“Great, Kaoti. Now, everyone knows I pissed myself.” I scowled at him.
“Perhaps, you will forgive me. I have discovered the Hadrian’s mission.”
I sat up and stared at him. “Well, tell us,” I impatiently demanded.
Violet gave her husband’s bicep a gentle poke to hurry him up.
Kaoti said, “The Hadrian is investigating a comet.”
Several feelings flowed through me at once, relief, disbelief, annoyance. “Are you joking? I’ve been worried sick about them. Quaid looked like a nervous wreck when last we spoke. It was like he was on a top-secret mission with dire consequences of universal magnitude, but you’re telling me this is all about a space anomaly?” I released an explosive breath. “Why didn’t he just say so? I need to kick Quaid’s ass.”
Kaoti continued staring at me. Sand continued to trickle off of the shoulders of his black shirt. He said, “The comet is circling back to the Galaxic Expanse. The immense gas cloud will bring about the birth of many new stars.”
Tracy said, “Well, how adorable. We’re keeping to a theme.” She covered her stomach with her hand and smiled. Terre laughed beside her.
Kaoti said, “It is not the comet so much as the probe well-hidden within it which the Hadrian investigates.”
I met his eyes as worry filled me. “Hidden probe?”
Kaoti nodded. “The Galaxic Militia assumes it is a Parvac spy probe. Evidence of such a device would threaten the newfound peace between our people. The Militia readies for war. The Emperor has declined approval of your itinerary. At this time, you will not be permitted to travel outside of the Empire. Instead, we will hunt in this sector. Hiroshi plans to bring a supply of ice bear to Ephors.”
“Kaoti, is the probe ours?” I asked. The ladies all looked at him with the same question in their eyes, ready to spill from their lips.
“No record of it has been found. The Inquisitors are investigating. The Warrior Caste prepares to defend our system.”
I stared out over the waves at the pink and orange sky. “So, what Quaid was trying to tell me is that we are going to war on opposite sides.”
A hint of anger entered his voice. “Yes, and he encouraged you to leave the Empire.”
Quaid had told us that he would arrange to meet us. Troubled thoughts caused my brow to furrow. “Do you think his motives were to use us as hostages?”
Kaoti said, “I believe he was ordered to do so. It would not be wise of you to trust him at this time.”
“Thank you, Kaoti.” I leaned back against my lounger.
“Teagan, don’t cry,” Violet said gently.
“Our families are there. Simon, Eric, Gram, and everyone we love. What will we tell Galina? I can imagine how excited she was to see her grandmother on Chione. What if she never gets to see her again?”
“No, Adini hadn’t yet mentioned it to her,” Kaoti assured me.
“So, what do we do now?” I asked.
“Wait,” he said. He stood from where he had buried himself in the sand between us and jogged back to the house.
“That must have been why Farowyn was in such a hurry to leave. Someone warned him to go while he still could,” Violet suggested.
“I know they train for it their whole lives and live for it, but I do not wish for my brothers to go to war,” Terre said.
“No, and your father-in-law serves as Chief Medical Officer on a Galaxic starship,” I reminded her. “I need to think.” Getting up, I began a slow walk down the beach. Thoughts of Arachne and all of my family there made me feel sick. I hadn’t gone far when the girls caught up to me. It surprised me. Sparrow took my hand and laced our fingers together. It was her way of telling me that everything would be okay. I gave her fingers a gentle squeeze, letting her know I understood and appreciated it.
Sparrow asked, “Why is it I can see your abdomen protruding, but mine merely looks bloated?”
I glanced at our bare stomachs. Each of us wore a two-piece. Violet was winning the belly contest. She said, “Teagan and I carry Parvac children. You and Tracy carry more manageably-sized Laconian babies.”
Terre said, “My child will be more human than Parvac.”
“Well, all of your children are members of the Parvac Empire,” I reminded them. “Violet and I will probably have babies who weigh twice as much as yours.”
Defensively, Sparrow said, “Xavier is a large male.”
“So is Jazon,” Tracy said. “Oh, look!” She pointed to a seahorse that was trapped in some seaweed. “Male seahorses give birth to the young,” she explained before freeing the tiny creature.
“Lucky seahorse bitches,” I grumbled.
My friends laughed, and we turned to walk back to the Jiri Estate.
Neema waited for us with a scowl on her face and her hands on her hips. “Hurry. Get dressed!” she fussed at me.
“Why?”
Yukihyo said, “Our daughter has not forgotten my promise to take her jewelry shopping.”
“Look,” she said as she showed me my necklace which remained around her neck. “I still gots it.”
“Good girl! I’ll hurry. I promise.” I went inside, showered off, threw on a sundress, and put my hair up in a ponytail. Outside, I found Neema and Yukihyo waiting for me on the porch. “Are Peter and Niklos coming?”
“Chitter,” Thunderdrop answered as he climbed to my shoulder.
“Alright. We need to get to the transport before Momma sees us, or she’ll make me change.”
Zared said, “I’m distracting her. Go while you can.”
Laughing, we got in our transport and left. In transports in front of us and behind us were my guards. They knew I enjoyed the security they provided but that the illusion of privacy was something I preferred.
“What are your brothers doing this morning?” I asked Neema.
“Ugh. Mommy, they playing in dirt with transports.”
Yukihyo explained, “Nico and Fitz made a dirt track with hills, a bridge, and a pond, which was quickly becoming mud, along which for the boys to push their transports.”
“Chitter chitter.” Thunderdrop showed me splatters and globs of mud. It was no wonder he wanted to come with us. I rubbed his leg joints for him.
I smiled thinking of Nico and Fitz playing transports with the boys. Fitz adored Peter and loved him as his own. The two of them shared a special bond. It was a huge relief to me. Fitz wouldn’t be too disappointed if the child I carried wasn’t his. Anyway, Parvac males considered any child their mate produced as their own.
“Ugh. Daddy, how much longer?”
He chuckled. Yukihyo drove us to an indoor market. We got out of the transport and became a source of interest to the patrons. For once, Neema wasn’t interested in posing for pictures. She was on a mission. Yukihyo held her to keep her from running off. I walked beside them, looking at various things of interest.
“I think you will find what you want in this store,” he said.
“Oh! Daddy, let me down!” She kicked her feet back and forth in excitement.
Releasing my hand, he placed her upon her feet. It was like winding up a toy and letting it go. Thunderdrop followed her, and we kept them both in sight.
The store catered to girls and sold dress-up clothes, shoes, doll houses, more dolls and stuffed animals than I had ever before seen in one place, and many other things.
“Oh! Mommy! Look! I want this one!” Neema held up a flashy, hot-pink jeweled necklace.
“It’s so pretty!” I said.
Smiling, she nodded her little head of dove-grey hair.
Yukihyo held his finger to his lips, begging for my help in keeping a secret. He was busy placing several pieces of play jewelry into a shopping bag. I kept our daughter distracted until he took the items over to the counter to pay. I followed Neema and Thunderdrop around the store. They became enamored by large painting books and sets of finger-paints. While they decided which ones they wanted, I admired a large pit that was full of balls of various sizes
, colors, and designs. The ones decorated with flowers were cute.
“Chirp?” Thunderdrop asked.
“Yes, you may both have books and paints. Pick out some for Niklos and Peter, too.” A display of music boxes caught my attention. I saw one and thought of Tracy. It had waves, sand, and sea creatures on it. Thinking she would like it, I activated it and set it down. The porcelain waves moved up and down. Tiny fish came up from the water, only to dive back down and jump up again. My eyes rolled back in my head, and everything went black.
“Where is she?” Eli asked in a terrified tone. “Check the roof,” he ordered.
“No, she’s here,” Rozz insisted.
Opening my eyes, I saw yellow, red, blue, and sparkles. I was covered. I pushed them away from my face, but more of them took their places. “Hello? Help? Where am I?” I called out weakly.
“Teagan?” Zared called.
I tried to sit up but couldn’t figure out which way was up. Balls began to shift around as someone climbed into the ball pit with me. I could hear a great deal of snickering and laughter.
“Get me out of here!”
“How did you manage this?” Eli asked.
“I fainted. It was the music box’s fault.”
Neema yelled, “Whee!” and jumped in. I could hear balls shifting around and Neema laughing her head off.
A large hand reached down and grabbed my boob.
“Ouch!” Reaching up, I took the hand. “My nipples hurt! Don’t do that!”
“I’m terribly sorry. Let me help you up,” Eli said.
I took a deep breath as soon as my head cleared the balls. Then, a ball hit my forehead and bounced off. “Sorry, Mommy!”
Sighing, I looked into Eli’s eyes. I could tell he was relieved. Yukihyo held a vid-screen and laughed while recording the entire fiasco. Zared was being just as big of an ass.
Telepathically, Izaac said, “Don’t be angry. Wait until you see how badly your Inquisitor reacted to your disappearance. We told him you were here, but he freaked out.”
Eli lifted me from the ball pit. “May I have a cup of coffee and some pastries, please? I’m traumatized.”
“You may have anything you wish,” Eli promised.
“Okay. Buy Tracy that music box, the one with the spinning fish.”
Yukihyo picked up the music box in question, and Zared fished Neema out of the balls and helped her and Thunderdrop select their painting supplies.
Eli carried me from the store and over to one of the market’s cafes. “Are you alright?”
I said, “I should be asking you that question. I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
He raised an eyebrow at me.
I shrugged. “At least, I didn’t break anything.”
Yukihyo, Neema, who wore her new, glittering pink necklace, and Thunderdrop joined us. After our snack, we returned to the Jiri Estate. Neema ran off to find her Gama and show her the necklace.
Yukihyo motioned for me to come over to where he stood. “Help me with this.” He had a small toy chest and started filling it with costume jewelry.
“What are you doing?”
“We, Lady Wife, are going to bury it in the sand, make a treasure map, and let the children dig it up.”
“Oh!” My heart sped up with excitement. I could imagine the joy on their faces.
It only took Yukihyo and Zared a few minutes to bury the box. Then, the three of us got to work on the map. Then, we put our plan into motion. After changing into swim attire, we took the children out to play in the waves. It was a good thing since Niklos and Peter were in dire need of a soak and a rinse. However, they had had fun in our absence. After playing in the ocean, we sat on the shore and started building a sand castle.
“I fill my bucket, Daddy,” Niklos said. He dumped a shovel full of sand into his orange bucket.
Nico said, “Pat it down. Good job.”
I smiled at how sweet they were together. Then, Nico’s huge arm muscles glinted in the sun, catching my notice. Nico winked at me.
As planned, Neema hit something in the sand with her shovel and pulled it out. “Daddy, what’s this?” She handed Yukihyo the cannister.
“Oh, my,” he said.
“What?” She stood beside him and held onto his shoulder, leaving a tiny handprint there. Her pink, floral swim bottoms were wet, and sand stuck to them. For some irrational reason, happiness surged through me.
“This looks like the kind of thing pirates used to send messages to each other long ago.”
Neema’s eyes were large in her face. Niklos had gone to stand beside his sister. Then, Poppy got up and went to see what they were doing. Peter was only interested in his shovel.
“Open it, Daddy.”
He said, “You found it. I think you should open it.” He did help her with the top.
Neema pulled out the map and unrolled it. We were wise and had printed out our creation on waterproof paper. “What’s this?” She showed it to him.
Yukihyo looked at it and made his eyes big. “It’s a treasure map.”
I decided at that moment to reward Yukihyo later with his favorite husband and wife activity. Sensing my emotions, pink and gold striations entered his white eyes.
Neema asked, “How we gonna find it?”
Niklos moved to Yukihyo’s other side and held onto him with a sand-covered hand. Poppy followed him.
Pointing at the map, Yukihyo asked, “Do you see this black, dotted line?”
“Yes,” the children answered.
“To find the treasure, you must follow the map to the ‘X.’ Then, when you find the red ‘X,’ you dig up the treasure.
Zared had shielded himself from notice. He was using a drone to project black dotted lines across the sand to the base of a tree. Neema pointed. Seeing the marks, the children followed them.
“I love you, Yukihyo Lee.”
“I love you, Teagan Lee.”
I said, “This has to be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.” I stood with Peter, and we followed after them. My gorgeous husbands brought the toy shovels.
The kids were jumping up and down, laughing, and clapping. They had found the big red ‘X.’
“Now, what?” Neema breathlessly asked.
“You should dig. There could be a treasure.”
The kids got to work, and sand started to fly. Peter and I backed up.
“Daddy! Daddy! Get it out!” Niklos yelled.
Nico asked, “Did you find a pirate’s treasure?” He lifted the box free of the sand.
Neema opened it. “Wow!” Her eyes were huge. She lifted out a necklace and put it on.
Poppy and Niklos started putting on bracelets and necklaces, too. Neema brought Peter a necklace which went straight into his mouth. Then, the children decided to share with us. We returned to the house bedecked in our treasures. Neema, Niklos, and Poppy ran inside to tell Gama all about it.
Zared said, “I recorded the entire thing.”
I decided to reward him, too.
Once we were all bathed and dressed, Finn surprised us all with yet another feast. With full bellies, the children soon all went to sleep. Tugging on Yukihyo’s hand, I drew him away to our bedroom. Then, closing the door and my eyes, I luxuriated in the feeling of his hands upon my skin, sighing as his lips touched my throat. Wrapping my arms around his chest, I caught his lips with mine and sent my love to him through our bond while we kissed. He angled me toward the bed.
“Oh, no,” I said.
“No?” he asked in a strained whisper.
I pushed his shirt up and over his head. Then, I kissed his chest. “My Laconian warrior is in a hurry. He needs to be patient.” I let my dress fall to puddle at my feet. Then, I pushed his pants down his hips and followed them to the floor.
“Oh,” Yukihyo sighed in pleasure.
Cupping his heavy balls in my hand, I closed my mouth over his tip and circled it with my tongue before sucking downward. His thick shaft pulsed and jerked.
“Star
s, Teagan. I can’t take this. Let me make love to you.”
Opening my eyes, I noticed his hands clenched in tight fists at his sides. Releasing him from my mouth, I stood, only to find myself on my back and Yukihyo between my thighs seconds later. As he entered me, he shared with me his feelings of love, happiness, pride in our growing family, and loyalty.
“Oh, Yukihyo.”
He filled me and then gazed into my eyes. Then, as he moved within me, he sang softly to me in Laconian. I didn’t know the words, but I understood the deep love with which he sang them. Slowly, he moved in and out, knowing what I needed. We had grown so close that I was no longer certain where he stopped and I began. Twining my fingers in his hair, I claimed his lips, and we kissed as he moved his hips in a gentle roll. His legs between my own, his stomach pressed to mine, his strong arms holding his weight away so as not to hurt me, and feeling him as he moved within me, were more than I could take. Pleasure began to build within me as he stroked me, touching the place within me that was an addicting source of ecstasy. Panting, I clutched at his back.
“Please,” I begged, wanting him to go faster to give me my release.
Refusing, he retained his control and slow, steady pace. My inner walls started to spasm around his hard shaft, milking him. He was so hard, and the rolling movement of his hips stayed at the same maddening pace. Yukihyo was strong, consistent, and would never waver, just like his lovemaking. Pleasure burst through me, and I cried out. It felt as though I had become incorporeal, drifting up weightless to the stars only to fall softly back down to the mattress, complacent and satisfied. I giggled softly. It was then that Yukihyo showed me his strength and power, quickening his pace and deepening his thrusts until he found his release. I could feel his pounding heart as he pressed his face into the pillow beside my head. Pulling himself from me, he laid on his back and put his arm around me. Snuggling closer, I rested my head on his shoulder and was soon asleep.
When I woke up late the next morning, I was alone, and something seemed wrong. I could feel that it wasn’t the children, my husbands, Momma, or my friends. Puzzled by the feelings, I showered and dressed in shorts and a T-shirt. Then, I went to the kitchen. Violet was there. As I made myself a cup of coffee with the beverage dispenser, I asked, “Is something wrong?”
Materfamilias Page 6
