by Kit Tunstall
He could tell she was barely holding back a laugh when he met her in the living room a half-hour later. She’d given him Jamaal’s clothing before disappearing back into her bedroom. The shower had left her looking refreshed, and though she was still slightly shaky, and there were bags under her eyes, she looked much better than she had even an hour ago. The nanotechnology was quickly restoring her to homeostasis, and she would be in optimal health soon enough.
He had donned the clothing she provided, immediately removing the sweatpants when they fit halfway down his calf. Instead, he had opted for a pair of shorts that he suspected fit her brother loosely, but just barely accommodated his waist. They were indecently snug around his penis, and he didn’t miss her interested glance as she looked his way, her eyes widening when she reached that spot. It almost made up for the amusement reflected otherwise. The shirt fit just as tightly, and he felt as ridiculous as he looked. At least he wouldn’t have to walk around half-naked on the Moon. “Go ahead.”
“What?” she asked, almost choking out the words.
“Go ahead and laugh, Amelia. I know you want to.”
She shook her head, clearly giving it a valiant effort, which she eventually lost. Peals of laughter escaped her, though she rubbed his shoulder in a consoling fashion as she giggled. “I’m sorry, but it’s quite different from the image you first presented. I’m not even used to seeing you Dazon guys yet, especially not in basketball garb that’s a little too tight.”
He gave her grumpy glare. “When you’re done amusing yourself at my expense, I’m ready to fold to the Moon Consulate.”
It took another few seconds to regain her composure, and then she nodded at him with a very sober expression. “I’m ready, Titus.”
He stepped closer to her and put his arm around her waist, holding her tightly against him. It was a sly maneuver, because all he really had to do was hold her hand or touch her in some fashion, but he seized the moment and used it as an excuse to hold her, even briefly.
He held his breath as he waited to see if his folding device had been damaged in the crash. It hadn’t made sense to fold to her location, because he hadn’t known exactly how to get there. His shea had had to lead him. That had meant walking from the crash site to her cabin, but he couldn’t walk from here to the Moon.
The device beeped for a moment, and the screen was static as he looked closer at his wrist. He cursed softly, about to tell her the device was damaged, when it suddenly came online. With a bright flash, they were standing in the lobby of the consulate a moment later, arriving at the visitor check-in point, which was preprogrammed into his folding device.
She blinked, clearly disoriented for a second as she clutched her stomach. A moan escaped her, and she looked on the verge of vomiting. He patted her back soothingly. “That happens sometimes. Vomit if you must. I’m certain the consulate has automatic cleaning systems in place for just such a purpose.”
She looked pale for a moment, but soon seemed to regain control. She stood up and squared her shoulders, having bent over for a moment in case she lost control of her stomach. Clearly, the battle was won, and she was fully in control again. “I’m fine. That was intense.”
He nodded. “It certainly can be.”
He was surprised when he dropped his arm from her waist, and she took his hand. Perhaps she wasn’t as confident as she seemed in this new situation, or maybe she was experiencing her own version of the mating flare. Whatever it was, he was happy to hold her hand and have the contact.
He looked forward to a time when they would wear the traditional kursti that would bind them together for thirty-one Earth hours as part of the bonding ceremony. His shea sensed that would happen, though he wasn’t entirely certain he could believe that. It usually wasn’t so sharply defined about specific events, and he was afraid he was allowing his own hope and optimism to influence his instincts.
They approached the visitor check-in station, and he put his hand on the glass, allowing the system to scan his biometrics. He was unsurprised when an alarm sounded, though Amelia let out a squeal and pressed closer to him. “Relax, and don’t be afraid. I was expecting this. Their system will show me as one who remained behind with Emperor Aryk, so they’ll doubt my loyalty, at least in the beginning.”
He squeezed her hand reassuringly. “I’m pleased you came with me for more than one reason. Having you here is proof that I had a reason to remain with Aryk’s armada, and when they verify I have a sense of shea, I’m confident they’ll believe me.” He hoped they would anyway, but he didn’t want to betray any uncertainty to Amelia, who was clearly already frightened.
He wasn’t certain what he would do if the commander and the general didn’t believe him, but shea insisted he had to warn them. It was up to them what they did with the information, and also up to them what they did with him. He was hopeful they would allow him to return to Earth with Amelia, rather than insist on imprisoning him in the brig. It could go either way at this point.
Soldiers quickly surrounded them, and the alarm cut off abruptly. A young man stepped forward, clearly the one in charge. “Who are you, and why are you here?”
“Surely the computer identified me as Titus Varg,” he said calmly. “As to why I’m here, I must speak with Commander Darvig and General Monash. It’s a matter of urgency.”
The young man looked at Amelia, clutching his hand, and he frowned. “Who’s the human?”
Before Titus could answer, Amelia did so. “I’m Amelia Whimsby, and Titus is my mate.”
Her words might have been merely for the soldiers’ benefit, but they filled his chest with warmth, and he squeezed her hand again. Even if she was simply covering for him, he appreciated the effort. He couldn’t help hoping that it was more than that though, and perhaps she had realized she was his mate, and he was hers.
Still looking suspicious, the young man gestured them forward. His sidearm remained in his hand, pointed firmly at Titus. “Walk straight ahead of me, and if you do anything suspicious, I’ll stun you. I’m still inclined to take you straight to the brig.”
Titus nodded. “I understand, but this is urgent and concerning the emperor’s invasion of Earth.”
The younger man let out a sigh. “I assumed as much, which is why I’m going against protocol.”
They didn’t speak again as they maneuvered the hallways, the man behind them directing which way to turn as needed. It didn’t take long to reach Commander Darvig’s office, and the young soldier knocked on the door. The hydraulic mechanism hissed a moment later, and the door slid open. The younger man stepped inside, giving them a warning look. “Don’t move from that spot.”
He could hear him speaking to Commander Darvig, though he was certain Amelia couldn’t make out the finer nuances of sound with her limited human hearing. He could hear every word, and he was reassured when Commander Darvig agreed to meet with him a moment later. He and Amelia stepped across the threshold as the younger soldier returned to fetch them. He exchanged a look with the younger man. “Thank you.”
The soldier departed without another word, though he did nod in acknowledgment.
“He’s gone to fetch General Monash,” said Sash Darvig from behind his desk. He stood up, and he was an imposing sight, even larger than Titus himself.
Titus bent his head as a show of respect. “Thank you for seeing me, Commander.”
Sash gave away nothing as he looked at him. “The computer identifies you as one of Aryk’s people. Why are you here?”
“I had always planned to defect, but my plans were delayed. If it’s all right, I’d like to just tell you everything once, so may we wait for the general?”
The commander nodded. “Of course.”
It didn’t take long for the general to arrive, though he looked tired. He gave Titus an appraising look and nodded his head in Amelia’s direction. He clearly smothered a yawn as he sat down at a chair positioned around Darvig’s desk. “What’s this about, Sash?”
�
�That’s a good question,” said the commander.
Taking a deep breath, Titus moved closer to the general and the commander, maintaining his hold on Amelia’s hand. “I was with the armada that invaded, though I had originally planned to defect. My shea warned me I needed to stay behind, so I did so. Every action I’ve undertaken in the past few weeks has been to bring me to my mate. I knew I’d find her here on Earth, and I have. This is Amelia Whimsby.”
Amelia nodded to the leaders, looking a bit shy.
“Why are you here though?” asked Sash.
“I’ve come to warn you of something that seems important. Since I have shea, Dr. Ha and the Emperor tried to exploit it in an attempt to determine the best plans to attack Earth.” He blushed slightly. “I must admit I didn’t answer truthfully. I had allowed my shea to guide me on what was the best course of action for myself, but they believed I was directing them toward the best course of action, if that makes sense?”
The general nodded. “The fools thought you were loyal to them, so they believed you were looking after their best interest when you were simply using them as a means to your own ends.”
“Precisely.” Titus winced when the general put it like that. It made him sound disloyal and manipulative. “Please understand that I don’t agree with what they’ve done or plan to do, but I felt a sense of urgency to find my mate, so I used them to do so.”
The commander looked slightly troubled, but General Monash seemed to understand. “I’ve not been blessed with the shea helping to guide me in my choices, but if I’d had such a thing, I certainly wouldn’t have hesitated to follow it to find Mac.”
“Is that your mate?” asked Amelia, appearing to conquer her shyness.
The general nodded, and his expression softened. “And she’s unhappy with me at the moment. The triplets were up all night in various shifts teething, and I must return to her quickly to help.”
Titus inclined his head in acknowledgment. “We’ll make this brief then. As part of the routine for pumping me for information, I was privy to several of their meetings. Unfortunately, they never really discussed military strategy with me, aside from probing for my instincts in response to various plans laid out. At first, they planned a full-scale assault, but I assured them my shea indicated that would be the wrong direction to take. Instead, when they presented this plan to invade with a minimal amount of cruisers and two Exodus-class ships to haul human cargo, I told them it seemed like the right course. In all honesty, it seemed like the least destructive course, and my shea led me to endorse it. I knew it was the only way I would be able to make my way to Amelia.”
“Very well. That explains how you came to Earth, but why are you here at the consulate and requesting a meeting with us?” asked Sash.
“On one occasion, I overheard them discussing genetic profiles. Apparently, you had a traitor here in the consulate?” At General Monash’s nod of confirmation, he continued. “That man transmitted all DNA files available in the computer system here. He also hacked into Earth systems and downloaded all of their information. Apparently, Dr. Ha has designed a program that matches best genetic partners to compensate for the loss of the mating instinct to guide most Dazons.”
The general crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m not as convinced as Dr. Ha that the mating flare has mostly been bred out of us. I know several Dazon males who experienced it with their mate. Myself included.”
Titus nodded. “I agree with you, but I can’t be sure in my case, since I’ve retained my sense of shea and have a large latrael gland. I was always likely to have the mating flare, and I certainly experienced it with Amelia.”
“Fascinating,” said Sash in a dry tone. “What information do you have for us?”
“Dr. Ha’s goal seems to have been to match as many of the healthier women as possible as quickly as possible once they returned to Dazonia Major from the invasion of Earth. They envisioned having a constant stream of disembarking human women before returning the Exodus-class ships to fetch more. They wanted the process to be seamless, you see?”
The commander rubbed his eyes. “Yes, that makes sense. So you’re telling me almost all the women on Earth have been matched up with potential Dazon partners?”
“I’m not certain, but I assume so by now, and Ha has likely expunged any results that match your armada with human females. The day I overheard the conversation, Dr. Ha was particularly animated because he had discovered the emperor’s match.”
“Who?” asked General Monash. “We need to warn her.”
“It was the president’s daughter, Jordan Saunders.”
The commander cursed fiercely. “That explains why our saboteur took time to infect Jordan. He wanted her already exposed to the virus and ready to mate so she could give him heirs.” The commander cursed again.
“We’ll ensure she’s warned. Did you have any other information that can be of help?” The general turned to Titus again.
He shook his head. “I don’t think so, sir. Mostly, I was involved to the point of getting us here, and obviously, I won’t be included in their future planning sessions. I assume my usefulness has ended, but if you need me for anything, I’ll be with Amelia.” He hoped. He was uncertain about the future with her, but he knew he wouldn’t be far from her location even if he didn’t get to stay with her for the time being.
The general took Amelia’s address, programming it into the database immediately to produce GPS coordinates, and the meeting ended a few minutes later.
After they left the commander’s office, Amelia squeezed his hand. “That was very nice of you. To warn her, I mean.”
“I can’t see allowing the poor woman to fall into Aryk’s hands without trying to stop it.”
She tilted her head. “Do we have time to explore the consulate before we return home?”
He nodded, liking the sound of home. “I have no plans for now or the immediate future, other than to be with you. As you allow it, of course.”
She nodded, tugging on his hand to lead him toward the nearest directory. He followed along willingly enough, content to shadow behind Amelia anywhere she wanted to lead him.
Chapter Three
They returned to her cabin later in the afternoon, after she had explored the consulate, including the shops, the cafeteria, and the nursery, where she had interacted with the orphaned Dazon babies under the care of General Monash’s wife, Mary Catherine, while awaiting adoption. Now, she seemed tired, but still in a good mood, as they returned to her cabin. They folded back into the living room from where they had left, and he stood awkwardly near her. “Would you like me to secure other accommodations, Amelia? Or perhaps you would allow me to sleep on your couch?”
She shook her head, coming closer to him. Amelia took his hand in hers, placing it against her chest. He thought it was the general location of the human heart, but he was sidetracked by his hand being so close to her nipple. “I’d like you to stay with me. I don’t know what I feel yet, but I sense the potential for it to grow. Humans don’t have a meeting flare like Dazons, but there’s something that feels right about you and me. Does that make sense to you?”
He nodded. “I have my shea to guide me, so I know you’re my mate, but even without shea or the mating instinct, I’m certain I would have known we belong together.”
She surprised him by putting her arms around him and stretching her head upward. She was tall for an Earth woman, but still a foot-and-a-half shorter than he was. He bent his head, and when that still didn’t do it, he lifted her curvy body in his arms and held her against him as he kissed his mate for the first time. It was like fireworks shooting through him, and heat seared his nerve endings.
Their mouths fit together as though perfectly fashioned for each other, and he cupped her buttocks in his hands to hold her against him as she wrapped her thighs around his waist. He wanted to sink into the heat between her legs, even as he wanted to prolong the moment and touch her forever. It was a strange combination of em
otions that overwhelmed him, and he surrendered to his shea as it guided him to take her to the bedroom.
He couldn’t bear to be parted from her when they reached her room, not even long enough to lay her down before joining her. Somehow, in an awkward maneuver that she didn’t seem to mind, he laid her on the bed and went with her, their bodies still entwined. They continued to kiss, and her hands roamed freely over him, sliding underneath the tight shirt to stroke his abdomen.
He hissed in pleasure when she raked her nails down his nipples, and his already-hard cock got even harder, pressing insistently against the tight basketball shorts. He had secured a new uniform while at the Moon Consulate, but he hadn’t bothered to exchange the mechanism in his suit just yet. Now, he regretted that, because he could have been naked with the flick of a switch. Instead, he’d have to remove his clothes the Earth way.
He discovered he might have been in error with that assessment a moment later, when Amelia pushed him onto his back and straddled him, pulling down his shorts below his knees before returning to her perch on his thighs.
He felt unexpectedly shy as he was exposed to her, and heat scorched his cheeks.
She sat above him, his perfect curvy goddess, smiling down with gentle understanding. “Is it your first time?”
He nodded. “Mates are unusual in my world, as you probably know.”
She nodded. “I’ve heard that about Dazons. I’ve also heard this interesting and intriguing rumor that I never expected to have a chance to verify for myself.” She licked her lips.
He frowned in confusion. “What rumor is that?”
