Alien Mate Read Online Free

shoe fits . . .”
    “I am not—that is, if the situation were different . . .” Diana sputtered.
    “Let me ask you, earthling—”
    “Would you stop calling me earthling? My name is Diana.” Why she gave him her first name when she’d told Kor to address her formally, she didn’t know. Maybe because he’s not trying to marry me and get into my pants.
    “Diana, then, what exactly do you object to? According to my report, you have no close living family. Very few friends. No current love interest. No pets. You hate your job. You hate your apartment. Your romantic fantasy confessed to an online acquaintance consisted of a tall, dark stranger sweeping you off your feet and taking you away from it all. So let me ask you, what has Kor done that you object to so strenuously?”
    Diana just listened, dumbfounded, as the computer recited off facts of her life that made her sound, well, pathetic, and lonely actually. “How do you know all these things?” she whispered, shocked.
    “I did my research, of course. The advent of computers and the Internet on your world have made it quite simple for an advanced AI system like myself to find out pretty much anything I need to know.”
    “Have you told Kor all of this?” she asked, hoping the answer would be no. Her life, or lack of one, was none of Kor’s business.
    “He never asked,” said Alphie sullenly. “But that’s beside the point. Let me ask you again, what exactly about his choice in you as a mate do you object to?”
    “Well,” she stammered, “he didn’t ask. He just told me, and he’s-he’s blue!”
    Alphie gave a snort of disgust . How does a computer snort? “I can’t believe you’re an alienist.”
    “A what?” she asked, confused.
    “Someone who thinks her species is better than all the others. We see that a lot in earthlings.”
    “But I never said I thought I was better. You’re twisting my words. It’s just, he took me by surprise. I’ve never seen a blue man before and certainly never imagined marrying one.”
    “If he weren’t blue, would you be reacting like this?”
    Diana thought about it. “Actually, yes, I would still act like this because this isn’t romantic. When I dreamt of my fantasy man taking me away, it was because of love, not because some busybody told him to. He doesn’t even like me, but he wants to marry me
    ’cause some Oracle says so.”
    “Romance? Hmmm, I’ll have to research that. Let me get back to you. Bye.”
    “Wait,” Diana shouted.
    10

    “What?” asked Alphie.
    “Before you take off and do computer stuff, could you maybe get me some clothes? I’d rather not wear this sheet all day. And maybe something to eat, I am kind of hungry.”
    “Of course.” And with those words, a drawer popped open, and Diana walked over to it and pulled out an outfit—a very revealing, diaphanous outfit made of draped layers of what seemed to be scarves stitched together.
    “You’ve got to be bloody kidding me,” she grumbled, holding up the flimsy cloth.
    “It’s what the females of his world wear,” said Alphie with a snicker. “Talk to you later.”
    As he said that, another drawer opened in the wall, and Diana peeked in hoping for more clothes, but instead saw a steaming plate of food consisting of a white-sauced pasta with vegetables and a garlic toast. Well at least they’re feeding me stuff I recognize, which made her wonder who did the cooking.
    Sighing, Diana decided to eat first before tackling the sex kitten outfit. But I swear to God if Kor laughs when he sees me looking like a giant fluffy marshmallow, I am going to sock him where it hurts.

    * * * *

    Kor walked in and stopped. For the first time since he’d laid eyes on Diana, he thanked the Oracle. And yes, he’d finally relented enough, or should he say groveled enough, that Alphie gave him his mate-to-be’s name along with some basic information about her, but not too much. Kor, for some unfathomable reason, looked forward to