Project: Adapt - Found: A Space Fantasy Alien Romance (Book 1)

by Jade Waltz

  “Okay, deal. But why the foot massages?”

  I grinned.

  “Because they’re the best I’ve ever had—though I’ll deny it if you tell anyone! And at the moment my body aches all over... so I’ll take whatever I can get from this deal.”

  His face lit up, and he smiled. I was struck by how completely his happiness transformed his face.

  “You drive a hard bargain. If being your personal foot massager is the price I must pay for my foolishness, so be it. Give me your feet and I’ll start now.”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Selena

  A gentle hand brushed my hair off my face.

  “Selena...”

  I shifted, trying to wake up and orient myself. Hands kneaded my right foot and I groaned, snuggling back into the cushion beneath my head. I was exhausted, and the cocoon of warmth encouraged me to stay in bed.

  I started to drift off again as I enjoyed the gentle massage.

  Someone dragged the blanket away and I whimpered at the touch of the cool air.

  “Selena. You need to get up and have something to eat. If you are still tired afterward, we will come right back to bed,” Xylo coaxed, his deep voice low and gentle.

  The hands on my foot stopped their massage. One wrapped around my ankle as the other traced tickling circles on the arch of my foot. I squealed, instantly awake, trying to jerk my foot away.

  “Stop!” I begged between laughs.

  The lights were off and the curtains at half mast, casting the room in shadow. Low light streamed from the terrarium onto the couch where I lay. Xylo sat beside my head with Odelm beside him. Both watched in shock as Kaede tickled my foot.

  I squealed again. “Stop. Stop! Okay, okay...” I writhed on the couch.

  “Are you going to stay awake and go to dinner as Xylo asked?” Kaede questioned, still attacking my foot with his fingers.

  “Yes! Yes...” I gasped.

  He stopped tickling and released my ankle. Then he and Xylo helped me sit up as I tried to catch my breath. I looked at him in surprise. He hadn’t replaced his visor. I was shocked he’d allowed Xylo and Odelm to see his face, though maybe that meant he was finally—

  A violent kick to my ribcage made me hiss at the sharp pain.

  “What’s wrong?” Kaede asked, his voice panicked.

  “My cubs decided to help you wake me up with a swift kick to the ribs,” I explained between gasps. “Want to feel?”

  I glanced at him. His focus was on my hands rubbing my stomach. Kaede’s gaze met mine before he turned to my nestmates.

  “You’d allow it?”

  “It’s not our decision. It’s hers.”

  His gaze still focused on both Odelm and Xylo. “But it’s okay if I touch her stomach?”

  I eyed both of my nestmates and waited for their response.

  Xylo’s eyes fell to the gloved hands on Kaede’s knees.

  “I do not see why you are asking now. Selena already permitted you to have your hands on her and has offered again.”

  Odelm watched Kaede intently.

  “Odelm and I have been blessed to feel the life growing within her. If she is permitting you to experience it, I suggest you seize the opportunity before it is revoked.”

  Kaede lowered himself onto the floor and shuffled over to kneel in front of me. His eyes were glued to my stomach as he gingerly placed his hands on it.

  At that precise moment, my cubs moved, kicking powerfully at Kaede’s hands. I bit my lip to remain quiet, not wanting Kaede to think he’d caused me pain.

  The black-slits of his neon eyes dilated as his thin black lips parted in wonder. The room remained silent as we watched Kaede. The mood was contented, calm—and it was not Odelm manipulating our emotions. I smiled as peace swept over me.

  This was the type of moment I’d always yearned for.

  When my cubs finally stilled, Kaede reluctantly removed his hands. He gave me a grateful smile. “Thank you for allowing that. I would never have imagined I could experience something like that—especially in my profession.”

  I smirked. “You’d better get used to having a lot of firsts with me around. I’m having three cubs. I’m going to need a lot of help handling them.”

  “I’m willing to experience whatever firsts you’re willing to give me.”

  He stood and reached out his gloved hand to help me up from the couch. The sudden change in position made me dizzy, and I swayed. Kaede grabbed my hips to steady me.

  “You okay?” Kaede asked, worried.

  I nodded then glanced at Xylo standing beside Odelm. “I’m so over this pregnancy. The first time I see my cubs’ sire I’m going to kick him in the genitals for doing this to me.”

  Kaede chuckled. “You may not want to do that.”

  “Why not? He had his fun then left me alone with the pain and inconvenience of the results.”

  His tongue flickered as he smirked at me. “Well, I’ll certainly enjoy watching you try.”

  I rolled my eyes at him. “Now that I’m awake and standing, can we go eat?”

  Kaede jerked his hands away from my hips and backed up, glancing at my nestmates.

  “I’ll need to put my visor back on before we leave the suite.”

  “Of course. Do what you need to, and I’ll go get ready. We can all have dinner together.”

  As I leaned against the corner of the bathtub with my arms resting on the edge of the tub, I considered the evening. The conversation over dinner had been light. We’d settled on Kaede staying in the bedroom closest to the common room and main door. He’d registered himself to our suite and gotten it approved by the princes, then transferred the rest of his belongings.

  I knew he wanted that room as a first line of defense if anyone forced an entry—though it worried me that he felt he needed to prepare for an attack or an abduction. Until now, it hadn’t really sunk in that having me on the ship posed such a risk.

  My nestmates hadn’t questioned Kaede or me about why he’d had his visor off nor why we were in the bedroom together. I wondered if they’d had a chat while I slept, or if they’d decided to let it go so Kaede would not be uncomfortable.

  I glanced over at Xylo beside me, his vines floating on the surface of the water. Odelm soaked in the center of the tub—its deepest part—his tentacles waving lazily in the water. He’d dropped one of the soaps he’d used before into the water, and the purple bubbles made their drifting appendages look funny—almost like the snakes or sea dragons I’d read about in my studies of Earth.

  When my nestmates decided to team up to wash me, Odelm focused on my lower half, while Xylo concentrated on my upper. To my surprise, I experienced none of the arousal that had been present any time they touched me. Whether an intentional massage or an accidental graze of my breasts, until now any contact with them had been highly arousing. I thought about that and realized I hadn’t been aroused, not once, since I’d claimed Odelm last night.

  Instead, I felt cherished and cared for. Even when Kaede had massaged my feet earlier, it felt wonderful on my aching feet, but there had been no excitement. When he’d held me, I’d felt comforted and safe.

  I wondered if it had something to do with nearing the end of my pregnancy. Xylo and the healers were convinced it would be closer to the usual fifty-day Aldawi gestation period, rather than the normal human 280-day gestation. Thank the Stars! Which meant I could be as few as eight days from delivery.

  After our relaxing bath, Xylo assisted me out of the tub and Odelm dried me off. Together we went into the bedroom and they helped me into bed, tucking one of the silver blankets around me.

  As I lay in contented silence, Odelm closed the curtains and turned off the lights, the room lit only by Xylo’s nebulae and galaxies and the spots on my arms. After a few moments, Odelm’s violet speckles became visible. They gradually brightened until they’d reached the brightness of Xylo’s patterns.

  “Why do your speckles take a while to start glowing while Xylo’s an
d mine instantly do?” I asked.

  Odelm looked down at me.

  His ombre anemone hair glowed brightly as it rested on his shoulders. Pale violet spots glowed along with the edges of his fins and blades and the tips of his tentacles. His pale green eyes met mine.

  “Wudox have no control over their bioluminescence glow—it simply glows. But the Ulax can control when each of their bioluminescent parts glow. Typically, we only turn the glow on when we are deep diving or in dark caves where we need to see. But since you both glow and you enjoy seeing it, I decided to turn mine on and join you.”

  Xylo lay down on my right, covering himself with a blanket and wrapping his vines across mine. Odelm followed his lead and allowed his closest tentacles to rest on top of my blanket.

  I smiled, unbelievably content. My nestmates treated me well and made me feel so cared for.

  “I don’t know what I did to deserve you both.” I sighed.

  They both rolled to face me.

  “What do you mean?” Xylo questioned, sounding confused.

  I rolled my eyes. “You tell me. I thought you couldn’t get out of my head.”

  Odelm chuckled as Xylo replied, “I cannot, but that does not mean I constantly listen. I would not be able to get any work done if I listened to every thought you had.”

  “It is the same with me. I cannot prevent myself receiving strong emotions, but I try to mute all your minor ones. I would love to study what makes you feel each one, but you deserve privacy—especially since you cannot reciprocate.”

  “He cannot filter strong emotions. I cannot filter loud thoughts. We both are fully capable of communicating with you. I have noticed you have grown comfortable speaking Galactic Common aloud and I am proud of you. But you must not feel afraid to speak with us mentally or call out to us when you need us,” Xylo cautioned.

  I understood what he was telling me. I hadn’t been using our connection to communicate with them both telepathically. Doing so was a significant part of their society, and I needed to fit in whatever ways I could—I was already at a disadvantage being human and not having any extra appendages.

  “I promise I’ll use our connection to communicate with you both more often. But to explain what I meant earlier, you both treat me so wonderfully. I feel spoiled with all the attention. I know you both feel it’s part of your job as nestmates, but I’m afraid I’m not giving enough back,” I whispered.

  They scooted closer to me and each wrapped an arm around me, their tentacles and vines shifting out of the way.

  Serenity spread from Odelm as he whispered in my ear, “You give us so much. I have you as my nestqueen and Xylo as my nestbrother. Soon I will be a co-father to three cubs. You grounded me—gave me stability. You allow me everything I have ever wanted and even that I never thought to dream of... Do not ever think such thoughts. I should be thanking you.”

  “Odelm is right, Selena. We keep telling you... we are considered oddities that no one would want. You have granted us the bliss of having a nestqueen and give us so much more than any Circuli nestqueen would have. Our future may be unclear at the moment, but we will face it together as a clan.”

  Something clicked within me, as if the pieces suddenly fell into place. I realized what I had been feeling this whole time.

  I tugged on the golden threads that connected me to each of them.

  “I love you. I love you both. I don’t know why it took me so long to realize that’s what I’ve been feeling... It seems so obvious now. I don’t know how I would be able to live without either of you—nor do I want to find out. But I am in love with the both of you.”

  They squeezed me tighter, rubbing their heads into my hair.

  “I have loved you since the night you claimed me,” Xylo’s deep mental voice rumbled, thick with emotion.

  “And I knew I loved you the moment you court-bonded me. The envy and yearning I had been feeling vanished, and my love for you blossomed and has grown since then,” Odelm’s light tenor declared.

  Odelm traced a few spots on my cheeks.

  “It seems Selena got your bioluminescent glow, nestbrother, and my ability to color shift. Her spots morphed from white to the purple of love and passion when she told us she loved us.”

  I gasped, holding an arm up to look. Odelm was right. All my white spots were now purple.

  “Is this permanent?” I asked, awed.

  “It should not be. Ulax only change their color when intentionally camouflaging or involuntarily as a result of extreme emotion,” Xylo explained as he traced the spots on my right arm.

  “This proves that you love us,” Odelm whispered, settling back onto his side with a smile.

  “Did I need to prove it?” I asked in a shocked tone.

  Xylo’s fingers stilled on my arm. “He is teasing you. If I was able to feel the emotion in your declaration, then he felt it even more.”

  He settled back beside me, and a contented silence fell upon us as they cuddled me between them.

  I felt my lids becoming heavy.

  “I love you both for who you are.”

  “You honor me.”

  “You’re my everything.”

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Selena

  The past seven days had passed in a blur as we’d fallen into a comfortable routine. Both Odelm and Xylo seemed to accept Kaede’s constant presence. I think they appreciated his help watching over me when they were busy. And it seemed Kaede had grown more comfortable around my nestmates, though he didn’t remove his visor again in their presence. Odelm fished in the evenings in preparation for the cubs’ arrival, since Xylo thought I might not be able to fully sustain three growing cubs on breastmilk. He planned to make a fish paste we could use to supplement my milk.

  The princes often joined us for meals and were amusing and relaxing companions. I enjoyed their company—especially as it became more effort to be active and roam the ship.

  I’d even grown more comfortable with Chyox, Ayces, and Usthu. I no longer worried they’d harm me or the cubs, they genuinely seemed to care about our wellbeing and were respectful of my wishes. Even Chyox had mellowed, though he liked to express his opinions and they often did not jibe with mine. But I appreciated his different perspective.

  But now? Now I felt ready to pop. I hadn’t realized it was possible for my belly to get this big without splitting, and I noticed Xylo and the other healers eyeing me from across the infirmary as they fretted over there being no signs of my labor yet. I’d been getting tired earlier and dozed off wherever and whenever I sat down, often waking to find Kaede or one of my nestmates had carried me to bed.

  Today was my due date—at least based on Aldawi gestation. My body ached, and I was exhausted. The cubs were becoming more active. I was both ready for this idyll to end—and petrified of the change that signified. What would the cubs be like? How would it impact our now-comfortable lives? What would the future hold once we arrived at CEG HQ?

  I currently floated in a warm floral-scented bath, taking the weight off my back and ankles. Xylo had run to the infirmary to grab a few essentials in case I went into labor in our suite. Odelm massaged my shoulders as I drifted, and for the first time since I’d claimed him, his magic fingers stroking my skin woke my arousal.

  Odelm’s hands stilled as he felt my arousal through our bond. He slid beneath me, supporting my weight, anemone hair brushing my shoulders and whispered in my ear, “Shall I take care of you?”

  He didn’t wait for my reply as his tentacles slid across my skin, exploring. Their suction tips trailed tiny kisses along my legs. His hands slid to cup my swollen breasts, dragging across my sensitive nipples.

  I gasped, back arching involuntarily.

  “Perhaps if I hurry, I can have you all to myself and leave none of your prized essence for Xylo.”

  I was surprised by his dirty talk. It was unlike him—yet it also thrilled me.

  I squealed as his tentacles tightened around me, his hands gripping my hips.
He hauled me out of the water and set me on the edge of the tub, leaving my feet to dangle in the water. I leaned back against the wall, listening to the waterfall, trying to balance myself and get comfortable despite my pregnant stomach.

  Odelm looked between my legs hungrily as his tentacles wound around my thighs, pulling them apart. My sweet and caring musician was on a mission—to make me climax before his nestbrother returned.

  I smiled down at the top of his head.

  The smile vanished and I moaned, my eyes drifting shut in pleasure as his writhing tentacles reached my inner folds. I squirmed as one crossed my clit, making my back arch as it sucked in a featherlight kiss then slid past.

  Something slipped inside me and my eyes flew wide. I gasped as I saw Odelm’s face between my legs, his mouth slit tight against the entrance of my pussy. His hands kneaded my inner thighs, pressing them wider. His thumbs traced my outer lips while his tentacles spread their tingling essence.

  I groaned, eyes falling shut as I savored the unique sensations. Savored the tingling heat that heightened my arousal.

  His tongue swirled in my wetness. It tickled my walls as it explored my hot tunnel, reaching as far as my cervix before retreating for a few moments only to return once more. It felt incredible, but it wasn’t enough. My pussy spasmed from the pleasure, clenching, trying to grip his tongue, but it was too slender. It wasn’t enough to bring me to climax.

  I opened my eyes and looked back down at Odelm.

  My passion rose as I eyed his head between my legs. I knew both Odelm and Xylo called my essence addictive—the best thing they’d ever tasted—but watching him take it from the source was more arousing than I’d ever have expected.

  His eyes locked onto mine as I felt him open our connection. He wanted to feel what I was feeling. To understand what caused my arousal to spike so that he could duplicate it. I lowered my barriers so he could experience my emotions, my arousal.