by Lynnea Lee
Vore clutched at his heart and pretended affront. “You're killing me, beautiful.”
“Oh please, for the love of pancakes! Save it for someone who cares.” She stabbed unceremoniously at a piece of meat with her knife. “There’s like a hundred pretty girls over that-a-way,” she informed him, gesturing towards the building with the same knife, “who would love to have a romp with you. Bother them instead, Casanova. ‘Cuz you ain’t getting any from me. I don’t do one-night stands.”
Vore didn’t get the reference to Casanova, but he still understood. So, that was what bothered her, his reputation for sampling a new female every night at the colony. That was his own fault. He had cultivated that image too well, eager to hide his secret wish for a mate from everyone, including himself.
But still, Vore knew he had an effect on her. He could smell it.
He reached for her, and before she could move away, he grabbed the back of her neck and tilted her head to the side, exposing her neck to him. A growl sounded right before he buried his face into the side of her neck, inhaling her scent. She gasped and melted for a second before regaining her faculties. Then she pushed at him, and the scent of arousal tinged with fear filled his nostrils.
“Calm, female. I will not hurt you.” He purred and scraped his fangs across her neck.
More fear and more arousal filled the surrounding air.
“Get off me now. I will scream.”
“I believe you,” he whispered into her ear, “but I bet that if I reach into your pants right now, I will find you wet for me.”
She shivered, and lust poured from her.
Summoning all his willpower, Vore let her go. He gave her one last smile, stood up, and walked away.
The last words he heard as he turned the corner around the building were, “Ooooh, I’m so going to kill him!”
He laughed to himself. That meant Lettie planned on seeing him again. That female wanted him, and he knew it. Her words meant nothing when her body told him—screamed—that she was his. She was a worthy challenge!
CHAPTER TWO
Six days later…
“I’m so glad they got you back to Reka 5. I can’t believe those idiots tried to kidnap you and Mia!”
Lettie sat next to her friend. Angie was one of the first humans to settle on Reka 5, and she made it her job to help new colonists get used to their new life. Lettie had met her on her first day here and liked her right away.
“I can’t believe those idiots thought they could actually get back to Earth!” Lettie countered, “Not two brain cells to rub together in that bunch.”
It had been a crazy few days. After meeting Vore that morning at the labs, he had found every excuse to be near her. And when the colony director hired extra guards after a suspicious fence breach in the new colonist area, Vore took the job. They had positioned him in the hallway between her dorm-room and the cafeteria. This meant she had to deal with him every time she left her room.
The worse part was watching all the heated glances the other women sent his way. The first time Lettie had left her room after Vore took the position, she had found a leggy brunette chatting him up. But he had looked bored and was blatantly brushing her off. When Vore saw Lettie exiting her room, his face lit up, and he waved Lettie over.
Each time before she left her room, Lettie told herself not to stop and talk with the sexy mercenary-turned-temporary-guard. But like clockwork, her feet inexorably marched her body over towards the sexy alien. When Vore had asked her to join him after his shift, she had almost said yes. By day three, Lettie knew that she would have to avoid him if she didn’t want to give in to the tempting mercenary before his ship arrived to pick him up. Lettie refused to be a wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am.
So, with a little help from a dull knife she had picked up at the cafeteria, Lettie had removed a few screws from her window so that it opened large enough to let her through. She was able to climb out of her first story room to get some fresh air without dealing with the enticing distraction that was Casanova. In hindsight, her reaction was a tad bit excessive, but Lettie had known her self-control was at an all-time low. Desperate times called for desperate measures.
So when a group of crazy religious zealots kidnapped her and put her on a spaceship bound for who knows where, Vore had been none the wiser. It wasn’t until her roommate got back and found her missing that anyone knew she had left her room.
The gang of humans who took her had made a deal with a shifty merchant who claimed he would get them back to Earth. They kidnapped a bunch of human women to bring along with them on their trip. But alas, the merchant was secretly a Dominion lackey intent on retrieving some lost slaves. Luckily, Reka 5 sent the Defiant, crewed by mercenaries—yes, the same group Vore belonged to—to their rescue, and the group was returned to the colony, safe and sound. All in all, it was quite an experience.
What mattered most was that Lettie was back on Reka 5, and in one piece. And she was currently attending Mia and Arus’s wedding. Lettie had met Mia during the ordeal, and they had a good heart-to-heart on board the Defiant during their rescue. Lettie liked Mia and was happy she’d found her happily ever after with Arus. They made a spectacular couple!
“Don’t look right away, but the best man has his eyes on you. Damn, Vore is so yummy, isn’t he.”
“Not my type,” Lettie said way too quickly. He was yummy, alright, too yummy. And Lettie didn’t trust herself to look at him; she might not be able to look away.
“What? How can that hunk not be anyone’s type?” Angie asked, amused. “I watched him and Arus hunt down a pack of dragus once. Hot as hell! That man can move.”
Lettie pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. She had two habits when she got nervous; she either played with her hair or fiddled with her glasses. Knowing that Vore was watching her gave her butterflies in her belly. “I’m sure pretty boy there gets lots of practice moving on everything with a pair of tits.”
Angie narrowed her eyes. “Wow, Lettie, that’s harsh. I sense a story here. Spill it.”
A movement by the door stole their attention. Saved by the bride! Mia walked down the aisle, looking radiant. She wore a simple white gown with a floaty hem and kitten heels. As wedding attire went, it was simple, but it suited her well. The ceremony was short and sweet. And when the couple started their new life with a kiss, the small reception cheered.
Lettie was never a big-dream-princess-wedding type of girl. She realized that the simplicity of this intimate affair was precisely what she wanted. A guilty sense of envy filled her chest. She wanted what Mia had. Not Arus, but a happily ever after. Lettie spent so long telling herself not to love that she was afraid she didn’t know how to anymore. Was that possible? Lettie sure hoped not, because she was good and ready to try her hand at dating again.
Rumbling laughter came from the front of the room; it tickled Lettie to her bones. She didn’t bother to check who it came from; she knew. The Maid of Honor’s laugh joined Vore’s. The two were soon giggling uncontrollably. He’s probably going to go bang her after too, she thought. Why was she even thinking about him? Argh!
“That was so beautiful!” Angie said, dabbing at her eyes.
“Yes, they are cute together! Arus is completely smitten.”
“Oh, I almost forgot to ask you about the job!” Angie said, putting a hand to her head. “I know you've been looking for work. There’s a temporary job opening up for the next few days. It’s temp, but it pays well.”
That caught Lettie’s attention. “Go on.” She knew the colony would provide for her for the next little while, but nothing beats making her own money.
“Once a year, the amberberries all ripen within a few days, and we need all the help we can get to collect them. Even colonists with jobs like myself take time off to help out.”
The amberberries were one of Reka 5’s local delicacies and its chief export. The berries were exported fresh as well as made into preserves. Th
e wineries also turned out an excellent dessert wine with the fruit. Lettie rather enjoyed the berries herself. They tasted like a cross between strawberries and black currants, but golden colored and very juicy.
Angie continued her explanation. “I go every year! It’s fun but dangerous. They grow in large patches outside the perimeter fence. We go in groups of four, usually two males and two females. The females are small enough to climb onto the smaller branches without breaking them, and the males are needed for protection. Each group gets assigned a section, and we harvest as much as we can before they go bad. I’ve partnered up with Holden three years running. You know him, right? He’s right there.” She pointed to a Tallean male Lettie had seen often around the dorms.
“Yeah, he’s head of security in the new colonist area.” He was the guard who had taken Vore’s statement that day in the computer lab. Generally known as a big teddy bear—though from first glance, Lettie never would have guessed—Holden was very protective of the females in the area. The alien was tall and muscular and looked quite menacing.
“Well, we need two more for our team. I told Holden I’ll find a female, and he was supposed to find another male. You should come! Be my plus one; it’ll be fun.”
Lettie hesitated. The colony was fenced in because the planet boasted many predators. She had heard horror stories about the deadly creatures that lurked outside the colony fences. “You said it was outside the fence? Isn't that dangerous?”
Angie looked sheepish. “Well, yeah, that’s why it pays so well; it’s hazard pay. And we will have two big Tallean males with us. We will be safe. Holden can fight. I’ve seen him take a half a pack of dragus by himself.” She lowered her voice. “It’s pretty hot to watch too. And anyone he chooses is sure to be a good fighter too. We will be fine.”
Lettie did want to see what was beyond the fence. She was on another planet, and she didn’t want to hide in the most boring area forever. “Alright, I’ll come along. But if I die, I’ll never forgive you!”
“I’ll take the chance. Don’t tell me you don’t get off on a little bit of danger and excitement. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen those Tallean claws in action. We will have two top predators protecting us.”
“Okay, okay, I’m in. When do we start?”
“Tomorrow.”
“So soon! You weren't kidding when you said you almost forgot to tell me.”
“Yup, so soon. And nope, I wasn’t kidding. Tomorrow, bright and early. We are meeting in front of the sports facility.”
“It’s a deal.”
They got up to join the receiving line to congratulate the newlyweds.
“You may now kiss the bride.”
Arus picked up his mate and kissed her. Vore was pretty sure that this kiss was supposed to be a simple, chaste one. But that didn’t stop his friend from devouring his mate’s mouth with passion.
Vore enjoyed the Earth custom of kissing. It was similar to nuzzling in Tallean culture. That reminded him of Scarlet, who was sitting at the back of the room. He had nuzzled her neck the day they met, and she had reacted first with lust before threatening to scream. Vore had wanted to make her scream, but not quite the way she’d meant.
When Scarlet and Mia had both gone missing the day before yesterday, Vore and Arus had scrambled to find them. And when it was clear they were already off the planet, Arus had called the Defiant to intercept the ship. Vore wished that he had been on the Defiant when it had secured Scarlet from the Dominion ship. He had wanted to rescue her himself. If he had been on the ship, he would have sealed Lettie in his room and not let her out until she was his.
The pair finished their kiss, signaling the start of a new life together.
With their heads still together, Arus whispered, “I love you, dumpling. You are my Stars.”
A twinkle of mischief sparked in Mia’s eyes. “I love you too, Beefcake.”
Vore snorted, trying to hold back a laugh. “Beefcake?” he mouthed, his eyes full of mirth. He exchanged glances with the Sala, the maid of honor. The two tried not to laugh and failed miserably. They collapsed into a fit of laughter.
The nickname was funny but, when it came down to it, Vore was a bit envious of his friend. Arus found love when he had least expected. After a lifetime of believing he would never find a mate, it was an incomparable gift.
Vore got up to stand with the happy couple to receive the guests as per Earth customs. The older human male conducting the ceremony had walked them through the routine earlier. But he couldn’t concentrate on the people in line. He shook their hands and smiled, but his focus was on a particular little human female talking with her friend at the back of the room. All Tallean had excellent hearing, and his was better than most; he wasn’t ashamed to use it for his own benefit.
Picking amberberries? He could do that. The Defiant planned on staying on Reka 5 for a few more days before heading out to their next mission. He imagined a few days out in the wilderness with just Scarlet, Angie, and Holden. He knew Holden and Angie shared sex on occasion and would probably share a tent, leaving the second one for Scarlet and himself. A few nights trapped in a tent with him, and Scarlet would be sure to give in! Things could not be more perfect!
The two females got up to join the end of the line, chatting quietly. As the pair moved up the queue, Scarlet’s eyes darted around, landing on everything except for him. The female was going through a lot of effort not to look at him. The pair reached the front and gave Arus and Mia the traditional blessing and handshake.
When she came to stand in front of him, he grabbed her hand. But instead of a shake, he pulled her forward into his body and enveloped her into a hug. Lettie squeaked, but the sound was muffled against his shirt. She was so tiny, her head came barely to his chest.
“Scarlet, I’m glad to see you are safe.” He pressed his nose to the top of her head, and as always she smelled divine.
She pushed at him lightly but without much enthusiasm.
“I was afraid I wouldn’t have the chance to fulfill my promise to you. And that just won’t do.”
He let her push away to see her reaction. She was flushed but eventually found her voice.
“I heard you had a hand in getting me back to Reka 5. Thank you.” She sounded genuine. “You owe me no promises.”
“But I do.” He leaned down and spoke softly into her ears. “I promised to take care of all your needs.” He ended with a scarcely perceptible purr.
She tensed a moment before the sweet perfume of her lust hit him. Bingo!
But before Vore could lift his head, Lettie surprised him. She wove her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck and held him in place, her lips next to his ear.
“I don’t think you’ll satisfy me.” She held him there for a split second longer, her breath lingering on his skin.
Vore’s loin tightened, and he released a soft growl.
Then she let him go. She was out the door with Angie in tow a moment later.
Vore forced his attention back to the reception line. There were only two males left. Ryek, the colony director, who had helped Arus put together an Earth-style wedding in record time, and Holden. Just the person he wanted to see.
With the formalities finished, Vore put his plan into action. He followed Holden out into the hallway.
“I heard you are looking for another male to join your team for the amberberry harvest.”
A look of dismay passed over the male’s face. “Aw fuck, I forgot about that with everything that’s been happening. That’s tomorrow, isn’t it?”
“So I hear. I can join your team if you don’t have someone yet. And if you do have someone, I’m kicking him off, because I need to be on your team.”
Holden roared a laugh. “I never pegged you for an amberberry enthusiast. Knowing you, Vore, a female is involved. And it’s not Angie because she’s sharing my tent. Let me guess, Angie was sitting with Lettie; she invited her, didn’t she.”
/>
Lettie? Vore remembered seeing the nickname on Scarlet’s missing person report. She must prefer it. It sounded cute, and it suited her well.
“Lettie.” He tried the name out. It felt right. “Yes. Angie called Lettie her ‘plus one’.”
“In that case, you are in luck, my friend. I have not looked for another member to join our group. You will enjoy the harvest. Despite the sonar deterrent we bring with us, the dragus and other predators still attack the groups every year. I know you love a good fight.”
Vore did love a good fight. And the beasts on this planet were worthy opponents. He had hunted dragus with Holden and Arus when the perimeter fence had gone down a few days ago. It was good fun.
“You know me well.”
“We have fought together before. We will make a strong team. Meet up is tomorrow, early morning. All the teams are meeting in front of the sports facility.”
“I’ll be there.”
CHAPTER THREE
A familiar, belly-tickling laugh assaulted Lettie’s ears as she stood by the off-road vehicle with Angie. They were waiting for the males of the group to arrive. Vore! What the hell was he doing here?
“Hello, little Lettie! Ready to pick some berries?” He gave a big grin that devolved into a knowing smirk.
Lettie wanted to wipe the smirk off his face.
“Give us a moment.” She held up a finger before pulling Angie aside. “Vore is the other plus one?” She gave her friend a look of outrage.
“I swear I didn’t know.” Angie held both hands up in surrender. “And they have great hearing; they can hear you.”
“I don’t think I care at this point!” Lettie huffed.
How would she spend the next few days in the wilderness stuck with Casanova without falling victim to his charms? She could claim he didn’t affect her all she wanted, but her body did its own damn thing. The only thing that could come out of this was heartbreak.