by Mira Maxwell
I move to the kitchen once everything has been set up, ready for a coffee break. It’s horrible instant stuff but fortunately it's so bad to begin with the trip across the galaxy hasn't hurt the quality much. At least it's hot and it's full of caffeine. That's all I need right now.
I lean against the countertop and sip my drink, pretending to be lost deep in thought, but using the opportunity to steal a glance at Cardyk. I love the way he furrows his brow while he concentrates and purses his lips a little while he reads. The way his blue eyes shine when he's lost in thought. I like the intensity that he seems to dedicate to everything. And, God help me, do I love his body. If I want to get my pulse racing, all I have to do is picture his narrow hips between my thighs thrusting like a jackhammer and that does the trick.
“You’re looking at me like I’m on the lunch menu,” he says. Damn, it’s like he can read my mind sometimes.
“You wish you were that lucky,” I tease. “I'm just grabbing a cup of coffee while I wait to check on my experiments.”
“Well, I'd say that's probably a good sign.” I don't know what he's talking about until he nods towards the countertop. One of the samples is going haywire. It’s lit up like a Christmas tree and I'm so excited I drop my cup of coffee.
His excitement matches my own. He tosses his book without marking the page and races to my side. We hunch over the counter together and examine the Eclaydian that has transformed into the compound that's going to save my home.
“Yes! Yes! Yes!” I throw my arms into the air and do a crazy happy dance. Cardyk laughs openly at me and then pulls me into his arms. We celebrate with a feverish kiss.
A weight has been lifted. I still have to process all the material but at least now I know what I’m doing. I'm ready to kick back, relax and enjoy myself. When Cardyk holds me in his arms and leads to me to the sofa using the dancing method I taught him earlier, I don't put up the slightest bit of a fight.
We collapse in each other's arms like a couple of teenagers, grinding against each other as our tongues explore the other’s mouth. He pulls me on top of him, tugs my shirt off in one swift move, and buries his face between my breasts. They heave at his touch and he takes it as encouragement. He slips his fingertips beneath the cup of my bra and strokes my nipples while he nuzzles against me. I reach back to release the clasp on my bra and toss the scrap of fabric across the room.
“Much better,” he murmurs against me before sucking a hardened nipple into his hot mouth. I feel the length of hot iron in his trousers poking at me and I grind against it, massaging it with the aching flesh between my thighs.
Suddenly, there’s a knock at the door. Obviously, neither of us are expecting company. I feel like a sixteen-year-old who just heard Mom and Dad pull into the driveway. I hop off Cardyk and throw my clothes back on as fast as possible.
It’s not convincing. Not even close.
We’re both still collecting ourselves when Diana uses the code to let herself in. She stands in the doorway, her expression a mix of shock and amusement. I could be mistaken, but I think I detect a hint of pride as well.
“Wow…sorry to interrupt,” she says, her face turning bright red. “I shouldn’t have intruded. It’s been a while since we talked and I wanted an update on your progress. I just got a little worried when you didn’t answer the door right away. Which, knowing what I know now, makes total sense.”
Diana doesn’t babble, so I know she’s rambling on out of embarrassment. “Arghhh!” I cover my face with my hands and yell into them. “This is so humiliating.”
She chuckles as she edges closer to the door. “It’s okay, Mina. You shouldn’t feel bad at all. I mean, I kind of led the way in terms of inappropriate behavior with the alien bodyguards.” Cardyk and I both stand there, half dressed. Diana looks around the room for something safe to rest her eyes on. “Besides, I’m excited to learn you’re actually human. Natalie was convinced you were a top secret android programmed to keep an eye on all of us.”
There’s an awkward pause as I try to fasten my pants on the down low. It feels like they’re about ready to slide down.
“So, like I said,” she continues, “I was just stopping by to check on your progress. I can see everything is humming along just fine, so I’m going to head back inside the walls, before anyone dies of embarrassment.”
One quick glance at Cardyk and I know he’s not embarrassed. Based on the bulge at the front of his pants, I’d say he’s straddling the line between horny and proud.
Diana turns to leave and I suddenly remember the breakthrough that led to our impromptu make out session in the first place.
“No! Stay for a minute,” I say. “You have to take a look at this first.” I grab her arm and drag her to the lab, to show her the luminescent Eclaydian. I don’t have to explain. She sees the sample that’s different from the others and immediately squeals and pulls me into a bear hug.
“That’s so damn exciting!” She squeezes me even tighter. “I knew you could do it!”
“I knew you would do it too,” Cardyk says. “Always did.”
“We’ll have to plan something to celebrate,” Diana says. “You should both come inside the walls one night, and we’ll have a big dinner in your honor.”
“It does sound kind of fun,” Cardyk says. “And you deserve to be recognized for all your hard work.”
Part of me would rather keep working here in the lab. The faster I get everything processed, the faster we can go home. But there’s another part of me, now. The part that wants to talk with my friends from Earth, so that I can explain what I’m feeling for Cardyk and compare it to what they experienced. I don’t believe in fated mates, never have and never will, but there is something there between the two of us. Besides, I know Cardyk will appreciate a night out with his friends, and I can’t deny him that. Part of me is a little excited to see him with them, to watch their interaction.
“So,” Diana asks, “what do you think?”
“I think that sounds great,” I say.
Seven
MINA
When I wake the next morning, Cardyk is packed and ready to go. For what, I have no idea. I sit up from the sofa and look at him with a raised eyebrow.
“You’ve been working too hard,” he says. “I permitted it, since I knew you needed to make progress. Now that you’ve had your breakthrough, we’re taking the day off and having some fun.”
“I appreciate the sentiment, but I have a hard time believing anything that involves trudging through the snow could be considered fun.”
“Well, then I’m going to have to work really hard to change your mind. Luckily, I’m pretty sure you’re going to enjoy what I have in mind.”
What I’d really enjoy is a day in bed with him. Shades drawn and no clothes allowed. But I sense that’s not what he has in mind. That there’s something that’s been holding him back, just like it’s been holding me back, in spite of my carnal desire for him.
He tosses me a protein bar. “We have to get going soon. Get your clothes on. And dress in layers.” He heads outside and I figure I better get moving. I bite off a hunk of the power bar and chew as I pull on my long underwear, base layer, and outer wear. I’m ready for a break by the time I’m finally ready to go, but instead, I clip on my snow shoes and step outside to join Cardyk.
“You don’t have to wear those. I don’t mind carrying you, if you prefer.”
“I actually don’t mind it,” I say. “I think I’m finally getting acclimated to the cold air here. And the exercise seems to help my research. It’s like my mind can work on its own, without me getting in my own way, when I’m focused on physical tasks.”
“Perfect,” he says. “Because you’re going to love this.”
I figured we’d head for the mountains, but he leads me in the opposite direction. He leads and forges the path and I follow closely behind him. It’s not long until we come upon several giant rocky protrusions among the trees, dotting the pure white snow like a lar
ge blemish.
He takes me by the hand and leads me to a crack in the face of the rocks. It looks foreboding and I silently hope we aren’t going inside. I’ve never been a fan of confined spaces – especially those with no quick exit. But, I don’t want to seem like a whiner or a quitter, either, so I turn sideways and follow him into the narrow rock walls, against my better judgment. He must sense my discomfort.
“We only have to go about 20 feet,” he says. “I promise, it will be worth it.”
I try to answer, but my mouth is dry as sand. The path we’re following angles downward and I wonder why we’re heading below ground. I struggle to keep my breathing even when the daylight is almost completely blotted out by the rocks. Cardyk pauses to activate a synthetic torch to provide us with extra light. I soldier on, but the space between the rocks is so narrow I begin to sweat.
By the time the passage widens into an underground cavern, I realize it’s not just my anxiety that’s causing the sweating; it’s hot as a sauna down here. My curiosity takes over, especially when I notice blue lights flickering ahead. Some sort of bioluminescence, I’m guessing.
“I know you miss home,” Cardyk says as he sets out some light cubes. He doesn’t activate them right away and I realize he’s indulging a flair for the dramatic. I’m touched.
“I give you Flo-ri-da!” He bows with a deep flourish as light spreads to every corner of the cavern.
I can’t hold back a gasp. It really is the Attalan version of Florida, and I’m utterly charmed. Everything is green and lush. Rich foliage, tall trees, and colorful plants cover nearly every square inch of the cavern. I point at a shrub with leaves the size of a compact car, and he laughs at my amazement. A tree with a milky-white iridescent trunk catches my attention next. Even the rocks are more beautiful here – they’re dusted with some sort of metallic blue powder that glows when the light hits it.
And then there are the flowers.
Blooms of every shape and color appear before my eyes. They grow on the ceiling, float through the air, and hang in bunches from thick vines.
“I’ve never seen flowers that float before.” I duck to avoid a cluster of hundreds of tiny pink flowers that hover like a cotton candy cloud.
“You’ll get used to it,” he says.
“I don’t think I want to! It’s amazing.” I lean down to examine a blood red flower the size of a dinner plate. When I get too close, it curls up into its pod, like it’s afraid.
Everything is so beautiful, I’m dumbstruck. I want to examine everything. To document each new flower and every magnificent plant. I have so many questions I don’t even know where to start.
“Can we spend a little time here?” I finally ask. “Or do we have to head right back?”
“We can spend all day here,” he says. “I packed your notebook, camera, and specimen collection kit, in case you want to do any research.”
I give him an enthusiastic hug and then proceed to remove my bulky winter clothing. The temperature in the cavern is positively tropical.
“How do you know about this place? What is it used for?”
“The warriors assigned to this outpost years ago found it and recorded its location. It has long been used by the men as a place of leisure.”
“A literal hotspot for warriors who need a break from the snow and the cold,” I say.
“Exactly.”
“And you’re positive everything down here is safe?” All I need is to be bitten by some toxic bug or poisonous plant.
“You have nothing to fear here,” he says. “There is no danger.”
“What makes it so hot?”
“I’m not sure.” He carries his pack to a patch of flat ground that is covered with some kind of tiny metallic looking flower.
“How can plants grow like this without sun?” He shrugs as if the question doesn’t concern him.
“That’s for you to figure out, my little scientist,” he says. He spreads out a blanket from the ship and unpacks his bag. I nearly squeal when I see he has packed a picnic of sorts for us. My notebook tumbles out and he hands it to me.
I’m smiling so hard my face almost hurts.
“Well, then I better get started.”
He lays back on the blanket, pulling out a book to read.
“How can you read when you’re surrounded by all this beauty?” I tease.
“I’ve seen this all dozens of times before. The heat is the only part that holds any appeal.” He strips off his shirt before turning his attention back to his book. He looks supremely satisfied, as he should. This is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. A gift that cost him nothing, except for a little thought and planning. I’m delighted to no end.
I peel off my coat and snow pants and pretty much everything else I can while still remaining decent, and get started exploring this magical place. I’m hesitant to stray too far from Cardyk, in spite of his assurances that nothing could harm me here, so I stay within 30 feet of him at all times.
It has its benefits. It makes it easy to sneak a glimpse of him, stretched out like a Greek god, while I take a sample of something that looks like a sea anemone growing out of a tree trunk. Several of them are clustered together, their neon purple tendrils swaying as if they were underwater.
I move to a group of flowers tethered to a single stalk by a thin vine. They float like jeweled Mylar balloons. I want to touch one, but I’m too short to reach it. I look over my shoulder at Cardyk and catch him watching me. I break into a smile as our eyes meet. He returns the gesture and I feel a swarm of butterflies flutter in my stomach. Falling for an alien. Not the smartest thing I’ve ever done. Unfortunately, it’s turning out to be the most enjoyable.
Eight
MINA
Our day is fantastic. Amazing. Surreal. I don’t have the words to describe it. I just know I have a notebook full of new discoveries and my mind is racing with excitement.
All in all, I'm in a fantastic mood. Until I reach my workstation. And see the empty petri dishes sitting there.
"Babe?" I can't keep the hysteria out of my voice.
"What's wrong?" He’s by my side in a second.
"It's gone.” I can see it with my own eyes, but I still have trouble believing it. “All of it."
"The Eclaydian? Are you sure?" He lifts up random pieces of equipment and looks under them, as if the magic green stuff just walked off on its own.
I check the pack Diana sent with us a week ago. “All of the raw materials are still here. But everything we've processed so far is gone.” I glance at the door. “Someone must've gotten in here and taken it while we were out today. We need to go and start looking.”
I’m headed for the door, ready to put my coat back on, when his strong hand clasps my upper arm.
"Take a moment to think, Mina. How would someone even get in here?" He motions to the door which was fully functional when we used it a few minutes ago. I see his point. It's not as if anything has been tampered with.
"Did you check the window?” I ask. “Is it broken? Or has it been removed from the frame?
He walks to the rear of the lab to investigate, places his hands flat against the window and pushes, testing its strength. “It's solid,” he says. “It doesn't appear to have been tampered with at all.”
“Then how the fuck did someone get in here and steal my stuff?”
“I don't know, Mina.” He tosses his arms up in the air. “Does anyone else have the code to the door?”
“Diana does. But I can't imagine she'd come in here without asking me.
Or that she would take the material without talking to me first.” Of course, none of the Earth women would steal it. How can he even think that?
“What about your people?” I ask.
“What about my people?” he says. He suddenly looks weary.
“Do any of the warriors have the capability of getting in here? Could they pick the lock or find some other way inside?”
He shakes his head and starts pacin
g. “No, that's not even a possibility.”
“Then I need you to come up with some other possibility,” I say. “Because I'm running out of probable scenarios here and the second-tier ones I just don't want to think about.” I stare down at my feet. I can’t meet his gaze.
“Just say what you want to say, Mina.”
“Did you take it?” It’s out of my mouth before I have time to think it through. I don’t know if I really suspect him, but I have to ask.
“Of course not. How could you think that of me? After everything we've been through and everything we've become to each other.”
“I've known you for a week. I’m not saying you stole it. Maybe you put it somewhere for safekeeping.” I know it sounds ridiculous, but I’d try so hard to believe anything he’d tell me right now.
“I never touched it.”
“I’d understand if you did.” I finally scrape together the courage to meet his eyes. “Just be honest with me. It’s the most powerful compound in the universe. Are you telling me you've never thought about sneaking a little bit out of here? Maybe sending it back to the city so your people could use it?”
He steps closer and takes my face in his hands. “The only reason I’d take it is so that you could never leave.” He strokes my cheek with his thumb. “Because I love you.”
I don’t know how to respond, so I say the first thing that pops into my mind. “I don't know if I can trust you.” It’s such a shitty reply, but it’s the truth.
His hands drop to his sides. “I would never take it,” he says. “Never condemn your people because of my own selfish desires. I swear.”
“I want to believe you,” I say with all my heart. “But I just don't know what else to think.”
I walk to the window, close my eyes, and lean against the cool glass, resting my forehead against it in an effort to slow my racing mind.
“We’re going to figure this out, Mina,” he promises.
