“Let’s rinse off in the shower, then you can pick a movie and we’ll cuddle for a while, get our second wind.”
“You want me again tonight?” Her eyebrows rose and the surprise on her face almost comical.
“Of course I’m going to want you again tonight. Did you think once would be enough? I’ve been aching for you for days.”
“It’s just… “ Her hands fidgeted at her waist. “My ex, he never… I mean, it was always just once, maybe once every other week, and it usually didn’t last more than ten minutes. We’ve been fooling around since the limo and… “
He placed a finger over her lips. “Hush. I’m not him. You’re desirable and sexy, and if you let me, I would make love to you all night and all morning. I’d keep you awake until you passed out from exhaustion.”
She looked pleased with his words and took his hand, leading him through his room and into the bathroom beyond. Turning her back to him, she started the shower, then propped a foot on the toilet and unfastened her shoe. Unable to resist, he reached for the other one, his fingers fumbling with the tiny buckle before freeing her foot. He studied the shoe a minute then smiled at her.
“I like these.”
“Then I’ll be sure to wear them again.”
“And only the shoes?”
She gave him a bashful look. “If that’s what you’d like.”
Oh yeah, he’d very much like! He assisted her into the shower then followed, pulling the curtain shut behind them. Thrace had never showered with a woman before, but his instincts hadn’t led him astray so far. He helped her lather her hair and then washed her body, his hands caressing her soft curves. When he was finished, she turned the tables on him and washed him from head to toe.
After they had dried off, they donned the His and Hers robes hanging on the back of the door, robes he’d never had a reason to use before now. Hand in hand, they returned to the living room and cuddled on the couch while they watched a movie. Thrace couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt this content. Avelyn completed him and he looked forward to many more nights like this one, even if he had to con his friends into babysitting more often.
Chapter Seven
Avelyn stretched, smiling at the aches and twinges she felt from her head to her toes. There wasn’t an inch of her body that Thrace hadn’t explored and loved well into the morning light. She looked at the bedside clock and bolted upright. 2:00! She glanced at the other side of the bed and found it empty. Tossing the covers aside, she cracked the bedroom door and peered into the living room. She didn’t see Thrace and nothing looked out of place.
Dashing across the living space, she sprinted into her room where she quickly scrambled into some clothes. Avelyn went back into the living room and looked everywhere to see if Thrace had left her a note. Anything to tell her where he’d disappeared to. Had he been called into work?
A sound outside the door drew her attention and a moment later it swung open.
“Ma. Ma. Ma. Ma.” Lily clapped her hands and smiled at Avelyn.
Thrace smiled when he saw her, a warm light entering his eyes. “Yes, I see. Your momma is awake.”
“I didn’t know where you’d gone,” Avelyn said, reaching for Lily.
“Brielle called a little while ago and said Lily had been crying and asking for you all morning. She held off as long as she could before calling me. I didn’t see the point in waking you just to go pick her up, so I left you to rest.”
She smiled. “I appreciate it. Someone I know kept me up all night.”
He laughed.
“Ma. Ma. Ma.” Lily tugged on her hair.
Avelyn pressed a kiss to the baby’s chubby cheek. “Momma is here. Did you have fun with Brielle?”
The baby babbled at her some more.
“I know you’re probably tired, but I thought maybe we’d do something with Lily today,” Thrace said. “Now that you’ve agreed to be mine, regardless of what the council says, I don’t see why we shouldn’t act like a family.”
“Is there a ceremony or something we need to go through?”
“For a Terran warrior, if the council says we’re mates, then it’s so. I’ve seen the ceremonies you have here on Earth. Do you want to have something like that? I’m not opposed to it.”
“You would go through a wedding ceremony for me?”
He nodded. “I’m not sure if it would be considered legal since I’m not a resident on Earth, but if it would make you happy, then yes, I will do it.”
“I don’t need a wedding, Thrace. I just need to be yours. I don’t want there to be any question that Lily and you belong to me, and that I belong to you. As long as no one is going to try to separate us, then I’m happy.”
He growled. “I would never let anyone take you from me, Avelyn. Not even my council.”
His words warmed her and she smiled brightly. “You said you wanted to do something with Lily. What did you have in mind?”
“Well… I bought her what I could when I adopted her, but as you know, I’m still struggling with being a father. I’m sure there are things she needs or wants that I have missed. Would you be opposed to taking her shopping at one of those huge baby stores?”
“I bet Lily would love that! We can buy her some more clothes. The ones she has now are getting a little tight on her. I think she’s ready for the next size up. Same for diapers. Wouldn’t hurt to buy a package or two of a larger size, just to have them.”
He looked around the suite. “And toys?”
“I’m sure she’ll talk you into something.” Avelyn smiled. “You don’t expect to take a child shopping and come home without toys, do you? She may be small still, but you’d be surprised how many things she’ll try to grab. If you get her close enough to the shelves, I’m sure she would put a dent in your wallet.”
“No.” He laughed. “I suppose not. When I went shopping with her before, she didn’t do much but scream. I think they were quite happy when we left. I made sure to tip them.”
“Well, let me get my purse and we can head out. Miss Lily looks ready to shop to me.”
“You don’t need your purse.” Thrace held out a hand. “You have me.”
Sliding her palm along his, she felt his fingers close over her hand and tingles shot up her arm and settled in her heart. No words of love had been spoken the night before, but she could tell that he really cared about her, that he desired her, and above all, he wanted her -- forever. For now, that would be enough. She knew she had the love of Lily, and she could be content with that. If Thrace didn’t love her yet, she was confident that it would grow over time.
As for her? She was definitely in love with the big alien.
Throughout the day, they went from one baby store to another, filling the limo with way more than Lily would ever need, but Thrace was a force to be reckoned with. They bought clothes in several sizes, trying to anticipate her growth spurts, developmental toys to help make her smarter -- not that she wasn’t already exceptionally bright -- and Avelyn had found the cutest patchwork doll that was brightly colored. Lily had grabbed onto it and had yet to let go. The cashier had tried to take the doll to scan it and Lily had screamed until the doll had been given back.
“Tired of shopping?” Thrace asked.
“A little. My feet are starting to hurt.”
He looked down at her feet and frowned. “You need better shoes.”
Avelyn glanced at the shoes in question. They were plain sneakers, but she’d gotten them used and the padding inside was pretty much shot. She had to admit, he was right; she did need new shoes, and something told her that the long strides he was using to eat up the sidewalk were taking them to a shoe store.
As she stared up at the sign above the shop, she arched a brow at him. “There are cheaper shoe stores. Can’t we just go to Payless or something? I don’t need an eighty dollar pair of shoes.”
Thrace folded his arms over his chest and frowned at her. With a sigh, she relented and went into the shop. As she
browsed the shoes, she winced over the prices, even though she knew Thrace could more than afford them. It was the principle of the thing. Yes, there was a time in her life she hadn’t batted an eye at spending hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars on a pair of shoes. But after having all of that taken away, she had a better appreciation for money. It wouldn’t last forever.
Thrace held up a pair of purple and teal ones. “What about these?”
They were cute, and a good brand. She hunted for a pair in her size and tried them on, but they pinched her toes. Another half hour of looking and she was the proud owner of a new pair, and she found Thrace shopping for other shoes… in the women’s department.
“What are you doing?” she asked. “I thought we were paying for these and taking Lily home for a nap.”
“I’ve studied Earth women. You need more shoes. They all seem to have hundreds of pairs.”
“Not all.”
He held up a pair of ballet flats. “These look like they would be comfortable.”
She couldn’t help but smile. “Very well. I’ll look at a few more pair.”
“Two. I’m not walking out of this store until you pick out at least two more pairs of shoes.”
With a shake of her head, she picked out two more pairs, then followed Thrace and Lily to the counter to pay. She tried to hide her wince when she saw the total, even though she knew it was pocket change for the big alien. They loaded her bags into the trunk and then she climbed into the back of the limo and helped fasten Lily into her car seat. The little angel was asleep before they even reached the hotel, having had a very busy day.
“We should probably order room service for dinner,” Thrace said. “I’m not sure Lily can handle another trip out. And you’ve been rubbing your foot for the last ten minutes.”
She looked at her hand wrapped around her foot and released it. “It’s a little sore.”
Thrace sat on the couch and held out his hand. “Give me your feet.”
She balked for a moment, then stretched out across the couch and put her feet in his lap. As his thumbs dug into her arch, she couldn’t hold back the gasp of pleasure. Avelyn groaned as he worked out the knots in her feet. By the time he moved to the second foot, she thought she might melt into the couch it felt so damn good. It also made her wonder if anyone had ever given him a massage. Was it a common practice on Terran?
“You do that really well,” she said.
“I’m worried I’ll squeeze too hard and hurt you. I’ve never done this before.”
“Have you ever had someone massage you?”
He looked hesitant to answer.
“It’s all right if you have. I won’t be mad. People pay good money here on Earth for a good massage.”
“I haven’t had one, but there was a woman who tried to massage my shoulders once. I didn’t like the feel of her hands on me and tried to brush her off.”
“What happened?”
He looked away before swinging his gaze her way again. “She tried to disrobe in the middle of the Terran station and told me she could offer me more than just that. I didn’t like her.”
Avelyn bit her lip. She could just see some woman trying to come on to Thrace and him backing away in horror. He was such a sweet guy and probably didn’t have a clue how to react to an aggressive Earth woman. And something told her the woman didn’t want anything more from Thrace than his wallet. Although, word was out that the Terrans were well hung, so it was possible she’d just been after him for sex.
The smile slipped from her face. She didn’t like the idea of women throwing themselves at him for sex. What if someone better came along? What if there came a time that some beautiful female caught his attention, one who could give him children, and he decided he’d made a mistake taking Avelyn for his mate?
“You look worried. I didn’t want that woman.”
“I believe you, but it did make me wonder what would happen if someone came along that you did like in return. What if you take me for your mate and then one day decide you’ve made a mistake?”
He gave her a patient look. “That isn’t going to happen, Avelyn. You’re the only woman I’ve wanted. Ever. I never felt desire until I met you. I never felt all these intense emotions until you came here to live with me.”
“I came here to be your nanny,” she pointed out.
His jaw tensed. “I see. Are you regretting what happened between us last night? Have you changed your mind about being my mate? Would you prefer that I pay you for the services you do around here and keep my hands to myself?”
“No! God, no. Thrace, that isn’t it at all. I just… look at you and look at me. You can do so much better.”
He tugged on her feet until he’d dragged her down the couch, then he scooped her up and placed her across his lap. “Listen to me and listen well. There is no woman out there for me except you. I’ve never felt these things before, and I know I never will again. Lily and you mean everything to me, Avelyn. You’re the perfect mother for her, and the perfect mate for me. And together, we’ll rescue more orphans and make one big happy family.”
“There’s something you should know.” She nibbled on her lower lip, questioning whether or not she should tell him. Was it the right time? “There’s a reason I’m nervous around you, that I feel so insecure.”
“You have no reason to be insecure, Avelyn.”
“It’s because I love you,” she blurted. “I love you and I’m scared that you can never love me in return. I’m broken, Thrace, and that’s never going to change. Yes, it was done to me without my knowledge, but it doesn’t change the fact that I’m not a whole woman. I’m defective.”
“Don’t make me turn you over my lap and blister your ass.” He grinned. “I learned that from television.”
Tears gathered in her eyes.
“Avelyn, you exasperate me at times with the way you view things, but it doesn’t change how I feel about you. You mean the world to me. Do you think I would fall to my knees and worship at the feet of just any woman? I’ve never tried to pleasure a woman before last night and I was terrified I would do it wrong, but I was determined to follow through. I wanted you to feel the things you make me feel. My blood heats when you’re around and all I can think about is stripping you bare and getting you under me as fast as possible, because my cock aches to feel you wrapped around it. And it isn’t just lust. I’ve felt lust before. This is so much more than that, Avelyn. Do you know why?”
She slowly shook her head.
“Because I love you.” He smoothed her hair back from her face. “I love you so damn much. It’s why I won’t let you go, even if the council says we can’t be together.”
She toyed with the buttons on his silk shirt. “You know. Lily is sleeping soundly. Maybe if we’re really quiet, you could take me to the bedroom and show me just how much you love me?”
“I could do that.” He smiled and kissed her softly. As his hands delved into her hair, there was an incessant beeping in the room. “Damn.”
“What is it?” she asked.
He pulled the little tablet looking thing from his pocket. “The council wishes to speak to me. They asked that I bring you with me, which means I have to find someone to stay here with Lily. That could take time.”
“Will they be that patient?”
“I can only hope.” He sighed. “I’m going to call Victoria and Xonos to see if one of them can watch Lily for a little while. I’m not sure how long a conversation this will be. The fact they want to see both of us worries me somewhat. If they had good news, wouldn’t they only need to see me?”
Her stomach knotted. “You think they’re going to deny our mating?”
“It’s possible.”
“Make the call and let’s hurry to the station. I don’t want to keep them waiting. What if they become angry? They surely won’t approve our mating if we make them wait for us.”
“I’m calling now. Put on some of your new shoes so your feet won’t bother you, and
then, despite what the council has to say, we’ll come home, and hopefully, Lily will still be asleep so I can show you just how I feel about you.”
Avelyn brushed a kiss against his lips again, before going to get a pair of her new shoes while Thrace made his call.
Chapter Eight
Thrace stood before the Vid-Comm, Avelyn’s hand clutched in his. He would never tell her, but his heart was pounding in his chest and his stomach didn’t feel so hot. Yes, he would defy the council, break from them and find his own way if they said he couldn’t be with Avelyn, but it would be so much better if they would say yes. He didn’t want to give up everything he knew, but he would gladly do it for her. There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for Avelyn.
“Thrace, it’s good to see you,” Larimar said. “As you can see, the council has convened over the matter of your mating. Everyone is present except for Borgoz.”
A feeling of unease slid through him. Why would the Chief Councillor not be there unless they knew Thrace had blackmailed him?
“Borgoz is dealing with some family issues today, but he’s given his opinion and we took that into consideration as we deliberated over the matter. As you know, the bride program was set up so we could further our existence once our females stopped being born. It was only going to be a matter of time before we died out, and it’s been proven that Terrans breed true when it comes to human women. Granted, there are a few males who have found matches in other female races and those children, while half-Terran, look nothing like us.”
Thrace wasn’t sure where this was going and his nerves hadn’t eased. He tightened his grip on Avelyn’s hand.
“We will approve your mating with one stipulation. During our studies of humans, it has come to our attention that sometimes, when a female is unable to have children, they bring in what is called a surrogate mother. Would you be willing to provide a sperm donation for a surrogate mother? Everything would be handled clinically, and once the child was born, you would have the option of raising it yourself.”
Avelyn and the Alien Daddy (Intergalactic Brides 3) Page 8
