Chapter 16
Anna
“ I still can’t believe you lived through all that,” said Bryn. The former security expert propped her organic and cybernetic legs up on the table in Sibyl’s private lounge. It was opulent, in a Destran sort of way. That meant the surfaces were plush and full of rich colors, the furniture was incredibly comfortable and functional, and a soft, sweet breeze moved through the room. Six of the seven women were here, with Tarla being away with her mate, Kael, to visit with some of her human family on a resort space station.
Bryn waved a hand. “You need weapons installed on your ship.”
“Against the rules,” I said, popping a replicated grape in my mouth. “Diplomatic ships are supposed to be respected by all other ships in the galaxy and left alone.”
“Doesn’t help when you’re attacked by a fucking space alien,” she said with a frown and a toss of her long blond braid over her shoulder. “Bullshit rule. You should appeal.”
“I think Lashe will,” I said. “He said he’s going to put together a proposal.”
Bryn snorted at that, but Sibyl nodded. “I will add my agreement to that, Anna,” said the oldest of the women, and back when they had been on a mission to study a far-off planet, she had been the project leader. In many ways, she still was. Her mate, Damiron, was a massive, brutal-looking Destran who adored Sibyl. “I think we all would.”
“Definitely,” said Lexi, the sunny and outgoing redheaded sociologist who was a bright contrast to her dark and serious mate, Grael. “But we’re just happy you’re here, finally.” It was well past New Year’s at the eighteenth of January, but Lashe and I had made it to the Destran planet after spending several memorable weeks at the Likka-5 space station for repairs. It had been wonderful to spend the time with Lashe alone. We’d had a suite and had barely left it.
Lexi held up the color-changing scarf I’d gotten for her. “I love this. It’s so beautiful. Thank you, again.”
Wyn, who still practiced medicine on the Solas, held up her glass of tagma wine. “And this is delicious, but you knew that.”
I grinned. “It’s one of my favorites, too. I’m just glad it made it out to Likka-5 before I left, since Lashe and I drank the original bottle I’d gotten for you.”
“I will save some for Scaron, although I will appreciate it more than he will.” She shrugged and took a sip. “He will always prefer lami to anything.”
“Fuck that. We’re eating this cheese,” said Jetta, holding out the tray of viot’na meats and cheeses that had also arrived when I reordered it and had it delivered to the space station Lashe and I were staying at. “I love Savair and I’ll save him some of the meat, but cheese is sacred.” She popped a creamy square in her mouth and moaned. “Oh god, synthesized cheese isn’t the same. It just isn’t.”
I took a piece and let the salty flavors melt in my mouth. “You’re so right.”
“So, what’s the plan for you and Lashe?” Lexi asked. “Is he going to remain your transport operator?”
I laughed. “Oh, yes. He doesn’t trust anyone else to fly me around the quadrant. And honestly, I wouldn’t want anyone else to. He’s a good operator.”
“He’s loved you for a long time, I hear.” Sibyl raised her eyebrows over the rim of her glasses. “Damiron speaks highly of him. We’re very happy for you, Anna.”
“Yes, but five years.” Jetta let out a low whistle. “That is some patience. I can’t believe he never let on. And that you didn’t notice .”
I took another piece of cheese. “He barely spoke to me.”
“Makes your little misadventure almost a gift,” said Wyn, going for some meat. “Without it, who knows how long you two would have gone on without making some magic happen.” She sighed. “So romantic.”
“You still need to arm that ship.” Bryn shifted her feet to the floor and leaned forward, holding my gaze. “At the very least, better defensive shielding. It’s a top-of-the-line transport ship, for fuck’s sake. Install some polarity flux inhibitors to repel an attack.” She took a sip of water, as wine didn’t mix well with her cybernetic implants, and pointed to me over the rim of her glass. “That should never have happened.”
I sighed. “I agree. I believe weapons and stronger shielding have been installed in the shuttle.”
“Did you ever find out what that asteroid alien was?” Jetta asked. “I wasn’t able to identify the species. Not in the databanks I have access to, anyway.”
I leaned back on the plush couch I shared with Sibyl. “It’s called a toryash by some Nisatians in the Corris system. No one knows where it originated from. They’re considered very rare, apparently, because so few ships escape them to tell about them. Once a ship is caught, it rarely escapes. We saw the remains of many ships embedded on the surface of that creature.”
Jetta nodded. “Several security teams from Earth sent out probes, but it’s no longer at the coordinates Stelis recorded. The irradiated debris field was, though. Fascinating creature.”
“Not if you’re caught in its trap,” said Wyn. “That must have been terrifying.”
“It was,” I agreed. “But I did get Lashe out of it, and for that, I can thank the toryash. ” I spread my arms. “And I made it here after all.”
“You did.” Sibyl inclined her head. “And now that you’re an official Destran citizen, due to your bond with Lashe, you can choose an official residence here. No more guest quarters. This is your home away from Earth.”
The words sent a warmth though me that sparked a wide smile. “Thank you. I know Lashe would choose your Sola, Sibyl. It’s his home.”
She reached out and squeezed my hand. “He’s had a room here. You may expand on it to make it a larger residence, or choose a new one.”
“I’ll talk to him about it,” I said. “I think we’ll be spending much more time here, now that we’re together.”
“And we’ll see more of you.” Lexi smiled brightly. “How great is that?”
I raised my glass. “Amazing.”
We talked and laughed for a while longer before we each peeled off to our respective rooms. Some of the women had farther to go, despite all the Solas being connected. But for me, it wasn’t far at all. We were already in Damiron’s Sola. I entered Lashe’s quarters hesitantly. Even though I shared it with him, it was still new.
He lay on his back on the bed and smiled when he saw me. “Hello, my love.”
I jumped into bed with him. His room was sparse and small, unsurprisingly, considering how little time he spent here. That would change. I told him about Sibyl’s invitation to expand the room or choose new quarters.
“Damiron told me the same.” He pulled me into his arms. “I leave the choice to you. The Sola is capable of shifting and reforming herself to the needs of her residents. She will do as Damiron asks, since he’s the only one who can communicate with her.”
My skin warmed as his hands moved over me. “Hmm. I like this spot.”
He grinned and ran a hand over my hip. “So do I.”
“I like this one, too,” I said as I cupped his taut cock and squeezed the hard length. My hand slid up his shaft and I squeezed the tip, feeling him harden more. “And this one.”
On a growl, he rolled me beneath him. “Shall I show you my favorite spot?”
I gasped as he moved over my body, easily stoking the fires that always burned for him. This would be our lives, now—joy, pleasure, fulfillment. I had a partner who loved me. It was something I would never take for granted. I planned to let him know every day how much I loved him, in return. “Oh, yes. There ,” I moaned as he slid inside of me, flooding my body with the now-familiar pleasures that only he could bring forth. “Thank you…” I panted as he thrust, “for being mine.”
“Always.” He pressed a kiss to my mouth as he ravished my body. “Always yours.”
I wrapped my legs around his hips and smiled into his shoulder, knowing I would always be his.
I hope you enjoyed this story! Anna had a small but mighty part in the Destran series and I couldn’t help but think she needed a happy ending of her own. If you haven’t read the rest of the Destran series, here’s a taste of book one, Lost to the Alien Lord. There’s also a free novella for newsletter subscribers. These books were so much fun to write—I hope you enjoy them as much as I did!
Read all seven books! These sweet and spicy holiday tales are part of the Rescued by the Alien collection , a collaboration of authors telling holiday tales with a sci-fi romance twist. Each book is a standalone, containing its own Happily Ever After. They can be read in any order.
And start the Lords of Destra series at the beginning to see the adventure unfold!
Lost to the Alien Lord
I signed up for a research mission with five other women. Instead, we crashed on an alien planet with too many dangers to count. Separated from the other women, I’m on my own until a huge alien with color-changing skin and a massive sword gets me out of a bad spot. I don’t understand Savair’s language, but I think he’s under the impression that I’m his.
I am NOT his. I’m a thirty-four-year-old divorced scientist with no time for such nonsense. But if he can help me find the others in my group, then perhaps I can play at being “his” for a while. It’s not a hardship. He’s the sexiest male I’ve ever met, with a jawline to die for, but there’s no way I’ll fall for this guy. Nope. Not a chance…
Jetta makes me ache. I desire her the moment I pull her from a Brakken meat trap. Her soft, warm body awakens hungers long banked. But my Sola , the living ship I am bound to, is dying, and thus, so am I. I must find a way to save my Sola and my mate, or none of us will survive.
This is book one of the Lords of Destra series. Each is a complete story with no cliffhangers or cheating. My books always have consent and a happy ending. Cheers!