by T. S. Ryder
Natalie didn’t notice the stranger who sat next to her, quietly observing her every move. She didn’t even notice the tiny, round translation device he slipped into her ear as he moved up next to her.
“May I buy you a drink?” he asked her, in the way that he had observed other human males do. His voice was deep and had an unusual lilt to it.
She turned toward him and looked up. Her red-rimmed eyes were bright and he saw that she was drunk.
“Y-yeah. I would love that,” she slurred, giving him a crooked smile. She saw the way he looked at her, and his cold, piercing gaze made her shudder.
He ordered a cosmopolitan for her.
“So, what do they call you?” he asked, gazing at her with those piercing eyes.
She giggled, unable to wipe that stupid smile off her face. He sounded funny, she thought.
“I’m Natalie. And you are...?” she asked him as she bent forward, gazing into his penetrating emerald-green eyes. He seemed thirty-five or thirty-six, maybe? She couldn’t see his face properly. What was it? He seemed different and he didn’t seem to like her. No, she was being stupid. Why would he buy her a drink if he didn’t like her?
“Erdal,” he said, in his deep voice. He took a swig of his beer, his eyes still locked upon hers, as she sipped her cosmopolitan.
“C’mon, dance with me,” she said, slipping off her stool. She grabbed his hand and led him onto the dance floor as the music changed to a slow number.
Natalie leaned in on him, resting her head on his shoulder and slowly beginning to sway. He stood rooted to the spot. He didn’t understand why these humans were moving like crazy – sometimes quickly and sometimes slowly – to the noisy beat. To him, it seemed like some sort of weird mating ritual… or maybe more of a prelude to the ritual.
“We should get going,” he said in a sober tone. He was growing a bit uncomfortable with her body against his, her scent unnerving him – her sweet, intoxicating scent ensnaring his senses. His breath hitched and he felt like getting out of there.
What was it with this woman? He would have to find out later.
“Umm, okay...” Natalie said as he led her outside into the warm, balmy night. I should spend the night with this handsome stranger, she thought. It would get her mind off of Matt. She might regret it later, but she didn’t care at the moment.
Erdal opened the door to his Ford Mustang and she got in. He came around the other side and got in, then quickly revved up the engine. He quietly drove out onto the street and into the night. He still wore the hood on his head. Why won’t he remove it? Natalie wondered. It seemed as if he were hiding something.
Her mind drifted to Matt once more as she stared out the window. Just before he had left for New York, she had been making plans for his upcoming birthday. He hadn’t said anything – just smiled and went away. Tears welled in her eyes and streamed down her face at the memory.
“Oh, I miss him so much!” she cried. She couldn’t take the silence in the car anymore and she didn’t care what the stranger thought about her.
Erdal gave her a sidelong glance as she sobbed uncontrollably.
“I thought we were happyyy... I-I... was hoping h-he would propose! B-but why would he want to marry me? I-I’m ugly, you see?” she stammered. “He is m-marrying Tyra... because she’s pretty.” Her breath came in gasps as she heaved shuddering sighs.
Erdal wished the woman would shut up. Her sobs were incredibly distracting. What was she talking about? It seemed that her lover had left her for another woman – big deal. So, she definitely wasn’t a virgin, but he didn’t care. He wanted to get this thing over with.
He turned onto a dirt road away from the freeway and drove down a few miles toward the open fields.
“I’m stupid. I-I should have known...” she said quietly. “He didn’t love me,” she whispered. Then, turning toward him, she asked, “You... Would you dump an ugly woman like me?”
“Please be quiet,” he said, as his jaw clenched. This woman was so confused. She didn’t make sense. Her lover might have left her for some other reason, but she was far from ugly. She was beautiful.
He drove on for a while and parked the car near the edge of a grove.
“Follow me,” he said curtly as he got out and opened the door for her.
He took her hand as she steadied herself. Still holding her hand, he led her toward the thicket. They walked among the trees and came to a clearing on the other side. Then he stopped and, turning, he wrapped his arms around her, crushing her body against his. She gasped as she stared into his emerald eyes. He tapped the band on his wrist a few times, and soon small, white, glowing particles appeared to surround them, their bodies vanishing into thin air.
***
Natalie’s heart raced. What was happening to her? Within the next few seconds, she was standing close to him again, but the field was gone. She found herself in a dimly lit cabin resembling the inside of an elevator. The glass doors opened and she clung to Erdal. He had to pry her hands off of him before leading her outside into a narrow hallway, yet he kept hold of her hand.
W-where are we?” she asked, a bit dazed, as her head spun.
“No more talking, woman,” he said, teeth clenched.
“My name is Natalie!” she said, tears pooling in her eyes.
Natalie couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t tell her where they were headed. They strode down the hall until they came to a door. He tapped the figures on the wall panel and the door slid open. He dragged her inside and let go of her hand, walking over to the console and keying in more commands there. She stood there, gazing at his back. They were in a circular room with huge windows on one side and a large console with an array of panels lining the center. There was a chair, too. It seemed like some kind of control room. This wasn’t real. Oh, she must be dreaming. She would wake up soon, she thought, giggling.
There was a distant humming around them. The ship went into warp drive, streaming across the universe. He came back toward her and she saw that his hood was down. She gasped as her eye caught the subtle ridges at his temples. What was wrong with him? But before she could ask, he grabbed her by the arm and took her outside into the hallway.
“Where are you taking me?” she implored, tears streaming down her face.
“To your quarters,” he said.
Quarters? He meant a room, right? What was going on? She had a feeling that something wasn’t right – this would be a very strange hotel.
He stopped by another door and entered another code so that it gave way. He stepped in, pulling her along with him as the door closed.
He turned her in his arms and gazed deeply into her eyes. He has long dark hair and his ears are pointed, she observed. She gasped as she took in his intense gaze, dark brow with its subtle ridges, straight chiseled nose, and strong jawline.
“Wh-what happened to you?” she whispered, reaching to touch the ridges on his temples. He grabbed her wrist gently but firmly as he stared at her. He caught her heady scent again, now mixed with the scent of her arousal. His breath hitched, and his intense eyes pierced her very soul. She looked dazed and he saw that she still hadn’t grasped that he wasn’t human. She clung to him, seemingly afraid to let go, showing him how vulnerable she was. Her brown eyes were clear as day. For a moment, he forgot everything and thought he held Kira in his arms.
Natalie leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on his lips. A dark shadow flitted across his eyes as he felt her silky lips on his own.
“Kiss me, Erdal... Kiss me now...” she implored, murmuring against his lips, gazing at him, as she bared her soul to him.
Natalie didn’t care who he was. She wanted him. She needed him so she could numb the pain in her broken heart. She didn’t care anymore.
No. No. No... Get away from her. She is not Kira. The king won’t like it! He will kill you! A dark voice inside his head screamed.
Fuck him, Erdal thought. He grabbed the nape of her neck, tilting her head back, and bent his head to
claim her mouth with his own at a perfect angle. His other hand caressed her back as she wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers entangled in his hair. She was eager, demanding as she slid her tongue into his mouth. He gasped, pulling back, surprised by her fiery passion. Her eyes were glazed – she clearly wanted more.
Desire raged through his blood as his eyes darkened and he fiercely claimed her mouth again. His tongue slid inside her mouth and grazed hers, urgent, demanding. She matched his dark passion as desire pooled deep down in her belly. His hand grabbed her behind and pulled her closer, his hips grinding against hers. They pulled apart to catch their breath as he peeled her dress off and admired her full breasts. Silly woman... How could she think she was ugly? He picked her up and roughly dropped her on the flat gray mattress, then took off his shirt and stepped out of his pants. His alabaster-white skin glowed in the dim, white light of the room, and his long, dark hair fell on his shoulders as she gazed at him. He bent down and peeled off her panties. In one swift movement, he was on top of her.
She loved the feel of his hard body on top of her, him cupping her breasts and claiming her mouth with a fervent longing.
Time froze for them as they were soon lost to the rhythm of consuming passion.
Chapter Three
Natalie woke up to the faint, sterile light of the room. She blinked a few times as her eyes adjusted to the dimness. Where was she? She tried getting up and, suddenly dizzy, fell back on the pillow as a throbbing headache hit her. She was naked under the sheets. What the...? She sat up again and looked around. Her black dress lay on the floor. The room was hexagonal with a large rectangular window. It didn’t look like she was in a hotel. She slowly sat up and tried getting out of bed again. Her head spun.
She looked around, thinking. She had been out drinking at a bar and met a stranger. Oh, God... She remembered being in the car with him, and then it was all a blur. She had kissed him, hadn’t she? Or was it a dream? She couldn’t tell. Her head ached terribly. Water... She needed water. Coffee, too.
The door to the room slid open and Erdal stepped inside, carrying a tray. He had brought her food. He was wearing a dark gray suit and gray pants, and his long hair was tied at the nape of his neck. She looked up, surprised. Her heart thrummed against her chest like a frightened bird in a cage, and she quickly pulled the sheets to cover her chest. Her stomach knotted and color rose to her cheeks as he gazed at her with those intense eyes of his.
“Where am I?” she asked him, panic filling her gut. “And why am I here?”
“You are aboard Star Ship Xoraii. We are traveling to planet Estion,” he said.
“Oh, no! Y-your face! Wh-what are you? Let me go!” she stammered as her breathing became labored. She saw it now. He had abducted her – this was no hotel room. She was far from Earth in an alien spaceship.
He saw her trembling, and his chest constricted. What was wrong with him? She wasn’t the first woman he had abducted. There was something strange about her. She made him weak, and it unnerved him. No, that was unacceptable.
Get a grip, Erdal. She’s a weak human. And you detest humans, remember? The darkness inside his head snapped sarcastically. She is the king’s bride. There’s nothing you can do about it.
“Calm down, woman!” he said firmly. Tears welled in her eyes. She hugged her knees, clutching the sheets as tears streamed down her face and sobs racked her body.
He watched her for a while, trying to read her mind telepathically. He couldn’t. Frowning, he strode toward a panel on the wall to her left. A shaft opened up in a wall, revealing a small silver container. He poured out water for her into a glass.
“Thank you,” she said, as she took the glass from him. He observed her as she drank. She could see he wasn’t going to kill her... At least not yet.
“I’m sorry I’m such a mess,” she said, taking a deep breath as she tried to compose herself. She wiped the tears off her face with the back of her hand. She gazed at him. He looks quite handsome in that suit, she thought... A wayward thought crossed her mind. “Um, what happened last night? I mean, did we...?” she asked, as she stared at the dress on the floor.
“I’m afraid we did, yes.”
“Oh, God...” she said, wide-eyed, and she stared at her hands as blood crept up to her cheeks and she blushed furiously.
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he eyed at her, amused. She was a strange woman. Why was she so conscious of her sexuality now when mere hours ago she responded to his touch with such passion? His eyes darkened at the thought of the way she had wanted him and cried out his name in pure ecstasy.
“What do you want?” she asked softly, fresh tears welling in her eyes. She had been drunk, and then he had abducted her and had his way with her.
“I serve my King. I have orders to take you to him. You are to be his bride. You will share a harem with many others he already has,” he said, as he sat down on a chair near her bed.
“What is wrong with you? I... I was drunk!” she said loudly. “You kidnap me, rape me, and now you are forcing me to marry this... this king you serve?!” Her voice became shrill, her breath coming in gasps.
“I did not rape you, woman! No matter how much I loathe humans, I would not dishonor my race and force myself upon one of your kind!” he said in a voice so cold that it made her shudder.
“I hate you! You knew I was drunk. It’s not fair!” she wailed, rapidly blinking away her tears.
“You wanted it,” he emphasized, and she saw his intense eyes glint. “You kept talking about this Matt who left you.”
“Oh, no. What did I say?” she asked, as color rose to her cheeks.
“Nothing important,” he said curtly.
“Please take me back. I want to go home,” she said, her voice cracking, eyes wide.
“What you say is irrelevant. From now on, you will do as I say.” He tried getting inside her head again, staring deep into her wide eyes. He could see that she was scared, but he needed to read her thoughts so he could gauge to what extent.
He used his ability to read her thoughts, but all he got was a blank. This had never happened before. Somehow, telepathy wasn’t working with this woman. There was something unusual about her. He could feel it.
“Please let me go. Don’t make me marry your King. Where I come from, women are not forced into marriage,” she said, clutching the sheets closer to her. He saw genuine fear in her eyes.
“Well, why don’t you try telling that to the king himself?” he said dryly. “I’m sure he’ll reconsider.”
Her eyes grew wide and her pupils dilated through her tears. Her lips quivered as her breathing became labored, and his chest constricted again. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes momentarily, trying to control his racing heart.
“Listen to me, woman,” he said, in a calm, cold voice. “You really don’t have a choice. You had better hold your tongue before the king, or he will kill you.”
“Kill me, then,” she said, challenging him. He could kill her if he wanted to, but she would never become a slave bride to some alien king. At the moment death seemed like a better option to her.
He stared at her, surprised, as if he had not expected her to say such a thing.
“If I killed you, I would be risking my own life. You are to be the king’s bride, and there’s nothing I can do about it,” he said in a sober voice as he got up to leave. For a second there, she thought his betrayed some measure of sadness. “Get dressed. There are clothes in the wardrobe over there; the bathroom is to your right,” he said, showing her the wardrobe.
“How can you be so selfish?” she whispered incredulously, as tears gleamed in her beautiful, brown eyes.
He stood there, unresponsive.
“I guess men are alike everywhere,” she said at last, resigned.
“Here. Take these. They will help you to breathe better.” He handed her two blue pills, ignoring her comment.
“This is a communicator and a key,” he said, in a formal,
detached tone. He placed a small, round disc in her palm. He showed her how it opened the hidden panels in the wall, but not the doors. “You will wear it on your arm and, whenever you need me, you press and hold while you speak, and then release. And Natalie... Eat. You will need all of your strength. I’ll be watching,” he said with as he disappeared behind the door.
Natalie stared after him, bewildered. She quickly swallowed the pills with the help of the water, and the air in the room seemed to grow thicker.
She could not imagine in her wildest dreams that she could be far away from home aboard an alien spaceship. Alone and with an alien. And she had already made the horrible mistake of sleeping with him. Well, she didn’t deny he was an unusually handsome alien. But she was in serious trouble and she had no way to escape. What she dreaded most was the fact that she was being forced into marriage. It was unbelievable. Rage surged through her blood as tears streamed down her face. She was trapped. Would he help her if he wanted to? But why would he want to? She was just another slave for him to take to his king. He was right, in a way. He was just following orders.
***
Erdal lay back in the chair in his chambers, a glass of dark purple wine in his hand. He took a sip and savored the silky taste as it slid down his throat. It was one of the rare native wines they had on Estion.
This woman could be a problem for you, Erdal. She has a sharp tongue, and she speaks her mind. The king doesn’t like that, the dark voice inside his head said.