Celestial Mates Complete Series Box Set (Books 1-5) (Alien SciFi Romance)

by C. J. Scarlett

  Gripping his hands, she stepped forward.

  He sucked in a breath when she rubbed her chest against his.

  “You want to show it to me, and a whole lot more. Don’t be shy. I see the way you look at me, how you touch me every chance you get. I know when a man’s interested in me.”

  “I’m not appropriate for you, Miss Madison.”

  “That’s not exactly a denial.”

  Moving her hands up, she gently lifted the strange ocular device off his head and placed it carefully on the counter. Smoothing down his hair, she felt his hands come up around her. She was all prepared for him to talk about how much older he was. She’d devised some snappy comebacks for that objection.

  A frown creased his brow. “I am not yet individualized.”

  Caught off guard, by his reasoning, she realized she had no idea what he was talking about. Unable to keep the smile off her face, she shook her head. “What the heck does that even mean?”

  Lifting her hands carefully off his chest, he responded. “Jacob is individualized. I have been too busy to worry about such things. Human women prefer males who appear distinct from one another. I have not yet attained that status.”

  Wigging her hands out of his hold, she ran her fingers around the little crinkles of flesh at his hair line. Instead of the shiny silver clips she’d seen on many of the other males, his were more of a copper color. She couldn’t help but tease him a little. “Are you worried that I couldn’t pick you out of a room full of clones? I promise you that wouldn’t be a problem for me.”

  His guileless response took her breath away. “I am more concerned that I will grow a strong desire for you and you will abandon all interest in me when you are exposed to more of my kind. I would not be considered the most suitable match for you.”

  “You’re protecting your heart?”

  Looking away, he whispered. “I realize that makes me seem weak…”

  Pulling him down, she ghosted her lips across his. Before she could think, they were tangled in a passionate kiss as she hung onto him for dear life.

  There was a sound and they both reluctantly pulled apart to see Jacob standing in the doorway. Madison was shocked to realize that Lar had apparently lifted her onto the counter and she’d wrapped her legs around his waist. He seemed to shake off the fog of desire about the same time she released his hips.

  “I should not have done that. I apologize.”

  Tilting her head slightly, she reminded him. “You didn’t do anything. I kissed you. If you’re guilty of anything at all, it is liking it.”

  Stepping back, he looked down. “Do you mind if I ask why you did that?”

  “Honestly?”

  Bringing his head down, he looked her in the eyes. His dark gaze searching her face for something.

  “Because I just couldn’t stop myself. That’s why.”

  Jacob spoke. “You are not released for mating. Please return to your recovery platform.”

  “I didn’t come in here to mate. I actually wanted to talk about my sister. I just got a little distracted, that’s all. She’s not doing as well as I am. I feel fine. I don’t have any problems getting up or moving around. She can’t even get out of bed and there’s a delay when she talks.”

  “Miss Kaylee’s procedure was more complicated. I believe she was infected first. The parasite was embedded much deeper in the cardiac tissue and had caused lesions. We had to graft a larger amount of tissue in place for her to make a full recovery.”

  Jacob chimed in additional information. “Since the women who donated tissue were not exact matches for your sister, we had to give her powerful medication to keep her body from rejecting the tissue. The symptoms you see are merely the expected side effects of those medications. There is no cause for worry.”

  Madison looked to Lar for confirmation. Though she didn’t know exactly why, she trusted him more.

  He nodded. “Jacob is correct. You were given the same medication, just in smaller quantities. She will take longer to heal but will make a full recovery. Come, I will assist you in mounting your recovery platform.”

  “We wondered what those things were called.”

  Without hesitation, he wrapped an arm snugly around her and she allowed him to guide her back out to the recovery area. She passed by the third woman. “Any idea who she is? I never saw her before.”

  “Her name is Miss Cary Anne Saunders. She is a foundling who came aboard the same time you and your sister did. She had a parasite removed but also had a small mass growing at the base of her brainstem. We are keeping her unconscious so she does not move around and inadvertently cause a brain hemorrhage. The work we performed was delicate and extremely invasive.”

  Instead of helping her onto the platform with one hand, Lar scooped her off her feet and laid her gingerly upon the top before pulling up her blanket. Scooting all the way to the back of the narrow platform, she made room for him to sit with her.

  “Will you cuddle me? I don’t want to be alone.”

  Sitting beside her, he smiled. “You have been with us for two long weeks. I find it hard to believe that you are suddenly afraid to be alone. Nor do I believe you need my therapeutic touch to heal at an optimal level.”

  Smothering a smile, she responded contritely. “Fine, I just want to spend more time with you. Can you stay for a bit or do you have lives to save?”

  “I’m afraid those kinds of heroics are few. Normally, I spend my time researching and cloning.”

  Cupping his hand between her own, she tugged him closer. “Sounds fascinating.”

  “I could bore you with the details or we could talk about us.”

  “Oh, there’s an us finally? I’ve been flirting with for two solid weeks and now you’re suddenly on board. Was it the kiss or am I slowly bewitching you with my outgoing personality?”

  “As a scientist, I reserve the right to conduct further analysis before diagnosing the cause of my new malady.”

  Her eyes flew open. “Malady? Falling in love with me is a malady? You’ve either got a wonderful sense of humor for a clone or you’re trying to pick a fight.”

  “I promise it’s the former.”

  “In that case, you’re a pretty funny guy.”

  “Not many people appreciate medical humor.”

  “Well, I think medical humor is pretty nifty. So are you.”

  “No one had ever told me that before. Normally the females who will have anything to do with us, only wish to talk to warriors.”

  Tugging him a little closer, she whispered. “Stupid them, lucky me.”

  “I truly wish whatever is going on between us was real. It is nice to feel desired. It fills a hole inside me.”

  Getting slightly irritated, Madison gripped his shirt tighter. “Why do you think this isn’t real? That kiss in your lab sure felt real to me.”

  “The only males you have spent time around are members of my medical team. You prefer me to them, of that I am certain. I believe it is because I am in command of this environment and it makes you feel safe to have me close.”

  Her hands flew off him and she moved back slightly. “You know what? That’s really insulting.”

  “Because it is true and you did not realize your own motivation? I meant no disrespect in pointing that out to you.”

  “I think it would be better if I got some rest. Run along, Lar. Go hide out in your evil lab. Mix up a batch of clones, and forget I ever spoke to you.”

  Looking away, his face fell. “As you wish, Miss Madison.”

  As the door slid shut behind him, Kaylee spoke. “You’re being a bit of an ass to the man.”

  Padding over to her sister’s recovery platform, she perched on the edge. “Why is it that you only ever wake up for the good parts, sis?”

  “Guess I’ve got natural talent.”

  “Well, you missed the huge lip lock I hit him with earlier. You slept right through it.”

  “You told the man he had an evil lab and told him to mix
up a batch of clones. You were being a witch.”

  “I don’t know why he has to keep shoving me away.”

  “He’s got a point. You might be fixated on him just because he’s one of the few faces you see every day. Have we really been here for two weeks?”

  “Yes, two full weeks. I’m bored, I’ll give you that much. That doesn’t mean I don’t know what I want. Sometimes a woman just knows deep down inside.”

  “Maybe, you’ll have to prove to him that he’s your one. If you’re lucky, he might even get jealous.”

  “See, the old Madison would have loved that idea. The new Madison who’s falling in love with the gorgeous clone intent on holding her at arm’s length? Well, she’s pretty darn stupid, cause she doesn’t want to see him jealous, upset, or unhappy even for a minute.”

  “Okay, now I’m worried. In fact, I’m thinkin’ they may have done a personality transplant while they were in there.”

  “If you weren’t still sick, I’d hit you with a pillow.”

  A deep voice cut into their conversation. “No hitting. Female, step back from the other female. Stay calm. There is no need to resort to violence.”

  Folding her arms over her chest, Madison cut Jacob a sideways glance. “What in the verse are you talking about?”

  Smiling politely, he approached. “That was my impression of Lar the first time he saw a Krylon female. Selene assures me that I have replicated his exact voice tone.”

  “Well, knock it off. I don’t like you making fun of my guy.”

  “You can call dibs all day long, but until he agrees, he is not yours.”

  “You talk like a human.”

  “My goal is to be more human like than humans are, but enough about me. I have an idea of how you can win Lar’s affections.”

  Turning, Madison smiled at him. “Do tell. I’m all ears.”

  “We’re taking dating advice from a clone who’s never had a girlfriend? This is going to be really helpful.”

  Waving her hand at her sister, Madison shushed her. “Let the man speak, will you?”

  “I will invite males here to companion you. If Lar sees that you are spending time with a multitude of males and not exhibiting signs of attraction to them, he will be more accepting of your advances.”

  Rubbing her hands together greedily, Madison smiled. “Bring on the clones. Let’s get this over with because I’m dying to get a peek at his private office.”

  “Since when do females pursue males?”

  Shar Jalon’s voice carried a bit as he entered the room.

  “Good day, my prince. The Lady Madison, wishes to mate with Lar.” Jacob was suddenly all business.

  Stopping before them, Shar Jalon announced matter of factly. “I will command him to accept you. We are seeking women to revive our dying race. He has an obligation to breed.”

  Madison slid to her feet, panic shooting through her chest. As she stood trying to formulate a response to his suggestion, Jacob spoke.

  “I do not think the females wish males to be forced into their service. Human females have rituals of mating that must be followed for them to pair bond. The first step is choosing a partner. The next is to spend time courting the person. Their courtship rituals are complex. If my understanding is correct, she will wish to say loving things to him, give him tokens of her affection, and prove herself a viable life mate. He must come to her willingly for the pair bonding to be respected.”

  “I was not aware their courtship was so complicated.” Taking out his handheld, he began to type. “We must alert the trainers to explain to the clones that the females will be pursuing them…”

  Kaylee sighed. “That’s not quite accurate information, sir.”

  Jacob explained. “Historically human females rarely pursued males. They have a long and deep seated tradition of males pursuing. On Earth, that dynamic has slowly changed over the course of the last fifty solars. Because the females outnumber the males so dramatically, some have overcome the tradition of waiting for the male to initiate interest. We should expect an equal distribution when it comes to who will initiate the pursuit.”

  Shar Jalon lowered his handheld, clipping it back on his wrist. “The history on their traditions is interesting, but we are no closer to knowing how to proceed with them.”

  Madison put her hands on her hips. “Just tell them that if they see a woman they like, to approach with caution. Warm them up with some polite conversation then ask them to share a meal. If the gal likes the look of him, she’ll accept. If she agrees to a one-on-one dinner, that’s the green light to begin the courting ritual, which is simply a get to know each other stage.”

  The handheld came back out and he typed away. “Thank you for that insight, Miss Madison. It will be helpful information. Good luck with your courtship of Lar Jalon. He is a worthy male.”

  “No need for the sales pitch. I’m already sold.” Madison smirked at the older man.

  CHAPTER 7

  ~Madison~

  Kaylee and Madison swam through the sea of women, looking for ones with medical needs. Each time they found one, they tagged her with a little blinking red clip keyed with suspected and or reported physical problems. They met in the middle and stood staring at each other.

  “Did they send anyone except scruffs?”

  “Don’t be an ass hat, Madison.”

  Scruffs were the term humans used to describe homeless women and children. Their growing numbers were a chronic source of embarrassment for a world no longer able to care for them. Most of the women were malnourished and some were dehydrated. The clones handed out hydration packs to every person. They stopped to dote over the children.

  “It seems Earth Gov used the treaty as an excuse to move as many women with children as possible.”

  “Around these parts, children are just considered an exciting bonus.”

  Madison looked around, for the first time noticing the clones interacting with the children. “This is freaking me out a bit.”

  “The gigantic clone in the red apron or the one pulling kids around in what appears to be the alien version of a little red wagon?”

  Jacob spoke from nearby. “I tried to explain to them that human customs vary over time. It is not the same for our people. We are very utilitarian. What we wear is what we’ve always worn. They went into the Earth database and picked things at random associated with caring for children and women.”

  Rolling her eyes, Madison responded. “That would explain why they are passing around drinks on a tray like it’s the turn of the century.”

  Kaylee chimed in pleasantly. “Yep, and why they are providing some strange version of iced tea in tall clear glasses right along the side of baby bottles of simulated milk. No human ever served a baby bottle from a tray like that.”

  Madison grinned. “Well, I think it’s adorable that they’re trying so hard. Be right back. That guy with the red apron has what appear to be cookies.”

  Walking up to the man, she snagged a handful of the tasty treats and made her way back to Kaylee. One bite and she was astonished and delighted. “Hey, Kay, you’ve got to try these things. They’re cookies that taste like meat. I know. It sounds gross but they’re really good.”

  Wrinkling her nose, Kaylee backed away. “I’ll pass.”

  “That’s your problem in life, sis. You don’t take enough risks.”

  Kaylee laughed. “I know. Your motto seems to be nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

  “After the things I’ve eaten over the last year, alien cookies seem like a safe bet.”

  Kaylee approached her slowly. “Okay, I’m trusting you on this.”

  Taking a cookie, they bumped them together and took a bite together.

  “Oh, my God. You’re right. These things are fantastic. I love the strong burst of flavor. It hits everywhere at once.”

  They watched as the clones dragged in some hoverboards of kids’ toys. They were strange little alien toys, but toys nonetheless.

  Kayl
ee commented happily. “These guys really are going all out for the kids. That’s nice.”

  Jacob smiled. “Most of us have never seen a pre-vat being in person.”

  Kaylee frowned but Madison knew what he was talking about.

  “Clones don’t come out of the tube until they’re grown. Every now and then something goes wrong and one wakes up early. Pre-vat is the word they use for people who came out before the cylinder was finished doing its thing.”

  “You do seem to somehow get the scoop on all sorts of obscure facts about the Shardon. I’m just glad they are so open to having women with children.”

  “Me too. Too bad I don’t have one. Maybe I would have landed my nerdy little doctor by now.”

  “He sure didn’t seem to care how many clones you spent time with. Sorry, Jacob’s idea was a bust.”

  “Hey, I’m not giving up on him yet. I like that they sent mostly scruffs like us, by the way. We’re more likely to see what a good opportunity this is.”

  “You got that right, sister. We’re also used to adversity.”

  “That’s all in the past.”

  Kaylee jerked her head towards the door of the huge landing bay. “Head’s up, sis. Here comes your guy, stupid fool that he is.”

  Glancing over, Madison noted that he had a few assistants and a hoverboard full of equipment in tow.

  “Be still my beating heart. He’s even got gadgets.”

  Madison practically skipped over to meet her busy physician.

  “Good morning, my sweet. Need some help with the equipment? You know I love handling your equipment.”

  “Not now, Madison. I have fifteen hundred women to scan before the day is finished.”

  “Better be prepared for a little overtime. Many of them came with small children and infants. By my calculation, you have around twenty-two hundred.”

  Lar’s head snapped up. “Are you certain?”

  “Counted them myself as they came aboard and double checked it by having the computer scan the bay. Better get you sexy ass in gear. Kaylee and I got a jump start by tagging the ones with obvious problems. You could access that by computer. Not all of them got tagged, because we focused on the ones with children and the ones who seemed to be doing particularly bad. Nearest that I can tell, you got all kinds of interesting diseases to focus on.”