THE WARRIOR’S PROPOSAL
CELESTIAL MATES BOOK 7
MARLA THERRON
Copyright 2017 by Marla Therron
All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced
in any way whatsoever, without written permission
from the author, except in case of brief
quotations embodied in critical reviews
and articles.
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any
character, person, living or dead, events, place or
organizations is purely coincidental. The author does not
have any control over and does not assume any responsibility
for third party websites or their content.
First edition, 2017
TABLE OF CONTENTS
His Troubled Little Mate
Making Plans
Trying to Escape – Not Quite Succeeding
Asking For Permission
His Mate’s Seduction
The Plot
Denying Reality
His Troubled Little Mate
“How’s that sample coming along?”
Sara Jones looked up from her microscope, her bleary eyes focusing on the tall, stocky man on the other side of her desk. She grinned up at him.
“It’s coming along. I think I’m close to recording something.”
“Let’s hope so.” Doctor Neil Jones made a face. “Lord Commander Zameer is asking for some progress. For the fifth time tonight. At least we can give him something if you find it tonight.”
Sara rolled her eyes and laughed. Her father still had an aversion to the alien stranger who had been tasked with working in their lab for a few days.
While they weren’t openly hostile with each other, they didn’t exactly play friends. Neil was still sore about the invasion that had happened two years before but Sara could tell he was slowly getting used to the fact they were now allies with the nocturnal humanoid aliens from the planet Abison.
Sara didn’t really care. Their government had been in trouble and close to a full-blown riot from outsiders when Abison came to the planet. It wasn’t that difficult for them to take over and offer a truce. They laid down the law and people seemed to be functioning better with it. They even added a few of their own people into high places.
Including their lab in the middle of the Arizona desert. As long as they kept their place of work open and they kept their jobs, Sara wasn’t going to complain.
“He’s not that bad. At least he’s taking an interest.”
“You may not think he’s bad.” Neil grumbled. He sat on the stool at the adjacent desk. “But he always asks for something that takes twice as long as he thinks it should take to get.”
“Things go at a faster pace in Abison. You know that from our research. He simply hasn’t got used to the slower pace of Earth.”
Neil grunted.
“Well, he’s certainly got used to the wildlife.”
Sara mumbled as she scribbled something down on the pad at her elbow. Then the words sunk in. She looked up and frowned.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“He’s been watching you since he came here. I think he’s going to do a seduction on you soon.”
Sara paused. Would he? There was something about Lord Commander Zameer that made her weak at the knees. Her core tightened like crazy and she would end up with a dry mouth staring at him. Even then, he was the easiest person to talk to other than her father.
Zameer had said he had come from a scientific background after his parents had worked the same field and he understood a lot of what Sara said. She didn’t even need to dumb it all down for him to understand.
They had spent a few hours whenever work was slow in the lab talking about anything and everything. Sara was curious about Abison and Zameer was happy to oblige her curiosity. He was also fascinated, surprised and disgusted by Earth, much to Sara’s amusement.
The two of them seemed to click. Sara hadn’t felt like this with a man in a long time. But that he was planning a seduction? That didn’t seem to compute. He didn’t like her like that, surely? She was simply a research assistant. A doctor, yes, but still an assistant.
Sara shook off her thoughts and shrugged.
“I doubt it, Dad. I’m flattered somebody finds me attractive.” Even if it was an Abison male. She gave Neil a pointed look. “But they, at least, are faithful.”
Neil raised his eyebrows. They both knew exactly what she was talking about.
“How do you know?”
“He told me about mates on his first night here. It was quiet so we got talking.” Sara could remember every word as if they had had the conversation a few minutes ago.
“They can fall for one person and not stray once they find them. It only happens once in a lifetime.”
“And before that?”
Sara shrugged.
“A bit of a gray area. Depends on the Abison male or female in question. They can be celibate and wait or have some fun and settle down once they find their mate.”
All in all, apart from an aversion to sunlight, extra strength and all of them seemed to be built like Greek Gods, they were very much like humans. A lot of those who were still scared of them called them vampires but they didn’t come out in the sun, were very pale and wore all black. It was amusing and had Zameer smiling whenever he witnessed it. Sara wondered if he enjoyed playing up to the fantasy.
The phone on the desk behind Neil rang. Sara was finishing off with the sample and didn’t even look over as Neil picked up the phone. It wasn’t unusual for anyone to ring at this hour.
Neil and Sara had been chosen to work on some samples for the Abisons and they had to work on their schedule at night. Everyone else at the lab worked during the day. This gave the others some relief; even scientists balked at the idea of working with a ‘vampire’.
As long as someone was paying her salary, Sara didn’t care. It was quieter at night and nobody hogged the equipment.
As she finished scribbling her findings, Sara was aware of Neil arguing with whoever had called.
“No, she doesn’t want to talk to you. I’m not putting her on the phone. Because she doesn’t want to talk to you. She’s been saying that for years now. I’m not her mouthpiece. I’m just not stupid enough to hand the phone over. I like being alive, thank you.”
Sara groaned. She didn’t need to guess who was calling. Only one person would have Neil this irate. Well, two people, but Neil was more restrained with this one.
Sighing, Sara came round the desk and beckoned with her hand.
“I’ll talk to her. Could you finish off for me?”
“If you’re sure?”
“No but I can’t focus if you’re arguing with her.” Sara took the phone, silently glad it was cordless. “I’ll take it outside. Everything’s been written down. Just needs clearing up.”
“No problem.”
Sara hurried to the back door and slipped out. Even in the middle of the desert they had a small communal garden with thick grass, blooming flowers and a small tree, under which was a bench. Sara put the phone to her ear as she stalked across the grass, the moonlight seeming to make the grass glow silver.
“Fiona, leave Dad alone. He was doing as I asked him to do.”
There was a huff in return.
“Would you stop calling me Fiona? I’m your mother.”
Sara snorted.
“After what you’ve done, you’re lucky I’m talking to you.” She stopped by the tree. “And this call is just to tell you to go away and leave me alone.”
/> Her mother was so frustrating. She didn’t seem to understand that neither Sara nor Neil actually wanted her. She had been a useless mother, an awful wife, and a pathetic human being.
She had cheated and lied throughout her whole marriage and now she had no husband or daughter who wanted to speak to her she was scrambling around to try and get them to allow her back into their lives. Sara wasn’t having it. Fiona Chatham had screwed herself up royally.
She just didn’t understand.
“Come on, Sara.” Fiona whined. “You can’t honestly mean that. After everything I’ve done for you.”
“What have you done for me?” Sara couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Fiona, you abused me. You ignored me when I needed you. And you keep sleeping with my boyfriends.”
“I was in a bad place.”
“For twenty-eight years? I’m amazed my first boyfriend at twelve wasn’t one of your conquests.”
“Who says I didn’t when he was older?” Fiona sneered.
Even over the connection, Sara could smell the booze. That and Fiona’s words were slurring said she was drunk. She always called more when she was drunk, trying to pretend cutting off contact had never happened. Sara wished she could hit the damn woman over the head with one of those bottles.
“Look, I have no intention of having any sort of relationship with you. We haven’t had one for years and what we did have was awful, at best. I don’t care that you don’t look good in front of your friends. You made your bed and you can lie in it. Get out of my life and stay out.”
“Now, look here, you…”
Sara hung up. Then she threw the phone. Hard. It hit the side of the building and smashed to pieces, scattering across the grass. Sara knew someone was going to give her hell for breaking it but she didn’t care. The frustration subsided, just a little.
“What did a little piece of metal do to you?”
Sara screamed and spun round. Someone was standing behind the bench, bathed in shadows from the tree. But Sara could tell who it was even by his shape. And the long leather coat, much like a scientist’s coat, was hard to miss.
“Zameer. What are you doing here?”
Zameer put one hand on the bench and leapt over it, moving to stand in front of her. The moonlight fell on his face and Sara couldn’t stop herself from staring again.
Over six feet, dark hair with a light dusting of a beard with a darker moustache, he was an alluring figure. Other than the paleness of his skin and the pale red of his eyes, he looked like any other human.
Until you blinked and he had disappeared. Until you realized he didn’t actually have a reflection. Until you saw how strong he was without exerting any strength.
Even then Sara couldn’t deny the pull she felt towards him.
“I finished my meeting and came to see how you were doing. I heard you round the back so I thought I’d see what was going on.” Zameer raised an eyebrow at the broken mess. “Who were you arguing with?”
Sara had never spoken of her mother other than she wasn’t in her life. She hadn’t gone into why and Zameer had respected that. She shook her head.
“No one. It’s okay.” She managed a smile and smoothed her hands down her coat. “I’m fine. Don’t worry about me.”
She turned and hurried back inside. She would pick up the pieces in the morning.
#
Zameer was worried. Sara had never displayed that sort of anger towards anyone, not even towards the Abison. And to be angry enough to smash a phone…whoever had called her had to be bad.
Someone had upset his mate and Zameer wasn’t about to sit back and let Sara deal with it.
And she was. As soon as he had seen her, Zameer knew that Sara was his mate. That had stunned him more than anything. After all this time, he had come to terms with the fact that he might not ever have a mate. Now his mate was human. That had taken a while to get his head round. And to know that she and her father were the team selected to work for him had been an opportunity he wasn’t about to pass up.
She was nice to look at well. Petite, not like Abison females, and a curvy female at that. Big breasts and slim with definitive curves. She kept herself in shape and Zameer had seen her go for a run every evening before she went to work.
With the two of them and Neil all living in the same apartment block, Zameer was able to observe Sara coming and going. She was a speedy runner and could probably keep up with him if she tried.
Abison females were almost always dark-haired. There were a few redheaded females but it was primarily darker colours. No blonde females.
Sara was blonde with hair long enough to reach her waist but they were always kept in one long pleat that she often did variations of. Sometimes she wound it round her head, other times she let it dangle down her back. Zameer was always fascinated with her hair. He wondered what it would look like loose.
She was funny, quick-witted and easy to get along with. Zameer liked sneaking in to the lab when her father wasn’t there and talking to her. She was more than happy to tell him about the strange things Humans got up to. And she seemed interested in Abison as well. She was one of the few people who didn’t believe he was a vampire.
She was interesting. And genuine. Zameer knew if he left his mate on Earth he wouldn’t be able to rest.
But taking Sara back with him arose with difficulties. Her father wouldn’t agree to it and Zameer wasn’t about to force Sara. If push came to shove he would stay. But he wanted to talk to Neil first. While Neil was still apprehensive about Abison males, he was respectful. He was a smart man and knew when to back off, although he wasn’t afraid to give his opinion.
But it wasn’t his opinion as a scientist Zameer needed right now.
Every day when everyone had left for work, Neil would go for a swim in the apartment’s pool, which was in direct sunlight. Zameer knew this would be the best place to talk to him privately; while Neil and Sara didn’t share on apartment, they were on the same floor. He didn’t want Sara to see them, even if she was fast asleep.
So, bracing himself for the heat of the day, Zameer left the apartment building, keeping as much to the shade as he could, and went over to the pool. Neil was swimming brisk laps; for a man in his mid-fifties he was very strong and fast. Zameer watched him finish his daily laps, trying to figure out what to say.
For a man who had no problems with words and talking in scientific talk, Zameer certainly had a problem with talking about personal matters.
Neil finished and hauled himself out the pool, water dripping down his body. It was still in good shape at his age. Not as good as an Abison male but it still looked decent, even for a scientist. He went over to his towel and spotted Zameer, still standing in the shade. Neil straightened up in surprise.
“Commander? I thought you were in your apartment.”
Zameer shrugged.
“I couldn’t sleep.”
“But…” Neil glanced at the sun. “Don’t you suffer in sunlight?”
From the way he said it Zameer knew he was thinking the same thing as those who believed he was a vampire. He laughed.
“I thought you were a scientist who prefers facts to rumours.”
“All I know is you don’t like sunlight. I just don’t know what.”
“We’re not vampires, Neil. I’m not going to burst into flames if I step into it.”
To prove it, Zameer stepped out into the sunlight, flinching as the sun’s heat hit him in the face. It was painful and he felt drained but he stayed there. “Sunlight just steals our energy. That’s why we have very little sunlight on Abison. We prefer to avoid it as much as we can.”
Neil grunted.
“Fine. You’ve made your point. But you still look like you’re about to melt into a puddle from your expression.”
Zameer grunted and went back into the shade. He still felt sluggish but the shade was cooler. Neil towelled himself down.
“Something must’ve been that important for you to come out in this
, then.”
“It was.” Zameer tried to figure which words to use first. It wasn’t easy. “I overheard Sara on the phone. She was arguing with a Fiona. Then she threw the phone against the wall.”
Neil chuckled.
“I wondered where it had gone. And considering what Sara would love to do to that woman, I’m not surprised she did that.”
“Anyway, I got worried and Sara wouldn’t tell me what had happened.” Zameer folded his arms. “Who’s Fiona?”
Neil sighed.
“It’s complicated.”
“Doctor Jones, would you call Abisons and their lives simple?”
“Point taken.”
“Whatever it is, it can’t be any worse than what we’ve had to tell Humans about ourselves when we first came here.”
“You think?”
Zameer raised his eyebrows. Neil sighed and looped his towel round his neck. Then he beckoned Zameer to join him under a shaded gazebo, where there was a table and two chairs set out.
Zameer managed to get over to the gazebo without too much incident and sat in the remaining chair as Neil settled into the other with a sigh.
“Fiona’s my ex-wife. Sara’s mother.”
Zameer blinked. He knew Sara didn’t have a relationship with her mother but hadn’t realized it was this bad if she wasn’t calling her mother.
“I’ve never encountered a child who called a parent by their first name.”
“Doesn’t it happen on Abison?”
“If it has, I’ve not been a witness to it.”
Neil grunted. He toyed with the end of the towel.
“Fiona’s not been the best of mothers. I was busy with work so Fiona was at home with Sara. I don’t know the whole story since Sara won’t tell me but there have been times where I would come home and Sara hadn’t eaten all day, her diapers were not changed or I would find her locked out the house. There have been three occasions that I know of where Sara was forgotten about at school and I had to get her. Other times, Sara was taken home by a teacher or Sara was old enough to walk home.”
The Warrior's Proposal (Celestial Mates Book 7) Page 1
