He entered the mess hall and stopped dead in his tracks.
No one had yet been seated. Instead, they lingered about in rather tentative groups. His eyes swept the room, dismissing everyone else, until he found his woman.
By Granthar, she froze him in his tracks.
Abigail wore a gown made from his clothing. He recognized the color and the material, but nothing else bore any resemblance to his mundane garment. Instead, the soft gold cloth draped down from one shoulder, leaving the other bare and revealing her delicate shoulder. The material gathered under her luscious breasts, then fell to her knees in a swirl of fabric. She looked beautiful, sensual, and tempting, and his cock strained against his pants even as his tail lashed, desperate to touch her. One of his ancestors would have had no hesitation in carrying her off and mating her, but, alas, these were more civilized times.
“Leonardo!” Lucie came dancing up, an enchanting sprite clothed in a dress made from one of his uniforms, and her presence distracted him from his lustful thoughts. “Look! I gots a new dress. Don’t I look nice?”
“You look beautiful, little one,” he said sincerely. When she smiled happily and held up her arms, he picked her up, her small body already a familiar weight against his shoulder. Abigail had followed her over, Tiana cradled in her arms, also in a new outfit, and the sight of all three of his females dressed in clothing that he had provided filled him with a sense of possessive pride. His tail caressed the infant’s face and briefly circled Abigail’s wrist before he wrestled it back under control.
“All of you look beautiful,” he added. Abigail smiled at him, but worry shadowed her beautiful face. “Is there a problem, my flower?”
“Did you talk to your officer?” She nodded towards the viewport and his heart sank. Ribel was standing there, pointing out something to the young pregnant female. Ribel’s tail circled her waist while she looked up at him with wide eyes, her face glowing.
“I’m afraid not. I apologize. There have been other matters requiring my attention, but that is no excuse for not keeping my word. I will talk to him as soon as the meal is over.”
“Thank you.” She gave him a rueful smile. “TeShawna thinks Molly will find a way to be with him no matter what we do, but she’s just so young…”
“I will inform him. He’ll do the honorable thing.” I hope. “I am going to have him sit with me. Under the circumstances, perhaps it would be better if I didn’t join you.”
“I wants to sit with you, Leonardo,” Lucie said, her eyes wide.
He gave Abigail a helpless look.
She shook her head, but smiled at him. “Is that all right with you?”
“Of course. I would have all three of you with me if I could.” He suspected that his eyes betrayed his feelings, because Abigail blushed.
“Just please make sure she eats and doesn’t spend all of her time talking instead.”
“I will retain my ear,” he assured her.
She looked startled for a moment before her face lit up with a smile. “I am happy to hear that. I’m going to round up the girls and get everyone seated. Will you send Molly to me?”
“Of course.” He bowed, then he and Lucie headed for the young couple.
His heart sank even more as he approached. He could tell by the scent that Molly’s outfit had been created from Ribel’s clothing. Aware that he had violated his own rule—he had forbidden his men to indicate who any of the donated items belonged to—he wondered how the girl had managed to find Ribel’s garments.
“Ensign Ribel, you will join me for dinner.” It was not a request, and he could see Ribel’s mouth open to protest before he recollected himself.
“Yes, sir. Molly, will you—”
“Abigail is waiting for you,” he said firmly to the young female.
She, too, looked as though she wanted to argue, but instead, she touched Ribel’s tail briefly and went to join Abigail. Ribel opened his mouth again.
“I will talk to you after dinner,” Hrebec said firmly. “In my office—no, my ready room.”
“Yes, sir.”
Lucie, obviously tired of being left out of the conversation, leaned forward and spoke to Ribel. “I gots a new dress.”
To Hrebec’s relief, the young officer tore his gaze away from Molly and spoke to Lucie. “I can see that. Did you make it?”
“I helped,” she said proudly, then began instructing them both on the art of dressmaking as he carried her to the table.
Chapter Fifteen
The meal could not have been called a success. Although Hrebec enjoyed Lucie’s company and her artless conversation, he wished Abigail had been next to him to enjoy it as well. Ribel spent most of the meal staring down the long table at Molly and tensing every time another crewman spoke to her. At least she ignored anyone paying attention to her and kept gazing at Ribel. Mekoi was not so lucky. TeShawna interacted with everyone in her vicinity, obviously enthralling the young crew members surrounding her, while his medical officer grew darker at each burst of laughter and his tail lashed angrily.
Jedan was the only one of his senior officers who enjoyed the meal. He had used the excuse of assisting Elaina with the second infant and had seated himself next to her. Watching the couple with the two babies made Hrebec’s chest ache. He wanted that for himself—and he wanted it with Abigail. But he had promised to return her to her world and he would never break that vow.
As the meal wore on, he could also see the rising tension among his younger warriors as they all competed for the females’ attention. There would be more training circuits in their future. Abigail, too, seemed aware of the rivalry, interjecting a soft word here or, if that didn’t work, giving the man a stern glance. Fortunately, his crewmen responded well to her tactful censure. He would have hated to disturb the meal further by thrashing anyone who showed the slightest hint of disrespect to his woman.
Lucie was beginning to droop, her flow of conversation winding down and her small head resting more heavily against his side. He rose to his feet, cradling her against him. “I believe it is time to bring this meal to a conclusion. Ensign Ribel, your men will report to the training room. Jedan, if you would be so good as to escort the females to their quarters?”
“I will go as well,” Mekoi said grimly. “To make sure that the infants do not need additional supplies.”
Since he gazed at TeShawna as he spoke, Hrebec didn’t believe that supplies were his primary concern, but he was willing to give his medic more leeway than he would his young crew members.
“Very well. Abigail, shall I carry Lucie to our—your cabin?”
“Yes, please,” she said, giving him an unreadable look.
Together they waited until the others had left, then walked slowly back to his rooms.
“I was thinking,” Abigail said, after she sent Lucie off to prepare for bed.
“Yes?”
“Would you like to stay here with us tonight?”
His heart started to pound, but he forced himself to remain calm. Her offer did not mean that she agreed to mate with him.
“I would be delighted, but why are you offering?”
She turned away from him, shifting Tiana to her shoulder and pacing as she rocked the infant. “If you’re going to bond with Tiana, you should be here with her. It would help the transition.”
Disappointment filled him. “I see.”
She stopped, her back to him, and he could see her shoulders move as she took a deep breath before she turned to him. Her cheeks were his favorite shade of pink again.
“And I—I would like it as well.” Pleased at her admission, he took a step towards her and she raised a hand. “But we can’t do anything that risks me getting pregnant.”
“I understand.” He didn’t like it, but he understood her reasoning. However… “What about hankee pankee?”
Her blush intensified, deepening her pink to an enticing red. He knew that if she had a tail, it would be reaching for him.
She m
et his eyes directly. “I’m okay with that.”
He bit back a groan. “I’m glad. I don’t think I could share quarters with you and resist touching your sweet body.”
She wet her lips and he made another move towards her, but then Lucie appeared in the bedroom door, dressed in a sleep garment made from another of his shirts. “I’s ready.”
“Okay, baby. I’ll be right there.”
“I want Leonardo to tell me a story.”
“Not tonight,” Abigail said firmly, before he could respond. “He needs to talk to someone first.”
Lucie’s bottom lip jutted out, but she looked at Abigail and didn’t argue. Instead, she held up her arms to him. “Hugs and kisses,” she demanded.
Without hesitation, he picked her up and hugged her gently as she kissed his cheek. The small gesture filled a piece of his soul that had been empty for far too long, and his chest ached with the realization of what he’d been missing. He carried her like precious cargo into the bedroom and reluctantly let her slide down under the covers.
“Will you be here tomorrow?” she asked.
“Yes, little one. I will be here.” He had to fight the urge to promise her that he would always be there.
“Good,” she said, giving him a sleepy smile.
Bending down, he kissed her forehead as his tail brushed along her tiny arm. He turned to find Abigail watching him again. She didn’t comment, merely stepping aside to let him by.
“I’ll be back shortly,” he said.
“Good. We can see if Tiana will take her evening bottle from you.”
“I look forward to it.” He leaned forward and whispered in her ear, delighted when she shivered and her nipples tightened. “I also look forward to being alone with you.”
“Me too,” she whispered.
No longer reining in his instincts, he let his tail caress her beautifully pink cheek before walking away.
Hrebec left their cabin in a cheerful mood, one that only lasted until he reached the training room and found Ribel trying to kill Connep.
“What the hell are you trying to do?” he roared, as he forced his way between the two bruised and bleeding men.
Ribel continued to glare at Connep. “He tried to seduce my woman!”
“I was only talking to her,” Connep protested as he sneered at Ribel. “But she is not your woman. She does not carry your scent.”
Hrebec grabbed Ribel as the young man lunged forward.
“Listen, you young fools,” he hissed. “She not only does not belong to either of you, but she is not a woman.”
They both gaped at him.
“What do you mean?” Ribel asked. “Of course she is a woman.”
“She is not of age in their society.”
Ribel paled, and Connep stepped back.
“I don’t understand. She is with child,” Ribel said. “She must be old enough to mate.”
“She is with child because someone took advantage of her innocence.”
As comprehension slid over Ribel’s face, it was rapidly replaced by rage. He turned and grabbed one of the massive weights they used in their training circuits, sending it flying across the room. It landed with a thunderous crash, immediately succeeded by four others. Hrebec didn’t try and stop him; he understood the young man’s rage.
The rest of the group looked equally appalled, although he suspected it was not as personal for them as it was for his ensign.
Connep turned to him and bowed his head. “Forgive me, Captain. I had no idea.”
“I understand. You did not know—none of you knew.” Looking up, he addressed the entire group. “But all of you must understand that these females are fragile. They were not treated well on their world. Fighting over them like a pack of vultar does nothing to make them feel safer in our presence. You must treat them with dignity and respect. Is that clear?”
A chorus of agreement filled the room, and looking around at their shamed faces, Hrebec thought that his message had been received. Ribel remained standing to one side, his head bowed and his tail lashing. Hrebec dismissed the rest of the crew and joined his young ensign.
“I am truly sorry, Ribel,” he said. “I know this comes as a shock to you.”
Ribel looked up at him, his face devastated. “But she’s my mate. I’m sure of it.”
“She is too young. I’m sorry.” Hrebec sighed. “I wish you had not given her your clothing.”
A puzzled look crossed Ribel’s face. “I didn’t give it to her. I was surprised—and delighted, of course—that she chose something of mine, but it was not of my doing.”
Since Ribel had never been dishonest, Hrebec decided that the girl must have chosen his clothing by chance. Still, it was an unusual coincidence and he resolved to ask Abigail if there was some way the girl could have identified the garments.
They stood in silence for a few minutes before Ribel looked up at Hrebec. “But I was right, wasn’t I? We can mate with them.”
“I do not know if that is true,” Hrebec said reluctantly.
Based on his encounters with Abigail so far, he had every expectation that they would be compatible and that he could knot inside her. Even the thought sent a rush of heat to his shaft, but at this point it was still conjecture. He had not verified their compatibility.
Ribel’s face was a mask of amazement. “You mean that you and Miss Abby…?”
“That is not something I will ever discuss with you or anyone else.”
“I’m sorry,” Ribel said hastily. “It’s just that the two of you appear to be a mated couple.”
“The females are returning to Earth,” he said, as much to remind himself as Ribel.
“I really thought… I hoped.”
“I know. And perhaps you were right and I was wrong. Perhaps there are females out there who can save our race.” The thought held no more than an abstract interest for him. Everything he wanted was upstairs in his cabin—and he couldn’t keep them.
He sighed and clapped Ribel on the shoulder. “Go on now. Make sure everyone understands what I said here tonight.”
“Yes, sir.” Ribel hesitated, wiping absently at the blood drying by his mouth. “And Molly?”
“I think it would be best for both of you if you stayed away from her, don’t you?”
“I… I am willing to wait for her, no matter how long it would take.”
For the impatient young officer, it was a surprising statement, but Hrebec saw only sincerity in his face.
“But she will not be here when she comes of age,” Hrebec said gently.
“Could she stay with us? If she wanted to?”
Hrebec’s thoughts went immediately to Abigail. Could she stay? Would she even choose to stay with him? No, it was a foolish thought.
“This is not their world,” he reminded Ribel. “They were taken without their permission.”
“From a world that did not appreciate them,” Ribel responded.
Hrebec couldn’t counter the argument. Instead, he shook his head. “They wish to return home.”
Ribel looked at him for a long minute, before ultimately bowing his head. “Yes, sir.”
He went on his way, his tail dropping. Hrebec shared his melancholy, but there was a bright spot to his circumstances. Abigail and his girls were waiting for him. It would be undignified for a captain to run, but he did set a rapid pace back to his cabin.
Chapter Sixteen
Abby stared after Hrebec and hoped she wasn’t making a mistake. When he’d made the remark about “their” cabin, she realized that a part of her had been expecting him to return tonight. Seeing him with Lucie just reinforced the expectation. And while it did make sense to encourage his bond with Tiana, a selfish part of her wanted him there for herself—to explore more of the delicious feelings he created. His touch reminded her that she wasn’t just a mother; she was a woman too.
“Mama,” Lucie demanded. “It’s story time.”
With a little laugh, Abby went back to mothe
rhood.
Once Lucie was asleep, Abby showered, and after a brief hesitation, she changed into the nightgown Cassie had designed for her. Silky material crisscrossed her breasts before falling to a hem high on her thighs. True, she felt sexy, but also more vulnerable than she liked.
“This is ridiculous,” she said to Tiana as she went to retrieve the familiar comfort of her cardigan.
Abby had converted Hrebec’s storage container into a cozy bassinet and Tiana was lying in it, kicking her feet happily and blinking at her with big, dark eyes
“At least you’re not nervous,” Abby muttered as she reached for her sweater.
Before she could put it on, Hrebec appeared. The heat in his eyes—and his obvious physical response—erased most of her embarrassment.
“You are a vision, my flower,” he said in a deep growl that set up an immediate ache between her legs.
“I’m glad you like it.”
Tiana made a cooing noise and they both turned to her. She waved her arms and kicked her legs, her entire tiny body radiating with her delight.
“I think she’s excited to see you,” Abby laughed.
Hrebec went to the makeshift bassinet and carefully lifted her into his arms.
“You are a vision as well, little one,” he said as her little sounds increased.
“That’s the first time I’ve heard her respond like that,” Abby said, trying for a cheerful voice, even though part of her was a little sad that the baby hadn’t had the same response to her. “I doubt you’ll have any problem feeding her.”
Her optimism turned out to be misplaced. Tiana refused to take the bottle from Hrebec, whimpering and moving her head around until she found Abby.
“She wants you,” he said with a sigh.
“But she’s going to have to take food from you. How can I leave her if I don’t know how she’s going to eat?”
Hrebec looked at her, and she saw something in his face which made her breath catch in her throat, but all he said was, “Come closer.”
Mama and the Alien Warrior Page 9
