Romancing the Stars: 8 Short Stories of Galactic Romance and Adventure

by Sabine Priestley

  So close. Come on. He was over her now, pumping into her.

  Circle, circle, plunge. Her fingers worked their magic. His magic. Tendrils of intense pleasure shot outward from the wetness between her legs. The big screen played on. He stood in front of her now, his hand doing this to her body. He leaned closer to nibble that spot behind her ear, and it sent her over the edge. Her knees quivered, and she muffled a groan as the orgasm rolled over and through her. She reached her other hand out and braced it against the far wall. Her pussy pulsed around her fingers and she let the feelings play on. Never had she been able to come this quickly, and never without a vibrator. Her rapid breath slowed, and she withdrew her hand when the door to the ladies room opened.

  Shit. She reached over and flushed the toilet, then quickly buttoned up her jeans. Her legs trembled from straining at the awkward position and threatened to dump her on the floor. She braced herself against the wall and took a deep breath. Once she heard the stall door close, she made a dash for the sink, washed her hands, and got out of there.

  Kara had managed to be productive for another thirty minutes when Mac’s door swung open. Still in a humorous mood, he marched out with his jacket flung over one arm and the newspaper in the other. He had a way of being noisy even when he wasn’t speaking. “We live in interesting times, Heroshi. Interesting times.” He flung the paper on her desk and left, presumably for lunch. It was his daily ritual. He would read the paper and dump it on her when he had finished. Worked for her. She never had to buy a paper.

  At a quarter till one, she was hungry enough to actually eat for once. She picked up her cell and called Zoe. “Hey, you free for lunch?”

  “Yes. I’ve been ringing, you know.” The equal parts concern and annoyance in her voice was loud and clear. “Your little texts saying you’re just fine are starting to freak me out. How are you? Have you been ill?”

  Kara paused a beat. “Yeah. Kind of. Zo, I need to talk. Meet me downstairs? I’ll buy.”

  “Sure. I’ll be right down.”

  Kara stuffed the paper into her purse and headed for the elevators. Downstairs, the lobby bustled with people coming and going for lunch.

  Zoe appeared at her side and took her arm in hers, leading her out into a cold but clear day. “Nothing personal, Kara, but you look like crap.”

  “So I’ve been told.” Kara laughed. “I love the British accent. You can say anything, and it just sounds so nice.”

  Zoe gave her arm a squeeze.

  “Mac already informed me I look like shit. Like I didn’t already know. I haven’t slept much lately. You up for a dog?”

  “No one will ever accuse me of passing on a Hyde Park heart-attack in a bun. We really should eat more salads, you know.” They turned toward the park, weaving though the crowds. “So, what is it you need to talk about? Your mum on your case again?”

  “No. We don’t talk much since I moved to London. She can’t stand not having me there to boss around.” Kara bit her lip. “It’s not mom. It’s, um, a guy thing.”

  “How could you be having a ‘guy thing’ without my knowing about it?”

  “Well, technically you were there. It started Monday. In the park. Remember, you thought I was having a stroke?” The two crossed the street, weaving around gridlocked cabs.

  “Monday?” Zoe pulled to a stop on the curb. She searched Kara’s face. “Oh, my God.”

  “What?” Kara said.

  “It’s you, isn’t it? With the alien, Torril.”

  Kara’s stomach tightened. “Who’s Torril, and how do you know about the alien?”

  “Have you not seen the paper today?”

  “Mac just gave it to me.”

  Zoe shook her head. “You could buy your own, you know.”

  Kara made a face. “And then I’d have two.” With a feeling of dread, she pulled out the rolled up paper and unfolded it. Her breath caught as her perfect, drop-dead gorgeous alien stared back at her.

  Kara’s head spun while Zoe weaved them around tourists. The alien’s name was Torril Anantha, and he was looking for her. She pulsed with equal parts pleasure and terror. Focus, damn it. She folded the paper over to hide his face.

  “Alien asking London to help him find his psi-mate”

  Torril Anantha, one of London’s more private aliens, has come forward looking for his mate. According to Torril, the imprint began last Monday near Hyde Park. He says he and an unknown woman connected, but her fear kept him from approaching. According to Torril, once the process has begun, it cannot be stopped.

  Kara halted, heart pounding in her chest. “Oh, no.”

  “Got to the no stopping it bit, eh?” Zoe said, pulling her forward again. “Go on, finish reading.”

  Other alien sources have confirmed that the process is non-reversible and permanent. To further complicate matters, Torril stated that the longer they are apart, the greater their personal agitation would become. Torril and other alien sources declined to elaborate on what exactly ‘personal agitation’ entails. Do you know the mystery woman? If so, get in touch with me at…

  The words non-reversible and permanent reverberated through Kara’s head. Her body buzzed with a foreign energy. An energy that was building, had been, since Monday. With each day, the force grew stronger and more oppressive.

  Zoe led them to a sunny bench away from the line at the lunch vendor.

  “So, are you personally agitated?”

  Kara put her head in her hands. “You have no idea.” The wood slats of the bench pressed against her overly sensitive thighs.

  “You need to call that reporter.”

  “No. I just got away from my mother. No way am I going to belong to some alien.”

  “His name is Torril, and I don’t think it’s like that. Remember the couple on BBC1? They were seriously happy, Kara. And let’s not forget the sex. It’s supposed to be out of this world.” Zoe laughed.

  “Very funny. Please don’t mention sex.” Kara squirmed and tried to ignore the incessant pulsing between her legs. “And yes, I remember.” Kara turned to face her friend. “They said they are bound together by some psi force thing. Bound. Their word, not mine. I’ve spent most of my life bound by a control freak adoptive mother. I’ve only been free for a few years. This Torril can’t just—”

  The moment his name left her lips, an orgasm exploded from her core. “Holy fuck.” She closed her eyes, and a strangled squeak passed her lips as the waves crested. She blew out a long breath. Of course. They were at the exact spot she’d seen Torril on Monday.

  He’s here. He’s watching me. Oh, God. Eyes still closed, she pivoted on the bench until a beam of warmth poured into her body, vibrating with that foreign energy.

  “Please,” he said in her head. “Don’t be afraid. You… You are the most important thing in the universe to me now. I could never hurt you.”

  Kara experienced his every emotion. So genuine. So scared she’d leave. His thoughts washed over and around her. She felt his fear. Fear that she wouldn’t experience this the same way he did. Bonding with humans was new to them, too. She couldn’t stop the laugh that burst from her lips. The whole thing was absurd. Her eyes flew open. Torril stood perfectly still, not fifteen feet away, hands raised slightly as if trying not to spook her. He wore a finely tailored black suit, and if she wasn’t mistaken, Italian leather shoes. The black shirt sat perfect contrast to a red tie.

  Zoe looked from one to the other. Her mouth opened and closed a few times before snapping shut.

  Kara rose and approached Torril. The energy coursing through her shifted. Instead of being irritating and draining, it became soothing, energizing. She sighed as her body relaxed for the first time in days. “I don’t know if I feel it the same way as you.”

  A look of surprise crossed his face, and a smile tugged at his mouth.

  The small gesture sent a thrill through her. “But I’ve been miserable since I last saw you. Please, make it stop.” She stood in front of him now, the warmth and more
radiating from his body.

  He nodded. The movement sent a physical ripple down her spine.

  “I know this is foreign to you,” he said with a voice that was deep and rich. “You must understand. We spend our lives looking for ‘the one.’ Many never find them. I would not stop this, even if it were possible. Which, by the way”—he stepped closer and touched her chin—“it is not.”

  At his touch, Kara saw herself and Torril standing together from a birds-eye view. She saw herself waiver, and Torril took her arm. The air above them shimmered like ripples in an impossibly clear pond. She circled their two bodies until she stopped behind her own physical form. She admired her blue hair and the way it contrasted with her red blazer. She blinked and was back in her body, once again facing Torril. “What was that?”

  “Your psi.”

  “I don’t have psi.”

  “Oh, but you do. We wouldn’t be standing here if you didn’t. I’ll explain later.”

  “But…” Her body leaned toward him, pulled like a magnet. She placed her hands on his chest and something inside her… shifted, like every molecule in her body had realigned. She was aware of Torril’s presence in such a way she could feel the weight of his jacket as though it rested on her shoulders.

  He leaned forward and whispered in her ear. “We need to go. Now.” The last word, not spoken aloud, echoed through her.

  “Wait.” Her heart pounded. She wanted to run as much as she wanted to go with him. “I can’t just…”

  “You can.” He searched her face. “Goddess, I don’t even know your name.” He waited for a response.

  The heat of his chest radiated into her palms. It felt so good. She had an insane urge to try to occupy the same space as him.

  “Well?”

  “What? Oh, it’s Kara. Kara Heroshi.” The mention of her last name brought the image of her mother flashing before her, which turned into a cascade of terrifying emotions.

  “Okay. Easy, Kara. I don’t know what all that’s about, but we’ll sort it out. I promise.”

  Pleasure and comfort enveloped her.

  “What are you doing?”

  “I can feel some of what you’re feeling. There’s deep anxiety and fear. What you’re feeling now is my psi. I’m trying to help.”

  Her head reeled. How could this possibly be happening?

  “Kara, you can walk away right now.”

  That was just it, wasn’t it? She didn’t think she could. “Are you sure about that?”

  His look wasn’t comforting. “I pray to the Goddess you don’t, but you could. We’ve both been feeling the same way these past few days. I don’t know about you, but I’m getting tired of hand jobs and cold showers.”

  The absurdity of his words snapped the tension in her, and she burst out laughing. “That’s one way to put it.”

  “Deep down, you know you can trust me. Trust us. Right?”

  And she did. It was insane but true. She nodded.

  He smiled.

  The way he looked at her had her core heating up.

  “Things are about to get interesting. I’d rather be inside my apartment than out here when it does.” His voice was crystal clear in her head.

  Her stomach dipped, like on the down bit of a roller-coaster. “Take me home. Your home.”

  “Our home.”

  She placed her hand in his.

  Zoe ran up and grabbed Kara’s arm. “Hold on there, mister.” She spoke to Kara. “Are you good?”

  The inevitability of this crashed into her, but it didn’t scare her. Not much. Just being next to him was a fix unlike anything she’d ever experienced. “I’m good.”

  “Take this.” Zoe gave her the purse she’d left behind. “Call me.”

  Kara’s body burned.

  “We really have to go now.” He was right.

  Chapter 3

  Torril unlocked the door without touching it. Kara sensed a force emanate from him that manipulated the lock mechanism.

  “Can I do that?” She was in awe of the world that was opening up to her.

  He gave the knob a push and stepped aside for her to pass. “With your psi, yes.” His voice was low, almost a growl. “I’ll teach you, in time,” he said, following her and closing the door behind him. The lock snicked into the wood. He stood so close his breath warmed the back of her neck. His lips touched the skin just below her ear, and the physical world shifted again. Lips and hands explored her body, but there was something else—something ethereal that was both her and not her. It wasn’t physical, and yet it was so much a part of her she wondered at never noticing it before.

  “As I mentioned, it’s called psi, and yours is very powerful.”

  She sensed his approval as though it were her own.

  His psi pulsated and rubbed against hers. She sucked in a deep breath. Like alternate, otherworldly bodies, they rolled together, and with some sense she couldn’t understand, let alone explain, she experienced their colors. Translucent yellows and blues that were achingly beautiful.

  Torril growled and turned her to face him. Her attention returned to the physical as he cupped her face with his hands, and their lips met for the first time. His tongue probed, the warmth melting to her core. The kiss lasted for days, hours, seconds—she had no idea. Whatever he did to her became all that existed.

  Like someone pressing pause, reality snapped back into focus when he slowly pulled away. She opened her eyes and found him gazing at her with electric blue eyes, the physical equivalent of his psi. The most impossible blue, they shown with a light so strong it illuminated his face.

  “Your eyes…” she said.

  He smiled. Really smiled for the first time, and it stunned her. God, he was beautiful. He took her upper arm and turned her to a mirror on the wall of the entryway. Her eyes radiated yellow, a contrast to his blue. “When we mate,” he said, pulling her with him toward a hallway, “our psi will merge.”

  His psi gave her a nudge. “Bedroom,” he said in her mind. “We’ve waited long enough.”

  A spark of her determination to avoid this raised its head, but like a single drop in the ocean, it was powerless. Kara stopped in the doorway. On the other side of the biggest four poster bed she’d ever seen, a wall of windows displayed London’s dusky skyline.

  “Wait, how long have we been here?” She struggled to remember… The park. That was lunch. Around two, maybe?

  He approached from behind and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Does it matter?” His hands reached around and unbuttoned her shirt. Alien music filled the room, and he began swaying slightly from left to right, his erection caressing the small of her back.

  “It’s…really big,” she said, looking at the bed.

  “Thank you,” he said.

  She laughed and turned to remove his shirt.

  “To hell with this,” he growled. His psi pressed against her chest. Pleasure rippled through her as the buttons on her shirt came undone one at a time.

  “That tickles,” she said.

  The soft cotton of her top slid off her shoulders. He undid her bra, and it fell to the floor. The light in his eyes pulsed at the sight of her breasts. No one had ever, or would ever, want her as much as this man did.

  “Now you try,” he said, fingering his shirt.

  “I don’t know how.”

  “Feel your psi?” he asked as he caressed it with his own.

  “God, yes.”

  “Don’t let go,” he commanded, pulling his psi away. “Not yet.”

  She groaned. Her mother’s voice screeched in her head, telling her what to do. Anger flared deep within. She didn’t want anyone telling her what to do.

  “You’re angry.” He held her then, his shirt pressed against her bare torso. He gently stroked her back. The energy shifted, and once more his presence turned to power and pleasure. “I’m sorry. We’re going to have to find our way together.” He stared into her eyes. “You should know, I like the aspect of dominance in the bedroom at tim
es.” A brief kiss on the lips had her melting, moisture forming between her legs. “Of course, it’s even better if we take turns.” He kissed her again, this time harder, more passionately. He teased her lower lip, then trailed kisses down her neck. With every touch the intense hum of his energy grew. He bit now and then, the flirting contrast of pleasure and pain exquisite. Lower, he paused at each nipple to suck and bite before kneeling in front of her and nipping at her belly button. “Tell me what you want.”

  It was a command, one she was happy to oblige. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for her, right here and right now.

  Power.

  He nodded. “You’ve spent your life feeling powerless. No more. We’re equals.” That smile spread across his face. “Unless we choose not to be.”

  She smiled back. “Take off your clothes.” She backed up to the wall. She felt sexy standing there in nothing but her jeans and boots. She’d feared oppression, but instead she found freedom.

  Kara leaned against the wall and pressed her palms against the cool surface. Torril stepped back and peeled his clothes off piece by piece. She wanted slow and sexy, and that’s what he would give her. She grinned as he lifted one foot then the other, using his psi to pull off his boots and socks.

  She burst out laughing, and he laughed with her. “Let’s face it,” he said, peeling off his pants, “it’s hard to be sexy taking your shoes and socks off.”

  “Keep going.” When he had his clothes off, she twirled her finger. “Turn around.”

  He obeyed.

  She licked her lips. “You have the ass of Adonis.” He was lean and buff. Tight smooth muscles and a six pack of perfection. He turned until he faced her again.