Free Water World Warrior: A SciFi Alien Mail Order Bride Romance (TerraMates Book 1) by Lisa Lace

love to go for a swim."
    "You got it, lady," I said. "Left or right?"
    The beautiful white sand stretched away as far as we could see in both directions until the curvature of the island made it disappear.
    "How about left," she said. "I'm feeling reckless today."
    I laughed, and we walked down the sand. It was hot but not burning yet.
    "Is there any wildlife that I should be worried about?" she said.
    I shook my head.
    "There are no predators in this part of the ocean because we have overhunted them, or they've been pushed back behind The Barrier in this area."
    "What's The Barrier?"
    "Just like people on land-based planets pushed back wildlife away from their cities and farms, we've done the same on Vandwa for sea creatures. Generations ago, we built The Barrier and started pushing back the wildlife — like sharks and other predators — behind it. In the beginning, we just killed them. Later on, if we caught something dangerous, we started to drop them over The Barrier."
    "Makes sense," she said, putting her backpack on the sand. She proceeded to put her skirt on the sand too. Now she was standing before me in only her small red bikini. She looked up and caught me gawking.
    "Sorry," I said, swallowing and looking out to sea, for a moment. I couldn't help it. I soon found myself looking back at her again. Her body was perfect, and I wanted her.
    She pulled a ponytail out of her backpack and lifted her arms to pull back her hair. She inadvertently pushed her breasts up and out towards me, and I tore my gaze away with difficulty. How was I going to do this?
    That's when it hit me. I didn't have to abstain. She was my wife! She only had to want to have sex with me, too, and there wouldn't be a problem. As long as both parties agree, remember Nat?
    Why didn't I think of this before?
    As Vess had mentioned, the ladies didn't usually turn me down. All I had to do was be charming. I was good at that. I attracted her — well, it seemed that way. Maybe I needed to test that theory and see. I only had to make myself irresistible, and she would want to fall into my bed.
    "No, it's okay," she said, tearing me out of my reverie. "Maybe we should talk about it."
    "About what?" I said, pulling off my T-shirt and the amulet my grandmother had given me. She stared at me for a moment, before she shook her head and went on.
    "About our marriage," she said, walking into the water. "Oh, it's warm."
    Her eyes were round, and there was a look of amazement on her face.
    But I was still caught on the words she had said.
    "Of course it is," I said, answering her but feeling worried. What did she want to talk about in regards to the marriage? I mean, I knew we'd have to talk eventually, but I was worried that she would ask challenging questions. "What were you expecting?"
    "Where I'm from the water is cold. Freezing. It warms up in the middle of summer, but even then it's a shock, and you have to get used to it."
    I nodded.
    "Like in the northern hemisphere. But we're in the Southern Isles here and the water's always warm."
    "I can't believe it," she said, walking in up to her waist. I kept pace beside her.
    "What did you want to talk about exactly?" I said, nervously. I wasn't sure I wanted to know. I hoped she didn't ask any awkward questions, but it was probably better to get it all out in the open.
    "Clearly there is a certain amount of attraction between the two of us." Her eyes cut sideways, and she checked me out. I was so shocked at her directness that I didn't reply. Her eyes clouded. "Or, I thought there was…"
    I snapped my head around to her.
    "You could say that. Although, I think a certain amount is a bit of an understatement."
    We were getting in up to chest level, and her breasts were starting to float. I was relieved that our waists were submerged because I was getting hard. I hoped she wouldn't look down through the clear water because it was becoming more and more apparent.
    She smiled a little self-conscious smile.
    "I was