The wicked don’t rest because they’re consumed by the fiery pit of hell. Which I now knew was this fucking stupid red planet.

“I’m done.” I crawled onto a sheltered ledge and collapsed. After climbing for hours, all I’d found was rock, and more rock. “Send a drone to get me.”

“You are not done. The others are relying on you. Get yourself up. You can do this.”

I turned my face to the straw and drank. If I didn’t know better I’d think that was a pep talk from Macca. “I can’t keep wondering aimlessly through the mountains.”

“You are right.”

A trickle of hope ran through me. Macca actually agreeing to something I’d said?

Wow, inroads.

“I shall commence a more thorough scan of the mountains.”

“Okay, you do that.” I lay back against warm stone.

Movement flashed ahead.

My gaze flew upwards to the hovering, only half visible, space craft. The spaceship vanished from sight, shifting the air around me and sending dust scattering.

“There appears to be a cave a short distance from where you rest.”

A cave…shelter from the blaze.

I dragged herself up. “Okay.”

“Keep going along this ledge.”

I followed Macca’s instructions, sliding between two great bodies of rock and continuing until one side gave way to gaping dark mouth.

Cave…

I almost cried with relief and stumbled inside, then unfastened the hand-held lantern from the utility belt.

Light streamed from my hand across the cavernous space.

The air cooled as I progressed inside.

“Wait is that—” I tilted my head, and walked faster. “That sounds like water.”

I ran down the sloping stone ground. The texture of the walls changed. Red developed a spattering green crust, growing thicker until the cave turned a deep emerald.

I slowed, raising the lantern and looking around. “Is it safe in here? Is that mold on the roof and walls?”

“The environmental diagnostics on your suit detect no toxins. In fact, there appears to be suitable oxygen levels and temperatures for human habitation in here.”

I followed the trickle of water deep into the cave until the only light was the one I held. “Please tell me these lanterns have a decent lifespan.”

“Calm your imagination. That lantern will shine for two of your earth years.”

“ Good.” Stuck in a mossy alien cave with a flat lantern was not on today’s agenda. The cave wall curved leading into a tunnel.

My heart seemed to beat further down in my chest. A tugging sensation pulled at my middle, urging me toward the surface. “We’re getting pretty deep in here now…”

But the trickle of water grew clearer.

“Keep going, Leila.”

A glow penetrated the darkness ahead. “Hold up, there’s light.”

Water cascaded over rocks, flowing down a radiant tunnel in the cave floor. Cool blue tinged light streamed from the hole in the floor.

“Found the water source.” I unbuckled a device from my belt and took a sampling strip then stepped around the hole in the ground to where I could reach the flowing water.

I dunked the strip then stuck it in to the slot as Macca had described on the ship.

Colors and symbols flashed on the screen. “What does this mean?”

“It means you’ve done well. This water is pure, untainted, and suitable for consumption.”

I let out a sigh. “Thank god. Send the drone.”

“Water is excellent, but there are signs of vegetation. Persevere and see what more we might find.”

“Easy for you to say. You’re not sweating your tits off in a space suit.”

“The air is breathable if you wish to remove your helmet.”

“Oh, I do.” I unclipped the base and took off the helmet. Sweet air filled my lungs. There was an almost piney tang to it. Like rain forest air. I swiped sweat off my face then eyed the spring. “You said the water was safe, right?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” I put the lantern on a rock then yanked down the space suit and tugged off my boots.

“What are you doing?”

“ I’m going to rinse the freaking space sweat off.” I tore off my jumpsuit. “Those reptile bastards only gave us moist towelettes. I haven’t washed since they took me.”

“You are becoming distracted.”

I folded the suit and set it on a rock, then eased around the tunnel in the floor and ducked under the stream of water. “I’ll be super fast, relax.”

My skin tingled. Yes. Warm water streamed over me. I scrubbed myself. Almost orgasmic energy, lit up inside me. Oh, how we take for granted the small blessings, like running water and cleanliness.

Until those blessings are gone.

Fatigue melted out of my muscles.

The roar of water grew louder.

“Don’t move.”

I froze, hands buried in my hair.

That wasn’t the spring roaring…

My eyes flew open. Pouring water obscured my vision.

A shadow moved in front of me.

A monstrous shadow.

I gasped. Water flew down my lungs. I choked, stumbling out of the stream of water, and only just missed a plunge down the hole.

I fell against a wall. The thing moved closer, growling.

“I said don’t move, fool human.”

I stilled, bare back pressed against moss. Horns rose out of the creatures head like a bull. Thick fur covered its body. “What the fuck is it, Macca?”

I blinked. The light . Only the gentle glow from the water tunnel lit the cave now. I glanced at where I’d left my things. The lantern lay smashed on the floor.

My clothes shredded. The creature tore them…

“This appears to be the secret home planet of the Baratican warriors.” Macca’s voice took on a semblance of emotion. “ This is a tremendous discovery.”

The creatures head rose. The top half of its head was sheathed in fur, with curling bull horns.

I clamped a hand over my mouth silencing a scream. The bottom half of its face gleamed smooth and almost human. A brutish square jaw, and a man shaped mouth.

“That’s not a warrior, that’s a beast,” I whispered through my fingers.

It rose up, taller, and taller.

My head spun looking at it.

A growl rumbled through the cave. The aliens top lip curled up. My heart back-flipped. Extra-long canines overlapped on its bottom row of teeth.

“Oh my god, Macca, it’s a fucking Minotaur.” My vision blurred.

“Remain calm and still. I assure you it’s not a Minotaur it’s a Baratican.”

The creature tilted its head, studying me.

“Please tell me Baratican aren’t dangerous?”

The growling dropped an octave, and something about the change in tenor made me shudder.

“Baratican are extremely dangerous. They are the most feared warriors in the known Universe.”

My skin seemed to shrink around me. “Not helping.”

The thing moved again, dropping onto all fours.

“Remain perfectly still. The Baractican do not harm females. You must allow it to identify you as female and you will be fine.”

“I’m freaking naked.” I drew my arms up, and shrank back. “What more can I do to prove I’m female, open my legs and show it my cervix?”

“This is the best suggestion you’ve made so far.”

“Remind me to explain sarcasm.” Then I lost my breath.

The Baratican monster reached my feet.

Fur swept across my shins.

My skin puckered with shiver.

“Still, Leila. Remain still. It won’t intentionally hurt you but it’s best for you if it doesn’t become aggressive.”

I shut my eyes, and clasped my hands under my chin. My whole body clenched tight. A feather-light caress brushed my knees. “It’s touching me…”

“Remain calm.”

Something gripped my thigh. I cracked an eye open. An arm protruded from folds of fur, and clasped my leg with frighteningly human fingers.

Oh, thank god, the fur seemed to be a coat . It wasn’t furry. It just had a Minotaur head.

It’s face hovered inches from my skin. “Oh god, help—it’s sniffing me.”

“Be calm. You have creatures on earth who do this.”

Yes, dogs. Not giant warriors who look like Mythological monsters.

The sniffing moved over my thighs. The growling sunk lower and lower morphing into a buzz. Then he stopped directly in front of me, and his face plunged between my legs.

I let out a squeal. A rough face rubbed in my crotch. “Oh shit, what do I do? It’s nuzzling my privates.”

“Just remain still. It’s analyzing your scent.”

I covered my face, chest heaving. Something wet delved between my folds— no!

“Fuck, it’s licking me.”

“Your heart-rate is dangerously elevated, human. Do try to calm yourself.”

I couldn’t look. The creatures mouth pressed to my privates. Something unimaginable happened—a vibration flowed from its mouth and streaked sensation into my vagina.

“Help. It’s doing alien things on me.”

A long, thick vibrating tongue dragged over my pussy. My nerves activated, tingles flooding my extremities.

I moaned. Oh, no. This was so wrong. It nudged my thigh wider and went at my pussy like it was its birthday feast. Pleasure burst over me.

Oh, shit. This was very, very messed up.

The vibration grew stronger, electrifying my clitoris. My hips jerked. I couldn’t wiggle away from the vibration.

Tension gathered inside me.

Don’t come!

He ran his tongue in a long swipe over my pussy. The vibration zinged through me.

I erupted with a shout. My body convulsed. I grabbed his horns for support, tremors raking me.

The Baratican grew more determined, licking up the orgasm.

I sunk to the floor, horns still gripped in my hands.

My breaths rang in my ears.

Oh, well, now that was next level fucked up. There’d been a lot of fuckedupness lately but this just outdid all former outer space fuckery.

I blinked, still gripping his horns, but somehow the Baratican remained kneeling where he’d been.

I raised the horns and skull-like thing. A helmet —the horns were part of a freaking helmet.

I stared at the Baratican. He didn’t look like a Minotaur, but he wasn’t exactly human either. The helmet had covered the top half of his face and head. The jaw underneath was just as strong and brutish as it’d been before. His forehead broad and bony, but significantly less monstrous. Dark reddish-brown hair flowed from his head.

“Geez, Macca why the hell didn’t you tell me this was a helmet?” I placed the helmet cautiously on the floor.

“What possible relevance does that have?”

The Baratican watched me, hungry and very human gaze flowing over my sprawled body.

I scooted back. “I thought I was receiving vigorous magical cunnilingus from a monster.”

“Would the knowledge have made you more amenable?”

The Baratican tugged at his neck, unfastening his swamping fur cloak.

I let out a rushing breath. “No, but maybe it’d have been less horrifying.”

“Interesting. Humans place much emphasis on physical appearance when it comes to mating.”

“That’s more than appearance. And we’re not mating.” I sat up. “Now he’s verified I’m female, he’s going to leave me be?”

Macca remained silent.

The Baratican tossed the cloak. Oh, my . His body was an exaggeration of human masculinity. Too broad shoulders. Too thick arms. Enormous pectorals. But no fur or body hair of any kind. His skin was a little too red to be considered tan.

Not bad, buddy.

His hands went to a loin cloth.

I scrambled backwards. “Right, Macca?”

“It is in your interest to submit to mating.”

Mating ? My breath ceased. Submit ?

He removed the loin cloth. Holy crap. Yep, everything about him was exaggerated masculinity.

I averted my gaze, but my vision still throbbed with an image of a giant arching alien cock. “Even if I were willing, we are not physically compatible. That absurd dick would kill me.”

“There’s that human imagination again. Baratican’s only produce male offspring, and must mate with other species in order to procreate. Their reproductive system is designed to adapt to their mate’s anatomy.”

I rose to my feet slowly. “I can’t imagine how that works but the answer is still a hard no.” I kept my knees slightly bent. “You seem to be quite comfortable with this situation…I don’t know what you’re up to Macca, but it’s not going to fly.”

The Baratican frowned. “Woomph kan et mik.”

Its voice was as low as it’s growl had been, and made my skin prickle again.

“Not sure what you’re saying, big buddy.” I held out a hand. “But vibrating cunnilingus is about as much as I’m willing to put out on a first date.”

He took the massive fur cloak and spread it on the floor, then gestured to it. “ Boon bet woomph.”

“ I’m sure that’s a wonderful cloak, but mating just isn’t on the cards today.” I kept my attention above his neckline. If I caught sight of that thing of his again, I may just feint like a maiden and find myself unconsciously alien boned. “Since I know you don’t want to hurt me, there’s not going to be any submitting either.”

The frown that rippled across his large brow would be comical if my heart weren’t thumping like a death march.

“Dispatch the drone to my location, Macca, and make sure it has another space suit.”

I took a slow step backwards. Hopefully the drone would be able to make its way this deep into the cave.

“I’m afraid you have not yet completed your mission.”

I froze. “What the hell you talking about?”

“Does it not occur to you that if the Baratican reside here, then there must be edible resources on the planet?”

I licked my lips. “Yeah, but I’m not going to bang an alien to get to his pantry.”

His head tilted again. As though he knew I was no longer speaking to him.

“Foolishness, human. You enjoyed the cunnilingus, did you not?”

A flush burst over my face. “It wasn’t like that; his tongue vibrates for heaven’s sake.”

“Bet en et brook mein broom broom.” He pointed to the clock again. Even foreign to my ears that sounded a lot like “get your ass on my cloak and prepare to be mated, woman.”

Dammit . He might not be human but I knew impatient man face when I saw it, and this one did not look like one that received no for an answer.

I spun—and sprinted the way I’d come.