by Sue Mercury
Lifting her hips, she positioned her wet center at the tip of his throbbing cock. “I want you inside me, Zurron. Make me your mate. Please.” Emotion flickered in her eyes. “I want to belong to you.”
She was ready, and so was he. He’d been ready since he was a young male, dreaming of the day he would finally find a compatible female. Norina had orbited its sun many times since then. Sometimes it felt like he’d spent a thousand years waiting for his mate.
To finally have Riley in his arms was a transcendent experience. He would cherish this first mating with her forever, the instant in time when they joined and became one.
“You already belong to me, Riley.” He tightened his grip on her wrists for emphasis. “And I will never let you go.”
Chapter Five
His affirmation that she belonged to him burned into her psyche, making her heart swell a thousand times over. If he continued treating her this way, she would awake one day soon to find she’d fallen hopelessly and irrevocably in love with him. Men on Earth didn’t talk to their women this way. At least not from what she’d observed. Not even close.
Zurron inched his huge cock inside her, and she opened her thighs wider to accept his entrance, vaguely hoping it didn’t hurt much. The prospect of pain was mostly an afterthought though. Her pussy ached and every cell in her body screamed for him to thrust inside her.
He met her eyes when the tip of his shaft pressed against her virginal resistance.
Oh hell. He looked genuinely confused.
“That’s, um, completely normal. Just push through it.”
His face became pained as he struggled to restrain himself from persisting forward. “I do not wish to hurt you, Riley.”
“I’m no expert, but it’s a tight fit the first time for most women. Trust me. Just push through.”
“If you’re certain.”
“I am certain. Push all the way inside me, Zurron. Do it.” Fill me up. Please.
After a deep breath, he surged through her virginal barrier and all the way inside her, until his balls slammed heavily against her bottom. She winced at the brief pain, but it was just that—brief.
The slight burn faded and soon there was nothing but exquisite pleasure as he slowly moved in and out of her tightness. As he filled her up, time and time again, she felt as if she truly belonged to him. She was glad he’d decided to claim her now, rather than wait until later tonight or even a few days, because the care he was showing her served to reveal more of his positive personality traits, the kind of traits she had always fantasized about in a man.
He released her wrists and grabbed her hips, lifting her to meet his thrusts. Pressure coiled in her nether region. She was close to coming apart once more, close to shattering into a million pieces. With each plunge, his lower stomach impacted upon her pulsing clit, hurling her closer and closer to oblivion. She shut her eyes and let the erotic sensations flow over her, relishing Zurron’s increasing roughness. He pounded her faster and harder, but she wanted more.
Forcing her eyes open, she said, “Take me as hard as you’d like. I’m burning up, Zurron, and I want it. I want all of you. I want you to take me completely unrestrained.”
This time, he didn’t ask if she was certain. He simply grabbed her hips tighter, growled deep in his throat, and pounded her as if his life depended on it. She gasped with each quick drive, and when her second orgasm finally gripped her, stealing her breath and making her see stars, she gyrated in tune with his rapid thrusts and groaned her ecstasy. He followed her into bliss soon after, his cock throbbing as he pumped his seed deep inside her.
Riley had never imagined she would one day leave Earth and lose her virginity to a sexy big green alien, and a smile touched her lips as Zurron clasped her to his chest and stroked her hair, comforting her in the aftermath of their mating. She laced her arms around his waist and hugged him back, inhaling his wondrous masculine scent.
Gradually, he withdrew his cock from her pussy, then arranged her to sit on his lap. She snuggled against him and peered into his affectionate gaze. He didn’t blink often, and when he did, it was lightning fast. Like some kind of otherworldly predator.
“Are you in any pain, my beloved? If you are hurting, I can give you medicine.”
“No pain.” It was the truth. She was sore, but it was a delicious pang of soreness between her legs, one she didn’t want him to cure. She wanted to relish this soreness, to delight in the reminder of his cock plunging in and out of her for the rest of the day.
A peek at the covers where she’d just been laying showed no hint of blood. Thank God. If she’d bled and Zurron noticed, he would have probably cursed himself for hurting her and been reluctant to mate with her again. And she definitely wanted to do this again. Maybe tonight even, after the celebration.
She rested her head against his chest. The steady beating of his heart lulled her into a peaceful trance. She felt small but protected in his arms. How much time passed as they embraced, she couldn’t say, but when the room began to darken and the several sconces on the walls flickered on automatically, Zurron roused her from his arms and helped her to stand. He patted her bottom and kissed the top of her head.
“We should clean up and prepare for the celebration. We are already late. I have several dresses to choose from that might fit you.”
“Of course, and thank you.” It was then that she noticed an open closet on the other side of the room, filled with vibrantly colored dresses. It touched her that he’d so thoughtfully prepared for her arrival. She had absolutely nothing, not even one outfit, but she trusted that he would provide for her always. Zurron would give her the shirt off his back if she needed it.
He guided her to the bathroom and showed her how to work the shower. Finally, she was able to wash her hair and untangle all her knots. He joined her and took great care in cleansing her body. She did her best to run a soapy cloth over him in return, but he grabbed her wrist when she tried to run it over his cock, which was already hardening again.
“If you touch me there right now, my human, I will be unable to stop myself from taking you once more, and then we will miss the celebration entirely.” The sternness of his expression, tinged with a shade of humor, made her heart skip a beat.
She tossed him the soapy cloth and gave him a saucy grin. “Fine. But I get to touch it later.”
*
Zurron was anxious to present Riley to his family.
He hurried her down the path that connected his home to his father’s, anticipating a joyful celebration that would last the entire night. His brothers now had mates too. Soon the laughter of children would ring out on the mountain. He couldn’t wait to see his mate’s stomach swelling with their first child.
He dropped Riley’s hand and wrapped an arm around her as they approached his father’s house. To his surprise, no music was playing and the home was eerily quiet, though he saw movement through the downstairs windows. He opened the door and guided Riley inside, his senses on high alert.
Something was wrong, and he smelled death.
Then he saw his older brother, Yerozz, standing over the body of a human female. She was resting on a table, flowers spread around her unmoving form. All his family members, from his father to his younger brother to his cousins and uncles were gathered around the deceased female, but backed away a few steps to give Yerozz space. A small human female stood beside his younger brother, silently weeping.
His father looked up and approached him.
“What has happened?” he whispered in Norinan, as his father hadn’t yet learned English.
“Yerozz’s mate was nearly dead when he found her. The aliens who bought her from the slavers gave her a drug to make her more docile, and they apparently gave her too much of it. Despite giving her medicine to counteract the drug, she passed a short time ago. We tried to revive her, but her body is too ravaged by the drug. She is gone.”
“Oh my God,” Riley whispered, her voice full of sorrow as she stared at the
deceased female. “I knew her. I recognize her from the Starship Matchmaker. Her name was Elenna. What-what happened?”
Zurron quickly relayed the news his father had just shared. His spirit vibrated with sadness for his brother. He gathered Riley close as she shuddered and tears filled her eyes.
Yerozz stroked his human’s hair and backed away. He looked at Zurron, then at their brother, Gesh. His eyes flamed with rage and heartache.
“After we send my Elenna to the stars, I ask you to join me brothers in seeking my vengeance. Her buyers are dead, I killed them, but the slavers must die too. Those who attacked the Starship Matchmaker must die.”
Zurron and Gesh stepped forward and placed their hands over their hearts. “Yel mon osta, fenii mel sonka,” they said in unison, swearing to follow Yerozz into battle.
Ignoring the pang of guilt at leaving Riley so soon after arriving back on Norina, he waited for his father, cousins, and uncles to repeat the battle oath. Though Yerozz had only invited him and Gesh, he knew the rest of his family would join in the battle. Except for one male to stay behind and look after Riley and Gesh’s mate. He reminded himself that he had planned to leave soon anyway to track down the four-armed creature who’d bought his mate from the slavers and stood tall as the other males in the room joined together to recite the battle oath, their hands clasped over their hearts.
“We leave at dawn,” Yerozz said. “May the Star Gods guide us to victory.”
Glancing around the room, Gesh’s gaze landed on the most elderly member of their family. “Hees, my uncle, will you put down your weapon and stay on Norina to look after our females instead? Zurron and I would be honored to have you keep them protected.”
Zurron nodded. “Yes, uncle, we would be honored if you stayed with our females.”
It was customary to ask the eldest Norinan male to stay behind in battle to protect the females, as long as the planet was deemed safe from any attacks, and Hees agreed to Gesh’s request.
“What is happening?” Riley asked worriedly.
He turned to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “We are leaving at dawn to track down the slavers who attacked the Starship Matchmaker. You and the other female will stay behind with Hees, my elderly uncle.”
When her lip trembled and she appeared on the verge of crying, he moved to cup her face and trace his fingers over her soft cheeks. “You must be brave in my absence, Riley. Can you be brave?”
She released a shaky breath. “I will be brave, if you swear you will return to me.”
“I swear to return to you, my beloved.”
Chapter Six
Ten days.
Riley stared at the star-encrusted velvet black sky, trying to be brave like she’d promised Zurron, though it was difficult when ten full days had passed since he’d left with all the male members of his family but Hees to battle the slavers. They’d departed on three battleships, all larger than Zurron’s personal ship, as the sun peeked over the mountains.
When would they return?
She didn’t know, and the uncertainty was slowing killing her.
She turned as Athena, Gesh’s mate, walked up behind her. They were staying in Hees’ house, which had a huge balcony on the upper level where the guest rooms were located. She forced a welcoming smile, and Athena did her best to offer a smile in return.
But a cloud of worry hung over both women. They stared at the sky together, and Riley knew Athena was wishing the same thing as her in this moment—that the lights of three Norinan battleships would descend from amidst the sparkling stars.
“Before they departed, Gesh told me that if he perishes in the battle against the slavers, I am to find another male on Norina, perhaps one of his cousins. He said Hees was instructed to see us both matched with other males on Norina, if our mates never return.” She sniffled and wiped at her tears. “I only knew him for two days, but he was so kind to me. If he doesn’t return…”
Riley spun to face her. “They will return. All of them.”
“But you don’t know that. It’s been ten days.”
“Maybe the slavers are being elusive. Perhaps they haven’t tracked them down yet.”
She refused to entertain the idea that Zurron wouldn’t return, but she couldn’t shake away the shock of what Athena had just told her. She hadn’t known about Hees’ orders to see her and Athena mated to other Norinan males if their mates perished. Her heart pounded painfully in her chest and she blinked back tears. She’d been brave so far and hadn’t cried, and she wasn’t about to break down now on the balcony.
Instead, she prayed. She bowed her head and uttered prayers for every last male in Zurron’s family to return safe, promising God she would be grateful and never doubt His existence again, as she had after her mother died, if only Zurron would come back to her unharmed.
She swallowed past the burning in her throat and looked up to the stars once more.
Hees didn’t speak English, but he was able to communicate using a small screen that displayed the text of his speech. He used the device to tell them bits and pieces about Norinan culture each night, and last night he’d assured them that human females could not catch the illness that had wiped all Norinan females from existence, much to Riley’s relief.
Thus far, Hees had received no transmissions from their mates. But Zurron had told Riley messages couldn’t be sent through hyperspace, and if they traveled too far away from Norina, they might return home before any sent messages actually reached the planet.
She wasn’t giving up hope. Not yet.
Six more days passed without any news, but on several occasions, a Norinan male appeared on the doorstep to speak with Hees. Though Riley didn’t understand their language, she suspected the Norinan males wanted to inquire about the status of Zurron’s family members.
The young males also looked upon Riley and Athena with unrestrained longing. It was as if they were sniffing around to see if Zurron and Gesh’s females were available, and the entire experience left her unnerved.
Luckily, after Hees spoke sternly to the fifth young male who’d ventured up the mountain, the visitations ceased.
Riley and Athena did their best to help Hees with the cooking, as well as gather food from the surrounding forest. Fruits and nuts were plucked from the trees, and berries were collected from the large bushes near a stream. They helped Hees fish as well, and despite the constant worry about Zurron and the others, she fell into a pleasant routine on the mountain with her two companions.
The rhythm of life was peaceful on Norina, soothing even, compared to Earth, and the quietness of the mountain became a balm to her tortured soul. Gunfire didn’t ring out in the middle of the night, gross men didn’t shoot her leering glances in her own house, and the stench of corpses dumped in the street overnight didn’t make her gag when she awoke.
Instead, she roused each morning to the sound of birds chirping and a gentle breeze swaying through the trees. It only rained on occasion during the night hours, and Riley appreciated the design of the planetary weather control system Zurron had briefly told her about. The days were warm but not too humid, though the nights were sometimes cool enough to require a sweater.
When she had free time, Riley wandered on the stone path that connected all the nearby houses. Their emptiness felt strange though, so she passed each homestead as quickly as she came upon them. All the homes were built with the same massive red stones. Zurron’s was one of the biggest, containing ten bedrooms in the upper level. He really did wish for a sizeable family.
On Earth, her dreams of a large family hadn’t been practical. There was too much disease and violence to worry about, not to mention the food shortage. Having one child was difficult enough for most people. Here on Norina, Zurron had a safe place to raise a family, but without a mate, he would have spent his existence in a lonely fog, wishing for a female to share in his life.
When he returned, they could both get their wish. Together.
Please let him return
, and soon. Please God.
*
The four-armed creature was no more. Zurron stood over his bloodied body as the rage of finally coming face-to-face with the alien who’d bought Riley from the slavers gradually dissipated.
It hadn’t been difficult tracking the alien down. He’d already set up another exhibit in a market near the same city that had flooded, with a frightened looking blue-haired female from a race Zurron had never seen in a cage.
Yerozz had already taken the female to their father’s ship, and Gesh waited on the platform, watching carefully from a distance. For Norinans, seeking revenge was sometimes a personal endeavor, and his brothers hadn’t assisted him as he pummeled the four-armed creature.
Passersby in the marketplace had stopped to gawk at the violent scene, but Zurron paid them no mind. Lawlessness seemed to reign on this planet, and he wasn’t worried about any enforcers arriving to arrest him. Even if they did, his father’s ship wasn’t far off. He could easily make a quick escape and be back to Norina before they had time to scrape the four-armed creature’s carcass off the ground.
Sweat trickled down his temples and he squinted at the blistering hot sun. For sixteen days, this fluxxshen gahhga had kept his beloved mate chained and in a cage, charging passersby for a glimpse of her nakedness. It riled him that any creature could treat a female with such brutal disregard, and simply for a profit. He glanced around the marketplace and glared at those who dared to meet his eyes, letting them know with one look that he disapproved of their morals. Several in the crowd backed away, as if fearing they would be next.
Zurron finally wiped the blood from his hands on his pants and spat on the alien’s carcass, cursing him to the Lake Fires of Teshemu, then he turned and walked to the platform. His brother followed him onto the ship without a word, and the screech of the platform retracting behind them drowned out the murmurs of the alien onlookers gathered around the ship.
Satisfaction hummed through Zurron. The slavers who’d attacked the Starship Matchmaker were all dead, their ship destroyed in a fiery explosion two days ago. Though they hailed from a vicious alien race several sectors away, their defenses had been no match for Norinan proton blasters. The four-armed creature who’d left Riley in a cage during a deadly flood was dead. None of his relatives on the three Norinan battleships had been injured. They could now return home triumphant.