“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 b
ooty-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.
“Okay. But are you sure about this? Once you sign up, you can’t take it back. It’s a totally legal, binding contract. You’ll be married… mated, whatever, as soon as you take the test.”
I squeezed her one more time and stepped back. “I know, but it’s been over a month and you said Brax was back in town. He didn’t even bother to call. It’s time to move on. I want a real mate. I’m ready for a grown-up relationship. I’m tired of casual sex. And I’m tired of sitting by the phone, waiting for a call that never comes.”
“They don’t have phones here.”
“Whatever. You know what I mean. I’m tired of being that girl.”
“But you’re drunk.”
“Girlfriend, it takes more than two glasses of wine. I can drink you under the table, remember?” It was my turn to laugh.