Page 11 of Ravenous Alien Mate

Guilt plagued her over the lies she’d told Jav. About not having any siblings. And her claim about her hours at the factory getting reduced. She’d worked in one of the Martian-run factories from ages fifteen to eighteen, but she hadn’t been employed by anyone when she’d left Earth. She hadn’t just stretched the truth, she’d lied to his face, and more than once.

He had treated her with nothing but kindness thus far, and this fact only deepened her feelings of guilt. She wished she could’ve been like the other mail order brides on the spaceship.

A few of them had shared their reasons for leaving Earth with one another, and she’d eavesdropped while lying in one of the beds, just before she’d fallen asleep. Most had left for financial reasons, because their families owed back taxes or couldn’t afford rent. Most mentioned giving the ten thousand galactic credits they were given upon signing up to become a Martian’s bride to either family or friends.

The parole board hadn’t mentioned the money and she wondered if it would be in her account if she checked. Not that she needed it. She glanced around the bedroom, still in awe over the spaciousness and beauty of Jav’s quarters. Thus far, she had only glimpsed the foyer, a sitting room, and a bedroom. But the door to the bedroom was open, giving a view of another large room. He also apparently had a kitchen.

She’d grown up in a small home, then lived with her boyfriend for a year in a shed he’d rented from a friend, before she’d been sentenced to prison. She wasn’t used to such opulence. Or such amazing views. She sat up higher and peered out the nearby window, transfixed by the sight of Ressiktron, the capital city of Mars.

“Are you finished eating?” Jav asked.

“Yes,” she said. “Thank you again, everything was delicious.”

He took her tray and departed the bedroom, calling over his shoulder that he would return to her side shortly.

Wanting to get out of bed, she looked around for her pants and sweatshirt, but she didn’t spot her clothing anywhere. Now that her energy had returned and she had a full stomach, she had the urge to explore Jav’s quarters and also get a better look out the windows.

She pulled the sheet off the bed and wrapped it around herself, then ventured into the large master bathroom. She closed the door, took care of business, washed her hands and face, and then resumed looking for her clothing.

When she exited the bathroom, she spotted a bundle of gray fabric in the corner of the bedroom, on the other side of a bedside table. She hurried toward her clothing, hoping to get dressed before Jav returned, even if the sweat suit was a bit too warm for this climate. She couldn’t very well walk around naked all day or wrapped in nothing but a bedsheet.

A gasp left her when she picked up the pants. They were shredded in pieces. She found the shirt in the same condition. Confused, she stood up and looked at the doorway just as Jav entered the room.

“Why-why did you rip up my clothing?” she asked, shame washing through her once more. He’d mentioned providing for her, but she’d only just arrived on his planet and she didn’t have an alternate outfit to change into. She wished she’d had at least one nice dress or outfit she could’ve brought with her to Mars, just so she wouldn’t feel like such a charity case in front of her new mate.

Jav approached her, took the shredded clothing from her hands, and set it aside on a chair. “When the doctor mentioned your clothing might be causing you to overheat, sweet Leah, I immediately tore it from your body as quickly as I could.”

“Oh.” She found herself strangely touched by his admission.

“I realize you have nothing to wear, and I have just called for the royal seamstress to come take your measurements. She is an older Marttiaxoxalian woman by the name of Nassia and she has promised to arrive shortly.”

Well, Jav had thought of everything, it would seem. She felt a bit foolish for worrying over what she would wear. But she’d traveled to Mars with nothing but the clothing on her back and losing the one thing she’d brought left her feeling vulnerable, reminding her just how much she would have to depend upon Jav for everything.

“That’s very nice of you, Jav,” she said.

At that moment, a melodious tune filled the room.

“That’s the doorbell. Stay here and I’ll bring Nassia to you.”

Chapter 9

Jav waited in the sitting room while Nassia took care of Leah. He’d told Nassia to spare no expense when creating a wardrobe for his new mate. The royal seamstress had arrived with a variety of readymade gowns in differing sizes for Leah to try on, and the older female would also make many new clothing items for Leah.

He couldn’t wait to see Leah in her new dresses. He wanted to buy her expensive clothing and gifts, as well as surround her in luxury.

Her impoverishment on Earth had caused her to sign up to become a mail order bride. He wanted to give her all that she had gone without, including companionship. Her description of her life on Earth made him suspect she’d been lonely.

No family. No friends. No one to help her when she couldn’t afford decent food or pay her rent. From what he had observed of the human females who came to Mars, they were just as much social creatures as the females of his own kind, and it shattered him to imagine her all alone on Earth, struggling to meet her most basic needs.

“Jav!” Nassia called out. “We’re all done in here. Come take a look at your beautiful mate!”

He practically ran back to the bedroom, eager to return to Leah’s side. When he first looked at her, clothed in a flowing purple gown that flared outward from her waist, the sight took his breath away. Leah smiled at him and tucked her hair behind her ears.

“I left five dresses hanging in the closet,” Nassia said, gathering up a bag of clothing, likely the items that hadn’t fit Leah. “I’ve provided her with undergarments and sleepwear, as well. In the top drawer right there.” The seamstress gestured at a nearby dresser. “Only one pair of shoes I brought fit her, but now that we know her size, it won’t be any trouble to acquire more.”

“I want her to have a pair of slippers to match every dress,” Jav found himself saying, as if he knew anything at all about Marttiaxoxalian fashion.

“I’ll have my assistant bring by some new shoes tomorrow morning,” Nassia said, “and I should have some new custom gowns ready for Leah in a couple of days, as well as other clothing items.”

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