Traveler: Planet Athion Series (Equinox Book 1)

by Lily Harlem

  “No, of course not.” I pushed his hair back from his forehead. “You mean the world to me, you know that.”

  He smiled. “So how’d he find out? Was he spying on us last night when I came to your room?”

  “He might as well have been?”

  “What?” Mateo frowned.

  I released his hair and tutted. “Magic started saying your name in a…lewd context.”

  He raised his eyes. “Now I’m intrigued.”

  “Fuck me, Mateo, that’s what Magic repeated.”

  Mateo tipped his head back and laughed, a great big guffaw that echoed around the canteen. “No way.”

  “Yes, way.”

  “Bloody hell, we’ll have to be careful what we say in front of Magic.”

  “I’ve always known that, I don’t know why I forgot.”

  “Because I’m insanely sexy, and you couldn’t get my clothes off quick enough.” He grinned and kissed me with his lips curved upward. “Isn’t that right.”

  “I can’t disagree.” I spread my hands over his wide shoulders. “You are one seriously sexy human.”

  “And I’m your boyfriend, don’t forget that.”

  “Ah yes, so you are.”

  “And you’re my girlfriend.”

  “True.” I decided not to add I wasn’t exclusively his. One conversation about that in a day had been enough.

  * * * *

  An hour later, I was in the cinema with Anki. We were watching a documentary about life in the deepest parts of Earth’s oceans. Not one of my specialities, so the weird creatures that lived around bubbling geezers in pitch darkness was holding my attention.

  The cinema had ten seats, and they were all wide and soft.

  Anki had changed his clothes before lunch and now wore dark-blue pants with a dark-blue tunic. He’d foregone the roped belt he usually tied around his waist.

  I’d also slipped into loungewear and was enjoying sitting slumped in the soft cushions. I was weary and looking forward to bed.

  “Our oceans are as yet undiscovered,” Anki said, “Though there are plans divers from Earth will assist us in exploration.”

  “You have deeper oceans than ours.”

  “I believe that’s true.” He was seated on the widest chair and patted it with his hand. “Come and sit with me.”

  I smiled. “Okay.” Much as I was reluctant to leave the softness I’d nestled into, I wanted to be close to Anki.

  I sat near him, and he took my hand in his. “Is it all right to do this?”

  “Hold my hand?”

  “Yes.”

  “I like it.”

  “Me, too.” He rested his head back and stared at the screen.

  I sighed, content, and did the same.

  The program went on for another thirty minutes showing us creatures with ferocious teeth, fish that glowed, and marine life that looked more alien-like than anything I’d learned about on different planets.

  When it ended, the room went dark and quiet. My eyes were heavy, but I didn’t want to go anywhere. Being snuggled next to Anki was too nice.

  “You still awake?” he whispered.

  “Yes. Just.”

  He sat forward and turned to me. He crooked his finger beneath my chin. “Can I kiss you again?”

  “If you want to.”

  “I really want to.” He smiled. “And I promise I won’t need to go and change my pants this time.”

  “I’m actually quite flattered that you were so turned on.”

  “So turned on?” He leaned a little closer so his lips were only a whisper from mine.

  “Yes, it means excited to…fuck.”

  “Excited. Yes, that was how I felt. Excited to fuck.”

  “Is that how you feel now?” Being in the darkness with him was like being in our own world, a cocoon. I wanted more of him. I wanted to explore the shape of the damn fine cock I’d touched earlier.

  “I do.” He breezed his lips over mine. “But we said we’d take it slow, right?”

  “We have all the time in the world.” I was in no rush to take Anki’s virginity. It wasn’t as if he could lose it to anyone else on board Equinox—unless he decided to bat for the other team, that was. Which he’d already told me wasn’t for him. “Slow suits me just fine.”

  I fluttered my eyes closed as he kissed me lightly. He stroked my hair and cupped the back of my head. The kiss deepened, our tongues tangled, and I moaned softly. For a man new to kissing, Anki was pretty damn awesome at it.

  “You’re so sweet, I could kiss you forever,” he whispered then kissed me some more.

  I roamed my palms over his shoulders and chest but was careful not to dip below his waist.

  As I became lost in him, it was as if we’d known each other forever. Despite the fact we’d grown up on different planets on different sides of the galaxy, there was a strong connection.

  “Anki,” I whispered. “Do you feel it, too?”

  “Between us. Yes, you know I do.”

  “It’s special, right?”

  “Yes.” He kissed across my cheek and set his lips at my ear. “This moment is what I’ve waited my whole life for and why I’ve traveled light-years across the universe. It’s all been for you, Uma.”

  Suddenly, bright lights invaded my retinas, and my cocoon evaporated. “What the…?”

  Chapter Nine

  I pulled back from Anki. He did the same. The dazzling white overhead lights had come on. Squinting, I peered ahead.

  Mateo stood in front of the screen with his hands on his hips. His feet were bare, and white sweat pants hung low on his hips. He looked as if he’d been working out. “What the hell is going on?” He glared between us.

  “Mateo.” I frowned and continued to squint. “That’s too bright, we’ve been sitting in the dark for hours.”

  “Have you now.” His jaw tensed. “Sitting in the dark with the screen off, huh? So what have you been doing?”

  “We were watching the screen.” Anki stood. “A deep-sea-exploring documentary.”

  “Seems to me like your tongue has been exploring deep into my girlfriend’s throat.”

  “Mateo, watch what you’re saying.” I stood and straightened my top. “There’s no need to be rude to Anki.”

  “Rude. Fuck, I’ll tell you what’s rude.” He took a step toward me but pointed at Anki. “That you’re sleeping with an alien. That’s rude after what you went through.”

  “I’m not sleeping with—”

  “We haven’t copulated,” Anki said quickly.

  “Well, that’s one thing to be grateful for.” Mateo paused. “Because I saved you from that fate once, Uma.”

  “Mateo, please.” Why is he bringing that up? “This is completely different, and you know it.”

  “Different?” His cheeks were red, and pain and confusion flashed in his eyes. “Explain to me how.”

  “Mateo.” I pressed my hands on his chest in the hope my touch would soothe him. “We’re not exclusive, remember. And Anki is a member of this crew, he’s not a Trad. He means me no harm.”

  “Of course I don’t.” Anki frowned. “Why would I hurt Uma?”

  “But you do want her to have your babies.” Mateo spun to Anki, his jaw tensed so tight I feared for the survival of his teeth.

  I couldn’t understand why he was so rattled when he knew I didn’t want to be tied to only him.

  “What’s going on?” Gavyn appeared at the door, Hurin at his side. Both men looked between the three of us.

  “Anki has been hitting on my girlfriend,” Mateo said.

  “Girlfriend?” Gavyn repeated. “Since when has that been official?”

  “Since today, but you know full well we’ve been together for a long time.”

  “I’ve had my suspicions,” Gavyn said. “But it’s none of my business.”

  “We’re not exclusive,” I protested, “or have you forgotten that part of our conversations, Mateo?”

  “No, we’re not exclusive,
” Mateo said, “but the only reason I agreed to it was because I thought you were getting it together with Gavyn. That he was the other man on board Equinox you were interested in fucking.”

  “Gavyn!” I turned to the captain.

  Me, fuck Gavyn?

  He raised his eyebrows at me and shrugged as though he had no idea what Mateo was talking about.

  Which, of course, he didn’t.

  “No,” I said, “there’s nothing between me and Gavyn. Hell, does there look like there is?” I gestured to him.

  Gavyn appeared slightly taken aback.

  “No offense, Gavyn,” I said, “but there isn’t anything between us, is there.” I hadn’t said it as a question so hadn’t expected a response from Gavyn. But he wore a quizzical expression, as though surprised by my vehement dismissal of there being an ‘us’.

  “In that case, I take it back, I don’t want to share you.” Mateo folded his arms. “Not with an Athion.”

  “Who else I share my time and my bed with is not for you to decide.” I poked Mateo’s chest with my index finger. “And you know it, Mateo Ty.”

  He swallowed, and I knew I’d hurt him. I hated myself for that. But equally I had to be true to what I wanted.

  “Uma and I have decided to copulate,” Anki said in a very determined voice, “or as Magic says, fuck. We have decided to fuck.”

  “Fuck?” Mateo glared at Anki. “Are you for real?”

  “And when we do fuck,” Anki went on, “I will fill her with my seed and pray to the Laird that we make babies. For that is the most important job of my generation, to procreate.”

  “Procreate? What about love?” Mateo asked. “I love her.” He banged his chest.

  He does?

  “I’m sure love will come.” Anki shrugged. “When we have fucked, and she carries my Athion child then—”

  Anki never finished what he was saying because Mateo landed a swift punch to his chin.

  Anki’s head jerked back, and he staggered toward the wall.

  “You’re not good enough for her,” Mateo shouted, rounding on Anki again. “And you never will be.” He managed to land another punch, to Anki’s sternum this time.

  Anki doubled over for a second, then sprang up and careered into Mateo, taking him down like a charging bull might. For all he was mild mannered and quietly spoken, Anki was big and strong and clearly not afraid of confrontation.

  The two men rolled to the floor.

  “Stop it! Stop it!” I rushed up to them.

  Arms, legs, elbows, knees, and fists were flying. Loud thuds and grunts filled the air.

  I’d seen Mateo fight for me before, but this was different. This wasn’t for my life, this was about his jealousy and his wanting to posses me.

  “Jesus Christ, give it a break, man.” Gavyn dragged at Mateo.

  Mateo continued to fight. At one point he appeared about to take a swing at his captain but thought better of it. “Let me at him.”

  “No, enough.” Gavyn tugged Mateo away.

  Hurin reached into the fray and grabbed Anki.

  Within seconds, the ball of anger had separated, and Anki and Mateo had their arms locked behind their backs on separate sides of the cinema. Both were breathing fast. Anki’s tunic was ripped at the neckline, and Mateo’s sweats sat so low on his hips they almost revealed his cock.

  “This is ridiculous,” I said, stepping between them and holding my arms out to the sides, palms up. “To be fighting over me like this.”

  “You didn’t say that before when—” Mateo was breathing fast, his chest expanding and contracting rapidly. He had a trickle of blood leaking from a gash on his cheek.

  “Don’t bring that up.” I flapped my hand at him. “This is about choice—about my choice. In London…that wasn’t.”

  Mateo clamped his mouth shut. He knew when he was pushing me too far.

  “And that goes for you, too, Anki. I get to choose whether or not I carry your babies. I’m not a womb for rent.”

  His mouth fell open. “I never said you were and—”

  “I understand that’s what’s important to Athions, but right now I’m not ready to become a mother. So if you’re only interested in me for what I can give you and your planet, then that special something between us isn’t so special.”

  “Uma, you can’t really think—”

  “What I think is that you, Anki, need to decide if I’m the Earth girl for you, and Mateo you need to work out if you can get a handle on not just jealousy but also this crazy prejudice you have against Athions.”

  “I’m not prejudiced, that’s not true, I just wasn’t expecting to share you with—” He frowned at Anki. “Him.”

  “Like I said, decide if you can live with it, and then I’ll decide if I still want to be your girlfriend, because right now, I don’t.” I stomped toward the door. “In fact, I don’t want to be anyone’s girlfriend. Especially not someone on board Equinox.” I turned with my hand on the vacuum seal. “No offence, Hurin and Gavyn.”

  “None taken,” Gavyn said shrugging.

  I huffed and stepped into the corridor. What had started out as a lovely evening had gone to hell.

  I didn’t go to my room. Instead, I went to the goat pens. Being with animals, like swimming, soothed me.

  “Hey, girl.” I stroked Dolly’s back as she ate her hay. “I’m guessing your day hasn’t been nearly as complicated as mine, huh.”

  She carried on chewing, though she was looking at me with intelligence in her eyes.

  “What am I to do?” I said then sighed. “Mateo and I have history, a lot of history, and I know a piece of me loves him very much. I wouldn’t be without him.” As I’d spoken those words, I realized how true they were. I couldn’t imagine not having him in my life. He’d been my protector, my lover, the pilot of the ship hurtling me through space for so long he’d become ingrained in me, and I liked it that way.

  “And, Anki,” I went on. “He’s sweet and funny, and I fancy the pants off him…literally.” I giggled, and Dolly nudged me with her nose. “Though this isn’t a laughing matter. Those two stupid men nearly killed each other back there. Okay, kill is an exaggeration, but they really had a good fight.” I shuddered at the remembered sounds of fists hitting jaws, chests, and bellies. I also remembered the wound on Mateo’s face.

  I sighed. I should go and patch it up for him.

  No, Hurin can do it. He’s the chief medic.

  That was a crazy idea. Mateo wasn’t likely to let Hurin touch him.

  Whatever his problem with the Athions is, it will have to go.

  But how could I change it?

  I straightened then set about checking water and filling up the grain stores. Despite feeling tired earlier, now I was uptight and wide awake. Thoughts churned though my mind.

  Eventually, though, I couldn’t find any more jobs to do in the pens, so I dimmed the lights and shut the goats in for the night.

  The corridors to my quarters were long and empty, and I moved along silently. For a ship filled with so many souls, it was desolate. I couldn’t help but wish there was another female on board so I would have company—an awake female, that was.

  Seemed it was only me who was prepared to suffer this entire journey with four men. Everyone else chose to knock themselves out.

  As I approached my quarters, a figure dressed in sweats and a wife-beater was leaning against the wall outside. He had the sole of one foot pressed to the corridor wall and was holding a small tablet as though reading from it.

  Gavyn.

  “Hey,” I said. “Everything all right?”

  He pushed forward and placed both feet on the floor. “I’m on my way back from the gym and I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  “That’s kind of you.”

  “I’m captain of this ship. Everyone’s wellbeing is my responsibility.”

  I kind of laughed, but it was strained. “And here was me thinking you cared.”

  He flinched sligh
tly.

  Damn, that had come out sharper than I’d intended. “I’m sorry, guess I’m not much company.”

  “That’s understandable.” He crossed his arms, his knuckles forcing his biceps to bulge. “Can I ask you something?”

  “In light of what I just said, sure, if you’re feeling brave.”

  His mouth twitched; it was almost a smile. “Do you really care for Mateo?”

  “Yes. Despite him being irrational tonight, we have a long history and have shared lots of good times together. He’s very special to me.”

  “That’s good, because it’s clear the guy is head over heels in love with you.”

  “Well, I’m not sure about—”

  He held up his hand. “As an outsider looking in, that’s what I see.”

  “How do you see it?”

  He sucked in a breath. “As I said earlier, it’s none of my business what you two do, relationships are not against the rules on Equinox, so I haven’t taken much notice. But I’d have to be blind not to know that he lights up when you walk into a room, and I’d have to be deaf not to hear the conversation swing back to you more often than not.”

  I waited for him to continue, wondering where he was going with this analysis.

  “And do you care for Anki?” he asked.

  “We’ve only just met, but yes, there’s chemistry there. He’s a great guy.”

  “I agree. I was pleased to accept both him and Hurin on board for this mission. Both are exemplary characters.”

  “So what should I do?”

  “That’s for you to decide.” He stepped up to me and placed his hands on my shoulders. “You either pick one or figure out a way to have both.”

  “Mateo won’t have me if I have anything going on with Anki.”

  He was quiet for a moment, then, “From what I gather, you shocked the heck out of Mateo earlier when he found you snuggled up with Anki.”

  “You could say that.”

  “Give him some time to calm down and get used to the idea. Perhaps he’ll come around if he at least agreed to it in principle. If not, there are rules in place that mean he could be disciplined for prejudice against an Athion and—”

  “No, please. I’d hate him to have something like that on his record. Mateo is a good man who only seeks to help others. He’s never shown any prejudice before. As you said, this was just a shock.”