Chapter 10

"Come with me," Kor said mysteriously, interrupting her virtual game of chess with Alphie.

Diana barely glanced at him, intent on her next move. But her body sure knew he was there. Treacherous body. She'd barely slept the night before for thinking about him. At least she'd come to a decision. She'd bond with him before they got to his planet, but only when the time seemed right, which, judging by her reaction to his presence, would probably be the next time he kissed her. However, she had no intention of telling him that. A lady should always play hard to get if she wanted her man to appreciate her.

Kor leaned into her line of sight with a pleased look on his face, like a little boy who had a surprise and couldn't wait to reveal it.

"Come with me," he repeated.

"Where?"

Kor shook his head with a smile and didn't answer. Diana found herself intrigued at his mysterious, almost playful air and rose from her seat. Tugging her hand, Kor led her to a bland room she had never seen before.

"Close your eyes."

"Why?" Diana asked suspiciously. Is he going to kiss me again? Yay! Diana frowned at her subconscious glee at this thought. Just because I'm going to marry him doesn't mean I have to be so eager, she thought. Remember, make him work for it. But even with that admonishment to herself, her body tingled in anticipation. The man, alien, whatever you wanted to call him kissed like a god, and she couldn't wait to taste him again.

But he didn't kiss her. Instead he spoke. "You asked for a date. I think that was the term you used. So I had Alphie find a place for us to go on a picnic. According to your Earth histories, that is considered romantic."

Diana smiled. He's been doing research? For me? Maybe I'll kiss him first this time.

"Now close your eyes, no peeking," he said, standing close behind her, his hands on her waist, that simple touch enough to set her pulse racing. Diana shut her eyes tight and waited.

Nothing happened.

"Open your eyes," he said, his breath teasing the lobe of her ear.

Thinking something had backfired, Diana opened them, expecting to see the bland beige room again, but instead a colorful vista appeared, to her shock.

"Oh my freaking God," she exclaimed, trying to take it all in.

Kor, pleased at her reaction, smiled before tucking her hand into his arm and leading her down a pink grassy hill-although she'd never imagined a grass that would tickle like silk on her ankles.

Bet making love on this would feel . . . Diana almost gasped at the direction of her thoughts. She seemed to be inundated with naughty thoughts that kept multiplying and centered around her blue suitor. Remember, make him work for it. This is just part of his diabolical plan to make you succumb to his delicious body. I can't give in too easily. But God, he was making it hard.

"Where are we?" she asked, crouching down to stroke the pink tendrils at her feet that she could swear sighed in the wind with pleasure.

"Ambresia. A planet that has no resources, no sentient life, no real value other than it's pretty and gentle."

"I'd think a planet like this would be mobbed with folks. Or are there, like, ferocious alien-eating monsters or something?"

"There are those who've tried to build here, but the planet overtakes the structures overnight. It's like the planet itself is sentient and prefers to remain untouched. As for monsters, unless you count cute, cuddly creatures who mob you for petting, then, no, nothing to worry about."

Diana sat down on the pink lawn and looked up at Kor with a smile. She had to admit he'd found the perfect spot, not to mention he looked so yummy standing there, loose white shirt rippling lightly in the gentle breeze, his snug breeches ending mid-calf, his feet bare like her own. Her eyes caught his, and she stared, transfixed, at his violet orbs, aware that once again they were glowing, something that happened, she noticed, when he became aroused. And what do you know? It happens every time he gets close to me, she thought gleefully.

Blushing-and feeling heat coursing through her body-she dropped her gaze. So, of course, he chuckled. Alien jerk, he knew how he affected her.

Hearing him moving around, she watched as he spread out a blanket, a checkered red-and-white thing reminiscent of home-Alphie, she supposed. Then he unpacked a type of cooler filled with food-little bite-sized pastries, fruit both familiar and not, a bottle of something that sweated, along with crystal glasses. He'd come prepared.

Diana moved onto the blanket and sat lotus-style before helping herself to tidbits. Then, curious, she asked him more questions about the planet as they ate, the atmosphere-not to mention the company-relaxing her completely. She wanted to blame the fresh air and sunshine for the way her body came alive, but she knew better. Oh, why lie? I love being with Kor. For an alien, he sure knows how to make me feel good.

Diana, stomach happy, lay on her back, her head pillowed by one arm. Kor moved to lie on his side beside her, head propped on one hand, watching her. Diana could see his eyes glowing again, and she felt her body tingle, aching for him to touch it. Wanton, she chided herself. But who was here to care? And, to be honest, it's not like I miss my old, boring life. In fact, I've been happier and more alive these last couple of days than I've ever been. So why fight it?

Diana made the first move and lifted up her free hand to gently run a finger down the side of his face. Kor closed his eyes, and she could have sworn she felt him tremble. She rolled onto her side to face him and, this time, lightly touched his lips with her finger. He parted them for her, and she felt the edge of his tongue wet her fingertip before his lips closed around her digit and sucked it.

Diane felt such a jolt of longing shoot through her that she let out a surprised cry. His eyes opened, blazing now with arousal. She felt his hand reach up and touch her face like she'd touched his. He mimicked her action, and when she felt his finger part her lips, she nipped it and then sucked it.

"Oh, Diana," she heard him whisper, his hand sliding to the back of her head to twine itself in her hair and draw her face toward his.

Diana's eyes fluttered shut, and she held her breath at the feel of his lips, feather-light, slide across hers. Diana trembled at this delicate touch, her whole body awake and taut with erotic tension. He rolled her onto her back and lay partially on her, his heavy weight so welcome. The hand in her hair had traveled down her body, lightly touching her neck before tracing a path between her heaving breasts. When his hand cupped one round globe, Diana arched and moaned, a moan that quickly turned into a cry of pleasure as his lips, which had been softly teasing hers, moved to wetly embrace the tip of her breast.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

The annoying sound that would not stop had Kor pull his head away from her body and the delicious things he was doing to her nipple through the fabric of her top.

Diana pulled at him to come back, and with a groan, he came back down to crush her lips with his own. But Alphie's intrusive voice dowsed them like a cold shower.

"Kor, I hate to interrupt, but this is important."

Kor, with a heavy sigh, rolled onto his back. "Alphie, I am going to unplug you."

Diana giggled as she traced patterns on Kor's chest, her body still aroused, hoping Alphie would go away so they could continue their sensuous exploration. And once they got naked, what the heck, maybe get bonded.

"Kor," came Alphie's unrelenting tone.

"Fine," grumbled Kor, standing up and giving Diana a hand. "Let me take care of this, and then, perhaps, we can resume where we left off," he said to her with a hard kiss.

Bemused, Diana wandered down the hill to the water's edge while Kor dealt with whatever it was Alphie had deemed so important. The violet-hued liquid sparkled in the light of the three red suns. A rustle on the other side had her looking up quickly, only to see the cutest floppy-eared pink bunny ever! Of course, the bunnies back home had only two ears, not four, and their tails weren't as big as their heads, but still, the little critter was adorable as it regarded her with big eyes.

Looking back at Kor, Diana saw him talking up to the sky-Alphie no doubt trying to give him pointers-and she shrugged. She wouldn't go far. Besides, having Kor come find her could be fun. In the movies she'd watched back home, a lifetime ago, a man chasing a woman usually tended to end in torrid outdoor fun.

Diana hopped across the stones that glittered like diamonds in the water-could they be giant diamonds?-and landed on the other side.

The little bunny creature stared at her, whiskers twitching. Oh my God, it is so cute! Diana crouched and put out her hand, but this movement startled the fluff ball, and it bounced off. Diana giggled and followed it, not too worried because Kor was, after all, just behind her and he had told her that nothing dangerous inhabited the planet. Well, unless you count him. He looks like he could be plenty dangerous-yum!

The pink bunny hopped behind the thick trunk of a tree, a gnarly, twisted mauve specimen that looked like something Dr. Seuss had dreamed up. Diana rounded its trunk and stopped in astonishment. She'd found her bunny but wished she hadn't as it twisted in the grip of a large, hulking brute who, even from three steps away, stank to holy heaven.

"What have we here?" He leered at her.

"Nothing," Diana stammered, her heart suddenly racing in fright. "I'll just be on my way now. My friend is waiting." Diana whirled to run back to Kor but came face-to-face with a broad chest wearing a studded bandolier. Swallowing because she already knew it wasn't Kor, she looked up to see an ugly, ogre-ish face that grinned at her, the black spaces of missing teeth and the two intact sharp incisors giving him a sinister look. He reached out callused hands and grabbed her upper arms tightly.

"Let me go," she said, her voice wavering in fear.

"I don't think so, me pretty," he said, his fetid breath washing over her. He tightened his grip on her while someone behind her pinched her rear.

That was when Diana screamed really, really loud.