Leanne flinched as a pair of hands shook her awake. Resek was looming over her.

“Get dressed,” he said shortly, gesturing to a strange set of clothes laid over a chair.

Without a word, Leanne got up and examined the suit. It looked exactly like what the Wescra wore into battle. It was thin and covered her body from neck to ankles, but she knew that it was tough and could resist most shots from laser weapons.

“Would you mind leaving while I get dressed?”

“Why?”

Leanne tried to think how to explain but came up blank. Wescra were more different from humans than she’d realized. Resek was honestly confused by her request. Besides, it wasn’t like he hadn’t already seen her naked. The thought made her flush, and she turned her back to him as she dressed as quickly as she could.

She expected them to take the hover car again, but instead, Resek set a brisk pace, walking towards a clump of hills on the horizon. Leanne’s heart sank. She was likely to be exhausted even before they reached the battle. Then Resek would see with his own eyes that she really, really didn’t know how to fight.

“Their ships can detect the heat signatures of hovers if we come too close,” Resek explained. Despite the pace, he didn’t seem out of breath at all. “We walk. They’ve been attacking the eastern front for weeks. We have soldiers working through the night to keep them back. They know that if they can conquer this stretch of land, many will lose their homes, which will make fighting all the harder for us.”

“Why don’t they – just bomb everything from above?” Leanne panted, struggling to keep up with his long strides.

“We have ground missiles that recognize their ships’ heat signatures, just as they recognize hovers. See there? That’s one of them. If they try flying over this area, they’ll be shot out of the sky. It’s their ground troops we have to worry about.

“We take shifts. So do they. Overnight, we just hold them back. When the Commanders arrive in the morning, we focus on trying to push them back and take more territory.”

Leanne was too out of breath to say anything else, but she was surprised. She’d expected the war to be much higher tech, and a lot less organized. She guessed she didn’t know much about alien wars. Unfortunately, it seemed she was about to learn quite a bit.

Resek handed her a gun. “Shoot here.”

Leanne eyed the trigger. She didn’t want to shoot anyone. She doubted Resek would accept that as an excuse.

“I really – can’t – fight,” she panted. As she expected, he ignored her. She wondered what he’d do if she simply refused to move. Carry her over his shoulder, probably. He certainly was strong enough. She knew it would just make him angry, and probably achieve nothing, but she desperately didn’t want to be in this situation.

She slowed to a halt. “I can’t, Resek. I can’t fight, and I don’t want to.”

He gave her a look that seemed more condescending than anything else. “Everyone is afraid before the battle starts. It will fade once you start shooting. You should know this. Did your Commander not explain it to you?”

He grabbed her wrist and started pulling her along. Leanne decided it was best not to make him angry while he was holding a gun, and reluctantly followed. He’d see soon enough that she was telling the truth. She just hoped that it wouldn’t take her dead body to convince him.

By the time they reached a group of Wescra soldiers, Leanne was both exhausted and terrified. They saluted to Resek, seemingly glad to see him. One of them rushed up to give a report.

“Nothing unusual. They made a push for the western edge, but we managed to hold them off. It looks like they’re making a straight-on attack today, right for the front.”

“Good. We will repel that and attack on their right flank. I want to see if I can injure that new Commander of theirs. Having leadership down makes them weaker. See to it.”

“Yes, Commander.”

Leanne realized she was shaking. She’d been hoping that the Commander would stay in the back and shout orders. Resek headed straight for the front, cutting a path through the other soldiers. Leanne could hear shouting and gunfire. Her legs felt like rubber, and she wondered if she was about to pass out.

Resek kept hold of her wrist, keeping her close. Before Leanne had time to prepare herself, they were at the front. The Greli were past a ridge, ducking down behind the natural slope of the land and shooting. Resek wasted no time in starting to shoot back.

Leanne shrieked as a laser blast passed so close to her ear that it singed her hair.

Greli started storming forward. Apart from the guns, they were also holding short rods that crackled with electricity. Resek and his soldiers took out similar rods, and he handed one to her.

Leanne took it with a shaking hand. A bolt of power went through her, and she fell to her knees, screaming.

Resek pulled her up by the back of her uniform. “Take it by the handle!” he bellowed in her ear. “What’s wrong with you?”

The rod looked uniform, and Leanne didn’t know which part the handle was. Not wanting to get shocked again, she left it on the ground.

Resek was forced to turn away from her to meet the attack. Both Greli and Wescra screamed battle cries. The clash of flesh was shocking. Everywhere, men screamed as they fell to the ground. She saw Resek taking out Greli all around him. He was magnificent, like a warrior god in action.

One of the Greli ran for her. Leanne tried to stumble back, but they were too tightly packed for her to move. Panicking, she pulled the trigger of her gun. In such close quarters, it caused a wave of backlash that knocked everyone within a few feet to the ground.

Resek was roaring in anger, but there was a ringing in her ears, and she couldn’t make out his words. Taking advantage of the moment of chaos, the Greli surged forward. One went straight for Leanne, and she froze in terror. She could see her death coming towards her.

Someone grabbed the back of her uniform and dragged her away. The other soldiers leaped to their feet and closed in on the Greli, matching them in ferocity.

By the time Leanne’s ears had stopped ringing, she was at the back, where wounded men were being dragged to what looked like a first aid kit.

“What are you thinking!” Resek yelled. “You almost got us killed!”

“I told you I couldn’t fight,” Leanne whispered. She felt sick. There was blood on her arm, and she didn’t know how it had gotten there.

“Get up.”

She tried, but her legs were shaking too badly. Resek muttered a curse under his breath and slung her over his shoulder as though she weighed nothing. Her head was spinning and then everything went dark.

Leanne was vaguely aware of a door opening, and then she was dumped on the couch. They were back at Resek’s house, she realized.

“What’s wrong with you?” he demanded. “Are you defective?”

Leanne bristled. “There’s nothing wrong with me! I told you, I can’t fight.”

“Of course you can! Your people are constantly at war.”

“We don’t all fight in wars,” Leanne explained. “Most people don’t. Only soldiers do. Besides, the wars often aren’t even fought in our countries.”

Resek didn’t seem to understand. “In order to win, you must commit all your people to the effort. The other side does as much.”

“With humans, each side sends only a portion of their population to war.”

Resek shook his head slowly. Apparently, the way humans fought was just as strange to him as the way aliens fought was to her.

Something she’d said seemed to sink in. “You’re the invaders?” he asked. His tone was filled with disgust. “You go to the lands of others to fight?”

Leanne grimaced. “It’s more complicated than that.”

Resek didn’t seem to agree, but he didn’t press the point further. “I’ll have to train you, then. First, though, I must make sure my men are able to be without me for a few weeks. You will stay here and practice on your own until I can make the time to teach you more.”

Leanne didn’t point out that she had no idea how to practice for war on her own – or that she had no inclination. Without waiting for her agreement, Resek left. She slumped in relief. Hopefully, it would take a good long time for him to organize things so that he could come back and train her.

Over the next few days, Leanne searched the house as thoroughly as she could for a way to escape. The problem was that when Resek wasn’t there, he locked it up so tightly that not even a mouse could escape. When he was home, he was never far.

Leanne knew that her best plan was to have sex with him, wait until he passed out, then escape. What worried her the most was that this idea wasn’t nearly as horrifying to her as it had been at first.

Every day, she watched Resek come home, exhausted but determined to defend his people.

He was so steadfast and so strong. Anyone would find that hot, right? He had no problem with undressing in front of her, and though she tried not to look, for the most part, she failed dismally. He noticed and smirked whenever he caught her. He hadn’t made a move to kiss her again, and she tried not to be disappointed about that.

Leanne knew this was crazy. He’d kidnapped her. She still hated him and wanted to escape. However, sleeping with him was her best bet. She just shouldn’t be looking forward to it. She shouldn’t be attracted to him at all. So she told herself she’d endure it, but nothing more.

About a week after that first disastrous day of battle, Leanne made her move. Resek didn’t seem to understand subtleties that well, so she went for obvious. She undressed and walked straight into his room.

He smirked when he saw her, as though he’d known she’d give in eventually. Arrogant bastard.

She glared at him and held her ground.

Still smirking, Resek got up and came to stand in front of her. She could see him already getting hard. At least they wouldn’t have a problem in that department. She wanted to touch his cock, but she was still angry with herself for her stupid attraction so remained still.

Resek pulled her against him, hard. She gasped as he pushed a leg forward between hers, forcing them open. She was already getting wet, and they hadn’t even done anything yet.

He lifted her up and carried her to the bed, laying her down on her back. When he kissed her, Leanne couldn’t resist. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on for dear life. Either she hadn’t fully comprehended it the first time, or he’d gotten even better at kissing since they last did it.

His tongue invaded her mouth, and she took him eagerly. The kiss sent shivers all the way through her, and she couldn’t help moaning.

Resek’s hands found her breasts, squeezing her tits. Leanne pushed herself upwards, pleased when he took both breasts in a firm grip even as he kept kissing her. Her tits were already hard, and the movement of his hands over them was making her wild. His hands were calloused, probably from handling guns all the time, and when each rough spot rubbed her, Leanne felt a corresponding throb between her legs.

Her traitorous legs wrapped themselves around his waist, pulling him closer. Resek deftly unfastened his pants and pulled them off. His cock brushed over her clit and Leanne cried out.

Forgetting all about dignity, she grabbed his hand and pulled it downwards, desperate for more pressure on her clit.

Resek laughed softly as he started kissing her neck. “I see you’ve changed your mind,” he murmured.

Leanne felt her face going red. Did he have to rub it in? Admittedly, the needy noises coming out of her mouth weren’t helping.

His fingers lightly explored her pussy, mingling in the wetness around her entrance. She needed those fingers on her clit, and shifted slightly, trying to align her body to get what she wanted.

“I know what you want,” Resek said, as though reading her mind. “You’ll have to ask for it, though.”

Leanne hated him. Hadn’t he gloated enough? So he was so gorgeous that even the girl he kidnapped couldn’t resist him.

She resolved not to say anything, but Resek’s fingers were driving her mad with their light touches.

“Please touch my clit, Resek. Please,” she gave in with a gasp.

She’d do anything at this point.

He rewarded her with a long stroke. Leanne felt a bolt of pleasure go through her, and her hips arched up. Pleased by her reaction, Resek lowered his head. His tongue dragged against her clit. Leanne almost came right there and then. As it was, she was making noises that she’d never thought she could make.

Resek’s tongue on her was like a slice of heaven. She was so wet that her thighs were coated, and Resek’s finger was still playing around at the entrance to her pussy.

She gasped as he thrust one finger inside, and then she couldn’t help it. She was coming, coming so hard that stars burst before her eyes. Resek pumped into her even as he licked her clit, and Leanne’s whole body writhed underneath him.

She came down, panting, but Resek wasn’t stopping. He pulled his finger out of her and positioned his cock outside her entrance before leaning in to kiss her again.

Despite having come harder than she ever had in her life, one kiss was enough to start stirring need in Leanne’s belly again. When he pressed into her, the sides of her pussy clenched, pulling him in. He felt so big inside her.

Leanne held onto his back as he started pumping hard and fast. She could hear his breathing speeding up. Her clit was already aching again, and she pushed a hand between their bodies, fingering herself. Each time Resek pounded into her took her closer. He was going at a fever pitch now, clearly close to his own release.

She was barely aware of the long proboscis that was coming out of his cock. She only noticed when he pushed her hand aside and fastened to her clit. Was this how they fed off women? If she’d known, she would have given in days ago. It felt like nothing she had ever felt before, like every nerve ending in her body was alight with pleasure.

She wrapped her legs around him, pulling him even deeper. She could feel her thighs tightening again. Resek grunted, and she could feel him spilling inside her. Her own release overtook her and Leanne screamed, not aware of anything but Resek, his hands, his cock, his warmth and strength.

He collapsed on top of her, his cock still inside her, supporting himself slightly on his arms so that he didn’t crush her. It took a long time for Leanne’s breathing to return to normal. By that time, Resek had rolled off her and was already passed out. Leanne knew she should get up, but she was too boneless to move. This was her chance. She had to escape.

A sigh of defeat left her as she surrendered to her pleasure-riddled body and drifted off to sleep.