1

- Charlotte -

“You ever hear of alien women and their special talents? I'd be happy to demonstrate.”

Charlotte shot her hip out and gave the Acerex warrior a sultry glance while the tiny electronic interpreter hanging around her neck translated her scandalous pick-up phrase into his language.

The warrior was taken aback, like they all were when she talked to them like this. His eyes darted from Charlotte to Harper in total confusion, and then he gave her a pale smile. “I wonder if you have me mistaken for someone else, lady ...”

Charlotte nodded. Mistaken for someone who's actually alive, she thought to herself. “Perhaps I have,” she said aloud and returned the smile briefly. “My apologies, warrior.”

She turned her back and rolled her eyes as she sat down at the table.

Harper hid an amused smile behind her coffee cup. “Yeah, I see what you mean. They're not very responsive. They don't catch your drift at all.”

Charlotte sighed. “Nope. I can totally throw myself at them like that and they'll just politely ask if I need medical assistance. So by now I'm just coming on hard to every warrior I see, just to entertain myself. Not quite as outrageously as just now, of course. I tone it down. But still. None of them ever reacts. Such a pity. Look at these guys! They're the hottest males in the universe. And they're just not interested. I tell you, Harper, one day I'm going to snap.”

Harper glanced around the little upscale bar on the spaceship Friendship. “They do give Earth guys a run for their money,” she agreed. “But they could absolutely do with being a little more responsive to female charms.”

“Tell me about it. You're just air to them, unless you're his Mahan. But of course you wouldn't know about that, since you were Vrax'ton's Mahan from day one.”

Queen Harper of Acerex stroked a hair out of her face. “I did find my guy pretty much right away. But hey, I can see that they're cold to alien females. To their own women, too, not that it's any consolation. They could stand to loosen up a little, but I'm not holding my breath for that. Are you losing patience with them?”

Their drinks arrived and Charlotte looked around the room. There was mostly Earth personnel here, but some Acerex warriors and even one or two of the rare females were lounging around in these surroundings that had to seem pretty alien to them. The warriors were all large and muscular and had the fire tattoos that showed that they had passed their extremely hard Warrior Trials on the Fire Planet, the trials that marked their transition from boy to warrior.

They were so achingly hot that Charlotte had to suppress a frustrated groan just looking at them. “Absolutely yes. And absolutely no. I mean, I would love to feel like a woman again, you know? Just to feel that I'm not a ... neuter. Just get a little attention from these guys. But on the other hand, they're spectacularly good warriors and I can't help but admire them. I've seen them do things in battle that should be impossible. I both want to slap some sense into them and ask them to teach me their ways. Just makes it all the more irksome that I don't seem to be anyone's Mahan.”

“You still might be,” Harper said. “Not that it's all flowers and sunshine if you are, either.”

“Who is whose Mahan, now?” Lily had just entered and sat down beside Charlotte, putting one hand lightly on her forearm in warm greeting, Acerex style.

“Oh, nobody,” Charlotte smiled and returned the gesture. “Except everyone is upset that the two of you are hogging all the best alien warriors.”

Lily unconsciously stroked her pregnant belly. “We are, aren't we? We totally lucked out. I'm not ashamed to admit that. But hey, there are plenty more where they came from.”

“Uh-huh. Feels like I've checked out pretty much all off them. Hey, warrior!”

Another Acerex male with piercing eyes and forearms that looked like a bundle of steel cables was passing by and raised his eyebrows politely. “Yes, lady?”

Charlotte gave him a smile that used to work pretty well on Earth guys, especially in combination with the borderline pornstar cleavage she was showing. “How about you and I find a room and get to know each other better?”

The warrior frowned in confusion. “I already have a cabin onboard this ship, lady. Have you not been assigned yours?”

“Oh, I have,” she said, now just putting on a show for her friends. “It's just that I've been a very bad girl and I need a spanking pretty desperately. Your cabin in thirty minutes?”

She could hear Lily suppressing a giggle, while Harper had to keep a straight face to maintain her regal bearing. She was married to King Vrax'ton, after all.

The warrior was momentarily lost for words, then composed himself. “I understand the medical section is not far from here. Shall I accompany you there, perhaps?”

Charlotte smiled warmly and waved her hand in a dismissive gesture. “No, no. Thank you, warrior. My problem just cleared up by itself.”

The warrior nodded, still confused. “Ah. Very well. I'm glad. Hm. Ah. Your Highness.” He gave Harper a short bow, then continued towards the table where his friends were sitting, scratching his head.

Charlotte took a gulp of her drink. The alcohol was making her daring, and she enjoyed it. “See what I mean? But at least now those guys have something to talk about. I'm performing a public service, being that crazy-horny alien chick.”

“Yeah,” Lily chuckled. “And they have to do some research to figure out what a 'spanking' is. I sure had to educate Ravex'ton about that.”

“I know, right?” Harper agreed. “They have no idea. But they're willing to learn. Very willing. Of course Vrax'ton didn't get that carried away, because of the pregnancy and all. But now that the baby is born, I think I'll continue his education along those lines. It's very ... um... pleasant.” She shifted in her chair as if she was still feeling the effects of an earlier spanking, and they all laughed.

Charlotte spotted Ava inside the door and waved her over. “How is the little princess today, Harper?”

“Doing fine. Sleeping and eating and all those things. And she has the voice of a siren. She takes after her dad in most ways. Sleeping now, thankfully. Right on schedule. Hi, Ava!”

“Hiii guys,” Ava said and plopped down in a chair. “Sorry I'm late. I got lost and wandered into the alien section of the ship. Gods, I've never felt as invisible as I do among these warriors. Not a glance, and I'm even wearing my sexiest dress. Could totally wreck a girl's self esteem.”

Harper grinned. “We were just talking about that. Chicas, you absolutely need some time back on Earth to feel like females again. Anytime you want, okay?”

Ava shrugged. “We'll see. Thing is, having these guys around you at all times kind of ruins you for Earth men. Like, how can they compete at all? But oh my god! Here we are, all four of us girls from Gideo Station. Together again. I see you ladies too rarely. How's baby Anabe'lia, Harper? She let you out today?”

“Oh, she's still reviewing my application for a couple of hours off. So I snuck out while she was taking her power nap.”

They ordered more drinks and chatted for a while. Charlotte felt truly happy to be around her friends, the girls that had been to the Fire Planet and lived to tell the tale.

Harper had matured and was now as regal as any queen on Earth when she had to, while she was also the most down-to-earth girl Charlotte knew.

Lily was glowing with her pregnancy and with being in love with her Ravex'ton, and she was nowhere near as reserved as she had been before. Well, she'd had reason to grow in confidence. Opening the most closed-off tribe on Acerex to Earth technology was probably the most important accomplishment since they had encountered the aliens for the first time, because now all the other tribes were more interested, too. A real friendship was developing between Earth and this warrior people. It was slow, but at least something was happening.

Ava was the same confident, warm and including person she had been when she ran Gideo Station, and she'd educated many Acerex about the wonders of Earth science. She was spending a lot of time away, and Charlotte suspected that she went on some kind of secret missions.

And Charlotte herself ...

She gave a little sigh. She was the least accomplished of them all. She'd tried to be an envoy to the Acerex tribes, but she was far too impatient and direct to be a diplomat. Playing the long game wasn't her thing at all. And she missed flying. She was a pilot, first and foremost. But Earth Space Expansion didn't fly much these days, and certainly not battle missions.

“How's your project coming, Charlotte?” Harper asked right into her thoughts. “They considering taking you on?”

Charlotte drained her cocktail and put the empty glass down. “Yeah, that's what they say. They're considering it. Which can mean anything.”

Ava leaned in. “Which project is this?”

“Oh, I'm trying to join an Acerex warrior squad,” Charlotte said. “As a pilot. This whole diplomacy stuff isn't quite my thing, turns out. Can you believe it? And flying shuttles up and down from Acerex gets me feeling like a bus driver. I'd like to enjoy my work, you know? I flew fighter jets and helicopter gunships on Earth. You'd think the Acerex could trust me with a dropship. They're like toys in comparison, totally idiot-proof.”

“Probably hit the nail on the head,” Lily said in her direct way. “It's about trust. They don't really trust anyone who hasn't passed the Trials on the Fire Planet. I mean, in battle. They trust you fine with other things. But warfare? You better be an Acerex male with that flame tattoo covering half your body or they won't give you as much as a butter knife.”

“Can't Vrax'ton order it?” Ava asked.

Harper nodded. “That's what I said. He'd totally do it.”

Charlotte shook her head. “No. I don't want to be rammed down someone's throat. The squad captain or the company chief or some really popular general has to accept me without being ordered to by the king. If not, it'll be worse than useless. It's bad enough being a chick who wants to fight. But an alien chick who gets forced on a squad of warriors from high above? Gods, they'd leave me behind the first chance they got.”

Lily leaned back and slurped from her glass of iced tea. “Thing is, they need all the help they can get. Especially good pilots. I mean, they're great warriors. But to them, being a pilot is less ... not less honorable, just less ... what's the word?”

“Less insane?” Harper suggested. “The higher the risk, the more these guys enjoy themselves. They really enjoy the camaraderie in the squad. The pilot who drops them and picks them up again doesn't get to experience that fully. Or so it seems to me. Because he's safer. But yeah, they're not the best pilots. That's typically a job that's done by warriors who get too injured to fight on the ground. You'd be the best rocket jockey in their army if they took you on, Charlotte.”

“I know Ravex'ton is always complaining about his pilots,” Lily agreed. “I'll ask him if he can do something. Discreetly,” she added.

Charlotte nodded. “I appreciate that. But like I said, I can't be forced on someone. That'll be worse than not flying at all.”

She spotted another Acerex warrior making his way between the tables, and then she did a double take and just stared. This one was ... unusual. He was larger than most Acerex males, who were pretty damn huge to start with. He was both taller and bulkier, and his gray, leathery pants strained around his thighs that were the size of tree trunks and flexed hard with each relaxed step he took. His hair was cut very short, in contrast with most Acerex, who often let it grow pretty long. The power he exuded made him seem like a pent-up keg of gunpowder, and that impression was only strengthened by the enigmatic smile that played on his lips, like a tiger surveying a flock of sheep while trying to look innocent.

Then he turned his head.

“Oh my dancing stars,” Charlotte whispered and felt her breath get stuck in her throat. A large part of his head and even face was just splotched, wrinkled skin. At some point, this man had been burned badly. It was not pretty. But still the warrior was clearly extremely confident. And he was dangerous like no other Acerex warrior she'd ever seen. He was breathtaking and he turned her on just by existing.

He wandered closer and seemed not to be looking for anyone in particular. He had no sword in his belt, which was unusual for an Acerex warrior.

The other girls were staring, too, and Charlotte was distantly aware that Harper's discreet bodyguards had quietly moved closer to their queen and that their hands were on the hilts of their swords.

Charlotte had downed a couple of cocktails, and that was probably the reason she did what she did. She noisily pushed her chair out from the table and got to her feet. “Excuse me, ladies. I just have to talk to him.”

Not that she had any hopes of anything. That guy was probably just like every other Acerex and would only express polite puzzlement if she came on to him. But how could she not?

She sashayed across the floor to place herself in his way, then pretended not to see him and bumped her butt into the huge male. It was like walking into a brick wall.

“Oops, sorry,” she purred and looked up at his face. Like most Acerex males, he was more striking than downright beautiful, and his old burns ruined part of his head. But the undamaged part of his face was characterful, and coupled with his immense muscles and sure way of handling himself, it more than made up for it. He was the hottest male Charlotte had ever seen.

He lazily lowered his head and stared down at her with that little smile still playing on his lips.

And Charlotte’s vague idea of the scandalous line she would use on him vaporized and left her mind blank. His eyes were a bright yellow, and she had never seen that on any Acerex before. Or any Earthling. It was like he was staring right through her with luminous searchlights, totally pinning her to the spot.

She was distantly aware of time passing. Shit, she was staring like a deer in headlights. She had to say something!

“Oh, ahmmm ... hi?” she croaked.

“Informal alien greeting,” the warrior said, and his voice was like a deep rumble. “Same to you, alien female.” The translator's artificial voice in her ear conveyed puzzled amusement.

The man let his gaze run down her body in a way so invasive that it sent hard tingles to her girly parts. No Acerex had ever done that, and her body responded to it. Especially since those eyes made her feel like she was being x-rayed in the sexiest way possible.

Then he looked her right in the face again, with eyes so vividly yellow that Charlotte gasped. And then she almost gasped again when she saw that the huge alien warrior's face was going pale and his smile died on his lips.

“Umm ... are you okay?”

He frowned, reached out a large hand and before she could pull away, he stroked it along her cheek with a movement so gentle that the world spun around her. How was this impossibly huge man capable of such softness? If he were any other man, the intimate gesture would have gotten him slapped. But there was something about this man that made her accept his touch. He was not one to wait for permission to do anything. He just reached for what he wanted without apology. That was just who he was. She felt that with her whole being, and it spoke to something deep inside her.

“Soft,” he said. “Smooth.”

Ah. So he was only capable of very simple words. Or was he just putting on an act? There was an intelligent glint in his eye.

Well, she had to get a grip on herself. She was acting like a starstruck teen.

“Also known as woman,” she said. “Charlotte, to be specific.”

“Charlotte,” he said. “One of Queen Harper's illustrious alien friends.”

Illustrious? “Um, sure. What is your name, warrior? Are you illustrious, too?”

It was exhausting to constantly be pierced by his yellow eyes, and Charlotte looked down his muscular body to escape them momentarily. That was a serious bulge he had in his pants. And she thought she saw it twitch. She wanted to touch it, but restrained herself.

“I am an adequate warrior, they say. Cori'ax of the Neriud tribe.”

Charlotte froze. She had heard that name before, talked about by Acerex warriors. Usually in connection with some reckless scheme that had turned into a huge victory against all odds. She had thought it was a legendary warrior from the old days, but she realized that she’d jumped to that conclusion. The chances were good that this was the famous one.

“Cori'ax,” she repeated. “I think you're the illustrious one of us.”

He shrugged with his immense muscles, like hills rolling into the distance. “Easy to be an illustrious warrior. All one must do is kill aliens.”

Well, if he could be forward, she could be, too. She stroked his hard chest with one finger, fully knowing that she was being totally slutty in public. But she'd gone far too long without any action, and this was the furthest she'd come with anyone. And most of the other people here were pretty drunk, too. “Kill, huh? Is that all you want to do with aliens?”

He seemed to consider it. “It was,” he said seriously. “Now it is not. Now I also want to mate.”

She forced her horniness down and thought coolly for a moment. This was pretty much exactly what she had wanted. She had to decide what to do now, before events spun out of control.

She was horny. Acerex males were known for their talents in bed, once you had gotten them that far. This warrior might be famous among a species of very accomplished warriors. He probably didn't think she was his Mahan, so that was one less complication to worry about. She'd taken much worse guys home back on Earth. He smelled really good. And she was horny.

“You know, I feel the same way.”

“Alien female come with Cori'ax,” he stated.

Charlotte was so surprised by the directness that only one thing occurred to her to say. “Okay. You ever hear of something called a 'spanking'?” Shit, what had been in those drinks?

The warrior frowned. “No.”

“Fine. Just a moment.” She made her way back to her table on unsteady feet and took a last sip of her drink.

“Girls, I'm going to go with this guy,” she said and heard her own voice tremble in a dry mouth. She'd never been this turned on before. “If you don't hear from me in, say, six hours, send a search party. But don't search too carefully. I'm not sure I'll want to be found.”