by Pearl Tate
“It’s okay.” My voice is a whisper this time, and its abandonment makes me blush more. This is terrible! I don’t know if I’m going to be able to talk to him.
Selas throws his hands on his hips next to me, straightening up. “Well. Let’s head over to the cafeteria and get a bite to eat.”
“Is that a good idea?” Devlin’s voice is angry as he blocks Selas and I from walking forward on their version of a sidewalk.
Selas just smirks and looks up at him as I watch, impressed with his bravery. Devlin’s kind of scary in a super sexy way. “Jenny wants to get a bite to eat and see where you’ve been living. If it makes you feel better, we’ve cleared it out. All the other inmates have left and there's two males stationed at each door.”
Wow! I had no idea. They’ve really been going out of their way for me. “Thank you, Selas.” I smile at his thoughtfulness. I understand that this situation has made a lot of extra work for him.
“You’re welcome.” His smile is bright as he turns and offers his arm. Devlin practically shoves him as he smoothly slides between us. His big body moves as gracefully as a dancer. I can’t even see Selas on the other side of him.
When his arm appears right in front of my face, I slowly peer up at him. His deep orange and brown eyes burn with intensity. “Would you care for my assistance?”
Looking away quickly, I gather my confidence. “Thank you.” I think my new boyfriend needs to work on his manners, but I admit, there’s a lot I don’t understand about their society.
It almost looked like Selas was baiting him. After his comments about me, it doesn’t surprise me. Like he’s daring him and pushing us together. Maybe he realizes how shy I am?
Reaching up, I put my hand in the crook of Devlin’s elbow. Warm skin prickles my palm and an arousing tingle spreads through me with the contact. My nipples harden as if a cool breeze slid down my shirt. The tingle spreads through my body and into my arms. My hands are now clenching him much too tightly.
There’s a different texture to his skin. He doesn’t have arm hair like a human man. But I can see hair with the sun pressing light through the dome above us. It’s shorter and feels like he’s covered in velvet. My attention is captured by the markings on his arm.
“Are these the mating marks?” My fear melts away in awe. The colors are beautiful. Orange, purple, and green dance under my fingers as my other hand comes up to stroke them lightly. “Mine don’t have these colors.” Could they be wrong about us?
“Yours will darken over time… when you complete the mating.” Selas is waiting for us a few feet away, watching us carefully.
My traitorous body blushes again. I can’t even look up at Devlin. Instead, I turn towards Selas and we start walking in silence.
The experience is awkward, even though it feels like the most natural thing in the world to be touching him. Turning my attention to our surroundings, I try to relax. The walkway is narrow, and the pavement is a deep red color. Is it even pavement? I can’t resist reaching down to touch it. It has a spongy texture.
A low chuckle from next to me has me glancing up at Devlin. “How does it feel?”
“Springy. Like I could bounce on it. Is that normal?” My insecurity melts away with my curiosity. “And it’s red? Why is that?”
“All I've learned is it’s made to work with the hover craft technology in the shuttles. Autopilot and charging technology. It has embedded receptors.”
Oh, wow. Girl, you are not in Kansas any longer. I was going to ask about the dome, but I probably won’t understand anything about that either. I just look stupid.
Selas turns towards another large building that’s sitting closer to the road we’re walking on. The double doors are held open by two men that are standing on either side. They really aren’t messing around with security. A tiny blip of fear runs through me, and I wonder if I should be worried.
“Are you feeling nervous?” Devlin stops a few steps from the doors being held open for us, turning me towards him.
How did he know? “Uh… maybe a little. It seems like a lot of security for a meal? Should I be worried?”
“Not with Devlin here with you.” Selas turns from where he’s walking ahead of us. “We’re still discovering exactly what the mating does to our physiology. It definitely makes us stronger, bigger, and harder to hurt. It’s meant to help us protect our mates.”
Weird.
I sneak a peek up at Devlin whose brows are bunched like he’s thinking hard. “Can’t they just review your history, historical records, or something? This was common at one time, correct?”
Selas stops at a table, turning to wave at the two chairs across from each other. “Yes. But for some reason, either we’re not being granted access to the information, or it’s disappeared. What Matthias has found is the basic premise but not intensive details.” He pulls out a chair and I lower myself and scoot in.
“That’s weird. You’d think something so intimate to your lifestyle would be documented thoroughly. So, we’re an experiment? Did you all mate with other species in the past—like you are with humans now?”
Devlin continues to stare at me hungrily as he pulls out the chair across from me and sits. I can tell how big he is because the table and chair seem almost comically small next to him. But I could practically rest my chin on the table!
“No.” Selas stands next to us at the table like a waiter would. “No one has any memory of us mating with another species. This is something entirely unexpected and new.” Taking a step back, he motions over his shoulder. “I’m going to get your food and you can talk and become familiar with each other. Hannah said this would be like your first date? A human interaction she feels is necessary?”
I blush again. Damn, I wish I could control that. I can’t even look at Devlin and keep my eyes trained on Selas. “Thank you.” My voice is a whisper again and trying to force those words out starts a coughing fit.
Both men move towards me as I work to clear the phlegm from my throat, holding up my hand. I don’t glance at them until I’m done, feeling like I practically coughed up a lung. A slight ache in my chest clues me in that it wasn’t good.
“I’m okay. Sorry.” My eyes flicker to both their worried faces.
“Don’t apologize for coughing. I’ll go get your food now and start with some water.”
Selas takes off and we’re alone. Or as alone as we will probably get in this large room we’re in the middle of. Samena stopped to talk to the guards near the door. It looks like your every day plain cafeteria. The floor is hard and has metal tables and chairs scattered throughout the room.
“Are you feeling better? Did you choke?” Devlin’s innocent question brings up what I should just get over with. I need to tell him about my cystic fibrosis. I’m curious if they have an equivalent disease in their society.
“No, I didn’t choke.” I can’t make eye contact with him and instead concentrate on my fingers clenching in my lap. “I… I have a genetic disease called cystic fibrosis. It’s common for me to have lung issues… shortness of breath and chest infections. Basically, my body has trouble processing mucus, and it builds up in my lungs and digestive tract. Then it makes me have trouble breathing and also digesting food properly.”
I chance a peek up at him. He looks angry again. Is he mad because I’m defective? “There isn’t a cure. Humans have been looking for one but…” I shrug just as Selas shows up with a glass of water he hands directly to me.
Gulping it thankfully, I’m grateful to have something to concentrate on. That wasn’t easy but I’m glad to have it out of the way.
Usually, everyone knows already. I grew up in a small town and my dad had a large congregation that all knew our family personally. It’s rare that I ever have to share this aspect of my life.
Devlin turns to Selas and talks to him in a different language. That’s so rude! I can’t help the tears that fill my eyes and I don’t watch them as he finishes.
Instead, I take off my gl
asses and clean them on the bottom of my shirt to make it look like I’m busy too. They're aliens, right? They don’t realize how rude they're being.
Selas puts a hand on my shoulder, waiting for me to look up at him. Sniffing discretely and trying to hide my stupid feelings, I slip on my glasses and glance up. I’m not surprised, but this is so uncomfortable.
“Devlin told me about this human disease you have. You must forgive him. It wasn’t that long ago he learned your language. I gave him the nanos while you cleaned up so it’s still processing. There are things he can’t express yet.”
“Yes. I’m sorry if speaking in our language excluded you. I meant no harm.” Devlin stands as he speaks and picks up his chair. He moves it towards Selas and I until Selas has to step back and let go of my shoulder, giving him a meaningful glare.
Selas just smirks and walks away. It confirms again that he’s pushing Devlin. Testing his boundaries. Devlin’s chair drops to the floor next to mine. He settles into it, ignoring the corner of the table that pushes into his stomach.
He’s so large. His thigh brushes against mine as he angles his body towards me. Reaching towards me, I watch his hands swallow mine, easily covering up to my wrists.
“Selas will study this disease and see what we have that could help with it.” Devlin’s staring at me but I don’t look up. I’m too overwhelmed by him. His hands, his body. His everything!
Swallowing hard, I pull myself together. He’s so close. Right there. I almost lose my train of thought. “What did he mean about just learning my language? And nanos?” Peeking up, I watch him speak.
“We all have nanos living in our system. They were introduced around the time that the mating died out. From what I learned, the nanos were blamed for our loss of the mating bonds. But now, anything our nanos are programed with, we can learn quickly. I’m still learning your language.”
His speech is slow and stilted but understandable and clear. “That’s so wonderful!” I’m jealous and impressed. To be able to learn a language that quickly! “Could I learn your language like that?”
“Eventually. When you have nanos in your system.” It’s Selas who answers. He’s back with a bowl he places down in front of me. “This is our version of your Earthen beef stew. Hannah says it’s the closest recipe to an Earth food and you should like it.”
“Thank you.” Breathing in the bowl that’s sitting almost under my nose, I agree he’s right. “Mm, it smells just like chunky beef stew. Looks like it too.” I smile up at him. He’s standing where Devlin’s chair was earlier across from us. “Will I get your nanos soon?”
Selas’s eyes flicker to Devlin before he looks at me again. “Sure. As soon as you complete the mating.”
“You said that before… completing the mating. Is there a ceremony or something? Like marriage?” My eyes drop to where Devlin is still holding my hands. His thumbs are stroking over my wrists as though he can’t stop feeling me. Even that tiny movement is arousing.
“There isn’t a public ceremony exactly. There are celebrations afterwards… but the consummation is usually private.” I look up at Selas and then over to Devlin. Consummation…
Oh! Duh!
The fact that this is finally registering must show on my face. I’m slow. They both smile and Devlin squeezes my hands.
“Is this similar to marriage?” Devlin’s voice is close to my ear and when I look over at him, I see that Selas has left. His breath on my skin sends shivers down my spine and my nipples harden to the point of pain. How does he do that to my body?
Collecting my thoughts, I gently tug a hand from him and pick up the spoon type utensil by the bowl in front of me. “Marriage is a ceremony we have in front of friends, family, and God. We promise to be committed to each other for the rest of our lives with them as witnesses.”
“Neither of us has family here. But if it’s important to you, we can have this ceremony in front of friends and your God before we complete the mating. Would this please you?”
CHAPTER EIGHT
- Devlin
I came to this meeting expecting to never want to see her again. Now I’m already trying to figure out how to get her totally committed and into bed. I volunteered to have a ceremony committing myself to her publicly!
She’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen. If I had looked at her near Selas without knowing who she was, I would have assumed she was a child. Thin, tiny, and fragile looking, she fires up every protective instinct in me.
My heart thawed when it took in her petite features. Her rosebud lips and clear blue eyes. Body tingling, skin tightening, I was drawn to her. I still am.
There’s no going back. It’s annoying that Selas seemed to be aware this would happen, but I’m thankful he pushed me. I don’t know what I was thinking now. I could never have stayed away.
Every time Selas touches her, I want to slam him away. Or knock him out. Either would work.
Even though my cock isn’t hard, I can picture it that way, thrusting inside her tiny body. Filling her. Stretching her. Bonding to her.
I hope that in time, I’ll be able to please her. She seems innocent.
She can barely talk to me and blushes over everything said. It’s endearing.
“Have you ever had this marriage ceremony with another?” As soon as the thought crosses my mind, I have to ask. A deep longing to be the first has filled me. I don’t deserve it, but I want it.
The bite of food in her mouth chokes her. Sputtering, she waves her hands next to her face as she swallows.
As she licks her lips, my body clenches with need. “No. I’ve never been married.” Her eyes pop open. “Have you?”
Here we go. Truth time. She’s been honest with me so far.
Although the sharing of feelings between us is new, I can sense a trace amount of her responses. I had no idea all these myths are true! There will be no way for her to deceive me in the future. I’ll always recognize her honest intent and that will be the opposite of my previous Ermada.
“I was promised and in a committed relationship for three annual rotations.”
She freezes as this sinks in. Swallowing the food in her mouth, she asks, “Is that three years?”
I toss the word around in my head before answering, “Yes. That would be three of your years, but I don’t know if Earth years are the same as Quasar years.”
“Hm.” She nods. Another bite is already at her lips. I can detect her anxiety although none shows on her face. It’s carefully blank as she chews, and I wonder which part bothers her.
Soon I’ll learn everything about her. She will just yearn for it and I’ll be there to supply it for her.
Selas drops a bowl of our usual fare in front of me. “How is it?” His question is obviously to Jenny. Everyone knows how shitty the porridge in front of me is.
“It’s fantastic. Have you tried it?” She holds up a spoonful towards him.
Selas shakes his head. His eyes flicker to me and I’m sure he can read the violence in them. If he puts his lips on her utensil, I’m not sure I will be able to handle watching that.
I should speak to her of this. It’s getting harder to control myself. I’m seriously considering grabbing her and dragging her back to my dwelling. At least until I convince her to let me drown in her body.
Selas grabs a chair from the table behind him, turning it so he can sit across from us. “Jenny, I appreciate the offer. Truly.” I watch her profile smile before she eats the bite she offered him. “I suspect we should talk more about the mating urges before you head out of here. I’m confident that Devlin will be able to take you around with no problems. But I can see the territorial battle that Devlin is fighting right now.”
Good. He can tell her. At least from his lips, it won’t sound like a lie or something exaggerated.
Her spoon settles into her bowl and her lips wrap around the glass where she takes a drink. I want her lips on me. Drinking me down.
Turning towards me, she looks back and forth
between Selas and me. “Territorial battle? What do you mean?” I turn back to Selas, waiting for him to explain. What does he know? What do they all know about what I’m feeling?
“Devlin is jealous. Jealous of me touching you…”
“Touching me?” She’s puzzled as she turns.
“Yes. Your elbow earlier. Offering you my arm. Offering food. This is normal.” Selas leans back, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Really?” She turns to me. “Are you really?”
“Yes.” I bite the words out. I’m ashamed but refuse to show it.
“It’s normal. He’s your mate, and he just met you. His body is urging him to complete the mating and make you his. You understand, right?” He waits for her to agree and when she doesn’t, he continues. “Sex?”
A becoming shade of pink colors her skin. Blotches of red creep up her neck. I can tell she’s embarrassed. I realize I feel her uncomfortable nerves with our fledgling bond.
I take her hands in mine and she looks at them instead of up at me. “I won’t push you to let me be with you intimately. I’m not even sure it’s possible for me.”
“I just don’t want you to get into a fight, Devlin.” Selas looks at Devlin pointedly as he speaks. “I’ll let you two discuss this.” His chair scrapes the floor as he pushes back quickly and walks towards the door we arrived through.
When I gaze back at her, she’s looking at me seriously. “You really feel that way about me?” Her voice is soft and insecure. How can she imagine I wouldn’t want her? She’s beautiful.
Reaching up, I slowly bring my hand into her fine, long hair, wrapping around her neck. Pulling her towards me, she comes willingly, and I have to control my urges. I want to pull her into my lap and never let her up.
“Oh, yes, Jenny. I feel so much for you. I never want to let you out of my sight again. I could spend years stroking and exploring you.” I pull back from her ear I’ve been whispering into, looking her directly in the eyes. “Would you let me, sweet Jenny?” Her intoxicating scent seems to drug me but maybe we both experience that?
