Laurann Dohner: Ral's Woman

Ariel studied the lone man being attacked by the other two. He was a huge son of a bitch. He was bigger than his opponents by a few inches and he looked thicker in the arms and shoulders. He fought with amazing speed as he dodged fists and feet. He punched one man in the face. Ariel heard something crack. The man he hit went staggering back, collapsing on the floor. She saw blood on the fallen man’s face. He whimpered and rolled to his side to hold his face with both hands. He didn’t get up.

Her eyes flew to the last two men fighting. The larger one swung out a foot to hit the other man in the chest. The man gasped as he grabbed at his ribs. He dropped to his knees while blood dripped out of his mouth. He looked down before he crashed facedown on the floor. The lone man stood there growling. He threw his head back roaring out into the cavern. Ariel wished she could cover her ears so the terrifying noise could be muffled. The man’s roar cut off as he turned around to glare up at the bluish aliens.

“She’s yours, Ral,” the alien above her hissed. “Release her to him.”

Ariel felt terror as the man named Ral moved toward the platform. She heard someone close to her move. From the darkness, one of the bluish men in a black uniform appeared behind her. He gripped her wrist, freeing it with a jerk, and reached for her other one to free it too.

Blood rushed back into her arms as she lowered them to her sides. Ariel experienced that pins-and-needles sensation. She gasped as the bluish man gripped her arms firmly. He shoved her forward until she found herself staring up a good foot and some inches into the face of the man who’d won her. He had to be six and a half feet tall to her five foot three.

She recognized him instantly from his eyes. Those bright electric blue eyes looked like they glowed. He was breathing hard. She saw sharp white teeth peeking through his wide full lips. His flattened nose twitched and a soft growl came from his throat. His hands were large and warm as he gripped her hips. He tugged her from the platform, turning her toward the darkness of the cavern. He snarled.

Ariel’s knees started to buckle. She would have crashed to the rock floor if the man’s large hands weren’t gripping her hard enough to hold her up. He spun her around and stared down at her.

“Mine,” he growled.

Ariel opened her mouth but nothing came out. The man lifted her so they were face-to-face. She automatically put her hands on his chest so her upper body didn’t slam into his. Her hands were pale compared to his dark brown skin. She touched hard muscles covered by hot flesh. She stared into his eyes. He had long, thick black eyelashes that matched his thick black mane of hair. His skin was hotter than hers by far.

“Mine,” he growled softly at her.

Ariel gasped when tossed her over his shoulder. A thickly muscled arm trapped her legs against his chest while a firm hand gripped her ass, holding her in place. He stormed away from the platform into the darkness with her. Ariel couldn’t see a thing.

She shut her eyes and fought the terror she was feeling. What would he do to her?

Ariel could smell him. He didn’t smell bad. He actually smelled good considering he’d just been fighting. She realized he had skin under the hair that fell to his waist. At first glance she’d thought they just had hairy backs but the hair grew from their heads.

It was softer to the touch than it looked.

She heard low growls as he walked away quickly with her. She wished it weren’t so dark so she could see. Faint light started to penetrate as he walked so she could make out rough walls. The light grew brighter until she could make out the floor. It was an uneven stone, not smooth like the hallways she’d seen above.

“You won,” a voice growled softly. “Who will you give this one to, Ral?”

Ral stopped walking. “She is mine.”

There was a pause. “But you always give away what you win. I have been waiting the longest.”

“Not her,” Ral growled. “This one is mine.”

“But—”

“Enough,” Ral snarled. “Move or I’ll move you.”

She heard the other man growl. “Will you at least share her?”

“No.”

One word made Ariel feel relief. She didn’t want to be shared. The man holding her snarled. “Move out of my way. If you wanted a woman you should have fought harder to win.”

“But—”

“Move,” Ral snarled. “Get out of my way now.”

The man must have moved out of Ral’s way since they were moving again. She heard soft voices but she didn’t push against the man holding her to look up. She was afraid that whatever was around her wasn’t something she wanted to see. The man carrying her made some turns before he stopped. His hands left her, but he kept her tucked over his wide shoulder. Rock scraped against rock. He moved and turned.

Another scraping noise followed. He gripped her again so she wouldn’t fall. The room was dimly lit. Ral bent over slowly.

Ariel’s bare feet touched cool stone. The arm around her legs released her and the hand on her ass let go. They both straightened up to face each other. Ariel’s chin lifted.

She met his eyes before turning her attention on the room around her.

It was a small space. Rough rock walls surrounded them. A thick mattress with blankets sat in one corner and a pile of clothing took up another. She saw a rough door made out of a thin slate of rock. It was the only way in or out.

“What are you called?” His voice was deep as he growled the words.

She started, her eyes flying to meet his. “Ariel.”

He blinked, his eyes glowing. She swallowed, locking her eyes with his. A deep breath made his massive chest expand even further.

“I am Ral. I am Zorn. What are you?”

“Human. I’m from Earth.”

“They took you from your home planet as well?”

She nodded. “Days ago. They said they are looking for breeders but I am not compatible with them.”

His eyes lowered to her body. “Remove your clothing.”

Ariel backed up. Fear hit her hard. “No.”

He frowned. “Now.”

She backed up farther, shaking her head. “What do you want?”

“To see if you are compatible with me.”

Her throat went dry. “No.”

He softly growled. “I will not hurt you. I want to look at you to see if we are compatible.”

She shook her head again and looked for an escape. The man moved fast to grab her around her waist. She gasped as her feet left the floor. In seconds the man had her flat on her back on his mattress. It was soft and it smelled like him. His body straddled her hips as he grabbed her wrists. She fought but he was much stronger. He pulled her wrists together and locked them in one of his large hands.

She stared at his hands. They were like hers only larger. He had roughened skin on his palm and the pads of his fingertips. He reached for his waist to yank off the ropelike belt holding up his pants. He wound it around her wrists and shoved her hands above her head.

“Don’t move.”

She was terrified. “Please don’t hurt me.”

He blinked and frowned at her. “I have no intention to hurt you.”

She didn’t move her arms. The man was too strong and big. She knew she didn’t stand a chance to win in a physical fight with him. His eyes went to her bra as he reached for it. Ariel tensed. The man gripped the material between her breasts. With a tug her bra ripped apart. He shoved her bra cups to the side so he could stare at her breasts. He softly growled.

“The same.”

She fought the urge to move. Her heart was pounding and she was fighting the urge to whimper. “What is the same?”

“Your breasts are like our women.” He scooted down her until he straddled her thighs. He eyed her underwear and reached for them.