Boss Alien

(Reestrian Mates, Book 4)

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:

Gina travels to Rahatha, the first Human-Reestrian settlement on Earth, hoping to land a new job and get a fresh start. The problem? The ad for an office job she answers specifically advertises for a hardworking male, and it takes a lot of convincing to get the huge, dangerously sexy, Mr. Jax, to hire her, on account of her having breasts. The other problem? Jax is the only unmated Reestrian in Rahatha, and he begins experiencing his mating urge during her first day on the job.

Jax starts up his hovercraft business in Rahatha, knowing his mating urge will strike him at any hour, and knowing he’ll probably have to venture outside of the enclosed city to find a willing mate. But then in walks Gina, with her delicious curves and soulful, dark brown eyes. She ignites his passion and makes his blood burn hotter than the sun of his home planet. Even before the urge to mate comes upon him, he decides he wants her and no other woman. He sets out to court her human-style, but somehow can’t get that right. She keeps turning him down, even though she’s always squirming and flushing in his presence. If only human females weren’t so complicated…

Excerpt:

Jax tried to concentrate on the circular display screen below him, but all he could think about was the fact that Gina was unclaimed. He inhaled her scent from across the room, drawing in a long, deep breath, and puzzled at not detecting the slightest scent of another male. She possessed an exquisite beauty, her pale complexion offset by her dark eyes and even darker hair. She was shorter than him, as all humans were, but she wasn’t so petite that she wouldn’t be able to handle the rigors of his mating.

But she wasn’t Reestrian, and she probably wouldn’t just offer herself to him because it was his biological time to mate. She was a human, a rather headstrong one from what he’d seen so far, and she would need all the pomp that came with human courtship. Lunch and dinner dates, flowers, and thoughtful gifts. He would have to take her to the movies too. Klemm had explained human dating behavior several days ago while urging him to seek out a human female in a town outside Rahatha.

Heat pummeled through him and his cock strained against his pants. He clutched the sides of the display screen as a wave of dizziness assaulted him. He blinked hard several times in order to clear away the stars dotting his vision. Taking deep breaths, he waited for the dizzy spell to pass, while his eyes went wide with realization.

The human female known as Gina had accelerated the onset of his mating urge. It was the only logical explanation for the sudden change in his physical state. Before her arrival, he hadn’t felt his blood heating or his pulse accelerating so abnormally.

He wiped the perspiration from his brow and strode to her side, using his foot to turn around her swivel chair and force her to face him.

“Hey, Mr. Jax, what do you think…” Her words trailed off and she stared up at him, her gorgeous dark eyes widening.

“You will go to lunch with me, Gina, and then I will buy you flowers on the way back to work.”

“Excuse me?”

“Then tonight I will take you to dinner and a movie. There’s a theater on the other side of the city, and I’ll make sure we get the best seats. I will hold your hand during the movie.” When she gaped at him in silence, he backed away a few steps, not trusting himself to keep his hands off her. He didn’t want to scare her by moving too fast, something Alice had warned him about. “I will walk you home after the movie and then kiss you thoroughly.”

Chapter One

Jax scowled at the couple walking ahead of him through the maze of vendors. The Reestrian male had an arm circled around his human female mate, and every now and then he leaned down to kiss her on the cheek and squeeze her tighter. Annoyance simmered hot under Jax’s skin, and he glanced away.

You’re a jealous fool.

Shaking the unwanted thought away, he entered a side street and hastened his steps, needing to escape the happy couple. The entire Human-Reestrian settlement was full of such blissful pairings, and their constant joyfulness put him in a perpetual foul mood.

Jax was the only unmated Reestrian in the newly constructed settlement, a huge city named Rahatha, which had been built as a haven for human and Reestrian couples to live and raise families together. Many of the humans in such pairs worked outside the settlement and needed a quick way to get to and from their jobs each day, so Jax had brought a huge fleet of his hovercrafts to Earth to service the Rahatha inhabitants.

His chosen mate, Tias, was supposed come with him, but she hadn’t wished to leave Reestria. Two days before his scheduled departure for Earth, she’d visited a mountainside town outside of Galattak Clan and offered herself to a male experiencing his mating urge, thus breaking the mating contract she’d had with Jax.

The shock of her betrayal waved through him, causing his hands to shake each time he thought of her. Tias had been a childhood friend and the daughter of his late father’s most loyal friend. Though she’d expressed her reluctance about relocating to Earth, Jax hadn’t worried she’d choose to mate with another and break their contract, yet she had done the unthinkable. Angered, and publicly shamed, he’d left Reestria alone, unsure of what he would do when his mating urge finally came upon him.

Any day now his blood might heat and his biological urge to mate for life would throw his world into a spin. With all the females in Rahatha already taken, his only option would be to look outside the settlement.

A human. He’d have to find a human female to bond with.

Problem was, he didn’t know any humans outside Rahatha.

He exited the side street and headed for his business, a tall dome-shaped building that contained hundreds of hovercrafts. The roof opened to allow the ships to fly out. Business was good and most of the crafts were used every day, many of them traveling as far as Florida on a daily basis. Jax hoped eventually humans would be open enough to the idea of living side by side with Reestrians, but until that day came, settlements like Rahatha were necessary. A second such city was being constructed in Texas, and plans for a third city in Maine were being discussed.

Jax nodded at a few of his pilots as they passed him outside the dome. The sun glowed pink on the horizon, signaling the end of another business day. He strode into the hangar and looked at the check-in screens. Only one craft was still deployed, and as he gazed up at the dimming sky a bright light descended. The last hovercraft landed in a space nearby, and Jax started walking to his office, but paused when he noticed three bodies disembark from the ship.

The Reestrian pilot, Dimal, a regular human customer named Alice, and a third human female he’d never glimpsed before who was carrying a small suitcase. The two human women chattered and laughed as they approached Jax, while the pilot hurried from the building, probably anxious to return home to his mate.

“Good evening, Jax.” Alice grinned and pulled her companion forward. “I would like you to meet Gina, my very best friend in the whole wide world.”

Despite his bad mood, Jax managed a smile and offered his hand to Gina. She put down her suitcase and reached forward, and the moment his eyes collided with hers, his heart skipped a beat and his breath became ragged. He grasped her tiny hand and electricity shot through him. Her dark brown eyes twinkled with pleasure and he immediately liked her. “I’m pleased to meet you, Gina.”

“The pleasure’s all mine, Mr. Jax. Alice has told me a lot about you.”

“Is that so?” He didn’t look away from Gina and held her hand long past the point of decorum for both their cultures. When a blush crept across the pretty brunette’s freckled cheeks, he finally released her hand. Inhaling a deep breath, he thrilled at not detecting the scent of another male on her.

Gina was unclaimed.

His cock stirred to life and he shifted his stance, hoping neither female noticed his sudden predicament. Gina was the loveliest woman he’d ever seen. He peered down at her, thinking her head would rest perfectly over his heart if he surrounded her in his embrace. Her dark brown hair fell just past her shoulders, and he longed to tangle his fingers through her locks and inhale her intoxicating scent over and over again. He also ached to lick the soft spot beneath her ear while whispering about the scandalous things he wanted to do to her.

“Oh yes,” Alice said with a laugh. “I’ve warned Gina about how grumpy you are. But I insisted she would like you once she got to know you.”

Jax suspected he was being set up, but he didn’t quite care. It was common knowledge among the inhabitants of Rahatha that he needed to find a mate soon. With his final growth spurt long completed, his mating urge might strike at any hour. “She’s lying, of course,” Jax said, his palm tingling from the handshake. He wished it was customary for humans to shake hands several times during a conversation, just for the excuse to touch her again. “I’m never grumpy.” Liar. The pilots leave the dome seconds after landing just to avoid you.

“Jax is a serious hard ass, Gina, but I’m sure he’ll be ten times better than your previous boss.”

Understanding dawned as he looked from Alice to Gina. “She’s here for the job I posted?” Almighty One, he’d never thought a human female might respond to his ad. He had specifically asked for a strong male capable of working in a high stress environment. “I’m afraid you don’t meet the requirements of my ad,” Jax said.

Gina drew herself up tall and put her hands on her hips. “There are laws protecting woman against sex discrimination in the work force, sir. You can’t not hire me just because I have breasts.”

At the mention of this particular part of her body, Jax’s gaze dropped to her chest, and his mouth watered at the slight display of cleavage revealed by her snug pink shirt.

“Hey,” Gina said sternly. “Eyes up here, mister.”

Alice laughed, clearly enjoying herself. Jax couldn’t believe the human female, who happened to be mated to his friend, Klemm, had taken it upon herself to bring a woman to his dome for a job interview.

Reluctantly, he tore his eyes from Gina’s enticing, rounded breasts. The word sorry rested on the tip of his tongue, but he swallowed hard and tried to pretend he hadn’t just been ogling her, his gaze dancing all around the dome before he once again met her soulful dark eyes.

“I’ve been an administrative assistant for the past six years and I assure you I’m more than capable of handling the job. I also have experience in accounting and payroll. Alice says you’re having difficulty handling the paperwork aspects of your business and following American business practices. I’m certain I can help you, and I’m very interested in this job, sir.” Gina tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear and peered up at him, her demeanor proud and confident.

“I’m sure you could handle the job just fine, Gina, and it really was nice meeting you, however, you’re…a female.”

“Told you he was sexist,” Alice said. “And grumpy.”

“I am not sexist or grumpy.” Jax stepped back and crossed his arms. “This is a high stress job that requires eight to ten hours a day. Females belong at home under the protection of their family, not working long, difficult hours.” He thought of the human females who worked outside the settlement, such as Alice, and frowned. Their mates allowed them to hold outside jobs, and he hoped Alice and Gina didn’t use this as an example to counter his argument. On Reestria, males took care of their mates, and families certainly protected their daughters.

“How about you give me a chance to prove you wrong, Mr. Jax?” Gina tilted her head to the side and gave him a challenging look he found downright adorable.

* ~ * ~ *

Holy hell, Jax was hot. Scorching, panty-wetting, oh-my-lawd in heaven (to quote her Aunt May) hot. Gina had never felt such an instant attraction to any man, or alien, before, and she had to remind herself she wasn’t here to play around. She really needed this job, and she also wanted to be closer to Alice, who was more like family to her than her biological one. Of course, it didn’t help that Jax’s pants were oh so perfectly tight and especially snug around the crotch area, or that his shirt sleeves were rolled up to reveal his powerful, muscular forearms.

The last time she’d gotten romantically involved with someone at work, she’d regretted it immensely. She couldn’t make that mistake again, and besides, Jax probably had a mate. She didn’t know much about Reestrians, but she thought he looked old enough to have already experienced his mating urge. Which made him a total pig for having stared at her breasts.

She glared at him, awaiting his response. If he didn’t give her a chance, she was going to end up crawling back to her hometown and hope her parents let her crash in her old bedroom. Unfortunately, her former boss, Mr. Grabby Hands, was making it difficult for her to find work. Without a good reference and only the one job under her belt since high school, she was having a hell of time finding a job that didn’t include asking “would you like fries with that?”

She realized she probably should’ve had a backup plan before storming out of Mr. Grabby Hands’ office after telling him off and quitting, and maybe working for a leering pig like Jax, however sexy he might be, was a mistake too, but with less than three hundred bucks left in her checking account, she had grown desperate. Maybe she could work for Jax and endure his salacious glances just until she found another job.

“Come on, Jax, it’s getting dark and Klemm is expecting us home soon. I give you my word hiring Gina will be the best decision you ever made. She’s smart as a whip, hardworking, and prompt. Crazy girl gets up before six in the morning each day, so you won’t have to worry about her being late for work.”

Gina gave Alice an appreciative smile. Her childhood friend’s support meant the world. She still couldn’t believe Alice had mated with a Reestrian, and she was still trying to get all the details about it out of her. Tonight definitely called for margaritas and girl talk. Hopefully tonight would also call for the celebration of her landing a new job.

She held her breath, still waiting on Jax to say something, anything. She hoped his silence boded well for her and meant he was actually considering offering her the job.

The desire to prove him wrong rose up within her. She couldn’t believe a race so advanced to travel millions of light years through space in the blink of an eye could be so…backwards.

“All right,” Jax finally said, a deep frown darkening his features. “You start tomorrow. I’ll give you a chance, a thirty day trial period.”

“Thank you, sir. I promise you won’t be disappointed.” Gina beamed inside, but she forced herself to don a polite smile rather than a ridiculous grin. She would jump up and down for joy later, once she was alone with Alice.

“Eight in the morning. Don’t be late.” He turned and headed for his office without another word. Once he closed the door behind him, Gina looked at Alice and grinned.

“What did I tell you, Gina-bo-beana? I got you the job. Now you totally owe me.” Alice giggled and grabbed her suitcase before Gina could snatch it up. They hurried outside into the street.

“Yeah, yeah. I know. I’ll make you a strawberry cheesecake.”

“With extra strawberries.”

“With extra strawberries,” Gina agreed. “Seriously, Alice, I can’t thank you enough.”

“Oh, it’s no bother. I’m thrilled to have my bestie in Rahatha. Oh, and since you’ve got a full day of work tomorrow, I can stop by your place and get more of your things. Your job comes with an apartment too, so we’ll stop by Housing tomorrow after Mr. Bossy Pants lets you go and get your living assignment. This is gonna be great! I’m so happy to have you here!” Alice wrapped one arm around Gina and squeezed her tight.

As they walked the streets of Rahatha, Gina gawked at her new surroundings and couldn’t wait to get a better look at the Human-Reestrian settlement in the light of day. Dim orbs dotted the sides of businesses, houses, and apartment buildings. The darker the sky became, the brighter the orbs glowed. Many of them were arranged in elegant patterns, lending an artistic flare to the already impressive structures. She was also awed by how much plant life was thriving in this busy city.

Tall, flowering trees lined each street, as well as many other types of colorful bushes. Alien plant life, of course. She’d never seen anything so beautiful, not even in a National Geographic magazine. Some of the flowers planted against the buildings were taller than her, and even though she was still on Earth, in Oregon as a matter of fact, she felt as if she was walking on an alien world. The air felt warm against her skin, and she supposed it was the weather control system she’d heard about on the news. No way was it normally this warm in Oregon during late November.

“So whaddaya think, bestie?”

“Alice, this place is amazing. I mean, wow. I’m not usually a city girl, but I could definitely get used to living here.” Gina noticed most of the Reestrians walking to and fro weren’t walking alone. Everywhere she glanced she spotted couples holding hands and acting all lovey dovey. She sighed.

“What’s wrong?” Alice eyed her with concern.

“Oh nothing. I guess I didn’t realize how lonely I’d feel being the only single person in Rahatha. Everybody here looks so happy, and I’m so pathetically single. I hope there’s a 7-11 around here because I suddenly feel like eating a gallon of chocolate ice cream.”

Alice laughed. “Oh, honey, it won’t be so bad. I promise you’ll like it here. Sorry there aren’t any convenience stores in Rahatha though. The markets are only open during the day, but there are a few international food stores, so you should be able to find pretty much anything your little human heart desires.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to be such a Debbie Downer. I really appreciate all you’ve done for me, and I’m still overjoyed about the prospect of getting back on my feet.” Gina thought about Jax and scowled, thinking of how blatantly he’d stared at her chest. She hoped working for Mr. Bossy Pants wasn’t worse than working for Mr. Grabby Hands. “So about Jax…um…you failed to tell me that he’s kind of a pig.”

Alice threw her head back and laughed. She stopped walking and sat the suitcase down, holding her stomach while she giggled. “A pig? Oh my God! You think…you think…” She pointed a finger at Gina and a fresh burst of giggles erupted from her throat. “Oh honey, there’s something I should probably tell you.”

“What’s that?”

“Jax isn’t a pig. That’s not why he was undressing you with his eyes. Honey, he’s unmated. In fact, he’s the only unmated Reestrian in Rahatha.” Alice reined in her laughter and shrugged, a look of immense guilt crossing her face. “Maybe I should have told you that before we got here. Opps.”

“Wait a second. You mean to tell me Jax, my new boss, is the only unmated Reestrian in this city?”

“Yeppers.”

“And I’m the only single female in this city?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I thought I told you to stop trying to play matchmaker for me! Unless you happen to make friends with George Clooney and he needs a date…”

“George Clooney is married, silly,” Alice interrupted.

“What? He is? Damn, I had no idea. What does it say about me that I have been too busy to keep up with celebrity goings-on?”

“It says you have more important things to worry about. Now cheer up. You have a big day ahead of you tomorrow.” Alice winked. “In more ways than one.”

Chapter Two

Jax knew he owed Gina an apology. He watched as her fingers flew across the keyboard of the primitive human computer she insisted she needed to do her job. In less than two hours she’d worked out an automated payroll system, and now she was updating his pilots’ weekly schedule.

While she worked, he hovered over the graphic display of the United States that showed precisely where each of his hovercrafts were located at this very moment. He’d thought he ran a pretty efficient business before her arrival, but this little human knew her stuff, especially when it came to dealing with taxes and all the hoops the damn government makes you jump through—her words.

Her tongue peeked out from her mouth as she continued typing, so wet and pink and…Almighty One, he was in trouble. He couldn’t work with her in here, couldn’t concentrate on a single departure or expected arrival time. All his hovercrafts could be in Antarctica right now and he would never know.

Glancing out the window, he frowned at the low placement of the sun in the sky, realizing it wasn’t even close to lunchtime yet. The day was passing slowly, torturously, and all he could think about was swiping her desk clean and lifting her up on it. He could arrange her legs around his waist and press his cock against the sweetness between her thighs, and he could lean down and capture her lips while she moaned softly into his mouth. If her enticing scent was any indication, she would taste delicious.

“Mr. Jax? Hello? Earth to Mr. Jax. Hellooooo.”

Startled from his thoughts, his head shot up and he met Gina’s amused visage.

“Wow, where did you just disappear to?” She sat straighter. “Never mind. I can’t believe the businesses here have to pay taxes to the federal government. Didn’t you guys try to negotiate out of that? Get some kind of waiver? I mean, it’s not like you’re depending on the government for anything but the land you were given for this city, and half of the residents here are human anyway.”

“Are you aware that Reestrian and human babies have been switched during the last few decades as part of an experiment to test how humans grow on Reestria, and in return how well Reestrians might grow on Earth?”

“Of course I’m aware of all that. CNN had a big news special about it last month. I know most of the Reestrians in this settlement were raised on Earth, thinking they were human for the first twenty years or so of their lives, until being taken back to Reestria to experience those magical growth cycles that just won’t happen on Earth for some reason. But I was talking about taxes. Why can’t your people get out of paying them?”

“It was important that my people, the Earth-raised Reestrians, were not kept from any human mates they desired, humans they may have met while growing up on Earth. We had to make some concessions to hurry along the construction of this settlement, and while we probably could’ve talked our way into an exemption from many of your country’s rules, like paying taxes, we decided to agree to the terms set forth by your president right away. Many of our males were close to experiencing their mating urges and needed to return to their chosen humans at once.”

“I see. Well, do you realize you haven’t paid your quarterlies yet? They were due last month. I’ll help you work on write-offs tomorrow and then we’ll get it sent in. Trust me, Mr. Jax, you don’t want the IRS after you. They’ll eat your soul for breakfast.” She once again focused on the computer in front of her, and he frowned at not understanding her last statement.

Was Gina afraid of the IRS? He rose to his full height and puffed out his chest, feeling ready to go to battle for this little human female he’d met but yesterday.

“I will protect you from the IRS, Gina. I will not allow them to eat your soul, or to harm you in any other way.” The language chip in his brain that allowed them to understand one another must not be catching all her words correctly. He made a mental note to have his checked, and perhaps hers should be checked as well.

Gina’s sudden laughter bounced off the walls. He grimaced and stared at her, wondering if maybe she wasn’t well in the head. Reestrian males who didn’t mate at the proper time became afflicted with an illness known as The Madness. Perhaps human females had some similar condition afflict them. He had heard humans and Reestrians were quite similar in behavior and appearance, but this female’s behavior had left him perplexed on more than one occasion since he’d met her. Ah, but she was a mystery he wanted to solve.

“Mr. Jax, the IRS is the Internal Revenue Service. They take your tax money, and if you don’t pay them, they’ll make life difficult for you.” Her fingers had stilled on the keyboard and her eyes sparkled as a fresh smile broke across her face. “They won’t literally eat your soul or cause you physical harm. Thanks a lot, Mr. Jax. Now you’ve made me explain my joke and it’s no longer funny.” She went back to typing, but a grin still tugged at her lips.

Jax tried to concentrate on the circular display screen below him, as well as the list of hovercraft repairs he needed to complete by evening, but all he could think about was the fact that Gina was unclaimed. He inhaled her scent from across the room, drawing in a long, deep breath, and puzzled at not detecting the slightest scent of another male. She possessed an exquisite beauty, her pale complexion offset by her dark eyes and even darker hair. She was shorter than him, as all humans were, but she wasn’t so petite that she wouldn’t be able to handle the rigors of his mating.

But she wasn’t Reestrian, and she probably wouldn’t just offer herself to him because it was his biological time to mate. She was a human, a rather headstrong one from what he’d seen so far, and she would need all the pomp that came with human courtship. Lunch and dinner dates, flowers, and thoughtful gifts. He would have to take her to the movies too. Klemm had explained human dating behavior several days ago while urging him to seek out a human female in a town outside Rahatha.

Heat pummeled through him and his cock strained against his pants. He clutched the sides of the display screen as a wave of dizziness assaulted him. He blinked hard several times in order to clear away the stars dotting his vision. Taking deep breaths, he waited for the dizzy spell to pass, while his eyes went wide with realization.

The human female known as Gina had accelerated the onset of his mating urge. It was the only logical explanation for the sudden change in his physical state. Before her arrival, he hadn’t felt his blood heating or his pulse accelerating so abnormally.

He wiped the perspiration from his brow and strode to her side, using his foot to turn around her swivel chair and force her to face him.

“Hey, Mr. Jax, what do you think…” Her words trailed off and she stared up at him, her gorgeous dark eyes widening.

“You will go to lunch with me, Gina, and then I will buy you flowers on the way back to work.”

“Excuse me?”

“Then tonight I will take you to dinner and a movie. There’s a theater on the other side of the city, and I’ll make sure we get the best seats. I will hold your hand during the movie.” When she gaped at him in silence, he backed away a few steps, not trusting himself to keep his hands off her. He didn’t want to scare her by moving too fast, something Alice had warned him about. “I will walk you home after the movie and then kiss you thoroughly.”

* ~ * ~ *

To say Jax had stunned Gina into silence would be an understatement. She stared up at him while trying to take in regular breaths, lest she pass out at his feet. She should be offended by his proposition. Well, it was more like a demand. He hadn’t exactly asked her on a date. He’d told her she was going out with him. Her heart danced with joy that he was so attracted to her, but her sensible side was outraged by his highhandedness.

She swallowed hard and tried to fight down the flutters rising in her stomach, to no avail. A spasm of heat rocked through her core and she squirmed in her seat. A second later, she felt a flush travel up from her neck to spread over her whole face. Did he noticed her squirming? Did he realize how much she wanted him too, even though she couldn’t possibly accept his offer?

But damn, she found his dating faux pas so adorable, and sweet in a way that made her want to slide her hands up his shirt and dig her fingers into his muscles. As she held his gaze, trying to find the strength to say, “no, thanks, Mr. Jax,” his eyes transformed from blue to black. She gripped the sides of her chair. What the hell?

“Are you all right, sir? Your eyes were blue a second ago, but now they’re pitch black. Are you sick or something?”

He took a few more steps back and braced himself against the wide table that held his hovercraft display screen. “I am not sick, Gina. Do not be afraid. I would never hurt you.”

What did he mean by that? Gina had caught the most important news broadcasts about Reestrians and knew as much about them as the average American, but she hadn’t known their eyes could change color suddenly.

Oh dear. She rolled her chair away from him, even though he was on the other side of the room. She might not understand his abrupt change of eye color, but his other symptoms were clear enough.

“Your eyes are black, you’re sweating bullets, and you’re panting like you’re about to experience heat stroke.” She should’ve realized what was happening the second perspiration started trickling down the side of his head. Jax might be the only unmated Reestrian in Rahatha, but not for long. His mating urge was coming upon him, and though she didn’t know much about their mating practices, she knew once their fever set in they didn’t have long before they were compelled to mate. Sometimes hours, or sometimes days, depending on the particular Reestrian.

And it was just her luck that she was the only single woman inside the city.

“Please, my dearest Gina, do not be afraid.”

My dearest Gina? Holy crap…

“I’m not afraid of you, Mr. Jax.”

“Call me Jax. Not Mr. Jax, and not sir. Just call me Jax. Please, Gina.” His chest rose and fell rapidly, drawing her attention to the muscles encased underneath his fitted shirt. Like yesterday, he kept his sleeves rolled up, his powerful forearms glistening with his increasing perspiration.

“All right. Jax,” she said, liking the sense of familiarity that came without adding a title or a formality to his name. She couldn’t forget he was her boss though, and she really couldn’t get involved with someone she worked with again. After Mr. Grabby Hands found out she’d gone on a few dates with a coworker, he’d become even grabbier. Don’t mix work with pleasure. Let him down nicely.

“You are more beautiful than the moons of Reestria reflecting off the mountainside lakes, and you smell like a field of flowers after a soft rainfall, my dearest Gina.” His darkened eyes gleamed with more than lust. Affection?

No, he couldn’t possibly have feelings for her. Some humans believed in love at first sight, but Gina wasn’t one of them. Did Reestrians experience such an emotion, so suddenly and intensely? She really should’ve grilled Alice about Reestrian mating practices last night, rather than staying up late making strawberry cheesecake and getting tipsy on peach margaritas.

“Wow, um, that’s quite a compliment,” she finally said. “You know, the nicest thing the last guy I dated told me was that I had a cute butt.”

“I like your butt too, Gina,” he said, matter-of-factly. “You have tempting and firm, perfectly rounded bottom cheeks I long to squeeze and press myself against.”

She blew out a breath and scratched the back of her neck, feeling awkward and needing to do something with her hands. Holy hell, she couldn’t stop squirming. His gaze, so dark and penetrating, sent tingles throughout her body. She felt lightheaded and totally confounded by her responses to Jax. Shouldn’t she be telling him off and storming out of the office?

“I like your breasts too, my dearest Gina. I ache to take one delectable mound in each hand and caress you until your nipples harden and your breath quickens.”

He might not know it, but her nipples were already hard and her breath had quickened to the point she worried she might hyperventilate and pass out due to her immense arousal. She had never in her life wanted to jump someone’s bones as much as Jax’s.

Had a human male said such things to her, she would’ve already kicked his balls all the way to Arkansas. But Jax didn’t know any better, and though his words were explicit, she found him…sweet. His eyes gleamed with sincerity, and she knew he wasn’t dishing out compliments in order to get into her pants. He meant every word he said.

“Jax, I’m flattered by your attraction to me, but fact is, you’re my boss. It probably isn’t a good idea for us to get involved. I really want to keep this job and not have to worry about any awkwardness between us.” His eyes are black. He’s sweltering and it’s not even that hot today. He wants to mate with you. She gulped and tore her gaze from his, opting to stare at a painting of what appeared to be a grand Reestrian city at nighttime, complete with two large, orange moons dominating the landscape.

“Forgive me if I’ve been too forward, my sweet Gina, but I am drawn to you so fiercely I can hardly breathe. If you were mine, you wouldn’t have to work another day in your life. I would keep you safe in our home, and you could spend your days tending to our children.”

“Oh, I could, could I? Gee, thanks for the choice. You really are a sexist pig, you know that?” She turned back to her computer. If she didn’t look at him again, she wouldn’t be so tempted to accept his lunch invitation, or his dinner and movie invitation. Or that last invitation where he’d mentioned kissing her thoroughly. Nope, she’d better not think of that.

Warm hands descended upon her shoulders, and she gave a startled cry. His hot breath tickled her ear.

“Mr. Jax…”

“I’m sorry if I offended you, my dearest Gina, but when I look into your eyes I see our future so clearly I ache for it. I see everything I’ve ever wanted, and I confess it’s difficult for me to go slowly with you when all I can think about is stripping off your shirt and burying my face in your breasts.”

Despite herself, she shuddered and leaned into his touch. Her heart fluttered and endorphins rushed through her in waves of hot and cold that zipped from her head down to her toes. The first day of her new job wasn’t going anything like she’d expected.

Chapter Three

Jax escorted Gina up to the rooftop of the fanciest restaurant in Rahatha, overjoyed to have finally convinced her to join him for lunch. Though the establishment was open for lunch, he only spotted three other couples in the dining room. Most habitants of Rahatha ate lunch quickly at work or grabbed something in one of the many market squares located throughout the city.

“This is just lunch,” Gina reminded him as the hostess led them to a table.

“Don’t worry, my dearest Gina, I promise not to maul you in public.” He grinned at his own joke, but she shot him a scolding look.

They took their seats and he ordered for them, selecting a traditional Reestrian fish delicacy most of the humans in Rahatha adored.

“Why are all the servers and the other guests staring at us?” Gina whispered, leaning forward. Beams of sunlight streamed down on her hair and bathed her face in gold. He thought she’d never looked more stunning.

“Because of my eyes. It’s evident to them I’m experiencing the beginning of my mating urge.”

“Well, I think it’s rude. You’re not an animal in a zoo.” She folded her napkin on her lap and gave him a worried glance. “Listen, Jax, it’s apparent to me that Alice set us up. She pretty much admitted it last night, but I doubt she expected you to experience your mating urge so soon. This is so freaking weird, I don’t even know what to think. One minute I think you’re kind of adorable and sweet, and the next minute you say something completely ridiculous that makes me want to land a hovercraft on your head.”

“Reestrian males often behave erratically when the time for their mating arrives. It is taking all my strength not to claim you right now, right here on this table. I suspect Alice thought we might have time to get to know one another, but now I’m afraid there’s not much time for that. I have to choose a mate soon, and I hope, very much, that you will accept me as your mate, Gina. Alice said you were her very best friend in the whole wide world, and if you’re such good friends, do you think she would try setting you up with a male who wasn’t worthy of you?”

“This is crazy. You don’t even know anything about me. You’re only physically attracted to me, and as flattering as that is, it’s also a little offensive. I happen to be more than a piece of ass.”

“I sense you have a gentle, kind soul, Gina. I sense you would be a wonderful mate, and a wonderful mother. Our life together would be a happy one. Do you know about the mating bond?”

“I know a little bit about it. Alice says it’s so powerful that it can turn strangers into instant soul mates. Sounds a little bizarre to me though, and besides, she loved Klemm before they became mated.” She tucked her hair behind her ears and leaned back as the server approached and sat their food on the table. Steam rose up from the fish and vegetable dishes, sending ribbons of white dancing in front of her face.

“Doesn’t the idea of a mating bond appeal to you more than a traditional human relationship? I’ve heard many of your marriages end in divorce, and many human-human marriages are troubled. Alice told me your last boyfriend cheated on you, and that your previous boss propositioned you even though he had a female at home, a wife. I assure you that infidelity never occurs in a Reestrian union.”

“I can’t believe we’re talking about this like it might really happen.” Gina took a sip of iced tea and sat her glass down with a clink. “Look, I’m sorry, Jax, but I wasn’t planning to date anytime soon, let alone join in a permanent mating bond with a Reestrian.”

“Ah, but you are tempted,” he said, probably too smugly. “You are tempted and your body yearns for my touch. I can sense that too. Do you normally squirm and blush so much, Gina?”

“One more inappropriate comment from you and I’m getting my lunch to-go.” She flushed and her eyebrows bunched together, but he sensed she wasn’t truly angry with him.

No, this little human was angry with herself. She wanted him, maybe not as much as he wanted her, but she still longed for his touch. The scent of her feminine essence reached him, and his nostrils flared as the satisfaction of knowing he’d incited her arousal filled him.

“Very well.” He picked up his fork. “Let’s finish our lunch and perhaps we can resume this conversation later.”

“Don’t count on it, Mr. Jax.”

* ~ * ~ *

Three days after her arrival in Rahatha, Gina was settling into her new life. She loved exploring the city, adored the lush, colorful plant life that grew everywhere, and found the residents, both the Reestrians and the humans, quite welcoming. Alice brought her belongings from her old apartment, little by little, and they got her situated in her new place, a fully furnished apartment in a building only two blocks away from Jax’s hovercraft dome.

The work part of work was a piece of cake, but the dealing with her sexy boss part was a whole different story. Since her first day on the job, his eyes hadn’t returned to their normal shade of blue. Every time she looked at him, his gaze glimmered dark and lustful, and pretending she wasn’t the least bit attracted to him was proving difficult. He’d started trying to court her, to try to win her affections, but she kept pushing him away, insisting that she was only here for the job.

She arrived at work every day to find dozens of fresh cut roses scattered over her desk, and he showered her with all sorts of gifts too, from jewelry to candy to artwork. She tried to refuse each gift and didn’t take any of the items home with her, lest she give him the impression that she would mate with him, and now the office was cluttered with all the tokens of his affection. Alice thought his gestures to be romantic and kept pressuring Gina to consider becoming his mate.

Why not? Who are you holding out for?

She walked through the horde of waiting hovercraft passengers and entered the office, finding it empty. A glance at her watch showed she was thirty minutes early. She slumped in her chair and spun it around a few times, her thoughts conflicted. Alice had told her all about Jax’s promised mate, Tias, and how the female had publicly humiliated him on Reestria by choosing another male and breaking their mating contract. Perhaps Jax wasn’t so different from her after all. He’d also experienced rejection, pain, and loss, maybe even more than her.

She blew out a breath and peered out the window. The morning sun reflected off buildings and illuminated the city in an ethereal glow. This was her home now, this beautiful city. Jax had lifted his thirty day trial period and told her the job was hers, for as long as she wished to stay in Rahatha. The alien-human city was cut off from the rest of society, with tall, impenetrable walls surrounding it, but she didn’t feel like a prisoner here. For the first time in a long time, she felt free and hopeful.

No more struggling to pay rent. No more worrying about missing the return bus because Mr. Grabby Hands made her work late and having to walk home after dark, clutching a can of pepper spray while praying no one bothered her. Rahatha was Utopia on Earth, and aside from her dilemma about how to respond to Jax’s attentions, she no longer had a care in the world.

Three large crafts shot across the sky, drawing her out of her musings. She rushed to the window for a better look. They were much larger than hovercrafts. Americans were forbidden to enter Rahatha airspace, but she didn’t think these ships belonged to humans. A fourth and a fifth ship joined them, coming to drift over the city.

The sudden blare of a siren made her cover her ears. Panic filled her, and she glanced into the open dome area to find passengers and pilots rushing from the building. A blast sounded and the ground shook. She fell to the floor and winced, her knees scrapping the hard surface.

“Gina!”

She looked up and had never been more relieved to see Jax. He rushed toward her and scooped her up in his arms, and before she could ask what was happening, he carried her out into the street and down an alley. His masculine scent surrounded her, comforting her amidst the chaos that had broken out in this once peaceful city. She clung to him and closed her eyes as a bright light blinded her. The ground shook again and again, and the continual blare of the siren was broken every few seconds by an even louder blast.

Then all the noise ceased and she only heard the beating of Jax’s heart and the sound of his footsteps. She peeked out from his embrace. They were in a small living area with no windows. It resembled a tiny one room apartment, aside from the alien décor and the three wide screens that were lit up with images of the city, displaying the destruction that was taking place.

Jax sat her down on her feet and they both stared at the screens.

“What’s happening?”

“The Ettalians are attacking us.”

“The who?”

“Several months ago, a new race of aliens known as the Ettalians attacked one of our ships as it was preparing to travel to Reestria from Earth. Only a handful of humans are aware of the existence of Ettalians, though I suppose after today their existence will become common knowledge. The emperor of Reestria was trying to negotiate peace with them and establish trade, however it seems they are intent to conquer.”

A new fleet of ships appeared on the screens and shot green balls of fire at the Ettalian crafts, and in a matter of seconds the attacking ships exploded and debris rained down on the city.

“Those are our Warrior Reestrians, from the Giamot Clan. They must have been tracking the Ettalians to have gotten here so quickly. Do not be afraid, my dearest Gina. The battle is over, and the Ettalians have been defeated.”

She glanced around the tiny room. “What is this place? Your own private bunker?”

“This is the lowest level of my house. Many of the buildings here have such structures beneath them.”

“Well, that sure is good to know, in case any warmongering aliens I’ve never heard of decide to say hello again.” She glanced down and realized her hands were shaking, and she clasped them together and took deep breaths. As the smoke cleared on the images displayed on the screens, she realized with a sigh of relief that the city wasn’t too badly damaged. The hovercraft dome stood strong, and most of the houses and business around them only had broken windows. The Warrior Reestrians had arrived just in time.

“I have to go make sure Alice and Klemm are all right.” Gina started walking to the door, but Jax blocked her path.

“There’s no need to go outside yet. I can contact them from here.”

When she nodded her assent, he moved to a panel on the wall and pressed buttons, until finally Klemm’s voice filled the room. “Jax. We’ve been calling the dome and were starting to get worried. Are you and Gina safe?”

“Yes, we’re both fine.” His assessing gaze flickered over her, making goosebumps rise all over her body.

“We’re both all right, too.”

“Good. We should postpone our trip tonight and see to the repairs in the city. I hope you can wait that long.”

Huh? What did Klemm mean by that? She took a step away from Jax and rubbed her arms.

Jax looked embarrassed for a moment, ducking his head and glancing away from her. “I can wait.” He pressed a large blue button on the panel, cutting off the communication line, then ran a hand through his hair.

Gina was relieved her friends hadn’t been injured, or worse, but now her anxiety was creeping back in. Where was Jax supposed to travel with Klemm? She talked to Alice daily, so why hadn’t her best friend told her about the supposed trip?

As if reading her mind, Jax cleared his throat and said, “My fever is at its hottest, my dearest Gina. I must mate soon or The Madness will claim me, and I’ll be shipped back to Reestria to live out the rest of my days in a state of violence and confusion. Klemm keeps trying to take me to a human town outside the walls of Rahatha to search for a mate. I keep arguing with him though and insisting there’s only one human female I want. It’s you, Gina. I have wanted you since the first time I stared into those pretty dark eyes of yours.”

She felt Jax’s gaze hot on her, penetrating to her core. She stared at him and her heart ached at the sadness she detected in his expression. He approached her and cupped her face, his hands warm and his skin rough.

“Are you all right? You are shaking, my sweet mate.”

“Jax…” She had been about to protest his claim on her, but she became lost in his intense, beautiful gaze and couldn’t summon the words. Instead, she said, “Thank you for bringing me here.”

“When I heard the siren, I came running as fast as I could. The thought of any harm coming to you fills me with terror.” He stroked her cheeks with his thumbs. Waves of heat rippled off his massive form, and she stepped closer, compelled to feel his body next to hers.

Their legs brushed together, and his hardness pushed against her stomach. Her neck ached from peering up at him, but she couldn’t look away. She could stare at him all day, and damn if she couldn’t remember a single reason why she’d been pushing him away these last few days. In this moment, all that mattered was that he leaned down to kiss her. She wanted it as much as she feared it, because she knew once their lips joined together, neither of them would be able to stop.

* ~ * ~ *

Jax’s cock throbbed against Gina’s stomach, and he pressed harder against her, still holding her face in his hands. Her lips parted slightly and she gave a soft sigh, her eyes darkening.

“I will love you and care for you until the day I die, my dearest Gina, if only you will have me. Mate with me here, in this room, and we will become bonded for life.” He trailed a finger across her lips and she shuddered. “I’ll even let you keep your job. Whatever makes you happy, my sweet, will make me happy too. Trust the mating bond to bring understanding to our lives.”

As he spoke, tears shone in her eyes, and she blinked fast several times. Even as she appeared on the verge of crying, a small grin played across her lips.

“Say you’ll mate with me, Gina. Say you’ll be mine forever.” Waiting for her response was torture, and his soul ripped apart anew with each second she remained silent.

Finally, her smile widened and she nodded. “Okay. Yes. I’ll mate you with you, Jax. As much as I feel like we’re rushing things, I can’t stand the thought of you hooking up with some random human chick outside the city. But I’m not just saying yes because of how jealous I’d be, Jax. I do like you, and this whole week that I’ve been pushing you away…well, you’ve really gotten under my skin. I hope I will make you happy too, and wow, I should probably shut up. I sometimes ramble when I’m nervous.”

“I look forward to making you ramble often, my sweet mate.”

She laughed.

Joy swelled in his chest, and his heart had never felt so full. His throat burned and he swallowed hard, then leaned down until his mouth was level with Gina’s. Their breath mingled together for several seconds, and after a shudder ran through her again, he claimed her lips with his, delving his tongue inside to taste and explore the sweetness of his mate.

His mate. She would belong to him forever, and he thrilled at the thought of having her by his side, always. He was proud to call her his mate, this perfect little human who had challenged him that first day in the dome.

She moaned into his mouth and he kissed her harder, deeper, until they broke apart panting breathlessly. His vision blurred but he didn’t care. Now was the time to claim her, when his fever burned dangerously hot, and the bond between them could be forged.

“Just one moment,” he said, releasing her and rushing to the communication panel. He slammed his fingers over the buttons until Klemm’s voice filled the room again. “Gina and I will be alone in my house for the next few days. We would very much like it if no one disturbed us. Will you check on the dome for me and make sure the pilots keep to their schedule, assuming there’s no damage to the hovercrafts?”

“Ah, I guess a trip outside Rahatha won’t be necessary after all?” Klemm sounded both amused and relieved. “I will take care of everything. Now go and mate with your Gina.”

Chapter Four

Gina heard Alice’s delighted squeal in the background before Jax cut the line to their friends.

She grinned. This was really happening. Not only was she about to sleep with Jax, but she was committing to him for the rest of her life. This last fact should’ve scared her, but she felt nothing but his love, and his fierce desire to keep her safe spoke of his endless devotion.

He hadn’t fled to this bunker alone. He’d come for her, and he’d carried her through the streets during the Ettalian attack. None of her former love interests would’ve risked their lives for hers. She’d never believed in soul mates, or in fate, but as she stared into Jax’s eyes, she imagined she had been destined for this strong Reestrian male all along.

She expected him to pounce on her like a starved lion on a mouse, but he kept his distance for a long minute, and his intense gaze both unnerved her and sent excited tingles rushing through her. Finally, he moved from his place by the panel and started circling her. She could scarcely breathe and felt as if he was indeed a predator sizing her up, getting ready to devour her.

A deep growl emitted from his throat when he came to stand directly in front of her, and then he swept her up in his arms and carried her to the bed. He tossed her atop the covers and yanked at the hem of her skirt. The damn thing didn’t budge and she giggled.

“It has a zip,” she said with a grin. “In the back.” She turned over and wiggled her butt at him, expecting him to undo the zipper.

Instead, he gave another growl and ripped her skirt to shreds, ignoring her surprised gasps. His need to have her now, to take her so quickly and during the height of his fevered mating urge, left her quivering with desire. He shifted his weight off the bed and she heard two loud thumps.

She rolled over on her back, intending to give him her best come hither look, only to gasp again. Her mouth dropped open at the sight that greeted her. He stood before her in his birthday suit, so gloriously naked and proud, his muscles toned to perfection and his huge cock jutting out from between his powerful thighs. His own clothes, even those delicious tight pants he always wore, rested in tatters at his feet. His boots had been thrown all the way across the room.

“I can’t believe I’ve been playing hard to get these last few days,” she mumbled. “God, I’m an idiot.”

He didn’t seem to hear her comment, and he straddled her and made quick work of tearing off her panties, blouse, and bra. She lifted her center to his, and groaned at the sensation of his massive length brushing against her aching entrance. He growled again and pinned her wrists above her head, holding them down with one hand, while he explored her body with his other hand, caressing and squeezing her while she struggled to sink down on his cock. But she couldn’t move more than an inch, and she cried out in frustration.

Her pussy throbbed, and she met his gaze pleadingly, hoping he claimed her soon. She felt feverish and desperate to be filled up by his hugeness, to finally have him inside her. To finally belong to him.

“Is my little human mate getting impatient?” One corner of his mouth curled before he leaned down to capture a nipple, giving it a bite and then licking it to soothe the slight pain he caused. She was beside herself with need and she wiggled around underneath him, moaning and even cursing him.

“Sonofbitch, Jax, would you just fuck me already?”

“Tsk, tsk. You have quite the mouth on you, my dearest Gina.” He moved on to her other nipple, biting and running his tongue over it, all the while holding her in place.

“If you don’t take me soon, Jax, you’re going to hear every four letter word in the English language. I can cuss you out in Spanish too.”

He released her wrists and cupped her face, staring down at her with his black eyes. His flesh felt scorching against hers, and she groaned when his cock lurched up to her pulsing center, the tip of his length resting right at the entrance of her pussy. He kissed her then, much more gently than she expected, and she circled her arms around his waist and brought her legs up around his body. She wanted to take all of him when he finally thrust into her.

He pulled back and met her eyes, his expression tender and in contrast to his earlier roughness when he’d ripped of their clothes. “My dearest Gina. My mate.” He shifted his position slightly and in the next moment pushed all the way inside her, stretching her and filling her with his hugeness. She gasped and dug her nails into his back, gulping in air as she became accustomed to his generous size.

Rearing back on the bed, he gripped her hips and started plunging in and out of her pussy.

“Oh, Jax…” She tried to meet his thrusts, but she couldn’t keep up with his rapid pace, so she stayed in place beneath him and let him claim her, let him mate her with all the passion he possessed.

* ~ * ~ *

Jax drove in and out of Gina’s tightness, keeping his gaze locked with hers as he mated her, as he loved her. His heart swelled with affection and the world faded away, until they were in the stars and floating together in the vastness of space. She clung to him and shuddered, and he surrounded her with his arms, holding her against his heart.

The stars spun in circles, dancing around the moons of Reestria. Their hearts joined in a brilliant blast of light, their souls becoming joined for all time. A great sense of peace settled over Jax, and when the shared vision of their mating bond experience faded, they were back in his house, hugging one another and panting. She blinked several times, a blissful expression crossing her face.

“Wow. I had no idea it would be like that.” She stared into his eyes, her gaze emotional and filled with love. “I was so silly to fight this. You really care for me, don’t you, Jax?”

He smiled down at her and resumed thrusting into her, building speed with each plunge. “Yes, I care for you deeply, Gina. You are mine to love and protect, mine to hold against my heart every night for the rest of our lives.”

“I…wow…I feel so much for you too, I…” Tears glimmered in her eyes. “I’m completely overwhelmed with my feelings for you, Jax. I feel like crying, and I feel like laughing and dancing and smiling all at the same time.”

He grinned, pleased by her reaction. They could discuss the particulars of the mating bond later though. Right now, he wanted to focus on the physical aspects of their union, and he tightened his hold on her hips and pounded into her without mercy. She tossed her head around and groaned, trying to meet his thrusts but unable to keep up with him. She clutched the covers and cried out, and he felt her muscles clamping down around his cock as she found her release.

His came hard inside her moments later, filling her with his seed, all the while hoping he got her with child this first time. Growling low in his throat, he pumped into her until the last of his pleasure faded. Withdrawing from her slowly, he sat up on the bed and lifted her into his lap, cuddling her against his chest.

A soft sigh escaped her as she stroked her fingers through his hair. She was right where she belonged, in his arms with her head resting over his heart.

“You still feel hot,” she said, caressing his cheek. “But not as hot as before.”

“My fever will cool over the next few days. Our mating bond is complete, but the more I claim you, the more quickly I will return to normal.” Although, he knew that even once his fever had cooled completely, he would still want to claim her at all hours of the day.

“Ah, I get it now. The famous Reestrian-week-o’-sex I’ve heard about. I just hope my boss gives me the time I need off work. He can be a real hard ass.”

Jax chuckled and nuzzled his face in her hair, inhaling her sweet floral scent. He cupped her bottom and gave it a firm squeeze. “Let’s make it two weeks.”

THE END

A note from the author:

Thank you so much for purchasing or borrowing Boss Alien! I hope you enjoyed reading about Gina and Jax. There are more books planned in the Reestrian Mates series, so please check my Amazon Author Page for regular updates.

Book Five in the Reestrian Mates series, Savage Alien, will feature one of the Warrior Reestrians from the Giamot Clan, and it’s scheduled for a June 2015 release.

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

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Feel free to check out Sue’s kinkier titles on her Sue Lyndon Amazon Author Page, or visit her website: www.suelyndon.com. Her latest release under this name, Owning His Bride, is a sci-fi erotic romance novel that includes spankings, sexual scenes, medical play, and more.