She looked up with tears in her eyes. “Thank you, this is like a dream for me.” Thea leaned forward and pressed a shy kiss against his lips. Leaning back she gently ran her hands along his chest. “Do you have gills?”
She opened her mouth to ask more questions, but he stopped her by placing a finger over her lips. “I’ll answer all of your questions later, love, but now we should get dressed for dinner.” He checked the time on his cereb. “Our guest will be here soon.”
Thea looked down and blushed faintly, just noticing that her wet blouse was making it clear she hadn’t bothered with a bra today.
Kyrin ran his thumb along her cheekbones. She winced as his gentle touch stung the raw patches the rash had left on her skin. “What’s this?”
“Oh.” Thea pulled back a bit. “I think I’m allergic to the oils Daeshen puts in the bath. My face and stomach have been itching and burning all week. It’s driving me crazy. My legs started feeling itchy a little while ago, too.”
“Hmmm, the man who will be joining us for dinner is the ship’s Chief Medic, his name is Corvin. I’ll ask him to look at these spots; he’s going to be handling your medical care.” He smiled and kissed her gently. “What were you planning to serve for dinner?”
Thea sloshed her way out of the tub and stood, dripping on the rim. “Well, I was thinking about roast beef, roasted carrots and potatoes and warm French bread. But, the kitchen is so small and I don’t know how to work the appliances, let alone where to get the ingredients. When is he supposed to join us?” She tried to wring the hem of her skirt. It didn’t help. Sighing, she stripped and reached for a towel. She was absently aware of how quickly she was becoming accustomed to being nude in their presence. And lately she was aware of occasional flashes of knowledge that she should not have. She made a mental note to ask Kyrin about it later.
Kyrin watched appreciatively, then frowned when he saw the rash on her legs and stomach. “I’ll show you how to use the kitchen, love.” He changed his tail back to legs and strode from the water. Catching the edges of Thea’s towel, he pulled her against him for a slow, leisurely kiss. “Corvin will be joining us in about two hours.”
“Two hours? That’s not enough to time properly prepare a roast!” she muttered.
He picked up her wet clothes and tossed them into a cleaning unit. He listened to Thea absently as he cleaned the bathing room and put away a few bottles of salt oil that had been left out. Bending down to wipe away some trailed water on the floor he was absently aware of his little mate quieting. He looked back and grinned as she guiltily met his eyes. “Like what you see?”
He laughed and tugged her against him for a quick kiss as her cheeks turned pink and she glowered at him. It was such fun to tease her.
* * * * *
Corvin inhaled appreciatively as soon as he stepped into the cabin. “What is that aroma?”
Daeshen grinned at him. “It seems Thea can cook. She’s making something called ‘pizza’ and claims it’s a staple food in her country. Kyrin showed her the kitchen and how everything works and she got a positively predatory look on her face. Then she kicked us out. Every once in awhile one of us checks on her and it looks like a windstorm went through a grocery store. I asked if she needed any help and she growled at me, muttered something about ‘ice cream’ and asked if we ate fungus. I left. Kyrin can check on her now.”
Corvin laughed heartily at the look of repugnance on Daeshen’s face. “Well, you should expect things like this, my friend. She’s not Ta’e’shian; she is going to eat things that seem odd and even disgusting to us. I imagine we’ll seem the same to her upon occasion. How is she dealing with the two of you?”
“We decided to give her small doses of a sedative the first few days, but she’s doing really well. It helps that she has a very flexible personality. Kyrin had a brief period of worrying about hysterics when she walked into the bathing room tonight and he was relaxing. She saw his tail. But, she loves the water myths from her world and was excited instead.” Daeshen led him into the dining area.
Corvin looked at the set table and smiled. He had often joined both men for meals, but they rarely cooked, usually ordering meals from the communal galley. It was nice to see that Thea was already making changes and creating a feeling of home in the cabin.
Kyrin darted out of the kitchen. “She has a temper. And don’t ask what kind of meat is in the food. The description she gave me sounded horrifying.” There was a shouted “I heard that!” from the kitchen. Kyrin grinned. “We probably should have started eating human foods before now, though.”
Thea bustled out of the kitchen with a bowl of salad. She stopped and eyed Corvin with cool curiosity. “Hello.”
He bowed briefly. “Nice to meet you, Theadora. My name is Corvin Sa’ama.”
She set the bowl on the table and offered her hand. “Nice to meet you as well.”
He shook it gravely. He was more familiar with human customs since he had had more contact with the women brought onboard.
“Well, dinner is ready. I didn’t know what beverages you would like so I asked the galley to send cola and beer.” She walked back into the kitchen, returning with two pitchers. One was filled with a black carbonated liquid, while the other held a foamy golden beverage. She sat them on the table and motioned for the men to sit before returning to the kitchen.
Corvin quickly took a seat; he had found that he quite enjoyed most of the foods that had been introduced by the women brought aboard, and was eager to try another dish. Daeshen and Kyrin joined him, not looking nearly as enthusiastic. “Is something wrong?”
“We’re hoping dinner isn’t like coffee,” Kyrin muttered. “She makes us drink it every morning and it’s horrible.”
“Hmmm, I don’t think that will be the case. Coffee seems to be something of an art to make. And the galley crew hasn’t mastered it yet. Haven’t you noticed that most of the humans mix things in it or don’t drink it? I’ve found that most of the women are making it in their quarters instead of drinking the stuff the galley serves.” Corvin laughed softly at the arrested look on both men’s faces.
Thea came out of the kitchen balancing a large round pan on a cloth. She carefully set it down in the center of the table and then took her seat between Kyrin and Daeshen. They looked down at her offering. A verity of sliced meats peeked out of artfully arranged vegetables. Melted cheese bubbled and steamed where it had been sprinkled over the top. She reached in and took the edge of the pizza and lifted a wedge of it onto her plate, then caught up the gooey strings of cheese that followed the slice. The men followed her example.
The meal continued, quietly punctuated by soft conversation and compliments. Both Kyrin and Daeshen were pleasantly surprised with the food and vocal in their appreciation of Thea’s skills. Kyrin enjoyed the tart flavor of the cola beverage, but found the beer was too pungent for his taste
After they finished eating Thea cleared the table and brought out valasa, a Ta’e’shian tea that Daeshen liked to drink at lunch. She had tasted it and enjoyed the flavor and decided to serve that instead of coffee. Thea smirked to herself remembering the looks on her husbands’ faces when she made them drink the coffee served by the galley. She made a mental note to see about acquiring a coffee pot since she could not find hers among her possessions. She slipped out after serving the men to finish putting her last loom together. She had moved the largest of her looms into the library as she had quickly run out of room in her workroom.
Corvin rubbed his full belly and leaned back in his chair. “You were right, Kyrin, the psychscans missed a few people. I’m having them speak with the asana regarding their fears of the human women joining us. Luckily it’s only a few people. I sent a request to the other ships to check as well. I also sent a long range com back to Ta’e to notify them that the scans are missing people.”
The conversation turned to the plight to the women in stasis after that. Corvin had attempted several sublim sequences that had not seemed to make a
ny impression on the women. Since the asana, priests and priestesses, of the Balance Temple were unable to help, as the women were not telepathic, he was at a loss. Usually the mind healers in the Temple would be able to discover the cause immediately and begin treatment.
Thea returned as Corvin was beginning to describe the behavior of the women, before they were put into stasis, and how they acted when they were removed from it. A chill curled through her as she listened to the description of them crying, screaming and hurting themselves. Some simply lay on beds with blank eyes and keened softly to themselves. At least, until someone approached them, then they became screaming, fighting wild things. She pressed herself close to Kyrin. “It sounds like they were raped,” she muttered softly.
Kyrin stiffened and looked up at her. “What did you say, love?”
She gulped when all three men stared at her. “Um, I said it sounds like they were raped.”
Daeshen leaned back in his chair and blew out a breath. “Rape. We never even considered that. But how can we find out if the women can’t be taken from stasis long enough to question them?”
Kyrin pulled his little mate into his lap, shaken by the thought. Ta’e’shian women were as strong as their men; as a result rape was very uncommon in their society. That combined with the mind healers and truth sayers of the Balance Temple making it so difficult for the offender, or offenders, to remain undetected it had become a virtually unknown crime. “Human women are smaller than we are and not as strong,” he mused aloud.
Corvin tapped a finger on the table. “How can we interview them, though? We need to discover if that’s what happened. Now that Thea has brought it up, their symptoms are very similar. But one of the women had seizures when we tried to bring her out. I’m at a loss.”
Thea tucked her head under Kyrin’s chin. “What are you doing? Are men present when they are woken up? Have you asked a therapist to see them? Did you take any samples before you placed them in stasis?”
Corvin pulled a holoreader out of his pocket and made some notes. “No, we haven’t done any of that, but we will. We don’t have therapists, as you know them, though.”
She shrugged. “Well, you have how many human women here? See if there are any psychologists, psychiatrists or rape counselors among them.”
The men blinked. Kyrin cleared his throat. “Ahhh, well, we haven’t collected any information about their careers.” He winced when her head shot up, clipping him on the chin.
Thea’s eyes narrowed as she glared at him. “Well then, you better get your ass in gear, Captain. We have skills to offer and if you think we’re just gonna be brood mares for you, you had better think again.” She got up and stomped into the bedroom.
Corvin cleared his throat. “She brings up a good point. We need to integrate the woman into our society. I’ll ask the asana to begin interviewing them and help find places for them in their fields. Daeshen, please bring Thea to the medical area tomorrow so I can take some samples. I’ll see what I can find out about that rash.” He made a few more notes on his holoreader before thanking them for dinner and taking his leave.
Daeshen and Kyrin looked at each other, then turned and looked at the door Thea had gone through.
Daeshen cleared his throat. “You go first.” He grabbed the cups off the table and scampered into the kitchen before Kyrin could reply.
“Coward,” he muttered.
* * * * *
Thea grumbled under her breath about brainless, arrogant men as she dug through her clothes for a nightgown. Finding several items she had decorated their bedroom with she started displaying them around the room while she contemplated tying Kyrin up and beating his ass this time. Finishing, she stepped back and nodded, pleased with the look of the room. It was a bit homier now. Snatching up her nightgown she strolled toward the bathing area for a shower. She shot Kyrin a peeved look from the corner of her eye as she sailed past him.
Kyrin snagged her waist before she made it out of the room. He snuggled her stiff little body against his and kissed her throat. “You have to have some patience, love. We’re new at this, too.” He trailed kisses along her cheeks.
“Hrumph, we’ll see.” She looked up at him with sad eyes. “Your people need to accept us, or we’ll never accept you.” She slipped free of his arms and went into the bathing area.
The faint sound of the door shutting seemed to echo loudly in Kyrin’s ears. He knew she was right and he was doing everything he could to try and integrate the women to his ship and people. A faint smile stretched his lips as a thought hit him. Maybe I should ask for some help and advice ... He left the bedroom for the office and settled in at his computer desk. He quickly sent several requests out before logging back out and heading back to the bedroom, now humming happily under his breath. The sight of Daeshen removing his clothes brought him to a stop.
Daeshen looked over his shoulder as he heard Kyrin come in. He winked slowly and let his uniform fall to a pool around his feet. Stepping free of the clothing he slid boneless onto the bed and watched his mate with half-closed eyes. Rolling onto his back he scooted to the edge of the bed. “Come here ...” His voice was a sultry growl.
Kyrin smiled and strolled slowly to the bed, admiring Daeshen’s pale skin against the deep purple sheets. “Is there something you want, my love?” He ran a finger along Daeshen’s shoulder.
Daeshen smiled, reaching out to release the closures on Kyrin’s uniform. “Yes, I believe there is ...” Reaching inside Kyrin’s clothing he caressed the hard planes of his stomach.
* * * * *
Thea stood under the hot spray of water. Showers were something she had always found relaxing, and felt they cleansed more than just her body. Tilting her face into the spray she spoke softly, talking to the only beings left to her to find comfort and answers from. “Lord and Lady, bless me for I am your child. I am torn and conflicted and would request your wisdom.” She took a deep breath and slowly let it out, repeating the action several times to clear her mind and form her thoughts before speaking them aloud. Once she felt calm sweeping over her she began to speak.
She quietly outlined the events of the last few days, and her attraction to the two men who had claimed her. Her head tilted down, the hot water washed down her back in comforting streams. Thea’s family had practiced the old ways for generations. They had quietly gone about their lives, moving when the neighbors began to ask too many questions. It was a habit they hadn’t broken even after their religion had become more accepted; it was too ingrained in them. As a result they had fewer ties than most people, and relied on each other more. The deaths of her family members had hit her hard, leaving her alone in more ways than simply missing their presence. It had shaken her faith and left her a solitary practitioner.
She quietly finished her recital and ended it with her questions. “Do I give them my trust? Should I take these men as my husbands? Will this new path lead me where I am supposed to go?” Sometimes a response was forthcoming, at other times she felt nothing. Turning to the steamy walls she traced out the word yes and the word no. Placing a hand under each word, she waited.
Minutes passed. Just as she was about to give up the hand under the word yes pulsed with gentle heat three times. The feeling of warm arms surrounded her in a brief hug. She drew in a deep breath. “Thank you, Lord and Lady, I love you, too. I give you the energy of fear and uncertainty. I no longer need them, please use this energy in a more positive manner than I have thus far.” The heavy weight that had been lurking over her heart lifted and she stepped out of the shower to dry herself. She felt that she had reaffirmed her decisions and choices to accept these changes in her life and make the best of them.
Tossing her nightgown into the laundry chute she squared her shoulders. Holding her head high she strode into the bedroom nude. The sight that met her eyes made her come to a full stop. Whoa.
Her husbands had apparently decided not to wait for her. As she watched Daeshen rolled onto his back and stroked his tongue s
lowly from the base of Kyrin’s cock to the crown where he paused for a moment to tickle the frills gently. Her eyes widened; she had never seen anything like this before. Heat pooled in her belly. Wow, this is better than my stories! Both men had their eyes closed as Daeshen sucked the strong column into his mouth and stroked his palm along the remaining length.
Thea padded closer on silent feet. She watched Kyrin’s face as his breath became harsher. Daeshen hummed softly and raised his head to take more of Kyrin’s cock into his mouth; a soft suckling sound broke the silence as his mouth moved rhythmically. She crept around the edge of the bed. Holding her hair back she leaned down and swirled her tongue along the weeping tip on Daeshen’s cock. He jumped and mumbled something around Kyrin’s cock as his eyes shot open. He looked down at her in surprise.
Thea smiled and crawled onto the bed. She leaned down and took him into her mouth again. Daeshen moaned deep in his throat and arched up to meet her. It was the first chance she’d had to explore their bodies and she intended to take full advantage of it. Curling her tongue she lapped the fluid leaking from the tip of his glans, it was sweet and had a faint licorice flavor. It was not at all what she had expected it to taste like. She slowly explored the frills that spiraled around it. They trembled against her tongue. Licking her way down, she opened her eyes and glanced up to where Daeshen was lazily stroking Kyrin’s cock in and out of his mouth. Her gaze traveled up Kyrin’s strong form; he was watching both of them with heavy lidded eyes.
She inspected him closely; the head of his cock was flushed a dark purple while the frills were the same color as his hair. Her tongue curled under his frills and tickled gently. Each of the frills had hundreds of tiny flexible spines imbedded in it. It was an odd sensation to have them fluttering anxiously against her lips and tongue.
Daeshen groaned harshly and arched into her touch. Lifting her head she stroked her hand gently up and down his shaft. She pursed her lips, watching the men move together in a familiar rhythm. Thea’s hands smoothed over Daeshen’s hips, tracing the delicate bones under his skin. Her tongue swirled wet patterns over his balls, pausing for a moment to tickle the small hairs curling around them. Daeshen shuddered in response. Deciding to stop teasing him she lifted her mouth away from him, lazily stroking his cock with firm pressure.
The Ta'e'sha Chronicles: Daughters of Terra Page 7
