Alien Mate (Zerconian Warriors Book 3) Read online

  “She does not know you yet. Once she does, she will change her mind.”

  “Uh-huh, and pigs might fly.”

  Dex gave her a confused look and she sighed. “Doesn’t matter. Ignore me. I’m just the stupid human who eats Zota balls.”

  Dex opened the door to their quarters and she stepped inside. “Guess I’ll go back to sitting around, doing nothing.” She turned on him, waggling a finger. “The next time Fedora brings out the crocodile tears, she’d better find someone else’s chest to lean on, got it? Or my first job as Empress will be to chop off her head!”

  She slammed the door shut. There, that told him.

  She sniffled, tears threatening.

  “Damn it. Who cares if his mother doesn’t like me? Not everyone has to like you, Zoey.”

  No, they didn’t. But it sure would be easier.

  Feeling lonely, Zoey curled up on the sofa with Giz and stared out the wide window at the glistening ocean beyond.

  “Did she just threaten to behead Fedora?” Thor asked in a shocked voice.

  “It was a joke,” Dex replied, but there was an uneasy feeling in his stomach. He knew his mother would be hard to win over, but he hadn’t expected her to be this hostile.

  He also hadn’t expected Zoey to be jealous. And of his sister, of all people.

  “Did you explain that Fedora is like a sister to you?” Thor asked as they walked to Dex’s office.

  Now that he was home, Dex remembered why he’d offered to lead an expedition off-planet in the first place. Twice a year, a ship filled with warriors set out on an information and source-gathering expedition that generally lasted anywhere from one to three months. This last one had lasted five months.

  When he was on planet, there were so many demands on his time. Meetings and dinners that seemed to serve little purpose, but which he was required to attend. He had hoped to spend more time with Zoey, to help acclimate her to her new home.

  “Your mother does not approve of Zoey,” Koran said as he took a seat on the sofa in the large sitting area within Dex’s office.

  “No. I knew it would take her time to come around. But I did not expect her to be so hostile.” Particularly not in front of others. He hoped his father would have a word with her about her attitude towards his mate.

  Calling Zoey a graceless, rude commoner was way out of line. Thank the stars Zoey didn’t understand Zerconian.

  “I believe she hoped you would mate with Fedora,” Thor stated as he took a seat.

  Dex gaped at him. “You are delusional. Fedora is my sister.”

  “Not by blood.” Koran sat forward. “I too, believe that your mother and Fedora hoped for a mating.”

  “I cannot choose my mate.” Dex was dumbfounded. Surely they were mistaken. His mother could not seriously consider he would mate with Fedora.

  “A number of our race have given up finding their mate and are joining with someone they find compatible,” Thor pointed out. “Perhaps that is what they hoped the two of you would do.”

  “But with Fedora?” Sure, she was an attractive female. And she would make someone an excellent mate. She was cultured, intelligent; she could run a household like clockwork.

  But she was not for him. There was no spark, no desire. There was no fun, no humor, and no excitement.

  She was not his mate. She had nothing on Zoey.

  Dex ran his hand over his face, feeling exhausted. “Will I ever understand females?”

  “Probably not.” Thor gave him a sympathetic look.

  Koran scowled. “Females complicate everything.”

  “What do I do?” Dex asked.

  “I don’t think there is much you can do.” Thor tapped his fingers against his leg.

  “I could speak to my mother. Remind her that Zoey is my mate. That nothing will come between us. I could point out that I will tolerate no slights to Zoey.”

  Thor and Koran nodded.

  Good. That sorted things.

  Chapter Five

  “I know I’m bored when I resort to exercising.” Zoey grunted as she did another sit-up. “Damn, I can feel the burn. How long has it been? It’s got to be at least ten minutes.”

  She glanced at the time.

  “Thirty seconds. Are you kidding me?” She collapsed back with a sigh. “Abs of steel?” She poked at her stomach. “More like raspberry rolls. Yum. Raspberry roll filled with cream and jelly.”

  Rolling over onto her hands and knees, she raised her bent right leg and pulsed it up and down.

  “What I wouldn’t give for some carrot cake right now with extra cream cheese icing or a cheeseburger. Pizza, licorice, chocolate. Fried chicken. It’s been so long since I had fried chicken.”

  The fried chicken they’d served on Solim didn’t count. That had been so dry you had to drown it in mayonnaise just to get it down your throat.

  “This is a sight I didn’t expect.”

  She glanced over shoulder at Dex, who strode into the room, his gaze focused on her ass. She wiggled it enticingly

  “Like what you see, warrior?”

  “I do.” His voice grew low. “Very much so.”

  “Damn, your voice sends chills up my spine.” She shivered as he knelt beside her, giving her ass a caress.

  “That is good?”

  “Oh yeah, in a hot, sexy way, not the creepy, stalker kind.”

  “Creepy is bad.”

  “Creepy is how you would describe Targos.” A shiver ran through her.

  Dex growled. “Do not mention his name to me.”

  “Sorry, didn’t mean to ruin the moment.”

  He spun her around on her knees so she faced him, giving her a stern look. “You didn’t ruin the moment.”

  She snorted. “Really? So hearing me talk about Targos is a turn on?”

  “You know it’s not,” he growled, pulling her against him. “I think you need a distraction.”

  “Oh, really, what did you have in mind?” She walked her fingers up his chest.

  Leaning in, he kissed her gently as he pulled and tugged at her clothes. Feeling just as impatient as he obviously was, she pulled away, drawing her top up over her head and kicking her pants off her legs.

  She’d stopped wearing underwear soon after she’d met Dex.

  “On your hands and knees,” he commanded, tugging his own clothes off. “I want to see your beautiful ass. I want it on display.”

  Okay, now that shouldn’t have turned her on, should it? She moved into position, blushing as she realized what a sight she must make.

  “Part your legs further. Let me see all of you.”

  Cheeks hot, she parted her legs further. Dex ran his hand down her butt then over her thigh. He brushed one hot finger through her wet slit.

  “Oh God, yes.” He was now playing with her clit, circling it then tapping gently. He squeezed it between his finger and thumb.

  “Dex, please, I can’t take much more.”

  “You are so wet.” His voice was a low, husky whisper.

  She dropped her head forward. “Oh God. Dex, please.”

  “You want me.”

  “Yes.”

  “Inside you. Fucking you.” Why had she taught him that word? Hearing it from his lips was like an elixir for her pussy.

  Dex prodded at her entrance with his finger, circling it, teasing and tormenting until she was whimpering, her cries filling the air.

  “Turn around,” he commanded.

  She turned to find him sitting back on his haunches, his cock firm and magnificent. His amber gaze watched her closely.

  “Oh dear God.”

  “Come here. Sit on my lap.” He grinned and she moved as quickly as she could, letting him guide her as she wrapped herself around his body and slowly impaled herself on his hard shaft.

  “Oh wow. You feel so amazing.”

  “So. Do. You.” With each word, he thrust inside her, hard and fast. Just what she wanted. Zoey’s hard nipples rubbed against his chest, a delicious friction th
at soon had her crying out.

  Her breath came in hard, fast pants and she could feel her body tightening.

  “Faster! Faster!” she cried out.

  “Find your release, my own. Now.”

  She felt him come inside her, warmth filling her and she screamed as she fell, tumbling into the abyss.

  Dex rolled onto his back, pulling her so she lay on top of him. She snuggled into his warm chest.

  “You are so beautiful, my own.”

  She stared up at him shyly. “Do you really think so?” She’d never really thought of herself as beautiful. She wasn’t ugly. Perhaps even pretty. But not beautiful.

  “Yes. I thank the stars every day for sending me you.”

  She grinned. “Bet you didn’t think that in the beginning.”

  “It was an adjustment.”

  “For both of us.”

  “Do you think you can enjoy living here?”

  “There’s not much choice is there?” she joked. His face tightened and she quickly rejected how flippant she’d sounded. “I’ll be fine, Dex. Don’t worry. They say it takes six months to settle somewhere new. It hasn’t even been a month yet.”

  “Who said that?”

  “Ahh, well, I’m not really sure. People. It doesn’t matter. I’ll be fine. You don’t have to worry about me.”

  His gaze was skeptical and she searched for another subject to distract him.

  “Have you discovered who put that bounty out for my capture?”

  He scowled. Okay, maybe not the best subject to bring up. “The bounty was withdrawn.”

  Relief filled her. “So we’ll never know?”

  “Torex will discover the culprit. It will just take him longer. But once he does, I will take care of whoever it was.”

  “I just don’t understand who would put a price on my head,” she said, bewildered.

  “You are safe here,” he reassured her. “You know that, don’t you?”

  “Yes.” She smiled up at him. “I have always felt safe with you.”

  The sound of her stomach growling made her wince. She placed her hand over her belly. “Sorry.”

  “We should feed you.”

  She sighed. “I can’t really be bothered getting dressed and going downstairs.” Dinners were held in the large dining room downstairs. They were a boring, formal affair.

  “I will order us something to eat here.”

  “Really? That would be great.” Relief cascaded through her.

  An hour later, she sat back with a sigh. “You know this stuff actually tastes like chicken. I wonder if I could recreate fried chicken with it.”

  “I have heard you mention fried chicken before. Is it as good as chocolate?”

  “Nothing is as good as chocolate. But it’s pretty up there.” She ran her gaze over his tanned skin, taking in his wide shoulders, smooth skin, and long, muscular limbs. “We should do this more often. Nothing quite like eating on the floor stark naked.”

  “Yes, it is quite invigorating.” His heated gaze watched her.

  She licked her lips. “Invigorating?”

  He held out his hand. “Yes. Now come here.”

  As she fell against him, she laughed, feeling truly happy for the first time since they had landed on Zerconia. If only they could spend more time like this.

  Alone. Together. Naked.

  Heaven.

  ***

  Zoey paced back and forth across the large, cavernous room. Dex’s quarters consisted of a large living area, two bedrooms, and a spacious bathroom. There was plenty of space—all the rooms in the palace were generous in size with ceilings that were over twelve-foot high.

  Three sets of double doors led off the room to the wide verandah, framed by billowing, light curtains. Most of the palace was plainly decorated. Whitewashed walls and dark floors with the odd piece of art on the walls. Dex’s rooms looked like every other room in the palace.

  “Maybe I should take up interior design,” she muttered. It could break the oppressive boredom.

  Things were bad when the highlight of your day was your lesson with a tutor so old her bones actually creaked. Because most of Dex’s warriors spoke excellent Standard, Zoey had just expected that everyone on Zerconia would as well. However, most of the younger population, who had never been off-planet, only knew bits and pieces.

  Despite her tutor’s lack of personality, she was an excellent teacher. Zoey’s knowledge of Zerconian culture was growing and her language skills had really improved.

  What had not improved was her relationship with Dex’s family. They were as cold and distant as ever. Seemed like no matter what she did, she would never gain their acceptance.

  It was confounding; everyone liked her. She’d always made friends easily.

  She didn’t know what to do. She couldn’t change who she was. Sometimes it seemed like the more she tried to fit in, the more they seemed to dislike her.

  She’d tried being sweet, she’d tried being polite, she’d tried being demure.

  Uh-huh, demure. That was still a thing here. Like straight out of some Regency romance, with all the snide remarks and cuts included.

  Liula had started schooling her in her duties as the Crown Princess. Now those were lessons she dreaded. If Dex’s mother was any colder, she’d be a corpse.

  Nothing she did for that woman would ever be good enough. She kept trying for Dex’s sake, but she couldn’t make his mother like her.

  This was her home now. She needed to find some way of fitting in. She’d only been here a month and she should probably give it some more time, but patience wasn’t her strongest suit.

  She would never settle in if she just hid in her rooms and complained about being lonely.

  Dex had been spending as much time as he could with her, but he had things to do, duties to attend to. Time to harden up and get out there in the thick of things.

  She snapped her fingers. “Maybe I should have a go at making some fried not-chicken. Come on, Giz. To the kitchen and beyond! Well, just to the kitchen.”

  Two hours later, she pushed back her hair then she glanced around at the people surrounding her.

  “Now we cook it in the hot oil. Like this.” Most of the kitchen staff could barely understand a word she said. But she’d managed to make herself known.

  “Awesome!” She clapped her hands, making them all look at her in alarm. She smiled. “Riuken.” That meant good in Zerconian.

  They all smiled and nodded back as she placed the fried not-chicken on plates. “Dig in!”

  They stared at her in confusion so she leaned down and blew on a piece before picking it up and taking a bite.

  “Yum. Try. Try.” She gestured at the food. The half a dozen men and women looked at each other reluctantly. Finally, one brave female stepped forward and then leaned down, blowing on the chicken before picking it up. She took a tentative bite, chewing slowly.

  “Well? What do you think?”

  Everyone stared at the young female who looked solemn. Oh crap, she hated it. Then the female smiled and said something in Zerconian. When a young male stepped forward and blew on a piece of chicken, Zoey figured it had been a hit.

  Although, she wished she knew enough Zerconian to tell them they didn’t actually have to blow on the not-chicken every time they took a bite. That would have to wait for another day.

  A sharp voice snapped out a command and everyone immediately grew quiet, turning towards the entrance where Dex’s mother stood, her face like frozen marble.

  Liula ran her gaze around the room as the kitchen staff hastily scattered. Zoey swallowed as the older woman’s frosty gaze rested on her. Her nose flared, her disapproval clear as day. Zoey glanced down at herself, wincing. Flour covered most of her clothing. Her hands were coated in batter and she was pretty certain there were some clumps in her hair as well.

  Hey, she’d never claimed to be a tidy cook.

  “Zoelle, make yourself presentable then meet me in my sitting room. You ar
e late.”

  Crap. Her lesson in royal duty. She’d forgotten all about it.

  “If you’re too busy we can forget about it for today,” Zoey offered.

  “No.” Liula turned and walked out of the kitchens. So. That was that.

  Yay for me.

  Before she left, Zoey gave the kitchen staff the thumbs up. “Tranke.” Thank you.

  The staff smiled back and waved at her.

  Fifteen minutes later, Zoey walked into Liula’s sitting room. The tall, elegant woman was seated, her attention fixated on her tablet.

  The room was similar to Zoey and Dex’s sitting room, except it held the most uncomfortable furniture imaginable. Zoey liked furniture you could snuggle into and almost lose yourself in. The furniture in Liula’s sitting room made you sit upright and stiff. Probably just as well, it helped keep Zoey from falling asleep with boredom.

  “Liula? Shall I come back?” Zoey asked.

  Liula waved her hand at a free chair. “Sit. Wait.”

  “Woof-woof,” she muttered under her breath as she sat.

  “What was that?”

  Damn it, despite how ancient the other woman had to be, she obviously had excellent hearing.

  “Just muttering to myself,” Zoey told her cheerfully.

  “Please refrain from doing so. A Crown Princess does not mutter.” Liula glared at her. “Nor does she perform the tasks of a servant.”

  “I wasn’t performing their tasks. I was cooking.”

  “Cooking is the task of a servant.”

  Zoey sighed. Be polite. Don’t bite back. Just do what she wants.

  Damn, it was hard.

  Snooty woman. “Sorry, I didn’t realize.”

  Liula nodded and turned back to her tablet.

  “Are you sure I shouldn’t come back? You seem busy.”

  “I am.” Liula didn’t bother to look up. “I am now behind after having to search the palace for you when you did not present for our lesson.”

  “Sorry. I lost track of time.” What the hell did she want from her? Blood? Sweat? Her first born?

  Zoey swallowed as she realized this cold scarecrow was going to be her children’s grandmother. Somehow she couldn’t see Liula tucking her grandkids into bed and singing them a lullaby like Zoey’s grandmother used to.