Sweshan- Claimed

by Olivia Black

  “It’s good to meet you,” Ael said.

  Bryson smiled. “It’s nice to meet you, as well.”

  A moment later, Talr joined them. “Ael. Grant.”

  Bryson stepped back, and the males shook hands in greeting.

  “Let’s go to an exam room,” Talr said. He glanced over at Bryson and asked, “Would you like to join us?”

  Bryson nodded. “If Grant and Ael don’t mind…”

  “Come on.” Grant reached out and grabbed ahold of Bryson’s arm and pulled him into his side. “I haven’t seen you in months. Give me an update. I want to know everything.”

  Bryson scoffed. He wished there was something he could tell Grant. But in truth, it felt as though he’d been living the same week over and over again, just with a different male each time. Bryson shook his head, trying to figure out exactly what to say.

  He didn’t really want to tell Grant about all the prospective mates he’d had. So, he said the only thing he could. “Talr brought me to work with him today. I’m training to become a medic.”

  “You’re going to be a great medic.”

  “Do you really think so?” Bryson asked.

  “You’re always calm during a crisis.”

  Bryson didn’t agree with that statement. “If I remember correctly, you were the one who knew how to handle a first aid kit. You helped me and Georgie on the Glecerus starship.”

  “I applied a few bandages, popped your shoulder back into place, and handed out some pain pills. I didn’t really do much.”

  “That’s not true,” Bryson said. “You saved us.”

  “And you both saved me, so we’re even.”

  Bryson chuckled lightly. “You seem really happy.”

  “I got lucky with Ael. He’s a good male.”

  When they reached the exam room, Bryson dropped Grant’s arm and moved to the other side of the space.

  Bryson leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest. He watched Talr work. The doctor asked Grant questions about his health and pregnancy. Grant told Talr about his morning sickness, his cravings for raw fish, and the baby’s sleep schedule. During their conversation, Ael kept an arm wrapped around Grant’s waist. He wore his emotions all over his face. It was obvious that the male loved Grant very much.

  Grant placed a kiss on Ael’s lips before moving to the center of the room. He stood on the square that had been carved out of stone. He stood at attention, his body ramrod straight, and a thick beam of light ran over his entire form.

  Bryson watched as a 3D image of Grant’s body appeared beside the man. He dropped his arms and leaned forward to get a better look. The baby was moving inside of Grant’s stomach. Bryson stared at the moving image in awe.

  “Wow,” Bryson murmured. “That is unbelievable.”

  Talr glanced over his shoulder and smiled. The male held out his hand and said, “Come here.”

  Bryson grasped the male’s hand. Talr pulled him in close, giving him a better view of the three-dimensional picture.

  “The baby is bigger than I expected, and he’s moving a lot.”

  “Grant is halfway through his pregnancy,” Talr told him. “The gestation period for humans here on Sweshan is only six months.”

  “How do humans give birth here on Sweshan?” Bryson asked. It was a question he’d thought about but never bothered asking since each of his pregnancy tests had come back negative.

  Grant chuckled lightly. “That was one of my first questions.”

  Talr smiled. “Our ancestors gave birth in the water. But there have been some questions on whether or not all of the babies born will be able to breathe underwater. So we do C-sections now. And after the baby is born, we check to make sure he has gills. If he does, then we introduce the baby to the water. If not, then we wait until the child can understand how a breathing apparatus works.”

  Bryson nodded in understanding. It made sense. The children born from a mating between a Sweshian male and a human would possess DNA from both parents. It would stand to reason that some of the babies born wouldn’t have gills.

  “So, how is the baby?” Grant asked.

  “You’re both healthy,” Talr told him. “The baby looks great.”

  “Now that my checkup is done, can we eat? I’m starved.”

  Ael wrapped a possessive arm around Grant. “Is my son hungry?”

  Grant leaned into his mate. He tilted his head back, resting it against the male’s chest.

  Bryson glanced away. He couldn’t watch them. He felt as though he were intruding on something special only mates shared. It was beautiful. And at this moment, Bryson knew he was missing out. His shoulders dropped as realization dawned. He really wanted a mate.

  “Let’s have lunch in the cafeteria,” Talr said. “It’s a short walk.”

  “The cafeteria?” Bryson questioned.

  “It’s here in the medical building.”

  Talr held out his right hand, palm up. He didn’t try to coax Bryson. He simply waited, giving Bryson a choice. Bryson took the male’s hand and laced their fingers together, allowing Talr to lead him out of the exam room. They walked down the hallway, and Bryson knew without looking over his shoulder that Ael and Grant were following them.

  When they reached the cafeteria, Bryson glanced around the large space. “It’s so crowded.”

  “Most of the medical staff take their lunch break at the same time each day,” Talr told him. “It’s a buffet. But don’t worry. The lines move quickly.”

  Bryson grabbed a tray and got in line behind Talr. He inspected the food. Most of the dishes he recognized, but there were a few that were foreign to him. Bryson sidestepped, moving down the large buffet table, loading up his plate. The line really did move quickly. And when he was done, Bryson followed Talr and the other men toward the dining area where large, rectangular tables were set up.

  He placed his tray beside Talr’s and took a seat. They sat by the back wall, near the glass window at an empty table. As Bryson looked around the room, he noticed that there were only a few humans. The rest were large, muscular Sweshan males. Bryson looked across the table at Ael and Grant.

  The men were staring at each other as though completely enthralled with one another. They were so focused on each other that Bryson didn’t bother starting a conversation. He picked up his fork and started eating.

  Bryson was really happy to see Grant. It had been three months. Bryson sat by Grant’s side until the placement officer pulled him away. Talr had been the one to tell Bryson that Grant was okay.

  “I’m addicted to this fish,” Grant said. The man stabbed a bite-sized piece of pink meat and held it up. “It’s so damn good.” He moaned as he put it into his mouth.

  Bryson chuckled. After Grant’s little icebreaker, lunch was much more relaxing. Sharing a meal with Ael, Grant, and Talr was nice. Grant talked about his pregnancy and the baby’s room. It seemed like he was looking forward to being a father and spending the rest of his life with Ael. Even though he was a little jealous of Grant, Bryson was really happy for his friend. All of the worries he’d been carrying around about Grant instantly vanished. His friend was in good hands.

  Talr’s handheld beeped, and the male pulled it from his pocket. He glanced at the screen before rising to his feet. “I’m sorry. I wish I didn’t have to leave, but I need to take care of a patient.”

  “It’s okay.” Bryson waved him away. “I’ll see you later.”

  Talr turned on his heel and quickly left the cafeteria. Bryson watched the male go, disappearing into the crowd.

  “It’s good to see Talr happy again,” Ael said.

  Bryson’s brows furrowed in confusion. He didn’t notice anything different about the male. Talr seemed exactly the same.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’ve known Talr for a long time. He’s been a good friend to my family. I didn’t think he would ever smile again, not after the death of his mate. The male was pregnant when the chemicals were droppe
d onto Sweshan. The child died, and his mate was so heartbroken that he committed suicide, as did my sire. My father is still heartbroken, but it seems that Talr is ready. He must really care for you.”

  Bryson’s heart froze. He lifted his hand and absently rubbed his chest, trying to remove the ache. Bryson could only imagine the pain Talr must have endured. The male had lost his mate and child.

  “And from the shocked look on your face, you didn’t know.”

  Bryson shook his head. He couldn’t speak. It felt as though his throat was clogged. This new information was heartbreaking, but it also brought a few questions to mind, as well. Was Talr interested in him, or was the male simply trying to help Bryson? Since Talr already had a mate, could he have a second one? Was that even possible?

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  “I’m not upset,” Bryson murmured. “Honestly, I feel bad for Talr. He’s always been so nice to me. Talr was the first male I met when I arrived on Sweshan. I was worried about Grant, but he told me everything was going to be okay, and I believed him. Over the last three months, Talr’s been the only constant in my life.”

  “Bryson.” Ael said his name, and Bryson glanced up, making eye contact. “It happened a long time ago. Talr has already grieved. He’s not looking for a replacement. He requested you to be his prospective mate, which means that Talr cares for you.”

  He nodded. Bryson already knew that Talr was a good male. He had proved it in his actions, over and over again. Bryson didn’t need Ael or anyone else to convince him of that fact.

  Chapter Seven

  Bryson walked beside Talr as they left the medical building at the end of the male’s shift.

  After a nice lunch with Ael and Grant, Bryson found Rune and went back to work. He followed the male around the rest of the day. Bryson had to admit that he was tired, but it was the good kind. He felt as though he was finally doing something productive with his life. Bryson was learning how to be a medic, and so far, the work was really interesting.

  Rune taught Bryson how to use one of the machines to mend a broken arm and apply cream to heal bruises. The technology was incredible. On Earth, a broken bone couldn’t be mended that easily, and bruises didn’t disappear within seconds.

  When they reached Talr’s home, the male pressed the button on the wall, and the front door slid open. “Why don’t you take a shower, and I’ll start dinner.”

  “I can help you make dinner,” Bryson said.

  Talr shook his head. “I got it. You take a shower.”

  “Okay.”

  Bryson went to the guest room. He stripped off his clothes and dumped them into the soiled clothing basket before walking to the adjoining bathroom. Bryson turned on the shower and stepped beneath the heavy spray. He grabbed a bottle of soap off the shelf.

  Bryson pulled the lid off the bottle and poured a generous amount onto his palm before placing the bottle back where it belonged. Bryson went through the motions, washing, and rinsing. When he was done, Bryson shut the water off. He grabbed a towel and dried off, removing the moisture from his skin. Bryson tossed the soft material aside and strolled back into the bedroom. He picked up the loose-fitting pants and tunic he’d worn the night before and got dressed.

  Bryson went to the kitchen. He sat down on one of the barstools and watched Talr as the man made dinner.

  He wanted to talk to Talr about his conversation with Ael, but he knew they needed to be alone. Bryson had been going back and forth inside his mind, unsure if he should say anything at all. But in the end, Bryson decided that he didn’t want any secrets between them. He cared about Talr too much to pretend as if he didn’t know about the male’s mate and unborn child. Bryson tried to find the right words, but it was impossible.

  “I’m sorry about your mate,” he suddenly blurted out and then cringed internally. That wasn’t exactly how he’d wanted to start the conversation, but it was too late now.

  Talr jerked his head up and looked at Bryson, a look of surprise written all over his face.

  “You never told me,” Bryson said. “In all the talks we’ve had over the last three months, you’ve never mentioned your mate.”

  Talr blew out a heavy sigh. “Who told you?”

  “Was it supposed to be a secret?”

  “No, it’s not a secret. I just wanted to be the one to tell you, but I wasn’t really sure what to say. It happened a long time ago. I didn’t think that I would ever want a mate, but when I met you, things changed. I changed.”

  Bryson wanted to ask how things had changed, but he wasn’t sure if he was ready to hear the answer. And he didn’t ask questions unless he was prepared to hear the truth.

  He arched a brow and asked, “How old are you, Talr?”

  The male’s lips twitched. He looked as though he wanted to smile. “Time moves differently here than it does on Earth. I’ve been around for a long time. I’m older than I look.”

  Bryson chuckled lightly.

  “Is that it?” Talr asked, giving him a pointed look. “You don’t have any more questions about my past?”

  Bryson shook his head.

  “Are you hungry?”

  He nodded. “Yeah.”

  Talr placed a plate of food in front of him and handed Bryson an eating utensil.

  “Thank you,” Bryson said. “This looks really good.”

  Talr joined him at the bar, sitting on the stool beside Bryson, and their legs touched. It was just a gentle brush, but it affected him. Bryson glanced at Talr and knew the male felt it, too, by the way his eyes widened slightly.

  “Did you have a good day working with Rune?”

  Bryson nodded as he chewed his first bite. As soon as he swallowed, he said, “Rune is a great teacher. He taught me how to use one of the machines to mend a broken arm, and he also let me apply cream to some bruises.”

  “I knew Rune was the right choice. He’s the type of teacher that allows his students to learn by doing procedures rather than having the student watch and take notes.”

  “Did you have a good day?” Bryson asked.

  “It was slow. I saw a few patients and updated medical records.”

  “Thank you for today.” Bryson couldn’t remember if he’d thanked Talr. It might seem like a simple thing, lunch with a friend, but he hadn’t seen Grant since arriving on Sweshan. “It was nice to see Grant again. He seems happy with Ael.”

  “They are a good match. I’ve never seen Ael so happy. He really adores Grant.”

  “That’s good.”

  Bryson was happy for Grant. His friend had found a mate among the Sweshian males.

  They finished eating in silence. When Talr was done eating, he stood up. Talr picked up his empty plate and collected Bryson’s, as well. The male walked over to the sink and placed the dishes inside.

  “Do you want to go out tonight?”

  Bryson slid off the stool and rose to his feet. “Yeah,” he said. “Just let me change my clothes real quick.”

  “Put on a pair of swim shorts.”

  “We’re going swimming?” Bryson asked. “In the dark.”

  Talr smirked. “It’s not that dark.”

  Bryson studied the male for a moment before saying, “Okay.”

  Turning on his heel, Bryson strode back to the guest room. As soon as he stepped over the threshold, Bryson removed his clothing, tossing the loose-fitting pants and tunic onto the bed. He opened the wall unit and found a pair of yellow swim shorts mixed in with the other clothing items. Bryson pulled them on and adjusted the material so that they sat low on his hips.

  Bryson had never been in the Sweshan Ocean at night. This was another first for him. His heart fluttered, and excitement sang through his veins. He tried to contain his eagerness as he walked back toward the main living area. As soon as Talr’s eyes landed on him, the male grinned, and he held up a facemask.

  “Are you ready?”

  Bryson nodded. “Absolutely.”
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br />   He tilted his head toward the door. “Let’s go.”

  Bryson took the human breathing apparatus from Talr and strode out the front door. He walked down the long hallway to the elevator and took it down to the ground floor of the building. They walked side by side toward the far wall, where a line of glass doors with person-sized cylinders was located. Talr opened one of the capsules and stepped inside, and Bryson followed him.

  Bryson lifted the mask and placed it against his face. The edges connected to his skin, and in an instant, it created a tight suction. When the breathing apparatus was in place, Talr flipped a switch, and the glass cylinder flooded. Water poured in from multiple openings, filling it up. The water moved upward, rising at a steady pace. As soon as the cylinder was full, the glass door opened, and Bryson swam into the Sweshan Ocean.

  Bryson glanced around and realized that the landscape looked different at night. The natural light from the suns above was gone. And the buildings along the sea floor were lit up, glowing. They were providing the light source. Truthfully, Bryson was a little intimidated. Everything was different in the darkness, more mysterious. It was as if an eerie calm spread throughout the ocean. The daytime animals were gone for the night, and the nighttime creatures were roaming around, looking for food.

  “Grab hold of my shoulders.”

  Bryson nodded. It was easier for Talr to swim for both of them since the water was dense. Bryson grabbed ahold of Talr’s shoulders, pressing his chest against the male’s back. Talr kicked up off the ocean floor and started swimming. He moved quickly, his body gliding effortlessly through the water.

  The feel of his chest pressed against Talr’s back felt amazing. Truth be told, Bryson was curious about the male. He tried to ignore his body’s reaction, but it was impossible. Bryson was attracted to Talr. He had been since the day they’d met. Bryson never made a move on Talr because the male was too important to him. Since arriving on Sweshan, Talr was the only person Bryson could truly depend on.

  “To truly appreciate the wondrous beauty of life in the Sweshan Ocean, you have to see it at night. When the suns go down in the sky, the ocean really comes to life. It’s so different than what you’ve seen during the daylight hours.”