Alien’s Innocent Bride

(Mail Order Human, Book One)

by Sue Mercury

Copyright 2015 by Sue Mercury

All rights reserved

No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of Sue Mercury. All names, brands, characters, and settings, etc. are purely from the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to real people, real brands, and real locations is a coincidence. Contact: authorsuemercury@gmail.com

About this book:

Desperate to escape war-torn Earth, Tara submits an application to Mail Order Human, a company that specializes in matching young women with alien males from distant planets. She’s excited when her application is accepted, but as she boards the Starship Matchmaker, reality sets in and she can’t help but worry. She’ll never see her home planet again, and there’s no guarantee her new alien mate will treat her kindly.

Not long after she’s dropped in the wilderness of a strange world, a huge beast of a man chases her down, claiming he’s her mate and she belongs to him. He actually thinks he owns her after paying Mail Order Human’s exorbitant fee for an otherworldly bride. Oh, like hell! One way or another, she’ll escape the big, muscular alien.

The chase is a tradition in Sev’s culture, and he’s angered to discover Mail Order Human didn’t educate Tara about his people. After a series of mishaps, the spirited human softens and he thinks he’s won her over, and though the animal in him hungers to take her roughly, he’s gentle and patient with her during her first time. But the next morning, he awakens to discover she’s run away, and he senses her distress in the forest below. Though her rejection stings, he bounds into the forest, determined to save her. Will he manage to win her heart once and for all? Or will the stubborn human still insist on returning to her home planet?

Excerpt:

Sev watched from a distance as the Starship Matchmaker delivered his new mate. Tara. He liked the sound of her name, and even better, he liked the sweet feminine scent of her that carried through the breeze. Ah, he couldn’t wait to get his hands on her, and he couldn’t wait to run his tongue over her flesh and taste her.

He hungered for the chase, but he waited until she finished scanning her surroundings. When she began walking toward the forest, he moved from his place behind the rocks in the tall grass and followed her. He would hunt her down and carry her back to his abode, as was the custom of his people.

Before the plague that had claimed the lives of most of the females of his kind, male Zaxxumians used to chase their females down in the forests during a great, annual mating ritual. Now that there were hardly any females left, the hunts only occurred one on one, when the families of the females arranged it, or when a male with wealth, such as himself, procured an otherworldly female through Mail Order Human.

His nostrils flared as her scent drifted through the breeze once more, and he crept along behind her, careful to remain hidden behind rocks and trees. Soon the petite human female known as Tara would belong to him. He would claim her and make her his in every possible way. A thrill rippled through him, and he moved faster, finally rushing out into the open.

He growled and ran straight for Tara, his arms open as he prepared to snatch her up.

Her high pitched scream filled the air, making him wince and stumble just enough to miss her on the first swoop of his arms. As he made to grab her again, she hit the ground, rolled away, and came back at him with a sharp stick. The pointed end scratched his chest but didn’t break the skin.

Growling again, he paused to study the little human he’d purchased. Long dark brown locks framed her pale, delicate face. Luscious pink lips. A cute tiny nose. His heart swelled with affection. Ah, she was a beauty. And his. All his.

“Mine,” he snarled, panting. “My Tara.”

She jabbed him with the stick twice more. “How do you know my name?”

“You are my mate, little human, and I’ve come to claim you.”

Chapter One

Tara stood in line, careful to keep her head lowered. If Magino’s men spotted her, she wouldn’t last another day. Her heart raced and she pulled her hood down, obscuring her face and hoping the criminals responsible for her parents’ death didn’t notice her amidst the crowd of desperate women.

She couldn’t believe her life had come to this. Once upon a time she’d lived in a beautiful home in southern Pennsylvania, with hardly a care in the world. Much had changed since the Great War.

Crows cawed and swooped overhead, and an icy breeze pierced through her thin dress. She shivered. If Magino’s men didn’t kill her, something else would take her out before long. Hunger. Illness. Hypothermia. A stray bullet.

She shuffled forward. Only two young women remained ahead of her. Once she signed her name on the list and scurried onto the waiting starship, she would be leaving Earth forever.

A shudder ran through her. Escape from her war ravaged home planet came with a price.

By signing her name on the list, she would be signing her life over to Mail Order Human, a company that scoured Earth for single women who were willing to give themselves to an alien male. The women were given no guarantee they would be treated kindly by their new alien mates, but as conditions on Earth deteriorated, many women saw Mail Order Human as a worthwhile risk. For Tara, she viewed it as her only chance at survival.

Most governments had fallen and society was crumbling. Rival gangs continually fought one another, taking down many innocent bystanders during their feuding. Illnesses swept through towns, leaving behind death and despair. Food became scarcer as the days passed.

Earth was doomed.

Tara would probably be standing in this line even if Magino’s men weren’t after her. She gulped and wished to glance around the market square, but she feared drawing attention to herself, so she kept her gaze down and stepped up to the table. The half-human, half-Harivlian official smiled up at her with a mouthful of crooked, yellow teeth.

“Hello, dear. Well, aren’t you a pretty little thing. What is your age?” His red eyes swept up and down her body.

“Nineteen,” she lied, knowing there was no way he could verify her answer. If she confessed she was twenty-seven, he would laugh that she was too old and a guard would toss her out of the line.

“Any diseases?”

“None.” At least that was the truth. By some miracle, she hadn’t caught any of the various illnesses that had plagued her town during the last year.

“Are you a virgin?”

Her eyes widened and her mouth fell open. She hadn’t expected this question, and heat suffused her face. “I…um…”

“It’s a simple question,” the man said in an agitated tone. “You won’t be sent away if you’re not a virgin, but we need to know. Virgins fetch a higher price.”

She frowned. “I’m not a slave to be sold. I’m a woman in search of a husband.”

“Yes, and Mail Order Human is the middleman in this venture. You’re free to go back home if you don’t wish to become the property of an alien.”

“The property? I don’t understand. I thought we were to be wives.”

The man rolled his eyes and glared at her impatiently. “The three races of aliens we deal with—the Zaxxumians, the Aceppans, and the Harivlians—have rather archaic views of women. You can call yourself a wife if it makes you feel better, but the truth is, you’re nothing but chattel, little woman. The races I represent need fertile young women such as yourself. In return for becoming a breeding mare, you get to leave this shithole known as Earth behind forever. If you wish to continue with this interview, answer my question about your virginity. Are you a virgin, or not?”

She restrained an exasperated sigh. “Yes, I am a virgin.” Probably the oldest virgin in her town, but her intense fear of disease had kept her chaste. Not to mention the fear of childbirth. Contraceptives weren’t readily available and many women died during or shortly after having a baby. Life on Earth seemed to be reverting to the stone ages, for all the modernity that remained.

“Ah, a virgin.” The man licked his lips and typed on his screen. “You’ll fetch a fine price and attract a powerful, rich husband. Now, what is your name?”

“Tara Wagner.”

“Very good.” He typed on his screen for another minute, then paused and stared at it eagerly.

Tara held her breath and resisted the urge to stand on her tiptoes and peer over the table at his screen. After a small eternity, his eyes lit up and he placed his screen down flat on the table. He met her eyes with a crude grin. “You are approved, Tara. Please sign right here, and then you may board the Starship Matchmaker.”

“Thank you, sir.” She signed her name quickly, then fingered the straps of her small backpack that held her few belongings, and a moment later two guards ushered her up the steps of the waiting starship. Her shoes clanged on the metallic surface of the ramp. Once she entered the interior of the ship, she let out a sigh of relief.

Oh, God. Thank you. She closed her eyes briefly and let the moment wash over her. There was no way Magino’s men could board this heavily guarded ship, even if they did suspect she was a passenger.

A woman wearing red silks and heavy makeup stepped in front of Tara. She smiled and the guards dispersed.

“I’m Angeline,” said the woman, reaching for Tara’s hand. She gave it a squeeze and her grin broadened. “Do not be afraid. Come, I’ll take you to the sleeping quarters.”

Tara didn’t know what to make of the fancily dressed woman, but she was grateful she hadn’t been treated poorly yet. Being called chattel by the half-Harivlian had distressed her. She wanted to be a wife and have a happy marriage, like her parents. She hoped the alien who paid her bride price saw her as more than a female to bear his children.

The rest of the day passed in a blur. She joined the other women in the massive sleeping quarters for a few hours, claiming a top bunk and pretending to sleep for a while. The soft mattress soothed her aching muscles. In town, she had toiled cleaning houses and chopping firewood, and the exhausting physical work had taken a toll on her body.

Conversations drifted around her. Some of the women were overjoyed at being selected, while others were more pessimistic. Tara thought it best to keep to herself and not join in the chatter. Soon the ship would depart Earth and each woman would be delivered to her new mate. She had heard the trip from Earth and amongst the ten planets inhabited by the Zaxxumians, Aceppans, and Harivlians took a total of three weeks. Better to not make friends when she would only end up losing them. She huddled under her blanket until the lights blinked. All conversation ceased, and she peeked her head out to see the women were lining up near the doorway.

Summoning her bravery, she left the comfort of her bed and took her place in line. The same woman in red silks from earlier scanned each woman with a handheld object she assumed took a picture. The line moved quickly, and Tara was thankful they didn’t have to remove their clothing, though she suspected it was because the odd looking camera could penetrate their attire.

As it turned out, Tara’s town was the last stop on Earth, and the ship disembarked later that evening. The departure was announced by speaker and the ship gave a slight shake before all went still again. She wished the sleeping quarters contained a window. It felt strange to be leaving Earth without actually witnessing the planet growing smaller and smaller.

The woman on the bottom bunk didn’t speak to Tara or anyone else, and aside from a few short, meaningless conversations with women while she ate meals in the cafeteria, she didn’t interact with anyone. A week passed and she grew restless. It bothered her that there were no windows in any of the areas the women were permitted to venture on the ship. She felt caged in.

A booming voice came over the speakers and announced each stop, and Angeline would arrive to collect the women who had reached their destination, the planet where their new mates lived. Tara’s heart raced each time Angeline listed the names. She wanted to hear her name, but at the same time she wanted to stay in her top bunk, curled up under the covers for all eternity. It felt safe there, and it was nice to be able to sleep without one eye open for a change.

But after a week and a half into the journey, the woman in red silks announced Tara’s name. She shot up in bed and peered at Angeline with wide eyes. Somewhere on the mysterious alien planet they’d just landed on, a male alien had paid her bride price and was waiting for her to disembark the Starship Matchmaker.

“Come down from there, Tara. Bring your belongings. You are the only woman being delivered to this planet.”

Tara glanced around the sleeping quarters. Over half of the women were gone. A blonde seated on the bunk opposite of her shot her a sympathetic smile.

As if in a trance, Tara threw on her best shawl and collected her things in her backpack. She crawled down from her bed and straightened her dress and her hair, then met Angeline’s expectant gaze.

“I’m ready.” But her hands trembled and worry clouded her thoughts. She didn’t feel ready. Nor did she feel hopeful. She followed Angeline off the ship, her shoes clanging on the ramp. The sight that greeted her nearly made her swoon, and as she gawked at the alien landscape, a sense of regret washed through her. Perhaps she should’ve taken her chances with Magino’s men. This world looked nothing like Earth.

“I wish you good fortune, Tara. May you find happiness on the planet Zaxxuma with your Zaxxumian mate.” Angeline turned and made her way back up the ramp.

“Wait! You can’t just leave me here, in the middle of nowhere.” Horrorstruck, Tara peered at the thick forest and the mountains looming in the distance. A dim sun cast an eerie glow over the treetops, and something rustled in the nearby bushes. “There’s no one here to meet me. Where is my mate?”

“Your mate instructed us to leave you here at this precise hour.” Angeline’s lips thinned and her smile faded. “Your mate paid an exceptional price due to your virginity, your innocence. I am certain he will come along to claim you soon.”

The ramp retracted beneath Tara’s feet, sending her to the soft grass below with a plop. She gasped and watched as the ship took off, leaving her behind. Leaving her alone. Tears gathered and spilled down her cheeks. This had to be a mistake. Why would an alien pay her bride price only to instruct she be abandoned in the middle of nowhere?

She rose up and clutched her backpack, eyeing the forest that was evocative of the tropical forests on Earth, except larger and intimidating. Then she glanced over her shoulder at the grassy field that seemed to stretch on forever. In which direction should she travel?

Helplessness descended and she cursed. She hated feeling weak and powerless. She believed she was a strong woman capable of making a good life for herself, and she had a huge heart and wanted to devote herself to others. Fear had always held her back. She was sick of being afraid, and she gave her head a harsh shake and set out for the forest, determined to conquer her fears. If the alien who’d paid her bride price showed up, she would give him one hell of a piece of her mind.

As her shoes crunched over a stick in the forest, a growl rumbled through the leaves and echoed amongst the trees. She spun around to witness a huge figure rushing straight at her.

She screamed.

* * *

Sev watched from a distance as the Starship Matchmaker delivered his new mate. Tara. He liked the sound of her name, and even better, he liked the sweet feminine scent of her that carried through the breeze. Ah, he couldn’t wait to get his hands on her, and he couldn’t wait to run his tongue over her flesh and taste her.

He hungered for the chase, but he waited until she finished scanning her surroundings. When she began walking toward the forest, he moved from his place behind the rocks in the tall grass and followed her. He would hunt her down and carry her back to his abode, as was the custom of his people.

Before the plague that had claimed the lives of most of the females of his kind, male Zaxxumians used to chase their females down in the forests during a great, annual mating ritual. Now that there were hardly any females left, the hunts only occurred one on one, when the families of the females arranged it, or when a male with wealth, such as himself, procured an otherworldly female through Mail Order Human.

His nostrils flared as her scent drifted through the breeze once more, and he crept along behind her, careful to remain hidden behind rocks and trees. Soon the petite human female known as Tara would belong to him. He would claim her and make her his in every possible way. A thrill rippled through him, and he moved faster, finally rushing out into the open.

He growled and ran straight for Tara, his arms open as he prepared to snatch her up.

Her high pitched scream filled the air, making him wince and stumble just enough to miss her on the first swoop of his arms. As he made to grab her again, she hit the ground, rolled away, and came back at him with a sharp stick. The pointed end scratched his chest but didn’t break the skin.

Growling again, he paused to study the little human he’d purchased. Long dark brown locks framed her pale, delicate face. Luscious pink lips. A cute tiny nose. His heart swelled with affection. Ah, she was a beauty. And his. All his.

“Mine,” he snarled, panting. “My Tara.”

She jabbed him with the stick twice more. “How do you know my name?”

“You are my mate, little human, and I’ve come to claim you.”

Her pretty blue eyes widened and she shook her head. “Like hell. I changed my mind. I want to return to Earth. This deal is off. I didn’t know they were setting me up with a crazy person.”

He advanced on her further, looming over her. Grasping the stick in one hand, he snapped it in two and tossed it aside. “You are mine, Tara. I bought you. Legally, you belong to me for the rest of our lives.”

She snorted and inched away from him, backing against a tree. “Oh, great. Just my luck. I’ve landed on the most backwards planet in the universe.” Though her words sounded brave, her whole body trembled. But her fear was an aphrodisiac. Not because he wanted her to fear him, but because he wanted to ease her fears and keep her safe. The urge to protect her consumed him. Didn’t she realize the chase was all part of the Zaxxumian mating ritual?

He cleared his throat. “Didn’t Mail Order Human show you the information tablets I transmitted? About our mating rituals?”

“No. I wasn’t even told which planet I was being sent to until the last minute, right before they left me here. All alone in the middle nowhere, I might add.” She stood up and brushed the dirt off her dress. “Would it have troubled you too much to meet me when the starship dropped me off?”

He stared down at her, his face heating with anger. He clenched his fists. “I paid five thousand grutia for you and went to the trouble of learning your language, and Mail Order Human didn’t show you the information tablets?” He felt like punching the nearest tree, but he held back, not wishing to frighten this female further. Had she read the contents of the tablets, she would’ve expected the chase through the forest. She might have even enjoyed it. No wonder she was shaking and looked so pale.

“Like I said, no one told me anything about my mate.” She stood straighter with tears brimming in her eyes. “I know nothing about your culture. It isn’t fair that you blame me for a misunderstanding. Please, it doesn’t even matter, because I would like to go home.”

“My transaction with Mail Order Human is final, Tara.” He stretched his fingers out, longing to touch her, but she recoiled from him and circled around the tree. He followed her and in a flash of movement, pinned her between his arms. Tilting her chin up, he peered into her gorgeous blue depths. “You are so beautiful you make my insides warm and tingly.”

“That’s nice. Now let me go. I must find a way to contact the Starship Matchmaker before they get too far away.”

“I cannot allow that, Tara.” He turned her and slipped the traveling bag from her back, hoisting it over his own shoulder. “Like I said earlier, you belong to me now.”

She tried to slip around him, but he caught her and tossed her over his other shoulder.

“Hey! Put me down, asshole!”

“Stop struggling, little human. I have chased you and captured you, and now I will take you to my abode where I will spend the night claiming you as mine.” A faint growl rumbled from his throat. “My Tara, my mate. My bride.”

Chapter Two

Tara closed her eyes and ceased her squirming after a few minutes of unsuccessfully trying to escape the large alien. The tall, shirtless, muscular male terrified her, but his strength and speed surpassed hers, making escape impossible. Perhaps she could try sneaking away while he slept, or when his attention was focused elsewhere.

Oh, what a horrible mistake she’d made. At least while she was trying to elude Magino’s men, she was on her own turf. On Earth. Here, on this strange planet, she would be entirely dependent on her new mate. She had no money, no food, and she didn’t know a single person.

All the blood had rushed to her head and she wished he would put her down. She didn’t even know his name, this large alien who was carrying her through the tall grasses to his home. Did he live alone? Did he live in a village?

Each time she opened her eyes, she became nauseous from the constant movement, so she pressed her eyes shut and prayed they reached his abode soon. She prayed for a lot of things during the walk, but mostly, she prayed for the alien to have a change of heart. Maybe Mail Order Human would refund his money. It riled her that he believed he owned her.

His boots crunched over a rocky surface, and a quick peek showed they were climbing a mountain. He moved with surprising speed, taking long steps, his breath not even becoming labored. The warmth of his skin against hers sent a shiver through her. What if he really went through with it and claimed her? She doubted he would allow her to leave Zaxxuma if he took her innocence. She would have to do everything in her power to elude him tonight.

“We have reached home.” She felt his stride increase, and a second later, he sat her down on her feet. She heard a faint thump and realized he’d dropped her backpack near the door.

She blinked rapidly and put a hand to her forehead as her vision cleared. The alien kept an arm wrapped around her waist, holding her steady. Her dizziness gave her no choice but to accept his help, and his touch sent electric pulses straight to her core. She tried to ignore the feelings he incited within her. They had hardly spoken, didn’t know each other well at all, and for fuck’s sake, she still didn’t know his name. One glance into his dark eyes, and one brush of his skin over hers, and she became putty in his hands. The increasing warmth throbbing between her legs made her angry with herself.

“Sit down and I will get you something to drink, and to eat. You must be famished after the chase.”

She peered up at him and swallowed a scream. His eyes, though dark, appeared luminous and so devastatingly beautiful, they took her breath away. She concentrated on taking in air, then nodded her assent. Sitting down sounded nice. She still felt weak from being over his shoulder during the walk up the mountain, and she gratefully sat on a nearby sofa, with his assistance, of course. He seemed to have a difficult time keeping his hands off her, much to her chagrin.

Before he walked away to fetch the beverage and food, he stood over her and stroked the hair from her face. His eyes flickered with emotion, and her mind whirled as she tried to understand him. Surely, this arrogant male would never care about her. He kept reminding her that he owned her, and she doubted life with him could possibly be happy.

“I will take care of you now, my sweet Tara. You need not fear me or anything else on this planet.”

The burning in her throat intensified as he turned and left the room. She heard him rummaging around in what she assumed was a kitchen area, and for the first time she let her gaze wander around his home. Indeed, they were on the top of a mountain. Huge windows dominated each wall, displaying the forest, plains, and rivers below. There was just enough sunlight left for her to glimpse the outside, and panic struck her at the realization that there weren’t any other houses nearby.

She was all alone. With him. With a large alien whose name she still didn’t know.

Tears stung her eyes and she dashed the moisture away with the back of her hand. Damn the woman in red silks for not showing her the information tablets about this world, and damn Mail Order Human for making the promise of a new life sound so freaking wonderful in the brochures they had scattered around her town. Would it have been so bad to go into hiding? To escape to a nearby town and seek refuge with an Elder? The religious figures were quick to offer help. She could have changed her name, cut her hair, and begged an Elder to find her a kind husband.

Her hands curled into fists and she pounded them on the sofa. Once again, her fear had driven her toward a foolhardy decision.  She sighed and glanced around the house, appreciating the minimalistic décor. His home was large compared to the hovel she’d been living in on Earth. Small pieces of artwork, possibly wood carvings, sat on a shelf on the far side of the room. There were several sofas, all dark blue and leather in appearance. Lighted sconces dotted the walls and cast a soft yellow glow across the red wooden floor. His home reminded her of something out of a fairytale.

But she was no princess, and he was no prince. What would her life be like on this strange world? She still longed for her dream—for a loving husband and a couple of kids, a happy family that didn’t know hunger, violence, or hardship as she’d known it on Earth.

The alien returned with a glass of clear liquid and a plate of exotic fruit. She reached for the glass, only for the alien to sit beside her and hold it up to her lips.

“Um, thanks, but I am capable of holding a glass.” She tried to take it from him, but he swatted her hands away and shot her a scolding look.

“I will care for you on this night, Tara. It is your first night in my abode, and it is my duty to see you nourished before I claim you.” His eyes shone with kindness, and she couldn’t help herself but accept a sip of water as he held the glass to her lips.

“Mm. That’s so cold,” she said, smiling. “I haven’t tasted water so cold, and pure, since I was a child.” The water from the town well smelled stale and wasn’t clear. It was only safe to drink after boiling, and even then, the staleness managed to linger.

“I am glad it pleases you. Here, try some fruit.” He popped a tiny piece of something round and red into her mouth.

Pleasure exploded on her taste buds, and she moaned as she chewed the sweet fruit. A sense of déjà vu washed over her. It tasted like strawberries, her favorite fruit as a child. She hadn’t eaten one in years, not since before the Great War when her family had been forced to migrate west of the Mississippi River to escape the warzone.

“Wow, this is so good,” she murmured, and he popped another one in her mouth.

He continued feeding her by hand and giving her sips of water, until the plate and glass were both empty. He sat them aside and once again stroked her hair, this time tucking her long strands behind her ears.

“You are a beautiful woman, Tara.”

Despite herself, she blushed at his compliment.

“Come, and I will take you upstairs and show you our bedroom.”

“Um, wait.” She drew away from him and scooted to the other end of the sofa, her dress sliding easily over the leather material. “I don’t even know your name.”

* * *

Sev felt his face heating. His blunder embarrassed him, and he had to force himself to hold Tara’s gaze. Had he really forgotten to introduce himself to his new mate? He mentally replayed their interactions, and he realized that yes, he had indeed failed to tell the frightened little human his name.

He cleared his throat, reached over, and squeezed her hands gently in his. “My name is Sev. I am the guardian of this mountain range, known as the Rettana Mountains.”

“The guardian?”

“My people believe the souls of the departed inhabit the mountains of Zaxxuma. Our loved ones watch over us for all time from up high. Each mountain range has a guardian to ensure no calamity strikes, in order to keep the souls happy and the ground sacred. If a fire or some other disaster were to occur, I would summon help from the Zaxxumian cities.”

“You mean we’re the only people living on this entire mountain range?”

“Yes.”

She paled and stared at the floor.

“I realize this saddens you because escape from me now seems more difficult, doesn’t it, sweet Tara?”

Her head jerked up and she met his gaze. “I shouldn’t be here. I told you, I made a mistake by signing my life over to Mail Order Human. Please have mercy. Please, can’t you return me to Earth and select another woman from their list?”

“You were the only virgin on the list during this trip.” He hadn’t given any thought to whether or not his human mate came to him untouched or not, but when he’d seen her name on the list along with the details of her innocence, he couldn’t help himself.

His family had gifted him with an enormous sum of money after his appointment as the guardian of these mountains, and he had held onto it, deciding to use it one day to procure a bride from another world. A human. A little virgin named Tara. He breathed in deep, enjoying her scent. His blood heated. He had to have her soon, had to feel her squirming beneath him, bare skin against bare skin.

Tara blew out a breath and glared at him. “Let me get this straight. So, you wouldn’t want me if I weren’t a virgin? Gee, thanks, Romeo.”

“You misunderstand me. I didn’t expect to see a virgin listed, but when I did, and after I looked at your image scan, I had to have you as mine. There was something sad in your eyes that I wanted to fix, and the fact that you are untouched, well, I confess that makes me want to teach you the most scandalous things. You are mine to corrupt, sweet Tara.” He cornered her on the sofa and clasped her wrists together after she attempted to push him away, then he leaned down to press his lips to hers.

His feisty human resisted him at first, keeping her mouth closed and refusing him entrance. He prodded her with his tongue until she gave way, parting her lips to let him inside. He released her wrists and cupped her face, deepening the kiss and delighting in her little gasps. When she finally began to return his kiss, her clumsy method invigorated him. He suspected that not only was she a virgin, but she’d never been kissed either. He decided not to ask, not wishing to embarrass her. Or anger her. He wondered if all human females had a temper or if it was just this one.

He drank her in, reveling in the sweetness of her. She tasted divine, like the nectar from a rare dentha flower. When she moaned into his mouth, a roar built in his throat, and he broke away, his hunger for her rising with each passing moment.

He cupped the side of her face in one hand, and to his delight, she leaned into his touch. “My Tara, my mate.”

Tears welled in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks, and she sniffled, though she didn’t pull away. “How do I know you won’t hurt me? Or betray me? I know nothing about your world and your ways, and nothing about you personally.”

Perplexed, he folded his hands in his lap and sat back, giving her space. Though a blush stained her cheeks, a crazed gleam flickered in her eyes. The poor little human was still afraid. Had she been afraid before she came to Zaxxuma? He studied her, wishing he could read her thoughts. Perhaps she’d had a horrible life on Earth, a life filled with fear and hopelessness. His first clue was the sadness in her eyes, and then her reaction to drinking water. He took cold, clean water for granted, and she obviously hadn’t partaken of any since her childhood. The thought of her going through much of her life without basic comforts saddened him.

“Tell me why you signed up for Mail Order Human, Tara.”

She shook her head. “I can’t. I can’t tell anyone.”

“I am to be your mate. We mustn’t keep secrets from one another.” He clasped her thigh and squeezed, then gave her a smile of encouragement. “Whatever troubles befell you on Earth, I promise you will not face them on Zaxxuma. The air here is clean, food and water is abundant, and I will always make sure there’s a roof over your head, and clothes on your body. I will keep you in comfort and strive to make you happy, Tara.”

“Sev,” she said hesitantly, using his name for the first time, “Why did you buy a woman from Mail Order Human? Is it because you live up here on the mountain, and there aren’t any females of your own kind around?”

Sorrow filled his heart at her question. “When I was a child, a plague killed off most of our female population. The majority of Zaxxumian males were immune to the disease, but our females were not. After my family gifted me with a large amount of money because of my nomination as a guardian of the Rettana Mountains, I decided I would use that money to purchase a bride from another world, so the males on my homeworld would have one less male to compete with. Not all the males on Zaxxuma have the funds to purchase a human bride, and Mail Order Human has so far kept the location of Earth a secret, making it impossible for us to venture to your planet ourselves in search of new mates.”

“I’m sorry about the plague. That must have been terrifying to witness as a child. Did you lose anyone in your family?”

“My mother and one of my sisters.” He swallowed the lump in his throat and spread his arms wide, lifting his hands in the air. “But now they are here. On this mountain with all the other departed souls, watching over all of Zaxxuma.” He dropped his hands back into his lap and met her eyes. “When I grieve their absence, all I need do is walk amongst the trees atop the mountain, and I feel their presence. Sometimes, when the wind blows, I can hear their voices.”

Tara sniffled and wiped away a tear, and he was touched by her sympathy. Truly, he had selected a fine mate. He stared into her eyes, wondering how long it would take them to conceive a child. He imagined she would make a fine mother. She would be fierce and protective of her offspring, but she would be nurturing and patient as well. He sensed all this as he gazed into her bottomless blue depths.

“I wish I could hear my loved ones’ voices in the wind.” The look of sorrow on her face deepened. “My parents died not long ago. I miss them very much.”

He tipped her face up with a gentle touch to her chin, then wiped at her tears. “Your recent lose grieves me, Tara. Did you leave any other family behind on Earth?”

“No.”

He took her hands in his. “I am your family now. You aren’t alone anymore, little human.”

Chapter Three

Tara didn’t know what to say. Aside from chasing her through the woods and proclaiming his ownership of her, he didn’t seem like a bad guy. Would her prospects on Earth have been better? She closed her eyes, imagining the life she would’ve faced if she appealed to an Elder for help. She would’ve been given to a stranger to wed at the very least, and even once she changed her name and appearance, she would still spend the rest of her life looking over her shoulder, fearing each shadow was one of Magino’s men come to silence her forever.

Opening her eyes, she met Sev’s gaze and her stomach fluttered. Though he was massive and muscular, and his size had originally frightened her, he exuded nothing but warmth and kindness as he looked upon her now. Did he mean what he’d said about striving to make her happy?

His kiss had been wondrous. Magical. Her lips still tingled, and excitement pulsed within her. She wanted him to kiss her again and again. She wanted to believe this was some kind of fucked up fairytale and lose herself in another, if only for one night. Then she remembered why she’d avoided sex and becoming close to another person in general, and worry washed over her like a bucket of ice water.

“What’s wrong?”

She hesitated. She didn’t know a polite way of asking if he was healthy. “Um, on Earth I avoided intimacy for a reason. Disease was rampant in the towns, and I feared catching something so I never had sex, never got close to anyone. Do you, um, have those kinds of diseases to worry about on Zaxxuma?”

Understanding filled his gaze, and he gave a small shake of his head. “Since the plague, disease has been eradicated from my planet, Tara. You needn’t fear catching anything from me, or during our travels to the cities.”

Relief rushed through her, chasing the coldness of her anxiety away.

“Was that why you wanted to leave Earth?” he asked. “Because of disease?”

“It was a big reason.” She wasn’t lying, but she wasn’t telling him the whole truth, either. She considered why she held back and came up empty. There was no reason to keep her secret anymore. She was millions of light years away from Earth. Magino’s men couldn’t touch her even if they knew of her location.

“Tara, I don’t want there to be untruths between us, whether they are secrets kept or lies spoken.” He squeezed her hands and gazed at her imploringly. “Tell me what happened to you on Earth. Tell me why the sadness never leaves your eyes.”

She breathed out quickly and considered her options. Logically, she knew there wasn’t a way back to Earth. Angeline had explained to a crying woman aboard the Starship Matchmaker that all arrangements were final, and once you signed your name, you became the responsibility of Mail Order Human to match as they saw fit in exchange for passage off Earth. There was no going back.

“Tell me, Tara.”

“My parents,” she whispered. “I saw them get murdered. There’s a violent group in my town known as the Magino gang, and I walked in my parents’ house as two of their men shot them. The men shouted for me to freeze, but I turned and ran. They fired shots at me but missed, and I have been in hiding ever since. I saw Mail Order Human as my only option. I had to get off Earth before they found me.”

He stroked a hand up and down her arm, causing her shawl to fall away and drift to the floor. “I am sorry that happened to you, Tara. Why did they murder your parents?”

“I suspect my parents borrowed money from Magino in order to keep their bakery open, and I suspect my parents weren’t able to pay him back in time. The Magino gang parades around my town like they are helpers. They do good deeds and like to make sure they are publicly recognized for them, but if someone finds out they aren’t living up to their public image, they silence that person.”

“I am glad you made it off Earth before any harm came to you, Tara. Do not worry. There is no way they could track you to this planet, even if they wanted to. There is a protective shield around all of Zaxxuma, and only known traders, Zaxxumian protectors, and merchants like Mail Order Human are let inside. Our screening process is quite vigorous.” He continued rubbing her arm, creating a delicious friction of heat that spread all over her body. “But know that you are my mate, sweet Tara, and I will protect you with my life. Always.”

Her throat burned and tears pricked in her eyes. She blinked rapidly, and then she found herself smiling for the first time in months. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I am so tired of being scared and having to look over my shoulder.”

Sev smiled, and the warmth that filled his eyes made him appear younger, almost playful. Her grin broadened and she leaned into him, seeking his touch. Joy abounded within her. She ignored her lingering worries about Sev and their life together, telling herself that it would all work out. He hadn’t been cruel to her, and though he had paid a high price for her, his reasons for purchasing a mate made sense.

“Try to put the fear behind you, Tara, and look to the future.” He rested his forehead against hers, and her head swam with the deliciousness of his masculine scent, so spicy and overwhelmingly male. “We have both suffered losses, but together we will build a happy future. I imagine it won’t be long before our children’s laughter fills the mountainside.”

Her breath caught and her heart danced. He wanted a family too. She pushed the last of her fears aside and pressed her lips to his, then straddled his lap. His hardness poked up at her through his pants, and she quivered under her increasing need. He froze at first, and she giggled, suspecting her forwardness had shocked him.

In a flash of movement, he lifted her from him and stood up, then tossed her over his shoulder so quickly her shoes fell off. Before she could protest his highhandedness, he growled and carried her up a steep set of curving stairs.

Upon reaching a bedroom, all her bravado faded. She’d just experienced her first kiss, at twenty-seven freaking years old, and now she was going to have sex for the first time too. That was a lot of firsts for one day, and uncertainty crept into her mind. Would it hurt? She worried he might shove his cock inside her without any thought to her comfort, and she started struggling and pounding on his back in an effort to escape.

Did Zaxxumians know about foreplay? Not that she knew much about it, but still…he was huge, and knowing her luck, his cock would be in proportion to the rest of him. That didn’t do anything to calm the butterflies flitting around in her tummy.

She cried out in frustration, and to her relief, he finally put her down.

On the bed.

Her hands brushed over the soft covers as she stared up at him, feeling her face heat. Oh God, this was it.

* * *

Desire thrummed through Sev. His cock ached and pushed against his pants, seeking relief. His heart felt open and raw, his spirit ready to claim this sweet little human as his for all time. She trembled upon the bed, peering up at him with large blue eyes that incited his need to flame hotter. He burned for her, and he couldn’t wait to see her marked as his, the visible proof of her belonging to him on her body come morning.

He had to remind himself she was untouched, lest he give way to impatience, rip her clothing off, and take her too soon and too roughly. The animal in him roared to life, and another growl emitted from his throat. His skin prickled, all his senses alive. His nostrils flared and his breath came faster.

Sweltering in the confines of his clothing, he pulled his boots off and tossed them against the wall. Next, he stripped off his pants, letting them fall to the ground in a careless heap. The whole time he undressed, he kept his gaze trained on Tara.

He eyed the buttons on the front of her thin dress, and his hands itched with the urge to rip the garment from her. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them, he said, “Remove your dress, Tara. Now.”

Her eyes widened and she shook her head. “I…I can’t.”

“Consider it an order. Take. Off. Your. Dress.”

She crossed her arms and shook her head. “You can’t just order me to get naked and expect me to obey you!” Even as she denied him, her face flushed with arousal, and he detected the pungent yet sweet aroma of the moisture flowing between her legs. Ah, the little human wanted him, but she held to her stubbornness and kept glaring at him, refusing to take off her dress.

He crawled onto the bed, coming atop her and pinning her hands down on either side of her head. Grinning, he said, “Why not? You can order me to get naked and obey you any time you wish, Tara, and I promise I won’t argue.”

Her face went redder still and she sputtered. “You! You…you…I can’t believe…”

The sound of fabric ripping and buttons flying to the floor silenced her. He finished tearing the garment from her body, taking her bra and panties with it, and hurled it across the room. She continued sputtering her outrage, but he silenced her with a kiss, growling as he delved his tongue into her mouth, tasting her once again and thrilling in her responsiveness. For several moments she resisted, but it wasn’t long before she was kissing him back and rubbing her center against his leg. His cock throbbed against her thigh, growing harder and harder with each brush of her soft flesh against his stiffness.

When he broke away from her, she gasped in air, then met his eyes with an endearing blush tinting her cheeks. She looked uncertain, but no longer filled with indignation. “You know I’ve never done this before, right?”

He grinned down at her. “Is my little virgin mate nervous?”

Her blush deepened and she gave a slight nod.

Reaching between her legs, he found her sweetness and stroked his fingers through her immense moisture. “You’re dripping wet for me already, Tara. That is good. Your body is preparing for my entrance,” he explained.

“Yes, but you’re so, um, large,” she said, her eyes flickering to his cock. “Are you sure humans and Zaxxumians are compatible?”

“I know several Zaxxumians who have taken human mates, many who have had children together. I assure you, we are quite compatible. Do not be afraid, Tara. I will strive to be gentle with you.” His voice became raspy. “At least this first time.”

He released her wrists and trailed kisses down her neck, until he reached her breasts. She moaned underneath him as he paid each of her nipples equal attention, suckling them and drawing them into stiff peaks. All the while, he kept one hand between her legs, exploring her womanhood. He parted her pussy lips and stroked her inner wetness, even slipping one finger into her core. She bucked against his hand and cried out, and a thrill jolted through him when his probing finger met with her virginal resistance.

So sweet, so innocent, and all his.

He kissed his way down her body, teasing her with his touch, until his mouth came to her swollen center. Her pussy lips were puffed up with her arousal, so plump and beautiful, and ripe for his taking.

“Sev, what are you…oh my!” She jumped as his tongue darted out to circle her clit. Humans and Zaxxumian females were anatomically similar, and he knew just how to bring her pleasure.

He applied pressure with his tongue as he circled her sensitive bud, and he pumped two fingers into her with shallow but quick thrusts, careful not to tear through her virginal resistance, which he planned to save for when he finally pushed his cock into her.

“Come apart for me,” he murmured against her sweetness, and seconds later she undulated and cried his name, her movements not ceasing until she finished riding the wave of her pleasure. “Good girl.”

Panting, she remained underneath him, looking utterly exhausted. But her passage was wet and ready for him, and he knew her pain would be less if he claimed her now. He situated himself overtop her and forced her gaze to his. “This will only hurt for a moment, Tara.”

She inhaled deeply and nodded, and he surged forward and all the way into her tightness, pushing past her resistance and claiming her as his. She groaned, opened her legs wider, and dug her nails into his back. Though he longed to begin a rapid pace of thrusting in and out of her, he remained still inside her, allowing her to adjust to his size and catch her breath.

“Are you all right, Tara?”

“Mm. I’m good.”

He almost chuckled at her dreamlike response. Her eyes appeared glazed over, as if she was in a trance. It boosted his ego that he’d brought her to this erotic induced state, and he was glad the pain hadn’t been too much for her to bear. Withdrawing from her tightness ever so slightly, he drove back inside her, then repeated the movement several times, painfully slowly. She accepted his intrusion, keeping her legs spread wide as she rewarded him with the sweetest, keening moans of pleasure.

Driven by her responses, he gripped her hips and plunged into her faster and harder. Deep growls ripped from his throat, the animal in him taking over. He fought back the beast, not wanting to frighten Tara. If she hadn’t watched the information tablets about his world, she didn’t know about his shifting abilities. He planned to save that revelation for tomorrow. For now, he was content to love her, to bring her to the heights of pleasure again. She cried out as another release washed over her, and her inner muscles contracting around his cock prompted his own release. He came inside her with a roar, pumping his hardness into her and filling her with his seed.

Later, as she drifted to sleep in his arms, he noticed the markings of his ownership on her arms transpiring. He kissed the intricate designs and hugged her tighter, reveling in her closeness. His awareness of her deepened, and he could distinctly hear each faint breath she took, and the steady thumps of her heart beating.

Best of all, before she’d drifted to sleep, she had smiled at him, contentment brimming in her eyes without a hint of her prior sadness. He hoped to never see the sorrow in her gaze again. In the coming days, he would get to know his little human mate better. He planned to show her around the mountain range and take her to the cities to visit his friends and family members.

He glanced at her one last time before falling to sleep beside her, holding her snug against his chest, his animal calm and his spirit content for the first time in ages.

Chapter Four

Tara awoke to the sound of birds chirping. She opened her eyes and realized Sev still held her to his chest. Careful not to wake him, she extracted herself from his embrace and sat up in the bed. Morning light poured into one of the windows, and she smiled at the sight of the sun rising over the distant mountains. The sunrise spilled through the trees in an array of gold, orange, and pink waves. She couldn’t recall having ever witnessed anything so beautiful.

On Earth, she’d rarely had time to observe what little beauty remained around her. She had stayed indoors during the day as much as possible, in an effort to stay hidden from Magino’s men. The houses she cleaned were on the more prominent side of town, and she slipped in and out of those houses through the servants entrances, always with her cloak pulled over her head. Once she had completed her cleaning duties, she waited until nighttime to gather and chop firewood for extra money, always dressing like a man and hiding her hair underneath a hat while she worked at this more masculine endeavor.

A woman chopping wood in the middle of the night would’ve drawn attention, but as a man no one batted an eye. Once a week, she smudged her face, drew her hair under the hat, and dressed as a man while she delivered the firewood to her customers.

She wondered if anyone would miss her. She doubted it. All of her childhood friends had succumbed to illnesses or childbirth complications, and because of this she had felt alone even before her parents’ death.

She glanced over at Sev’s massive sleeping form. He snored lowly, occasionally growling in his sleep. The growls had startled her at first, but now she found them sexy. Her center pulsed hot with need each time he growled, the inhuman noise stirring her desires.

Shifting on the bed, she evaluated her soreness. Her muscles ached, but not terribly. Her womanhood felt tender, but not abused. True to his word, Sev had been gentle with her and considerate of her inexperience. She flushed. He had brought her to orgasm twice, once with his mouth pressed to her center, his tongue working magic, and the second time with his cock pounding in and out of her.

Sunlight crept across the bedcovers, and she brought her arm up to shield her eyes from the glare. But she stopped in the middle of her movements and stared down at her arms. Strange markings covered both her arms, from her wrists up to her shoulders.

She moved from the bed, searching for the tattered remains of her dress. Sev had lied to her. He had told her disease had been eradicated from his planet, but he had obviously given her something. There was no other explanation for the strange markings on her arms. Her heart pounded with terror.

As a child, she had lost several friends to a disease that caused body parts to become black, wither up, and fall off. Had she caught something similar from Sev?

She had to get away from him. Not only was he a liar, but there was no telling what other sorts of diseases she might contract if she stuck around. She had already accepted that she would never return to Earth, but maybe she could find her way to one of the cities he had mentioned. She had to make her way down the mountain before he awoke.

She slipped into her dress and tiptoed downstairs, where she tied her shawl around her waist to keep her dress from opening to reveal her breasts. She found her shoes and opened the front door slowly, deciding to leave her backpack behind so she could make a faster getaway. Once she made it outside and shut the door behind her, she breathed a sigh of relief. Then she rushed down the mountain as if she were being chased.

She stumbled and scraped her hands and knees a few times, but luckily there was a worn path that contained wooden steps during the most treacherous parts of her journey. She would have to leave the path Sev had obviously created soon, and once the mountain’s steepness lessened, she did just that, veering off into the trees and zigzagging through the woods that covered the base of Sev’s mountain.

Her heart ached. How could he have lied to her? For the first time in her life, she had dared to trust a man, dared to believe he might want more from her than sex, only to have her heart broken into infinite pieces.

She would never have the loving husband and family she had dreamed off. She would never have a marriage even half as happy as her parents’. She cried as she ran, and her terror increased when she noticed the markings on her arms sparkled in the sunlight. Oh God, was she going to die?

She reached the bottom of the mountain, breathless and with scratches all over her body. Her hair blew wildly in the wind, and she felt frantic as she looked around, trying to decide which direction to run. The tall grasses or the huge, exotic forest she had ventured into yesterday evening?

The forest would provide more cover, she reasoned, and she set off, running at full speed and hoping Sev never found her. Perhaps if she made it all the way through the forest, she would find herself in a grand alien city. Maybe she could seek medical assistance and find a job. Did rich Zaxxumians employ housekeepers? She pushed thoughts of her future aside and focused on her present circumstances. If she slowed down, Sev might catch her.

He obviously thought nothing of lying to her, and she suspected he wouldn’t take kindly to being abandoned after he’d paid for her. If by some freak chance she did make it back to Earth, she planned to warn every woman on the planet that Mail Order Human wasn’t a trustworthy business.

The forest grew louder the deeper she ran into it, the calls from strange animals frightening her, and the buzzing of what she assumed were alien insects echoing through the trees.

Suddenly, above all the unfamiliar noises of the forest, came a roar that filled her veins with ice water. She froze and leaned against a tree, her head tilted to the side as she listened for signs of the beast’s approach. The roar lasted for several long seconds, and after it ceased it reverberated around her, until the forest went completely silent.

No birds chirped. No insects buzzed. No animals called out in any form. The only sound came from the faint breeze ruffling through the trees.

The eerily silence made her heart pound faster and thump in her ears. Whatever had made that noise sounded angry. Or hungry. Maybe both. She wished she had a weapon.

Knowing she best keep going, she set out at a brisk walk, trying to keep her footfalls as quiet as possible. She pushed through the thick underbrush in her path and stumbled down into a dip in the ground. When she went to get up, her gaze locked with two large green eyes.

She tried to scream, but her throat clogged with terror and she couldn’t even take a breath. A massive catlike creature stood in her path, staring at her unblinkingly. It bared its teeth with a fierce snarl.

* * *

Sensing Tara was in imminent danger, Sev shifted into his bear form and bounded through the forest. He roared again, hoping his approach scared off whatever creature was bothering Tara, if it was another animal. Fear gripped him. What if she was afraid because she had taken a fall or gotten wounded? But the scent of an egrra cat reached him in the wind, and he realized she must have come face to face with one of these deadly animals.

Following Tara’s scent, as well as the snarls of the egrra cat, he burst through the thick underbrush and into a small clearing in the forest. He ran on all fours and put himself between Tara and the cat. Ruffling himself up to intimidate, he released a deep growl that had the cat immediately shrinking back into the forest, retreating slowly before turning to run away. The creature disappeared into the trees, and after a few moments, Sev no longer detected the scent of the cat in the breeze. He only smelled Tara. His mate.

Behind him, he heard her erratic breathing. He turned to face her and transformed back into his Zaxxumian form, then rose up on his feet. His clothing had torn off his body during his shift, and he stood before her completely naked.

Her eyes widened and she shook her head, muttering to herself that she must be dreaming, before her eyes fluttered shut and she started slipping to the forest floor. He caught her before she hit the ground, swept her up in his arms, and began the long journey back to his abode.

Anger bubbled up within him. When he had awoken to discover her missing from his bed, he had only been consumed with worry for her wellbeing. But now that he’d found her and she was once again safe under his protection, it riled him that she’d tried to escape him.

Hadn’t they shared an enjoyable night together? She wore his markings on her arms now, and nothing would erase them. They marked her as his mate, his woman, and yes, his property. But being owned by a Zaxxumian male, especially one as wealthy and respected as Sev, was considered an honor. Her rejection stung and shattered his hopes.

He ground his teeth together as he carried her through the forest. Even if she didn’t like him, they were still mated and she wouldn’t be permitted to leave the mountain. He had bonded with her and now that she bore the markings of his family line, it was his sacred duty to keep her as his mate, safe and happy for the rest of their lives. The keeping her safe part he could handle. After her little escape stunt today, he planned to lock her in his abode until he trusted she wouldn’t run off again. But the happy part? Worry moved through his heart, making his chest ache.

How did one make a female human happy? He thought of his relatives and friends who had taken human mates and frowned. He hadn’t met any of their human females until months after they had been mated. Perhaps there had been a reason for that. Perhaps happiness with one’s mate took time and patience.

She stirred in his arms as they entered his abode. Not putting her down, he slammed the door and locked it with his handprint, making sure she wouldn’t take another foolish run through the forest by herself. Yesterday, before he’d chased her through the woods, he had patrolled the area for the entire day, making sure no dangerous animals lurked nearby. Today was different. If he hadn’t reached her in time, the egrra cat would’ve made breakfast out of her. Foolish human female. His jaw clenched and he sat down on the sofa with her still in his arms.

Tara blinked up at him, her gaze full of questions and fear.

“All Zaxxumian males can shift into the animal of their family line. My ancestors have always shifted into mountain bears. Other Zaxxumian family lines shift into catlike creatures or large, fierce dogs.”

Some of the color returned to her face, and when she attempted to sit up, he placed her next to him on the sofa. “Why didn’t you tell me this last night?” She shook her head and held a hand up. “Wait, never mind. It doesn’t matter. You lied to me. You gave me some sort of Zaxxumian disease! And after you were so nice to me last night. I dared to believe the shit on Earth happened to me for a reason, dared to believe we might actually have a happy life together, especially after you talked about having children, and then I wake up this morning to find these rashes on my arms!”

Perplexed, Sev looked at her markings. Sunlight streamed into the windows and left the intricate wavy patterns glowing beautifully. They were the same markings his mother had had, as well as all the females mated to the males in his family before her. “Those are not rashes, and I have not infected you with a Zaxxumian disease. I have not lied to you in any way, Tara, and I had planned to tell you of my shifting abilities today. I believe in keeping no secrets, and that goes both ways. I will never lie to you, sweet Tara. I give you my word.”

“Okay, if these aren’t rashes, what are they?” She held her arms up and her lower lip quivered. Her whole body shook.

Reaching for her, he stroked his hands up and down her arms, until her trembles ceased. “Look closely at the markings, Tara, and you will see that they form a wavelike pattern. My mother got the same markings after she mated with my father. It marks you as mine, and it also indicates you belong to my family line. All women mated to males in my family have identical markings, Tara.”

“Again, you couldn’t have told me this last night?”

“Telling you of the markings slipped my mind. Forgive me. I should have told you what to expect.” He felt like a fool. Humans didn’t always mate for life, nor did their females become marked with any sort of pattern indicating they belonged to their husbands.

Tara sighed. “I’m sorry. Wow, talk about a misunderstanding. I thought you’d lied to me and given me some sort of freaky disease.” She flushed. “Thank you for saving me from the beast in the forest. You saved my life, Sev.”

He smiled. “Think nothing of it, Tara. I promised I would protect you with my life, always, did I not?”

She nodded.

“Zaxxumian males treasure their females. I realize we haven’t known one another for long, but I promise I will treasure you for as long as we shall live. I will strive to be a good mate to you, Tara, and if you promise not to run away again, I won’t keep you locked in our abode. I must confess, I thought you ran away because you were rejecting me, and when we returned I sealed the locks and didn’t intend to let you outside until I could trust you again.” He stroked her hair and she leaned into his touch. “Can I trust you, Tara?”

“Yes, Sev. I won’t run again. I promise.” She peered into his eyes, her gaze filled with wonderment. Perhaps his shifting abilities surprised her, or perhaps she felt joyful about their future. As time went on, he would be able to read her moods better. For now, he could only detect her fear and sense her location. Such powers enabled Zaxxumian males to keep their mates, and eventually their offprint, safe from most dangers.

He grinned. “I won’t hold you prisoner then.”

Dark pink bloomed across her cheeks and her breath quickened. “Yes, I would hate for you to hold me prisoner.”

It took him a moment to realize she was teasing him, in her sweet human way, and he removed her shawl from around her waist. Tearing a strip off the garment, he wound it around her wrists and left a short length for him to hold onto. He stood and pulled her to her feet, forcing her toward the stairs. “But before I release you from your confinement, little human, I am going to claim you again, just to make sure you understand you belong to me.”

“You are very just, sir.” Her eyes twinkled with mischief as he led her upstairs.

* * *

Sev’s playful dominance made her heart flutter. Her stomach flipped—in a delightful way—and she couldn’t seem to catch her breath. He gave her a stern look and dragged her into the bedroom, still keeping the strip of cloth around her wrists. He tugged her forward and tied the end of the cloth around a bedpost.

Peering over her shoulder, she watched as he gripped the back of her dress. The sound of ripping fabric once again filled the room. This time he tore her dress to shreds, and judging by the excitement flaring in his eyes, he was enjoying himself.

“Prisoners aren’t allowed to wear clothing,” he said, a smile tugging at his lips.

By ripping her dress off, he had bared her completely. She hadn’t bothered trying to piece her undergarments back together this morning, so she hadn’t been wearing anything underneath her dress. He bent down to remove her shoes and tossed them on the other side of the bed.

He came behind her, pressing his nakedness against her. His erect cock pressed between her ass cheeks, and he pushed his hardness against her and took a fistful of her hair, forcing her head back.

Though he was being rough, he wasn’t hurting her. She felt safe with him and trusted him not to harm her in any way. He had already made it abundantly clear that Zaxxumian males treasured their females, and by risking his life to save hers, she knew he cared for her, in his own alien way. Had the catlike beast tried to fight him, Tara had no doubt Sev would’ve given his life to protect her.

Would any man in her town back on Earth have risked his life for hers? She seriously doubted it. She felt blessed to have been delivered to this strange planet, blessed to belong to a man as honorable as Sev.

He gave another tug to her hair and put his mouth to her ear. “Who do you belong to, Tara? Tell me.”

She gasped. “You! I belong to you, Sev!”

Another tug. His breath tickled her neck. “And whose markings do you bear on your arms?”

“Yours! I bear your markings, Sev.”

He released her hair and reached between her legs. She moaned and arched into his hand. Heat seared her face, because she knew he’d found her dripping wet. She had practically come undone downstairs as he bound her wrists together. Each time he’d given her a stern look on the way up the steps, quakes of pleasure had assaulted her, heating her blood and quickening her pulse. She ached for him to take her, to claim her as he had last night, except not as gently. She wanted him rough, wanted to experience his fierce, animalistic side.

“I am going to take you just like this,” he said, replacing his fingers with his cock. “I am going to take you from behind, little human, and pound into you long and hard, until you cry out your pleasure and come for me again and again.” He chuckled. “Perhaps I’ll leave you tied up all day, naked and waiting for me to put my cock in you.”

The aching in her center intensified and her breasts felt heavy as he pulled her hips out, forcing her to bend over slightly. Her nipples tingled and burned, wanting to be touched. She cried out when he shoved his hugeness inside her, filling her up with his hard cock in one deep plunge. Without pausing, he pumped in and out of her, holding her hips in place while he claimed her from behind.

Her first orgasm crashed over her, and she moaned and tried to undulate against him, but with her hands bound and her feet planted on the floor, she couldn’t move more than an inch. The sound of flesh slapping against flesh filled the air. True to his word, he pounded her long and hard, taking her for a much longer time than he had last night. A second and third release took her to the heights of pleasure, and as her fourth orgasm approached, she felt his cock swelling and convulsing within her. He groaned, and seconds later, the warmth of his seed filled her insides.

He immediately unbound her wrists and rubbed them, then carried her into the bathing area. He started the water running in a large tub, adding liquid soap that whirled into tiny, sparkling bubbles as the water rose.

She giggled and rested her head against his chest. “I thought you were going to keep me tied up all day.”

“I left the strip of cloth on the bed, Tara, and I have a feeling we’ll be putting it to use later. But first, I’m going to wash all the forest dirt from your body and clean your wounds,” he said, nodding at her reddened knees.

“Oh. Thank you.” She had forgotten about the scrapes she’d gotten during her great escape, and now that she actually looked at herself, she was shocked to see how much dirt covered her. She eyed all the scratches, thankful none were bleeding.

After a heavenly bath, he decided they could both use more rest before starting their day anew. He tucked her in for a nap and curled up next to her under the covers, draping one of his legs over hers and drawing her close. She shut her eyes and drifted off while he stroked her hair. The last thing she heard him say before she succumbed to sleep was, “If you aren’t in bed when I awake, little human, I shall have to teach you another lesson.”

THE END

A note from the author:

Thank you so much for purchasing or borrowing Alien’s Innocent Bride! I hope you enjoyed reading about Tara and Sev. More books are planned in the Mail Order Human series, so please check my Amazon Author Page for regular updates.

About the author:

Sue Mercury writes sci-fi romance. She lives in Maryland with her husband and children, where she hopes one day she'll turn on the television to find a breaking news report about sentient alien beings contacting Earth. She also writes romance of the much kinkier variety under the name Sue Lyndon.

Follow Sue on Twitter @SueMercury

‘Like’ Sue Mercury’s Facebook Page

If you like BDSM erotica and spanking romance, you might enjoy these naughty sci-fi titles by Sue Lyndon:

Owning His Bride

Claiming Their Maiden

Big Blue Valentine

Surrender (Alien Warriors, Book 1)

Commander’s Slave (Alien Warriors, Book 2)

His Naughty Little Mate

www.suelyndon.com