Page 41 of Resisting the Alien Commander

“All of our male ancestors have been afflicted with the mating fever. It’s a biological reaction to the need to find a mate and continue our blood line.”

Quinn raises her hand slightly. “Sorry to interrupt, but what does the mating fever feel like? The symptoms, I mean?”

“We experience a stabbing pain in our chest and bellies and the blood in our veins burns through us, heating our entire bodies. Our claws extrude and our fangs throb with the need to sink into the flesh of our mate and mark her so every other Bohnari knows she’s ours. Mostly, we have an undeniable urge to…” My voice trails off, because talking of the fever while my heart’s fire is within reach is causing every reaction I just explained. I need to get myself under control.

“An undeniable urge to what? You can’t just stop there.”

I pause only for another moment before responding. “To fuck.”

Quinn’s mouth falls open, but she snaps it shut. “I see. And this urge to…fuck. Is it for a specific person or will anyone do?”

I don’t want to lie, but it’s not that simple. “Both.”

Her forehead wrinkles. “Explain.”

“Every symptom I mentioned isn’t the only thing that happens when the mating fever strikes. If we don’t sate it, whether through sex or by taking the kanet plant, we are hit with bouts of uncontrollable rage. Nothing can calm us. Our only thoughts are fuck or destroy.”

Quinn’s throat bobs and I have to redirect my thoughts away from imagining her swallowing my cock and back to explaining our affliction.

“Before the Bohnari stopped giving birth to females, most could find a female and be cured of the fever and madness that went along with it. There are a few rare pairings amongst the Bohnari, though, when the male finds his heart’s fire. She is the only female that continues to make the mating fever burn through him, but keeps the madness at bay.”

I pause to give her a chance to digest what I’ve told her and to ask any questions she might have. There really isn’t much more I can tell her that I haven’t already. Other than that I suspect she ismyheart’s fire.

“Let me see if I get this. Every male Bohnari goes through this mating fever that causes rage and destruction until they find a mate or are killed before they do harm to your people. Since you all don’t have females, you have to take this plant, which soothes the fever and calms the anger. Do I have it right so far?”

I nod.

“If one of us becomes a bride to one of you, the mating fever and all its side effects go away. I’m assuming because the couple will be”—Quinn’s cheeks darken—“fucking as married people do.”

“Yes.”

“But there is also a chance that this bride has no affect on the fever itself, but rather is the cure for the so called madness only? These types of women are unlikely, though.”

“That is correct.” She appears to understand, which I am grateful for.

Quinn nods slowly and I can tell she is still processing things. “That still doesn’t fully answer my first question. From your reaction to me in the garden the other day, it’s clear you were under the influence of the mating fever. If this special plant is something every Bohnari takes, which I assume includes you, why isn’t it working for you?”

How will she respond when she learns the truth? It is my greatest fear and yet also my greatest hope. My mother’s voice attempts to work its way into my mind, but I knock it away. I don’t want her to come in between Quinn and me. If Quinn is going to turn me away, I want it to be her choice and not because I let my mother’s insidiousness destroy my chances.

“I believe it is because you are my heart’s fire. The mating fever has been burning out of control within me for days, and I feared the madness would take over, but it hasn’t. Even after I stopped taking the kanet powder. I needed to know.”

Quinn jerks upright. “You did what?”

“I stopped taking the kanet powder.”

She rattles her head. “Why would you do that? What would have happened if it didn’t work? Would we be having this conversation or would you be dead?”

“Most likely I would be dead.”

Quinn jumps to her feet and whirls on me. “For fuck’s sake, what were you thinking?”

I rise to my feet as well. “I suspected you were my heart’s fire. I was mostly confident that I would not be consumed by the fever or the madness.”

“Mostly confident? You were ‘mostlyconfident’?” Her voice rises with each word until the last comes out on a yell.

Within two steps, I am in front of her and gently clasp her face between my palms. “I amfullyconfident that you are my heart’s fire, Quinn. After the kiss we shared, there wasn’t a single doubt in my mind. But I needed to prove to you that it wasn’t only the mating fever that made me kiss you. It wasn’t because you were just any female. You weren’t merelyconvenient. I kissed you because I could do nothing else but that. You are the only female who makes my body burn out of control, but eases the destructive and chaotic thoughts running rampant in my head.”

Because sheisthe one and only female for me, I claim Quinn’s lips with mine. She answers me in full with no hesitation. I slip my tongue inside her mouth and glide it alongside hers. The taste of her is as sweet as her scent, and I drink it all down.

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