Mated by Ria Candro

though?”
    “No,” Andros said. “Although our planet had already been weakened by the loss of
    our women to an epidemic, Spygian males were still too strong for their purposes. We
    would have put up much more of a fight than they desired.”
    Leikos added, “Were it not for the devastating loss of our women, our race would
    have taken on the Malucons long ago.”
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    Ria Candro
    Andros nodded at the truth of Leikos’ words. “As it is, our planet has continued to
    weaken over the years, to the point where we fear we are becoming far easier a target. It is the reason for our journey here. Other brethren pods are taking similar journeys. We could not sit back and wait like docile lambs for a mate to come our way. If enough
    Spygians can become mated, we will be strong enough to protect our planet.”
    “It is why we must return home so quickly, mate,” Zafron added.
    Andros glanced over at his precious female. She looked worried, biting her lip. “Do
    not fear, mate. You are in no danger from the Malucons. We would never let anything
    happen to you.”
    Her eyes grew wide. “Actually, I wasn’t even thinking about that until now. What I
    was wondering is whether Earth is in danger from these Malucons.”
    He sighed. Gods, now he had caused her to worry over something she had not even
    considered. “No. Not any time soon, at any rate. Earth is too far from their planet, and far too technologically infantile to garner any interest from the Malucons.”
    “It appears we have lost the Malucon craft,” Leikos announced, and Andros
    breathed a relieved sigh.
    Natalie also looked relieved at Leikos’ pronouncement. She stifled a sudden yawn.
    Andros felt a surge of affection rush through him. His mate was tired from the
    events of this past day. From his rigorous lovemaking. Since their ritual mating had
    been interrupted, they would need to complete it. But they couldn’t do so until they
    were farther out and able to autopilot the ship, which wouldn’t be for several hours yet.
    The ritual required that all mates participate in the first mating.
    “We are safe for now, though we will need to man the controls for a brief period of
    time,” he told her. “You appear tired. Why don’t you rest for some time?”
    Natalie nodded, stifling another yawn.
    Get plenty of rest, mate. You will need to save up every ounce of energy for your mating.
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    Mated
    From the expression on her face, Andros had the feeling she’d read his thoughts as
    clearly as if he’d spoken them.
    * * * * *
    Natalie yawned again as she made her way back to her quarters, going straight to
    the bed and stripping off her poor excuse for clothing before ripping down the covers and climbing into bed. She could probably use another shower. The insides of her
    thighs were still sticky from Andros’ lovemaking. But she was honestly too tired at the moment to care.
    Her mind raced furiously as she took in all that had happened over the past several
    hours. She’d finally stopped kidding herself and admitted that this was no dream. Her imagination would never have come up with a scenario as wicked as the one that had
    just happened to her. To have those delicious men taking turns stroking her with their long alien tongues, driving them deeply inside of her. Just thinking about it made her all hot again.
    I can’t believe I did that. Me. Safe, boring Natalie. But if there had ever been an occasion to take a risk, this was it.
    I’m on a spaceship, for god’s sake! Heading off across the galaxy, to a planet far, far away.
    It was unbelievable. But it was real.
    Oh god.
    She was leaving behind everything and everyone she was familiar with. But she
    refused to worry about that right now. Life was for living, not for fearing the unknown.
    Besides, if her dream aliens could make it to Earth once, they could get there again. She could always go back.
    Though she bordered on exhaustion, she couldn’t help but imagine Andros again.
    The way he’d