by J. J. Lore
The young officer bolted for the hatch, but Edem spoke up before he reached it. “Durant, on the morrow you will take up new duties. I’d like you to serve as official liaison with the human entourage. Deal with their questions, ease their concerns, that sort of thing.”
“Other than with Corrine Idesa, that is.” Mal smiled slightly. “We will serve as her liaisons for the course of the journey.”
After agreeing enthusiastically and sketching a farewell salute, Durant left. Mal sighed and leaned back in his chair as he stared at Edem. “That didn’t take long.”
“What didn’t take long?”
“For you to abandon your guests.” His bondmate’s tone was censorious, but Edem hardly cared a whit.
“I haven’t abandoned them. For all Durant’s limitations with human languages, he is an efficient officer. You trained him.”
“Don’t try to flatter me.”
“I wouldn’t dare,” Edem said, enjoying this little tiff very much. It added some spice to the evening, which only enhanced his anticipation of seeing Corrine later. Mal in a testy mood was Mal in a prelude to an amorous state. “Besides, no one, not even these arrogant humans, would expect the crown prince of Alpha to act as a tour guide.”
“Of course not, it was only you who invited them to journey across several million light years for a state visit. Why should they think they’d even see you again? Not that they know you’re a prince at all, thank the galaxy. If they did, the requests for audiences and favors would be incessant.”
“So irritable, Mal. Are you in a foul mood for any particular reason?”
His bondmate let out a wordless growl and rose to pace the length of the reception room, furnished in the reds and browns he and Mal favored. It was a relief to be on an Alphan ship built for battle and comfort. He couldn’t wait to sleep in their commodious bed that night, he hoped with some additional company.
“How are we going to approach her?”
Ah, now they were getting to the thick of it. “I assumed you had it entirely planned out.”
“Oh yes, I’ve had all the time in the universe to plot a romantic encounter in between coordinating our entire contingent’s departure from Earth, including but not limited to, ratifying fourteen treaties, seven mining concessions, and approving the ship’s manifest that includes everything from a live tiger to three ornamental maple trees that are already shedding their leaves.”
“You need to relax. Perhaps we should spar.” A physical workout always put his bondmate in a better frame of mind, but Mal shook his head fiercely as he kept his gaze locked on the door leading to Corrine’s cabin. The last update they’d had was that she’d boarded along with the last of the human delegation. Edem knew he should have greeted his guests at the landing and welcomed them aboard, but he’d been determined to keep his distance from Corrine in front of the other humans, sure he’d give away his interest and incur some unwanted attention for her.
“When will she open the door?” Mal stalked to the hatch and stared at it like he could melt the barrier between them. “I left it unlocked so she would have freedom to go or stay as she liked.”
“Perhaps she’s not even in there yet. It takes time to direct people when they’re newly onboard a ship.” Edem leaned back in his roomy chair and watched Mal grumble. It was a novel sensation to be the calm one. Usually his bondmate had planned for all contingencies and did his best to rein in Edem when he became agitated over some mishap.
“We should have escorted her. Greeted her. She probably thinks we’ve forgotten about her. She’ll never come in here.”
Edem almost laughed. “So your great plan to impress her is to leave the adjoining door unlocked and hope she stumbles in here one evening and falls into our bed?”
His bondmate rolled his big shoulders in a noncommittal shrug.
“We should call her and ask her to join us. I’m ready for some refreshment before we take off, and we should keep her company for her first time.” Edem glanced at the schedule and realized they’d be battling Earth’s gravity in a few minutes. The captain would soon be calling for everyone to secure their belongings and persons. He always enjoyed the exhilaration of hurtling into orbit, but Corrine would likely be frightened.
“Of course, I should have thought of that.” Mal sprang into action, obviously delighted to have a task to accomplish. He flicked his comm and called out for her. Corrine’s light voice immediately replied.
“This ship is amazing. I was expecting it to be cold and metal, but it’s beautiful.”
Edem smiled with contentment, pleased she was happy, relieved she was nearby.
“Come join us for takeoff.”
“So soon? I just found my room, cabin I mean. It’s huge. I thought I’d have something much smaller, or just a bunk—”
Mal turned to him and gave him a rueful smile, clearly as amused by her enthusiasm as he was. “Open the door near the bed.”
“Why, is it a closet?” With a slight rasping sound, the adjoining door opened, and there she stood, golden hair tied up in a loose knot, dressed in dark trousers and shirt, a bemused expression on her face. “You’re here.”
Mal turned off the comm and stepped her way, holding out his hand to lead her into the royal staterooms. After giving him a quick smile of greeting, she turned her head and stared at the tapestry-covered bulkheads, the clusters of soft furnishings and the dining table, not yet set for the dinner they’d soon share.
“It’s like a home, not a ship at all. Are all Alphan ships so beautiful?”
Edem didn’t inform her she was on the royal cruiser and there was no more luxurious ship in the galaxy. Three formidable warships awaited them in orbit and had already plotted the safest route home to Alpha. Capturing this ship would be a pirate’s dream, and having the crown prince and kisero of Alpha in chains would set any Xyran’s cold heart aflutter. No, he wished to make Corrine’s heart flutter and other parts of her convulse with ecstasy.
“All went well as you boarded?” Mal needed a report.
Corrine nodded and took a few steps into the cabin, inspecting a multicolored lamp that shifted illumination as it issued soft chimes, all while still holding Mal’s hand. “I was with the other people, humans, and they were acting like they boarded a spaceship every day. I couldn’t pull that off, so I stayed well to the back. Then this huge man, Alphan, called out my name, and they all stared at me as I went to the front of the line. He showed me right here. Over there. I’m not sure…” She trailed off, blushing furiously as Mal kissed her fingertips.
Unable to resist her presence any longer, Edem rose and went to her side. She sucked in a deep breath as he collected her other hand and pressed a kiss to her palm, then to her inner wrist.
“Do you have difficulty with being restrained?” he asked, and her eyes widened.
“You’re going to tie me up?” Her voice rose in a shocked quaver, and he laughed even as Mal shot him an irritated glance. His bondmate wanted Corrine relaxed and trusting, the better to make her first time with them as pleasant as possible. They’d already discussed how best to not overwhelm her and be patient, but he hadn’t been able to resist the joke. Retaining a sense of humor would only help in future moments of awkwardness.
“For takeoff only. We all need to be buckled in safely, and I thought you might wish to be with us during the experience.” Mal led her over to the bank of soft chairs anchored to the deck and reclined them, pulling out the holding straps with practiced movements. Edem stroked his hand up and down her back, enjoying the curves of her body as he habituated her to their touches.
Mal guided her to the seat in the middle, and she took it slowly, her unsure gaze fluttering from one of them to the other. His bondmate took charge of aligning the belts around her waist and across her chest, his fingers lingering on her limbs far longer than necessary. After a few startled movements, Corrine visible relaxed and became pliant as they arranged her arms and legs along the cushioned rests. His bondmate paid espe
cial attention to the strap that ran between her legs, adjusting it several times as she shifted her thighs.
“You’ll be perfectly safe here,” Edem assured her. A chime announced takeoff was imminent, and the captain’s voice invaded their cabin, ordering all to assume their positions. “Mal and I have a ritual before space travel. Could we share it with you?”
“What is it?”
“We kiss, for luck.” And because it might be our last, he failed to add, not wanting to increase her stress. Alphan ships and crews were excellent and none was better than his yacht, but space travel was inherently hazardous. Corrine made a little sound of agreement, and he pressed his mouth to hers, enjoying her soft warmth and relishing her sweet flavor. As soon as he lifted his head, Mal bent to her, and Edem watched as she shivered, her hips shifting against the belt holding her down. A warning cascade of pings compelled them to take to their own seats, but not before Mal reached out to capture his shoulders and press a tender kiss to his mouth. Edem could have sworn Corrine’s essence lingered on both their tongues as they met, her flavor enhancing their own caress. Despite the many times they’d kissed, Edem sensed something different in his bondmate but couldn’t puzzle it out before Mal broke contact.
A surprised sound interrupted them, and Edem looked down at Corrine, who lay between them, staring up. Her mouth opened as if to speak, but the final klaxon sounded and he and his bondmate rushed to find their own secure seats. Mal gruffly informed the captain they were secure, and everything around them shuddered as they lifted off. The process didn’t last long. Soon there was a momentary weightless feeling indicating they’d reached orbit, and the ship’s artificial gravity activated.
Edem dealt with his belts and rolled off the chair to crouch at Corrine’s side and release her. She sat up and swayed until Mal wrapped an arm around her waist and encouraged her to lean against him.
“Perhaps you should lie down, until you adjust to the new gravity. It’s slightly less than you’re used to.” Edem nodded at Mal, and he picked her up, carrying her through the cabin and passing through the archway leading to their bedroom. He gently laid her in the middle of the expanse, nestling her down amongst the quilted covers and furs. She blinked up at them and ran her fingers along the textiles. His body heated, and he wanted her to touch him in such a way, wanted no more clothes and pretense between them.
“What happens now?” Her voice was low and husky.
“We can give you a tour of the cabins, go to the observation deck, discuss dinner arrangements…” his bondmate said in a low rumble, and Edem sensed his burgeoning arousal. She made such a lovely picture there, framed by thick black fur and deep red fabric. Her pale skin and hair would glow against such a backdrop, and he was suddenly desperate to see her naked, to take in her breasts topped with tight little rose nipples, to finally see and scent her quonum.
“Or we can relax. Mal was quite stressed before takeoff due to his heavy workload in our last hours on your world.”
“My world. I’ve really left it behind?” Corrine breathed out, her eyes filling with tears. Edem immediately knelt at her side and cupped his hand around her soft cheek. It had seemed like such a good idea to sweep her away, give her a respite from her troubles, but in reality he’d taken her from everything she’d ever known.
“Yes. We are in stationary orbit of approximately two thousand kilometers, but only until all ships synchronize for trans space flight. Then we’ll be on our way.” Mal crouched at her other side, a slight frown on his face as he watched her. A deep sigh shuddered through her, and she bit her lip. A tremendous urge to comfort her welled inside Edem, and he struggled with finding the right thing to say or do.
She wriggled to sit up, and he and his bondmate helped, selfishly using the opportunity to touch her again. She ran her fingers down her cheeks and neck as she breathed in and out.
“I’m really doing this, flying through space in a metal tube with people I don’t know, to an alien planet…” she murmured to herself, then peered at him. “What can we do to relax? I’m finding myself a little stressed out at the moment.”
“We can take a bath.” Mal’s suggestion, a perfectly logical one since they hadn’t had a decent one in their whole time on Earth because the tubs were too small, made Corrine flush deep red.
“Together? Naked? You share a bath?”
“And a bed. We share everything. We’re bondmates.”
“I don’t understand that. You kissed before. Do you…” She stuttered to a stop and dropped her eyes to the bed-coverings. Mal, evidently deciding since she hadn’t said no to the bath that it would be next on the agenda, was plucking at the fastenings to his tunic.
“Mal and I are partners in everything, work, life, love. We have a physical and emotional link. Our strength and awareness is increased when we bond, and the tie lasts until death. It’s my understanding humans do not achieve such a connection.”
“No, we just like or love the other person. That feeling can come and go pretty quickly for some.” Corrine gave Mal a bemused look as he removed his tunic and took in his broad, heavily muscled chest. Edem’s staff hardened as he watched her and his bondmate consider each other. Mal reached for the fastenings to his trousers, and her hands caught at his. “What happens in this bath?”
“We soak in warm water and perhaps make conversation.”
Corrine stared up at him for a long moment, then lifted her hands away from his. Mal returned to his objective of stripping, and Edem waited for her to continue the conversation. “So you and Edem are sexually involved?”
Mal nodded and tugged at his clothing as Edem began to remove his own. Yes, a nice long soak together so she could gain some familiarity with their bodies and then a return to the bed seemed like the perfect way to begin their journey.
“Then why are you interested in me, if you have each other?”
Edem laughed out loud, and Corrine let out a startled giggle she quickly silenced as Mal pulled his pants off. His bondmate was incredibly impressive, heavily muscled, long-limbed, and graced with curling chest hair that tapered to a tantalizing trail that disappeared under his shorts. Mal’s staff was hard and outlined quite clearly beneath the soft material. Edem both admired and envied his bondmate’s masculine physique. Corrine let out a strangled sound and quickly turned to face Edem, her eyes bright. “We are interested in you because you are beautiful, and we find your personality compatible with ours.”
“Involving someone else doesn’t put pressure on your relationship?” She slipped from the bed at Mal’s urging and followed him with halting steps as he made his way to the bath. Edem stripped out of his clothing and slipped on a robe. His staff was already thick with desire, but considering Corrine’s hesitancy, he didn’t want to startle her with his obvious readiness. Mal strode to the bath and quickly adjusted the settings as hot water flowed and steam filled the air.
“It seems odd to have a bathtub on a spaceship, not that I’d know what was usual on a spaceship,” Corrine said as she looked over the deep basin surrounded by graduated steps that also served as seats. “It’s really big.”
“We are large individuals.” Mal watched her as he efficiently pulled off his shorts. As he revealed his erect, reddened staff, Corrine’s face went pink again, and she spun away to stare at the far wall, careful not to look at either of them. She straightened her slim shoulders and tightened the lines of her body.
“Maybe this is a bad idea. Maybe I should go back to my cabin and shut the door. Stay put the whole trip.”
Edem gestured for his bondmate to retreat to the tub, and he did the same, quickly immersing himself in the concealing waters. Mal splashed in and let out a satisfied sigh.
“You can turn around now.”
She craned her head over her shoulder and took a quick glance at them. Her shoulders slumped when she saw they were only visible from the torso up. She shuffled forward a few steps and glanced around unsurely.
“If you remove your trousers, y
ou could sit there and soak your feet and lower limbs.” Mal gestured at one of the low stone risers.
“Take off my…” she murmured and looked at the seat, then at the steaming water swirling around them. Edem wanted to grin at this gentle seduction, as he was relishing the novelty of it so. He and Mal had never gone so slowly with a woman, and he found his anticipation was growing at the same rate as his erection.
She pressed her lips together and plucked at her blouse. “It does look nice. I haven’t had a bath in years.” With a little yelp she raised her hand. “I’m clean—I didn’t mean how that came out. At my aunt’s we only had access to a shower at the end of the hallway. I haven’t had a bath since I left home. Wilmington. I suppose this will cover me up well enough.”
With that, she stepped out of her boots and pulled out the hem of her shirt to drape it over her upper thighs before reaching up under the garment and unfastening her pants. She pulled them down and stepped out of them, offering up a fleeting glimpse of close fitting white undergarments. Then he took in her curvy legs and tiny feet and was smitten. So feminine and sweet, he couldn’t wait to lick his way from her quivering toes all the way up to her tender quonum. Mal rumbled under his breath, and Edem knew his bondmate shared his intentions. Corrine must have picked up on the change in their demeanors because she hesitated a moment, looking down at them with wide eyes. Taking in a deep breath like she’d made a decision, she stepped their way and eased her feet and legs into the water. She let out a sigh near identical to Mal’s, and Edem again had to repress a laugh. She was a good match for them.
Mal draped his arms along the sides of the tub and leaned back, putting his impressive upper body development on good display. He shifted his legs under the water, and Corrine jumped.
“Did you just nudge her?” Edem gave his bondmate a stare of faux censure. Mal quirked an eyebrow and apologized to Corrine.
“That’s all right. It just startled me.” She sighed again and looked at the water.
