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Telesians 2:
The Siren's Surrender by Alice Gaines
Changeling Press
ISBN: 978-1-59596-231-7 |
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A futuristic novella
Lara NaeRutha knows what men are good for,
raising children and satisfying women in bed. Tom McQuade is no woman’s
plaything, but he does have one weapon on his side that Lara can’t conquer:
her own body. Will Lara risk her dreams and her very life to resist the
insolent Earther? Or, will she make a Siren’s ultimate surrender?
Publisher's
Note: This is part of a series – books that share a universe and are meant
to be read in order but can also be read individually.
Coming soon
Copyright ©2006 by Alice Gaines
An Authorized Excerpt
This e-book file contains sexually explicit
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appropriate for a young audience. Changeling Press E-Books are for sale to
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under-aged readers.
Earth males
might be useful in bed, but they had a lot to learn about female
superiority. The one talking now, McQuade, was both the best and the worst.
Just looking at him made Lara wet and hot inside -- broad shoulders, a tight
butt, and a smile that oozed sex would do that to any healthy woman, even a
Telesian -- but his attitude needed major improvement. Take this meeting,
for example. McQuade had dominated it since the commander and her mate, the
Earther Holst, had opened the discussion. McQuade had to learn that a man
held much more appeal for a woman if he hedged his statements in deference
to her opinions. In fact, if he didn’t remember his place and sit down in a
moment, she’d give him a lesson in manners he wouldn’t soon forget.
He turned away from the display screen where he’d been demonstrating the
modified iridium ore extraction machine. “So, with the improvements I’ve
made, we should speed up production by twenty percent.”
“How many of those have you made?” Lara’s commander, Chiara DaeJanay, asked.
“Ten so far,” McQuade answered. “Another twelve are in production.”
“When can we deploy them?” Holst, the commander’s Earther mate, asked.
Ever since the women of Teles and the men of Earth had separated from their
respective governments and formed the cooperative to mine this moon, Holst
and Chiara had served as joint chiefs to lead the cooperative. Their
partnership obviously worked, and everyone was growing wealthy beyond their
dreams. The Earthers had provided a pleasurable diversion from the boredom
of space, but McQuade needed some work before Lara took him to her bed.
Improving his attitude might turn out to be fun.
“We can turn on the extractors as soon as the commander’s women are trained
to use them,” McQuade said.
The commander’s eyebrow went up. “The ‘women’ are my officers, Lieutenant
McQuade.”
McQuade smiled. He obviously hadn’t noticed the commander’s signal that he’d
displeased her. No Telesian would miss the significance of that raised brow.
Either that, or he didn’t care that he might have offended every Telesian in
the room. Lara would have to teach him a little respect too.
“The Telesians are our partners, McQuade,” Holst added.
That one, at least, had learned the power of a woman. Lara had once fancied
him as a lover, but now that he’d mated with another, honor forbade she
touch him. McQuade was fair game, and she’d touch him, all right. He likely
wouldn’t enjoy it much. At least, not until she’d tamed him.
McQuade turned to her and the others and smiled. “Officers, of course.
Partners.”
“You don’t sound convinced, Lieutenant,” Lara said.
He gave her a who, me? shrug.
“You’re here at our indulgence,” Lara said. “You’d do well to keep that in
mind.”
“I don’t remember asking your permission.”
“I don’t remember inviting you. We were here first, you know.”
“Without our help, the Alliance would have killed all of you.”
“None of us were going to let that happen,” Holst said. “Now, I expect you
to show some courtesy to our hosts.”
“Oh, excuse me.” He made a very formal and very phony bow. “I keep
forgetting I’m dealing with female sensitivities.”
That did it. The man had resisted authority ever since he’d set foot on this
moon. He seemed to resent the fact that he had to treat her like an equal
when, in fact, she outranked him. No woman on Teles would tolerate his
behavior. She’d had as much of it as she was going to take. Enough.
She looked him straight in the eye so he couldn’t mistake her intent. “I’d
be happy to give you a display of female sensitivities.”
Murmuring behind Lara told her that the others had noticed the Challenge in
her words. The Earther kept a pleasant but unreadable expression on his
face. “I can’t imagine anyone more qualified to teach me about sensitivity.”
The murmurs turned to gasps. The man wasn’t stupid. He had to know he’d just
called her a coward.
“Do you have a death wish, Lieutenant? I’m fifth-level in hand-to-hand.”
“Not a Death Challenge,” Holst said.
“He’s questioned my honor.”
McQuade put his hand on his chest. “Whatever do you mean?”
Lara got up and walked to where the bastard stood, taunting her. She stuck
her nose up into his face. “You’ve been treating me with contempt ever since
we met.”
“You’ve been ragging my ass to prove how tough you are.”
“Apologize, McQuade,” Holst said.
“She has been, Captain.”
“I issued a Challenge, do you accept?”
“No Death Challenge,” Holst said.
“That’s my decision,” she answered.
Holst turned to his mate. “Commander?”
“There won’t be any killing,” Chiara answered.
“It’s my right to kill him if he’s dishonored me in front of my sister
officers.”
“You heard me, Lara. No killing. We’re all allies here.”
She glanced at her commander and then back to the smug bastard standing only
inches from her. “As you wish.”
Since her mating, Chiara had gotten soft, especially where the Earthers were
concerned. Lara would sooner die than take one of these puffed-up
testosterone addicts as a mate. She would take pleasure in smashing in this
one’s face. Maybe after he learned some respect he’d make a decent mate for
some other woman. Lara would wait until she found a more docile male.
“I wouldn’t normally hurt a woman,” McQuade said.
“You won’t hurt me.”
“But I’ll make an exception in this case. Do we want some rules?”
“I promise not to take advantage of your vulnerability by attacking your
testicles.” Calling him vulnerable was an insult, of course, but he’d have
to agree to this rule, or she’d win the Challenge with one kick. No cup in
the universe could protect that part of a man’s body from a well-placed
blow. All men knew that, even if they didn’t recognize their other
weaknesses. “In exchange, you agree not to grab me by the plait.”
“Pulling hair is a woman’s tactic.”
“Keep on with that and I will let Lara kill you,” Chiara said.
He glared down at Lara. “I dare her to try.”
“Stop it, both of you,” Holst ordered.
“Testicles and braids off-limits,” Lara said. “Any other rules?”
“Those are fine with me.”
“Whoever pins the other to the mat for a count of five wins,” Chiara
ordered.
“And the prize?” McQuade demanded.
“The Telesian commander has chosen the mode of victory. I’ll choose the
reward,” Holst said. He glanced at his mate, and a tiny smile curled his
lip. “The loser will go to the winner’s cabin and apologize. And mean it.
Then, both of you will work things out.”
“That’s fine with me,” McQuade said. “I’m not afraid I’ll lose.”
“Oh, you’ll lose, and you’ll regret taunting me.”
“We’ll have to see about that, won’t we?”
“Then, you both accept?” Chiara asked.
“Accept,” Lara answered.
“Bring it on,” the oaf said.
“Tomorrow at the rising of the second sun.”
Fine, a Challenge. Tomorrow. They’d learn who was the stronger and who would
apologize.
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