by Pearl Tate
“Okay, I’m ready.” Selas is just closing what must be their refrigerator, although it looks like it has a lazy susan inside of it instead of shelving. Kind of cool.
Turning around, he passes me a glass of water. I take a few sips before placing it on the small countertop next to him. He lets out a tired sigh before walking to the door and activating it to open.
The hall is empty except for four men standing at attention. I don’t remember seeing them before so they’re a new addition since I arrived. Security?
I don’t ask, instead I grab his hand, linking our fingers as we reach the end. By the time we reach the door to walk outside, we’ve crossed paths with two other groups of guys standing around. They stare openly as we pass. I guess that’s to be expected when you’re one of only a few women around. It’s no wonder they’ve put security in the halls.
But as we walk down a narrow street with no traffic, it does get a little odd. The stares are blatant, but what I’m feeling is jealousy? Why would I be jealous?
Ahhhh, now I get it! I’m such an idiot. Selas is jealous. I can’t help feeling giddy with the realization.
Dropping his hand, I curl my arm around his back and lean into him. We may look a little odd with how tall he is, but who cares. I want Selas to realize he doesn’t need to be jealous. That’s just plain silly.
If everything that the girls explained to me is accurate, this whole mating thing is a permanent and final thing—not just for him, but for me, too. When—or if—we ‘finalize the mating’ or fuck as I like to call it, we’ll never feel any kind of attraction for anyone else.
This isn’t really helping. Selas has put his arm around me too, but every time I glance up, he’s casting glares in whatever direction he’s looking. Is it the clothes, really? What do their women wear? I’ll have to ask around, subtly of course. I’m not going to call him out on this. I think if the roles were reversed, it would be difficult for me too.
Seriously, I’ve never felt this way with anyone. Attracted and possessive. Of course, some of that might be his feelings bleeding through into mine. It’s strange and will definitely take a little time to figure out.
“You know, I’m actually feeling a little tired.” Selas stops dead at my words, turning to put his other arm on my shoulder so we’re facing each other. The concern almost makes me feel guilty for the lie.
“Are you alright? Maybe we should get you looked at in medical too?”
“No, no. I’m sure it’s just everything catching up with me. But do you think you could carry me?” Lifting my arms, I smile innocently as his eyes brighten. Looking around with a smug look at the ten other guys floating around staring, he leans in and pulls my body up and flush to his.
I immediately wrap my legs around him, linking my hands behind his neck. We’re face to face, and I can feel the heat of my still throbbing pussy rub against him. Oh, man. This might not have been the best idea, but it’s too late now!
Selas seems much more mollified, and the frustrated jealousy that was building during our walk levels out. I’m given a chance to really look at his hair, too. He shifts me slightly to the left, so I reach up with my right hand to smooth down some strands that have begun floating out from his braid.
Braid is really too plain of a description. It’s more like a braid on steroids. If you’ve ever watched one of those YouTube videos of the hair stylists who create artwork in hair, with loops and flowers, it’s more like that. An all over, sectioned style.
But as I run my hand on the strands, pushing them back to join with the other on his head, hundreds more release and float our towards me. Whoa! Whoops. “Ah, Selas! Sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have touched it?”
Chuckling, Selas squeezes my ass he’s cupping against him. “It likes you. You touched it and like every part of my body, if you show any interest at all, it just wants more.”
Laughing together, we enter a building that has two guys standing as sentries outside, but I don’t realize that until we’ve passed. Selas’s hair is just starting to calm down as I swivel to look where we’re going.
“Selas! It’s great to see you. I’m glad you stopped by.” The smaller man watches me with interest as Selas sets me lightly beside him.
“Fax, this is Karen from Earth.” Selas keeps his arm lightly around my back.
Leaning forward slightly, I stick out my hand. “Nice to meet you.”
Fax takes my hand briefly but doesn’t shake it or anything. I feel the rumble of Selas’s growl of annoyance next to me, and Fax releases me quickly, stepping back. Damn. I need to just keep away from everyone. I assume this is temporary? I’ll have to talk to Jenny and Rachel who live here all the time. Surely, this gets better…
“…passed it along but the list is quite extensive. The last delivery wasn’t complete. We’re missing the most important ingredient and without it, we’re going to be unable to maintain the production cycle as planned.”
It took me a second to catch on, but they’re talking shop? “Wait, wait.” They both look at me surprised as I cut in, but he isn’t going to get out of this. Good try. “Selas needs to be checked out.”
Fax looks at me then Selas in surprise. “Are you dizzy or nauseated?”
“No.” Selas is quick to answer but doesn’t say anything else, and I huff in exasperation.
“Okay, okay. He’s here because of me,” I admit. “But we’re about to take off for a couple days and be kind of out of touch, right? He should get checked out before we go. I’m not a medic.” Turning to Selas, I try to make it sound like it’s all about me. “What if you go to sleep later and don’t wake up? What will I do?”
My reasoning seems to pacify the male tough guy persona he has going. “I’m sorry. I don’t want you to worry about something like that happening.” Turning back to Fax, he orders, “Just run a full scan and make sure there are no anomalies. That I’m healing as expected.”
Nodding his head, he waves at us to follow him over to one of the beds lining the wall. “Who should I report to? I’m still very concerned about maintaining production and—”
“Bren. If not him, he’ll be able to assign you to who’s cataloging what they arrived with on this trip.” When he hops up on the bed that’s higher than average, I pat his knee. I can feel his nerves, and I’m not sure if it’s because he’s annoyed with this guy, or if it’s just doctors in general that make him feel this way.
Fax doesn’t say another word, just picks up some kind of scanning device from the countertop next to the bed. I watch with interest as he holds it up in front of Selas, and a full body outline appears on the screen. Different colors flicker over Selas’s outline as flashes of green rotate around different parts of his body. The program appears to be loading as the colors flash then settle into solid lights and additional information loads on the side. Nothing I can read though.
“The blows to your head have minor abrasions, but they appear to be healing. Did you lose consciousness at all?”
Selas doesn’t answer right away. “Well, maybe. Honestly, I don’t remember exactly.”
“I think that’s a yes,” I helpfully add with a smirk. Selas just shakes his head before looking back at the doctor who’s still looking at his device.
“It appears you’ve a hard head, but based on what I’m seeing here—this happened how long ago?” His eyes flicker up to Selas, waiting for an answer.
“Perhaps two to three parhons?”
Fax’s gaze goes to the device with shock. “Well, that doesn’t make sense. These injuries appear rotations old. I’m going to have to talk to the others…”
“I bet it’s the mating. The other girls have told me about how when the mating hormones kick in it does some incredible things to your physiology. Maybe that’s it?”
Selas nods in agreement at my speculation. “Why don’t you get in contact with Atticus and Brock on the Discovery and get the most current information they’ve gathered. Devlin and Amari haven’t been extremely forthcoming a
bout what they’ve noticed due to their past experiences in the infirmary. It might be helpful to get updated with what Hannah and the other females have documented too. We need our databases to be current. Planning on syncing information regularly just in case…”
Patting his knee again, I can’t help but smile. “I’m sure nothing will happen to me around here. I’m very capable of taking care of myself, remember.”
“Mm,” he grunts noncommittally.
“Seriously, Selas. I’m looking forward to sparring with you.” He looks at me in shock, and I laugh. Earth women may be smaller, but I don’t remember breaking a sweat with those big guys in the woods. Maybe they underestimated me due to my size, but I don’t think so. They’re just extremely unskilled.
A spark of an idea begins as I think about how they reacted to me. Maybe I could set up a training facility here? The only obstacle will be Selas, and his possessive streak. I hope that doesn’t end up being a long term thing, because that might be worse than my family’s pushing to get into a formal, monetarily driven career!
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
- Selas
I let out a sigh of relief as we exit the medical center. There’s no reason for me to dislike exams, but I was worried he’d find something that’d keep us from taking off to Amari’s old place. Now that the idea has been planted in my head, I can’t wait to go.
It’ll get us away from here. No more of the leering stares around me that all the males in the vicinity throw our way. How did Amari and Devlin deal with this? How do they continue to even now?
“Lets go over to the cafeteria and get some chili.” My gut sinks as I think about all the males that’ll be there.
“Are you hungry?”
“Yes, and Jenny said we should all meet over there after an hour or so. I don’t have a watch, but I’m sure they’ll still be there visiting, and I want to say goodbye. You know? Let them know what I’m doing.”
How can I say no to that? What she’s saying makes sense. She’s about to go off with a strange male. She should check in with her friends and let them know where she’ll be.
I’m thankful it’s getting darker as I put my arm around her possessively and spin her around to walk quickly past the medical center. I’ll need to get some supplies together, because I’m not gathering nuts and berries and trying to impress her with living off the land or something. All I want to worry about is my performance in satisfying her, not keeping us both from starving.
After our shower, I’m concerned with getting inside her and not exploding instantly. She was so tight, and even though she didn’t come right out and say the words, she definitely alluded to never being with another male sexually. It does make me nervous, since I’ve never been propositioned to try Canesta. But it went fine in the cleaning facility earlier. It’ll just be new for both of us. The thought has me hard as a rock.
She’s no idea the way she affects me. It takes all my restraint to control myself as we enter the cafeteria. Just as I suspected, all the tables are filled, and a boisterous celebration appears to be underway.
“Selas!”
“Karen!”
Multiple males and females cry out our names as we enter the huge room filled with tables. Grasping her hand tightly, I lead the way, weaving through the chaos to where Amari is sitting with all the females and their mates in a clump of tables pushed closer together.
Whenever I see someone staring too hard behind me, I give them a death glare and their gaze drops, but more than one have an open smirk on their face as they lean in to whisper—not very low, to their companions sitting around them. All the times I goaded Devlin personally come rushing back. Pushing him into coming to look at Jenny, then carefully placing touches on her arm to spur him into coming over and introducing himself. If anyone did that now, I’m not sure I could control myself.
Taking a deep breath, I try to slow my heated blood and focus on the positive. Sure, we’re not in bed completing the mating yet, but we’re where she wants to be. With her friends. And she’s hungry. I need to care for her and make sure that I put together a list of items to make sure she’s as comfortable during our time alone as she would be here.
“Selas! I’m glad you all made it.” Jenny waves us to some chairs she’s pulled from other tables and squeezed into the space next to her and Devlin. I don’t know how she’s done it, but she’s managed to create an Earth recipe from our local ingredients harvested right off the surface of this planet. She calls it chili, although she’s told me it’s not identical in appearance, but the flavor is close.
“Mm, Jenny. Thank you, this looks great!” Karen’s already sunk into the chair with Jo-Anne on her other side and picked up her spoon. She really was hungry, and I chastise myself for not realizing it sooner.
“Oh, yes.” Karen’s mouth is full as she sinks back in her chair chewing slowly. “You’ve no idea how tired of the ship’s food I was.” Leaning forward to peer around me, she raises her voice. “You made this, Jenny?”
Jenny gets up and walks over to stand behind Karen and Jo-Anne’s chair to answer her, and when she pulls another chair over to sit, I realize she’ll be visiting and take the opportunity to turn to Amari, Devlin, and even Bren who’s a little further down the table next to Hannah.
“I’d like to get some supplies together to take off here shortly.”
“You’re planning on leaving this evening?” Amari acts surprised as he questions me. Certainly he must understand my urgency and my excitement to get going.
“Yes. Karen pressured me into going to medical to be reviewed, and Fax said I was cleared. Bren did say you were fine with it. Going to your old place in the valley, I mean…”
“Yes, yes. It isn’t that. It’s just so late, and even though we broke up their little gathering out there tonight, our crews only recovered about half of the males—and not Benard.” Amari leans forward to add, “Jenny, it doesn’t look like Selas has a bowl yet. Do you mind grabbing him one?”
She takes off immediately, which is nice. Now that I’m smelling the chili, I could definitely eat too. I can’t say I’ve tried her recipe, but the scent’s appetizing.
I also can’t believe I totally forgot to follow up on the outcome of our teams tonight. We missed Benard? How did that happen?
Scowling, I turn to express my disgust. “So, you’re saying they’re still out there? That’s frustrating.”
Amari nods as Jenny leans between us, putting down a large steaming bowl of chili in front of me. “Yes. The only thing we can determine is they must have an underground base of some sort, because our teams followed up by land on all the pinned locations that Rachel identified. Unfortunately, we only brought in twenty-one males. It only took a couple minutes for Rachel to clarify that fifteen of the twenty-one are fine to have out in the general population.”
Eating quickly, I glance over at Karen who’s laughing at something Jo-Anne is saying. She’s turned her chair more toward the females, and most of the others have moved into chairs around them visiting. I hope she’ll be ready to leave when I’ve finished eating.
“We’ve put them through the orientation you directed for new males brought back into the dome, getting them up to speed on all the news along with information on the Earth females. They understand we want them to feel included, and we’ve no intention of imprisoning them here. They’re free to leave again at any time, but everyone is essentially being treated as a clean slate. Unless they steal or injure others, they’ll be considered free males. It’s going over very well.”
Bren nods from down the table, still listening in. “Yes, very impressive, Selas. You’ve done an admirable job here. What a difference in morale from the last time I was on the planet.”
“Yes.” Hannah stands and walks up behind me to squeeze my shoulder, and I glance back surprised. “Thank you, Selas. I have to admit, I was the most skeptical about this place being a viable option to settle, but the vibe here is totally different than I expected. And I’m sure mo
st of that is your doing.”
“Thank you, Hannah. For your praise… I hope that you both know I’m not abandoning what I’ve started here…” My voice echoes in my ear drums strangely, and I pause, trying to gather my thoughts. “I… I’ve taken this very seriously…”
Now my vision’s fuzzy, and I blink furiously, turning to try and focus on Travek who’s across from me. He has a strange look on his face as I realize my mouth is hanging open. Closing it with a snap, I hear Bren’s voice behind me with the same strange echo.
Turning my chair slightly to look at him better, his words seem far away. “…rest. You’re going to pass out, and I’m going to catch you when you do.”
What?
“What? Wha…”
Bren leans forward, grasping both my shoulders, his face directly in front of mine. Amari’s sitting just to the right, and I could swear “serious Amari” is smirking. “We’ve drugged you.”
The words bounce around in my head as I continue to blink, the words foreign in my fuzzy head. Drugged? Why?
I’m still opening and closing my mouth, trying to get my question out as everything goes black.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
- Karen
I got the entire run down last night from Rachel and Jenny about Selas’s high-handedness with them during their mating process with Amari and Devlin. From the sounds of it, Selas drugged Rachel and Amari to get them under control, and the turn about they did to him was absolutely fair play.
Personally, I’m relieved. Not only do I think we’ll both feel a hundred times better if we leave rested, but I’d also like to be able to see the scenery during the trip. Leaving this morning is a great plan.
So, when Selas slumped over into Bren’s arms after he admitted, “We drugged you.” last night at the cafeteria, I appreciated that they were looking out for his best interest. The man just doesn’t know his own limits. Some would say I’m similar, but that’s another issue for another day.
