Page 59 of Exiles on Earth

I glance up at him, at the mixture of triumph and trepidation on his face. “What’s wrong?” I whisper, stomach sinking.

He hesitates briefly before asking, “Did I perform well?”

“Better than well, that was the best I’ve ever had,” I answer honestly. “Did you… enjoy it?”

“I didn’t just enjoy it, I reveled in it,” he asserts, his confidence shining, like when he’s leading his crew or taking charge of a situation.

This is what I want him to step into. Not a subservient sycophant, but the confident, caring guy I know he is.

I walk my fingertips up his scales. Perhaps I can entice him into round two. “I’d love to return the favor.”

“Favor? You’ve bestowed on me a great honor.”

He’s so sweet. “I’m willing to bring you pleasure too, we just need some condoms,” I explain. That’s a firm boundary for me. What’s he packing in those shorts? Something in proportion to him, aka massive. Maybe his cock has scales too, ridges I could ride.

I quiver thinking about it.

“Con…doms.” He frowns.

“Prophylactics.” I’m a farmer, I’m not squeamish about these things. “Stops your, uh, emissions from entering my system.”

“Ah. Clones are issued Containers for Natural Urges in Low Gravity, or CNULG.”

“Mm. Well, in that case…” I try to sound sultry, but all I manage to do is yawn. Tiredness drags at all my limbs as if I’ve picked up thirty hale bales. My hand rests on his shoulder, the scales soft under my palm.

He settles down, sliding his arm underneath me to tuck me close to his chest as rain patters on the tin roof. “Rest, El-len. That would bring me the most pleasure.”

His bicep does make a pretty awesome pillow, smooth under my cheek but firm enough to offer support, and I melt when he kisses my neck.

“If this brings you pleasure, I’m all for it,” I say. “I do want to reciprocate, but I’m also exhausted.”

“It will bring me pleasure.” His voice rumbles in his chest.

The exertions of the day and the awesome orgasm weigh me down into sleep. “I might have a nap now, and I suggest you do the same.”

“I’ll keep watch.” His words are deep murmurs, like a low purr. His free hand moves up my hip and my ribcage to my shoulders, then back down again, smoothing and warming me.

But my heart pangs. He’d wanted a chance at those Mating Games and multiple mates. I’m no replacement for one of his own kind, with whom he could have a child. If I tried to get him to stay, would that even be fair to him, or would he obey out of duty?

It has to be his own choice. And he hasn’t said he wants to be with me. He only shared these moments of firsts.

All the excitement of the day catches up to me—the accident, seeing Terry, hunting a robot, and out of this world oral. I slide into sleep cradled in an alien’s arms, pretending, for the moment, that he will stay.

EIGHTEEN

ILIA

Satisfaction swellsin my chest as I watch her fall asleep in my arms. After this, she’ll ask for pleasure all the time. Perhaps now I can convince her I’m a good mate! I would stay and lavish her with affection every hour of the short days and nights on this planet. My hearts beat harder, cocks throbbing as I imagine it.

Together, we can fix her barn and bring her dreams to life. Seeing El-len rise to the greatness I know she’s capable of lights a fire in my chest.

Her taste ripens in my mouth, causing me to salivate. I tighten my arm around her, greedy with need. My mating instincts must be taking over, demanding I claim her.

But she has to say plainly and clearly: “Ilia, I choose you as my mate.” Only then will I be free to tell her I feel the same way.

And then another mind brushes against mine, scouring like a rake across the soil in a sharp sting of pain. My awareness floods with the other consciousness, an Apex Parthiastock like Nevare.

He hangs between his Bases, but instead of supporting him as Dom and Arik would, these Bases tremble under the Apex’smassive psychic power. He lashes out, wrapping around my mind and squeezing.