Best Of Ruby

'Resonance' is supposed to be a dream - that's when your soulmate is chosen for you. And everyone on the ice planet has hooked up with a big, hunky soulmate of their own... except me. So do I want a mate? Heck yeah. More than anything, all I've ever wanted is to be loved by someone. Except that the soulmate chosen for me? My least favorite person on the darn ice planet. Haeden's the most cranky, disapproving, unpleasant, overbearing male alien... so why is it that my body sings when he gets close? Why is he working so hard to prove to me that he's not as awful as I think he is? I hate him... don't I?

As a newcomer to the alien tribe, I've struggled to find my place. It might be because I'm a tad headstrong at times. And yes, I might have thrown a few things at people's heads. But I had a good reason to pitch a fit - my shy sister was stolen away right under my nose. Of course, now she's back and mated. Everyone's happy... except me. I need... affection. Attention. Okay, I'm lonely. Really lonely. Strangely enough, the only person that I think understands what I'm going through is the same blue-skinned brute that stole my sister. It's wrong to hook up with him, even as a mindless fling. Except... I'm not so good with the whole 'rules' thing. And he's not so great with the 'fling' thing.

For seasons, I have waited for her - my perfect mate. In a tribe full of happy couples, I am alone. But I am not content to remain this way. There are no eligible unmated females left, so I will do whatever it takes to bring females back to our tribe...even if it means doing something wrong. Even if it means I must purchase my mate on the intergalactic black market. I will do anything to possess her, to claim her as my own. But will my ruthless move turn my female against me before we ever meet? Can she ever forgive a male that bought her freedom?

You'd think a tall woman would fit in on a planet of seven-foot-tall aliens, but even on the ice planet, I'm still a weirdo and an oddity. I'm everything all the other cute, dainty human women aren't. One guy in particular - the alien Harrec - is determined to embarrass me by pretending he's interested. He's a jokester that flirts like mad and hits on me constantly just to make me feel foolish. He gets under my skin. He makes me so frustrated I want to scream. When a side-trip to a glacier turns into a nightmare and the two of us are forced to survive alone, I see another side to the enticing blue alien. Even with no one else around, his compliments keep coming and I start wondering if the attraction between us... is real.

It should have been a one-night stand. I never intended to seduce Taushen, but things happened. I don't dwell on the past and while it was great, I'm not looking for a relationship. Of course, try telling that to Taushen. The big blue alien's in love after one night, and it's making things darn awkward. We've got bigger problems than whether or not I'm his woman, like the ‘cargo’ of the space ship that landed here. But Taushen's not giving up. He thinks I'm his mate. And he'll do anything to keep me.

It's hard to make friends with the other women at the Icehome camp when you'd rather be dissecting the local fauna. Which is why I'm surprised when one of the big, brawny islanders asks me to help him make a prosthetic leg. I don't know N'dek, but since I'm a scientist, he wants my help. And while I'm more into dinosaurs than anatomy, I love a challenge! As we work together, I come to see that N'dek's not just clever and determined, he's also protective and sweet. And he kisses like a fiend! He's a distraction I don't need... but he might be everything I've ever wanted. Too bad he says he's going to resonate to someone else...

S’bren doesn’t realize what a mess he’s stepping in when he steals me away. He just wants to resonate. Sweet, right? But his methods are all wrong and resonance doesn’t look as if it's happening anytime soon for either of us. So I’m going to use this time away from the camp as an opportunity. We’re going to go exploring and not return to the beach camp until I'm good and ready. It's one part punishment for him - being my guide - and one part adventure for me. We'll have fun, swing from some vines in the fruit cave, and then return to Icehome when we're good and ready. What's not part of the plan? Falling in love. Matters of the heart are tricky when the khui gets the final say...and mine is totally silent.

Life has taught me that I can't trust anyone. Not friends, not family. In the worst, darkest moments, no one can be counted on to have your back. Even a billion miles away from Earth, on a remote icy planet, I still feel alone. The only consolation? I haven't resonated. It's not that I don't want love or children. I just can't trust anyone, even myself. But then one day, my khui resonates, and it's to the last guy I ever expected. In fact, I resonate so hard that my chest is singing its mating song before his does. That never happens. So what does a calm, rational, grown woman do when life turns upside down? She runs for the hills, of course. I should have known he'd follow me.

I'm not supposed to resonate to him. It's been a few years since I've landed here on Icehome Beach, and as resonance after resonance dwindled the list of bachelors, I knew who I'd end up with. As soon as we got past our differences, I'd end up as R'jaal's mate. On an everyday excursion, however, my khui decides otherwise. It sings all right...but not to R'jaal. Instead, I resonate to I'rec - the forceful, brash, overly-alpha leader of Shadow Cat. Did I mention he's got a long-distance girlfriend already? It's a big mess, and it's about to get messier. But as things get chaotic on the beach and our way of life is threatened with upheaval, it's the small things that end up mattering. Small things like the way I'rec kisses. Or the way we seem to have a lot more in common than we thought. Or the way I'rec can be gentle, but only with me...

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.

Crulden the Ruiner is the most dangerous gladiator in the galaxy. I’m his clone - equally ugly, equally dangerous, and just as feared. I’m also being held captive, since no one trusts a creature like me to be let loose. A curvy, determined human named Bee doesn’t think I’m a creature, though. In fact, she thinks I just need a guide. She’s got half the males on this planet eating out of her hand, and she’s confident she can do the same with me. The managing little female has no idea what she’s in for. I’m not some fool to be led around by my tail. But…the champion in me loves a challenge. A champion also wants to win a prize. So I tell Bee I’ll go along with her plans if she kisses me…right on my tusk-filled mouth. I never expected her to say yes…