“Such expressions are unnecessary, human woman,” the secretary said, sitting back down. “Your transportation will be arriving in less than two minutes outside the front doors of the consulate. I will escort you out to ensure that you are properly taken care of.”
“I’m not going to run away,” she said.
Although, part of her definitely did want to run away. She had seen what the Draconian secretary had between his legs, and it was not something to be trifled with. How did these dudes manage to mate with human women?
She knew it definitely happened. Before the Mulgor invasion, there were interviews on talk shows with the Draconian brides all the time. They told everyone how fantastic it was to live in space, in the lap of luxury, with all the awesome things the Draconians provided.
Some of the ladies even had babies, and they showed them off on TV. Octavia had never been impressed. She had plenty of money and resources of her own back then. She’d gone straight to college and never bothered entering the lottery.
Oh, how things changed.
“Your transport has arrived.”
The secretary escorted her out of the consulate to a hover craft like nothing she’d ever seen that sat beside Dan’s old pickup.
Crap. Dan’s truck.
“I need to get this truck back to my friend,” she said.
“I can make arrangements for this vehicle to be returned to the refugee camp. What is the name of the friend who owns this vehicle?”
“Dan Smith.” She handed the secretary the keys, growing more nervous with each passing second. The wind picked up and blew cold across her face, chilling her to the bone. She shivered under her heavy down coat. What the hell had she gotten herself into?
She walked slowly down the steps of the consulate and the door to the hover craft opened. The thing look like a freaking flying saucer, and it had a door that opened like the DeLorean from Back To The Future. There was a Draconian sitting opposite the door inside the craft.
“Are you Joss Noro?” she asked.
“No,” the Draconian said, seeming both appalled and complimented. “I’m simply a driver. Please get inside.”
Octavia climbed into the craft, and the door closed behind her. What would Ashley think when she found out what she’d done? She’d probably think that Octavia had gone off halfcocked. She was right. Octavia had gotten herself into some serious hot water. But at least now she would be able to speak directly with the man responsible for the blueprints.
If she could protect her city from being reconstructed in such a way, she was willing to make the sacrifice. She didn’t want to think about the fact that she was going to have to actually have sex with the Draconian and then have his babies. She would just save that horrible thought for another time.
The craft flew across town, lifted up over the ruins, then landed in front of one of the ugly Draconian cellblocks that looked exactly like what was in the blueprints.
“Do you live like this on Draconia?” she asked.
“This is typical of colonial structures.”
“You like it?”
“It’s satisfactory.”
“Clearly, humans and Draconians have different standards.”
“I couldn’t say. I’m not an expert on the subject.”
“Well, I’m an expert on urban planning for human cities. You can take my word for it,” she said, climbing out of the flying saucer.
“Oh…” she heard him say as she walked away from the craft.
“I will bring you to the grand architect,” the driver said, reverence in his voice.
“Does everyone have a hard-on for this guy?”
“Hard-on?”
“Never mind. Bring me to your leader,” she said, moving towards the ugly ass building.
It was stark white with a completely flat exterior except for the many windows that looked out over Central Park. At least the place had a view. She couldn’t say much for what it looked like on the outside.
From what she’d seen in the blueprints, the interior apartments had plenty of square footage, but they were stacked up on top of each other. There were no common areas. It was just a big block of apartments and nothing else.
If the buildings in the blueprints had been interspersed with other types of buildings, recreational areas, parks, common areas, shopping districts—anything—it would’ve been okay. They were just sort of ultramodern, ultra-boring buildings. But in the plans, none of the necessary accommodations for enjoyable human life were present.
People were just stacked up on top of each other like sardines. They planned to demolish Central Park. It was insult to injury after the Mulgor invasion had destroyed New York. She couldn’t let it stand.
“The grand architect is not our leader. Commander General Vlosh Torr is our leader here on Earth. The president is the leader back on Draconia.”
“Never mind, God… Just take me to my new mate,” she said. She never expected to hear herself say that. My new mate. Her Draconian mate. She had to stay angry, otherwise she was going to have a complete mental breakdown.
They walked through the front door of the building and into a narrow entrance. Hallways spread out in three directions and there was a row of elevators in front of her. It was just as boring on the inside as it was on the outside.
“Does he know I’m coming?”
“That’s not my job.”
“Great…”
“I will send him a communication, and he should come down for you.”
The driver ran two fingers down the inside of the wrist of his uniform sleeve. The motion turned on a computer device. He flicked a few buttons and a Draconian male’s face came onto the screen.
“Grand Architect Noro,” the driver said with reverence in his voice. This guy totally had a man crush on the grand architect. “Your mate is waiting for you in the lobby,” he said.
“I don’t have a mate,” Joss said.
“You are not informed?” the driver said, appalled.
“I have been resting after my long trip from Draconia and turned off my communications systems.”
“You were matched with a human female only moments ago. The human female is now here.”
“I do not wish to have a human female mate. Send her back.”
“But sir,” the Draconian driver whispered into his communication device. “What about your mating impulse?”
“I did not ask to be entered into the mating lottery. I will not have an impulse.”
“No one can withstand it,” the driver whispered.
Octavia heard Joss growl loudly into the communication device. The sound of it made her shudder. Not only was her mate an oblivious asshole, he was also kind of scary.
“Send her up,” he growled. “I’m not going downstairs for a human.”
Octavia gasped angrily and was about to tell the guy off, but the driver flipped off his communication device.
“What a serious fucking asshole,” she said. “I don’t want to be with him either. Sorry, I’m out of here.”
She turned to go, but the Draconian grabbed her arm and turned her back around.
“I’m sorry, but I cannot let you leave. The mating impulse will drive the grand architect mad if he does not claim you within an appropriate time frame. We take the mating impulse very seriously. You are obligated to mate with him. Our customs and cultures might be different, but you did agree to enter the mating lottery and abide by all of its rules.”
“Yeah, but I just did it to mess with the secretary. I didn’t think that it would actually work.”
“Regardless, human female, I cannot allow you to leave. You will be claimed by the grand architect.”
Octavia growled this time. She had to concede. She had to be brave. She’d entered the lottery to mess with a smug secretary. But she’d also done it on the off chance that she could talk with Joss Noro.
She had been mated with the very man that she wanted to speak with. The odds were staggering, and she had to a
dmit there was some kind of divine intervention thing going on. Or was it fate?
Chapter 6
Octavia followed the driver into the elevator. The doors swished closed, and the elevator propelled upward to the top floor of the ugly building. When the doors slid open again, she followed the driver into another nondescript hallway and all the way to the end.
The driver flicked a few buttons on a holographic computer pad next to a door. A second later, there was a soft beep, click, and the door opened. Octavia felt her heart slam hard against her chest. She took a deep breath and stepped inside.
The driver stayed in the doorway, and she turned to him with a frown. “Aren’t you coming?” she asked.
“I have no business entering the grand architect’s quarters. Good luck, human female.”
The driver put his hand on his heart and bowed slightly. Octavia turned back toward the empty room. The furnishings were simple geometric shapes. Everything was white. White walls, white furniture, white floors. The only variation was the view outside the window.
“Hello?” she said, peering into the room. There was no one there. Had her snobby “mate” decided to make a run for it?
“Yes,” came a response from a room off to the side.
Joss Noro walked in and stared her down. Octavia’s mouth dropped open. He was so amazingly good looking, she almost couldn’t breathe. His full lips pressed into a tight line and his almond shaped, wide brown eyes narrowed over his chiseled cheekbones.
He had a shock of white-blond hair that hung down to his impossibly broad shoulders. This guy wasn’t a military type, he was an architect, but he was built like a bull.
His nostrils flared as he stared at her. Octavia felt like a matador in the ring with an angry animal. She took a step back, feeling like bait. Blinking her eyes rapidly, she tried to get a hold of herself.
Octavia’s entire nervous system seemed to come to full attention, sending sparks of fear and desire from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.
“Octavia Reynolds?” he asked.
“Yes,” she stammered. “You’re Joss Noro. The so-called Grand Architect of Draconia?” It was all she could do to keep her knees from buckling. Why was he so damned hot?
This is going to be harder than I thought.
“I am.”
He didn’t say anything else or make a single move. Octavia reached out to the back of a strange looking chair and gripped the foamy material. Surprised at the texture and the way it gave under her hand, she pulled her grip away.
The momentary distraction only made her heart leap higher when she met his gaze again. Why was she so overwhelmed? She’d come here for a reason, and she didn’t intend to let the opportunity pass her by just because this asshole was the sexiest man she’d ever seen.
“So… You’re the idiot who is in charge of designing the reconstruction of New York City?”
“Idiot,” he said, seeming to chew on the world like a bite of rancid meat.
“You think humans can live in these boring ass buildings with no streets, no transportation, no parks. You plan to build over the one last good place in the city. Yes. I think you’re an idiot.”
“Who are you to judge me, simple-minded human?”
“Simple-minded? Ha! You have no idea what I’ve been through and I’m still here. I only entered the stupid lottery for a chance to give you a piece of my mind!”
“A piece of your mind? I have no wish to be given a piece of your simple mind. It would not serve me or this process. I have no wish to be mated with a backward, underdeveloped human female. If I could reverse the mating impulse, I would send you on your way.”
Octavia looked down at her body on impulse. Underdeveloped? Was he talking about her tits or her mind? Even after starving for two months, she still had her curves. He must be talking about her mind. Which was a way worse insult than her tits.
She narrowed her eyes at him and crossed her arms over her bosom. If he didn’t want a mate, fine. She’d leave, right after she told him exactly what she thought of his idiotic designs.
“Your blueprints are completely wrong. You clearly have no understanding of what humans need.”
“These are standard Draconian colonial constructions.”
“You designed spaces for Draconian colonists. Not humans on their own planet.”
“Your kind is less developed than mine. Our designs should be perfectly suitable for you. You are, in fact, living in filth and squalor.”
“Even the men on the mating armada understood humans better than you. Why did you get the job reconstructing our planet?”
“I am the highest level architect on Draconia. Draconians have respect for our experts. Unlike simple-minded humans like you. I was sent specifically by the president himself.”
“Well, your president doesn’t know what he’s doing if he thinks you are qualified to reconstruct Earth. You’re going to make it into some kind of industrial dystopia. Humans can’t live like that. We need variety. Culture. Trees. Recreational opportunities. Community. You’ve given us rows and rows of nondescript buildings with zero variety and no opportunity for communal socialization.”
“You simply need housing, food, and water to survive. I am providing you that. What you do with it after that is up to you.”
“But you are creating an infrastructure that will not allow us to build the kind of communities we need to thrive.”
“Human. I grow tired of your voice.”
“Screw you. I’m out of here. I’m going to tell my friends back at the refugee camp that Draconians don’t care. We’ll just move off this island and go build a real community somewhere else.”
She turned to go, and he crossed the space between them in a split second. He grabbed her arm and spun her around. That same smug look etched his face as he sniffed the air.
“You can’t leave,” he growled.
She tried to yank her arm away, but he held tight. “You’re an asshole, and I refuse to mate with you.”
He bared his teeth at that, showing his sharp canines. “The feeling is mutual. But my mating impulse has begun. I have no choice but to claim you, or I will lose my mind.”
“You’ve already lost your mind if you think I’m going to let you touch me.” Even as she said the word, her body screamed for his touch.
“I will do more than touch you.”
“Is this how all Draconians treat their women? I was under the impression that you guys were super giving or was that all propaganda?” Her words were hard but they began to quiver at the end of her statement.
His fingers dug into her flesh, and she began to panic. Would he hurt her? Force himself on her? All she’d wanted to do was convince him to build a city that would suit human needs instead of something that looked like a massive jail. He wouldn’t listen to reason, which was bad enough. Now she was afraid he might hurt her.
“You aren’t a Draconian,” he said smugly.
His grip finally loosened, and she rubbed her arm where he’d held her.
“That’s for damn sure.”
“I never wanted a human mate. But here we are. We must make the best of a bad situation.”
“Oh, now you’re all hearts and rainbows. Why are you such a jerk?”
“I had no intention of taking a human bride. But it has been decreed that all males enter the lottery. Now I’m stuck with…you.”
“You don’t have to make it sound so disgusting. You’re no prize either.”
She felt a tear start to well in the corner of her eye. She would not let this guy see her cry. No freaking way.
Octavia took a deep breath and blinked away the tear. If she had to stay with this guy and let him mate with her, she was going to do her damnedest to change his mind about the reconstruction of her city and world.
“So. This is your first project on Earth?” she asked, changing the subject.
“Yes.”
“Why this design?”
“This is standard for co
lony planets. It saves resources and consolidates space.”
He was treating her home like some unpopulated colony on some far off moon or something.
She had to deal with this more delicately. Obviously, Draconians could be pig-headed and single-minded in their focus. If she was going to make him see reason, she’d have to go about it in more subtle way.
“How does this whole mating thing work, anyway? I just entered the lottery a few hours ago. Haven’t been doing much research on your mating rituals.”
“It is my very limited understanding that humans are far too small to be claimed immediately. Your body must be opened slowly so that you can accommodate our substantial size.”
Octavia almost choked when he said that. So, the whole size thing was an issue. She glanced down at his package. It twitched under his skintight uniform. She bit her lip and averted her gaze, trying to look at something else, anything else, besides his shlong. Her mind went fuzzy, but she tried to focus.
“How do you ‘open’ a woman to accommodate your size?” She looked back into his eyes. They were narrow slits and his nostrils flared angrily as he stared directly at her.
“Our semen is an aphrodisiac. The pheromones will cause the body to become more elastic at a genetic level.”
Octavia mouthed the words “genetic level,” trying to comprehend what that meant.
“Your semen changes a woman’s genes?”
“Precisely.”
“That is the weirdest thing I’ve ever heard. How exactly do you accomplish that?”
“I must spill on your bare skin.”
“Wha…? That’s just… I wouldn’t have taken you for a kinky freak.”
“I am not a kinky freak. I am the Grand Architect of Draconia.”
“Okay, Grand Architect. How do you propose to get your semen on my skin?”
Octavia’s heart was pounding so hard she could hear it in her ears. The idea of letting this guy do such a dirty, dirty thing to her was not completely unpleasant, no matter what a jerk ass he happened to be.
There was something about him that was deeply appealing. He was so damn sexy. So big and masculine. It was like her body wanted to jump up and start humping him against her better judgement.
Draconians: Complete Series (BWW Dragon Shifter Scifi Romance) Page 35