Ral's Woman Read Online Free PDF Page A

recognize
anything you can eat?”
    She studied the food too and shook her head. “No.”
    “This.” He pointed. “Is very sweet. This is bitter. This is
strongly hot to your mouth.” He kept pointing out things to her and explaining
their taste. She settled on a few things to try. Ral loaded down two plates and
walked to a table where no one else sat.
    “Sit. I will get us drinks.”
    She sat down with both plates. She waited. Ral returned in
moments. He placed water-filled mugs by their plates. He smiled. “Eat, Ariel.”
    She loved the way he said her name. It sounded like “Ori All”.
She tasted the food and gave Ral a smile. It was delicious. He looked relieved
as he dug into his own food. Sometimes he’d pick up something from his plate
for her to taste. She decided she didn’t like the red banana-looking thing. It
set her mouth on fire and made her choke. She drank water.
    When they finished their food Ral led her to a wide hallway.
He paused. “Stay with me. Do not leave my side. It is dangerous.”
    She nodded and felt a little fear. “What is dangerous?”
    “My people were taken by force from our hunt planet. We are
strong and we are hardy. Do you understand? There were few women taken with us.
A woman is rare and much wanted here. Some will be angry that they lost
yesterday when we fought for you. They will want to touch you. If a fight
breaks out just get behind me. I will not lose. I am very tough. I will win.”
    She nodded. He reached up to caress her cheek.
    “Some Zorn will think I only won you to mount, to quench my
need for a woman. They might think I won’t shed their blood for an alien. In
time they will realize I am bound to you and not dare challenge me for your
body.”
    “Bound to you?”
    He grinned. “In love.”
    She smiled back. “Okay.”
    “They will offer me things to have you. I will not sell you
for anything so do not worry if you hear them make offers. You are mine. You
will remain mine.”
    Ariel put her hand on his naked hairy chest. The men didn’t
wear shirts but he obviously owned them since she wore his. “I trust you.”
    He smiled. “Good. We should go. Stay close to me.”
    The mines were a large cavernous area where men were
chipping away at the rock-lined walls to enlarge the space. Some men hung by
their waists from ropes along the walls using tools to break large pieces
loose. Ral sat Ariel on a large boulder, gave her a nod and then went to work.
He picked up the broken pieces from the floor to load them into machines that
wheeled away from sight when Ral pushed a button to tell the cart it was full, an
empty one appearing in its place.
    After a while Ariel got up to stand closer to Ral. She
picked up the small pieces and started to work with him. Ral looked over at her
with a surprised smile. She smiled back. They worked together for hours. She
noticed three Zorn women in the cavern. They all sat by men but didn’t help
their men. She caught many eyes watching her.
    A buzz went through the room. Ral dumped a basketball-sized
rock in the cart. He turned. “We are done. Our shift is over. Thank you for
helping me.”
    “I can’t lift the big ones like you do but I’m good with the
small chunks.”
    He laughed. “Hungry?”
    “Yes. I’m starving.”
    He led her back to the large eating room. It was packed now.
Ral gripped her arm pulling her tightly against his side. She knew she was in
danger. She could see it in the alert way Ral watched every man around them.
They moved up the line to the buffet table. Ral filled both plates for each of
them, handed them to Ariel and got water with her this time. He led her to
table. It was crowded. He put down the water and sat. He spread his thighs.
    “Sit on my lap.”
    She eased onto his lap after placing the food down. He
scooted back so she had room between his thighs to sit on the bench. A man who
sat down next to them sniffed loudly and turned his head. Ariel met his bright
green gaze. The man sniffed