Grace Goodwin - Matched and Mated

“Wouldn’t you?” I countered, taking another sip of wine. I could feel the effects of it kicking in, the loose limbs, the warmth seeping into my veins.

She cocked her head to the side. “I understand. I have Roark. And no, sex wouldn’t be enough. I wanted it all.”

“You got it, too.” My words weren’t snarky or laced with jealousy, but I wanted what she had. A mate of her own to come home to after working. To cuddle with. To have his babies. A mate who would protect me and make me feel safe. A mate who would adorn me with his permanent nipple rings. And chains. And maybe even a piercing in my clit. I squirmed some more.

Did I know the thoughts chasing each other around in my skull were crazy? Yes. But I wanted to feel the tug on my nipples when my mate was somewhere else. I wanted to feel the gentle pull and know the man who adorned me would return. The adornments on Trion were a symbol of love. Of respect. Of claiming. They enhanced a woman’s beauty, made her feel special. And beautiful. And on top of all that, the adornments were a connection. A formal binding.

Permanent. Real.

And that’s what I told Natalie. “When he put the nipple clamps on me, I was reminded of what I’m missing. The temporariness of our arrangement.” I leaned back with a sigh, and I knew my voice held every ounce of regret I was feeling. How the hell had I let myself fall for a man who didn’t really want me… again. “He’s amazing, but he’s out of town as fast as the nipple clamps come off after sex.”

“He’s a busy doctor,” she replied, as if his job would justify his lack of commitment.

“He’s more than a doctor and you know it.” I stared at her, hoping maybe she’d know some top-secret stuff about what Brax did since she was mated to the councilor. But she remained silent.

I sighed. “Roark is a councilor. His schedule is insane, but he finds time for you. For Noah and now Talia. He makes time.” When she was about to say more, I kept going. “Roark puts energy and focus into the things he wants. Things which are important to him. Things that are a priority.”

“Brax puts energy and focus into sex with you,” she replied, her voice soothing. “Hell, woman, I’ve seen you after. You’re like a puddle of goo.”

My cheeks heated, and I wasn’t sure if it was from the wine or her words. But the last time I’d been with Brax, even after I’d been swing fucked, I hadn’t been a puddle of goo. My emotions that night had completely ruined the sex buzz. Dammit.

“I need more than sex,” I countered. “If he wanted me completely, then he’d put his all into being with me. I want it all, Nat. I want what you have with Roark. I’m ready now. I wasn’t when we first came to Trion, but I’m ready now.”

“He’s a good one, Miranda. Have you told him how you feel?”

“I asked him when he was going to be ready to take a mate.”

That got her attention. “And? What did he say?”

“That he would serve Roark for as long as he was needed.”

She slumped back, her outward disappointment a mirror for my internal state. “That’s romantic.”

“Yeah, and it was about a minute after he told me he could only be with me for one night because he was leaving again. For even longer this time.”

“I shouldn’t say anything, but Roark’s having a problem with some pirates on the southern coast. It’s a big problem. Women and children are dying.” That explanation should have come from Brax, not Natalie. I’d watched and admired military families back on Earth who waited for a loved one to serve. I would have waited for Brax. I would have understood and supported his decision to protect and serve his people. But he didn’t give me that choice. He gave me no choices except keep things as they were… or end it.

“He should have told me. Maybe I’m crazy. I know it’s weird, but I want my life to be like an eighties movie. I want the grand gesture. I want him to throw everything on the line for me. No holding back. Total devotion. I deserve that.”

“You do. We all do.”

I sighed and took another gulp of wine, decided one bottle was definitely not going to be enough. “I think I need some kind of weird soundtrack or something. I want him to hold the boom box up for me.”

Natalie was taking another sip of wine. Apparently, my last bit of ranting about Brax had broken her resolve to defend him. “They don’t have boom boxes here.”

“I didn’t mean it literally.” I took a swing of wine, nodded my head. “But sex isn’t enough. I’m worth more, and I’m going to get it. Staying with Brax for the fun and hot sex is only keeping me away from him .”

She leaned forward, eyes wide. “Him? Him who? Have you met someone else?”

I sighed, looked down at my glass and realized it was empty. Again. I grabbed the bottle and poured more. Poured it all . “There is no specific him,” I clarified. “A mate. A real future. A family of my own. It’s time for me to get bride tested.”

At my words, she nearly bounced off the couch. “Tested? God, that was so hot. Oooh, who do you think you’d get? An Everian? I heard they’re ridiculously fast.”

“Aren’t they marked or something?” I looked down at my palm. No odd birthmark.

“I know!” she shouted, making me jump. “Viken. Three hotties.”

“Three? Um, I don’t think I could handle that.” I thought of sex with Brax and that was pretty intense. Two might be… wow. My brain stalled. One in front of me, taking my pussy. Another behind, holding me down, filling my ass as they played. My body lit up. Two could be really hot. But three? No. I wasn’t so sure about three.

“Fine, then you could have a beast. I bet their cocks are huge.”

I laughed then, practically snorting wine out my nose. “You are mated to a huge Trion alien. I can only assume by the size of him that his cock is more than enough for you.”

Her eyes went all dreamy. “Oh, yes.”

“Stop squirming,” I scolded, knowing she was getting all hot just thinking about Roark’s cock. I loved him like a brother… but yuck. Just, no.

However, the contented, happy smile on Natalie’s face made me want a mate of my own all the more. Brax’s cock was serious business, but it wasn’t mine. He’d made that very clear. If I couldn’t have that thick, long piece of alien cock to myself forever and ever, then I was going to get one that I could keep.

“Sign me up. I want to get matched.” I stood, went over to the door. “I want my own cock, one I can keep.”

“Now?” she asked. Realizing I was serious, she stood as well. “You’re insane, you know that? It’s not just a cock. It’s an alien. A mate who will be possessive and growly.”

“Now you’re just teasing me.” Growly and possessive. That was what I wanted. I was tired of being a booty-call. An unwanted wife. A back-up, maybe later, friend men slept with. I wanted a man who wanted to be with me. Who wanted it more than he wanted to breathe. I wanted a man who loved me the way Roark loved Natalie. Complete and utter devotion. Adoration. Growly and possessive sound fucking perfect.

“You’ll have to leave me. You know that? What if you get sent to Prillon Prime? Or The Colony? Somewhere far, far away.” Natalie walked closer and gave me a bear hug, squeezing the last two years of love and friendship into me between one breath and the next. “Never mind that. I’m totally being selfish. I want you to be happy, but I’m going to miss you.”

“Me, too.” I shrugged. “Maybe I’ll get matched to Trion.” I waggled my eyebrows and looked Natalie dead in the eyes until she laughed out loud. I could deal with that. I loved this place. The dominant males. The adornments. The sexy clothing and sex goddess attitude of the females here. But the truth of it was, I loved Earth, too. It wasn’t about the place for me, it was about the people. I could be happy on the moon if I had a devoted mate with me.