Assassin's Bride Read online

  A shocked screech escaped before Haden could stop himself.

  “The true hero of the story is a local woodcutter who uses his ax to open the wolf and pull Red and her grandmother out.”

  “I must admit to being confused about the point of that story.”

  Venice replied thoughtfully, “I believe it was a cautionary tale about remaining safe in the city as opposed to venturing into the dangerous unknown of the forest. I’m certain they would see it as sticking to what you know and staying away from the unknown.”

  “Why did you change it?”

  “Unlike our ancient ancestors, women today enjoy exploring the unknown. We crave new and interesting experiences. Even if things weren’t so desperate on Earth, I would have accepted your world’s offer to relocate just for the pleasure of seeing a new and different world and meeting another species.”

  “Another difference in your version is making the wolf half male.”

  “There are many tales on Earth of creatures that are half person and half animal. The most famous is the wolf-man. He is portrayed as a savage male, yet to be tamed by civilization. He lives in the forest, hunts in wolf form and mates with innocent women in his human form. Though mating with them is taboo, women fantasize about them relentlessly.”

  “The males being half animal is what makes them forbidden?”

  Nodding, she replied thoughtfully, “Yes.”

  “Then they are much like drones. We are part insect.”

  Jerking to attention, her eyes got wide. “You’re right. I don’t know how I missed that. I think I didn’t make the link about drones being similar to the wolf-man because drones are so mild mannered.”

  Smothering a smile, Haden put food onto her plate. “I believe you have seen us in battle mode, so you know that is not quite true. We can be terrifying when we need to be.”

  “I remember. Unlike us, drones are excellent warriors.”

  “The human queens on our planet were quick to fight when one of our Maruvian queens threatened our safety. It was strange to see such defenseless creatures facing off against a huge Maruvian queen.”

  “I honestly have a hard time imagining it as well. Humans fight very rarely. Did you decide on a preferred ending for the story?”

  “Since I identified with the male, my preference was for breeding. After all, a drone can eat many different kinds of creatures, but is breed compatible with very few. No sane male would eat a potential mating partner.”

  “I must admit to enjoying hearing the male’s perspective regarding the story. I preferred the mating ending as well. My primary concern was letting a handsome wolf-man go to waste.”

  “So how would you have finished the story if they were mating?” Haden asked without looking at her because he knew the question was provocative.

  Laughing, she responded playfully, “Let’s just say there would have been some making the human kiss, halabowing and reverse halabowing, and then official baby making sex.”

  “In that order?”

  “You are a nosey one.”

  “Just curious as to why the male did not choose to use a heart stone on his mate.”

  “I thought the pleasure stones were only used by drones with wings?”

  “Every drone wishing to maximize pleasure for his queen uses the stones.”

  “Interesting. I have a tiny one. Did you know that?”

  “No. I am aware that Queen Carolyn gifted many thousands to the queens of Earth. How fortuitous that you managed to secure one.”

  “I’ve always been fascinated with all things alien. Your culture is more interesting than most because you are the only world that does not purchase or trade for brides.”

  “Queen Carolyn and King Igor commanded it so. They were certain a small number of human females would enjoy the various things our home world has to offer.”

  Finishing up their food, she replied. “I can’t wait to get there. Will you tell me of your home world?”

  Motioning her toward his sitting area, they curled up on opposite sides of a long settee. “Our world is very different from Earth. The air and the oceans are pristine and we go to great lengths to ensure they will remain so. Our world has an orange sun and two moons. By any standards the lush vegetation and abundant wildlife would make it worth settling, but our world is mineral and gemstone rich.”

  “You are saying everything that human women like to hear. Your world is virtually an untouched paradise blessed with gemstone and hot Maruvian men. Who wouldn’t want to settle there?”

  “It seems many do not care for our insect heritage.”

  “What insect heritage? You look very human to me. Granted I haven’t seen all the good bits, but you look as much like humans as any aliens I’ve seen.”

  “Kind of you to say, but we do not appear as human as some other species.”

  Smiling, she moved down the settee a bit, and leaned in to look him over. “Yeah, but they don’t have cool antennas, now do they?”

  Feeling inspected, yet admired, warmed his soul.

  Moving closer, she didn’t stop until she was right beside him. “I really liked touching your ears and your antennas the other day.”

  Feeling his possessiveness rising, he reached out wrapping an arm around her slim body. Drawing her forward, he murmured, “I like that as well. Do you have designs on touching me again?”

  “You don’t have to make it so easy for me there, Haden.”

  Looking down into her eyes, he knew this was some form of Earth humor he didn’t understand. She wanted to touch him. He could tell by the look in her eyes and the soft flush of her cheeks. Truth be told, he’d have been able to tell blindfolded. Her alluring scent was growing stronger by the moment.

  “You know on Earth, sometimes the men do the touching.”

  Haden felt his nostrils flare. It sounded like she was offering herself for his pleasure. That couldn’t be correct information. “I am unsure what you are alluding to, my queen.”

  Reaching out to toy with the magnetic seam of his uniform, she dropped her eyes. It was such a submissive pose that it took his breath away. He’d never seen a queen act that way and, through some form of perversion, he was thoroughly aroused by it.

  “Do you have a vehicle back home?”

  The little queen was losing him. “Yes. It is a hovercycle. I ride it for leisure.” Staring down at her, he waited for her to speak.

  “I’m sure you test drove it before you purchased it.”

  Nodding, he acknowledged he had. “The trader had many different designs. I rode several before settling on the one I felt was a good fit.”

  Raising her eyes to his, she stated quietly, “Now apply that analogy to mating.”

  Haden felt as though lightning had struck his brain. He didn’t need to think about it because he knew exactly what she was saying. “You are suggesting that we test compatibility for mating prior to making our bond permanent?”

  Smiling, she pulled lightly at the seam and watched it come apart to reveal his muscled chest. Then she stopped. What was she waiting for? A suspicion crawled for from the depths of his mind.

  “Let us return to the part of the conversation where you said on Earth the male touches.”

  She moved a little closer and her mating scent grew stronger. “I sometimes like males who take the lead.”

  A lusty screech threatened to erupt from the back of his throat. “You wish to submit to me?”

  “Well, maybe, if that wouldn’t be too forward.”

  “It is your right to ask for what you wish and my duty to comply. However, this request will be both an honor and a pleasure to fulfil, my queen.”

  “Are you sure you would not rather rest after a long hard day of work?”

  Standing, Haden scooped her up in both arms and headed for his sleeping platform. After suffering the misfortune of being fitted with a transponder and being forced to submit to the will of a queen, this was
a role reversal that left him eager and aching with need. “No changing your mind, my queen. You have offered yourself up to me and I am far too greedy to do anything but accept.”

  Chapter 10

  Sexy Time

  ~ Haden ~

  Music Mix

  His queen snuggled down in his arms, quiet and content. He slowed his pace, enjoying every single moment of carrying her to his sleeping platform. Kicking the door shut behind him, he slid her to her feet right in front of his platform. Sinking to his knees, he began to divest her of clothing. She moved and wiggled, helping him separate the fabric from her pale soft skin.

  She had pale pink tips on her pert breasts and no hair where he had been told human women had tuffs of hair. Running the backs of two fingers over her soft mound, he puzzled over the unexpected sight.

  She must have noticed his fascination. “We have permanent hair removal on Earth. It’s quick, easy and inexpensive. I had everything below my neck removed all at once.”

  “It makes you beautiful and smooth all over.”

  Gazing down at him, she nodded slightly. “That’s the look I was going for. Trying to keep up with shaving on the run in a post-apocalyptic situation is a no go.”

  “I wish to see all your queenly treasures. You will allow this.”

  Her eyes got big and a soft blush of pink crawled up her pale skin from the chest to her hairline. Haden smiled at the thought of causing that reaction in his pretty queen. Bringing out one large hand, he pressed her backwards onto the surface of his sleeping platform. “Show me, my queen.”

  Standing before her, Haden began to peel off his uniform. Seeing her delicate legs drop open brought his hands to a shuddering stop. His heart thumped in his chest. The human queens were all so sweet and delicate. Ripping off the rest of his clothing, he went to her.

  Touching her, he bent to run his nose up one side of her face and down the other. Her face moved to make the human kiss with him. He’s seen other drones with their queens and knew it was a sign of affection. It felt intimate, and he soon realized why it was a preferred prelude to mating. It was sensual and brazenly sexual to rub lips so provocatively. Feeling her swipe her tongue across the seam of his lips caused him to gasp. Wrapping one hand around an antenna, she held him in place as she explored his mouth with her tiny soft tongue.

  Haden had to admit to losing control after that. Shaking her hand away, he took over their sensual mouth dance and his little human queen melted into his embrace. Stopping to let her catch her breath, his tongue came out to taste her on his bottom lip. Unable to resist, he danced his lips over her glowing skin. Human queens were so responsive. It felt to him like every single thing he did was pleasurable to her small body. Her breasts proved to be particularly sensitive, especially the tips. Putting his mouth there caused her to make tiny noises his mind associated with pleasure.

  Wanting more of those sounds, he continued down to her explore her queenly treasures. Though he wished to perform a proper halabow, he thought better of it. Lifting her into the air to perch her on his mouth might frighten her. The thought of her delicate knees trembling on his shoulders as he enjoyed the taste of her body was a tempting treat he would save for a later date. He had heard it was a strange custom for her kind. They preferred the horizontal halabow, which he was eager to give her at the moment.

  Pressing his tongue along her fragile folds was the kind of erotic he’d never even been advanced enough to imagine. Savoring the taste of her body, he got comfortable, never wanting to leave. The tiny little nub at the forefront of her sex was his whole world at that moment. Playing with her and making her tip into one effortless orgasm after another was the stuff drones dreamed of doing with a queen. He didn’t even stop to wonder why she was responding so well to him.

  Suddenly, her small fingers were grabbing his antennas and gently pulling him up. “God, I’m ready… so very ready.”

  It took a moment for him to figure out what she was saying.

  Her hand drifted down to grab his rod and it all fell into place. She was ready for mating. Haden had been hard for what seemed like ever, so he moved above her with great eagerness. Kneeling between her legs, he leaned over to capture her lips one more time as he tried to decide how he wanted her.

  “Place you hands above your head, and grab the top of the platform.”

  Her quick obedience was nothing short of gratifying. Lifting her waist he wrapped one leg around his waist and laced his arm under her other knee. It was easy to lift her lower torso from the platform. Positioning himself, he nudged at her soft opening.

  Hearing her whisper his name inflamed his need. Who ever thought a drone like him would even have temporary access to a female for mating? Sinking into her slowly, he found her body was almost too small to take his generous endowment. Her sounds of pleasure told him she enjoyed their joining as much as he did. Lifting her slightly higher, he dove in over and over finding just the right angle to maximize her pleasure. His queen was so easy to figure out. Her sexy noises told him everything he needed to know.

  Shock shook him to the core when she tightened around his rod, pulled him, willing or not, over the edge with her as she came. Reaching down, he pulled her straight up onto his rod and emptied into her clenching tunnel. Her feet dangled around his knees, kicking slightly. Her arms came up around his neck and she collapsed on his chest. Her little human weight practically nothing compared to a Maruvian warrior. He could hold her like this all night long.

  Finally her face tilted up to look him in the eyes. The adoration in her gaze filled his soul with happiness. “You’re amazing. I never thought sex could be like that.”

  Feeling his chest fill with pride, Haden gently laid her down on his sleeping platform and curled protectively around her slight form. Burrowing down close to him, she tumbled off to sleep. Shocked at having mated a queen and her trusting him enough to sleep at his side, Haden was in wonder what to think of this marvelous turn of events.

  He’d pleased a queen. The reality set in that he could possibly be selected as her permanent mate. Wanting that more than anything else in the ‘verse, he was careful to keep her near and warm.

  Chapter 11

  Sexy Shower Time

  ~ Venice ~

  Music Mix

  Waking the next morning, Venice glanced up to see Haden was already awake. “I hope I haven’t overstayed my welcome.”

  “I do not believe that is possible. You are my guest and I am pleased to have you in my quarters.”

  “You were really amazing last night.”

  Trying to keep the smile off his face, Haden replied, “I believe you mentioned that already. I can be amazing all over again this morning, in case you are interested.”

  “I was thinking that maybe we could have some fun in the mister.”

  Haden was taken aback. “Queens mate while cleansing themselves?”

  “Yep. It’s convenient, ‘cause we can wash afterwards.”

  “Ahh, queens are very smart about mating. Come, my queen. Let us get ready for our day.”

  Rolling out of bed, Venice raced for the cleansing room with Haden at her back. Just before she got to the door, his arms came out around her waist. “You think to win a race against a warrior? Think again, my beautiful queen.”

  Giggling, she let him carry her into the cleaning room and sit her on his counter. He adjusted the mister and pulled her into the small enclosure with him. Grabbing a handful of the cleansing foam, she began to rub it onto his chest. His eyes lit up with affection. She slowly moved down, cleansing his rod and his testes, which were seated in the upper part of his legs. The drone’s uniforms all had protecting plating covering the area. For the first time, that made real sense to her. Their testes were flat oval fluid filled sacks seated into their flesh. Each palm-sized oval was soft to the touch. He let out a small screech of excitement when she touched him there.

  “You are a very thorough cleaner, my queen.” />
  Spraying him off, she kneeled in front of him, she decided on the reverse halabow. He was rock hard and she was still a little sore from the hot sex they had the night before. Looking up at him, she almost laughed. His dark eyes were huge and he didn’t seem to know what to do with his hands. His nostrils flared when she leaned over and kissed the tip of his rod. Running her tongue around the bullet shaped head almost brought her proud warrior to his knees. Sliding her tongue along his thick length, she took as much of him as possible.

  Haden threw his head back, speaking some mumbled words about his goddess. He was all kinds of cute in the throes of passion. Sucking gently at first, then more firmly, she intentionally dragged out building his pleasure. Being a person with little experience and virtually none at giving oral, Venice thought she was doing pretty good. Reminding herself that Haden probably would have never been with a woman before her, she allowed some of her anxiety to ebb away, in favor of pleasuring the drone she’d grown to adore.

  Taking her time, she gave him all the pleasure she could manage. Suddenly, his hand was in her hair. Instead of forcing himself on her like men were wont to do, he merely massaged her skull in a tender and almost respectful way. From the words coming out of his mouth, she knew he was overwhelmed by the pleasure she gave. His whole body tensed and then he flooded her mouth with his essence. Strangely enough, he tasted like some kind of exotic passionfruit juice. Swallowing it down, she didn’t even feel strange about it.

  Slipping up to kiss him, he gasped between kisses. “You shatter my being and put me back together better than before.” Looking confused, he seemed to be struggling to explain how she made him feel.

  Touching his face, she murmured soothingly, “I know what you mean. I loved doing that for you, my sweet.”

  Holding her for a few moments, he finally seemed to pull himself together. “I never knew such pleasure could be had without the heart stones.”

  Bumping her hip into his, she responded playfully. “Pleasure stones are for warriors with wings. We don’t need no stinking pleasure stones to have hot sex.”