She sighed, settled in his arms, comforted by his strength and his care. “I’m sorry I was such a baby,” she said.
He pushed her back, pressed her into the bed. “You are the strongest person I know,” he said. His mouth caressed hers, cherished hers tenderly.
“I feel foolish,” Lydia said. “It’s a room. It’s a building. I mean…”
“A room where your life changed from safe and normal to hell,” Mycos said.
“I…I.. accurate,” Lydia said. “Thank you.”
He brushed his lips against hers, he said, “I will run a bath for you. You will spoil yourself in the bath with no little ones. Gregor is keeping them occupied. When you are done, you will put on your most comfortable clothing and we will have supper with the family.”
“Are you letting the men join us,” Lydia asked.
“Yes,” Mycos said. Often the men ate with them. The girls liked to sit between them and ask them questions.
“Good,” Lydia said. “I like how they treat the girls.”
“We will read books and tuck in the girls. Then you and I are coming back here,” Mycos said.
“I … I,” Lydia gripped his arms hard, nerves making her breath come in short gasps.
“We will lay together and talk—any topic. I need to hold you, like I am holding you now,” Mycos said. “Can you let me hold you?”
“Yes,” she said calm settling in.
“There will be no lovemaking until you say you are ready,” Mycos said. “We have agreed to this.”
“I know,” Lydia said.
“I want to sit with you while you bathe but I respect your need for privacy,” Mycos said.
“It bothers you to be separated from me when I’m upset,” Lydia asked.
“Yes,” Mycos said.
“If you put a lot of bubble bath stuff in, I’ll be covered up,” Lydia said.
“You would allow me to sit with you,” Mycos asked.
“Will it make you happy,” Lydia asked.
“I like tending you,” Mycos said. “I like knowing the things I do ease whatever made you unhappy.”
“If the bubbles don’t cover me enough, we could put a towel over the top,” she said.
***
“My parents got taken there,” Nic said as she scooped potatoes on her plate. “I hid from them when they came. I was afraid of them.”
“Do they know what caused it,” Landros asked.
“I have done a little research into it,” Justinian said. “The origins have never really been released.”
“It stopped the war,” Dani said. “I was reading about it. The world was on the brink of another war. Then there was a bad flu season which turned into the plague and wiped out sixty percent of the population.”
“What were you reading,” Mycos asked.
“In the research mode of the programs,” Dani said. “I typed in plague and all these articles came up. Under speculative, there were a bunch of theories which sound crazy.”
“Like what,” Gregor asked.
“One of the articles talked about overpopulation and food shortages leading to terrorist groups attempting to eliminate different races,” Dani said. “I didn’t really understand all of it.”
“I read about the impact of the plague,” Heidi said.
“What kind of impact,” Lydia asked.
“It hit the old, like over fifty almost all of the generations died,” Heidi said. “The children, like you were Lyd, were most resistant to it.”
“Tailor-made to reduce population on an overpopulated and polluted world,” Mycos said. “We have seen civilizations do this.”
“On other planets,” Rachel asked.
“Yes,” Justinian said. “It is unfortunate but true.”
“You should look into it,” Mycos said.
“I gained access to certain records,” Justinian said.
“What records,” Lydia asked. When neither man said anything, she looked at them. “My records?”
“Yes,” Mycos said. He reached out to hold her hand.
“What’s in them,” Lydia asked looking at Justinian.
“I obtained records for all seven of you,” Justinian said. Mycos nodded giving him permission to tell her. “When you were taken from the ward, you were the only survivor. Do you remember them taking a lot of blood from you?”
“Yes,” Lydia said. “I was pretty scared.”
“The blood they took from you helped them synthesize a vaccine,” Justinian said.
“You saved the world,” Heidi said.
“Not hardly,” Lydia said. Justinian raised his eyebrows. “You’re kidding.”
“I need to do more research but Trinity tells me the death rate was rising,” Justinian said. “She said the doctors were losing. It is why the wards were set up and people were not cared for. Once they reached a certain stage, they did not survive. You did.”
“Crazy cool,” Dani said.
“I don’t know what to say,” she said. “All I wanted was my parents.”
“Your survival is their legacy,” Landros said.
“Thank you,” Lydia said softly as she leaned on Mycos.
***
“You have been quiet,” Mycos said.
“I don’t know what to think about all of this,” Lydia said as she sat on the bed. “I want to show you something.” She scooted to the edge of the bed. She walked into the closet and returned. She crawled back on the bed and patted the mattress next to her.
Dressed in sleep pants and a t-shirt, Mycos joined her. “This is from the warehouse,” he said recognizing the bag Nic retrieved.
“Yes,” she said. “After… after being put in the foster home and escaping, I went back to our apartment. All of our stuff was still there. At some point they cleared out apartments and burned all of the contaminated stuff but they hadn’t gotten there yet. This is all I have left of them.” She pulled out a small book and opened it to show pictures of a baby with a couple.
“May I,” Mycos asked. “This is you as a baby?”
“It is,” she said. “Those are my parents. This is dad’s parents. And here’s mom's.”
“You are adorable,” Mycos said. “All of you look happy.”
“It feels like a dream,” she said watching him flip through the pages. “It feels like it couldn’t have happened.”
“It did,” Mycos said. “What is this?”
“Dad did this big thing when I was ten for mom. It was their fifteenth wedding anniversary,” she said. “When they got married, he couldn’t afford an engagement ring, so they wore only simple wedding bands. But for their fifteenth anniversary he saved up for a whole year. He and I went together to pick out a ring for her. Both sets of parents came down to help celebrate. It was a big thing. At the end of dinner, daddy got down on one knee and presented her with this ring.”
“This is a custom for your people,” Mycos asked.
“Hmmm hmmm,” she said. “They were wearing their rings when they died.”
“You only have the pictures,” Mycos said.
“Anything of value had already been looted from the apartment,” Lydia said. “Mom and dad loved the pictures. There were shelves of them from different events of their life. I found this little album on the shelf and went through the other albums to grab some of them.”
“To remind you,” Mycos said gazing into her eyes.
“Yes,” she said. “I thought it was to remind me it was an illusion but it wasn’t.” A tear slid down her cheek. “I miss them.”
Mycos reached out, rubbed his thumb across her cheek. “Of course you do,” he said. “I was older than you when my father died. I remember how much grief I felt at the time.”
She leaned towards him, swiped her lips across his. “I know this is our private time but would you mind if we … could you hold me?”
Setting the pictures on the bedside table, he pushed back the covers. “Yes,” he said. He drew her to his chest and wrapped his arms around
her. “You are safe and so are your memories. May I borrow them?”
“I suppose,” she said. She inhaled his scent and felt safe again. “You’re home for me.”
“I love you,” he said cherishing her words.
Chapter 5
"What is wrong," Mycos said as he held Lydia. Every night they slept together. He kept their time in her bed as chaste as possible.
"What if I mess up," she asked.
"You will not," Mycos said.
"I don't know what's appropriate," Lydia said trembling in his arms. "I don't know how to talk to people. I don't know anything."
"You do," Mycos said. "We have talked at length about the systems we desire to sell to the government. You have a thorough understanding of not only what we offer but how to persuade people to want what we have."
"But…" Lydia said.
He pulled her up on tiptoes, looked deep into her green eyes, and said, "Lydia Witter, I love you. You will do fine. If you mess up, you mess up. It will not be catastrophic."
"Oh," Lydia said leaning in she kissed him, stepped into his body and held him close to her. "What should I wear," she asked.
"Nothing," he murmured as he nibbled on her neck.
She laughed, "You want me naked at this cocktail party?"
"I want you," he said, pulling her close. Removing her shirt, he kissed her thrusting his tongue in as his hand swept over her curves. He reached for her pants, tugged on the button, felt her tense. He slipped his hands down the back of her pants, they were loose enough his hands went between the material and the silk of her underwear.
She started to tremble, wanted him, but doubt shivered through her. It had been enough time. If they made love, she shouldn't get pregnant. She wanted to please him. She wanted to know more but there was a last kernel of fear. Her breathing hitched as he removed her bra, caressed her breasts. Pushing her up against the wall, he demanded from her. Their cuddling had gotten more intense. Last night, he pushed her limits, pushed her to accept him more. It made her head spin, made her giddy, and made her a little afraid.
"Lydia," he murmured against her breasts. His hard body exposed his desire as he ground his hips against hers. "I need you," he murmured. He pushed her pants down, lower. Backing up, he pushed them off her until she stood in only her panties. His eyes devoured her, darkened with desire. He stepped back into her, lifted her and pressed her against the wall. She shoved his shirt off, wanted the skin contact which aroused and soothed him. His bare chest pressed against her breasts, crushed them as his mouth consumed hers. He took her in, her scents, the feel of her soft skin, silky hair.
He pressed into her. She felt his desire, the hardness restrained only by clothing. Her breathing hitched as his hand slipped between them. His fingers slipped beneath the silk covering her. Her hands dug into his shoulders. His stormy eyes speared her, begged her to let him go further than ever before. She pulled his mouth to hers, kissing him, driving the fear back to enjoy the desire. His fingers slipped over her, into her.
"Hmmmm," she pressed her hips to deepen his penetration and demanded more from his lips.
"More," he asked to be certain she wanted him.
"Y .. Yes," she stuttered. He saw her struggle, slipped another finger into her, rubbed his thumb across her.
"Mycos," she gasped his name, stopped thinking and let him take her to whatever came next. She trusted him.
He saw the moment she surrendered to him, savored it and gave it back to her. Teasing, touching, kissing, he took her higher. Cupping her, his fingers explored her core, burying his fingers in her heat and her desire. "Let me give you an orgasm," he begged her.
"Yes," she said submitting to her own needs and his demands. "Yes."
His thumbs wiped across her, she jerked. His tongue thrust in tasting her, wanted to taste more than her mouth. He swiped across her again. Her moan urged him to do more, to take her further. He slipped his fingers deep into her heat, slipped them in and out, mimicking the motion he wanted. She tore her mouth from his, gulping air in. Her eyes closed, she held him close. He swiped his tongue across her nipple, she held his head in place. He pressed against her core. Her legs pulled him in, crushed him against her as her whole body tightened. She cried out, moaned, held him there as her orgasm wrecked her.
Trembling, she gulped in air. "Oh Mycos," she murmured. "Oh…"
"Easy," he soothed her. She gripped him hard with her arms and legs. "Too much," he asked concerned when she didn't loosen her grip.
"No," she whispered.
He carried her into the bathroom, holding her close, kissing her gently while she settled. He nipped her earlobe, tugged on it making her sigh. "What do you think of your first orgasm," he murmured.
"I didn't know," she said. "I mean… I understood the physical but not…" She kissed him. "Thank you."
"You will let me do this again," Mycos said against her lips.
"Yes," she said. "Please, yes."
He smiled. "You need to get dressed," he said.
Leaning her head on his shoulder, she sighed. "I don't want to go," she said.
"If you tell me you want to become my lover, I will call the whole thing off," he murmured his eyes teasing.
"But the representative from the government is coming," Lydia said. "Will we have private time later?"
"Yes," he growled. "There are more things I want to show you, do to you."
She smiled, bit her lip but smiled at him. "I'm willing to have you do those things," she said.
"All of them," he asked hopeful.
"I… maybe," she said. "Am I being a tease?"
"No," he said. "One step at a time. Let's see how you feel after I lick my way around your entire body."
Her eyes got wide, her teeth chewed on her lip. "Men do…I thought only women…" Lydia blushed.
"We will explore all possible pleasures," Mycos said. "Now a shower for you. Would you like me to pick a dress for you?'
"Do you mind," she asked watching him turn on the shower, amp up the heat for her.
"You will wear anything I pick," he demanded.
"Oh… I don't want to be," Lydia bit her lip, considered. "You want to show me off."
"You are magnificent," he said slipping her underwear down her legs. He inhaled the earthy scent of her desire and smiled at how wet her panties were.
"All right," she said leaning towards him. He recognized her need for protection. He wondered if she picked it up from Abby or if it was the other way around.
"I am not showing too much of you," he whispered caressing her curves, touching her gently. "I will not share the more intimate parts of you."
She sighed, leaned in closer, and kissed him. "Thank you," she said.
***
The large lounge held a lot of people. Nic stood next to Lydia. "How many are here," she asked.
"Too many," Lydia said. "Are the girls tucked in?"
"Yes, I let them peek at these people as they came in. Heidi fell in love with some of the clothes," Nic said.
"She’s not getting cocktail dresses," Lydia said.
"This is nice," Nic said. "You're covered up but showing off."
"Mycos picked it out," Lydia said fidgeting. "You don't think it's too revealing?"
"I think he wants to peel it off you," Nic said nodding towards where Mycos stood talking to the man from the government. "He does not want to talk to whoever that guy is."
"Nic, I think," Lydia bit her lip.
"Gonna do the deed," Nic asked.
"I think so," Lydia said.
"Do you love him," she asked frowning.
"Yes," Lydia confessed.
"Have you told him," Nic asked.
"Tonight. I'm telling him tonight after this. I'm telling him and then taking him as my lover," Lydia said smiling at him, seeing only him.
"We won't expect you for breakfast," Nic said. "I'm getting out. He's bringing that man over and I don't want to be trapped here with all these…" she waved her hand at
the people. She hugged Lydia, whispered in her ear, "I'm happy for you."
Nic walked away, nodded at Mycos and headed out of the large lounge. "Senator Grant Weatherton, this is my mate," Mycos said. "Lydia Witter." Lydia stepped into Mycos, put her arm around his waist and smiled at the senator.
"She's lovely," Grant said looking her up and down, liking what he saw.
"It's nice to meet you," Lydia said holding out her hand to him.
"Believe me when I say, the pleasure is all mine," Grant said. "Where did you find this one? She's dazzling."
Mycos stiffened, not liking the man's interest in her. Lydia said, "I ran into him on the street."
Grant raised his eyebrows. Lydia stopped smiling. She knew this look. She knew what he wanted. She wanted nothing to do with him. Inching closer to Mycos, she was uncertain how to discourage the Senator. "How fortunate for you, Lord Mycos," Grant said. "I might have to spend more time with you both." His desire barely contained, he smiled a thin smile at Mycos.
"Lydia is my mate," Mycos said. "On my world, she is my wife." He staked his claim on her, wanted to take her away from him. He wanted to shove the man out of his house and away from his woman, his mate.
"Of course," Grant said brought his interest in check slightly. "I understand."
Lydia asked, "What do you think of the new proposal?"
"I'm not sure my constituents are interested in technology we don't know the long term effect of," Grant said emptying his glass. He traded it for a full one from a passing serving bot.
"I read a survey from your region," Lydia said. "It showed over seventy percent of the people wanted the technology and felt it would prevent something like the plagues from happening again."
"It may work on his world and his people," Grant snapped. "We don't have proof it will work here."
"Doctors Carol and Trinity Giese have seen it work and can talk to you about it," Lydia said catching the eye of Justinian.
Justinian gathered the two doctors and brought them to Lydia. "Doctor Carol Giese, Doctor Trinity Giese, and Justinian, this is Senator Grant Weatherton," Lydia said hoping the senator stopped focusing on her.
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