The Gorison Traveler Incident (Veslor Mates #1)

by Laurann Dohner

  He nuzzled her. “You were enough. This cub is the best surprise.”

  “I know. I feel the same way. I just hope I can be a good mom to a Veslor.”

  “You’re a perfect mate. You’ll be the perfect mother.”

  “Do we need to buy a bigger ship?” She feared he’d say yes, and it would be a financial burden.

  “No. We have storage space we can convert next door.”

  She sighed in relief. “Good. How do you think everyone is going to respond?”

  “They will be thrilled. Everyone loves a cub.”

  She relaxed. “Even Nessel?”

  He chuckled deeply. “He’ll grumble…but you watch. He’ll spoil our cub the most when he thinks no one is looking.”

  Epilogue

  Three months later

  “Vivian!”

  She startled and lifted her head from the data pad she was studying. Veslor language was hard to learn, but she was doing it slowly.

  Kavs rushed into the common room, out of breath.

  “What’s wrong?” She was on her feet in a heartbeat.

  “Come to the bridge. There’s an incoming message.”

  “From your planet?”

  “For you.”

  She felt stunned but then rushed toward him. “From who?”

  He snagged her hand and pulled her along, toward the front of the ship. She saw the others inside once they entered the bridge, including her mate. He sat behind the coms seat with their son cuddled in his sling-like carrier against his bare chest. She approached him and put her hands on his warm shoulders.

  She glanced down at their sleeping cub. They’d named him Klad, after Brassi’s grandfather. He was the cutest alien panther baby ever. Within a year, he’d start shifting and learn how to stay in his more human-like relaxed state. Until then, she was the mother of a cub. It didn’t bother her one bit.

  Brassi reached up and gripped her hand on his shoulder, and she lifted her gaze to his. His golden stare always made her feel loved. “It’s Abby.”

  Her heart raced, and she looked at the large dark monitor. “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. She’s been pinging us, and I responded. She’s getting a stronger signal and will call back, now that she’s locked on to our location.”

  “How did she find us? Never mind. It’s Abby. I forgot how good she is at hacking into systems.”

  There was a ping, and Brassi flicked a switch. The monitor came on and a pretty face appeared.

  Abby sat on a couch in what looked like a large room. The big window in the background showed blue skies. Her red hair was pulled up into a bun and she wore a short green dress. A smile curved her lips.

  “I found you!”

  “Abby, are you on Earth?”

  “Yes.” She glanced over her shoulder and then peered back. “It’s a beautiful day in Los Angeles. Clear skies. Not that you probably give a shit. I wanted to let you know that we’ve both been cleared. It’s safe for you to come home! That dickhead Alderson and his cronies tried like hell to throw us under the bus, but I’d already started streaming video before they blew up some systems on the Gorison Traveler in their sad attempts to damage the computers storing all the security footage.”

  “Under a bus?”

  Vivian ignored Ruggler’s whisper. “I’m just glad you’re okay. I was worried they might try to kill you, too.”

  “Oh, they tried.” Abby flashed a smirk. “They were planning on blowing through a hull to reach me, so I locked down the blast walls around Control One. Then I hacked the entertainment rooms to broadcast footage of Commander Alderson and the idiots plotting with him, discussing how to destroy the main computers to help them shove the blame of what happened onto Big Mike, some of the other crew who died, and on you. That didn’t go over so well with most of the crew. Especially when I also uploaded the security footage of those two hookers being interviewed about what Alderson had done to them during lockdown. Every woman on the ship wanted to remove the man’s balls!”

  “I take it that an admiral eventually arrived to get bridge access open?”

  “Yes. I just got back to Earth a few days ago. I had to testify, but I’d already forwarded all the footage, so the investigation was swift and pretty much at its end when I arrived. We’re in the clear. Alderson has been kicked out of the fleet. He’s persona non grata now. The press is tearing him apart. Oh, and his wife filed for divorce. I saw that on the news feeds this morning. Over two dozen of the men working with him, also plotting to lie about what really happened, also got stripped of fleet clearance, and some are facing prison time.”

  Something caught Vivian’s attention. Some kind of floating device outside. “What’s that in the window behind you?”

  Abby turned, cursed, and jumped up from her couch. She ran to the window and pushed a button. A shutter came down swiftly, sealing it off. Auto-lights came on in the room as she returned to the couch and took a seat. “Damn drones. It’s the press. I’m twenty-six floors up, but that doesn’t matter.” She sighed. “Everyone wants an interview with me. I’m refusing. It was bad enough when I had to leave my home to testify. You can’t imagine how many photos they’ve taken of me. Fair warning—they’re going to be all over you when you come home. You can stay with me. My penthouse has damn good security.”

  Vivian bit her lip. “I’m not coming back.”

  Abby leaned forward. “It’s safe, Vivian. I had my family attorneys represent you, too. We both have immunity and were cleared of all the charges Alderson attempted to bring against us. Hell, we’re heroes! They even want to throw us some kind of parade in New York. No one is going to arrest you. The worst you have to worry about are those damn reporters and their drones.”

  Then Abby pointed toward Brassi. “Oh, I have great news for you, too! Your king should have been contacted already, or will be soon. The Veslors are also heroes, now that everything has been revealed. A lot of people are very interested in working with your people, especially when a little digging proved you guys are high in food supplies with the trading you do.” She grinned. “I sent a personal message to your king today, giving him the advice to play hardball with whomever contacts him. Food supplies are gold to some of the colonies.”

  Brassi frowned.

  “That’s good,” Vivian whispered. “I’ll explain it later.”

  He relaxed in his seat.

  Vivian was relieved that she wasn’t a criminal, and that the Veslors might get some good trade agreements from United Earth. She leaned forward and reached over her mate, gently lifting their son from the pouch Brassi wore on his chest. Abby wouldn’t have been able to see him otherwise.

  She cuddled their cub to her chest, and then stepped forward, closer to the screen, twisting her body to show his sleeping face to her friend.

  Abby’s mouth dropped open.

  “Meet Klad. Brassi and I mated, and had a baby.”

  Abby seemed speechless.

  “My life is now on the Brar, and I’m extremely happy. Thank you for clearing my name and letting me know I’m not a criminal on the run…but Earth isn’t in my future.”

  “He’s so damn cute!” Abby slid off the couch to her knees, getting closer to the monitor. Her friend met her gaze, then glanced at Brassi before looking back at her. Abby smirked again. “I guess you let him comfort you more. Good for you.”

  Brassi pulled Vivian onto his lap. “Good for me.”

  Abby laughed. “This is the best news ever. You got your sexy, hot alien and his baby. I envy you.”

  Kavs suddenly rushed forward. “I’m looking for a mate.” He whipped off his shirt. “I’d love to comfort you, female.” Then he opened his arms. “I’m here waiting for you if you wish to fly to us. I would be eager to try to have a cub with you.”

  Abby stared hard at the male, mouth agape, and finally smiled. “You’re a charmer…and nice chest. Really nice chest. I’m stuck here for a while though. The family is a bit upset with me after I made hacking our systems l
ook so easy. It wasn’t, actually, but public opinion and all that.” Abby paused then shook her head. “Put your shirt back on, hot stuff. You’re distracting me.”

  Kavs put his shirt on. “She called me hot stuff. Is that good?”

  “Yes.” Vivian rolled her eyes. “I told you all that you’re attractive to human females. There’s your proof.” She shrugged at Abby. “Brassi and I are the only mated couple on the ship. Five single guys. Know any single ladies?”

  Abby opened her mouth then closed it. She shook her head. “Not any that I think would be good enough for them. My family runs in the wrong circles, if you know what I mean. I wouldn’t wish a spoiled debutant on any hot alien guy. I’ll keep my eye open, though, and send a message if I find someone I think would be a good fit.” She winked. “Someone like you.”

  A buzzer sounded on Abby’s end, and her expression hardened. “Shit. More press. They must’ve bypassed security. It’s a circus here.” She stared into the camera. “I have to go, but I’ll call you soon. I encoded my direct number. It’s for my travel device. You can reach me wherever I go on Earth—and if I ever flee this mess when my parents feel we’ve handled the fallout from what happened on the Gorison Traveler.”

  Abby stared at Kavs for a few long seconds.

  “So damn tempting.” She waved. “Take care—and congratulations. I want pictures of Klad, and think of me if your son needs a godmother. I’d be thrilled!”

  The coms ended.

  Vivian leaned into Brassi and smiled up at him. “I’m not a criminal.”

  “You never were.” He cuddled her closer on his lap and nuzzled her head, petting their sleeping son’s back.

  “Do you think that female will come here for me?”

  Vivian smiled and ignored Kavs. Most of the single males on their ship were highly interested in mating to a human, now that she’d had Brassi’s cub. Nessel was the only one who denied wanting one. He didn’t sound too convincing to Vivian though.

  “We should celebrate.” Brassi tightened his hold on her and stood.

  She never worried about him dropping her, even when she was carrying their son. Her mate was really strong.

  “Give me Klad,” Vassi offered. “You can copulate without distraction.”

  “No, give me the cub,” Yoniv protested. “It’s my turn.”

  “Mine,” Ruggler snarled. “You held him this morning.”

  “So did you,” Kavs threw in. “It’s my turn.”

  Brassi stopped by the door and sighed, looking down at her. “They need more cubs to share.”

  She laughed. “Hey, Nessel?”

  The male rushed to her, and Vivian offered her son to him. He grinned widely, gently taking the cub in his arms. He never asked to hold him, but she knew he was just as fond of their son as the others.

  He fled the bridge with the baby.

  “That’s not fair,” Ruggler growled.

  “Why him?” Yoniv sounded pissed.

  “He’s my brother’s cub.” Vassi pouted.

  Vivian wrapped her arms around Brassi’s neck. “Run, before they start wrestling.”

  He chuckled and took off toward their quarters, moving fast.

  They passed Nessel, who was humming to their son. He might be a grump, but he loved their cub.

  They reached their quarters and Brassi placed her on her feet. “We need more cubs just to keep the peace.”

  She laughed, taking off her clothes. “You just want another baby.”

  “I do. I want many cubs with you.”

  “I want everything with you.”

  Brassi stripped naked and opened his arms. “This is how it began, and this is always how it will be. I offer all that I am to you.”

  She walked into his arms and loved when they closed around her, holding her tight. “We need a breeding bench, since we replaced the damaged couch. I don’t want to tear up another one.”

  He nuzzled her head. “I ordered one after Klad was born. We pick it up on our next stop.”

  She lifted her head. “Seriously?”

  He nodded, a sexy gleam in his eye. “I had hope that you’d want more cubs.”

  She slid her hands to his face and pulled him down. He lowered, and she went up on her tiptoes, kissing him. They were going to try for another cub. She couldn’t wait to see what a breeding bench looked like—and how much fun it would be to use it.

  Life with a Veslor mate was the best thing ever.

  About the Author

  NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Author

  I'm a full-time wife, mother, and author. I've been lucky enough to have spent over two decades with the love of my life and look forward to many, many more years with Mr. Laurann. I'm addicted to iced coffee, the occasional candy bar (or two), and trying to get at least five hours of sleep at night.

  I love to write all kinds of stories. I think the best part about writing is the fact that real life is always uncertain, always tossing things at us that we have no control over, but when writing you can make sure there's always a happy ending. I love that about being an author. My favorite part is when I sit down at my computer desk, put on my headphones to listen to loud music to block out everything around me, so I can create worlds in front of me.

  For the most up to date information, please visit my website. www.LaurannDohner.com