Taken (Selected Book 2) Read online

  "I am allowed to touch bare skin."

  "If you think you're going to make me parade around in nothing but skimpy underwear so you can stroke my bottom at every opportunity, we're going to fight."

  "That is not what I suggest. I only wish to divide your erogenous zones into two categories. I will agree they are both erogenous zones."

  I started at her. "Fine. Four categories, from least to most private." I turned sideways. "Least. My bottom, excluding from here," and I placed two fingers in place at the top of my cleft, "to here." I placed my hand over my nether regions. "This front area is defined by fur. Where I am naturally furry, from up to here-" back to the top of my cleft, "that is region four, the most private."

  "I understand."

  "The outer regions of my breasts are region two. The nipples and areolas are region three. I can't believe we're having this conversation. This is definitely not the human way of doing things."

  "I agree with your distinctions." She smiled. "For the record, you may touch me any way you want, from the beginning, but if you do, you are giving me permanent permission to touch you in the same fashion."

  "Don't do it to you if you can't do it to me."

  "Yes."

  "Fine."

  "Then I am ready to begin, Administrator," Bronze said to Jasmine.

  "Sapphire Fletcher, as you have the fewest points, you may go first, or you may wait."

  "I'll wait." I wanted to see what she did. I had one use for my feeble points, but if she did anything egregious, I would try to stop it.

  "Bronze, how would you care to spend your initial points?"

  "I wish to accelerate intimacy number seven."

  In the air ahead of me, Jasmine projected the entire set of rules. She flashed number seven -- how soon I was required to share Bronze's bed. The rules adjusted to indicate I must begin sharing Bronze's bed immediately, and her point total declined.

  They both looked at me to see if I would protest. I didn't have enough points to reverse it.

  "Point of clarification. Does that change how she may touch me?"

  "No."

  "Very well. Continue."

  Bronze smiled briefly. "I wish to apply intimacy permission 37." Jasmine highlighted the rule in question.

  "Now that," Jasmine said, "changes how she may touch you."

  "She expects to cuddle in bed."

  "She does."

  "Cuddling is not fondling."

  "That is correct."

  "She is a large, warm woman, and I am subject both to freezing or overheating at night. Regulating my body temperature can be tricky. If I'm pressed against her hot body, I'm going to sweat all night and sleep poorly."

  "I would not want you uncomfortable," Bronze said. "But we will cuddle."

  There was something surreal hearing her say "cuddle". I suppressed a smile. I shook my head. The entire situation was surreal beyond belief. "Fine. Continue."

  "I wish to use all but my last twelve points to reduce the restrictions on where I may touch her. See points 91 and 117."

  Jasmine highlighted the two sections. And twelve points was enough to negate anything I did with my remaining points.

  "You want to touch my ass!"

  She growl-chuckled. "I sure do. I let you kick mine."

  "It's not the same." Then I looked at 117. "And my breasts."

  "But not the nipples. Until the fourth month."

  "Not. The. Human. Way!"

  "I am not human."

  "Sapphire Fletcher, you do not have sufficient points to counteract what she is spending."

  "Perhaps not, but I have ample ability to get pissed off." I glared at her. "Are you going to use those twelve points to take away what I do with my few points?"

  "It depends on how you choose to spend them," Bronze replied.

  "You suck."

  "I'm not allowed to do that until the third month, but we could begin sooner."

  Jasmine was snickering, which I thought was unexpected for the Ice Cat Queen. "What's so funny, Administrator?"

  She shut up.

  "I want 41." It required every point I had.

  Jasmine flashed the point in question. If something critical within my closest friends or family, such as a birth, marriage, extreme sickness, or death, then I would be allowed unfettered communication. And in the case of the last three, I would be allowed to attend in person, if possible given the travel distances involved.

  Bronze looked at me carefully, then back and forth between me and the space in front of her, where I presumed she saw the same list I did.

  "Don't even think of taking this away from me, Moirai." I stamped my foot. "If something happens to Liz or my parents while I'm away, and you-"

  She held up a hand. "Let us discuss my final point, and we shall see if we can reach agreement pleasing to both of us.

  "Fine. Which do you want?"

  "Intimacy point 18."

  Jasmine flashed it.

  "You want to kiss me," I observed.

  "Normally we begin kissing in the second month. I wish to begin immediately."

  "No tongue."

  "Normally that begins in the third month. That would also accelerate one month."

  I looked at Jasmine. "You invented this system."

  "It was necessary. It solved a great many problems. Perhaps it needs work. Perhaps you'll have suggestions for me in six months."

  I turned back to Moirai. "I get mine, Bronze?"

  "If I get all of mine without a fuss."

  I hesitated only a heartbeat. I wasn't sure I cared about any of the points she wanted, not remotely as much as I cared about mine. "Then we're agreed."

  Jasmine smiled broadly. "Congratulations. I'll take my visor, please."

  "I can't keep it?"

  Bronze stood up. "Remain here." She disappeared into the bedroom and returned only a moment later carrying a giftwrapped box. "You already know what this is, but I want you to open it anyway."

  She sat back down on the sofa and patted the seat next to her. I moved to it, and she set the box in my lap. I stared down at it.

  "There's alien technology in this box."

  "There is."

  "What happens if we don't work out?"

  "I can't let you keep it. I'm sorry."

  I held the package on my lap, not opening it yet. "Do I take off these first?"

  "Yes," Jasmine said. "If you can still see at all. Or we can retrieve your glasses. Bronze has them here somewhere."

  "I can see this far," I said. "But you said this was an improved model, Bronze. With a different appearance. I want to really see."

  "It looks nearly identical when inert," Jasmine said. "You need to activate the cosmetic features to see a noticeable difference."

  "All right then." I accessed the visor and told it to release. A moment later, it was in my hand. I held it out, and a blurry Jasmine-shaped blob took it from me.

  "May I open it?"

  "Of course."

  I felt like a kid at Christmas, but I savored the moment, removing the wrapping carefully.

  "I thought you were supposed to tear it."

  "There's only one gift. I want to savor this moment."

  Bronze chuckled.

  The visor came in a metal, padded travel box. Bronze had to show me how to open it, and when I did, the visor was nestled carefully, waiting for me. I stared at it then looked over at Bronze.

  "Mine?"

  "Yours."

  Still in the case, I caressed it. Then I looked across at the Jasmine-blob. "Do many of the humans receive this gift?"

  "Some. For others, it is a privilege that must be earned. You could consider it an engagement gift."

  "We're not engaged." I turned to Bronze. "My family and a few close friends will be hurt if we get married and don't have a ceremony they may attend. Don't do that to me."

  "We can plan anywhere you like. I understand such a ceremony is important. My species does not have same ritual, but rituals are importa
nt. I wouldn't deny you such a once in a lifetime celebration."

  "Thank you," I said quietly.

  I set the case on the sofa beside me then withdrew the visor.

  "May I put it on?"

  "Yes," said Bronze. "But when you activate it, it will not be calibrated for your eyes. You understand that I retain master control over this visor. Jasmine and I together will calibrate it, and then it will be ready for you."

  I didn't wait. I slipped it into place. I felt it settle in, although the fit wasn't as good as the old one. I didn't say anything, as I didn't want to denigrate Bronze's gift.

  I was blind at first, then the visor lit, but as Bronze had warned me, it was deeply blurry. I couldn't really see a thing.

  "Wait a moment, Sapphire," Bronze said. The screen flashed a few times, but I couldn't tell what they were doing. There was a long pause, then the entire visor deactivated, and it loosened on my face.

  "It just reset. Is something wrong?"

  "No. It has been calibrated. Take it off and put it back on."

  "That fast?"

  "We transferred your settings from your old visor," Jasmine said. "That made it easy."

  So I removed the visor, held it in my hands for a moment, then slipped it back on. Again it settled into place, cupping my eyes, melding to my face, and entering into my ears.

  And it felt wonderful!

  "Oh, Bronze," I said. "It feels good."

  Beside me, she growl-chuckled.

  The screen lit. The visor went through brief diagnostics, and then I could see again.

  "I love it!" I said. "Thank you."

  "Congratulations," Jasmine said. "Your five months begins from this moment. Good luck to both of you. I'll see myself out."

  "And I will exercise my rights, beginning right now." She pulled me into her lap, wrapped her arms around me, and pulled me in for a surprising kiss.

  I didn't hear when Jasmine left.

  Message

  Hi, Mom. Hi, Dad. Hey, Liz.

  Wow. You wouldn't believe everything that has happened. I don't really, either.

  The aliens want me for a sort of job. I kind of told you that. I've spent the last few weeks in a protracted interview slash training period. They've offered me the position. It is tentatively set for five months, but it could become permanent.

  It's actually very hush-hush. I couldn't tell you why they want me, but it's one of those offers you couldn't turn down sorts of things. And I can't really say very much about it. Except, well, Five months. Aliens. Outer space.

  Yeah, I'm going into space.

  I'm going to be fine. It's not a dangerous job. In fact, they're showing an insane amount of care for my wellbeing. I tripped during an outing, knocking the wind out of myself, and you should have seen the panic. They dispatched an air ambulance and everything and then insisted on checking me quite thoroughly. It was kind of funny, or as funny as an air-knocked-out sort of thing can be.

  I don't know how often, if at all, that I'll be able to send you messages. I only know it won't be very often. Just know that no word means there's nothing wrong. I'm not doing some sort of Black Ops thing. It's just politically sensitive. I'm as safe as if I'm in my lover's arms.

  The aliens will be able to reach me in the case of any emergencies, so I presume they'll let you know how to contact them. But otherwise, I'll be pretty isolated.

  It's all very overwhelming, and it's been a whirlwind. I wasn't sure I wanted the job. In fact, I definitely didn't. But I let them talk me into it, so I'm embracing it with all the verve I show for anything I agree to do.

  I love you all so much.

  Travels

  I lay in Bronze's arms. She cheats! I was wearing undies and a teddy. My pajamas were nowhere to be found, and I would never see that particular pair again. Or the robe, although she replaced it with one of some ET material that felt even better than silk. It was skimpy, too, and Bronze only chuckled when I eyed it dubiously.

  But secretly, I loved it.

  I couldn't tell if she was asleep. I lay awake, but tried to lie very still.

  She was warm, but it felt good, and she smelled amazing. That was actually kind of distracting. How was I going to walk away from her after five months of this if she smelled so good now?

  We were leaving in the morning, and I really needed to sleep.

  I lay there, staring straight ahead.

  "I have given you exactly one hour to fall asleep."

  "Oh, do not yell at me. It seems you're awake, too."

  "I wasn't yelling. Why are you still awake?"

  "I'm in bed with a space alien tiger. Tomorrow she's going to put me aboard a space alien space ship and take me to a space alien colony on the moon. You tell me. And why are you still awake?"

  "Because my mate is not yet asleep, and I am responsible for her needs. She needs to sleep. I cannot sleep until she sleeps."

  "That's ridiculous. Roll over if you have to."

  "You do not understand. We are linked. I literally cannot sleep until you do. And don't think of faking it, because I'll be able to tell. Now, are you going to put yourself to sleep, or am I?"

  I rolled over until we were nose to nose. "I can't just turn it off. I'm too worked up to sleep. Do you know how many things are going through my head?"

  "Sapphire, just this very evening I gave you a miraculous little device. Is it comfortable?"

  I was wearing the visor and was surprised she'd told me to wear it to bed. "Amazingly comfortable, even better than if it wasn't there at all, although I bet lying on my face is harder."

  "True. Do you often press your face into a pillow?"

  "Um. Not anywhere near often enough."

  "I don't understand."

  "And I'm not explaining, either. What does my visor have to do with this?"

  "Have you forgotten its capabilities? I do not wish to be heavy handed, but if you cannot sleep, and if you do not ask the visor to help you sleep, then I will command it to."

  "Oh god. I'm an idiot. I forgot."

  "I do not believe you forgot. I think you were thinking and not quite ready to let the visor make you stop thinking."

  I thought about it. "Maybe you're right. Bronze?"

  "Yes, Sapphire?"

  "Um. I don't know what I wanted to say."

  "Yes you do."

  "Why do you smell so amazingly good?"

  She growl-chuckled. "Maybe someday I'll tell you."

  "Is it space alien perfume?"

  "Yes. That's it exactly."

  "Liar."

  "Can you detect the change of tone when I am teasing you?" I had asked her that not long ago.

  "Sometimes."

  "Are you going to sleep, or are you going to make me make you sleep?"

  "Wait. Will you roll onto your back? Just for a few minutes?"

  She did, and I curled into her, resting my head on her shoulder. We fit well, even as big as she was. She wrapped her hand around and then set it on my ass.

  "I can't believe I let you make that rule," I said. "God."

  She growl-chuckled again. "You had little control over that rule."

  "What would you have done if I had gotten angry?"

  "Waited you out. You would calm down eventually. I very much wanted the rule changes I received."

  "That's why you beat me that way, so you would have the points. You were planning ahead."

  "Yes."

  "It was dangerous. I was shooting you. My hits were landing, some of them."

  "Yes. But I was sure I had handicapped your gun sufficiently I could take the risk."

  "You were planning that early?"

  "I planned this event before I took this shape for you."

  "Ohhh," I said. "I wish I'd known. So you didn't really want two more challenges?"

  "I planned for that, too."

  "Will you tell me?"

  "Not tonight. You are going to sleep now. If you have anything else to say tonight, you better do so quickly."


  "You'd really put me out?"

  "Yes, and in the future, I will do so far sooner."

  "No. Maybe I like being awake when we cuddle."

  She paused. "Really?"

  "You smell good." I smiled. "Why do you think I have my face buried against you?"

  She said nothing, but I felt her muscles tighten marginally, then relax. "I will set a timer on your visor each night. If you do not sleep naturally, it will make you sleep."

  "All right. Can you give me dreams?"

  "I can."

  "Do you think in some of the dreams you give me, it would be appropriate for me to be a Temier?"

  She didn't answer immediately, and I worried I had hurt her.

  "We will be Temier together," she said. "But not tonight."

  "No, not tonight." I inhaled deeply. "I could breathe you in all night. Do I have to roll over?"

  "You do. I enjoy this way of cuddling, but I do not sleep well on my back."

  "Your eyes can't make you sleep?"

  "No, actually."

  "You need your own visor." I grinned, kissed her neck, and rolled away. She rolled to envelop me, filling the space between us. "Five minutes," I requested.

  "Timer set. But I'm turning your vision off now."

  "I'll panic if I wake up and can't see."

  "I won't let that happen." She kissed the back of my neck, and we settled in.

  I didn't even notice when the visor made me sleep.

  * * * *

  Someone was nuzzling me. I batted her away and burrowed more deeply under the covers. "Go away. It's Sunday. I don't have to work today."

  "It is not Sunday, but it is true you do not have to work today."

  I opened my eyes, and the world before me was crystal sharp. I lay in someone's arms, a very, very large someone.

  "Bronze," I whispered.

  "I do hope you weren't expecting anyone else."

  "I'm going back to sleep."

  "We have just enough time to prepare or we risk missing the shuttle."

  "Shuttle to where?"

  "Space."

  I sat bolt upright, and the rest of it rushed in. Bronze sat up next to me and wrapped her arms around me again, pulling me backwards against her chest. I let her support both of us. She nuzzled my neck.

  "You smell good, too." She licked me.

  "Hey!" I complained. "Tasting was not in the rules."