Mission: Planet Biter (Veslor Mates #4)(11)

“Real,” she muttered. “He’s real.”

The big alien she held sighed again. “Yes, Vera. I am real. We need to finish this. Please release me.”

She clung to him tighter, pressing her face to his chest. His dark skin felt a little velvety on her cheek. She rubbed against it.

“Female,” he rasped. “You need medical attention. The doctors are waiting for us to finish in here to treat you. You wish to be well, correct?” He released her arms and used his big hand to stroke her bare back. “I’m here. Real. You’re not food. I won’t leave you. I gave my word, remember?”

“Yes.”

“Release me.”

She didn’t want to but managed to unlock her arms from around his waist. He gripped her upper arms again, forcing her to take a few steps back. She peered up at his face as he released her.

“Keep looking at me if it helps.” He turned a little, bent, and struggled to remove the lower half of his suit and the boots attached to it. He wore black tight shorts for underwear. He was a big guy. Tall. Wide. Big boned. Not human. And he didn’t disappear.

He glanced at her, reached for the waist of his shorts, then hesitated. “You are safe. Remember that, Vera. There are other humans watching us on a monitor. You’re not alone in here with me. I must remove everything. I am not initiating copulation with you.”

“Kay,” she got out. “Just hurry. My vision is going wonky again.” The spots were becoming worse and he was turning blurry.

He bent farther, yanking off the shorts. That was when her vision went out totally and everything turned black.

She yelped and stumbled toward him, blindly reaching out. She touched his hot body and grabbed hold of him around his middle. He pulled her against him. It felt like she was at his side.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m blind,” she whispered. “Don’t let me go.”

He snarled. “She’s worsening,” he called out. “Start the next procedure.”

“We need her to put space between your bodies,” a female voice called out.

Her alien, as she was starting to think of him, growled low. “Understood. Vera, trust me. Just know I’m here and I’m real.”

He suddenly pulled her away from his side and spun her.

She panicked, screamed, but he gripped her wrists from behind, pulling them away from her sides.

“Do it,” he demanded loudly.

Warm, wet spray rained down on them. She closed her eyes and whimpered. He was holding her wrists tight though. He did adjust his grip, probably to expose all of her skin. Then the spray stopped. Air blew fast and hot. A hum sounded. She opened her eyes but her vision hadn’t returned. She couldn’t see anything, but the feel of firm hands on her arms kept her from screaming again.

“I’m here,” he assured her. “Right here with you.”

“Don’t leave me!”

“I won’t.”

“The scans are clear,” the strange female voice called. “Dress.”

Vera was spun, suddenly lifted and pressed against a warm body. “Open the door now,” her alien demanded. “She needs help. Forget the clothing.”

There was a buzz and something made a creaking noise, probably the door opening. Then he was moving, cradling her against him. Vera wiggled a little, getting her hands around his neck, and clung to him. She burrowed her face against him, rubbing her cheek on that damp velvety texture stretched over solid, hot skin. The heat felt real, too.

“Over here,” a woman ordered. “Lay her down.”

“She won’t release me,” her alien warned. “She will not take it well if I let her go.”

“Just climb on it with her then.” The woman sounded closer. “Our scanners are able to differentiate you from her. What’s her name?”

“Vera Wade,” he answered for her.

“I’m opening her file now.” The woman paused. “Vera Ann Wade. Twenty-seven. Born on Mars Colony. Civilian worker as a drone pilot and mechanic. No known illnesses and her last annual exam happened three months ago. She got an all clear. That’s good.”

The big alien holding her moved, she slipped in his arms before he adjusted to get a better grip on her. She was too weak to fight as he manipulated her until she lay on her side, facing his taller, bulkier body.

“Stop gawking,” the woman snapped to someone. “Get him something to cover his groin.” Then that voice drew closer. “Vera, I’m Doctor Cynthia Kane. You’re onboard Defcon Red. Can you tell me what your symptoms are?”

She buried her face against her alien’s chest, shaking, and tried to speak. Nothing came out.

The alien she clung to spoke for her. “She seems to be having vision problems, is seeing things that aren’t there, and has a difficult time distinguishing between reality and fantasy. She’s also constantly trembling.”

“I’m reading the medical files that are being uploaded from the surface.” Dr. Kane suddenly cursed. “Fucking Brilon.”

Something touched Vera’s thigh, and she screamed.

The large arm around her middle tightened and the alien pulled her closer. “You are safe. It was just another human covering my rod.”

“Your what?” she whispered.