Kor woke her early to claim her body sexually, his actions slow but his kisses and body so hot. She watched him as he dressed in his uniform, and Kor hated that he had to leave her to return to his duties. Her eyes teased him with sultry lowered lashes, and she'd let the sheet slip, exposing her bountiful bosom. "Don't look at me like that," he growled. "Like what?" she said, slowly sliding a finger down between her breasts, a seductive move that made his cock twitch. "Like you want to undress me and eat me." "But I do," she said, her eyes alight with mischief. Kor cursed then kissed her hard. "Keep those thoughts for later. I must check in with my regiment." "Fine, I'll just play with myself while you're gone." Diana howled at the look of pained anguish that twisted his face, and an erection he hoped would subside before he arrived at headquarters. Kor had been away for many cycles and would have a lot of catching up to do. But the thought of
Alone for the first time since their arrival, Diana prowled her new home looking for something to do, but she couldn't even find one speck of dust to clean. Their robot maid had already done all the work. Sighing, Diana dropped onto the cushioned couch that had arrived yesterday and now held a position of prominence in their living room-and a fond memory that still made her blush. Now what do I do with myself? I wonder if they've got any Earth books I can read. But then Diana remembered something the robot hadn't done yet, the front yard. She could get started on making their own statement in the blooms and design she chose. Rummaging through her closet, she cursed, realizing the only thing she had to wear were the stupid veil dresses. I can't garden in those. Diana thought about knocking on Lisa's door across the street to see if she had anything appropriate but then had a better idea. She raided Kor's closet and found a dark-colored shirt and pants to wear. The shir
"I met your brother today," Diana finally told Kor after they'd made passionate love when he came home, skipping dinner to taste her. Kor froze in the process of pulling on his breeches. "What did he want?" he asked, his face carefully neutral. "He wanted to come in and get to know me. I'm afraid I might have been a little rude. He kind of took me off guard. I told him to come back when you were home." Kor's face turned glacial, and he grabbed her tightly. "Don't ever let him in when I'm not home. Do you understand?" "I don't intend to let him in. Like I said, he was creepy, but I don't understand. Isn't he your brother?" "Half brother, and very dangerous. I'm sure you noticed how he differed from others around here with his greenish-cast skin." Diana nodded her head. How could she not notice, especially his freaky eyes. "His mother was pregnant with him when the sickness struck. She survived only long enough to give birth, but the disease had
After Diana went to sleep, Kor called his father, who answered brusquely. "What is it?" "Kil visited Diana today." Kor's father's face aged in a moment, his strength of will sapped by those simple words. "Did he hurt her?" "Not this time," Kor replied tightly. "But he frightened her. You need to do something about this, or I will." Kor's father looked suddenly haggard on the view screen, and he rubbed his aging blue face with a big hand. "I'll talk to him. If I he shows up again, let me know, and I'll talk to the institution." Kor felt a moment's regret that it had come to this, but truth was they should have done something about his brother a long time ago. There was something not right about the plague children, and it went far beyond their different skin tones and looks. Their entire psyche seemed damaged. Kil had remained free of the madness longer than most of his ilk. However, Kor finally gaining a mate, it seemed, might be the catalyst that finally
Diana sat nervously in Lisa's living room, whose turn it was to host the monthly mates' tea. Diana had giggled when Lisa told her about it. "Tea? Seriously?" Lisa had laughed too. "I know it sounds dumb, but apparently this is a long-standing Earth-wife tradition. A way of bringing us together to help us cope with our new lives and to find friends so we aren't so lonely for home." "Does it work?" "I guess, although to be honest, most of the chosens didn't leave much behind. It's like their ancestors look for women who have no real close family or friends. Someone who would welcome a fresh start." A chiming sound ended their deep discussion, and for the next while, a parade of women of varying styles and personalities came through, but the one thing they all had in common, make that two things they had in common, was they were all plump-nothing smaller than a size twelve, it seemed-and they all adored their husbands. All, that is, except for one woman who a
When Kor came home for dinner, Diana threw herself on him and clung to him desperately. He hugged her tightly. "What's wrong?" he asked with concern. "Did Kil come back?" Diana shook her head against him then, her voice breaking, told him, "Claire killed her mate and herself. She was pregnant, Kor. How could she do that? I know she was unhappy, but why?" Kor said nothing, just scooped Diana up and carried her to their living area, where he sat down with her cuddled on his lap. Diana shook in his arms and cried. She couldn't have even said why. She'd barely known Claire. She obviously didn't feel the same way about her marriage as Claire had. But Diana cried anyway. Cried for the loss of the life she knew, cried for the loss of the child who wasn't wanted, cried because she loved her husband but he would never say the words back because his culture didn't have a word to say love. And Kor, understanding her need to release, it seemed, just held her. He said not a
Diana rubbed her tummy and smiled as she pictured what grew inside. Her visit to the doctor with Lisa had confirmed it. I'm pregnant. Diana almost giggled as she pictured the headline back home, boldly displayed in a newspaper title. Woman Gives Birth to Blue Alien Baby. The physician who'd examined her had been unable to confirm the sex yet-that would have to wait a few more weeks-but the baby so far seemed healthy with a strong, rapid heartbeat, and Diana herself felt great. She couldn't wait to see Kor's face when she told him. She'd even set the romantic scene for her announcement. She'd picked flowers from her garden, not too many because her garden still was in the baby growth phrase but enough for some color. Then she perused her electronic cookbook looking for dishes that Kor's mother had mentioned were his favorites so she could order them with her built-in culinary chef. And finally Diana dressed in a soft pink veil gown, a color he said made her skin look rosy and edib
Diana didn't even register the splendor of the Oracle's palace, too intent on her mission, a purpose that the acolyte in front of her was impeding. "I want to speak to the Oracle," said Diana, tapping a foot impatiently. "Now." "But," said the flustered, veiled attendant, "you do not have an appointment. One cannot just show up and expect admittance. It's simply not done." "I don't care. I need to talk to her. She's the reason I'm on this goddamn planet and more miserable than I've ever been in my life. She owes it to me to at least speak to me." "Go home, and we will relay your request. If the Oracle chooses-" A voice interrupted. "She does choose," said the heavily veiled figure that appeared from seemingly nowhere. The acolyte gasped and dropped to the floor, head bowed. "You can take me to see her?" asked Diana. "I am her, child. Come and walk with me. Let us speak of what disturbs you so." The Oracle, a slight figure, gowned he