Free A Hero’s Welcome by Jan Springer, Lauren Agony Page A

sentences are based on the number of children she must produce. If she can’t produce any children, there is no sentence available for her, so she’s useless.”
    Joe closed his eyes and shook his head. This couldn ’ t be happening. It was like something out of science fiction. Like the ancient movie Logan ’ s Run . People being executed once they reached a certain age, or in this case, menopause. It was obscene.
    “This is crazy! You are not going to be fucked by some damn Queen. Not if I can help it. And no one’ s going to kill you when your time comes.”
    “It’s too late. I’ve already accepted the rings.”
    “The clit and nipple rings?”
    “It’s our tradition. When a female becomes a mate of the Queen, she must accept the rings. I already went through the ceremony. After the ceremony the new mate is blessed by the Queen with whatever presents she wishes. I asked for my dream job and for you. But the Queen only agreed to allow me one day with you.”
    “I’m a free man. She doesn’t have the right to give me to you. I made love to you of my own free will. And I sure as hell won’t let you go to the Queen.”
    “I gave her my word!”
    “Then undo your damn word!”
    “You don’ t have a say. You ’ re a captive of the Queen now. A slave! You have no rights!” Hysteria edged her voice.
    Before Joe could stop her, Annie stood and looked down at him. She placed her hand over her left breast, covering her heart.
    “I will keep today in my heart forever, Joe. It was magical. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever experience something so beautiful, but it’ s over. We have to return to reality. I ’ m going back to the cabin. Please don’t try to escape.”
    Joe watched in stunned numbness as she padded naked through the tall ferns and disappeared into the forest. He clenched his jaw in frustration as something tight clamped around his heart. She’d sacrificed herself to the Queen so she could have a day with him? He didn’t know what to make of it. Didn’t know what he should be feeling.
    He did feel numb. Shocked. He didn’t understand the need for Annie to have to bow to the Queen to get her dream job. Sleeping with the boss to get a promotion. It was akin to sexual assault back on Earth. Evidently here on Paradise things were different.
    He wished his logical scientific mind would take over. Wished he could make himself separate his emotions and put Annie into the same category as the other women on this planet. But Annie wasn’t like the other women. She was different. He’d known it the instant he’d first seen her. The instant she’d made love to him in the clinic. Oh boy, he had it bad for her.
    His gaze fell back to the ankle bracelet. He didn’t know why he’d offered to stay here and service a whole town of women just to be with Annie.
    Temporary insanity.
    He was a man who needed his freedom. Needed to make his own decisions. And he needed to get the hell out of here.
    By the looks of the setting sun, he didn ’ t have much time left.
     
    * * * * *
    The instant Green Eyes was out of earshot, Annie allowed the sorrow to fill her heart. Tears blinded her as she stumbled along the trail.
    His comment about her loving him enough to help him escape had angered her and she ’ d lashed out, trying to cut all ties with Green Eyes.
    It had hurt to see the utter look of devastation shadow his face. It hurt so bad she thought her whole body would explode into tiny splinters.
    But his words of love were just that. Words. Words he ’ d used to get what he wanted from her.
    She shook her head in denial. Deep in her heart she knew it wasn ’ t true. He did have serious feelings about her. She ’ d seen the emotions churning in his eyes. Felt it in the possessive way he touched her. The way he ’ d made love to her…
    He hadn ’ t fucked her. He had made love to her.
    It had been in the gentle way his hands had caressed her body. The way concern had ripped through his