* * *
Cohn scowled, grumbled and growled as if he couldn’t help himself. Daliya heard him mumble more than once that he didn’t see the point of any of this since none of the males fit her personality. And he definitely didn’t see the need to go on a second date with any of them—a point he also decided to mention.
Yet, here he stood, supervising a second date between her and Eil like he hadn’t given her a mind-blowing kiss. And mind-blowing it had been. Daliya had thought about that kiss all night long, embarrassed that she’d taken care of herself while thinking about it under Jasmine’s roof.
Cohn navigated the hovercar—a four-seater this time—through jungle-like terrain at breakneck speed. Daliya held tight to the safety harness latched across her chest and muttered a prayer. They zipped through trees, going up and down, with sharp turns thrown in for good measure.
Going against the laws of gravity, the hovercar suddenly lurched straight up, then turned to the side in a seamless move that sent Daliya’s stomach rushing to her throat.
She closed her eyes during most of the ride as they headed for the base of the trail they were set to hike.
A few times she peeked through her tightly squeezed lids only to another hovercraft barreling toward them or Cohn maneuvering between rock formations.
When the hovercar finally came to a shuddering stop, Daliya sagged in her seat and gave thanks she would live to see another day.
“You can open your eyes now, we’re here,” Cohn barked, unlocking the doors.
No matter how hard she tried, her clenched fingers wouldn’t release their grip on the harness and she was too scared to open her eyes. “It’s over?”
“It’s over. Until I take you back home.”
She cracked her lids open. They were right side up at least. She let out a crazy laugh. “I’ll call the equivalent to an alien ride sharing app before I get back in that thing with you. What happened to the autopilot you claim is safe?”
Leaning over the back of the seat to glare, Cohn shrugged. “I thought you liked adventure.”
“That was too much,” Eil said, taking in gulping breaths.
Cohn shifted his gaze to Eil and smirked. “And here I was thinking I drove nice and slow for you.”
“You’re joking, right?” Daliya asked.
“I didn’t mean to scare you or your date. I thought you would appreciate the manual drive. Isn’t this how you traveled on Earth?”
She didn’t believe his innocent act. The gleam in his eyes was far too mischievous. He’d purposefully driven like a madman to scare them.
Cohn raised a brow. “Are we getting out or are we staying inside?”
Daliya pressed her face against the side window and glanced out. Lush green trees surrounded them in a dense formation. She didn’t know how Cohn had found a clear space to set down the vehicle. The area resembled a track of the Amazon jungle she’d once visited.
“If hiking this terrain is too much I can find something…easier,” Cohn said, eyeing Eil.
“I don’t mind continuing on,” Eil said, meeting Cohn’s stare evenly.
Unhooking her harness, Daliya forced a smile on her lips as she glared at Cohn and stepped from the hovercar. “I’m ready.”
Without the tinted windows of the hovercraft, brightness assaulted her. Her eyes immediately dried out, her vision blurring. The warm, humid air was almost suffocating. “What kind of fresh hell is this? How hot is it out here?”
“We’re at the southern cap. This stretch of land is more tropical than other parts of Teague because it faces the sun most of the day and year-round.”
Eil scrambled from the hovercar behind her. His appearance reflected Cohn’s hectic drive. Mussed hair, crinkled shirt and a slightly sallow tinge look to the skin around his hairy body spoke volumes. He stood and roughly yanked at his sleeves.
“From what I’ve learned about Earth, there are tropical lands as well. This shouldn’t be too different,” Cohn continued while Daliya tried to adjust to the sudden increase in temperature.
Yeah, if there were ever a hell on Earth, this was it. Sweat pooled on her forehead and dripped down her nose. She peered through the trees looking for a clearing. “So how far do we have to walk to get to the trail?”
Cohn pointed at a spot just ahead. “Through there.”
“Great,” Eil said. “I can explain the history of my ancestors and planet while we walk.”
Daliya shot Eil a genuine smile. He’d been nothing but a gentleman despite Cohn’s disgruntled behavior. She didn’t have the heart to tell him that everything she needed to know about Teague and the Yatur species was already in her brain, thanks to the two hundred years’ worth of downloads.
Eil started through the trees and Daliya adjusted her backpack and followed. As Eil talked about how his ancestors had once lived in tribes and built their homes in the ground to stay warm, she hiked behind him. Sweat ran like water from her scalp, coating her hair, and down her neck to the rest of her body and she loved it. There was nothing like fresh air and exercise to get the blood pumping.
She glanced over her shoulder and wished her glare could set him on fire. Cohn surprisingly didn’t utter a word or a grumble as he kept pace easily.
The ground leveled out at certain points and the more they walked, the easier it came to breathe. It reminded her of her trip to the Everglades that long ago summer four years ago. As she adjusted to the rhythm and regulated her breathing, Eil began to tire. His steps slowed and he tripped more than once. The verbal history lesson had stopped. Which she didn’t mind. She preferred the sound of nature over insistent chattering anyway.
Eil tripped over a tree branch and stumbled into a large patch of prickly bushes. Daliya jumped and reached for his arm but missed. He landed on his front and cried out.
“Eil!” Daliya rushed over.
“I’m fine!” Eil said, from his spot face down.
“Oh no!” Daliya crouched to help him out of the thicket.
Cohn stood over her shoulder, hands on hips. “Does this mean we’re done for the date?”
She easily read the mockery in his voice. Daliya pursed her lips. “Cohn! You’re not helping.”
Eil scrambled from the tangled leaves to brush frantically at his clothes. “I wouldn’t mind going back to the hovercar. We’ve been out here for a while now.”
Daliya stood and wiped her hands on her jeans. They’d only been hiking for about thirty minutes. She glanced down the twisted path, longing to continue. The last time she’d pushed an activity, her mate ended up dead. “I guess we should go back.”
“We haven’t gone that far,” Cohn countered.
“You’re the one who suggested we leave,” Daliya pointed out.
“Except your expression says you’re reluctant to leave.” He ran a hand across his face. “Well, it looks like you want to continue. We haven’t reached the waterfall yet anyway.”
“Waterfall?” She chewed her bottom lip. She would love to see a waterfall. She eyed Eil, hoping he’d chime in with agreement.
Eil chuckled. “I can show her a holopic of the waterfall. It’s enough for today.”
Daliya’s heart sank. “That’s okay.”
Gaze narrowed; Cohn turned toward Daliya. “This is your trip. Do you wish to continue to the waterfall?”
The familiar rush to see the journey to its end filled her. “I do, but maybe Eil is right. I don’t want to press the issue.”
Eil gave Cohn a triumphant smile.
“You and I can continue and Eil can wait for us back at the hovercar,” Cohn said.
Daliya’s eyes brightened and her gaze went from one man to the other. “Really? You wouldn’t mind?”
Eil’s smile fell and his shoulders slumped. “Now, wait a minute.”
Cohn smirked. “Daliya and I will be back shortly. Go rest your legs and your lungs.”
Eil snapped his mouth shut. Daliya debated on what to do next. Large damp circles lined the collar of Eil’
s shirt and his hair clung to his scalp like a wet cap. While she’d adjusted to the hike, Eil still seemed to struggle.
Cohn, however, stood as neatly pressed as when he’d exited the hovercar. His tan shirt molded to his broad chest and was tucked neatly into the dark pants. Sturdy boots had clomped easily over the terrain.
“I do want to continue but only if you’re up for it,” she said to Cohn.
“I’m up for it,” he confirmed.
“Fine. You two continue on.” Eil stared pointedly at Daliya, his mouth twisted in a frown. “We’ll discuss this later.”
If she was on the fence, his statement made up her mind and her decision whether to mate with Eil. Definitely no.
“We’ll be back later.” She turned and continued down the trail. A few beats later she heard Cohn’s heavier footsteps following her.
“I wonder what he wants to talk about,” Cohn asked innocently.
She cut her eyes toward him. “Don’t give me that bullshit. You know good and well what he wants to talk about. I’ve been dating long enough to know when someone is going to give me an ultimatum.”
Losing his humor, he caught up to her. “You’ve been on a lot of dates without me?!”
She dipped under an oversized leaf. “I didn’t wake up from stasis not ever having dating before, Cohn.”
Cohn didn’t respond, but he did get in front of her and pulled out a long knife that resembled a machete. He hacked at some of the branches and leaves in their path, clearing their way.
“Wait. You had that all along and you let us struggle, getting hit by branches?”
“I let Eil struggle. If you had led, I would’ve cleared your way.”
Daliya rolled her eyes.
“It’s not my fault he didn’t dress properly for the elements and didn’t bring the right equipment.”
“No, it’s not.” She sighed sadly. “He wasn’t even wearing hiking boots. Another one pretending to be something they’re not.”
Cohn caught her gaze. “Don’t sound so stressed about it. The males vying for your attention aren’t doing so because they want to have things in common with you. They’re trying to make themselves whoever you want them to be.”
“So, I could effectively pick someone who says they’re into outdoor activities, mate with them and find out they’re couch potatoes, er, they lead a sedentary lifestyle.”
“Correct.”
“That’s already happened,” she mumbled under her breath. “How do I avoid that?”
“You would need to find someone who wants you for you and not for what you can do for them, which is produce a female child.”
She let out a snort. “That won’t happen. Everyone on my list wants me for my baby making abilities.”
His lips twitched. “That’s very true.”
“It would be nice if I could find someone who isn’t on my list.”
“Not possible. The authorities wouldn’t allow it. Everyone on the list has been vetted. They have the proper connections and money to pay for your upkeep and can provide stability for you and any future children.
“The female children will not only help to correct the problem we’ve found ourselves in but will also help the wealthiest of families garner and maintain connections. There are families already vying for arranged marriages for any future females.”
Another discouraging aspect to think about. “It’s political.”
“Exactly.”
“I won’t be able to meet a nice guy at a coffee shop, will I?”
“I don’t know what coffee is.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“This way,” Cohn said.
She followed him to a clearing and stopped. She stopped next to him and her jaw dropped. Why would Eil think pictures would ever do this scenery justice? It was beautiful. They stood near a cliff and on the other side was the waterfall. Blue and white water flowed over the edge and crashed to a lake at the bottom. Steam rose in some places, making Daliya want to strip her clothes and dive inside.
“Thank you,” she finally let out after she was able to catch her breath.
“I’ve been here a few times. Maybe you can have your new mate bring you.” He pointed off to the side. “That would be a perfect spot for a picnic.”
She glanced where he pointed. “It would be,” she said on a sigh, because she realized at that moment that she might never find a mate who was like Cohn.
“Cohn?”
“Yes.”
“Can you kiss me again?” She didn’t want to look at him for fear of his answer.
“Yes.”
And he did.
* * *
Cohn was beyond the worst. The whole purpose of the outing wasn’t so that he could spend alone time with Daliya. It was so Daliya could get to know Eil. But here he was, excited that Eil was back at the vehicle while Cohn could enjoy Daliya.
And he had.
The conversation between them was easy. He found himself smiling more than usual. She had a funny sense of humor and she didn’t mind his seriousness. He would definitely miss spending time with Daliya in this manner.
Tonight.
Or maybe tomorrow.
Or maybe never.
On the way down, Cohn senses suddenly went on alert. Without giving that he’d noticed something amiss, he took in their surroundings and assessed for any potential threats.
Nothing stood out. Nothing to explain why he suddenly had the urge to grab Daliya and run.
When they returned to the hovercar, it was empty. Eil had left. Maybe that’s what had unnerved him. Daliya was more concerned than Cohn.
“I should check in him.” She immediately initiated a call for Eil.
Cohn had an incoming call himself.
“Incoming call from Mother.”
Cohn ignored the message. He would call her later. She had an uncanny way of sensing his feelings and he didn’t want her judging him for his actions today.
Daliya settled in the front passenger seat and secured her harness. For the trip here, she’d sat in the back with Eil. Cohn liked having her next to him. He also preferred her not entertaining other males.
“Eil isn’t answering my calls. Do you think he’s okay? He’s not out there, right?” She stared out the windows as she spoke.
Cohn initiated the hovercar and eased from the brush. “He probably called for a transport and is long home by now.”
Looking at Daliya’s reflection in the window, Cohn watched her chew her bottom lip. “I’m not going to find a mate this way. I can’t go leaving them to kiss you.”
That was one thing that Cohn didn’t feel guilty about. The kiss.
He maneuvered the hovercar above the tree line. “You didn’t want Eil anyway. The talk he wants to have with you later? He’s going to tell you he doesn’t approve of your activities.”
Daliya turned to face him. “I thought so, but I was hoping…”
“Incoming call from Mother.”
Cohn silenced the message. Daliya nodded toward the communication console in the hovercar. “You’re not going to answer that?”
Cohn pressed forward, loving the way the vehicle’s engine felt under his fingertips. He should initiate the autopilot for safety reasons, but he would do that when they hit the main traffic. For now, he would enjoy the power he had.
“She’s just being inquisitive about my day. I’ll talk to her during our evening chat.”
“Evening chat?”
“Every night I talk to my mother and father.”
“Incoming call from Mother.”
Before her could decline again, Daliya batted his hand and accepted the call.
“Cohn? Cohn? Why weren’t you taking my calls? I thought someone had murdered you.”
Cohn rolled his eyes. “Mother, I’m fine. I didn’t answer because I’m working. I’ll speak to you and father tonight.”
“Oh! That’s what I wanted to tell you. Your father is making your favorite dish for dinner. Please com
e over.”
His stomach growled. He loved his father’s cooking. “Mother, I’ll call you back to discuss.”
“Why can’t you discuss now? Are you still with the human? Has she picked a new mate yet?”
“He’s still with me,” Daliya interrupted, humor chasing away the bad mood left by Eil. “And no, I haven’t decided yet. I can’t seem to make up my mind.”
“How many males have you been out with so far?” his mother asked, forgetting she’d called for him.
“Five,” Daliya replied. “I’m not having a connection with any of them, though. I think I might have to keep dating, go down the list until I find the right one.”
“You’re going about it all wrong. Start from the bottom of the list instead of the top. At the top, you’re going to find all of the elites. At the bottom, are the males who probably have more personality and are used to the physical activities you crave.”
Daliya tipped her head to the side. “Huh, I never thought about that. I already have a first date planned with the next male on my list tomorrow night. After that, I’ll definitely give your idea a try.”
Cohn hadn’t thought of that either and if he had, he wouldn’t have told Daliya. “Thank you, mother, now if you don’t mind—”
“Come by for dinner, Cohn. You as well, Daliya. We would love to meet you,” his mother spoke as if she didn’t hear him.
“If it’s not too much trouble, I would love to come.” Daliya turned to Cohn. The pleading in her eyes was hard to resist.
He gave in with a groan. “Mother, don’t make me regret getting the two of you together.”
Daliya squealed and clapped her hands.
“Mate!” His mother yelled, sounding far away. “Set another place at the table. We’re having an important guest.”
Daliya winked at him. “I love her already. She thinks I’m important.”
Chapter Nine
Cohn regretted introducing Daliya to his mother. They hit it off instantly, which he knew and had feared. They talked and whispered to each other throughout dinner. They discussed her available choices for mates with his mother pointing out the good and the problematic issues each candidate had.
Daliya listened to his mom with rapt attention. He knew his mother liked Daliya when she’d turned and winked at Cohn more than once while Daliya wasn’t watching.
Cohn: The Teague Bride Experiment: Intergalactic Dating Agency Page 7
