“I… will you kiss me again?” she whispered.
Quin smiled and raised a hand to place behind her head. He raised his head at the same time that he brought their lips together. He kissed her softly, pressing his lips against hers, licking to ask entrance. Vivian pressed her lips to his and at the feel of his tongue hesitantly opened for him. His tongue swept softly into her mouth, sliding against hers. He flicked his tongue against hers, and she met him, touch for touch. He nibbled a bit on her bottom lip, sucked her lip into his mouth before letting it go and pressing his lips to hers again.
Gradually Vivian opened her eyes, once his lips had left hers. She looked at him, her eyes heavily lidded. “These are my first kisses, my first real ones anyway,” she confided.
Quin knew what she was telling him. “I am honored that your first kisses were saved for me.”
“The rest…” she started.
Quin interrupted her, “The rest are mine as well. Only those things you choose to gift to your male count as firsts.”
Vivian looked into Quin’s eyes, knowing he knew personally what she’d lived. He’d been the one to free her. There were no secrets of her past. He knew it all, and he wanted her still. Vivian slid her body on top of Quin’s, her heart pounding, breathing heavily. She leaned down and kissed him, pressing her lips to his again. She wrapped one hand around one of his horns and held tight while she explored his mouth. She suckled his lower lip, then thrust her tongue into his mouth and toyed with his as he had with hers. He moaned, his hips rising to press into her. Vivian let out a soft little moan and nipped his bottom lip. She seemed to catch herself falling over the edge and pulled back just enough to separate their mouths and looked down at him.
Quin lifted his head, rubbed his nose against hers before laying back against his pillow again and said, “I am yours, Vivi.” Vivian didn’t know how to respond. She understood that he didn’t want her to leave. He basically said it wasn’t an option. But she hadn’t decided she was staying. He’d said that Samuel was still alive. She wanted to see Samuel. Speak to him, find out what had happened in their lives since she’d left.
Quin saw her attention slip away, and his words seemed to unnerve her, so he hurried to add, “There is no rush, Vivi. I’m here, always. Take your time, Ehlealah.”
“Commander, you are needed on the Command Deck,” the computer advised.
“Tell General Lo’ San to handle whatever is needed.”
“General Lo’ San has requested you join him, Commander.”
“It’s alright. I know you’re needed,” Vivian said as she slid her body off his and stood beside the bed.
“I won’t be long,” he answered, also trying to stand, but finding a snoring shraler sleeping right where he planned to place his feet on the floor.
“He wanted to be close to us,” she said. Quin looked down at the creature while Vivian snickered. He’d dragged his new bed over to the side of theirs during the night, and was now sleeping across it, on his back, all four legs in the air, his belly exposed. His mouth was open, and he was snoring.
“I still can’t believe you tamed a shraler,” Quin mumbled as he took great pains to step over Kitty, so he could get dressed and go see what was happening on the bridge that General Lo’ San thought he should be involved in.
Quin showered — the human type because he rather loved the feel of the water on his skin — and got dressed. He was loathe to clean his teeth because he wished to keep Vivian’s taste on his lips all day, but did so anyway, hoping he could get another kiss to take with him.
When he exited the bathroom, he was surprised to find Vivian had crawled back into bed. “Do you need more sleep, Ehlealah?” he asked, leaning over to tuck her in.
“No,” she answered. “Just want to snuggle here a little longer.”
“You are thinking of all you learned last night?”
“Yes, a little. Just trying to make sense of it all.”
Quin sat beside her where she lay in their bed, “Do not think on it too much. It is done and cannot be undone. But you are not alone. You have me. You are loved. You are treasured. All is not lost.” Quin reached out and stroked his thumb across her cheekbone.
Vivian knew he only meant to make her feel as though she belonged, but her heart was breaking for all she’d lost, for the people she loved that she’d never see again. But instead of speaking of it, she sat up and kissed his lips, once, twice. Then she hugged him, kissing him on the cheek. Vivian lay down and smiled sadly at Quin.
“I’ll be back soon. Rest all you need.”
Vivian nodded and watched him leave their bedroom. He paused briefly, “Here is the sheath for your dagger, Vivi. I should have thought to give it to you before.” He laid the sheath on the foot of the bed and smiled lovingly at her before saying, “I won’t be long.”
She lay there listening to him as he left their apartment. She smiled, their apartment. She supposed that if she decided to stay, it was their apartment. Her mind wandered to his lips pressed to hers. His gentle touch, his complete submission to her, placing her on top to allow her to be in control despite his natural inclination to dominate. She had a lot to think on, a lot to consider. She wasn’t sure what she wanted anymore. Home wasn’t necessarily her only focus any longer.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Quin stepped onto the Command Deck to find General Lo’ San hunched over a communications terminal, deep in discussion with the communications officer assigned to that station.
“What is it?” he asked.
General Lo’ San turned at his voice, “Sire. Thank you for coming so quickly.” He indicated the terminal they were working on. “Take a look at this, please. We believe we’ve intercepted encrypted communications.”
“To whom?” Zha Quin asked.
“We aren’t sure yet. We are still tracing their frequency. But we definitely believe they were intentionally directed to someone on this ship.”
The communications officer spoke, “Ahh! I’ve isolated a return signal. It originated from the barracks on the fifth residence level, Commander. But the device must have been turned off,” he said, pecking away at the keyboard. “I’m unable to determine exactly where in the barracks.”
“Why would an encrypted message be sent to someone aboard my ship? Communications are freely allowed through our mainframe. All personal devices are synced with the mainframe to give them immediate access and ease of communication.”
“I do not know yet, but it shouldn’t be long,” the communications officer said. He pointed to a small window on the computer monitor they all looked at. It was easy to tell that a frequency of some sort was playing back and forth across the screen. “I recorded the intercepted message as it was delivered. We are working on breaking the encryption as we speak.”
“Very good. Keep monitoring the barracks for the receiving device. If they turn it back on, try to lock on to it.”
“Yes, Commander.”
Zha Quin straightened and turned away from the computer, looking around the Command Deck. His crew was dressed in their finery, their formal uniforms rather than their every day dress.
“Why are they dressed in their formal uniforms?”
“Our Sovereigna’s guard has contacted us, advised that they will arrive at the next revolution of Sector 11. We all know that her ability to wait until we actually arrive at Sector 11 is very limited. She could arrive at any time. So we are prepared,” General Lo’ San explained.
Quin laughed, “She is not made for patience.”
“No, Commander, she is not.” Then becoming a little more personal, “How is your Ehlealah? Is she adjusting? Healing?”
Quin regarded his general, his first in command, when he was not available. They’d worked together for many, many years. He was a good male. They’d always kept it strictly business, but shared a mutual respect for one another. Most likely because one or the other of them had to be on duty at all times, at the very least on call and ready to respond without hesitation. He truly
liked Lo’ San and felt sure Lo’ San returned the sentiment. He knew his inquiry was of sincere concern. “Yes, she is healing. More quickly than I could have hoped. Thank you for your concern.”
Lo’ San inclined his head, “She has endeared herself to many of us.”
Quin’s eyebrows rose, “Has she?”
“Indeed, Commander. All she’s lived through, yet she prowls the corridors as fearless as the shraler who pads at her side. She is a fine female, Commander. We will be proud to serve her as we serve you.”
Quin smiled; he hadn’t realized that his crew had begun to grow fond of Vivi. “Thank you, General. I appreciate your loyalty to us both.”
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Vivian decided she still needed to speak to Bart.
“Missy, where is Bart?”
“He is on the recreation deck, choosing his midday meal.”
“Thank you, Missy.”
“You are welcome, Vivian.”
Vivian dressed and left their quarters. The moment she stepped into the corridor she called out, “Vor? I’m going to the cafeteria.”
Vor stepped into sight, “What is a cafeteria? And, I am supposed to be watching you undetected from a distance,” he said with a smirk on his face.
“Oh, I see. Well, then, I shall pretend I don’t know you’re there.” She grinned at him, “I am going to eat. The cafeteria is where the food is. But, carry on, since I don’t know you’re there,” she said, waving her hand at him as though to wave him away.
He raised his eyebrow at her and stayed put, but said, “You mean the commissary. Where are your weapons, Sirena? Do you not carry them?”
Vivian pulled her dagger from the sheath she’d slipped into her waistband and brandished it at him.
“Ah, that’s more like it,” he said smiling at her.
“And Kitty is wearing my chain as a collar. I can pull it swiftly from his neck if I need it,” she said, looking down at Kitty.
Vor looked closer and to be sure, Kitty was wearing her chain around his neck. She’d looped it several times and had used one of their Sire’s cloak clasps to hold it together.
“Very clever,” Vor said.
“I thought so,” Vivian answered, grinning.
Then Kail stepped into view.
Vivian smiled at him. “What is your name?”
“I’m Kail,” he answered, performing a little bow.
“Thank you for watching over me.”
“You’re welcome, Sirena.”
“Where are the others?” she asked.
“We have decided that of the five of us left on your guard, we would take shifts, two and sometimes three at a time, unless we have reason to increase your security.”
“I see. Well, please thank them for watching over me as well.”
“I will,” Vor answered.
“Why don’t you just walk with me? We should be friends, I think. Don’t you?” she asked.
Kail grinned, “I think so, too,” he answered stepping up beside her.
Vor smiled at her, shaking his head as he regarded her, “You will never do anything according to protocol will you, Sirena?”
“That would be too boring,” she said as they approached the lift. They boarded, Kitty taking a seat at her feet and watching the two new males relentlessly as the doors slid closed. She looked at both Vor and Kail. They wore the marks of her chain across their faces. “I’m sorry about your faces,” she said softly, looking from one to the other of them.
Vor’s eyebrows shot up, and Kail smiled sweetly at her. “We are not,” Vor answered. “We are proud to wear the marks of your bravery.”
“Very proud,” Kail agreed.
“Is there any other that I struck?” she asked, feeling terrible for scarring their faces.
“Just one other. Zahn. He is on duty next with Asl.” Vor answered. “He doesn’t speak much — prefers to keep to himself, but I don’t think he minds the scars either.”
“Well, I’m still sorry for striking you,” she said. Then she realized he’d only given her four names, “Who is the fifth male?” Vivian asked.
“Rel. He is the rotating member. Moving back and forth between teams as needed. We are first team, Zahn and Asl second team. Rel rotates between the two, sometimes working with us, sometimes with second team, depending on your activity.”
“I’m guessing that he’ll be waiting in the shadows when the lift opens on the recreation floor? Since I’m moving about the ship?”
“Yes,” Vor answered.
The doors slid open, and Vor moved to take her elbow to escort her from the lift. Kitty didn’t like him touching her and snarled loudly. Vor pulled his hand back and looked back down at her pet. “Is there any chance you’ll consider a less aggressive pet?”
Vivian looked down at Kitty with a smile on her face, “He’s not a pet, he’s my friend. Just don’t touch me, and you should be fine.”
Vor was looking down at Kitty, “I’m only protecting her, same as you.”
Kitty regarded him with a bored expression on his feline-ish face.
“See? You talk to him too, we’ll all be fine friends. Come along if you’re coming, I need to find Bart.”
As they exited the lift, another large male came into view. He was attempting to stand back and blend into the other crew members moving about in the corridor, but she’d seen him before and knew he was another of her guard. When she passed him, she said, “Hi, Rel, what took you so long?” but didn’t slow her step at all. “Guys, I’m going to need some privacy when we get to the cafeteria, alright? So give me some space,” she said without looking back at them.
Rel looked completely confused. He locked his eyes on Vor who said, “Don’t even ask, just go along with it.”
Chapter 24
Bart took a seat at one of the empty tables in the commissary. He was very pleased that he’d found several Earth dishes among the choices offered today. He had no doubt it was a direct result of Vivian being aboard. He was enjoying his meal, thinking about Vivian and wondering how she’d taken the news of who he was when Quin had spoken with her last night, and wondering if they’d even had a talk at all. He wasn’t paying attention, so he was caught off guard when someone took a seat at the table with him. He lifted his eyes to whomever it was, and his heart lurched. It was Vivian. She was sitting across from him, a soft, sad smile on her face, her eyes a little glassy as though she was trying not to cry — just watching him.
“Hello, Vivian,” he said quietly.
“Hello, Bart. You look so much like Alex and Andrus. I thought when you first entered Quin's apartment that you were Alex.”
Bart pushed his plate aside and reached across the table for Vivian’s hands. She placed them in his and held them tightly. “Are you okay?” he asked.
Vivian clung to his hands, she shrugged, a single tear falling, leaving a trail down her golden-skinned face. She clearly carried the Grecian traits of her heritage. “I don’t know. But I’m better than I’ve been.” She looked him in the eye, begging him to understand without her having to explain anything.
Bart nodded, tears in his own eyes.
“I can’t believe little Samuel is your father,” Vivian said, looking at him with wonder.
“He is, and Alex is my grandfather.” Bart sat, just holding her hands, taking her in. “It’s still so unreal that I found you. And alive!”
“It’s been a long, long time.”
“It has,” he said, looking at their joined hands. He grasped her hands tighter, enveloping both of hers in his. “They never stopped searching for you. Never!”
Vivian had been successfully holding back her tears until then, they fell freely down her face, “I miss them. I wish I could see them just one more time. Talk to them…” her lip trembled as she tried to contain herself.
“You can, more or less.”
“What do you mean?”
“Dad’s still alive. He’d be overjoyed to hear from you, to talk to you again,” Bart
explained.
“Really? I’d love to see him again! I bet he’s so tall and handsome, just like Uncle Alex and Uncle Andrus were.”
“He was. Only his dark hair is all silver now.”
Vivian sat back, her eyes looking off into the distance as she remembered, “Wow, that is so hard to imagine. I still see him splashing in the bathtub as a little, bitty boy.”
“And I have letters. Letters and photos. And keepsakes.”
Vivian’s quick intake of breath let him know that she understood; she sat forward.
He nodded, grinning through his own tears, “Andrus and Alex never believed you wouldn’t be found. They kept a box for you. It’s filled with letters, photos, a few keepsakes. They said that it should be passed down through the family, protected and treasured until you were found, then, it was to be given to you. So you’d know they never gave up hope.”
“What do the letters say?” she whispered.
Bart shook his head, “I don’t know. They’ve never been opened. You want to go see?”
“You have them here?!” she stood.
“I do. I made sure to pack them when I believed that you were the human aboard that ship. They’re yours. You can read them whenever you like.”
“Can we go, now? I want to read them!”
“Let’s go. They’re in my quarters.”
Before they could go anywhere, there was a loud crash and Cook was yelling, answered by a loud yowl.
“Ooh, I think Kitty’s causing trouble. Wait, I’ll be right back!” Vivian called over her shoulder before coming back to the table to throw herself into his arms. “I’m so glad you’re here!”
“So am I. I’m glad you’re still here, Aunt Vivian.”
“Oh My Gosh! That makes me sound so old!” Vivian laughed. Another loud yowl came from the kitchen, followed by a loud, “Sirena! Please!”
“I’ll be back,” she said, then was running across the commissary and darting into the kitchen area.
Bart heard her voice chiding the creature she called Kitty, “Kitty! Bad Kitty! NO! Quin’s going to make me lock you up in the bathroom! Is that what you want?”
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