Page 19 of Princess for the Space Cowboy

One morning, after he has yet again teased me to an intense climax and come inside me, I roll my head to the side, looking at him. He is ridiculously handsome with sharp, angledcheekbones and his perfect mouth, his eyes so startlingly blue as they meet mine. I’ve grown accustomed to the shimmery scaled surface of his skin.

“When will I know if I’m pregnant?” I ask.

Asher rolls onto his side, sliding his palm over my belly. His touch is possessive and soothing at once. “In a month. I believe you are,” he says.

Helena schedules a meeting with me two days after Asher and I finish our honeymoon. I leave our home that morning after a hot encounter in the shower and a lingering kiss from Asher to walk to the main center of town. After our week together, Asher took me on a town tour.

I don’t know what I expected, but this planet is more advanced than Earth. This town is modern. Many people walk, but some ride these things that are sort of like bicycles but much faster. They levitate.

Asher has told me I have one available, but I enjoy walking so far. The people and aliens I encounter here are friendly and welcoming. I’m savoring the warm weather and the clean air. I pass by the market area of town, which is bustling with fresh produce stands.

I’m spoiled with our courtyard because we have fruits and vegetables right there. Asher tells me I don’t have to worry about shopping, that we are supplied by his assistants, but I tell him I want to shop because it’s something I’ve never gotten to do. We’ve had several ventures into the market to peruse items.

I walk into the offices, passing through a large gateway into a lovely, lush garden and approaching another modern building. Asher assures me that it’s nothing fancy for them. Even in the green zones on Earth, there was nothing this fancy. Some buildings had once been nice, but they were mostly run-down now.

The door is held open for me by two people waiting outside. The queen is passing by in the main area. She’s looking at something on a computer tablet. She glances up, pausing to smile at me. “Jane, good morning,” she says.

I’m still nervous around her. She’s so serene and beautiful and carries her authority with a comfortable warmth. “Hello, Alisha,” I say.

“I understand Helena is meeting with you today?” she prompts with a lilt of a question in her voice.

I nod. “She wants to discuss the matchmaking service.”

“We are looking forward to your plans.”

No pressure. None at all. A freaking queen of another planet who happens to be my mother-in-law thinks I can handle this. Sure, sure.

Hopefully oblivious to my train of thought, she gestures for me to follow her. “Come with me for a moment.”

I follow her, feeling so not very royal. We walk down a hallway and through a doorway into what must be Helena’s office. A table sits to one side, and lush plants hang in the corner.

Helena stands quickly and curtsies. “My queen,” she says.

Seriously.

Asher’s mother angles her head to the side. “You needn’t stand on ceremony, Helena.”

Helena shrugs and winks. “It’s fun.” Her expression shifts to all business as she rubs her palms together. “Let’s check in about the planning.”

Alisha stays quiet as Helena gets started. As Helena and I dive into the details, I realize this matchmaking service isn’t simply about romance. It’s not that I didn’t grasp that when Asher explained how many women had perished in the storm that struck their planet, but I hadn’t contemplated what that would mean for families and the survival of their species.

“There are far more men here now,” Helena says. “This is a planetary problem for us.”

“How many women are we talking?” I finally ask

Helena clasps her hands in front of her. “As many as are willing to come to our planet. We’d like to start with fifty for the leadership and then go from there after that.”

“Fifty?” I squeak.

If she notices my surprise, Helena doesn’t address it. She nods, her tone calm as she continues. “We’re starting with the leadership and then on from there. Not everyone will experience infinity pulse like you and Asher. For some, it will be a practical choice.”

“But it’s been two years,” Asher’s mother interjects. “Our birthrate has dropped dramatically. It’s not just that so many died in the storm. We also have to deal with the opposition leadership from Silver.” I’m grateful Asher has given me a mini-geography lesson because I recall that’s the other big city on this planet. “We are planning to meet with them and hopefully get them to understand how important this is for them and for our planet to stay strong.”

They both look toward me expectantly. I take a breath. “So this is a big deal, and I have to find plenty of women to travel here. I understand and know we can do this,” I say quickly. “Life on Earth is plain shitty for women. There’s frequent violence, and we’ve lost so many rights. Ever since the environment got so bad, people are desperate.”

“We understand,” Alisha says. “We have a lot to offer here. Humans have traveled here for centuries because of our planet’s similarity to Earth. I’m going to leave the logistics up to you and Helena. She will help you with the travel and so on, but you are our main leader on Earth for this mission, and you are our princess.” I still can’t even wrap my brain aroundthatdetail.

A buzzing sound happens, and Helena glances down at the tablet on the table. “I need to deal with the issue with the fountain. I’ll be right back.”

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