by Sam Crescent
“Go ahead.”
“Er…” Her face felt so hot. It had to have gone a shade of red. “I’m aware that you are always attuned to a woman’s arousal, am I correct?”
“Yes.”
“I was just curious, if one of your women were to get pregnant, would her mate have a different reaction?” she asked.
Bronn rubbed at his chin as he seemed to think about it. “I’m not entirely sure. I was too young when the fertility became an issue. Ask Dhiro. He would know. He was just old enough to have witnessed couples.”
“Right, of course.”
She wasn’t going to ask Dhiro. After everything he’d gone through, she wouldn’t allow him to feel any hope that might not be correct. His reaction to her could simply be down to where they were. Her planet.
But he did it back on the ship.
There was no false hope.
Dhiro came toward her with a canister and held it to her lips. She drank a small amount of the lake water, shocked by how clean it was.
“We have a filter.”
Trenuians always thought of everything.
Dhiro took her hand, and they were walking once again. The sun had traveled across the sky, showing them the time had passed. Ella’s hunger had gotten stronger, and her stomach continued to make those horrible growling noises. Fortunately, no one else had made a mention of them. There was no way they couldn’t hear them.
After what felt like a starving eternity, they came to a stop as the sound of people talking filled the air. Dhiro held her hand as they used the cover of a couple of large trees.
They were near a small town. Ella didn’t recognize the name, but the hint of trees on their crest gave way to a tourist town. What was even more interesting to Ella was the scent of food.
“We have to go down there.”
“There are too many humans.”
“Exactly, tourists, we’ll blend.” She looked at the three men who appeared doubtful. “Just, try to be human. You’ve all studied our culture, our ways. Put it to the test.”
Without waiting for an answer, she took Dhiro’s hand and led the way out of the forest. “Remember to smile. We’d just been on a wonderful hike. You think you can do that?” Ella asked, glancing back.
All three men smiled at her, and Dhiro’s was breathtaking.
Oh, dear.
A couple of human women were going to struggle with Trenu Zel men. Bronn and Kaalen were devastatingly handsome, just like her mate.
Coming through the clearing, she held Dhiro’s hand tightly, aware of the curious stares.
“I can’t believe how amazing that walk was. It’s everything you promised it would be,” she said, turning toward Dhiro. “Go along with me, okay?”
“Yes.” His hand had already gone to her ass and had pulled her close.
She leaned into his touch, pressing her lips to his, kissing him.
Bronn and Kaalen cleared their throats.
“Sorry,” she said.
“You’re on your honeymoon. Do not mind us,” Bronn said. He gave her a smile, and his gaze went past her shoulder.
Glancing in the direction he was looking, she saw a sign for newlyweds.
Great cover.
“Well, I don’t want my wife to starve any more than I’ve already made her.” Dhiro held her hand, and together, they moved toward the diner.
On the way there, a group of men stopped them.
“We saw you coming out of the forest. This is our third time here, and there are rumors there is a fountain of youth, have you seen it?” the blonde of the group asked.
She was about to open her mouth when Dhiro shook his head. “No, man, we couldn’t find it. My woman here wants to be young forever.”
Ella slapped him on the chest. “Oh, please, you wanted to get a picture of it to add to your increasing collection of natural beauties. It was a shame your camera dropped in the lake.”
Her heart raced. Dhiro looked so natural, like he’d been studying to be a human.
Of course, he had. It’s why he got you.
But before, he’d been stilted in his approach. Something was different now. She couldn’t exactly put her finger on what it was, but it was there.
They traded some of their priceless gems for cash, then the men shook their hands and promised to meet up if they were still in town. They took off into the forest.
Their broken ship was well concealed and a lot further than the town outskirts.
Natural was what they needed to be in order to survive.
Once they’d entered the diner, the scents rushed over, and she felt her mouth water. She was so hungry. They found a table for the four of them and slid into the chairs. Dhiro held hers out for her, kissing her on the temple before taking a seat.
“So, what’s the plan?” Kaalen asked. “It’s not like we can leave our … beauty to the natural forces.”
“We can’t be seen entering the forest with equipment either. Our ship is going to take a little more loving care than that.”
She sighed. “We’re going to have to find a private place to stay and move the … beauty to where we need it. It’s the only way.”
Glancing around the diner, she noticed a few women were looking toward her table, which was to be expected. Kaalen and Bronn were good-looking men, but Dhiro was so very taken. Her gaze landed on the view outside of the window, and she saw there was a pharmacy, the neon red sign calling to her.
A pregnancy test awaited her.
Chapter Nine
Dhiro counted his money as he walked down the street. His brothers weren’t far behind. They were able to trade their priceless rocks, so plentiful and common on Trenu Zel, for large amounts of Earth currency. Humans valued diamonds, emeralds, and just about every other gem he had on hand. Now his mission was to find a home for them to live in. If he had to spend his life on Earth to be with his mate, he wanted her comfortable.
It unnerved him, having all the humans staring at them. He kept thinking they knew too much, but they were likely just curious. Although they appeared human-like in appearance, there were differences, remarkably their size. There were many females, but none of them compared to Ella. She was the first human female he’d seen in the flesh and the only one he wanted for his mate.
“Hand it over!”
Dhiro turned to the left. A human male held a primitive handgun in his direction. “What are you saying? Hand what over?”
“The cash. All of it.”
A thief. Dhiro nodded to himself in thought. He had read about the rampant crime on Earth, including humans who stole from others. The entire idea perplexed him. “Why don’t you earn your own cash? This belongs to me.”
The gunman lunged forward, waving the gun at Dhiro’s face while attempting to snatch his handful of bills away from him. Dhiro did a quick peripheral check before moving into action, grabbing the weapon and turning it on the man with ease. He could break the human’s neck in two seconds flat. Instead, he unloaded the gun of bullets and tossed it into the brush.
As the man started to run off, Kaalen grabbed him by the scruff of the shirt, his feet dangling above the ground. “You’re going to let this miscreant free?”
Dhiro shrugged. “I don’t have time to deal with every criminal I come across. Calling the authorities is not an option, if you recall. It will only rouse attention. I will deal with each problem as it comes.”
Kaalen growled his displeasure before tossing the male aside like a sack of yiero peels.
They continued on their walk to the local drug store where Ella was shopping for supplies. He was grateful they’d landed near some of her modern conveniences rather than that unrelenting heat and scarcity of the red desert. He would get used to living here. There was no other choice in the matter.
She was already standing at the entrance when they arrived, a white paper bag in her arms. The sun highlighted her blonde hair and the beauty of her blue eyes. He couldn’t believe she belonged to him.
“Di
d you purchase what you required?” he asked.
Ella nodded. “Any luck on the house search?”
“We were distracted by a gunman trying to take our Earth currency.”
“First of all, don’t call it that. It’s money or cash. Secondly, you can’t flash money around. Not everyone has good intentions. In fact, most don’t, unfortunately. This is a tourist town, so it’ll be rife with criminals looking for easy opportunities.”
“Duly noted,” he said. “We will have to find temporary lodging for the night and continue our search for long-term quarters come morning.”
“Sounds good. My feet are killing me. I saw a few hotels at the end of this street. We can book for a couple of nights to be safe,” she said.
They continued onward, registering two rooms at a tourist hotel. The steward behind the desk said there was a pool, steam room, and gym. He wasn’t one hundred percent certain what they all were, but glad they had numerous amenities.
“I just need to use the washroom,” Ella said as soon as they entered their suite. His brothers were directly across the hall in their own room with two double beds. Although his brothers had not complained once, Dhiro couldn’t help but feel guilty about their predicament. It was all his fault, his attempt to save his mate. They weren’t supposed to be part of the equation. They should be back home on Trenu Zel, living their best lives.
Once they were all settled and safe, his priority would be repairing the ship to help his brothers return home where they belonged. Their mother was alone. Besides, this was no place for Trenuians.
Ella came out to join him shortly after. There was an unrested air about her.
“Do you not like our room?” he asked.
Ella walked to the large windows at the end of the living room. The mountains in the distance were snow-covered. “It has a beautiful view.”
“Then why are you troubled?”
She turned and smiled up at him. “You mean besides the fact we’re all stuck on Earth with no clue what tomorrow will bring?”
He frowned, running his fingers through her hair on both sides of her head. “Tomorrow will have its own challenges. We are best to live in the moment until our lives are more stable.”
“Do your brothers want to go home?”
“I haven’t spoken with them about their thoughts. I imagine they would rather be on Trenu Zel, but our males are slow to complain.”
“They must love you a lot to sacrifice everything for your mate.”
He didn’t answer. His guilt was too heavy. Before Ella, he only had his mother and two brothers. They were very important to him. He would fix the ship and ensure he sent them home with haste.
She kissed his cheek, so in tune with his emotions, then returned to the bathroom. When she reappeared, her demeanor had improved significantly. Perhaps her stomach had been sour from their earlier meal.
“I need to talk to you. It’s important.”
“Okay,” he said.
She took his hand and led him to the bedroom. He liked where this was going. Ella climbed on the oversized mattress and sat, crossing her legs in the middle of the bed. She patted beside her.
“How do you feel about me not getting pregnant? I mean, that’s why you originally came to Earth. Now your own people have outcast us because I couldn’t deliver.”
“I am disappointed. Not for me, but for my race. They will go extinct in time.”
“So even if I never became pregnant, you’d still want to be my mate?”
He felt insulted, squaring his shoulders. “I’ve crossed space to keep you safe. I plan to live on this primitive world for the sole purpose to be with you, Ella. I do not require offspring to love my mate with my whole heart.”
“Well, I have news, Dhiro. Big news.”
“Please tell me your news.”
She handed him a white, plastic stick. He studied it briefly, unable to identify the item.
“It’s a pregnancy test,” she said. “It can detect if a woman is pregnant or not. I used it in the bathroom a while ago.”
“And what does it say?”
Ella placed his hand on her stomach. “I’m pregnant with your child.” Then she chuckled. “With an interspecies baby. Is that what it’ll be?”
“It will be a miracle.” His heart jackhammered in his chest. This news was unexpected. He’d resigned to not having a child, to not saving Trenu Zel. Somewhere along the line, he’d slipped into survival mode, focused on enjoying the rest of his life to the fullest. Now everything had changed. He could give his mother the grandchild she craved, save his people, and become a father.
“You’re not saying anything.”
He hadn’t realized he’d been silently reflecting. This was sudden news and a lot to digest. “You don’t understand the significance of this.”
“Dhiro, you don’t have to convince me. This is huge. I’ve been researching myself for months. I understand the plight of your people. Our child can save your entire world.”
“I—I am speechless.”
“We have to go back, don’t we?” she said.
“They don’t deserve your help after they cast you aside for not conceiving sooner. You have no obligation to Trenu Zel.”
“Everyone I met on your planet was kind, honest, and welcoming. I could see the hope in their eyes. I wanted to help them so much. Just because your government screwed us around doesn’t mean we should abandon the people.”
“This decision is yours alone. If we stay or go is entirely up to you, and I will support your decision. My place is by your side.”
Without delay, she answered, “We have to return.”
“They will require the umbilical fluid from our child after it’s born to create a remedy and mass inoculation.”
“Then we have to return before I give birth. That’s less than eight months. Less if I go into early labor. I have no idea if your DNA will affect my pregnancy.”
He had no answers. Only joy. Dhiro pulled her into a kiss. He’d come to Earth for a breeding vessel. Instead, he’d fallen in love. Now his little human mate was going to save his world.
****
They’d been busy buying supplies for their ship for the past few weeks. It was no easy task. At first, their priority was getting Dhiro’s brothers back to Trenu Zel. Now they all needed to go home. Getting the craft space-worthy was their top priority now that they knew she was with child. Dhiro kept doting over her, but she assured him she wasn’t breakable just because she was pregnant. Luckily, the dreaded morning sickness hadn’t struck her. Instead, she was afflicted with a ravenous sexual appetite Dhiro was more than willing to sate.
“I can’t find several vital components,” said Bronn. “I’ve modified a few things, but these are too complex.”
Dhiro paced. “Find a way.”
Bronn groaned. “You’re asking for the impossible.”
“No, just a miracle. If anyone’s capable of fixing that ship, it’s you and Kaalen.”
“I will keep trying.” His brother disappeared down the aisle of the hardware store.
Kaalen ran a hand through his hair. “I wanted to let you know I’ve fixed the communicators. You can contact control … or Mother. It’s all functional. I have not said anything of the child.”
“Thank you,” Dhiro said.
Once they were alone again, they continued to push their cart down the aisle.
“Are you going to call back home?” she asked.
“They may have some advice on our ship repair.”
“I’m sure your mother would like to know you’re all safe, too. I mean, all three of her sons disappeared without a word.”
“When we return to the ship, it will be my first priority.”
“Good,” she said.
Another woman stared at her man as she passed by. It was getting irritating. Dhiro was desirable to just about every Earth woman. She was starting to get a complex.
“I need you,” she whispered.
“Right
now?”
She wanted to apologize but didn’t bother. He’d been so good to her, pleasuring her at the oddest time in the oddest places. He never complained. In fact, she noticed he’d become more sexually attuned to her and his own desires since her pregnancy.
He led her toward the back of the store, holding her hand and tugging her along. He had a commanding presence, people always moving aside for him. When they reached the rear, Dhiro opened one of the doors along the back wall. It was a storeroom. He pulled her inside and flipped the lock on the door.
“What are you doing? Someone will catch us.”
Dhiro hoisted her up onto the low counter in a space between stacks of product boxes. He forced her legs open and flipped up her floral skirt. After tugging her panties to the side, he impaled two big fingers deep into her pussy, making her moan. Her body was so needy, completely desperate for what only Dhiro could give her.
“I won’t have you suffer. We’ll continue our shopping once you’re satisfied.”
She liked the sound of that.
His shoulders were so wide and powerful. She reached out and held on to him, wishing was naked. The band t-shirt he wore hugged all those delicious muscles in an unholy way. His eyes gleamed in the minimal lighting like a wildcat.
“I’m scared we’ll get caught.”
He pulled his very erect cock from his zipper, and all her worries seemed to vanish. Dhiro yanked her to the edge of the counter and impaled her with his big dick. The instant fullness had her eyes lolling back in her head. She dropped back to her elbows as he fucked her hard and fast. Ella bit her lip in hopes of stifling her cries, but it wasn’t easy. She felt so full, so utterly satisfied when he took her. He was a machine. Anything she wanted, he gave it to her.
Today wasn’t about sweetness or gentle exploration. It was about getting satisfaction, hard and fast.
She panted, her body jostling as he rammed inside of her, rubbing against her clit with each pass. He slid a hand under her shirt, moving it aside to pinch her nipple. Then he leaned down and suckled her tit as he continued to fuck her.
“Dhiro…” She couldn’t help but chant his name. Her orgasm was so close, hanging on a precipice.