“We can do this,” she echoed, hoping they were both right.

“It won’t be long before they figure it out.”

Ariel stared up into his eyes and cupped his face with her hands. “I love you.” One of her hands lowered from his face to his heart. “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. She snapped her head in Ariel’s direction to glare at her. Ariel didn’t need a translator to understand the woman hated her. Rage was evident. The woman snarled and took a step in Ariel’s direction.

Ral moved in the woman’s path to Ariel. He snarled at the woman for a while. Ariel got that he was angry from his tone. Ariel couldn’t see the woman anymore with Ral’s body between them but when he stopped snarling the woman snarled back. They were obviously arguing. Ral pointed to the front door and snarled.

Nope, Ariel thought. She didn’t need a translation. The woman was furious that Ral was with her and he wanted the woman to leave. The woman didn’t leave. Instead she lunged at Ral. He took a step back when the woman attacked him and grabbed the fists pelting him. He threw the woman away from him and she landed hard on her ass by the door. Ral snarled again, pointing at the front door.

Ariel could see her now. The woman shot her a glare as she softly growled. She got to her knees and reached for her hem. In shock, Ariel saw the woman yank the dress over her head. It looked like Zorn women didn’t wear undergarments because the woman was now completely naked.

Zorn women weren’t that different. Her breast looked the same but between her legs was slightly different. The woman obviously didn’t own a much-needed razor. It put a new spin on the term bush. The woman’s eyes locked on Ral as she dropped to her hands and knees. She softly growled at him, lowering her head, her arms bent at the elbows. She lowered her breasts to the floor and it put her ass high in the air as she spread her thighs about a foot apart.

“Oh hell no,” Ariel gasped. She was shocked but again she didn’t need a translator.

The woman was offering herself sexually to Ral.

Ral turned to frown at Ariel. She met his eyes. He pointed to the bedroom. Pain shot through Ariel hard. Was he going to accept the bitch’s offer? He wanted Ariel to return to their room. That was clear. She shook her head no at him. She felt a burst of emotions—jealousy and hurt were the strongest initial feelings. Anger and shock came in at a close second. Ral took a deep breath. He continued to frown at Ariel. He pointed again to the bedroom.