was deeper. Her eyes shifted to his crotch.
Jesus!
Things were happening way too fast. The room was suddenly too hot. She fanned herself with a hand. “Go back to your other place. I’m sure your girlfriend is there waiting for you.”
“She is.”
Mia didn’t know why that simple statement had her seeing red. She wanted to claw out Ram’s eyes. Instead of launching herself across the bed, she folded her arms over her chest. “Then go to her.”
“I’m where I want to be.”
“I don’t want you here.”
“That’s too bad.”
She narrowed her eyes and snatched her comlink off the nightstand. She spoke into it while keeping her eyes on Ram. “Call Lina,”
A few seconds later her friend’s cheery voice came on the line. “Good morning, Chica. How was the shindig last night? Was it full of a bunch of old work stuffies?”
“It was lovely,” Mia gritted. “But I have a favor to ask. I have an unwanted guest who has decided to move in with me. Can I live with you until I find another place?”
“I’m so confused. What do you mean ‘unwanted guest’? Like a rodent or something?”
She narrowed her eyes on Ram. “Yeah, sure. Let’s call him that.”
Ram chuckled.
“Sooo confused. But of course ,you can come with us.”
Mia smiled at Ram, showing him a mouthful of teeth.
Ram lifted his dark eyebrows and said into his own comlink “Hinduru.”
“Yes?” came Hinduru’s voice.
“Are you familiar with Mia’s friend Lina?”
“Yes.”
Ram smiled at her slowly. “Please inform her mate that my mate cannot move into his dwelling. If he allows this, I will buy his home and put him and his mate on the street.”
Mia couldn’t believe what she heard. Hinduru had met Lina many times. Mia, Lina and Diana visited each other often. How could Ram think about kicking them out and more importantly, did he have the authority to do it? “Are you serious?!”
“Wait,” Lina said in the background. “What do you mean you just received a threatening call if we help Mia?”
Mia gripped her comlink tighter. Her breaths came out too hard and heavy as the answer to her question was answered. The more she looked at Ram, the more deserving he was of having his eyes plucked from his face.
“Um, Mia?” Lina said. “We can’t do it. Your bitchass of a mate threatened to kick us out on the street if we helped you.”
Ram smirked at her.
He wanted to play with her? Fine.
“Thank you anyway, Lina.” She disconnected the call and went to the restroom, leaving Ram to stand alone, reveling in his smugness.