Ruby Dixon's Blog, page 4
February 13, 2021
Risdaverse Tales
Four Risdaverse Tales
The Alien’s Mail Order Bride
Ex-soldier Emvor doesn’t mind the quiet of his chosen life as a farmer. He doesn’t even mind that most nights are lonely on remote Cassa, but he does need help around his farm. A mail- order bride from his homeworld seems like the perfect solution. Unfortunately, the person that arrives is Nicola.
When She’s Married
Escaped convict Vordigar has two choices – he can be shipped back to the Haven prison system, or he can marry one of the locals. Vordigar’s not interested in forever. Or marrying. But one night in Piper’s bed changes everything.
Pretty Human
Varrik va’Rin is the lord of an ancient noble house and used to getting what he wants. So when he sees the strange, delicate human known as Milly, he decides he wants her. And he’ll do anything to have her, reputation be damned.
When She’s Bold
Lucy doesn’t really need a husband. She just wants one. Rektar is patient, and gentle for all his hulking form. He’d be a great husband. He’s also completely clueless that she’s flirting with him, so it’s time to be a little more…obvious.
*** This is a compilation of four previously published novellas in the Risdaverse series. It contains no new stories.
January 29, 2021
Ice Planet Honeymoon: Rukh & Harlow
Rukh and Harlow are starting over at the beach, away from everyone else. Newly mated, they’re just now realizing what a monumental task it is to create a home when you’ve got nothing but the leathers on your back. It’s even worse when you can’t talk to your mate.
Will misunderstandings ruin everything?
This story is an extended epilogue for readers who want a little more of their favorite couple. Don’t start here! Start at the beginning with their book, Ice Planet Barbarians #4, Barbarian Mine.
January 15, 2021
When She’s Bold
On Risda III, it’s custom for women to marry for convenience. It provides safety and security in a universe that offers none for humans.
Me, I don’t really *need* a husband. I just want one. And I want one man in particular. There’s a new guy in town, a by-the-books military man named Rektar. Every day I show up to his office and flirt with him. I bring pies. I twirl my hair. I make it very, very obvious what I want.
Rektar is patient, and gentle for all his hulking form. He’d be a great husband. He’s also completely clueless that I’m flirting with him.
So it’s time for me to be a little bit bolder…
December 26, 2020
Corsairs: Adiron
It’s not easy being a space pirate…
Actually, wait.
Yes it is. It’s keffing awesome.
The three va Sithai brothers — that’s us — cruise the universe looking for abandoned ships, treasure, and other pirate ships to rob. Right now, we’re on the hunt for the Buoyant Star, an abandoned cruiser rumored to have a massive treasure inside. The ship’s been found at the edge of an ice field at the far reaches of space.
That treasure? About to be all ours.
But the ship’s not all that abandoned. The Star is crewed by a few lonely, attractive human females who are thoroughly grateful at being rescued…
Actually, wait.
They’re not grateful at all.
They’ve set us a trap, and their leader, a beautiful human female named Jade, gives me a smile just before she captures me.
It’s official. I’m in love.
December 17, 2020
Bridget’s Bane
A’tam is the worst.
Sure, he’s the prettiest man on the beach, but he’s a terrible listener. I’ve told him a dozen times that we’re not compatible – in SO many ways – and he refuses to take no for an answer. He had his chance with me, and he blew it.
But A’tam thinks we should be mates. He thinks he can just woo me enough to change my mind. He thinks that sultry kisses and soft touches are the way to a girl’s heart. He thinks that if he shows me that he can be everything I need, I’ll just fall right back into his arms and forget the past.
And….sigh.
He might be right.
Because I want him again and I really, really shouldn’t.
October 8, 2020
When She Dances
I never expected to spend my days as a dancing girl…but it beats the alternative. In the window of a filthy space station cantina, I gyrate my hips and hope for better days.
When I’m bought by the most intimidating alien on Three Nebulas Station, those better days are on their way. Zakoar of the Broken Back is a cyborg who deals in black market prosthetics. He’s terrifying to look at, with a metal jaw and a fearsome demeanor. He intimidates everyone in the galaxy…except me.
Zakoar doesn’t want my name. In fact, he doesn’t want anything from me…except a little bed sport. In exchange for my willingness, he’ll take me to a human-friendly planet where I can live unafraid.
Love isn’t part of the bargain, but every moment that I spend with him, I learn more about the male beneath the metal…
…and I’m suddenly dreaming of a very different happy ever after for myself…
September 17, 2020
When She Belongs
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He’s the biggest jerk in the galaxy.
I can live with being stuck on the far end of space. I can live with having to spend weeks on an abandoned station in an asteroid belt. Sure, I don’t belong, but I’ve got my book and my eight-legged attack cat with me. I should be fine.
I’m not fine.
My alien host, Jerrok, is a jerk. He’s surly and unpleasant. He hasn’t bathed in years. He’s part cyborg – and all those parts seem to be falling to pieces. He’s the one in charge of this remote station, which means we’re forced to interact. It’s an absolutely miserable situation for both of us…
…until I realize that all his anger and bluster is covering the fact that he’s thoughtful and understanding. He’s protective, too, keeping me safe when the bad guys approach. When I get hurt, he’s the one tenderly caring for my wounds.
Jerrok is also intensely, utterly lonely, just like me.
As time passes, I start to wonder…maybe where I belong isn’t a place…but a person.
August 27, 2020
Raven’s Return
No one ever comes back for me.
I’ve always been on my own, and why should it be any different on an ice planet? So when I’m kidnapped by a feral outcast, I suspect I’d better learn to love raw fish and rough living.
Then…U’dron comes to my rescue.
He’s always understood me more than anyone else. He’s been my friend and my confidante. We’ve made music together. And now that he’s my hero? The crush I’ve had on him is turning into something more, something deeper. He won’t want me when he hears my terrible secrets, though.
But it turns out that U’dron has a secret of his own…
July 19, 2020
Mari’s Mistake
I’ve ruined everything.
I had a mate. Resonance. Happiness. But then T’chai’s attacked by ravenous sky-claw and almost killed. To help him recover, I tell the healer to turn off our unfulfilled resonance. It’s temporary…or so I think.
Big mistake. Because now my khui acts like it’s dead and it hates T’chai. But I still love him. How do we move forward when I can’t bear his touch? Is there a way to get back our happiness together, or is it time to give up on what we once had?
T’chai has other plans, though. He’s not giving up on us. If it means crossing the world, he’s ready to do it at my side.
June 15, 2020
When She Purrs
Life on a farm planet at the edge of the universe can be dangerous for a human woman alone.
That’s why I need a husband. ANY husband.
Unfortunately, all the men I approach keep running off. So I hire a bounty hunter to kidnap me someone capable and strong, someone who will scare off the creeps that are trying to move in on my territory.
It’ll be a marriage of convenience only.
I should have been a little more specific about who I wanted, though…because the intimidating and fierce praxiian male that the bounty hunter brings to me? The one with feline features, big arms and an even bigger…uh, farm?
He’s the problem I was hoping a new husband would scare off. What am I supposed to do now?
(Don’t ask him, because all of his suggestions are completely and utterly filthy and have nothing to do with a marriage of convenience.)
