Damaged Goods

by Rena Marks

  “At least we know your mother loved you,” Ana said. “How could she not?” She smoothed Alannah’s hair from her brow.

  Alannah nodded slowly.

  “And father loved you. Even keeping you sick was his way of keeping you protected from mother’s wrath. He just didn’t bank on what would happen upon his own demise,” Danielle said.

  “It’s possible your biological mother and he were onto something else,” Robyn said. “We don’t know how much of the Xeno Sapien project they helped with back then. But we do know that it’s highly unusual that all Xeno Sapiens have innate telepathic abilities that were kept secret. Just like their daughter’s abilities.” The room quieted.

  “The rest of you have it, too?” Danielle asked Potierre. He nodded.

  “I think it’s possible that Dr. Holland and Dr. Walsh worked on giving the Xeno Sapiens a vantage point,” Amanda said. “Perhaps the project of reviving gene mutated people was too developed for them to stop when they realized it was wrong. Maybe it was only the two of them against the entire company. This was their way of giving us some hope in the future. A way to communicate with each other without anyone knowing.”

  “So would they have also given the ability to their own baby?” Alannah asked. Kieran’s arms encircled her, pulling her close.

  “We’ll never know if they gave it to you or if it ran in Dr. Walsh’s family line and came naturally but was enhanced. Perhaps even singled out and used to create the Xeno Sapien link. But what we do know is the ability manifests in the Xeno Sapiens’ human portion of their DNA. That tells us it was your father.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Danielle said. “I remember you begging as a child. Pleading to just be allowed to shave your head instead of being forced to take the meds. Not understanding that your eye color was different, too. I remember mother dragging you to the clinic. As an adult, I look back at that memory and realize the expression on her face was glee. She took a perverse pleasure in torturing you.”

  “I’m sorry we treated you the way we did,” Ana said. “I can’t even believe you’d claim us as sisters.”

  “You were just as much children as I was,” Alannah said. “You were raised to treat me a certain way. How could you know it was wrong?”

  “But a servant?” Ana winced. “All those times I’d command you to get up in the middle of the night to wait on me.”

  “It’s all right,” Alannah said. “I was lonely all day without anyone to talk to. I didn’t mind getting up to see what you needed. And then you would tell me your wonderful stories about your day at school and I couldn’t wait to experience it all myself.”

  “And while the two of us were old enough to know it was wrong when you were sent off to live with Lord Nolan, we never said anything,” Danielle said.

  “Why should you? You were as naive as I was growing up. None of us thought it abnormal to be told we would be married off to someone worthy. You had no idea if I was sold or dowried.”

  “Yet Ana and I weren’t sent off.”

  “I was glad you were sent away,” Ana said. “Lord Nolan was handsome enough. I hoped you’d find love.”

  “He cared for me enough in his own way, I imagine. He just wasn’t able to love anyone but himself.”

  “And his mother,” Ana said, and the three of them burst out laughing.

  “What will happen to our mother now that she chooses to go to the outside?” Danielle asked.

  Robyn shrugged. “She certainly won’t tell a soul where she’s been. It could be that Nolan knows kidnapping her won’t force Alannah out of hiding. By now he knows there’s no love lost there since he’s the one who entered into a contract with Lady Cynthia for Alannah’s hand. So he may do nothing. But the three of you are protected as long as you’re here.”

  “Speaking of protection,” Amanda said, coming up behind them and staring at Kieran pointedly. “We’re building a house near Vien and Potierre’s. In the meantime, you can stay in Kieran’s cabin.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  ALANNAH WAITED FOR Kieran all night. Finally, near dawn, she heard him howl. Now, his howls were full of pride over what he was. No longer did he hide in the shadows of the trees.

  She closed the book she’d been reading and yawned and stretched. It would be a good day, this closing of the full moon. They’d had many full moons together since they’d been living together, first in his place and now right next to her sisters. The other Xeno Sapiens had pitched in and built them a house next door to Vien and Potierre’s and she was able to see Ana and Danielle whenever she wanted. They shared the gardens, expanding them. Now they were considered a sort of park and lots of other people strolled the gardens also, exclaiming over the beauty of the flowers. For special occasions, she and her sisters cut them into bouquets for men to take home to their mates. Or wives.

  The front door burst open and a naked, fully changed, back-to-human Kieran growled at her from the doorway. A shiver ran through her midsection. She loved this time of the month, when he was all growly and assertive. He’d take her from behind like this, one hand splayed on her back to hold her down to the mattress and the other caressing her hips as he plunged in and out of her.

  Her pussy dampened at the thought.

  She rose and let the robe fall.

  “Come on, boy.” She teased, letting her eyes drop to the magnificent, huge cock that jutted up from the nest of curls between his legs and proved there was nothing boy-like about him. No, her man was all monster. And her time to love him, no matter how brief, would be enjoyed. Because now, Alannah finally understood when Kieran had been saying she was better off without him all this time.

  Kieran would be better off without her. He’d grown, he’d learned to love. Now he just needed to find someone else to love him like she did.

  But what a way to go. Quick, explosive sex as probably their last time. Because tomorrow—she’d be gone before he woke.

  He caught her to him and their skin melded. Like always, it felt magical whenever they touched together. His luscious cock pressed up against her belly between them.

  His eyes glowed amber.

  “Give it to me, wolfman.”

  She loved that lopsided smile he gave before his mouth touched hers. She smiled against his lips as his tongue snaked out to meet hers. His hands came around to her but, lifting her against him as he carried her to their bedroom. She refused to feel sad that this was their last day together.

  But the memories would live with her forever.

  She expected him to dump her on the bed, flip her over and caress her ass with his large hands. Once he’d even pushed her shoulders into the bed to hold her head down and licked. It felt so different from behind. She’d been making mewling sounds that just wouldn’t stop. And then he’d taken her when she was soaked and dripping down her own thighs.

  This time he deposited her onto her back, and cupped her cheek as he searched her eyes. He was no longer afraid to face her, no longer afraid to forget to hide from her.

  His lips curved into a smile just as he leaned down and pressed them to hers. It was so different from what the kiss should have been, hurried and violent, and his hand should be so rough on her leg.

  She liked it both ways, but the wolf—this close to the full moon—this time should be violent. Lust, not love. The wolf gives her lust; Kieran gives her love.

  But this time was tender. It was soft sipping, reverent worshipping, and precision. Steady precision as their lips moved together. When he brushed his tongue against her bottom lip, she opened for him. Kieran carefully dragged his claws down her side to her hip, gripped her, and pulled her against him with a deep, sexy sound in his throat. His touch was controlled heat, blazing against her skin as he slid his hand up her breast.

  “You’re mine, Alannah,” he rumbled. He told her every time they made love and usually she agreed. Because she was.

  But after today, no longer.

  Okay, now her body was igniting. Kieran pressed himself to he
r, scarred beauty to soft beauty. “Skin. I want to feel your skin,” he demanded.

  They were already butted up as close as humanly possible, but she wrapped her arms and legs around him, running her fingers up his back, her legs locked around his muscular ass. He sank into her in one move. With a gasp, she locked her arms against his shoulders, bracing for the ride. He began to thrust.

  His hand slipped down and his thumb circled her clit, round and round, the pressure perfect. He knew her so well in their short time together. And then, right when she was on the verge of orgasm, he thrust his cock deep inside her until she was throbbing hard. She panted his name, legs tightening around him, but he had her, panting in her ear.

  And then he trailed biting kisses down her neck to her breasts as he lowered her legs slowly. When he sucked hard on her nipple, she cupped his head and tossed her head back, closed her eyes, and melted into his touch. He pulled away from her nipple and continued his biting kisses down her stomach to her wet sex, where he pressed one right on her throbbing clit.

  A gasp escaped her.

  In one touch he flared her temperature right up again. She should be relaxed, coming down from her orgasm, and instead he sparked her need up instantly. This was the wolf coming through. He may have let Kieran have this one, but he’d show his face once.

  Her hands were a bit frantic as she grabbed his hair, trying to force him up. He understood, flipping them over so she straddled him. When she settled onto his lap, his erection was hard against her sex, still wet from her body. Kieran slid his arms around her and pulled her against his chest. He gripped her ass as he thrust his hips against her.

  Alannah rocked against him, rotating her hips, masturbating on his hard, hard cock. Kieran closed his eyes and released a shuddered breath. He reached between them and grabbed his cock, poised it right at her entrance. She slid over him, slowly, taking him into her body, sighing into his ear at the instant warmth and fullness he created for a moment, then she began to rock. It felt so good, having him move inside of her, being connected. Kieran spread his knees farther apart and slammed into her, meeting her, moving with her, fingers rough on her hips as he kept her on him. Much as he tried to keep the wolf down, he just kept rearing his head. He pushed into her harder and faster until she was chanting his name, and just as her second orgasm blasted through her, Kieran clamped his teeth on her shoulder and groaned, thrust deep, and throbbed warmth into her. He didn’t break the skin, but his bite felt good as her release raged harder than the first one. They moved slowly together, enjoying the afterglow. And when they were spent and still at last, she raised her head from his neck. “That was so different.”

  “The wolf loves you enough to let me have you to myself one last time,” he murmured, reminding her that he knew. Kieran pulled her in close and hugged her tight. “It’s not exactly the way I wanted it for us, though.”

  And she knew. He was going to make this day as difficult as possible for her to continue to refuse him. It was why she’d filled the day with activities with her sisters. To avoid him.

  Kieran:

  “What are you doing today?” he asked her, stifling a yawn as she pulled her body from his and settled into his shoulder.

  “Heading with Danielle and Ana to the childcare facilities.” Her voice was carefully neutral.

  “Your sponsorship is coming to an end, Alannah,” he whispered. “Will you mate with me?”

  “No. I’m sorry. I can’t.”

  She turned him down every fucking time. But surely she knew this was serious? This weekend she’d be forced to leave.

  “What will you do?”

  She shrugged. “Travel, I imagine. Until I’m caught.”

  “I thought you loved me.”

  “I do, baby. So much. It’s why I’m leaving.” But she wouldn’t say anymore than that. Instead she got up from the bed and showered, getting ready for her day. He wouldn’t waste time.

  Even though he was bone weary, he sprang out of bed as soon as she left and headed to the main hub.

  As if they’d been waiting for his visit, Dr. Amanda and Dr. Robyn both looked up from her desk as soon as he approached.

  “There has to be a way to keep her,” he said. They knew what he was talking about. He’d been here before over the same issue.

  “There’s not, I’m afraid. Not if she won’t mate with you.”

  “Then you must make her,” he gritted.

  “I can’t do that. We told her we would never take her choice away like her mother did with Nolan,” Robyn said softly.

  “It doesn’t make sense. She told me she loves me. Why would she willingly leave? If the police don’t capture her and imprison her, the bounty hunters will and they’ll demand payment. If they don’t get her, her mother will demand she return to that sniveling idiot.”

  “Yes,” Amanda said sadly. “But that’s her choice.”

  “But why?” he said.

  “I believe I know,” the voice of the house computer said.

  Kieran looked up sharply at the ceiling, as if he could see someone, even though logically he knew he couldn’t. The computer, Leo, was able to think. But he wasn’t embodied.

  “Leo,” Robyn’s voice warned. “Patient/doctor confidentiality.”

  “Dr. Robyn, the rules protecting Lady Alannah’s privacy are for you to follow. However, I am not human and don’t abide by the same restrictions.”

  “Tell me,” Kieran snarled.

  “Since you have been in for testing,” Leo continued, “we have seen that you are one of the few Xeno Sapiens able to procreate. And when Lady Holland was in medbay, tests revealed she is one of the few humans who cannot.”

  “What?” Why hadn’t she ever told him? “Why not?”

  “The contract between her mother and Lord Nolan called for her sterilization,” Amanda said softly.

  He sucked in a breath. “Does she know?”

  “Lady Alannah is over eighteen years of age. She would have had to agree to the procedure.”

  “And she knew I wanted pups,” he said, standing abruptly. How could he have been so stupid? She’d always avoided the issue of children. She didn’t want him to know. She was leaving so he could find someone else to have his children.

  He raced across the front steps and to the west where the new facilities were set up. Coming out the front door was Alannah and her sisters.

  Her face lit up when she saw him. He loved that. He walked quickly across the rubberized concrete, brought into Xenia to combat the effects of global warming.

  He stopped in front of her. He cleared his throat. “Lady Alannah Morgan Holland, daughter of Lord Oliver Matthews Holland”—he dropped to one knee—“will you do me the honor of becoming my mate?”

  Her brow furrowed. “Kieran, please, baby. I can’t. You know this.”

  “I don’t want children. I want you.”

  She froze and he caught the way Danielle and Ana both turned to her, puzzled.

  She took a soft breath and explained to them. “Kieran’s spliced DNA enables him to procreate.” She turned to Kieran. “It fixed you the first time you changed completely. Do you know how many Xeno Sapiens envy that ability? You can’t throw that away,” she said gently.

  He rose to stand. “Yet you would throw us away? I choose you, Alannah. Not children.”

  “For how long? One day you may want them and you’ll regret the decision. You’ll resent me for not being able to give you any.”

  “I love you.” He dropped his forehead to hers. “And I know you love me.”

  “Wait a minute,” Danielle said. “Alannah, you can’t have children?”

  Alannah held his gaze while she answered. “No.” Her voice was a whisper. “Part of the arrangement between mother and Wilson was that I agree to sterilization. After I met his mother, I agreed.” She hung her head, but he lifted her with one finger under her chin.

  Ana gasped sharply.

  “They had no right—”

  “I agreed,
Ana.” Alannah held up her hand. “I agreed.”

  “What kind of sterilization?” Danielle asked.

  “My womb. It was frozen.” She cupped her belly. “It’s useless. Permanent.”

  “You have eggs?”

  “Yes, because to remove the ovaries throws you into early menopause. Wilson was kind enough to want to avoid that.”

  “Oh, well, no problem. You have two sisters here with perfectly good uteruses. No worries,” Danielle said.

  Alannah’s breath caught in her throat. “You’d do that for me?”

  “Of course,” Ana said. “We’re your sisters, right? What haven’t you done for us?”

  The three of them hugged and then somehow someone pulled him into the hug. He was huddled in a circle with three sobbing females.

  “Kieran,” Alannah said. “I love you. Ask me again.”

  “Alannah Holland, I love you back. Would you be my mate?”

  “Yes,” she shrieked, throwing her arms around him and pressing kisses all over his face. “I love you so much!”

  The Xeno Sapiens milling about startled for a moment, and then started clapping.

  All around them was laughter and applause.

  Epilogue

  Xenia, the main hub. Two weeks later:

  “WELCOME TO XENIA. I’m Dr. Robyn Saraven and this is Dr. Irina Mescar. Thank you all for your interest in our Mail Order Bride program. This is the test run of the program and depending on the success, we may just run a second time.”

  Cassandra Richter glanced at the other women seated in the chairs around the room. One woman barely looked out of her teens, but she had to be at least twenty-one because there was a minimum age requirement listed when they’d signed up.

  And no one was close to her age.

  They were all very early twenties to her ten—possibly, fifteen—more years. Oh, she knew age was but a number nowadays, but never did it show more than when you were in a room full of kids.

  “We’ll start with DNA samples. From there, a serum will be produced that will open up your receptors, so to speak. You’ll be introduced throughout the city to various Xeno Sapien males, and if we’re all successful, well—”