Download or read book Protected by the Alien Space Pirate FREE Steamy Sci Fi Romance written by Charmaine Ross and published by Charmaine Ross. This book was released on with total page 326 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Enjoy this FREE steamy science fiction romance series starter by best-selling author Charmaine Ross… Being a space pirate doesn’t make a being rich, which was why Rhilax was dealing with the biggest crime lord in the ten quadrants against his better judgment. He doesn’t know much about the job on offer, but he knows it’ll pay for food and supplies for himself and his brothers. Maybe enough to find a nice, quiet planet somewhere, forget about a life of smuggling and finally settle down. He’s certainly not prepared when a female slave, none the likes he’d seen before, is led naked, chained and helpless to be his fated mate. He definitely wasn’t prepared when he obliterates his dream, along with the crime lord’s head, kidnaps the female and makes a target of himself and his brothers - The crime lord has a brother and the brother wants them all dead. When their ship is destroyed, Rhilax and his brothers are blown into the far reaches of the known universe. To make matters worse, the escape pod is wrecked and his fated mate has escaped. Rhilax must find her before the crime lord’s thugs, or the unknown creatures on this planet, and complete the bond before his mind is lost to the mating urge. She can’t remember her name. Or her life before the cages. Maybe it’s better not knowing. Being trapped in a cage and grieving a beautiful life would be the worst kind of torture. She’s good at zoning out, but it gets harder and harder to disregard the massive blue-skinned alien who tells her he is her fated mate, whatever that is. All she knows is if she doesn’t get away from him, she might never be free again. Protected by the Alien Space Pirate is the first novel in the Rasidian series. Although each novel is dedicated to its own couple, it’s best to read this series in order. For fans of Ruby Dixon, Presley Hall and Hope Heart, this is a HOT romantic story with a guaranteed happily ever after. It includes some strong language, alien alpha males and oh my, steamy sexy times. Enjoy!

Download or read book Taken by an Alien Warrior written by Charmaine Ross and published by Charmaine Ross. This book was released on with total page 1866 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Impossible odds, action-packed adventure and heroes with blue skin! Binge read this exciting 10 book sci-fi romance series today. Xzion I’ve been captured by walking crocodiles and saved by a golden-skinned god. Xzion will claim my body but if he claims my heart, I’ll never be able to return to Earth. Jo-Aquin My rescuer is cold and aloof and should be off-limits but there’s something about the way he touches me that sets my skin on fire and sparks flowing through my veins but and if I don’t resist his touches I’ll lose more than just my heart. The whole universe will be at risk. Striker I don’t believe in aliens. Having spent a lifetime in the army tends to beat out such fanciful notions. Being abducted by terrifying Reptile aliens and crashing on a frigid alien planet has opened my eyes. Alastor I’ve been abducted by evil Reptile aliens and now I’m on a mission to save the universe. If I thought I was out of my depth on Earth, I’m seriously out of my element now. Protected by the Alien Space Pirate She can’t remember her name. Or her life before the cages. She’s good at zoning out, but it gets harder and harder to disregard the massive blue-skinned alien who tells her he is her fated mate, whatever that is. All she knows is if she doesn’t get away from him, she might never be free again. Claimed by the Alien Space Pirate Crysta knows the only way she’ll ever be able to escape the harsh reality of being abducted into slavery is to fight. She’s a born fighter, and she’ll fight her way out of her cage if it’s the last thing she does. Rescued by the Alien Space Pirate Life hasn’t been fantastic for Lexi, but being trapped in a cell with no privacy is the pits. Add to that a strange pull of attraction that’s harder and harder to deny with an alien who tells her he is her fated mate and she’s downright screwed. Seized by the Alien Space Warrior Full blown terror hasn’t had a chance to take hold of me – not yet at any rate. Abducted by aliens. Sold like livestock. I’m rescued by a muscular, demanding alien with charcoal skin. Maybe I’m losing my mind. Maybe I’ve already lost it. Maybe we’ll die on this horrible planet, but if we really are bonded-mates..? Maybe we’ll get more than we bargained for. Secured by the Alien Space Warrior My alien rescuer says he will take care of me. Protect me, but how can he do that when we crash land onto a hostile planet and he’s made to fight in a gladiator pit as a slave. Every day his life is at risk, and if he fails to come back the aliens who made him fight will come for me. Consumed by the Alien Space Warrior I’m sold as a slave and put in a cage with a deadly alien with biceps the size of my thigh and skin that flashes with a pure, golden light. He tells me I’m his fated. That I am his and he is mine, and I know he’s right because I feel it deep inside my chest. The only thing is, he shouldn’t want me. Not at all.

Download or read book The Hexonian Alien Warrior Box Set written by Charmaine Ross and published by Charmaine Ross. This book was released on with total page 914 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: If you like evil Reptilian enemies who will stop at nothing to take over the universe, not-so-helpless heroines and commanding, alpha warrior aliens, you’ll love The Hexonian Alien Abduction SciFi romance box set. Xzion I’ve been captured by walking crocodiles and saved by a golden-skinned god. I’ve been captured by walking crocodiles and saved by a golden-skinned god. Xzion claims my body but if I give him my heart, I’ll never be able to return to Earth. But when we find a way out and discover a treacherous plot intended for mankind, my life will never be the same. I'm trapped between two worlds and the fate of mankind rests in my hands. Jo-Aquin. A jaded Starfleet Commander. A lonely human. A fight to free the universe. Jo’Aquin is honour-bound to fight the war against the Reptiles. He has a personal score to settle and he won’t let anything stand in his way. Lauren finds herself stranded on an alien planet in the arms of the sexiest man she’s ever laid eyes on, only to learn that she’s a secret weapon fighting for life and death. Can Lauren be the saviour everyone thinks she is? Can Jo’Aquin save the woman who, against all odds, has stolen the heart he was determined never to give? Striker A cocky First Commander. A no-nonsense female. The fate of the universe is in jeopardy. The last thing SAS veteran Vivien Demalzi expects is to find herself in the protective arms of a golden-skinned, drop-dead gorgeous alien. Striker’s first mission upon his promotion to Commander of Starlight is to rescue the human female last seen smuggled onto a planet long occupied by the malicious Reptiles. Together, Vivien and Striker must fight for their survival, not only for the fate of the planet, but for their destinies, before everything is lost. Alastor A soul dead Captain. A weary psychic who has seen the worse of everything. The fight to free the universe has never looked so bleak. Marie Sinclair, renowned psychic, sees and senses things that would freak normal people out, but she’s not ready to come face to face with an unknown, evil entity the likes of which she’s never come across before—in this dimension or the next. Nor is she fully prepared to deal with golden-skinned Captain Alastor Siris, with his imposing personality and icy attitude. Together, Marie and Alastor must not only fight for their destinies, but those lost souls of the universe and beyond. Can they stop an unknown force from suffering total annihilation and save the souls of billions of enslaved people before all is lost?

Download or read book The Rasidian Alien Space Pirate Box Set written by Charmaine Ross and published by Charmaine Ross. This book was released on with total page 944 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: If you like impossible odds, lawless and corrupt aliens, smouldering alpha aliens and the tension of fated mates, you’ll love this science fiction romance collection. Binge read The Rasidian Alien Romance Box Set today. Protected by the Alien Space Pirate: A Rasidian Alien Warrior SciFi Romance Being a space pirate doesn’t make a being rich, which was why Rhilax was dealing with the biggest crime lord in the ten quadrants against his better judgment. He doesn’t know much about the job on offer, but he knows it’ll pay for food and supplies for himself and his brothers. She can’t remember her name. Or her life before the cages. Maybe it’s better not knowing. Being trapped in a cage and grieving a beautiful life would be the worst kind of torture. She’s good at zoning out, but it gets harder and harder to disregard the massive blue-skinned alien who tells her he is her fated mate, whatever that is. All she knows is if she doesn’t get away from him, she might never be free again. Claimed by the Alien Space Pirate: A Rasidian Alien Warrior SciFi Romance Crysta knows the only way she’ll ever be able to escape the harsh reality of being abducted into slavery is to die. Her life on Earth was far from easy, but she’s a fighter, and she’ll fight her way out of her cage if it’s the last thing she does. Having heard from his lost brother and newly enlisted into the Interspecies Council Mercy Division, Veri is on a mission to free a shipment of human females from a slaving auction. He doesn’t expect to come face to face with his fated mate, as well as having the biggest crime lord of the ten Quadrants on his tail. It seems Crysta has swapped one cage for another. She wants to believe Veri’s wild tale. God knows he’s the sexiest alien she’s ever met and her insides clench with inconvenient need when he touches her. How can she believe his story when the proof is still around her neck in the form of a slave collar? Rescued by the Alien Space Pirate: A Rasidian Alien Warrior SciFi Romance The last thing Melody remembers is a bright light flashing before her eyes before she’s thrown into a cell with an enormous blue-skinned alien with black horns, a bladed tail, mountains of muscles and told to breed. Rase can’t believe his fated mate is in his arms. He also can’t believe he crash laded on the last planet he’d ever want to be on - that of the crime lord that wants himself and his brothers dead. He also won’t bring himself to do the one thing that burns his blood to do and make love to his fated human female. Survival is doubtful, but Rase must act. He must escape the breeding cell, survive the fighting pits, save his exotic mate and end the reign of the biggest crime lord the ten Quadrant has ever known. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone, but for maximum enjoyment, it’s recommended that the series be read in order.

Download or read book Claimed by the Alien Space Pirate Steamy Sci Fi Romance written by Charmaine Ross and published by Charmaine Ross. This book was released on with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Enjoy this steamy science fiction romance series novel by best-selling author Charmaine Ross… Crysta knows the only way she’ll ever be able to escape the harsh reality of being abducted into slavery is to fight. She’s a born fighter, and she’ll fight her way out of her cage if it’s the last thing she does. Being newly enlisted into the Interspecies Council Mercy Division, Veri is on a mission to free a shipment of human females from a slaving auction. He doesn’t expect to come face to face with his fated mate, as well as having the biggest crime lord of the ten Quadrants on his tail. So he rescues her, and runs for their lives. It seems Crysta has swapped one cage for another. She wants to believe Veri’s wild tale when he tells her she is his fated mate - but really? God knows he’s the sexiest alien she’s ever met and her insides clench with inconvenient need when he touches her. But how can she believe his story when the proof is still around her neck in the form of a slave collar? Veri must prove to his human female that she has nothing to fear from him, as well as stop the auction from taking place, but when she escapes into a city filled with the scum of the universe, he must find her fast before she is lost forever in a labyrinth filled with the worst of the worst scum this side of the universe. Claimed by the Alien Space Pirate is the second novel in the Rasidian series. Although each novel is dedicated to its own couple, it’s best to read this series in order. For fans of Mina Carter, Hattie Jack and Honey Phillips, this is a HOT romantic story with a guaranteed happily ever after. It includes some strong language, alien alpha males and oh my, steamy sexy times. Enjoy!

Download or read book Rescued by the Alien Space Pirate Steamy Sci Fi Romance written by Charmaine Ross and published by Charmaine Ross. This book was released on with total page 333 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Enjoy this steamy science fiction romance series novel by best-selling author Charmaine Ross… The last thing Lexi remembers is a bright light flashing before her eyes before she’s thrown into a cell with an enormous blue-skinned alien with black horns, a bladed tail, mountains of muscles and told to breed. Rase can’t believe his fated mate is in his arms. He also can’t believe he crash laded on the last planet he’d ever want to be on - that of the crime lord that wants himself and his brothers dead. He also won’t bring himself to do the one thing that burns his blood to do and make love to his fated human female. Life doesn’t last long here and he won’t die and leave his mate possibly pregnant, helpless, alone and subject to the whims of the crime lord. Life hasn’t been fantastic for Lexi, but being trapped in a cell with no privacy is the pits. Add to that a strange pull of attraction that’s harder and harder to deny with an alien who tells her he is her fated mate and she’s downright screwed. Figuratively and literally. Survival is doubtful, but Rase must act. He must escape the breeding cell, survive the fighting pits, save his exotic mate and end the reign of the biggest crime lord the ten Quadrant has ever known. Rescued by the Alien Space Pirate is the third novel in the Rasidian series. Although each novel is dedicated to its own couple, it’s best to read this series in order. For fans of Ella Blake, Ava Ross and Lee Savino, this is a HOT romantic story with a guaranteed happily ever after. It includes some strong language, alien alpha males and oh my, steamy sexy times. Enjoy!

Download or read book Alastor Steamy Sci Fi Romance written by Charmaine Ross and published by Charmaine Ross. This book was released on with total page 265 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Enjoy this steamy science fiction romance series by best-selling author Charmaine Ross… I’ve been abducted by evil Reptile aliens and now I’m on a mission to save the universe. If I thought I was out of my depth on Earth, I’m seriously out of my element now. Psychics are meant to know the future, right? I see and sense things that would freak the average person out, but I’m not ready to come face to face with an evil, cross-dimensional entity that threatens the entire known universe. Nor am I fully prepared to deal with the golden-skinned Captain Alastor Siris and his imposing, icy attitude. The Interspecies Council finally have a chance to end the tyrannical Reptile rule and fate rests on our shoulders. He’s trained for combat and reconnaissance, not for someone like me. I have seen the darkness in the worst of souls, and his is suffering. I just didn’t expect him to make me feel things I’d never expected to feel and the more time I’m forced to spend with him, the more my heart is at risk. He doesn’t know the darkness in my own soul. I can’t save him if I can’t save myself. I must ignore my attraction to him or else we won’t have a soul to save – nor will any other being in the universe. The entity has grown strong and is feeding. I must save billions of mind-enslaved before all is lost. Alastor is the fourth novel in the Hexonian series. Although each novel is dedicated to its own couple, it’s best to read this series in order. For fans of Ella Blake, Ava Ross and Lee Savino, this is a HOT romantic story with a guaranteed happily ever after. It includes some strong language, alien alpha males and oh my, steamy sexy times. Enjoy!

Download or read book Protected by the Alien Space Pirate written by Charmaine Ross and published by . This book was released on 2022 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Being a space pirate doesn't make a being rich, which was why Rhilax was dealing with the biggest crime lord in the ten quadrants against his better judgment. He doesn't know much about the job on offer, but he knows it'll pay for food and supplies for himself and his brothers. Maybe enough to find a nice, quiet planet somewhere, forget about a life of smuggling and finally settle down. He's certainly not prepared when a female slave, none the likes he'd seen before, is led naked, chained and helpless to be his fated mate. He definitely wasn't prepared when he obliterates his dream, along with the crime lord's head, kidnaps the female and makes a target of himself and his brothers - The crime lord has a brother and the brother wants them all dead. When their ship is destroyed, Rhilax and his brothers are blown into the far reaches of the known universe. To make matters worse, the escape pod is wrecked and his fated mate has escaped. Rhilax must find her before the crime lord's thugs, or the unknown creatures on this planet, and complete the bond before his mind is lost to the mating urge. She can't remember her name. Or her life before the cages. Maybe it's better not knowing. Being trapped in a cage and grieving a beautiful life would be the worst kind of torture. She's good at zoning out, but it gets harder and harder to disregard the massive blue-skinned alien who tells her he is her fated mate, whatever that is. All she knows is if she doesn't get away from him, she might never be free again. If you like impossible odds, wilderness planets, blue-skinned aliens and the tension of fated mates, you'll love Protected by the Alien Space Pirate. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone, but for maximum enjoyment, it's recommended that the series be read in order. Hexonian Book 1 - Xzion (Prequel) Book 2 - Jo-Aquin Book 3 - Striker Book 4 - Alastor Rasidian Book 5 - Protected by the Alien Space Pirate Book 6 - Claimed by the Alien Space Pirate Book 7 - Rescued by the Alien Space Pirate Dhasu Book 8 - Seized by the Alien Space Warrior Book 9 - Secured by the Alien Space Warrior Book 10 - Consumed by the Alien Space Warrior

Download or read book Rescued by the Alien Pirate A SciFi Alien Romance written by Celia Kyle and published by Summerhouse Publishing. This book was released on with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: I woke from cryostasis a prisoner. My crime? I have no idea. I was stuck with a hundred other women, all headed to who knows where. Captive in a dank, dirty cargo hold. Then, out of the darkness, came Solair. A handsome alien. Golden skinned. Horned. The dashing captain of a pirate ship. They rescued us--he gave my people food, shelter, and promised us safety. In exchange? He took me for himself. But the people who captured us, haven’t given up. They want us back. They’re powerful and will do whatever it takes to find us. The only thing stopping them? Solair. He wants me. And what he takes… He keeps.

Download or read book Enticed by the Corsair written by Ruby Dixon and published by . This book was released on 2018 with total page 174 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: No one likes a rebellious captive. I learned that the hard way. I've been abducted from earth and cruelly tormented for my fighting spirit until I learned that the only thing that would keep me safe is to be sweet and calm and agreeable. It's what keeps me alive. When I'm rescued by space pirates, they tell me I'm safe. I'm told I can be myself again. I don't believe them, of course. I certainly don't believe Alyvos, the muscle of the pirate ship. Everyone says that he like nothing more than a good fight, but to me, he's kind and protective. How can I fear someone who holds me tenderly through the night and has fuzzy skin?

Download or read book Provoked written by Tana Stone and published by Broadmoor. This book was released on 2021-05-13 with total page 246 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: I snuck onto the wrong ship. Now I'm at the mercy of the most terrifying and deadly of the Vandar warlords-and he refuses to let me go. Running away and joining my sister and her Vandar mate seemed like a great idea. Until I stowed away on the wrong ship. Now I'm on a Vandar warbird flying far away from my home planet, but my sister is nowhere in sight. Instead, I'm trapped with the Vandar warlord they call the Deranged Raas. They whisper that he's insane, and when I meet the menacing alien, I understand why. The dark and ruthless warlord might be huge and gorgeous, but he also rules with absolute power and domination. He and his crew live and fight in the remotest part of the galaxy, where there are no rules and no mercy. It's where he plans to take me unless I can convince him to let me go. Raas Vassim does not tolerate stowaways or challenge. But I didn't run away from one controlling life to end up in another. No way will I submit to his commands-even if his touch provokes feelings I've never experienced before. Although I fear his darkness, it also stokes a fire deep within me. And makes me want to delve beneath his dominant and savage exterior. All I need to do to get away from the Raas is to send a message to my sister, which he'll let me do. For a price. But is submitting to him a price I'm willing to pay? 

Download or read book Stowaway written by John David Anderson and published by HarperCollins. This book was released on 2021-08-03 with total page 311 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The beloved author of Posted and Ms. Bixby's Last Day returns with the first book in a coming-of-age sci-fi duology about Leo, a kid trying to navigate the galaxy in order to save his family—and, possibly, the planet Earth. When scientists discover a rare and mysterious mineral buried in the Earth’s crust, they have no idea that it just happens to be the most valuable substance in the entire universe. It’s not long before aliens show up to our little corner of the galaxy offering a promise of protection, some fabulous new technology, and entry into their intergalactic coalition—all in exchange for this precious resource. A material so precious that other alien forces are willing to start a war over it. A war that soon makes its way to Earth. Leo knows this all too well. His mother was killed in one such attack, and soon after, his father, a Coalition scientist, decides it would be best for them to leave Earth behind. It’s on this expedition that their ship is attacked, Leo’s father is kidnapped, and Leo and his brother are stranded in the middle of space. The only chance they have is for Leo to stow away on a strange ship of mercenary space pirates bound for who knows where and beg the captain to help him find his father. But the road is dangerous, and pirates, of course, only look out for themselves. Leo must decide who to trust as he tries to stay alive and save his family, even as he comes to understand that there aren’t many people—human or alien—that he can count on in this brave new universe.

Download or read book Taken to Kor Xiveri Mates Book 5 written by Elizabeth Stephens and published by . This book was released on 2021-04-05 with total page 316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: DeenaRhork. He's a space pirate. The bad kind. But he's also been my only source of company for the past rotation that I've been held captive.Halfway across the galaxy, I'm happy to have finally escaped and found more humans...well, I was.But now, I'm not so sure that people are so much better than pirates. And I'm very sure that I'll need Rhork's help to get out of this. But Rhork thinks I'm a defective female because of my twisted leg. What if he's not willing to give it?RhorkCommunicating with the human female for almost a rotation was, in retrospect, a poor choice. Now, she seems to be the ever-present voice in my head, distracting me, making me want things I shouldn't.To make her a pirate.To show her the universe.And most of all, to keep her for myself. Taken to Kor is a full-length (95k words), adrenaline-filled, SciFi space opera romance featuring an alien pirate who looks like an alien and a plus sized heroine with drive and heart. Enemies-to-lovers who are also fated-mates are common staples of all Xiveri Mates books, which each end with their own special HEA.

Download or read book Hijacked on a Moon Trek An Outer Space Mystery Adventure written by Diane Vallere and published by Polyester Press. This book was released on 2018-09-18 with total page 206 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Enjoy this humorous outer space mystery adventure with uniform lieutenant Sylvia Stryker and a supporting cast of quirky aliens by national bestselling author Diane Vallere… Sylvia Stryker has found her footing in the Moon Unit Corporation--but it’ll take more than fancy dance moves for this amateur sleuth to stay alive on this hilarious rescue mission in space from national bestselling author Diane Vallere. Space sleuth Sylvia Stryker wants more from her day job aboard a Moon Unit than to manage crew uniforms. In her time between moon treks, she turns to hunky hero Neptune for lessons in security training. But when a hijacked space pod lands by their training site and the body of an intergalactic courier is discovered inside, Sylvia’s newly-acquired skills are put to the test. The courier was a friend who shared her interest in back-channel business, and his death seems like a message—or worse, a warning. Determined to seek justice, Sylvia and Neptune assemble a team. But there’s more to this trek through the stars than expected, including fifty rambunctious aliens accidentally beamed aboard the ship, some very nasty space pirates, and one suspicious member of the staff who thought the recruitment message was a call of duty. Now Sylvia’s on a quest to catch a killer, but if she fails, she could wipe out an entire alien race in the process. Hijacked on a Moon Trek is the hilarious third novel featuring uniform lieutenant Sylvia Stryker. If you like humorous mysteries, unique characters, and spacey fun, or read favorites like Joann Fluke or Dakota Cassidy, you'll love Diane Vallere's entertaining interstellar series. Previously published as SATURN NIGHT FEVER. “What a fun, unique, and intriguing story. Love the inside joke about red shirts. That and the laser cat! Lol!!.... Thank you for such an entertaining read!” – Reader “I am pleased to say that after finishing the third book in the series, the enchanting mind of author Diane Vallere continues to charm and come up with even more new fun and adventures around every corner.” – Reader CHAPTER ONE EXCERPT: When Neptune said I fought like a girl, I did the only respectable thing. I hit him. That’s not to say it’s a good idea for dropouts from the space academy to strike their newly-appointed superiors, but in this case, he deserved it. In the two versions of the story that will be told of the incident, at least one will contain the fact that technically, I was in training. Technically, the only reason we were on the helipad on the corner of Neptune’s property was because the helipad was a convenient place to practice. Technically, I was being paid a small sponsorship fee to test the durability of new uniforms designed for Moon Unit Corporation, and technically, the only way I could fully know if the uniforms were durable were to see how they held up when I threw a punch. Neptune’s version might include slight variations. “In case you haven’t noticed, I am a girl,” I said. Neptune was bigger, older, and more experienced than I was, and he probably had more important things to do than spend the day teaching me defensive maneuvers. But never graduating had left me with relatively few channels to advance my learning. After Moon Unit 6 returned from Venus, Neptune contacted me via the comm device implanted in my ear and offered me free room and board in exchange for lessons to pick up where my interrupted education had left off. I’d dropped out when my dad was arrested so I could help my mom with the family dry ice mines. Neptune’s offer to teach me gave us both something of value. I’d accepted, more for me than for him. I’m selfish that way. “You know why you were almost incapacitated on our last moon trek?” he asked. “Because you dropped your guard. You thought size and skill were enough to beat your enemy. You fought fair. You fought like a woman.” “Oh, so now I’m a woman?” I countered. “I grew up fast.” It wasn’t that Neptune treated me like a girl or a woman. He treated me like a student. And most of the time I was okay with that. But the voice in my head that I didn’t want to listen to wondered why someone like Neptune spent time training someone like me. It was a voice that hadn’t had much to question since my dad was arrested. Any attention paid to me usually had strings attached. Retribution for my dad’s crimes, or the novelty of my half Plunian background in a world where lavender women were now rare. More than once I’d fended off advances when I saw where they were headed. I developed a thick skin and narrowed my social circle to a very tight group. But despite the fact that Neptune was a muscular wall of taciturn authority, or maybe because of it, I was attracted to him. I doubted it was the black military-issue cargo gear he wore (did he buy his clothes in bulk?) or the intimidating stance he’d perfected long before I met him (arms crossed, feet shoulder-width apart). I’d never been attracted to men in power—in fact, power was a pretty tried-and-true turn-off. I didn’t know what it was about Neptune that made my lavender skin glow at the least opportune times. I only knew it was important to me to prove to him that I was different. Today, different meant throwing a non-girly punch. He grabbed my wrist and closed my fingers into a fist. His hand was twice the size of mine—tawny against my lavender coloring. “You have to toughen up, Stryker. You’re smart, and you learn information fast, but instincts don’t come from a book.” “I learned how to fight by an accredited Hapkido master. Or have you already forgotten that I dropped you with a sweeping kick because you underestimated me?” He let go of my fist and pointed at me. “Don’t let that go to your head. Success is built on failure. If you learn anything from these lessons, learn that. Failure is your friend.” “I thought failure wasn’t an option? The flight director of Earth’s space shuttle program said it, right? His biography was required reading.” “You didn’t read the book. That’s a made-up quote from a movie script. The flight director liked the line so much he used it for the title of his biography. Lesson number two: check your source. I thought you knew that by now.” I didn’t tell Neptune that I hadn’t read the book because the course took place after I dropped out. I’m pretty sure lesson number three was to keep your weaknesses to yourself. “Repeat it back to me.” “Blah, blah, check your source.” “Repeat what I told you about failure.” “‘Failure is my friend.’” “Remember that.” He turned around and walked a few feet away from me and then turned back. “If you think you can fight because you dropped me—once—then you’ll get complacent. Don’t forget what happened the last time you got complacent.” How could I forget? I almost died. It didn’t help that the fight had been four against one or that my oxygen supply had been cut off, rendering me helpless. My opponents knew my weakness and used it against me. Nothing fair about it. I didn’t want to admit it, but Neptune was right. I’d falsely assumed I could defend myself without too much effort, and my false sense of confidence had worked against me. “Go again,” he said. He bent his knees slightly and prepared for my attack. I swung my arms forward and backward, giant half circles to limber up my shoulders, and felt a seam tear. “Hold on. Uniform malfunction. Moon Unit Corporation thinks they can cut corners by using a different supplier, but the last six uniforms I tested fell apart.” “Where?” “Shoulder.” “Turn around.” I turned and pointed to where I’d felt the split. “What am I supposed to tell them this time? ‘Looks good but you can’t throw a girly punch’?” I felt Neptune tug the split fabric together. Even though I wasn’t looking at him, just the graze of his fingertips against my shoulder blade made me flush. “Why are you wasting your time with uniforms?” “Someday the name ‘Sylvia Stryker’ will be synonymous with space uniforms. After our trip to Venus, the publicity company who planned the hype around the Moon Units contacted me to wear test their prototypes. It’s a little cash on the side between treks and all things considered, I can use the money. I can’t crash here forever.” I knew Neptune wouldn’t pursue the conversation. He understood my predicament: no planet, no family, no home. He was with me the night space pirates destroyed everything I’d ever known. The only reason I agreed to train with him was because there’s a certain security in spending time with someone who prioritized silence over small talk. I could learn a lot from Neptune and I knew it. He could learn from me too. I wasn’t sure he knew that. Yet. Neptune’s loner lifestyle suited him, but I was glad that he begrudgingly allowed me to coexist on his property. Not one to mooch, I made sure to bring what I could to the table. Enter Mattix Dusk, space courier (and my Hapkido instructor) who traveled between the thirteen colonies under Federation Control, to pick up and deliver anything that needed to be picked up or delivered. I introduced the two men and they worked out a mutually acceptable deal. Mattix had use of the helipad and a place to crash while on the Kuiper Belt. Neptune had access to Mattix’s courier contacts and suppliers. And for the foreseeable future, I had not one but two mentors who could further my education. Where Neptune was tall, tawny, and solid muscle, Mattix looked like a piece of worn leather in loose-fitting castoff clothes. Tanned skin, bleached hair worn in a ponytail, and ragamuffin clothes suited him. His job as courier put him in front of shady characters, and he passed along his two most important pieces of advice: look like you have less than the other guy and learn to take care of yourself. Whatever direction my lesson was supposed to go was interrupted by a swiftly approaching space pod. I looked at the sky and watched it glide toward us. It was the Dusk Driver, the space pod that belonged to Mattix. I smiled and waved while backing up so he could land. As his space pod drew closer, alarm bells rang out from the nearby towers. His speed was too fast. He was going to crash. And if I didn’t get out of the way, I’d burn up in the wreckage. Neptune reached the same conclusion before I did. How do I know? When I tore my attention from the incoming space pod to tell Neptune something was wrong, I saw him charge toward me. The impact knocked me to the ground. Either Neptune knew what was happening and wanted to save me, or he was trying to make a point. From the bank of dirt alongside the helipad, the space pod jerked to a halt and then hovered two feet above the ground. Mattix knew better than to approach at the speed he had, but he’d compensated for the potential accident by activating the ship’s invisible buffer: a two foot “bumper” of static electricity that kept the exterior from contacting another surface. It operated much the same way as two magnets held in close proximity. The dueling forcefields pushed away from each other, making it impossible to touch. Mattix wouldn’t have activated the buffer shield unless something was wrong. I scrambled to my feet and, keeping my center of gravity low, approached the space pod. Mattix wouldn’t allow anyone else to navigate the ship without reason, which made what I saw even scarier. The ship was being flown on autopilot. _______________________________________ “It is set in outer space, but keeps a true cozy mystery vibe to it at the same time.” – Reader “Hijacked on a Moon Trek was another fantastic addition to this series! Sylvia and the gang are back in what is quite possibly the best installment yet. This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I can't get enough of it!” – Reader “This was the best in the series so far, with added depth in backstories for several of the characters.” – Reader For fans of Star Trek, Star Wars, Dune, UFO, The Orville, Galaxy Quest, Lost in Space, and The Jetsons. Diane-Fans describe “her vintage Vallere goodness,” and say she is a “great storyteller” with “a way with creating strong female characters and intrigue” who is “a superb and very humorous writer.” Her gift of creating “spunky sleuths in fun settings” take readers to Dallas, Palm Springs, Los Angeles, Pennsylvania, and outer space.

Download or read book Have Space Suit Will Travel written by Robert A. Heinlein and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2005-02-08 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A high school senior wins a space suit in a soap jingle contest, takes a last walk wearing "Oscar" before cashing him in for college tuition, and suddenly finds himself on a space odyssey.

Download or read book A Fire Upon The Deep written by Vernor Vinge and published by Tor Science Fiction. This book was released on 2010-04-01 with total page 626 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Now with a new introduction for the Tor Essentials line, A Fire Upon the Deep is sure to bring a new generation of SF fans to Vinge's award-winning works. A Hugo Award-winning Novel! “Vinge is one of the best visionary writers of SF today.”-David Brin Thousands of years in the future, humanity is no longer alone in a universe where a mind's potential is determined by its location in space, from superintelligent entities in the Transcend, to the limited minds of the Unthinking Depths, where only simple creatures, and technology, can function. Nobody knows what strange force partitioned space into these "regions of thought," but when the warring Straumli realm use an ancient Transcendent artifact as a weapon, they unwittingly unleash an awesome power that destroys thousands of worlds and enslaves all natural and artificial intelligence. Fleeing this galactic threat, Ravna crash lands on a strange world with a ship-hold full of cryogenically frozen children, the only survivors from a destroyed space-lab. They are taken captive by the Tines, an alien race with a harsh medieval culture, and used as pawns in a ruthless power struggle. Tor books by Vernor Vinge Zones of Thought Series A Fire Upon The Deep A Deepness In The Sky The Children of The Sky Realtime/Bobble Series The Peace War Marooned in Realtime Other Novels The Witling Tatja Grimm's World Rainbows End Collections Collected Stories of Vernor Vinge True Names At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Download or read book Alien Protector written by Sue Mercury and published by Sue Lyndon. This book was released on with total page 74 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The little human is his perfect mate. She just doesn't know it yet. When Deza rescues a human female in peril, it's love at first sight and he immediately announces his desire to mate with her. The only problem? Annika refuses to mate with an alien she's only known for five seconds. Not easily deterred, he sets about wooing the adorable little human, eager to win her affections and finally claim her as his mate. Annika plans to return to Earth ASAP and can't allow herself to develop feelings for the hunky Vaxxlian who saved her life...even if he is the hottest, kindest, and dreamiest alien male she's ever met. Despite her hesitation, his kisses make her melt and his arms are the sweetest refuge. When he makes a heartfelt gesture on Christmas Day to cheer her up, she starts to wonder if maybe, just maybe, mating with Deza isn't the most impulsive idea in the universe...