Free Ral's Woman by Laurann Dohner

“I
love you so much, Ral.” She touched his chest. She wasn’t sure his heart was
where she touched but she’d heard a thump there under her ear when they slept.
“My heart to yours.”
    Ral smiled. “I am in love with you too, Ariel.”
    She forced a smile that she didn’t feel. She was a little
afraid of not being able to talk to Ral for a few days. Ariel wondered if Ral
was putting up a brave front as well. She just had to have some faith that
they’d make it work somehow.
    “Just don’t feed me hot things that make my mouth burn. I
won’t be able to understand you when you describe my food choices this time.”
    He laughed. “I’ll remember. I’ll take good care of you.”

Chapter Seven
     
    Ariel hated not being able to talk to Ral. After their
implants had been removed, he had led her outside where a driver and vehicle
waited. They’d left the city for a forested area. Ral’s home was at the edge of
a village. Other large homes were within sight, but they were distant enough
that there was privacy.
    Ral had a beautiful home, though Zorn homes were not like
houses back on Earth. Zorn homes were made out of a pretty red stone. The walls
were smooth to the touch as if they had been polished. They had wood furniture
but the colors didn’t come from any type of trees Arial had ever seen—shades of
red and deep purples, some were even black. The cloth material on the couches
and on the Zorn clothing was thick, soft cotton-like blends.
    Ral gave Ariel a tour of each room in his house. He smiled
at her as he led her to a large bedroom last. He softly growled at her as he swept
her into his arms, taking her to the bed. He growled at her again. She knew he
was talking—it wasn’t just him growling at her—but she couldn’t understand him.
    Their eyes met as Ral pinned her under him. He touched her
throat with his finger and ran it up to her mouth. He growled at her.
    “Do you want to hear what I sound like when I talk without
the translator on?”
    Nodding his head, Ral grinned. He either understood what she
was asking or maybe he just wanted to encourage her to keep speaking.
    “I love your house. It’s bigger than I thought it would be
and I love the darker tones. I never really enjoyed the color red or thought
there were so many shades of red but there are. I love them. I also never
thought purple would be in a straight man’s home, but we’re not on Earth. Purple
definitely is sexy around a hunk like you.”
    Ral chuckled. No translation was needed for that sound. His
amazing eyes sparkled with amusement as his head lowered. He brushed his lips
over hers. Ariel wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him closer. She was
addicted to sex with the man since she’d met him. They had no problem
communicating when they touched. They both knew exactly what they were saying
as the kiss deepened. They wanted each other.
    A loud buzz sounded. Ral’s body tensed. He broke the kiss, reluctantly
pulling his mouth from hers. He snarled something as he climbed off her. He
eyed her body with a long hungry look. Holding his hand palm out to her, he
turned around walking out of the bedroom. She stayed in bed like his hand
indicated.
    Minutes passed until Ariel heard a loud sound. It sounded
like glass smashing. Snarls were the next thing she heard. She jumped off the
bed to run out of the bedroom. Panic washed over her—something was wrong. She
came to a halt as she saw the living room.
    Ral was facing off with a snarling Zorn woman. The female
was tall and muscular. She was attractive. Dark brown hair flowed down her back
to her knees. Much of her athletic body was showing in the dress she wore, low
cut at her breasts and raised high on her shapely legs. Both of them were
oblivious to Ariel.
    The woman grabbed Ral’s arm with a snarl. He slapped her
hand away, snarling something back at her that didn’t sound nice. The woman let
her hand drop. They glared at each other. The woman’s nostrils flared.