by Viola Grace
She put on her headphones and settled into one of the presses, working out to the beat.
Her arms were humming five minutes later when she finished her set, and she moved on to the treadmill, working up to a light jog.
The music of Earth pulsed in her ears and made her forget for a moment that she was on an alien world. When she glanced over to see Iktabi, shirtless and straining in one of the machines, she nearly tripped as reality crashed around her.
The scent of sweat was in the air, hers and his. She found that the music wasn’t keeping her attention as their workout continued.
The gleam of her bands on her wrists reminded her that she was stuck with him. A quick glance at him made her blush. He was staring at her.
So, casual sex was possible? Should she? Did she dare?
She focused on her run and ignored the images in her mind. She had a good idea of what his anatomy would be like. Any living woman on a world full of men would have looked up that file. Isabella just happened to be the only one who had access to the files.
Focusing on her workout, she kept going until her legs were wobbling. She turned off the machine and got off the running plate. Sweat was pouring down her neck and between her breasts.
A towel wrapped around her head and she staggered, yelping in surprise.
His laughter caught her by surprise. She had heard him chuckle, but outright laughter was always precious to her. Even if it was at her expense.
She batted the fabric away from her face and pulled it around her neck, looking up to see a wall of sweaty skin. “Oh.”
Iktabi took the towel from her and ran it across her cleavage. “I hadn’t realized that you perspired this much.”
Isabella made a face at him. “I am not pretending to be anything other than what I am.”
He stopped blotting at her, and he stroked her cheek. “Neither am I.”
The kiss wasn’t sudden. She had plenty of time to back away. She didn’t.
Isabella closed her eyes as his breath warmed her lips, followed by the deliberate pressure of his mouth against hers.
She pressed her hands to his chest, and the thudding of his heart under her palm was proof that she wasn’t the only one enjoying the contact.
Isabella slid her left hand up his chest and curled it around his neck, holding him as their kiss went on and on. She was lost in the feel of him against her until a determined chime broke the mood.
He leaned back, and she reluctantly let him go.
Iktabi’s eyes were glowing with heat, and he smiled. “That would be dinner.”
She blinked and felt a creeping blush cover her skin. “That would make sense. Right. Well, I am going to grab a quick shower, and I will be right out.”
He chuckled. “I will use my en-suite, but first, I will turn off the stew.”
She didn’t scuttle, but she did go to her wardrobe and grab a change of clothing. She set the shower to the cool side and was nearly feeling normal when she finished cleaning up and getting herself back to her original settings.
Isabella kept her poise and her decorum right up until she walked into the kitchen and a damp Iktabi was there wearing nothing but a towel. Her appetite roared to life, and it had nothing to do with food.
Chapter Nine
Self-control was not something she usually had a problem with, but it had been a hellish night in the company of a man she wanted to run her hands over with remarkable thoroughness.
Isabella had eaten her meal, cleaned up and then retreated to her room to work on requests and files. The mind-numbing effects were definitely welcome.
Her dreams had been fitful and filled with cobblestone abs and arms that never wrapped around her. It had been one very frustrating dream.
“Isabella? You seem distracted.” Iktabi was polite and courteous.
“Ah, just thinking about the marked increase in requests for organic fibre plants.”
“Really? You blush at the thought of fibres?”
She gave him a dark look. “Yes. Yes, I do.”
“The clothing looks lovely on you. He did a great job.”
She looked down at the ensemble that had been placed on the foot of her bed while she slept. “They are very comfortable though they do take a while to put on.”
The leggings were comfortable and felt like thick suede. The boots were snug and laced up to the knee, but the long shirt that she wore and the snug cincher were the part that he was referring to. The fabric around her ribs acted as support for her breasts, and she looked far more ladylike than she normally did. Well, she looked more like a woman. Her manners remained the same.
She couldn’t complain; she had chosen the outfit. The Asian-themed robe was on the chair behind her, and she was going to put it on before they left for the day. It would take the obvious nature of her cleavage and conceal it.
The shades of blue and grey had been Iktabi’s choice, but they looked good on her, so she wasn’t complaining.
With a deep sigh, she finished breakfast and took the empty dishes back to the kitchen for cleaning.
“What is on my itinerary today?”
“You have meetings with a few of the law enforcement branch heads this morning. Your afternoon is free, but the medics have put in a request for you to view some sort of gestation facility. It isn’t the one that I came from, this one is new.”
He nodded. “I am aware of it. Well, are you ready?”
She returned to the dining area, got her open robe and slipped it on. “Ready.”
She put the cross-body bag on and slipped her tablet into it, fastening it securely. It would make flying easier if she didn’t have to clutch her tablet the whole way.
Isabella stepped toward him when they stood on the balcony, and she fought the pleasant shiver as he lifted her in his arms.
They didn’t talk as he flew them across the skyline and toward the admin building.
She had her arms curled against her waist, and she stayed still as he flew. That day, she felt confident enough to look out over the colony as he circled it, and he must have noticed her interest, because he flew around it twice before he settled in for a landing.
Isabella noted that he slowly let her down, easing her legs so that her body rubbed against his. “Is that appropriate for a work day?”
He chuckled. “As long as neither of us act on it with witnesses, yes.”
She nodded. “Right. Well, I think your first appointment is due. Did they ever find that missing pallet of goods that was removed from the port?”
He cleared his throat. “Not yet. There is a team on its recovery.”
“Why do I get the idea that there is something else going on? You are direct with everything, but this is a little vague for you.”
They spoke on the way down to the office, and she immediately went to get some tea before she had to face strange Rrassic.
The cuffs stopped her, and she whistled sharply, “Ten more feet.”
The pressure eased, and she continued her way to the dispenser.
She was on her way back to her desk when the Luthin, Zjin and Regiz walked in.
She understood why they called them Hunters. All three were fixed on her position in the room, and she felt like prey.
Iktabi came out of his office, and his voice boomed out, “Gentlemen, please follow me. Isabella, please come and take notes.”
They all convened in the boardroom, and Isabella learned what was in that missing shipping pallet. It was far more than produce. There were strong indications that a human had been kidnapped and stuffed into the shipment. The indication was the scent that was left on the part of the shipment when the port had slammed shut to stop the illegal transport.
Isabella had gasped when she learned that there was a human, and her fingers had flown to try and find out who it was. Her bodyguards had taken Bree Agerson during a shift change. She was a breeder who had just checked into the secure compound. They had gr
abbed her the moment that she was out on her own.
Isabella felt rage welling in her directed toward those psychos who had taken one of her people.
“Who is assigned to rescue?” She gritted it out through her teeth.
The Luthin looked at her cautiously. “Hunter Arix. He has a perfect retrieval rate. He always brings back what he is after.”
The Zjin officer nodded. “That is correct. The larger concern is the time difference between Imrahl and Skekt. He might already have her safe there, but we won’t know until we get the retrieval signal and time moves differently there.”
Isabella’s mind latched on to that bit of information and the expression on Iktabi’s face that stated it was one thing he didn’t want her to know.
Time. It would explain quite a bit.
Iktabi nodded. “Keep someone at the alert station around the clock. We don’t want to miss the flick when it comes through.”
The Luthin spoke into his wrist com and gave the order to be on high alert for the flick signal.
Isabella filed all the unusual terms away in her head and promised herself she would ask about them later. If the Rrassic could mess with time, it would explain their long game in raising a blended species to be their next generation. If time wasn’t a factor, they could bring the new hybrids to adulthood without a problem.
Iktabi cleared his throat. “What about the colonists? Is there any sign of them?”
The three hunters all weighed in on where they thought the kidnappers were. The Zjin thought that they had left with the pallet, but the Luthin believed they were skulking about looking for an unattended breeder. The Regiz agreed that he didn’t think they were gone. There was still too much tension in the air for the colonists to have left.
Isabella wanted to ask a thousand questions, but she simply sat and took notes regarding action plans and personnel scheduling.
Finally, they got to law enforcement regarding simple assaults and dereliction of duties in the human population.
The Zjin frowned. “When we attempt to take in a human male or female for simple assault, they panic and are prone to injury. It is very disconcerting.”
Iktabi turned to Isabella. “Any suggestions?”
She cocked her head and smiled brightly. “Well, you can either incorporate some humans into your law enforcement teams or simply stun them the moment you catch them before the panic can set in.”
Iktabi blinked. “So, have humans on the enforcement teams or stun them?”
“Yes, as the police on our world have determined, those are the most effective ways to deal with the population. You can either make friends or knock them out until you get them confined. Reducing the risk to both parties is a good idea.”
The officers looked amused.
Iktabi kept his expression impassive. “Do you have ideas for law enforcement?”
She smiled. “Well, you have already met one of them. Lianne has all the necessary characteristics for law enforcement, and she already has a high security clearance due to her position at the port.”
Iktabi raised his brows. “Right. I will discuss it with her security team.”
“I have a few others as well, but this is something that has to be proven with actions here on Imrahl. Not all the humans adapted so well or are as confident.”
The Zjin stared at her, his striped features broad and handsome. “Confidence is important?”
“It is. It is also why the assessors have tried to put people in positions where they will thrive. Job confidence builds other openings for emotional security and social bonding with co-workers.”
Iktabi nodded. “We shall make defense classes mandatory. The physical fitness will increase their sense of self.”
“How the hell did you come up with that?” Isabella stared at him.
“Watching you and speaking to Sorrok. The female he has been tracking has quite the sense of self as well as a keen interest in combat techniques. It has given him a point of commonality with her that he has been bragging about.” Iktabi smirked.
“So soon?”
“Apparently, she punches things when stressed, and the last few days have been very stressful. Her boss is only too happy to let her go blow off steam when necessary.” He chuckled.
Isabella smiled. “That does sound like her. She was always feisty.”
“So, look for a possible human interference force in the combat training scenarios in the gym.”
“Yes, Overseer.”
The men chuckled, and she smiled as she ran the crosschecks that brought up a handful of names. “There aren’t many, but there are a few that might be suitable with a bit more investigation. The ladies who seek to make themselves stronger out of fear are to be avoided. They will strike first and ask questions later. It is not always a good thing.”
The Luthin looked at her with a calm expression. “What would you recommend?”
“Recruitment. I will identify likely candidates, and we can run assessments on them. Create a training facility and program. This will have the added effect in bringing the humans in direct contact with a wide variety of instructors, and they can learn about the Rrassic in a less competitive situation.”
The Regiz seemed confused. “A less competitive situation? Training is rough.”
“Yes, but one-on-one training can be quite comforting. Prejudice can’t stand in the face of direct exposure. When they see the Rrassic as a people instead of as captors, they will relax and take on their new position as peacekeepers for the benefit of other humans.”
The men looked at each other, and Iktabi chuckled. “Isabella knows her own kind. They will probably react in the manner she described.”
Iktabi nodded, “Isabella, have the construction teams in here tomorrow, and we will work on designing a training centre.”
She made a note. “We can also meet with some of the team leaders and specialist hunters to find out what they would want to teach to their students. If this is going to be a joint venture, we should make sure that both species are taken into account.”
“Will you meet with your friend? I believe she would make an excellent addition to the hunter teams.”
“I can ask her, but I want to make sure that she and Sorrok are settling in.”
“Settling? They only met after that balcony collapse.”
“Lianne was never one to drag her heels. She also doesn’t pick men lightly. If she showed interest, she was interested.”
She had the full attention of the Rrassic now.
Iktabi looked from her to the three men who were fixating on her, and he cleared his throat. “Perhaps you would like to get some more tea, Isabella?”
She knew a dismissal when she heard one. She got to her feet, and when she was halfway down the hall, she heard the unmistakable flap of wings over a series of low growls.
In animals, she would say she was hearing a dominance display, and in the Rrassic, it was probably pretty much the same. She got her tea and slowly returned to the boardroom. Everyone was sitting politely, and the hunters were no longer staring at her like she was edible. It was relaxing to sit and discuss the upcoming possibilities that would soon be realities.
It looked like humans were coming out of their positions as kidnap victims and turning into protectors or, at least, that was the plan.
Chapter Ten
The med centre was an interesting trip. Instead of the area where she went to get bumps and bruises looked after, there was now an entire floor filled with small canisters less than three feet high.
The medic running the area looked at her nervously. “Overseer, are you sure she needs to be here for this?”
“She is our current liaison with the humans. She has security clearance higher than yours, so let’s get on with this.”
“Right. Well, here we are at the gestation floor. Once the embryos have been removed from the humans, they will be stored here and categorized as they develop.”
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Isabella didn’t make notes. She paid attention to every sentence that passed Medic Fremo’s lips.
Iktabi’s wings flexed. “How many can you have here at once?”
“Currently, we have enough supplies for five thousand embryos.”
Isabella looked around. “You don’t have enough room.”
Fremo stared at her. “What?”
“You don’t have enough room. The humans are going to want to visit their offspring, even if they are in tanks.”
Iktabi snorted. “You are joking.”
“I am not. If we are going to be having the next generation of Human-Rrassic hybrids, we are going to want to watch them develop. Oh, why can’t we carry them to term, by the way?”
Fremo looked from Iktabi to her several times before he settled on her. “Our kind grow fast. We don’t want to injure the only supply of new genes that we have.”
“How often will the humans have a child extracted?”
“Whenever they are pregnant.”
Isabella frowned. “Will our cycles speed up over time?”
Fremo cleared his throat. “No, they should remain at one-quarter of your species’ standard.”
“Good. What is the maximum yield from any of the breeding females? What is the plan for population numbers?”
Iktabi chimed in. “A maximum of twenty per female, unless all the offspring are male. We need at least five female hybrids per human.”
“All with the same genetic donors?” It was the only polite way to ask if the men would be handing the women around.
Fremo cleared his throat. “Ideally, no. But socially, we understand that it will work out better if the females are allowed pair bonding without interruption.”
She nodded. “Good. Some women might enjoy multiple partners, but it isn’t a social norm for us.”
Fremo nodded. “Right. So, you think the women will want to visit?”
“I do. Most, if not all, will have a strong maternal urge toward their children. When do we get the babies back?”
Both men stared at her. “What?”
“When do we get our children back so that we can raise them, cuddle them, that sort of thing. We have no objection to education, but the social bonding is important, for both parent and child. I mean, a house with twenty kids in it will be more of an apartment building, but we need to have our children with us.”
