VERONICA

I don't know which part of this day has been the most shocking. Is it waking up to find that I've been kidnapped by aliens only to be rescued again? Is it that I'm completely naked and barefoot despite my bone-chillingly cold surroundings? The big, blue, horned guys or the strange “ship” we find ourselves in?

Or is it the incredibly handsome, naked golden guy speaking to me and asking me to fight him while showing off his body?

I gape, hugging the fur blanket closer to my naked body as the golden god gestures at me. I suppose it's my own fault. I've been huddling with the other women, trying to conserve body heat and mentally trying to figure my bearings, when this gorgeous man shows up, practically strutting, and puts his hands on his hips, surveying us. And it's my own fault because I might have stared a little harder at his nakedness than I should have.

But, I mean, I'm only human. Guy's got obliques for days, and I'm a sucker for that sort of thing. It looks like the perfect spot for a woman to run her tongue. Not that I'd ever be bold enough to do such a thing…but a girl can dream. That's all it'd ever be, though. I'm not the kind of woman that guys pay attention to. I'm brown-haired, average height, weight, on the slight side with the boobs, and otherwise completely unremarkable. I'm not as smart as some, or as nice, or as funny. I'm just sort of there. I figured this out long ago when I landed in friend-zone after friend-zone. And I'm used to it by now.

Doesn't mean I can't sneak a peek at something impressive I'll never get to touch.

He notices me peeking, though. If anything, his cock stands a little taller and his grin gets wider at the sight of me looking. The guy's clearly alien and shameless.

The blonde from this planet—I think her name is Liz—moves forward and swats the golden guy on the arm. "You douche. You speak English?"

The guy shrugs, clearly not all that interested in Liz. He's too busy staring at me and grinning. It makes me wildly uncomfortable…and a little flattered, too, because gosh, when was the last time any guy paid attention to me? Much less a smoking hot one.

And despite his alien-ness, this guy is hot with a capital H. He's at least six and a half feet tall with a shock of bronze hair that reminds me a bit of a lion, or an anime character, right down to the horns peeping through. His eyes whirl with a variety of colors, pupilless but still somehow warm and appealing. Right now as he looks at me, they're whirling a darker gold than his skin. His features are strong, with high cheekbones and the most gorgeously full mouth I've ever seen on a man. As he crosses his arms over his brawny chest, I can't help but notice that his skin is dappled in a scaly pattern, and when he flexes, there are spikes jutting along the underside of each corded arm.

"Jesus Christ. Put that thing away!" The girl I'm sitting next to, Hannah, puts a hand up, shielding her eyes from the bronze god's nakedness.

He doesn't, though. He's still staring at me as if waiting for something. Self-conscious, I clear my throat and gather my blanket tight around me and get to my feet. Or I try to, but my foot's caught under the hem of the blanket and I accidentally fling it to the floor when I step forward. I make this horrible squawking noise in my throat—like a startled chicken—and snatch it back up again, but it's too late.

Golden Boy has now officially seen my boobies.

"Excuse me," Liz hisses at him, snapping her fingers in front of his face. "I'm talking to you."

He glances over at her dismissively. "Why should I speak to you? I am not interested." He points at me. "I like that one. I will take her."

I stand completely still, shocked. "Um, what?"

"No one's getting divvied up!" Liz says. "At least, not until the cootie decides."

"Um WHAT?" Hannah demands.

"Long story," Liz says, putting her hands up. "Remember the parasite thing? The whole resonance thing?"

Hannah calms down. "Right. Still trying to remember that." She rubs her forehead.

I know how she feels. Even though it made total sense when the others explained it, I'm having trouble wrapping my brain around the whole “fated mate” thing. That some parasitic worm thing is going to decide who I should marry. Though, to be honest, I doubt I'll get chosen anytime soon. It looks like there's only a few guys to the bunches of women, and I'm not at the top of the chart.

Well, except for Golden Boy, but I'm pretty sure he's either delusional or trying to embarrass me.

I clutch my blankets and move carefully to stand behind a few of the other, taller women just so I can break eye contact with the alien that's singled me out.

"No one's claiming anyone," Liz says. "Once all of the guys have been woken up, we'll go over the whole song and dance with you, too. In the meantime, go sit down next to your red buddy over there, and for god's sake, do not touch any of the women. Got it?" She waves a hand at his erect dick, which looks larger than any dick I've ever seen—and has a line of ridges across the top. "And put that thing away."

A blue alien moves forward with a blanket, offering it to Golden Boy. He studies it, then scans the audience for me. I duck behind one of the ladies so he can't see me, then peer back over her shoulder after a moment to see if he's still watching. "I do not understand," Golden Boy says in perfect—if accented—English. "Am I not here to breed fine slaves with your females?"

I suck in a breath at that. He wants to freaking breed with me? Saliva gets caught in my windpipe and I end up coughing and choking on my own air. Someone thumps me hard on the back—which makes me drop my blanket again.

"Um, newwwwp," Liz says. She looks over at one of the blue aliens. "I'm gonna need you to take this one, chief. I'm out." She wades in amongst the women, finds me wrapping my blanket around my body again, and points. "And no one let him near this one. What's your name again, honey?"

"Veronica," I say between coughing and try to wave. "Hi."

"Right. Everyone, let's keep Bachelor Number One away from Bachelorette Number Two here." She pats me on my naked shoulder and glances back at the blue alien she was speaking with. "Vektal, you have guy duty. Ladies, I'm going to need everyone to crowd around so we can get you some clothing. We brought extra tunics and pants, but since there's no Walmart around here, sizing is gonna be a fun adventure."

"Yippee," says one of the plump girls whose name I don't recall.

I move along as Liz keeps a hand on my shoulder, dragging me forward. I can't help but glance backward at Golden Boy, though. He's still watching me, his eyes whirling darker, arms crossed over his chest. He doesn't look deterred in the slightest by the alien who grabs his arm and leads him away.

And I feel a little shiver of apprehension or excitement—I'm not sure which—in my belly.