Taming the Alpha

by Mandy M. Roth

  She lifted up on her toes, deepening an already searing kiss as her lungs burned for air. Her hands traveled up his arms to his shoulders. He cupped her ass, lifting her off the ground with little effort. The strength in him scared and exhilarated her at the same time. Her heart beat hard and heavy, pumping her desire like a shockwave through her body. He crushed his erection against her lower stomach, making it clear what he wanted from her. Then something he’d said struck her. Did he call her his bride?

  Eve gasped, pulling back, fighting the drug-like daze that threatened her senses. Her limbs were numb with desire and heat. His bright blue eyes peered into hers. They were startling in their brilliant color. Part of her wanted to forget reason and keep going. Part of her wanted to beg him to take her right there on the strange fern-covered ground, there under the peculiar green-tinted sky.

  “Much better, m’lady,” the man said, nodding. He kept her body tight against his, holding her as if she were a feather. She detected every subtle movement of him. His firm lips brushed forward and she pulled back, just out of his reach. He nipped playfully at the air, and said, “I like that I can calm you in such a way.”

  “Did you…?” Eve swallowed nervously. “Did you call me…? Where are we? What happened last night? Didn’t you have sideburns?”

  “Do you really want to talk now?” His bright eyes were full of sexual meaning and promise. “Can we not talk after?”

  “After what?” Eve played dumb.

  “You have to ask?” He pressed lightly into her with his erection. “I’ve been waiting all night for you. You fell asleep before we could finish what we started during your dance.”

  Eve pushed at his shoulders and took a deep breath. The memory of boldly making out with him on the dance floor filtered through her mind. She’d seen him from the stage, had found him later at the bar with his foreign money. She’d drummed up the nerve to talk to him, actually considered him a birthday present to herself. Had she really jumped on him like that while they were on the dance floor? Wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist? Had she really begged him to take her back to his hotel room? How much tequila did she drink? “I was dosed, wasn’t I? Damn it. It’s gotten to the point you can’t even go out anymore.”

  Even as she said it, she knew it wasn’t true. Her wanton actions had been one-hundred percent embarrassingly her. She pushed harder and he let her go. Her feet dropped on the ground and she stumbled.

  “Dosed?”

  Eve ignored his confusion. She stepped away from him, suddenly feeling chilled though the air was warm. It was really bright out and she glanced at the cloudless sky. Was she mistaken, or were there three suns overhead—two yellow and a very pretty blue one?

  “I’m on acid,” she stated, continuing away from the strange guy. She stared at him, relieved that he’d wrapped a linen piece of material around his waist to hide his morning nakedness. “I remember you. You’re the cowboy who wasn’t dancing. You came to my show with a bunch of your friends all dressed up. You must’ve slipped something into my drink. Oh, no. You’re a kidnapper, aren’t you?”

  “No, I am Draig. Don’t you remember me telling you this last night? My name is Kyran—”

  Eve held up her hand, moaning in protest. “Uh, no. I don’t want to hear it. The less I know about you the better. Just let me go home and I’ll forget I even saw you. Okay?”

  “You can’t go home. You don’t remember the portal? Coming to my planet?”

  “Planet?” she squeaked, breathing hard. She fanned her face. Did he just say planet?

  “Yes, Qurilixen. Do you need me to kiss you again? You look…” He shrugged, helpless.

  “Oh, oh, you’re crazy. You think you’re…alien…spaceship…” Eve couldn’t catch her breath as panic gripped her, “…crazy…probing…mental hospital…crazy…”

  “Hold, easy—”

  “Don’t you tell me to take it easy, you lunatic!” she yelled, still gasping for breath. “You kidnapped me and brought me out to the forest. You psycho, there are laws against this. You can’t just take people out of Cleveland when they want to be in Cleveland!”

  “Are you well?” He arched a brow.

  “Bloody hell! No, I’m not well. I’ve been abducted by a crazy lunatic who thinks he’s an alien. You’ve taken me against my will and made me see suns.”

  At that, he actually looked upset. “No, I told you I chose you and you accepted.”

  “I accepted that you were from Quasar and agreed to be beamed to your planet? Not bloody likely! I don’t care how much tequila I drank.”

  “Yes, though it’s called Qurilixen, not Quasar.”

  “Wonderful. You’re an alien. Why not?” Eve wondered if she was insane. “I’m going to be one of those crazies talking about probing and tracking implants while making aluminum foil suits.”

  “I do not consider myself an alien,” he said thoughtfully. “However, I do suppose from you point of view that is technically correct, though we did not fly through space to get here. And my people did originate on your planet many, many years ago.”

  “Not an alien. Then what are you, portal man?”

  “A dragonshifter.” He looked serious. “What is with all this bloody you speak of? I don’t understand the phrase.”

  “I picked it up from a British guitarist who let me crash on her couch after…argh. Quit trying to change the subject!” He didn’t look pleased by her tone. Eve didn’t care. She wasn’t pleased either, being in the middle of the woods with a nutcase. “You took me against my will. Now I demand you tell me how to get home. Right now!”

  She stomped her foot for effect. He didn’t look too impressed by the action as he adjusted the material at his waist. The man hardly acted like he wanted to hurt her. In fact, he just looked horny and confused.

  “You dare to question my honor? I am Kyran of the Draig. No one has ever dared to question my honor.” He took a deep, harsh breath. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides in anger. Between his teeth, he growled, “You said, fine, cowboy, fine. I believe you. Now enough talking. It’s overrated anyway. I want to dance.”

  “What? From that you got, take me to your alien planet, you big stud?” She shook from head to toe. “Just stay away from me. I’m warning you.”

  “Warning me of what?” He glanced around the forest. “There is nothing here to be afraid of.”

  “Just stay back!”

  “Back where?”

  “Stop that!”

  “Stop what?”

  “Shut up! Just stay back! Don’t move.” Eve glanced around. Where should she go? All she saw was trees and his giant red, pyramid tent. The only sound was the flapping of the top blue banner whipping on the breeze. It had a silver dragon in the middle of it—very medieval in design. “Are you an actor? Did someone pay you to do this? Did Paul…?”

  Damn, why did he have to be so attractive? It made it really hard to concentrate—especially when he had kissed her all soft and tender like he had.

  What the hell was wrong with her? Who cared if the crazy man looked good naked? She kept waiting for a sign he meant to harm her but didn’t find one. There was arrogance in his expression, but no malice.

  “Pay me to marry you?” Kyran tilted his head, looking adorably confused. “No, I accepted no dowry—”

  “Ah.” Eve tried to remain calm, but it was hard. There were three freaking suns over her head. “Married? Did you just say married?”

  “Yes, we are married. Last night, when you stayed with me in my tent.”

  “I passed out. I didn’t technically stay anywhere.”

  “You are my princess,” he said, his tone harder than before. His face and stance dared her to deny it.

  “Princess? Oh, that’s great. Princess Eve and Prince Kyran. All right then. Whatever. You win. I’m a princess and we’re on your home planet. Now where is this portal at? I have a gig tonight. I promise to be home by dinner, darling.” Eve tried to smile, but she kn
ew the expression was strained. Okay, time to ditch Mr. Crazypants. Only where was she going to go? She knew nothing about wilderness survival. Nearing her breaking point, she mumbled, “That’s it. I’ve gone mad. That nun told me my party lifestyle would catch up with me and it has. I’m mental. You’re not real. That tent’s not real. Nothing’s real.”

  “Are you—”

  “No, no, I don’t need you to kiss me again. Once was enough, trust me.” Eve turned her back on him and tried to walk away. Seeing a small gathering, she stopped. “Oh, great. There are more of you.”

  Chapter Five

  Kyran watched his bride in puzzlement. She was acting stranger than the night before. What was wrong with her? Last night she’d seemed all into him, and now she was screaming that awful noise at every turn. He really hoped she didn’t continue to do so every morning. His ears would never grow used to it. At first, he’d thought it was simply an Earth custom, until he’d seen the panic on her face.

  His bride was scared. For that he was sorry. Though kissing her had seemed to calm her a great deal. Her heart had sped, but with a different beat than before. If a kiss was all it took, he’d gladly keep her the most placated of maids.

  He looked over her tight backside in the traditional gown of the Draig people. The waist-wrap he wore and her gown were merely for the wedding ceremony. Kyran would be the first to admit that his wedding had been anything but traditional. However, dressing his bride in her wedding clothes had been a particular treat. It had afforded him a great view of what was to be his to enjoy.

  Her breasts were perfect handfuls, so soft with large dark nipples that puckered under the slightest touch—not that he’d touched her more than necessary when she was sleeping. She’d been awake when she’d taken off her clothes, moaning softly for more kisses.

  He’d been pleased to discover the hair between her thighs didn’t look to be blue—though he wasn’t completely positive as he hadn’t removed the small article of clothing covering her hips. She’d fallen asleep naked and so he’d dressed her. It had been hard though, especially after watching her dance for him at the club—as they called the noisy place he’d found her in. It was a fitting name since the sounds coming from the music boxes had pounded him in the head like an invisible club.

  Seeing his parents gathered with Finn and the two Var princes along the edge of the forest, he held up his hand. The king and queen looked worried. It was no wonder, with his bride screaming like she was.

  His mother, Queen Galina, wore a two-layer purple gown. The fitted undertunic was a light cream color. The dark purple overtunic’s sleeves were long, belling around the elbows, and the snug waist fanned into a long skirt. Silver embroidery edged the gown in an intricate Qurilixian pattern, and on the bodice, in the center of the chest, was their family emblem of the dragon.

  Though Kyran liked the outfit his wife wore very much, part of him desired to see her dressed as a fine lady—befitting her new station. His mother had already agreed to help his bride with her wardrobe and anything else she might require.

  A band of gold wrapped around his mother’s head. She only wore the crown for ceremonies, and today was considered one of the most blessed for their people. It was his first day of being mated—the first of many days if he would be so favored by the gods.

  His father, King Severin, and Finn wore a simpler garment. His brother was in dark blue and the king in purple to match the queen. They had tunics with the same silver-embroidered edges and a larger patch on the center of their chests. The tunic was more of a long shirt that split at the sides than an actual dress. The two Var princes were clothed as Ivar had been the night before—in breeches and shirts with cross laces down the center of their chests. The styles difference had a lot to do with how the races shifted. Draigs could shift and remained clothed. The Var could shift partially into a man-cat or completely into full cats. Catshifters needed to part with their clothing at a moment’s notice. The Draig tended to be more reserved than their beastly counterparts.

  “What is all this noise, son?” King Severin asked in their native tongue. His bride blinked, glancing back at him. Seeing her fear, he felt sorry for her. The urge to protect what was his became strong. Slowly, he came forward, watching her to make sure she didn’t try to run. Although, if she did, he’d easily be able to shift to his Draig form and catch her.

  Once the idea entered his head, he had a hard time dismissing it immediately. That wasn’t such a bad idea. He wondered if his bride would like being hunted. The warrior inside him stirred. If he didn’t get her alone and naked soon, he’d burst.

  “It is nothing, my king,” he said, keeping his words in the language his bride could understand. “Queen Galina, King Severin, may I present Lady Eve of the Earthen people. My princess and soon to be yours.”

  Eve didn’t move, save to sway on her feet. A soft noise left her. It sounded suspiciously like a snort.

  His mother stepped forward. Her voice was gentler than her husband’s and she spoke in words Eve could understand. “Welcome to the family of Draig, Lady Eve. I wish you much happiness and a blessed marriage.”

  “Many blessings, m’lady,” the others agreed in unison.

  “Come, dear,” Galina said, motioning with her hand. “You must be exhausted. Let me show you to the palace.”

  Eve didn’t move. Galina waited a moment before lowering her hand. She glanced at her son in confusion. Kyran nodded for them to go so he could be alone with his bride. He saw the hurt in the queen’s eyes but could do nothing about that now. Galina knew, as did they all, that the human brides would need time to adjust.

  “Eve?” he asked when they were again alone.

  She didn’t speak.

  “I like your name. It’s very pretty.”

  “Don’t move. It will all go away.”

  “What will go away?” he asked, concerned. She was acting strange. In truth he wasn’t sure what was considered strange for her.

  “Don’t answer. He’ll disappear, like the others just did.”

  “Eve?”

  “I am not an alien princess,” she said, finally looking at him. “And you are not my incredibly hot new husband.”

  At that Kyran quirked a brow. “Hot?”

  “See, if this was real, you’d have two heads or suction-cup fingers or antennas or something. You look human. And logic would dictate that the chances of two like lifeforms evolving on two different planets were…you know, not likely. So there, I reasoned it out. You can go away now. The acid trip is over.”

  “You wish to see our differences? I can show you, but I have no way of knowing how you’ll react to it. I’m told by the scouts that the shift can be frightening for Earthlings.”

  “Oh, no,” she said, her tone dry as she waved her arms to the side. “Please, by all means, show me how we’re different. But I’m warning you. Just pulling down your pants and showing me that you have a willy isn’t going to work. I’ve seen naked men before.”

  Kyran tensed. “You speak of other men to me? Your past is your past, but you dare to mention it? Now? On this day?”

  Eve trembled, flinching as he reached for her. He pulled back.

  “Oh, yeah, Kyran. I’ve had boyfriends. Lots of big, studly boyfriends. We had sex, lots and lots of sex in every position you could ever imagine. I’ve been ridden more times than a—”

  “Very well, bride, it will be as you wish. I will show you how we are different.”

  Kyran’s skin hardened as it turned a dark brown. A line grew out from his forehead, pushed forward to make a hard plate of impermeable tissue over his nose and brow. His eyes yellowed, able to see down to every microscopic movement of her body. Talons grew from his nail beds as deadly fangs extended from his gums. His dragon-like nostrils flared as he studied her.

  “Maybe now you see why you should not upset me with your lies, m’lady.” His voice was hoarse with the transformation.

  He waited for her to scream. Instead, she stared at him fo
r a long time. Then, weakly, she whispered, “Yep. That would make you an alien all right.”

  Kyran reached for her with lightning reflexes, just in time to catch her before she hit the ground. Sighing, he lifted her limp body easily into his arms. What an unusual way to begin their mated life together.

  Chapter Six

  A sexy man who turned into a dragon-like beast? Alien planet? Three suns? Yep. It was decided. Eve was never drinking again.

  She slowly opened one eye, hesitantly looking through a narrow slit. There was no red tent. That was something. However, the gray stone wall was little better. Groaning, she opened the second eye. “Where in the world am I now?”

  The bed was enormous, carved from dark wood. It was the biggest she’d ever seen, raised up on a stone platform and reached by steps at the end. A barren fireplace dominated most of the wall in front of her. Its mantel was empty, but there was a large dark blue banner with a silver dragon hanging over it. The dragon matched the one embroidered on the bedspread covering her. Throw pillows at the end of the bed were opposite in color—silver with dark blue dragons. She tossed the bedspread aside and found that she no longer wore the strange gauzy outfit, but now a long cotton nightdress that looked as if it belonged on her great-great-grandmother.

  “Okay, the dragon man I can handle,” she mumbled, “but who keeps changing my clothes?”

  The bedroom was a large rectangle with a high-vaulted ceiling like a miniature gothic cathedral. At the very top, there was a domed glass window. A long pull string hung from the middle of it. By the soft light coming from outside, she easily guessed it was daytime.