Violet nodded, unable to speak. It was difficult to erase all the hurt she’d felt for these few weeks. But she was willing to forgive.
She opened her mouth to say something, when the door burst open and Valria ran in, shimmering blue, her eyes swirling with emotion. Behind her the king and queen smiled at Violet.
“Violet!” Valria was on the bed, holding tight to Violet. “We came as quick as we could. When I heard you were injured... Oh, I’m so glad you’re alright!”
Violet clung to her sister, happy to see Valria. She smiled at the king and queen. “You didn’t need to come all this way! I’m fine.”
“You are our daughter, and we will always be here for you.” Fondness shone in the queen’s eyes.
After everyone else had left, Valria sat on Violet’s bed, telling her stories of how things were back home. “You won’t believe this, Violet, but guess who’s coming over for dinner with his parents? Kavon!”
“Valria! Are you serious?” Violet grinned at her sister, happy that they both might find the future they desired.
With promises to talk every night that week, the girls parted, Valria assuring Violet she’d be back to visit in the morning.
Zor returned, a vase in his hands. In it were the most beautiful purple flowers Violet had ever seen. “For you.” He nodded at her and set the vase on the nightstand.
“Oh, Zor. They’re so gorgeous! But flowers are so rare, so hard to grow on Tethra!”
He shrugged. “I had the botanists figure out a way to grow these after we were married. They’re violets. Like your name.”
Violet’s heart warmed, and she smiled at Zor. “Thank you.”
“This doesn’t mean,” he said, sitting down on the bed and taking her hand, “that everything has changed. I still will not hesitate to punish you when you misbehave. Or even simply as a reminder that I expect you to behave. But I’ve been wrong to hold back my emotions—my love—from you. I’m sorry.”
“It’s all right.” Violet’s hand in Zor’s felt so safe and warm.
“For so many years, Violet, I’ve admired and desired you from afar. At political functions, I never spoke to you. But you filled every single inch of my thoughts. I’ve been afraid to tell you or show you how I feel. But you need to know that I love you, Violet.” He gazed at her with kindness—and hope—in his eyes.
“I love you too, Prince Zor.” Violet grabbed a lock of his hair, pulling his face down to hers. Her lips met his, and for a few seconds they tasted, tested, only gently nibbling. But soon their hunger grew, until they were feasting on one another.
That night, as Violet fell asleep in the hospital bed with Zor next to her, his arm protectively draped over her body, she gazed out the window at the strange alien nightscape. Green and white streaks lit the otherwise pitch black sky, their faint light blurred across the dark canvas of night. It wasn’t like anything she’d seen on Ostara, but it was beautiful. A new kind of perfection, filled with hope and desire. With safety and love and the knowledge that, for the rest of her life, someone would take care of her.
Gently rubbing her stomach, she took a deep breath, cuddled into Zor, and drifted off to sleep, a gentle smile gracing her lips.
The End
About Maria Monroe
Maria Monroe is an award-winning author of both contemporary and sci-fi/fantasy romance novels. Her books range from steamy to downright naughty. She lives just outside Chicago with her family, which includes a variety of rescue animals and pets. Other than reading and writing, she loves vodka, black coffee, laughing, and spending time with the people she loves.
To learn more, visit Maria at any of these links:
www.graffitifiction.com
www.facebook.com/mariamonroeauthor
www.twitter.com/authormaria
Dravven’s Submissive by Megan Michaels
Chapter One
Looking past Dravven’s shoulder, Sable saw no one following them, only the inky black sky. The only visible thing before them was the glow of the light bulb shining through the small glass window pane on the door. A door that would lead them to the underground tunnel.
Safety. For both of us.
The humid night air hung thick, causing her to gasp for a breath of unencumbered air. Sweat dripped from her brow into her eyes, and she swiped at the droplets.
Dravven, who had been running alongside her, had dropped back. Bending over, he gripped his knees with his broad hands, gasping loudly, his long black ponytail draping over his shoulder. His large, muscled arms were bulging under the short-sleeved shirt he wore, the band tight along the biceps, a tattoo gracing both arms at the bicep.
“We have no time. Come on!” Sable grabbed his arm, urging him to pick up speed. They were so close; it would be a shame to be caught this close to their sanctuary.
The tall alien from the Gralon Empire towered over her, and Sable ventured that Dravven was nine feet if not close to ten feet tall.
As a Draenor princess, she was abnormal in her height of seven feet. Even though the men were eight feet on Draenor, most of the women were near six feet. Given his height, she should have struggled to drag this behemoth of an alien, but she was lauded for her strength. Thankfully this was the case, or they would have been caught by the many drones flying around.
Speaking of which, Sable looked overhead to assure none were tailgating them—and she confirmed that none could be seen.
The laser, sensing their approach, activated the door, opening it, and the golden light spread across the grass. She shoved Dravven over the threshold, his arms flung out onto the walls bracing himself as he ran down the stairs into the tunnel below the ground.
Behind them the loud hiss of the doors closing had her releasing the breath she’d been holding up to that point. Once the two of them entered the safe room and another set of doors sealed shut, Sable pushed Dravven up against the walls, wagging her finger in his face. “What in the name of hell were you doing, man? Trying to get us killed? Didn’t you train for this escape at all?”
Dravven deflected her hand with his forearms, his nostrils flaring and with a low growl, he menacingly said, “Do not put your finger in my face or talk to me in that tone of voice again, or you’ll find yourself over my knee. I did train; I’m not used to this climate.” His olive skin was covered with his sweat, and he wiped his brow, tearing his shirt from his body.
Sable had never had anyone but her father dare to speak to her in a manner like that, and she found herself taken aback. She stared at his bulging muscles and rock-hard abs, stunned by his physique. His rebuke shocked her into silence for a moment, and then, tilting her chin up in a show of strength that she wasn’t sure she actually felt at the moment, she said, “I’ll speak to you in any manner I wish, Dravven. You’re my captive and my employee for the near future. Did you bring the files and data required for admittance to Draenor?” She pushed her black and purple hair off her shoulders, putting her hand out waiting for the drive.
“Oh, no, Princess, I have some questions before I just hand over the drive. The name of this project is what, exactly?”
Sable narrowed her gaze toward the alien, confused. “I’ve told you many times. Why are you making me repeat it?”
“Because I’m the person with the data. Name, please?” He raised his eyebrows, the coarse hair in deep contrast against the olive skin but it matched the long black ponytail draping down the middle of his back.
What is his angle? Is he just being contrary?
“The Prism Project.”
“Good girl. Now tell me again in a sentence or two what the main function of this system and project is. I want to hear it again before I forfeit this wealth of information you are so anxious to receive.” He then dangled the data drive between his thumb and forefinger, teasing her with it.
Lunging forward, she leaped up, doing her best to grab it from him, but since he towered over her by two feet if not three, she felt like a child jumping to catch a treat from an uncle.
Sable hated losing, or groveling, and Dravven enjoyed her frustration, a wicked smile gracing his face.
Growling deep in her throat, she fought the urge to stick her tongue out at him. Instead, swallowing her pride and with a small stomp of her foot, she succumbed and gave him the information he required. “It’s a system that will merge DNA—Recombinant DNA. We cut and rejoin DNA molecules from chromosomes combining them with similar chromosomes from different organisms or species. The end product is a new and unique DNA. Our hope is to make new aliens... strong and more intelligent.”
His large mouth curved up into a fiendish grin. “Thank you, Princess.” Dravven tilted his head, speaking into his shoulder. “Inigo, did you get that?” The piercing black eyes looked toward the ceiling as if waiting for an answer.
“Who the fuck is Inigo? Who’re you talking to?”
A low chuckle emanated from his chest. “Your daddy doesn’t have a clue what you’ve been doing, does he, Sable?”
Why was Dravven bringing up her father?
“It’s none of his business, that’s why.” She put her hands on her hips; she’d be damned if he’d judge her. She’d been doing this project on her own for over a year now, and it was successful too. In a matter of months, she’d be famous, her name spoken in all the houses on Draenor.
The door to the small room flung open, and several ten-foot tall aliens came charging in with guns loaded and pointing directly at Sable. “Hands in the air,” they yelled.
She pivoted, shouting at Dravven, “You! What did you do?”
“Hands in the air!” The soldiers cocked the guns, and she tossed her hands up, not wanting to be shot.
Dravven sauntered over, his long cold finger tilting her chin up. “I’m the commander and prince of Gralon’s Empire, son of King Graeme, and our recent exchange regarding your project was just telecasted into your father’s castle and on his comm set. I think King Dred will be surprised at what his little Sable has been doing behind his back, don’t you agree, Princess?”
Chapter Two
Shit!
Her father had no idea, and that was the way she had wanted it to stay. But the secret had been exposed now, and Sable expected at any moment for his angry countenance to round the corner.
Having proposed the Prism to him a couple of years ago, she had felt hurt when King Dred had laughed at her. He’d done that most of her life, discounting her intelligence and not recognizing she had surpassed any knowledge his sons had acquired. Growing up with the idiocy of four brothers had propelled her to focus on her studies, learning everything she could about science and math. The foolishness of her brothers had annoyed her, but not as much as the fact that her father doted on them, favoring them just because they were boys.
And her only sister, Imperia, two years younger than Sable and who had just turned twenty-three, had preferred spending her days playing with dolls and dutifully doing as she was told, making Sable’s independence and tomboy antics that much worse than if her sister had been more like her.
Sable, having just turned twenty-five, had decided she’d prove him wrong about the project and plunged forward with her plans. But, she needed men and women with superior intelligence helping her complete the Prism Project, and the only planet overflowing with scientists, geneticists, and biologists was Gralon Empire.
But since King Graeme of Gralon Empire and King Dred of Draenor were old school friends, asking for permission in obtaining these scientists hadn’t been a possibility for Sable. Instead, she had gone underground with her seizure of Gralon’s citizens, enticing them with lucrative contracts.
She spun on her heel, marching up to the giant alien. “How dare you! I trusted you and gave you preferential treatment, only to have you turn into a traitor.”
Leaning against the wall with one knee bent, Dravven pushed off with the sole of his foot, striding over to her, invading her personal space.
Sable refused to back up, stubbornly facing him nose-to-nose.
“This is your doing, girl. Not mine. You chose to defy not only my father, King Graeme but also your father, Kind Dred and as such, you’ll face the consequences. Dry your tears. They won’t work on me—not today, not ever.”
She raised her hand to slap his face, only to find his large hand gripping the whole of her forearm.
“Not wise. I’m showing you mercy, but trust me on this, little girl. This is the second time you’ve raised your hand to me. The next time you dare to do it, if there’s a next time, your backside will be on fire from a good old-fashioned spanking.”
Sable swallowed past the lump in her throat, it’d been a long time since someone threatened her with a spanking, and she wasn’t even sure how to react. Too bad the rest of her body didn’t suffer from the same malady. Her clit had come to life and was throbbing with arousal, her juices pooling at the entrance of her sex.
He winked at her, pushing her hair off her shoulders. “That’s what I thought. Now, if I were you, I’d spend what little time I have trying to formulate what I’m going to say to my angry father.” He leaned against the wall again, pulling out his communicator/comm set scrolling through the feed, his left leg bent and his foot resting casually against the wall.
Of course, he was right. And if Sable were someone who thought quick on her feet, she would have formulated a response by now. Or if she were a planner, she would have had a response sitting and waiting for the opportune time. But, she was neither quick-witted nor a planner—sadly.
The skin on her bottom tingled, and she wished he hadn’t brought up spanking. It’d been quite a few years since she’d been disciplined and even though she was pretty sure she was past the age for worrying about it, Sable had no idea how pissed her dominant father would become with the new information regarding what she’d done.
“Where is she?” King Zadicus Dred’s voice boomed in the corridor outside their room, his large heavy footfalls pounding along the hardened stone floors.
Once faced with the prospect of her angry father, Dravven’s stern demeanor seemed the lesser of two evils and Sable jumped closer to him, tucking her shoulder under his arm as her intimidating father filled the doorway. Suddenly the room felt much smaller with both of these hulking men filling it.
“What in the name of Aranah did you think you were doing?” Zadicus snatched her arm, lifting her up onto her tiptoes, his nostrils flaring, breathing like an angry Zonrohous.
“Sir... King... release her before you hurt her.” Dravven put a hand on the king’s shoulder, his calm demeanor shocking Zadicus into releasing her.
“Who are you?” The king’s eyebrows had risen in surprise.
Reaching out to shake his hand, he replied, “I’m Dravven Graeme, King Rexx Graeme’s son. I’ve been communicating with your daughter for a while under the direction of my father. We noticed months ago that many of our brilliant scientists and biologists were disappearing. It seems that your daughter has been offering them generous packages for their intellectual gifting and ideas for her Prism Project. My father wanted it to end and figured once you were informed, we could come to... an agreement.”
Readjusting his stance, King Dred pinched Sable’s chin between his fingers. “You stole their scientists without either of our knowledge or agreement?”
“Y-yes, Sir. I...I’m sorry, Daddy.” Her voice shook, and tears welled up in her eyes.
“I swear, I would like nothing more than to give your ass a good whipping. How... the embarrassment... how will I ever make amends for what you’ve done?” His black hair with a large blue stripe was swaying behind him as he paced angrily in front of them. Zadicus had a noticeable red hue to his olive skin, his anger obvious.
“You know, Daddy. None of this would have happened if you had just listened to me and given me credit for my ideas—”
“Princess, not now. Sit.” Dravven pointed to a nearby red chair and
snapped his fingers to move her along.
She narrowed her eyes at him and opened her mouth to respond, but when he kicked off the wall, stalking toward her, she rushed to the chair, plopping her ass into it as fast as she could.
No need to piss off the large alien. My father is enough.
Dravven kept his finger pointed at her in warning before clearing his throat and slowly approaching Zadicus. “King Dred, on behalf of my father and the Gralon Empire, we have a proposition that would help Draenor make amends for the crimes committed, and punish your princess as well.”
Turning slowly, Zadicus adjusted his wide silver and blue belt, which held his silver robe closed. “Continue. I’m still unsure whether this is coming off to thrash my daughter. Let’s see what proposition you have for Draenor... and Sable.”
“Sir, I understand your anger, and I’m sure that my father, as well as myself, would be feeling similar in your situation, but your daughter is intelligent, and the project she has developed is ... well, impressive.”
Dravven nodded toward Sable, and she felt a blush rise on her face at the compliment. She wasn’t used to verbal commendations and didn’t even know how to respond. She nodded silently back at him, giving him a weak smile.
“But, she has violated our interplanetary rules and, as you have already declared, stolen our scientists and their intellectual property—intelligence that belongs to the Gralon Empire. We propose that all scientists, geneticists, and biologists be returned immediately. All intellectual property would be returned, as well as the Prism Project handed over to Gralon.”
King Dred held his face in his hand, taking the recommendations seriously. “Yes, that sounds fair.”
Fair? Fair! Have they both lost their minds?
Alien Alphas: Twenty-Three Naughty Sci-Fi Romance Novellas Page 103