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Category: Erotica/Erotic Science Fiction/Science Fiction
Description: Forced down by enemy fire, The Kelon ship Rachel has been travelling on crashes into a strange alien planet. Stranded until they can be rescued, commander Syl knows the only way to protect Rachel, and stop his warriors fighting over her, is to claim her as quickly as possible. Feeling responsible for the fragile human, he sees it as his duty to claim her, even though Syl believes himself in love with his brother's wife. Rachel has been in love with the tall commander ever since she stepped foot on his ship. But can she live in a marriage without love? She may have his body, strength and protection, but Rachel also wants his heart. She formulates a plan to prove to the stubborn Kelon just how irresistible she is, if they can survive the dangers of the planet, and the enemies who hover above.
eBook Publisher: Whiskey Creek Press, 2011
eBookwise Release Date: September 2011

44 Reader Ratings:

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Available eBook Formats: OEBFF Format (IMP) [110 KB]
Words: 23314
Reading time: 66-93 min.

Chapter 1

She felt weightless. Black, white and red shadows floated behind her closed eyelids. Cold on one side and warm on the other, Rachel groaned at the throbbing pain in her head. One side felt tender and sore. She wanted to snuggle into the secure warmth pressed against the side of her body that didn't hurt so much, but she couldn't will herself to move.

"Rachel? Wake up. I need to see where you are hurt."

The deep resonating command penetrated her fuzzed brain. A voice she knew and trusted--Syl.

Rachel whimpered, trying to comply, her eyelids felt heavy. She whimpered again, protesting as she was set away from the comforting warmth and laid down on something hard and cold.

"Fetch Solron," he commanded.

"He is tending the more seriously wounded," another said.

"She is human, more fragile than our warriors. Fetch him now and put out those damned fires." Irritation and anger cut through his tone.

"Yes, Commander," someone responded.

Large hands touched her, starting at her neck, skimming down along her arms, across her body, and down reaching her thighs, legs and feet. Despite the cool ground and air, her body began to heat at the tingling touch. Rachel forced her eyes open, her gaze meeting Syl's dark intense eyes. His expression was one of concern. Rachel examined his appearance. His warrior locks were falling around his shoulders, his expression grim as he gazed down on her. The darker tanned skin of Syl's left cheek was smudged with soot. There was a cut near his forehead ridge. It looked red but wasn't bleeding.

"Tell me, little one, where are you hurt?"

Closing her eyes, she forced herself to focus on where her pain was located, licked her lips and swallowed, trying to get some moisture into her dry throat and mouth.

The pain had reduced to a throbbing down her left side, like she had been slammed hard against a wall. No doubt she was bruised. She tensed her muscles and shifted slightly. Nothing felt broken. She wasn't as badly hurt as she had first thought.

"I" she began then coughed. Her lungs burned slightly. A smoky taste filled her mouth as if she had been breathing in fumes. "Water, please?"

"Lestal, hand me the water pouch."

A moment later, Syl pressed the rim of a container to her lips. She swallowed several mouthfuls before trying to sit up.

"II think I'm okay," she managed in a strained voice.

"No, lie still until I know the extent of your harm." His tone was firm.

Rachel obeyed him as she glanced around at their surroundings. There were reddish blue, tall, strangely twisted trees with more reddish blue leaves, with vines of vivid yellow and green snaking through the canopy overhead. Other than the sounds of footsteps shuffling about on the ground, there were eerie noises coming out from the alien jungle that surrounded them.

"I can't remember--what happened?"

"We were attacked by two Xerson ships and forced to divert to this planet in order to escape or be destroyed. The ship crashed heavily onto the planet's surface. We are still taking stock of who has survived."

Rachel's thoughts flew to her friend, the other human woman who had been travelling to Kelon with her. She, along with another human woman, had been rescued from an alien force she had learned were called the Methrill. They had randomly abducted women from Earth. The Kelons had come to their rescue, then offered them a choice to be returned to their planet or travel with them to their homeworld. Rachel remembered deciding that a life with these large and impressive Kelons couldn't be any worse that her pitiful life back on Earth.

Syl had been the commander of the ship she had been transferred to, while the other women were taken back to Earth.

Rachel had never been a believer in love, let alone love at first sight, but laying eyes on the large, strong, sexy alien commander, she had fallen hard and fast. Rachel had lost her heart in a matter of a single glance at Syl.

"Where is Lenna? Is she okay?"

"Much of the ship was torn apart on impact. Many of the lower deck quarters were destroyed. Many did not survive, including the other human." Syl's tone was angry.

Rachel's stomach twisted. She felt the numb pain of her friend's loss, and of the other Kelon crew. She squeezed her eyes shut, and drew in a deep breath. Lenna was dead, and so were many Kelons. She pushed it all to the back of her brain and, drawing on what strength she did have, sat up despite Syl's order.

"Rachel," he warned her.

She glared back at him in defiance.

"I said I'm okay, maybe just bruised, but I don't think I am seriously hurt."

He growled low, and placing his large hand just above her breasts, pushed her back down. Heat infused her cheeks with a mixture of irritation at his domineering pushiness and the tingling warmth of his touch.

"I told you not to move."

"Commander." A breathless Solron dropped to his knees by Rachel's side. Solron, too, looked the worse for wear. His uniform was smudged and torn on the right shoulder.

"Where are you hurt, Rachel?" Solron eyes critically roamed over her body.

"As I was saying, I think I'm okay, really, just a few bruises."

"She was unconscious. I want her checked to make sure," Syl demanded. Solron moved the handheld scanner over her.

"Your skin is more fragile than Kelons," Solron said. "As your capillaries are closer to the surface and are intricate, I am assuming you would feel more pain than we do," he said almost absently, as his gaze was fixed on the scanner, reviewing her biodata.

"She appears relatively unharmed; only slight pooling of blood in the outer surfaces along the left side of her skin."

Rachel pursed her lips in annoyance. "Bruises," she interpreted. "As I said." She sat up, giving Syl a hard glare. "I am fine."

Syl and Solron stood up before helping her to her feet. She swayed slightly. Syl steadied her, keeping hold of her arm. Rachel turned and gasped at the devastation of the crashed Kelon spaceship behind them. Black, twisted metal was strewn across a two-mile radius. A good bulk of the ship seemed to be imbedded into the side of a large mountain.

"I must get back to the wounded, Commander," Solron said.

"Let me help, Solron." She looked at the healer. "I'm sure you could use an extra pair of hands." Solron gave her a grateful nod, but from his disapproving scowl and the shake of his head, she knew Syl didn't support her offer. She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding when Syl finally gave them both an approving nod.

"Stay with Solron. I need to keep searching for survivors." Syl swung around on his thickly booted heel.

Rachel sighed as she stared at his departing back and wide, broad shoulders, as he marched back down a slope towards a scattering of other Kelon men. In every sense they appeared human, if not for their sheer size, dark eyes, ink-black hair, tanned skin and thickly muscled bodies. The only defining feature that made them appear alien was the prominent forehead ridges.

She turned her head to study Solron. His face was longer, narrower, and was slightly shorter than other Kelon men around them. He also appeared younger, if not for the worry on his youthful face.

He glanced up at her and she gave him a tentative smile. "Show me what needs to be done."

Rachel's side hurt more than she cared to admit, and her head throbbed, But she pushed it all aside. Pain was no stranger to her. Dutifully she followed Solron to each patient that was brought to him, being as helpful as she could, holding and learning about his strange alien medical instruments. She cleaned and bound minor wounds with torn cloth, as many of the Kelons would play on her sympathies, trying to catch her attention. She couldn't fail to notice how each was eager to express how attentive, kind and skilful she was. Some were even so bold as to say how pretty she was, and would she consider them as a choice for a mate. Rachel would have been amused, if not for the situation in which she found herself.

The uninjured warriors were sifting through the rubble of parts of the ship, gathering supplies from the wreckage. She heard some others were searching the surrounding area for a camp location.

Syl appeared with Addassar, carrying an unconscious Kelon between them. It was the first time she had seen Addassar since before they had crashed. Addassar had been her guard while onboard Syl's ship. He was slightly shorter, with a heavier build than Syl, but had a friendly easy way about him. He seemed more familiar with humans and more observant of her moods and desires than any other of the Kelon males she had encountered on the ship.

Relief flooded through her that he was alive and well, both Addassar and Syl were gleaming in a thick sheen of sweat, with grime caked to their uniforms and skin. Addassar gave her a wink. Rachel gave him a tentative smile, happy to see her friend again.

"We've almost finished searching," Syl told Solron, as they laid the man down. "We found Manarr in the deeper part of the wreckage. No one else could have survived beyond."

Rachel noted the grim expression on Syl's face.

"It will be dark soon. We need to make preparations and gather weapons as we do not know what dangers this planet holds."

Rachel and Solron hurried over to help with the injured Kelon.

"I need to gather more healing supplies. My healers bay was relatively intact when we crashed," Solron told Syl. "What I have has been depleted already." Syl nodded taking his shirt and wiping his sweaty brow.

"I'll go with you. Addassar, watch over Rachel."

Rachel pursed her lips, watching Syl with irritation, as he headed back down the slope with Solron.

"Does he think I'm going to run off or something?" she asked Addassar, who sat down beside her and, much to her pleasure, handed her a pouch of water. She took several mouthfuls before handing it back.

"No, little Red, we just want to protect you. This is an unknown planet to us, and we are still male, after all."

Rachel felt the heat creep back into her cheeks.

"I would have thought a little priority would be in order after crashing and so many dead and wounded." She leaned over the unconscious Kelon man, feeling for his pulse at the base of his throat where Solron had taught her.It felt steady and strong under her fingers.

"When opportunity is given some will not hesitate to exploit it, but I think you need not fear about that. It is what we do not know that is more worrying."

"Gee, thanks for the pep talk, Addassar."

He gave her a quizzical look. "Pep?"

"To encourage," she translated.

He gave her a smile and a casual shrug.

"I see you have a long line of admirers waiting for your healing touch, little Red." Addassar nodded his head towards the half-dozen wounded men she had helped tend, and the others with lesser injuries. She glanced in their direction, only to find nearly every single one of them looking back at her. Flushed, Rachel turned her head away.

"I admire your courage in handling this unfortunate situation with strength and courage, little Red. Every warrior here wishes he was wounded to have you tend them."

"What you see on the outside, Addassar, is not always what is felt within," she said with a small smile of her own. Despite his flirting and hints that she should take him as her mate, Rachel began to realise she felt the same affection for him as she would a big brother--well, a very big brother. She swallowed and thought it might be better to move on to a safer topic.

"How long do you think we'll be here before we're rescued?"

Addassar paused before accepting the change of subject.

"Hard to tell. We sent out our coordinates before we went down, but we were a fair distance from your Earth and Kelon. We also skimmed the edge of enemy territory. If we can't get communications fixed, we may be here for a while."

Rachel sighed and sat back on her heels. She had twisted her long red hair into a pile on the top of her head. She didn't even want to contemplate what a mess she must look. Rachel was grateful for the sturdy jeans she wore. The long, oversized tan shirt was smudged with soot and blood. She let down her hair and shook it out, before combing it through with her fingers. Lifting the hem of her shirt, she tore a long strip off and wound it back up into her hair in an attempt to keep the mass tamed.

"Little Red." Addassar's tone was suddenly husky. Startled, she glanced up to see him staring at her with unmistakable heat in his eyes.

"Have mercy on some unmated Kelon males, and refrain from that kind of grooming until you are alone." He leaned forward over Manarr. "Every damned Kelon here wants you."

Turning to glance over at those who were resting and injured, she saw they were also staring at her with the same heat. Rachel swallowed and blushed profusely.

"Sorry," she mumbled, lowering her eyes, trying to focus on Manarr.

"Damned fire demons," hissed Addassar. "That skin shading you do is even worse."

"I can't help it," she snapped back, now more annoyed than embarrassed.

"Little Red, as the only female on this planet, I see only one prospect for your ongoing safety while among us."

Rachel swallowed, her stomach pitched, she could take a wild stab at what that prospect was, but had to ask anyway. "What is that?"

Addassar's whole demeanour was serious when he said, "You will have to choose one of us to claim you." End excerpt