Page 15 of Alien Abduction for Pirates
I laugh. "It can be my pet and you can borrow it from time to time."
"Deal. It's a date."
"A date?"
"I read about those when preparing to abduct you. It sounded like a fun tradition that I'd like to try. Would you like a date on Epsyl-4, my little mate?"
I look up at him, butterflies bouncing up and down in my stomach while heat embraces my heart. Instead of a response, I stand on my tiptoes and kiss him.
* * *
The grass smellsof chocolate and cinnamon. I breathe in deep, almost tasting the cocoa on my tongue.
I'm on another planet.
I still can't believe it. I jump up and down a little, elated at how different the gravity feels. Everything here is different. The light breeze carries sounds that I can't identify. They could be made by plants or animals or the diamond mountains - I have no idea. My only reference points are what I know from Earth, but those aren't enough. I lack the words to describe this place.
Creatures as large as blue whales float high above us, reminding me of airships. They make weird trumpeting noises as they float among the clouds. The ground beneath my feet is soft, almost like jelly, but it solidifies when you step on it. Again, it's hard to put it into words.
"Come join me," Aedan calls and I force myself to look away from the air whales. My purple alien has prepared an actual picnic for us. A blanket, various tubs containing food and even a bottle of the strong liquor he calls Blastwater. I can only take a shot glass of that stuff, anything more makes me dizzy. And horny. Probably exactly what Aedan is hoping for. The blanket is big enough for us to lie on... if the date progresses well.
Not that I have any doubts about that. It's taken us a week to get to Epsyl-4 and we spent most of that time in Aedan's cabin. Which is now my cabin, too. His crew - my crew - got used to having to deal with things without their captain. Aedan has shown me pleasures I never thought possible. I never thought of myself as a nymphomaniac - on the opposite - but this male has turned me into a constantly horny female willing to jump him all day. Or be jumped.
Professor Katila has backed off and the cameras have been removed. Len went through the ship searching for hidden bugs. Aedan got so angry I had to resort to the only method that calms him down when he gets in one of his don't-look-at-my-mate moods: caressing his horns.
Len and Panan have become my friends, or at least are on the way to be. The brothers are easy to talk to and Panan has a wicked sense of humour. The other female on board, La-Layna, is a different story altogether. I don't know if she's jealous or simply doesn't like me, but we've come to something of a truce. We ignore each other most of the time and stay civil when we can't. Aedan says she'll need some time to get used to the idea of having me on board. The crew is La-Layna's family and having someone invade that dynamic must be difficult. I get that.
"What are you waiting for?" Aedan shouts and I realise I've been standing there lost in thought. I smile and join him on the blanket. Even the fabric is alien, unlike anything I've ever felt before. It's soft to sit on yet I don't feel the ground through it. I bet we could sit on rough stones without feeling them.
Aedan opens one of the plastic-like tubs and presents my favourite alien food: dumplings filled with something close to spinach. He takes one of them and holds it to my lips. I grin and open my mouth, letting him feed me. The dough melts in my mouth and I can't help but moan as the flavours explode in my mouth.
"I thought that sound was reserved for me," Aedan grins and strokes my bottom lip with his thumb. He knows how that drives me crazy.
"Give me another one of those dumplings and you can hear it again."
"I don't think so. Let's see if I can make you moan without relying on treats."
He cups my face and pulls me closer until our lips are only a breath apart.
"I love you, my mate," he whispers before crushing his lips against mine. He kisses me as if there's no tomorrow, claiming me, worshipping me. I forget all about the dumplings, the picnic, even the beautiful planet we're on.
All that matters is Aedan, his lips, his body.
He's mine. We're made for each other. And we'll stay together, forever, travelling the galaxy.
Later,we're spooning on the blanket. His large body is wrapped around me, protecting me from the evening chill. The air now smells of roasted chestnuts and I breathe in deep.
"I can't believe we're here," I whisper. "How is this even possible? How did we end up together? In all of the universe, how did we find each other?"
"I would have always found you," Aedan replies. There's no doubt in his voice. "We're mates. Nothing in the galaxy could keep us apart. If I hadn't been caught, hadn't been forced to abduct you, I'm sure I would have one day travelled to Peritus and met you. The universe has a way of making sure destiny always wins. And you're my destiny, little human. You're my life. Always and forever."
"Always and forever," I repeat solemnly. "I love you, Aedan."
He hugs me tighter. "Say it again."
"I love you."
"I set out to abduct you," he whispers while stroking my hair. "But in the end, it was you who abducted my heart. You're a pirate and you don't even know it."
