by R. R. Banks
“What does this mean?” asked Hannah. “Are they asking us to move? Are we getting a promotion? What’s going on?”
Alexis smiled earnestly. “Hannah, we are being given autonomy within the consortium. Our positions were essentially created to help the struggling companies recover and the smaller companies grow. We can go where we want to go, opting to stay in our New York office or moving wherever want, however, with the Australian project, we will need to be in Melbourne for a few weeks to get it functioning properly. You are now the top negotiator for the consortium and I am the top logistics administrator. If any companies struggle, they are allowed to turn to us for assistance. Hannah, we have just been given an incredible promotion.”
Hannah smiled before screaming in jubilation at the news. “You’ve got to be kidding me!?” she screamed in excitement. “So what do we do from here?”
“Well, unfortunately, our trip to Dubai has been cut short, and we will have to pack up and leave this evening for Melbourne where we will sign our new contracts and begin working on the recovery,” explained Alexis as Hannah looked on with glee.
“We have to leave tonight?” asked Hannah as she slowly began panicking.
“We’re leaving in the next two hours,” answered Alexis. “However, if you’re running a few minutes behind, I don’t think the plane will leave you.”
Hannah tried to suppress her emotions as she questioned Alexis. “Why not?” she asked, thinking back to all the times that she had to sprint through airport terminals to make sure she didn’t miss a flight.
With a hint of deception, Alexis smiled genuinely. “Because the majority owner of the company is flying us out there on his private jet and letting us stay in his home while we’re there.” Hannah looked at Alexis with wide eyes and subtle headshake as she stood up to start packing, surprised that her best friend finally went and got what she wanted. “Hurry up,” announced Alexis, motioning for Hannah to start packing so they could get to the airport, hoping to start the flight sooner rather than later. Alexis ran into the bathroom and showered while Hannah tossed all of her clothes into the suitcase, not opting to fold anything or separate out what was clean and what was dirty, instead, just placing it in the bag and zipping it shut. Alexis got out of the shower quickly, dried off and walked out of the bathroom to find Hannah waiting patiently in the living room with her suitcase in front of her.
“I thought you wanted to hurry?” asked Hannah, folding her arms while sitting on the couch drinking a glass of wine. She stood up and pointed at Alexis with her wine glass in her hand. “This, Alexis, is not hurrying.”
Alexis looked at the bag, seeing how misshapen it was before looking at Hannah with a hint of confusion. “Did you fold anything?”
“Do they not have irons in Australia?”
“Have you ever ironed anything in your life?”
Hannah paused and looked at Alexis with her eyes halfway closed. “Once, I think, and it was terrible,” she answered in a very serious, yet playful tone.
Alexis turned and walked away, knowing that Hannah was now waiting on her to get ready for them to embark on their new journey. Fortunately for Alexis, her obsessive need for organization made packing incredibly simple. She placed her dirty clothes in a plastic bag and set it on the bottom of her suitcase before unloading the clothes from the drawers in the room, taking out the contents, folding them gently and placing them neatly in the bag. After a few moments, her bag was pristinely backed and she was able to close it and drag it into the living room. “Have you called for a cab yet?” asked Alexis.
“Was I supposed to?” asked Hannah in a reply to Alexis. “Give me a second, I will call us one.”
“Don’t worry about it,” replied Alexis as she reached into her small handbag and pulled out the card from the night before, texting the number on it to see if that driver would come and get them. After a few short seconds, the driver replied back with a confirmation. “He’s on his way. Let’s get downstairs.”
Hannah was confused. “You have a taxi driver’s number in your purse?”
“From last night,” replied Alexis. “I wanted to make sure I had a way out in case the date went terribly wrong.”
“Oh, so you wanted to have an escape hatch in case he proved to be some kind of creep or asshole,” quipped Hannah. “That’s not a terrible idea.”
“I felt like it was something you would have done,” replied Alexis. “I figured I should at least act like you a little bit when it comes to my emotional and romantic life.”
Hannah laughed as the two grabbed their suitcases and started rolling them out of the room. “You don’t want that,” she replied playfully. “You’ll end up with a list of seventy-four numbers for guys that you can’t remember what they look like.”
Alexis chuckled as they reached the elevator, pressing the button and it opened immediately. “I don’t know. That could be a little bit of fun.”
“Stick with your one guy,” stated Hannah. “I’m the only one who can pull off being me, just like you’re the only person capable of being you.”
They walked onto the elevator and rode it to the bottom floor, stepping off to find the taxi driver already waiting on them. “Good morning,” he announced as he reached for their luggage and placed it in the trunk of his car. “I’m glad to see that your encounter went well last night.”
“Thanks,” replied Alexis with a smile. “It went better than fine, though. It went perfectly.”
“Excellent,” he replied in his thick African accent before walking around to the front of his car and stepping in. The girls stepped into the backseat and the taxi took off, heading down the main streets of Dubai.
The taxi reached the airport and was allowed entrance to the back hangars where the private jets and other smaller planes were stored. He drove past a few structures before coming up to the one that Alexis told him to go to. Hannah and Alexis stepped out of the car to see a beautiful plane waiting on them to taxi out to the runway. It was white with a blue stripe down the side of it with the initials “NJ” written on the tail. Alexis paid the taxi driver and thanked him as Hannah grabbed their luggage from the trunk, rolling both suitcases behind her as she gazed at the airplane and the man stepping out of it.
Hannah pulled the luggage as Alexis walked up to Nathanial, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him on the lips as Hannah stood behind them. “Glad to see you made it in good time,” stated Nathanial as he and Alexis stopped kissing. She let go of his neck as he looked past her, seeing the blonde ponytailed Hannah waiting impatiently on the two of them to finish. “And you must be Hannah,” he remarked positively. “I’ve heard a great deal about you.”
“I’m….” Hannah paused, not knowing how awkward to make this moment, though heading for the path of politeness instead of being her normal, sarcastic self. “It’s great to meet you,” she said, completely out of character, which prompted Alexis to look at her with a confused look. Hannah pulled the bags up and handed one to Alexis, which Nathanial grabbed from both of them and carried them onto the plane.
“That was incredibly awkward,” stated Alexis as they watched Nathanial enter the hull of the airplane. “What were you going to say before you stopped yourself?”
Hannah laughed. “I’m aware that you like to have passionate, boring sex on the first date,” she quipped with a smile on her face, bringing out a look of disgust on Alexis’s. “What? You asked and I was polite. Just remember that.”
“You were,” replied Alexis. “As weird as it sounds, you were.”
THE END
Book 1 – Captured by Sweet Alien
Chapter 1
The hairs on my neck stood. It happened every time my boss was near. He gave me the creeps and on more than one occasion I had to politely remind him to keep his filthy hands to himself. Ever since I turned down his advances he made up his mind on giving me the worst cases and projects. I lifted my tired eyes to see him standing in front of my desk with a smirk. I knew
that look. It meant he had something planned—and I wasn’t going to like it.
“Ms. Baines, I have a new assignment for you.”
Leaning back in my chair I nodded giving him permission to sit in the chair and waited for him to spit it out.
“You’re going on a trip.”
“Where to?”
“Uoria.”
I gulped. Out of all the places he could have sent me and it was to the planet full of the most temperamental species humans had ever studied. “What for?”
“We need to learn more about them, what’s in their blood.”
I gasped. “You know that’s against the rules, Ryan.” Everyone knew that the King and Queen made the rules. They still allowed us to do testing, but never of their blood. And I knew what happened to those who tried getting the blood of a Denynso. They never came back that’s what.
He shrugged. “You’re sneaky enough and no one pays much attention to you. We need to know what makes them so powerful.”
His eyes lit up and I shuddered. I knew exactly why he wanted a sample of their blood. It was the same reason every other scientist wanted it, and it was exactly why they had all failed.
“Oh, and preferably the blood from their strongest warrior is what you need to get. You’ve heard of him right?”
Of course I had. Everyone in my line of work had heard of the monstrous Denynso called Pyra. He was one mean son of a bitch and no one wanted near him. Well, besides all the women that vied for a place in his bed. But there was nothing scientific about that.
“You know I won’t do that.”
He shrugged. “Then you’re job is as good as gone and so will your reputation. You’ll never work again. Not in this field!” He spun on his heel and looked over his shoulder. “Might as well practice saying, “Do you want fries with that?” because that’s the only work you’ll ever get. You know how much we need this information.”
“Wait,” I said and sighed. I couldn’t lose my job. It was all I had, my livelihood. I’d have to find a way to convince the leaders to let me have a sample and test it. Maybe fudge the results or something. I would find a way. “I’ll do it!” I prayed I live long enough to explain why I was asking for the one thing they’d refused since we learned of their species.
His smile widened as if he had won the biggest prize. He knew I wouldn’t be coming back and that was his plan all along. They’d kill me before I got close enough to the warrior, and if I managed to sneak by he’d break my neck with two fingers. I shuddered. This wasn’t going to be a fun vacation. I needed to form a plan and offer the Denynso something they couldn’t resist, but I didn’t have anything—not really. I only hoped I could get them on the off chance that they wouldn’t want me to lose my job. Maybe they’d feel sorry for me, throw me a bone or something. No matter how small it was, I’d take it.
“Good, I knew you’d see it my way. You need to be ready at four a.m.”
Then he left me stewing knowing he’d given me an impossible task. If I was going down, I was taking that piece of shit down with me. I smiled evilly. They were an angry species. It shouldn’t be too hard to piss them off and let them know it was all Ryan’s idea.
After he left me alone, I did what I was best at. I hacked the system and copied the surveillance from my office. Right there I’d be able to prove what was going on to the Denynso, if I could play it. I already knew there wasn’t electricity, but I’d charge my laptop for that purpose alone. Proof my boss was a scumbag and it was his idea to send me there to specifically break their rules. Maybe I’d have a chance to survive my stay there, but coming back home wouldn’t be so great.
Chapter 2
I was ready to go and waited for my boss well before four. I hadn’t slept at all. All night I planned how I would handle the situation my boss had put me in. I knew they would be expecting another scientist. I’d have to meet with them before I step foot on their compound. From what I had learned it was a very secure planet. Warriors scoured the land to keep watch over the humans, and be on the lookout for an attack from their enemies.
I shuddered and thought about what I’d heard about their enemies. There were several horror stories of the attacks on Uoria. The Klimnu were disgusting beasts. Luckily they hadn’t managed to make it to Earth yet or humans would be in big trouble.
Ryan strolled up to me at four on the dot and smiled handing over my paperwork.
“Here’s all the stuff you’ll need when you get there. I have you down as routine testing for plant and animal life. You’re there for up to six months. That should be plenty of time to get what I need.” He gave me a look and I didn’t miss the tone.
I nodded, but inside I was fuming. He was trying to get me killed. I was his competition, and the one that turned his ass down. He didn’t take rejection well, and now I was paying for it. But I was smarter than him and would come up on top.
“All right, well you know how to get in contact if you need anything, but I’m sure you won’t.”
I kept my mouth shut because this was all a fucking set up. I couldn’t believe he’d stoop so low, but maybe it had something to do with the fact that I was up for the promotion he wanted. Luckily I’d learned to control my Irish temper. My mother always told me one day it would come in handy to have self-control, and now I was learning.
Without a word I picked up my bags and boarded the ship. I was nervous as hell. This was the first time I was traveling to another planet, and I wasn’t too sure about it. I wasn’t the type of person who wanted to experience new things. I’d much rather stay in the lab by myself. I felt Ryan’s eyes burning into my back and straightened without turning back. He wouldn’t get a rise out of me. As soon as the metal door clanged closed I let out the breath I’d been holding and muttered, “stupid ass mother fucker.” He would get his.
The very human pilot chuckled. Apparently I spoke a little louder than I thought. Oh well. Everyone knew how I felt about Ryan so it wouldn’t be a surprise that I’d be cursing him. They also knew I had a temper and I held a grudge like no other. I glared at the man and he shrugged before getting ready to take off.
The ship shook and my stomach dropped. Leaning back in my seat I held my breath and closed my eyes. My hands gripped the arm rests and I clenched my teeth as I was lifted into the air at an unknown speed. My stomach rose back up into my throat and I nearly lost what little I had eaten. As soon as the ship leveled some I was able to relax but the speed hadn’t slowed and I kept my eyes shut hoping the medication I had taken would kick in soon knocking my ass out.
* * * *
I woke up to the pilot shaking me. I swung my fist and smiled when I heard the satisfying crunch of the bone in his nose breaking. I didn’t like being touched especially without permission.
“Shit!” he shrieked. “What the hell, I was only waking you up. I’ve been trying for nearly an hour. These warriors are starting to get antsy.”
I shot up and grimaced. “Sorry,” I replied sheepishly. Now I felt bad. “Sorry about your nose.”
“It fucking hurts. No wonder everyone is scared of you.” His eyes watered and he’d lifted his shirt to catch the blood.
I smirked. “Yeah, well next time refrain from touching me. Use a blow horn if you have to, but keep your damn hands to yourself.”
He nodded and winced. “You got it, but please get the hell of my ship.”
I stood and stretched knowing I’d just slept for probably five days. My body wasn’t ready to stand and I wobbled but caught myself before I fell. “Give me five.”
He didn’t respond so I took it as an okay and paced the small area while the rest of my body woke up. I needed to be alert when I met the King and Queen. My insides fluttered like butterflies. I wasn’t the biggest socialite and meeting people, human or not, wasn’t my thing. After the given five minutes I walked behind the pilot and laid a hand on his shoulder. He jumped and looked at me in fear.
“Thank you for the ride, and again, I’m sorry about your nose.”<
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He nodded curtly. The bleeding had stopped but his right eye was almost swollen shut. “I’ll remember the blow horn next time.”
I chuckled. At least he was able to find humor in getting his ass kicked by a woman.
I stepped off of the ship and gasped. It was so familiar, yet not. Everything was so alive. The grass waved in wind, and the sky was almost violet with pinks and oranges. It was breathtaking. I stood taking in the surroundings. The ship rumbled to life vibrating the ground. I didn’t even bother looking back. I was stuck here for the next six months. Life was about to get a whole hell of a lot more interesting.
My view was blocked by the largest body I had ever seen. Even I felt tiny to the beast in front of me, and instinctively I balled my hands into fists. I had to be in front of the warrior everyone spoke about.
“You’re the new one?” he asked in a gruff voice that vibrated along my skin. The sound shot right through my body.
I gulped and looked up, and then up some more before nodding. “Yes, I’m Eden Baines.”
He smirked down at me. “Come, you must meet the King and Queen.” His voice was a bit tenser, and I wondered why. Must have been that temper I had heard about.
Chapter 3
Pyra wanted to roar. The moment she spoke, something inside of him came to life. A heat so intense filled him he was barely able to hold back his gasp. It wasn’t acceptable. This measly human was not his mate. She was tiny. There was no way she’d be able to handle all seven feet, and three inches of him.
He wasn’t ready to be shackled down by the all-consuming love he’d feel for her. His body already was going through the change, and they hadn’t even touched. He had this feeling for days. He was edgier than normal, though for him that wasn’t saying much. He flew off the handle more than once and fought five of his brethren. Now he understood why.