by Sue Mercury
Tears burned in her eyes and she blinked them back.
He placed an arm around her as they emerged into the sunlight.
She halted in her steps, closed her eyes, and lifted her face to the sky. During the years of her incarceration, she had rarely glimpsed the sun. Most of the time, during her weekly hour of outdoor recreation, the sky was blanketed in smog, blocking out the sun and the blue sky.
She basked in the warmth of the sun upon her face. It was so amazing an experience, she started to wonder if perhaps this was a dream. But she was enjoying the sun too much to really care. If she was dreaming or imagining this, she didn’t want to leave the blissful reverie.
“Leah?” The deep masculine voice rumbled through her, bringing her back to her current surroundings.
She was on Mars. Standing at the top of a boarding ramp of a spaceship, her new mate, Jav, by her side.
She peered up at him. “Yes?”
“Are you all right?” A look of concern filled his black eyes and the ridges of his forehead drew together.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen and felt the sun like this. I mean, where I lived on Earth in Zone 12, the sky was usually covered with smog. It’s nice to feel the warmth of the sun on my face.” She allowed her gaze to wander around the area surrounding the spaceship. Surprise filled her.
Everywhere she looked, it was beautiful and green. There were tall trees, colorful flowers, and thick greenish blue grass. How remarkable. She’d heard terraformed Mars was a breathtaking planet to behold, but she’d never expected it to be so lovely and fresh and clean.
Jav grasped her hand. Out in the sunshine, the deep purple color of his skin appeared even more vibrant than when she’d first laid eyes upon him on the ship. The sunlight glinted off the long, thick horns that curved over his head and down his broad back.
“You’re beautiful in the sun,” she said, then immediately clamped her mouth shut. Had she really just said that? Her heart quickened as she awaited Jav’s reaction to her ridiculous statement. He was a massive Marttiaxoxalian male, likely a skilled warrior among his people, and she had just called him beautiful in the sun.
“Thank you,” he said, leaving her shocked. He reached for her hair, which she’d frantically washed several hours ago in the women’s quarters aboard the spaceship, hoping to make herself at least somewhat presentable before she met her mate for the first time. “You are also beautiful in the sun, sweet Leah. The rays of the sun catch each individual strand of your hair, making you appear like a mystical being from the blessed forest of Asitontin.” Warmth infused his voice and he stared down at her, still stroking her hair, his movements slow but certain.
She felt her face heating, and not just from the sun. His compliment was causing her to blush. She struggled to find her voice and finally managed to murmur, “Thank you, Jav, that is most kind of you to say.”
He smiled down at her. “It’s a short walk to the palace. Come, my mate, and I will take you on the most scenic route there.”
Still holding her hand, he turned and led her down the ramp. Above the treetops, she spotted hundreds, perhaps thousands, of reddish orange houses and buildings. Many of the structures, such as the palace, which she could easily glimpse over the trees, contained spires that reached to the sky.
“What is the name of this city again?” she asked as he guided her toward a wooded area that rested between the landing platform and the nearest buildings.
“Ressiktron. It’s our capital city and where the majority of our population lives. However, there are several smaller settlements in other parts of Mars.”
“Where do you live?”
“Here in the city. In the palace.”
Her stomach nearly bottomed out. The palace? Would she be allowed to live with him in the palace, in the same place the king and other Martian royals lived, if anyone on this planet were to learn about her past?
Never look back.
She latched onto Thomas’ words as if they were a lifeline. She needed to keep her wits about her and not accidently give any secrets away. She must be careful, lest Jav get a sense of the real reason she had traveled to Mars.
It unnerved her that he’d automatically known who she was, just by looking at her in the women’s quarters. All because he’d had a feeling it was her.
She hoped he was telling the truth about not being psychic or a mind reader. She had heard of several alien races who possessed otherworldly powers and hoped Martians weren’t one of them.
As they traveled through a lush, green forest, filled with flowering plants and trees, she kept stealing glances at her mate. Jav. Why was he so much larger than the other Martians she had seen? He was bigger than any enforcer she’d glimpsed on Earth, and well over a head taller than the Martians who’d boarded the spaceship to retrieve their mates several minutes ago.
She wanted to ask him about his size, but she quickly decided that might be rude. Perhaps all the males in his family were abnormally large. As she further considered his massive stature, nerves began to assail her.
Would she be able to handle him in the bedroom?
Her face heated at the thought. What if he was too large for her? She wasn’t a virgin, but it had been a long time since she’d had sex. Ten long years, to be exact. Not only was she out of practice, but she was much smaller than Jav.
They walked upon a white stone path that cut through the trees. She got the sense they almost went in circles a few times, as it seemed they were drawing closer to the palace, only to move away later, then turn back again. She appreciated that he wasn’t rushing her to the temple inside the palace and whisking her away to his bed. Walking with him in the woods, hand in hand, was nice. She pushed aside her worries about his immense size and started to enjoy herself more.
Occasionally, there was a break in the trees, allowing the sunlight to pour over their bodies. She wished she wasn’t wearing such stifling clothing at the moment, as Mars was hot and humid during the daytime. Several of the women aboard the spaceship had given her a strange look when they noticed her attire, but she was still grateful she wasn’t wearing the normal bright orange that prisoners were required to wear. It would’ve been beyond humiliating to face the other mail order brides while wearing a prison uniform.
A few minutes later, the path widened and they walked into a clearing near the palace. Jav ushered her through a small door that opened upon their approach. She got the sense it was a side entrance of sorts and not the main entrance. After they entered the palace grounds, which were lush and sprawling, the door shut behind them with a slight thud.
“Thank you, Rem,” Jav called out.
Leah noticed a large green male standing near what appeared to be a security console. There were screens inside a small enclosed area. The green male walked closer, a serious look upon his face.
“Well, this must be the unfortunate human female who will have to suffer your company for the rest of her life. Hello,” Rem said, looking in her direction. He wasn’t smiling and she didn’t know if he meant it as a joke or if he truly didn’t like Jav.
But relief spread through her when Jav chuckled, and the two males soon exchanged the traditional Marttiaxoxalian foot tap greeting.
“Rem, I would like you to meet Leah,” Jav said. “Leah, this is my friend, Rem.”
“I’m pleased to meet any friend of my mate’s,” Leah said, forcing a smile. It felt strange to smile at a male who didn’t appear friendly in the least. Perhaps he simply had a very dry sense of humor. She wondered if he had a human mate of his own.
Jav and Rem spoke briefly in their native language. She didn’t speak a single word of Martian and had no idea what they were talking about. Thank goodness Jav spoke Galactic Common. Most humans learned the language at a very early age. She felt suddenly wistful as she recalled practicing the universal tongue with her parents. As soon as she’d started school at the age of five, they had informed her that only Galactic Common would be spoken at the dinner ta
ble, to help her better practice the language.
She recalled a humorous incident when she had tried to ask her father to pass the water pitcher, but instead of “pass the water pitcher,” she’d actually said, “pour water on your head.” Her parents and brother had exchanged a funny look, then her father had shrugged, grabbed his glass of water, and dumped it over his head.
Oh how she missed them. She hoped her brother was all right, wherever he was. She supposed he’d been too ashamed to attend her trial or write to her in prison. His silent rejection had been a knife to the heart.
Jav and Rem finished speaking and said their goodbyes. Rem turned back to the security console while Jav escorted Leah toward the palace. Toward her new home.
Chapter 6
Wyvonus was waiting in the middle of the temple when Jav guided Leah inside. She glanced around, her eyes growing wider as she peered at the large statues filling the room, all of which represented the most revered Wise Ones among his people. There were also thousands of glimmering prayer lights floating in the air above her, which also caught her attention.
“I had heard you were taking a mate today, Jav,” Wyvonus said in Galactic Common. “I am honored you would seek me out to perform a blessing upon your mating union.”
“The honor is mine,” Jav replied. He quickly introduced the holy man to Leah, then the three of them walked deeper into the temple, closer to a wall where more prayer lights were glimmering.
“Do I need to do anything special?” Leah whispered to Jav. “Do I have to say anything? I fear I don’t speak a word of your language, so if I must repeat vows or something, I’m worried I’ll get it wrong.”
He cupped her face, thrilling at the softness of her cheeks beneath the pads of his thumbs as he stroked her delicate flesh. “Most humans can’t speak any Marttiaxoxalian. Even the king’s human wife can only speak a few words. Most words in our language are physically impossible for a human to copy.”
“Well, that’s a relief, I guess.”
He smiled at her. “You needn’t say a word, sweet Leah. Just hold my hands and stare into my eyes while Wyvonus bestows the blessing. And don’t be alarmed if you see the lights moving around us.”
She sucked in a deep breath and then nodded. “Okay. I’m ready.”
He held her hands in his, marveling at how small they were. He lifted his eyes to hers and waited for the holy man to begin his chanting. When Wyvonus’ deep voice suddenly filled the temple, Leah flinched. Jav gave her a small, apologetic smile, which she returned. He ought to have warned her how loud Wyvonus could be.
The floating prayer lights drifted down from the ceiling and started circling them as the holy man’s chanting continued. Leah cast a brief, surprised look around herself before refocusing her gaze on Jav’s.
A short time later, the temple was blanketed in abrupt silence. Wyvonus had stopped chanting. The lights swirled around them once more before returning to float along the walls and the ceiling.
He had the sudden urge to move closer to Leah and he followed his instinct. He leaned down and touched his forehead to hers, bringing his hands up to cup the back of her head. “Leah from Earth,” he said. “Now you belong to me, in the eyes of the Gods.”
A slight quiver affected her, causing her petite body to shift forward against him. The feel of her body pressing to his made his blood heat to scorching levels. He needed to get her alone in his quarters before he lost control.
He breathed in slow and deep, then released the breath just as gradually, before he forced himself to pull away from her. He reached for her hand again, though, unable to stop touching her.
After thanking Wyvonus, he guided Leah back into the halls of the palace, keeping a firm grip on her hand. He became acutely aware of her every movement next to him, her rapid footsteps, her quick intakes of breath, and the nervous manner in which she repeatedly tucked the same strand of hair behind her left ear.
“How long have you lived in the palace?” Her eyes drifted up to his as they rounded a corner.
“Not long, however, before I was given rooms in the palace, I lived in a dormitory on the palace grounds just beyond the gardens.”
“Are you related to the king?” she asked.
“No, but I consider him a friend,” Jav said. “As you might have heard, King Vaath only recently came into power. The king before him—his father—committed crimes against our people and was banished from the Marttiaxoxalian Empire. During the events which led to King Vaath’s ascension to the throne, I helped capture the enemies among us who were threatening our new way of life, an anti-Earther group that was being funded and directed by the former king. King Vaath rewarded me for my service to the Marttiaxoxalian Empire by giving me rooms in the palace.”
“I heard about King Vaath’s rise to power,” she said, “though I assumed his father had died. So, you helped defeat anti-Earthers? Does that mean you’re an enforcer among your people?”
He directed her up a flight of stairs, allowing her to pause on the landing above so that she might look down at the statues lining the main entrance of the palace. Her eyes filled with wonder.
“No,” he finally responded. “I am not an enforcer. I’m a member of the Vash’arr, an elite group of Marttiaxoxalian warriors.” For a reason he couldn’t fathom, he halted at telling her he was genetically enhanced. Partly because he didn’t wish to frighten her, particularly right before he claimed her as his mate, and also because admitting it aloud reminded him of the stark differences between him and non-enhanced warriors, those who had extended families and were raised in a home with at least one parent.
At last, they reached his quarters. His rooms sat on the top floor of the palace, which was considered a high honor, as King Vaath himself also lived on the highest level of this grand structure. Jav ushered Leah through the entryway, his hand at her lower back.
He breathed in her feminine scent and felt a growl building in his throat. Gods, he wanted to strip her clothing off at once, carry her to the bedroom, and claim her as his.
His cock thickened in his pants, hardening so fast he felt momentarily dizzy. She peered up at him wordlessly, her cheeks flushed as her breathing grew increasingly rapid. When the undeniable scent of her arousal struck him, he finally released the growl he’d been holding back.
Chapter 7
Why was Jav growling at her?
Leah hoped he wasn’t upset with her for some reason, though she couldn’t imagine what she might’ve done to make him angry. His eyes gleamed dark and dangerous, and his nostrils kept flaring. Furthermore, his muscles were tensed and he looked like a beast on the verge of attack.
She glanced down at herself and frowned. Her attire wasn’t as nice as the other women aboard the spaceship. Most had been wearing dresses, likely the nicest outfits they possessed, and now she couldn’t help but feel inadequate as her new mate stared down at her.
A heated wave of embarrassment stole through her. She swallowed hard and waited for him to say something. If he scolded her for the way she looked, it would break her heart.
Quickly, she erected a protective wall around herself, hoping she might manage to shield herself from the worst of his insults. All the men she’d encountered at the prison, save for the kind elderly guard who’d helped her yesterday, had frequently insulted her. She’d been called every bad name she could think of during the last ten years.
She hadn’t known Jav for long. What if he possessed a cruel side? He didn’t look happy right now and she couldn’t help but shudder under his intense stare.
Sure, he’d paid her a compliment earlier, telling her she was beautiful, but only after she praised his appearance first. What if he’d just been saying it to make her drop her guard?
Some of the officers at the prison had done similar things—they’d been strangely nice to her on occasion, only to lead her into a sense of false security and then knock her food tray out of her hands or call her a horrible name, just to watch the surprise fall over her
when they betrayed her. She’d quickly learned this was a game many of them played.
Would Jav play such games with her?
To her shock, he stepped closer and took her face in his large, warm hands. Despite her fears, his touch elicited a surge of heat to flare between her thighs, and not for the first time in his presence either. She couldn’t help it. It wasn’t because he was the most attractive male she had ever seen, but because of the odd tension she continually felt flaring between them. It seemed as though the air around them was electrically charged.
“You are trembling, sweet Leah,” he said, stroking his thumbs over her cheeks.
Goosebumps rose all over her body, even as warm pulses flowed through her, his nearness causing a delicious mingling of sensations within her.
“I can’t help it,” she confessed, as she hoped being somewhat honest with him wasn’t a mistake. Perhaps if she was honest with him about everything but her past, it would make up for the secrets she planned to conceal.
“You’re nervous.” He drew in a deep breath and another growl soon rumbled forth from his throat. “Ah, but you’re also sexually aroused. The scent of your femininity keeps increasing on the air. Do you have any idea, sweet Leah, how intoxicating you smell?”
She couldn’t stop a gasp from escaping her lips. She’d thought he was angry, given the dark look in his eye and his tense posture, in addition to the growling, but maybe she was reading him wrong.
Was he simply aroused?
As he stepped even closer, his huge muscular body moved against hers, and she immediately detected the hardness of his cock pressing to her stomach.
She sweltered in the sweat suit she was wearing and felt perspiration break out on her forehead. The heated waves inside her didn’t cease coming, but it soon became clear to her that it was from more than arousal.
Dizziness overcame her and suddenly the whole world went dark.