Loretta awoke to the smell of eggs and bacon wafting through the luxurious bedroom where she’d slept. She leaned up on her elbow, looking around. She didn’t remember falling asleep the night before and wondered what had happened with Mylash. She slid from the bed, realizing that she was still naked under the sheets. Her face grew flushed and she imagined Mylash leaving her naked in the bed to sleep with his dragon raging inside his mind.

She padded across the room and grabbed a silk robe that lay across an antique trunk that looked like it cost more than her grandmother’s house. She threw it over her shoulders and slid into a pair of soft slippers. She walked through the living room and into the kitchen where she found Mylash busily cooking. Frying pans and bowls were scattered over the stove and counters.

“Where did you learn to cook human food?” she asked.

“I watched a video on the Internet about how to cook the most popular breakfast.”

She stepped over to the stove where he stood and peered down at his frying pans of eggs and bacon and hash browns. Her stomach rumbled, and she slid her arm around his waist. He looked down at her with a satisfied expression and turned the heat off the food.

“It’s ready.”

He slid the food onto two plates and set them at the kitchen counter beside a picture of fresh squeezed orange juice. They slid into the padded, high-back stools, and Loretta dug in to her perfect looking breakfast. The first bite was heavenly and exactly what she needed after a long day like yesterday.

Loretta was a girl who liked to eat. Before she’d lost her mom and dad, and before the Draconians had come and screwed up the economy, Loretta’s family had been happy and abundant. Every Sunday after church, her grandma would come over to her mom and dad’s house and they would cook all kinds of food popular in Alabama. Those were some of her happiest memories and certainly something that had attributed to the development of her generous curves.

“This is delicious. You did really well for your first time.”

“I think I did something else pretty well for my first time last night,” he said before shoving a bite of eggs in his mouth.

“What are you talking about? Last night wasn’t your first time was it?” she asked. She was twenty-six years old and had a few lovers in her past. Nothing to write home about, but it had happened. A man like Mylash, who looked like a cross between a professional athlete and a mythological God, certainly would’ve had his choice of lovers.

“There are few women on Draconia. Many of the males on the ship have only ever seen their mothers. The last generation of Draconians had only fifteen percent females.”

“It’s just hard for me to believe that a guy like you never… But I guess it makes sense.”

“You seemed to have enjoyed what I did to your sweet sex.”

Loretta’s face grew hot, and she looked down at her plate, remembering the night before. It had been one of the most erotic experiences of her life, even better than her fantasies. Her body tingled in anticipation of what was to come.

“I did enjoy it,” she whispered, sucking her lip into her mouth after she spoke. She pushed the hash browns around on her plate, her blood racing too hot to have any further appetite for food.

“We were unable to complete the process last night,” Mylash said matter-of-factly. “I wish to begin again.”

Loretta sucked a breath through her teeth and hopped out of the stool, landing on her slippers on the tile floor. Suddenly full of trepidation, she backed away towards the exit.

“I think I need to bathe first,” she said, trying to think of an excuse and give herself time to get the courage up to lie underneath him again and to feel his thick member pressed against her tight opening.

“I will bathe with you,” he said, standing.

“Okay…”

He followed her to the bathroom, and she could feel his sharp presence behind her every step of the way. Her body buzzed with anxiety and desire, each contradictory emotion heightening the other into a frenzy in her heart and mind.

She turned on the shower, wanting to be able to stand at a distance from Mylash as she washed herself. She dropped the bathrobe off of her body and stepped into the wide stone tile shower with the rainwater head and multiple body sprayers throughout the large space. It was like being in a high-end spa. She stood there for a moment with her eyes closed, feeling the pleasure of the spray on her skin and scalp.

Mylash walked into the shower and closed the glass door behind him. He swept up a bottle into his hands and squirted the contents into his palm. Loretta watched him through the rain water trickling down her face as he rubbed the soap between his hands and approached her.

“I’m going to wash you,” he said in a deep voice full of desire.

A little surge of electricity jumped through her nervous system at his words. He reached for her, placing his hands first on her shoulders. Water trickled down her skin, and he worked his hands over the smooth surface of her arms. His hands moved down her fingertips. As he knelt before her, his hands continued their downward motion over her thighs and legs, coming to the tops of her feet and then working their way back up again.

His palms slid over her knees, his fingertips gripping her flesh as they followed. His hands caressed her thighs, thumbs slipping over the sensitive skin of her labia.

They traveled to her belly and waist, which he gripped, his chiseled handsome face moving to her slit. His tongue darted through her folds, hitting her swollen bud. He cupped her breasts, squeezing as his fingers rolled her nipples.

Loretta looked down at him and gripped his shoulders. She could barely stand how gorgeous he was. Watching him lick her pussy, down on his knees like this, all seven feet of muscled hotness, made her drip on his tongue.

“You taste so good, little mate. I love to lick you.”

He ran the soap over her pussy, rubbing it in and rinsing it with the water flowing all around. His hand working her sensitive spot, wetting it, washing it, felt so good.

He backed her up and sat her down on the stone bench against the back wall. Mylash spread her legs, towering over her even on his knees. He bent down and opened her folds with one hand, his mouth diving in to lap up her inner juices.

His erection stood like a stone statue, long and wide, lusciously gorgeous. She wanted to touch him, but he was too busy licking her up and down in a tantalizingly slow rhythm, like a cat licking its paw. She could barely stand how damn sexy he was.

He started to purr against her as he had the night before. It vibrated on her arousal, making her cry out with pleasure. As his fingers entered her channel, his tongue moved up to focus on her mound. Luxuriant bliss spread over her. Mylash was driving her mad.

With the caress of his fingers inside her, the cool stone against her back and ass, and Mylash’s tongue thrumming on her clit, Loretta broke open. She gritted her teeth and gripped Mylash’s hair, groaning. The contractions squeezed his soaking wet fingers as he slid them out.

“I’m going to come on you now,” he said.

“What? On?” Was he kidding?

“You need more time to open to me. You’re little pussy is so tight and my cock is so large.”

“It is big,” she gasped, opening her eyes to look at it right in front of her face. Mylash stood before her, his erection bigger than ever. Her heart skipped a beat and he lifted her abruptly off the seat.

He turned her around and pressed her against the stone wall, standing on the bench. Jets of warm water sprayed over her and her nipples pebbled against the cool stone.

He lifted her hands over her head and held them there, sliding his cock up and down inside the crevice of her ass. It was so long and thick, it spread her cheeks wide as it moved over her hole.

He bent it down between her legs and began to thrust, in and out of the tight grip of her thick thighs. His hard pelvis thumped her behind as his cock slid over her pussy, her lips spreading over him.

Her face pressed against the stone. She was held immobile, giving Mylash full access to any part of her body he wanted. But he continued to pump into her tight legs, brushing over her wet sex. Everything about that moment was so unbelievably hot. Where did he learn to do all this to a woman?

Sensation built quickly. Mylash’s breath tingled over her ear and neck. She groaned, feeling herself wanting to open to him. He didn’t think she was ready, and she probably wasn’t. That didn’t mean she didn’t want him more with each caress of his shaft.

She quivered in release, right before he pulled out of her legs and pumped his cock over her ass again. With a stifled roar, he came on her back. Hot, sticky semen pumped onto the base of her spine and slid down her ass cheeks.

He drew back and used both hands to massage his bright white semen into the dark, round globes of her ass. He even ran his seed over her still quaking pussy, dipping one finger into her wet core.

She turned around and faced him, biting her lip as she gazed into his blue eyes.

“That was crazy good,” she said, stepping down from the bench.

“You are crazy good,” he said, scooping her up in his arms and off her feet.

He carried her out of the bathroom, ignoring towels or robes, and placed her under the blankets of the bed.

He crawled in beside her and drew the covers over them both.

“I want to worship you,” he said, his hand running over her still damp belly.

“Mylash. Where did you come from?” she breathed into his shoulder before she licked and kissed it.

He stopped for a minute and said, “Draconia. I thought you knew that.”

She giggled. “I did. It’s just a saying.”

His fingers dipped inside her very wet pussy and she threw her head back with a gasp. “Oh God, already?”

“I cannot wait any longer to be inside you. You must open to me or I could hurt you.”

All she could do was groan as he stroked the pleasure inside her. Her body aflame with passion, she came. Just like that. Each time it was more intense than the last. Loretta screamed and gripped the pillow, but he didn’t stop.

As the contractions began to subside, she grabbed his hand and gently pushed him away. “Wait. I need to recover, baby. Give me a minute.” She giggled and rolled into his chest.

She’d never come so many times so quickly. This was totally new territory for her sexually. But even more than that, it was new territory emotionally as well.

This guy had not only totally owned her body, and made her come like a manic, he also was so thoughtful of her feelings it almost made her heart hurt. Most of the guys she’d dated in the past were so noncommittal it was as if they didn’t even know each other. College boys had the pick of the girls since there were always fewer boys in school. That meant the guys who got an education treated women like disposable items. The guys her age who weren’t getting an education were usually unemployed losers.

She’d considered going older, maybe dating some of the men who worked at the brokerage firm in Montgomery, but they came with their own baggage.

Relationships hadn’t been her thing for those very reasons. Now that she had Mylash in her life, it was like a whole new world of possibility opened up in that department. She’d never expected to feel this way. The more time she spent with Mylash, the more she wanted to be with him.

She didn’t know anything about the mating computer or how Draconians knew who their fated mates were. But being with Mylash made her believe there was something to it.

“Maybe we should get out of the house for a while. Get some fresh air,” she said. She knew he wanted nothing more than to lie around all day fucking, but she didn’t know if her body could take another orgasm.

Orgasms were phenomenal and all, but a girl can only take so many before she starts to get worn out.

“I want to stay here with you,” he said, running his hand up her arm and over her tender breasts. She pulled away, too sensitive to be touched now.

“I seriously need a break right now, babe. When we come back later, maybe I can return the favor you’ve given me the last two times.”

“Favor?”

“You know. With your mouth.”

“I’m told human women enjoy this. You taste exquisite. Better than anything I’ve ever tasted. I can’t get enough. Grrr. I want more now.”

He began to crawl over her, but she put her hand firmly to his chest, laughing. “I’m serious. I can’t. Okay? Let’s go for a walk.”

She quickly slid out of the bed and pulled the robe on around her shoulders. She suddenly remembered that she only had the clothes she’d worn the day before.

After being in an explosion and a hostage situation, they weren’t exactly clean anymore.

She picked them up off the floor and considered putting them back on.

“My clothes are really dirty,” she said, sighing.

“Wear something from the closet,” he said, flicking the spot at the base of his neck that made his uniform reappear.

“What closet?”

“That one.” He pointed to a door across the room.

She opened her mouth and her eyes wider and hurried to the door, flinging it open. The high-end closet was filled with a gorgeous array of designer clothing. She gasped and clapped her hands, prancing deeper into the closet.

Loretta loved clothes. She loved everything about clothes and shoes and accessories. Having planned to work in finance since her junior year of high school, she’d always had a taste for fine fashion.

She found a stunning printed dress and a pair of exquisite pumps that made her heart palpitate. “Where did all this come from?” she said, swooning.

He walked into the closet and gave it an appraising gaze. “I had it all bought and brought in for you as soon as I met you.”

“You know my size?”

“I can see the dimensions of your body easily enough. The Draconian mind is like that. I had the measurements sent to a personal shopper who filled the closet.”

“You did all that yesterday, after the terrorist attacks?”

“It was only a few calls. Nothing at all. All the brides receive this.”

That made Loretta worry her lip and look away. She wasn’t officially a bride yet. She hadn’t agreed to stay with Mylash. No matter how much she wanted him, and was beginning to care for him, the thought of being permanently attached to a Draconian still gave her pause.

“I’m not a bride,” she whispered, holding the Gucci dress in front of her. She was dying to wear it.

“You will be, my beautiful mate. Dress as it pleases you, and we will go out. For a walk.”

He bowed his head and turned to go. Loretta watched his hot ass in the skintight uniform as he walked away. Lord have mercy. That man was something else. She shook her head. What was she going to do with him?

First things first. She had to put on these clothes and look at herself in the mirror.

Along with accessories and handbags, she found a full assortment of lingerie in its own little chest of drawers. She put on a satin and lace set in a rich gold tone and slid into the dress and shoes. She turned and assessed herself in the mirror, smoothing the fabric over her hip. Satiny softness lay against her skin, feeling unbelievably good. She looked even better.

Loretta had imagined herself wearing such refined clothes thousands of times, but the reality was much better than the fantasy. She looked polished and more mature. It was as if she was seeing herself for the very first time in a completely new light. She did her hair and makeup and then strode out into the living room where she found Mylash sitting on the couch watching TV.

There was a basketball game on television, and he seemed enraptured by the gameplay. “Are you watching basketball?” she asked.

“It’s fascinating,” he said.

“Those are humans that are as tall as you,” she said, laughing.

“I wonder how Draconians would play basketball.”

“Probably better than humans.”

“There’s a gym on the armada where Draconians are able to shift into dragon form and fly around. The males might enjoy this game there.”

“That’s a great idea. I’d love to see you play.” She said it before she realized what that meant. He’d suggested they play basketball in the gym on the armada. The armada in space. If she became his bride, she would probably be expected to live on one of the spaceships and perhaps leave Earth forever. She didn’t know if she could do that, no matter how strongly she was beginning to feel for Mylash.

“This would be a good new diversion for us. I’ll propose it to the commander.”

“I’m ready to go out if you are,” she said, gripping the strap of her Birkin handbag.

He stood and walked with her to the door. Loretta only came up to his chest, but after watching the basketball game, she imagined that this height difference was probably normal for basketball players’ girlfriends. He opened the door for her, and she walked out into the hallway. As they waited for the elevator, she slid her hand into his.

His crystal blue eyes gazed down at her, and she smiled at him, enjoying the feeling of his warm hand enfolding hers. They rode the elevator downstairs. There were newscasts playing on the televisions in the lobby of the building, but Loretta avoided listening to them.

With everything going on in her personal life, she had pushed the thoughts of the terrorist attacks far to the back of her mind. As soon as she left the confines of the apartment, it abruptly confronted her. Her heart rate sped up, and she gripped Mylash’s hand more tightly.

They walked outside and continued down the street. The smell of chocolate and coffee wafted from a small cafe. Loretta pulled Mylash inside, wanting to get off the street.

“Let’s have some coffee and pastries.”

He followed her inside, and they took ordered pastries and coffee from the counter and sat down by the window. She crossed her legs and watched Mylash as the late morning sunlight streamed over his blond hair. He smiled at her, showing his sharp canine teeth. The look in his eyes awakened her body instantly, and she couldn’t keep her mind on her chocolate eclair and cappuccino.

A smile spread on her lips, and she ran her hand over his where it lay on the table. He caressed her skin with his fingertips and gazed into her eyes.

“I never thought it would feel like this,” he said.

“Like what?”

“My inner dragon has calmed since the shower. But the need to be inside you calls me home.”

“Help me understand,” she said, embarrassed that anyone might hear. “It feels like wanting me is like wanting home?”

“Yes. Exactly. You feel like home to me. Odd. I came here on an altogether different mission. When I left Draconia, I was irritated that I’d been sent from the warfront to babysit a race of humanoids who were at an inappropriate stage of development of us to mate with.”

“Inappropriate?” she mockingly defended her race.

“When we were here last, five thousand years ago, you were tribal and barbaric. You worshiped us as gods. Finding women to mate with was easy. We had only to offer ourselves. We took many of those women back to Draconia with us. The other planets we mate with are either at the same level of development as Earth had been back then or far beyond where you are now. Earth humans are not a self-sustaining species. You were slowly killing your planet and exploiting each other. No race can survive like that. The introduction of new technology just accelerated the process of self-destruction. It was a poor choice to stay when we realized what had happened to you.”

“I had no idea it was like that.”

“We are at war with the Mulgor. It requires all our resources. We had to choose to stay with Earth or abandon the mating armada until after the war was over. The Mulgor haven’t attacked in thousands of years. No one knows how long it will be until the war is over. That is why the president allowed for the technology exchange. The mission to Earth needed to be salvaged so we could revitalized our DNA in this generation. Coming here is a tremendous burden of time and recourses for our planet.”

“So you wanted to stay back on Draconia and fight the Mulgor, not deal with our lame asses.”

“Precisely. But now. Everything has changed. You now feel like home to me, and I want nothing more than to defend you.”

“So does that mean you’re resigning from the Draconian military?” she said, laughing.

“I am not.” His grin grew wide, and she could see his teeth. “But this feeling of loyalty to anything but Draconia is new for me.”

“That’s really sweet,” she said, looking down at her eclair. She pulled her hand away from his and took a sip of the expertly poured cappuccino. It was divine. Loretta picked up her fork and took a bite of the eclair and it was just as good as the coffee. “This place is fantastic, taste your pastry.” She wanted to change the subject, even though her heart was racing a million miles a minute to hear him talk like that.

Looking into his eyes, hearing him speak of his loyalty to her, made her heart flutter wildly in her chest. She felt like she was in some romantic movie where the super-hot hero was with an ordinary girl like her. She watched him take a bite of his pastry and lift it to his mouth. His pink tongue darted out and licked the cream on the spoon. Her thoughts went to earlier when he’d had his face between her thighs. She rested her cheek in her hand with her elbow on the table.

“It is quite delicious. We don’t eat sweet food on Draconia. But I can see the appeal.”

“No sweets! I can definitely never live there,” she blurted out. She stopped short and gazed at him. He looked disappointed and a little panicked.

“I’m sure we could import all the sugar you could desire from Earth,” he defended.

“I shouldn’t have said that. Let’s not talk about it. Okay?”

“My mate. I must be honest.”

“No. I don’t want to think about it now, Mylash. I just want to enjoy being with you. Right now. Today. Okay? The world is falling apart all around us. The people I love are desperate. I was just in a terrorist attack yesterday. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I just don’t want to think about that fact that it comes with prospect of having to leave my planet for the rest of my life.”

“Loretta…”

“Let’s go. I’m done.” She stood and shoved her hands in the pocket of her jacket, making her way to the door. Outside, the air was cooler and the sky had become overcast. He was there beside her, his warm presence giving her something to cling to.

“Are you feeling all right?” he asked.

“I’m fine.”

“Loretta. Eventually, the Draconians will leave Earth. You must understand that.”

“I do.”

“You still have the right to leave. We made that deal.”

“I was supposed to mate with you first. Right?” She felt hopeful and numb at the same time.

“Yes. After we mate, I will give you one million dollars. And you are free to stay or go.”

“What will happen to you?”

“I am confident that you will stay with me.”

She stopped and turned to him, the sky hanging low overhead. The first drops of rain sprinkled on her cheek. “What makes you so confident?”

“A Draconian’s semen opens his mate to him. It makes her feel as strongly connected to him as he is to her.”

“It’s an aphrodisiac?”

“Something along those lines. It only works with a male’s true mate. Only she will open to him in this way.”