“Not now, Cestov. Tonight.”
“Tonight,” he echoed, then groaned as Lilat tried to climb back up on his lap and stepped on his massive erection. “It will be a very long evening.”
Cestov lay in their bed, his eyes fixed impatiently on the door to the sanitary facility. The Wanderer was on her way to Granica and he found no small amount of satisfaction in having Mariah onboard with him. They had lifted off shortly before dusk and Plovac had managed to get them out of the system and on their way in time to join them for the evening session of music. When Mariah used his gift, plucking out a few notes on the dobron to accompany her song, he had been filled with satisfaction, delighted that he had found something to please her.
He hadn’t pressed her to sing, concerned that she might prefer not to perform under the circumstances, but she had only smiled.
“Singing always makes me feel better.”
“You are still concerned?”
“Concerned? Yes. It’s not like I’ve ever done this before, even aside from the whole ‘I’m in outer space with a huge, hunky alien’ thing.”
“My miri—”
She had pressed a finger to his lips. “I said concerned, not unhappy. This isn’t perhaps what I bargained for, but if it had to happen, I’m happy that it was with you.”
Words of love had rushed to his mouth, but he forced himself to remain silent. So many things were still unknown, and he did not want her to think that his protestations were simply in response to the child. The possible child, he reminded himself. They did not yet know if she bore his fruit.
His troubled thoughts were arrested by the sound of the door opening. She stood there, the translucent fabric of the nightgown rendered almost sheer with the light of the room behind her. It was everything he had hoped for when he had seen the garment behind the counter when he bought her other clothes. It had cost more than all of the rest of them put together, but he did not begrudge a single credit as she floated across the room to him with her graceful dancing steps. The fabric was so thin he could see every detail of her body, just slightly veiled in shimmering pink.
“I am speechless, my miri,” he growled. Precum pearled on the tip of his cock and he grasped the wide base to stop himself from coming just at the sight of her.
“I assume that means you like it?” She twirled, the fabric floating out around her in a pink cloud.
“Yes.” Words escaped him. He was reduced to a growing animal, only one thought on his mind—to bury himself in her sweet cunt as soon as possible. Thank Granthar that Whovian had handed him a small vial after the evening festivities and assured him that the formula would be effective immediately. “Come here.”
“Right here?”
She settled down next to him a cloud of perfumed pink, but she was too far away. He dragged her closer, bending her back across his arm so that he could plunder her delicious mouth until she arched against him. He cupped her breasts, tugging eagerly at the taut peaks, while his tail tried to delve between her legs. The fabric was in his way, even though it had turned damp and transparent with her desire. Impatiently, he ripped it aside. Never mind the expense—he did not want anything between them.
“Cestov!” she cried out as the fabric tore. “What are you doing?”
“Preparing you for me.”
He bent her farther back over his arm so that he had better access to those perfect breasts. The small peaks were already taut with excitement, but he wasn’t satisfied. He devoted himself to them, licking and sucking until they were swollen and pink. As he held her in place for his attentions with one arm, he enlarged the hole he had made in the lower part of her gown so he could revel in the sweet, slick heat between her legs. He toyed with her pleasure button, bringing her close, then easing her back down as his tail played the same game, a teasing entry followed by a quick withdrawal.
Covered with her slickness, his tail explored farther down, finding the tight little rosebud of her bottom hole and probing at the delicate tissues. Her hands tightened on her shoulders and her body arched up against him as he slipped inside, but he felt the fresh rush of heat against his fingers.
“Please… I need to come.”
“And you shall. But not until I am inside you.”
He ripped away the remains of the garment and placed her on her hands and knees in front of him.
“So beautiful,” he murmured, running his hand down the graceful curve of her back to the tempting roundness of her lush ass.
“Sweet talk later,” she panted. “Sex now.”
He could not resist. Clasping her hips, he entered her in a long hard stroke and they both cried out. He could feel her fluttering around him, and he used all of his self-control to maintain his position, to resist the urge to take her hard and fast. But she did not want his patience. Her soft buttocks pressed back against him in an urgent demand and he gave in to his need. Fire was already streaking down his spine, but he was determined that she would find her pleasure first. His tail went to her pleasure button, stroking and tugging as he gave in to his instincts, thrusting into her over and over, seeking to meld their bodies as one. He felt the heat rising, felt the base of his cock begin to swell, and he plunged as far as he could go into that heated embrace. His seed erupted in long shuddering pulses while she convulsed around him, calling out his name as he knotted deep inside her.
Too breathless for words, he collapsed onto the bed, rolling to his side and pulling her close against him, still embedded deep within her body. Another kind of home perhaps.
“Mmm,” she said sleepily. “You ruined my nightgown.”
“I do not regret it in the least. I only wish I had a thousand of them so I could rip a new one off of you every night.”
Her body went still.
“Cestov, I still have to make sure that Judith and Charlie are safe and happy. That might mean returning to Earth.”
A gaping hole appeared in his heart.
“You promised that you would never take my child from me.”
“And I won’t. But if I’m not pregnant, I need to think about them. Judith has given me so much. If she needs me on Earth, I have to stay. And even if she doesn’t, I don’t think I could go the rest of my life without seeing them.”
“I feel that way about you, my miri.”
She had her head buried in the covers and he cursed the knot that made it impossible for him to turn her to face him.
“I do too,” she said quietly. “But you couldn’t live on Earth.”
“No. And even if your people would accept me, my government forbids all contact with pre-spaceflight worlds.”
“We have spaceflight,” she muttered.
“Beyond your solar system?”
“Well, no.”
They lay together in silence until his cock finally softened enough for him to pull out. He immediately turned her to face him.
“Is that what you want, Mariah? To return to Earth?”
“No.” Her hand came up to touch his cheek. “I would be happy to stay with you, travel on this ship, sing to your crew—but not unless I can still see my family as well.”
He could not argue. He had spent the past five years searching for his brother because of that same bond.
“I do not want to be parted from you.” It was the most he would allow himself to say.
“Nor I from you. And maybe it’ll work out. Maybe she’s found a happy home and we can visit her whenever we want. Just like I used to do.”
“I hope so.”
But even though she snuggled closer and buried her head in his chest, he already felt the distance between them.
Chapter Sixteen
Four days later, Mariah woke up alone. It had been an odd week. There were times when everything seemed perfect and she and Cestov could relax and enjoy each other’s company. But there had been other times when she could feel the distance between them. Her heart was torn in two different directions, even though she told herself not to borrow trouble. The
odds were good that she was pregnant, and, in that case, there was no decision to be made. She wouldn’t take his child away from him no matter what. She could only hope that Judith would agree to remain with her.
Her attempt at serenity lasted until she visited the bathroom. Her period had started. She looked down at the small smear of red and burst into tears. In that second, she realized just how much she had wanted to be pregnant. Not to make her decision easier but because she wanted to have a baby. With Cestov. With the male she loved. The truth broke over her like a wave and she cried harder. She loved him, loved his sweet, protective nature, loved his kindness and the sly twinkle in his eyes when he teased her. She loved the way he wrapped her in his big body as if he couldn’t stand to be without her. She even loved the tail that always wanted to touch her.
She wanted to tell him how she felt but it wouldn’t be fair to him. No matter how much she loved him, she had to be prepared to look after her sister—because that’s what family did. They sacrificed in order to make you happy. Judith had sacrificed for her. Now it was her turn.
She emerged from the bathroom to find Cestov waiting for her.
“I have good news. It appears that we will be landing on Granica within a few—” He broke off abruptly as he saw her face. “My miri, what is wrong?”
“I’m not p-pregnant.”
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t control her trembling lips, and her attempt to form a smile was a pitiful effort. He looked just as devastated, but he stepped forward and drew her into the comfort of his embrace.
“I am so sorry.” His arms tightened. “But I should have known that it was too good to be true. My people are destined to come to an end. It was foolish of me to get my hopes up.”
The desolation in his tone penetrated her own sorrow. “Hrebec said it was possible. He said he had a baby with his human mate.”
“A miracle, perhaps?” He put a finger under her chin and raised her face to his. “I had very much wanted to share this experience with you, but perhaps this will make your choices easier.”
He looked so sincere, and so sad, that her heart physically ached. “No, Cestov, it doesn’t. I didn’t want to leave you before and I don’t want to leave you now. My fondest wish is that we can find Judith and Charlie and that they will want to stay with us.” She finally managed a smile. “Although, we may need a bigger ship.”
“I will arrange to get a larger ship,” he said immediately.
So sweet.
“But I don’t know what she’s been through. If her life has been… difficult, then she may want only to return to Earth.”
“I know. You must do as you feel best. But first we must find her. I was coming to tell you that we should be landing within a few hours.”
Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. Was she finally close to finding them?
“Do you still think we should start with Selo?” she asked.
In Cestov’s research about Granica, he had found that it was primarily an agricultural planet. There was a large interstellar port on the main continent, but since his ship was small enough to land almost anywhere on the surface, they didn’t have to start their search there. From the information on the interwebs, it appeared that most of the new settlements were concentrated on the northern part of the continent, and Selo was the central town in that area.
“Yes, I think so. Many of the new residents appear to be settling near there. I hope that will make it easier to find news of your sister. Or the Cire who bought her,” he said grimly. “He has much to answer for.”
“We have to make sure Judith and Charlie are safe first.”
“Of course.” He rubbed his chin. “I thought perhaps it would be best to send Maldost into town to investigate.”
“Maldost. Really?” she asked doubtfully. As much as she had grown to like the big male, she still thought of him as an impetuous youth.
“Yes. I believe he can handle the responsibility—and he has a way with people. If I start making inquiries, people may assume that I am like the Cire who bought her.”
“I could go,” she offered.
“Absolutely not. I will not permit you to go without my protection. You are too desirable.” His eyes heated and despite her sadness, she felt her body respond.
“You’re going to have to wait a few more days for that. I just started my period.”
He frowned. “Your what?”
“My menstrual cycle?”
He still looked blank, so she patted his arm. “Never mind. It just means that we can’t have sex for a few days. And that I need to go see Whovian.”
“What is wrong? Are you ill?” His nostrils flared. “I do not understand. Your scent has changed. It is deeper, richer, more intoxicating. But I also detect a hint of blood. Are you injured?”
“No, Cestov. I promise I’m fine. But I do need to talk to him about supplies.”
“I will escort you.”
The thought of having to try and explain her requirements in front of both of them made her cringe. “Uh, why don’t you go and brief Maldost instead? Then I’ll go get Lilat and come find you.” If they didn’t go and get the calf every morning, she would come looking for them.
He reluctantly agreed and a short time later, she was standing in Whovian’s lab trying to explain what she wanted. To her enormous relief, he was familiar with the concept of menstrual cycles and after a few moments thought, he produced a small concave white disk.
“What’s that?” she said suspiciously.
“It is a type of sponge. It will absorb your flow and process it.”
“How long does it last?”
“It will absorb—” he stopped to calculate “—one-tenth of your body weight.”
“Does that mean I don’t need to change it?”
“Not until you have ceased your flow. Then remove it and leave it to dry for at least two days. You can reuse it on your next cycle.”
She winced. “Won’t it be, umm, kind of nasty?”
He looked horrified. “Of course not. It will appear just as it does now. I told you that it will process your blood—it will absorb and cleanse it.”
A little uncertainly, she reached out and took it. One? For her whole period? Since she didn’t have much choice, she would give it a try. As she studied it, she realized that it actually resembled a diaphragm, which made her wonder…
“Umm…” She twisted her hands before finally blurting out. “Is it okay to have sex while wearing it?”
To her great relief, he didn’t even blink. “Yes, it is quite safe.”
“Thank you, Whovian.”
He bowed his head. “If I can be of some small assistance to you, I am very grateful. Your songs have made my sorrow much easier to bear.”
“Sorrow?” she asked softly.
His eyes turned distant and for a moment, she thought he was about to speak. But in the end, he only shook his head.
“It is my burden. Just know that you have made it lighter.”
“I’m glad. Thank you for telling me. And thank you for this.”
“Do you need further instructions?”
“No, no. That’s fine,” she said quickly. “I’ll come back if I do.”
A short time later, she and Lilat joined Cestov on the bridge. Granica was coming into view. Unlike Trevelor, it looked distinctly alien with landmasses in shades of purple while the seas were soft shades of pink.
“Look, Lilat,” she said. “It matches your colors.”
The slonga didn’t seem interested. She was too busy using her trunk to explore Mariah’s hair, something she had developed a fascination with over the past couple of days. Mariah wondered if it was because of the pink streaks, fading now. Did any of these planets have salons?
Maldost bounced over to her, although perhaps bounce was not quite the right term for seven feet of furred male. He still sometimes reminded her of an oversized puppy.
“I’m going to find your sister,” he said confidently.
“Thank you, Maldost. I really hope you can.”
“Does she look like you? Pale and almost bald?”
She choked back an indignant protest. Her long hair was one of her favorite features, but then she supposed that compared to Maldost, she must appear pretty bare.
“Even balder,” she said solemnly, remembering Judith’s short bob. “Or at least she was. Her hair may have grown by now.”
“To this length?” He started to reach for the ends of her hair and Cestov grabbed his hand with a low growl.
“You do not touch her hair.”
“No, no. Sorry, boss.” Maldost’s ears went down but he gave Mariah a quick wink when Cestov stepped back.
“Just be… careful, all right?” she asked. “If she’s in a bad situation, I don’t want to make it worse.”
His golden eyes turned serious. “I will be careful. You can rely on me.”
“I know I can. Thank you.”
The landing went as planned and they parked the Wanderer on the small field at one end of the town. While they waited for Maldost to return, she and Cestov went through the images the ship had taken during the descent. The landscape was sparser than she had expected, despite the soft colors. Most of the surface appeared to be covered with low-lying vegetation in various shades of purple with taller plants only near the pink lakes. They had flown over several small homesteads, most of them consisting of a few one-story buildings and large herds of robedas—a type of long-haired cattle that looked rather like small furred rhinoceros—before landing on a small plateau that spread in gently rolling hills towards a distant mountain range.
Cestov also showed her how to use the ship’s viewport to observe the town in greater detail. It was composed of more low buildings spread out along a long main street. The buildings were primarily formed from what looked like pink stucco and they reminded her of the adobe buildings she had seen in New Mexico, down to the open patios and courtyards that fronted many of them. Under other circumstances, she would have enjoyed having a chance to explore. A number of different species roamed the streets, but the most predominant were the native Granicans, a race of small, slender people with creamy pink skin and cotton candy hair in a variety of shades.
A Son for the Alien Warrior (Treasured by the Alien Book 2) Page 10
