Alien Mate (3 page)

“Oh, come on. I mean, look at me. I’m not exactly the kind of woman men go all gaga over.”

“Please explain. I am not familiar with the term ‘gaga.’”

Diana rolled her eyes. “What I meant to say is usually kidnapping for the purpose of marriage happens to pretty, skinny women, not plumpers like me.”

“Where Kor comes from, women with girth are considered much more attractive than one who is, as you say, skinny. A too-slim mate is the sign of a poor provider. Was that all you wanted to know?”

9

Great, a BBW-lovers society, this is getting weirder and weirder
. “I have another question. If Kor is an alien and you’re an alien computer, just how is it that I can understand you? Don’t tell me English is the language of the universe.”

“Of course not.” The hidden voice chuckled. “Kor learned your language through an implant. We’ll give you one too as part of your integration. It will allow you to understand any language in the universe and, where vocally possible, speak it as well.”

Diana, while intrigued at the idea of being multilingual, did not like the idea of an implant.
It never goes well when they get one in the movies.
“We’re going to have to talk about that implant idea. Have to say that doesn’t sound like something I’m going to enjoy.”

“I begin to understand Kor’s difficulty.”

Diana put her hands on her hips. “Hey, are you implying I’m difficult?”

“Let me phrase this using an expression I discovered when researching your species. If the shoe fits . . .”

“I am not—that is, if the situation were different . . .” Diana sputtered.

“Let me ask you, earthling—”

“Would you stop calling me earthling? My name is Diana.” Why she gave him her first name when she’d told Kor to address her formally, she didn’t know.
Maybe because he’s not
trying to marry me and get into my pants.

“Diana, then, what exactly do you object to? According to my report, you have no close living family. Very few friends. No current love interest. No pets. You hate your job. You hate your apartment. Your romantic fantasy confessed to an online acquaintance consisted of a tall, dark stranger sweeping you off your feet and taking you away from it all. So let me ask you, what has Kor done that you object to so strenuously?”

Diana just listened, dumbfounded, as the computer recited off facts of her life that made her sound, well, pathetic, and lonely actually. “How do you know all these things?” she whispered, shocked.

“I did my research, of course. The advent of computers and the Internet on your world have made it quite simple for an advanced AI system like myself to find out pretty much anything I need to know.”

“Have you told Kor all of this?” she asked, hoping the answer would be no. Her life, or lack of one, was none of Kor’s business.

“He never asked,” said Alphie sullenly. “But that’s beside the point. Let me ask you again, what exactly about his choice in you as a mate do you object to?”

“Well,” she stammered, “he didn’t ask. He just told me, and he’s-he’s blue!”

Alphie gave a snort of disgust
. How does a computer snort?
“I can’t believe you’re an alienist.”

“A what?” she asked, confused.

“Someone who thinks her species is better than all the others. We see that a lot in earthlings.”

“But I never said I thought I was better. You’re twisting my words. It’s just, he took me by surprise. I’ve never seen a blue man before and certainly never imagined marrying one.”

“If he weren’t blue, would you be reacting like this?”

Diana thought about it. “Actually, yes, I would still act like this because this isn’t romantic. When I dreamt of my fantasy man taking me away, it was because of love, not because some busybody told him to. He doesn’t even like me, but he wants to marry me

’cause some Oracle says so.”

“Romance? Hmmm, I’ll have to research that. Let me get back to you. Bye.”

“Wait,” Diana shouted.

10

“What?” asked Alphie.

“Before you take off and do computer stuff, could you maybe get me some clothes? I’d rather not wear this sheet all day. And maybe something to eat, I am kind of hungry.”

“Of course.” And with those words, a drawer popped open, and Diana walked over to it and pulled out an outfit—a very revealing, diaphanous outfit made of draped layers of what seemed to be scarves stitched together.

“You’ve got to be bloody kidding me,” she grumbled, holding up the flimsy cloth.

“It’s what the females of his world wear,” said Alphie with a snicker. “Talk to you later.”

As he said that, another drawer opened in the wall, and Diana peeked in hoping for more clothes, but instead saw a steaming plate of food consisting of a white-sauced pasta with vegetables and a garlic toast.
Well at least they’re feeding me stuff I recognize,
which made her wonder who did the cooking.

Sighing, Diana decided to eat first before tackling the sex kitten outfit.
But I swear to God
if Kor laughs when he sees me looking like a giant fluffy marshmallow, I am going to sock him where it hurts.

* * * *

Kor walked in and stopped. For the first time since he’d laid eyes on Diana, he thanked the Oracle. And yes, he’d finally relented enough, or should he say groveled enough, that Alphie gave him his mate-to-be’s name along with some basic information about her, but not too much. Kor, for some unfathomable reason, looked forward to discovering more about his chosen. He especially couldn’t wait to see how she’d look naked with face flushed and her body aroused. That erotic thought presided at the forefront of his mind as he viewed his intended looking radiant as the moon goddess wearing the flowing garments of his people. Her shapely curves, both hidden and revealed by the strategically draped cloth, made her look good enough to eat. As soon as Diana opened her mouth, though, Kor rolled his eyes and lost his appetite.

“I demand you find me some proper clothes,” she stated, hands on her hips, glaring at him, not realizing what a fetching picture she made. “I refuse to be dressed like a harem girl.”

“I do not know what you refer to, but the answer is no. All the women on my planet are attired thus. I do not see the problem. Your planet seemed to embrace attire of a much more revealing nature than this.”

“I look like an idiot.”

Kor processed the word and its meaning. His brows rose. “On the contrary, you look quite attractive.”

Surprisingly enough, his compliment stopped her next harangue, and, pinking prettily, she said, “I do?”

“Very,” he said, crossing the room to stand before her, his towering height making him feel oddly protective, an emotion he was unaccustomed to. “Come,” he said, offering her his arm. “The ship is not large, but I thought that perhaps you would enjoy a tour, and perhaps I could satisfy some more questions I’m sure you have.”

For once not arguing—had his one compliment disarmed his prickly intended?—she tucked her hand onto his arm, her pale skin looking stark against the vivid blue of his own and sending a surge of lust through him. His aroused body demanded he throw her down ’til those pale hands scratched his back in pleasure.

But no, he had to control his urges and guide her slowly as one would a Jelaxian mount, those pesky alien creatures commonly used for planetary travel. They were well known for 11

their skittishness, just like his intended. He needed to build up Diana’s trust in him. Not perhaps the way he’d envisioned his mating trip, but given her lack of cooperation, a necessary step.

Leading her from the bedroom, he showed her the conservatory where fresh produce was grown to keep space travelers healthy. They toured the lounge area that also doubled as a dining area, then finally the command center with its large window screen showing the vast, dark space they traveled quickly through.

“Oh my God,” she exclaimed, taking her hand off his arm and wandering up to the large display, her eyes wide in her face as she took in the celestial view.

Kor wandered over to the main console and slowed the ship down so she could better see some of the stars and planets they were passing.

He heard her gasp. “We really are in space.”

“Of course we are,” he replied, somewhat confused. “Where else would we be?”

Facing him, she looked uncertain, and he had the strangest urge to take her in his arms and hold her tight.
What is happening to me? I am a warrior by trade, she simply my mate. Why do I feel
like this?

“I guess I thought this might still be some kind of prank or even a dream. But it’s not, is it? This is really happening. To me. I’m never going back home, am I?” The last she said in a lost voice, her arms reaching around to hug herself as if she felt alone.

Kor, without thinking, strode over to her and replaced her arms with his own. Hugging her lush body tight to his, he rubbed his cheek and chin against the softness of her dark curls. “You will have a new home, never fear. One I am sure you will approve of. And I will show you such wonders as you’ve never imagined.”

“I’m sure your planet is chock-full of neat stuff, but it’s your planet, your people. How is someone like me going to fit in?”

“As my mate, you will be accorded full respect.”

“I’m not talking about respect,” she said, pushing out of his embrace, a spark of her will straightening her back again.

So much for docile,
he thought ruefully.

“I’m talking about friends and companionship,” she said, gesticulating with her hands, agitated.

“I will be your companion,” he said with a grin. “I look forward especially to sharing the communal bed with you.”

“I’m sure you do,” she muttered darkly. “But what about the rest of the time? Surely you have to go work or something. What about then?”

Kor held back some of his glee that she finally spoke as if she intended to bond with him. He needed to tread carefully now. “There will be other mates for you to befriend, earthlings like yourself and females of other species who have been mated.”

“So I’m not the only one?” she queried.

“No, there are many like you who have been chosen to leave their home worlds and become mates to the males on ours.”

“Why?”

“Let us become more comfortable if we are to embark on a history lesson,” he said, guiding her back to the lounge area and pressing a button to drop from the ceiling a vid screen. At least instead of arguing she was now showing an interest. He hoped she’d be more receptive to his plight once he gave her a history lesson.

* * * *

Diana allowed him to seat her, still somewhat stunned by the reality of her situation.

I’m really on a spaceship flying through the universe on my way to a new world. Holy crap! And by the
sounds of it, I’m not the first one.

A giant screen that had dropped down from the seamless ceiling lit up, and Kor stood beside it pointing to the large planet that appeared in the middle of it.

“This is my home world, Xaanda, or, translated, Planet of Bounty. You’ll notice it resembles your planet Earth quite a bit, although we are several times larger. We have a bright sun much like your own and a second, smaller red sun. Rotating around our planet are three moons, the resting place for our ancestors. But that is a history lesson for another day.”

Kor touched the planet on the screen and zoomed in quickly ’til the view shrank to a panorama of a city—a futuristic one by Diana’s standards. It gleamed silver, white, and cream with some buildings towering high while others seemed low and spread. Little saucers zipped around busily like bees in a hive.

“This is our capital, Menderiosa, where what you would call a president or emperor resides. We will be living just outside the capital, here, in Jenol.” Again he zoomed.

Diana gaped at the astonishing scenes he was showing her.
It’s so pretty,
she thought. “It’s all very nice, but you still haven’t explained why you took me.”

“I’m getting to that. We discovered the ability to space travel quite some time ago, something your people are only just coming into. We’ve been exploring the galaxy far and wide, bringing back treasures in the form of new plants and animals. We chart the stars and their planets, tracking other sentient beings like ourselves, making contact when deemed ready. We are, however, a violent species, much like earthlings. The world I showed you is divided into six major areas of government. And while we skirmish over borders and rights, we mostly save our aggression for the races beyond our planet who enjoy subjugating. One of these violent races thought to enslave us. They are now extinct.”

Diana shivered at the dark smile that came over him when he said that.

Kor continued. “But before we destroyed them, one of them came to our world unbeknownst to us. He brought with him a deadly virus. One that attacked our women and killed them. Those that survived were left barren. Our males retaliated and wreaked horrible vengeance, but our revenge was bittersweet, for the cure to the disease was found too late.

Over ninety percent of our female population died, and of the ten percent left, less than three percent could still bear children.”

“That’s horrible,” whispered Diana.

“Beyond horrible. Without the gentle guiding hand of our females, the males became wild, fighting among each other, fighting over the few females left. We were going backward in evolution. Then the Oracle spoke. The Oracle, you have to understand, has always been.

Whether it has always been the same being or if the position of Oracle is an inherited one, no one is sure. However, the Oracle is considered the most powerful person on the whole planet. When she speaks, all listen.”

“The Oracle is a woman?”

“The Oracle has always been a female, yes. Anyway, she told us during the great turmoil to basically stop our fighting. If we wanted to rebuild our world, there was a way.”

“So you started kidnapping women and forcing them to be your wives.”

“No, not quite. See, even though we are similar physiologically, alien matings rarely reproduce. Certain conditions need to be met. One of them is a mental harmony.”