Darla turned to look at the view once more as Gundar showed them out. Great. My honeymoon is practically an episode of Hawaii Five-0. Thanks, Ang.
Chapter Twenty-five: Gundar
Gundar schooled his face so that he did not alarm the humans, but inwardly, he was raging. He could feel the scales along his sides manifesting in response.
“We won’t let anything happen to her, Commander Gundar,” Officer Ramos said to him.
Gundar gave him a curt nod, as much a dismissal as it was an acknowledgement. Closing the door, he turned and strode over to Darla, crushing her to him. She squeaked in surprise. He smothered it with a forceful kiss before releasing her.
“I am recalling our security detail, and adding extra warriors to it,” he said. It was a testament to how afraid Darla actually was that she didn’t protest the intrusion on their romantic getaway. He stepped out onto the balcony and activated his kunnarskyn, sending a priority message to Xeranos, who would alert the Chief and make arrangements with the resort for rooms for his men. Xeranos let him know his instructions had been received. He glanced at the beautiful view, knowing that for right now, it was but scenery that could be hiding those who would snatch his beloved from him. Shortly, that would change somewhat, as his men would arrive. Then it would return to being the paradise his beloved could enjoy as he and his men kept watch.
While they waited, they would unpack, he decided. His men would arrive already debriefed, Xeranos would see to it, That meant they could go out and take Darla to the beach. Then they would return to shower and change to go to their dinner reservation at Duke’s. He’d made the reservation immediately after booking their stay as Xeranos had informed him that it was a landmark place to eat, especially famous for his dinners and signature dessert, Kimo’s Hula Pie. Knowing how much Darla loved hr sweet desserts, he knew that it would be the perfect first meal of their stay. His men could remain outside. This was an experience he refused to have ruined.
He returned to the inside of their suite, and upon entering the bedroom, was unsurprised to find that Darla had anticipated his idea. She had her luggage open and was already unpacking her things. He picked up his case and began to do likewise. “The men should be here within the hour,” he informed her. “I thought after they get here, you might enjoy going to the beach. I am sure we can find a place to have lunch first as well.”
“How about that bar and grill place here at the resort? It’s listed here in the brochure.”
“If you wish,” Gundar said. “Tonight we eat at Duke’s. Before the problem downstairs occurred, the desk clerk was telling me that there is a nightly luau under the stars here.”
Darla squealed. “Can we go?”
Gundar smiled. “I shall make the arrangements immediately.”
Darla ran around the bed and threw her arms around him. “This is so great! A big corner suite in a world famous resort, getting to eat at Duke’s, going to a luau...”
He embraced her back, lowering his head and capturing her lips, this time gently. They stood there, immersed in each other, for several minutes before Darla released him, stepped back, and patted both hands on his chest. “Time enough for that later. I gotta change if we’re going to the beach! Do Mylos sunburn?”
“No.”
“Well, I do, so after I put on my bikini, will you help me put on my sunblock lotion? I don’t want to miss a spot. Neither of us would enjoy a burnt and grumpy Darla.” He dipped his head. He had no objections whatsoever to any activity that required him to touch his mate. That it helped ensure her safety from physical harm? A bonus that reassured him that he was caring for his mate as he should. “In the top drawer on your side of the dresser, you’ll find the board shorts I got for you. There’s sandals for you in closet, too,” Darla called over her shoulder as she went into the bathroom.
He opened the indicated drawer, wary of what he might find. He’d noticed several men wearing brightly colored short trousers with beach scenes printed upon them. He was relieved when he what she’d chosen. The blue started off light at the waist band, close to the color of Earth’s sky and deepened as it reached the bottom hems until it was a deep blue. There was a mesh of some kind inside. He rolled the fine fabric insert between his fingers.
“That’s like underwear, kinda. Only built in and made to let the water through,” Darla said, having returned with a small bottle. She’d removed all of her clothing and stood nude before him. She proffered the bottle to him. “Here. I figured we’d get more even coverage if you put it on me before I put on my clothes.”
He dropped the shorts and reached for the bottle. He flipped open the lid and squirted a generous amount of the lotion onto his hand.
“Whoa!” she said. “Not so much at once.” He stalked towards her and she turned her back to him, lifting her hair up out of the way. “Back and shoulders first, please. And don’t forget my legs, especially behind the knees. I got burnt there once, and it was horrible.” He placed a hand on each shoulder and began rubbing his hands down her shoulders and along her arms, his touch light and sensual. “Gundar? You keep that up and we won’t make it to the beach.” He bent his head down and kissed the nape of her neck. Her breath caught. “Gundar,” she pleaded. “We don’t have time for this now.”
“Later,” he growled.
“Oh, most definitely,” she replied huskily.
He took a half step back and began applying more of the lotion to her back and moving down to her softly rounded bottom, then down each of her legs, all the while keeping his touch sensual and teasing.
“You are going to pay for this,” she promised.
“I look forward to it,” he replied. “This side is finished. Turn around.”
She whirled and snatched the bottle from him before he could reapply any to his hands. “I’ll do this side, thanks,” she said, fleeing back to the bathroom, only pausing to snatch her swimsuit and a t-shirt from her drawers before retreating. Gundar grinned. He couldn’t wait to see how his mate paid him back for his teasing.
Chapter Twenty-six: Darla
Dinner at Duke’s had been fabulous, the perfect end to their afternoon and evening out. Even the presence of their security team hadn’t detracted from it. They had a gift for being unobtrusive to her and Gundar, yet somehow also very, very present to those around them. That much had been obvious while at the beach and when browsing the shops. People stared, fascinated with the sight of seeing Mylos so close up, yet they kept their distance, sensing the deadly potential of the security detail. Not that Gundar himself couldn’t be menacing if he wanted to be, but on these occasions, he was busy doting on her. It was obvious even to the sales clerk at the jewelry store they stopped at. The older woman behind the counter had aww’d at them as Gundar had her try on the cloisonné and gold bracelet that had caught her eye, telling them they made a sweet couple and how it reminded her of her early days with her husband.
Darla was beginning to think they’d overreacted, that the woman she’d met had backed off when she discovered that Darla was not a damsel in distress as her friend Angie had apparently thought. No one had tried to approach her on her own or tried to draw her away from Gundar and her detail. Now, here they were, three days later, at the luau. Gundar had purchased diamond premier seating for them all. After having spent days together and now seated as a group, it felt more like a social gathering with friends who were security specialists than being surrounded by bodyguards.
Okay, Darla thought to herself, very uptight friends. Indeed, they had balked at the souvenir photo session and had to be talked into it. The games at the beginning were a no-go, and only two of the younger security men had agreed to participate in the group hula session. Even Gundar had been hard to press into that, only caving in once one of the dancers told him that hula originated amongst the warriors and was of deep cultural importance. The conch shell blowing contest, now that the warriors were all enthusiastic over. She rolled her eyes inwardly. Anything to show off their prowess.
Now they were having their dinner. Having diamond seating meant they were among the first to get their food from the buffet. Having filled her plate and starting to stuff herself full, Darla realized that the before dinner drinks she’d had were calling her to the bathroom. She leaned over to Gundar. “I need to go to the little girl’s room.”
Gundar frowned. “I did not see that on the agenda. Why do you need to go meet with small, female children?”
“No, I mean, I gotta go to the bathroom.”
His expression cleared. “I understand. I will send Jagul with you.”
“He can’t go into the ladies’ toilets,” Darla protested.
“No, but he can stand just outside and enter if you are in need of him. Surely no one can complain about that.”
“Fine.” She stood.
“Jagul, please escort my mate to the ladies’ toilets,” Gundar ordered.
Jagul gave a terse nod and stood, staying a half step behind her all the way. The ladies’ toilets were busy, though the resort had ensured that there were enough available to not make guests wait. Darla emptied her bladder, flushed, and went to wash her hands.
“The luau’s great, isn’t it?” gushed a middle aged woman at the next sink.
“It sure is,” Darla said, smiling at the woman while rinsing her hands. She went to the hand dryer and the woman came to stand at the one beside her own.
“You’re with those aliens, aren’t you? They’re all so big and handsome,” the woman continued.
“They are big,” Darla admitted. “I always feel so tiny next to them they are just so tall.”
A commotion sounded outside. Darla frowned. She hoped Jagul had not gotten into any trouble by standing just outside the door. The middle aged woman looked at her in surprise. “What in the world?” she wondered, holding her hand up to stop Darla and turning to peek around the door to the outside. “Goodness, it looks like someone has taken ill or fallen down or something. One of the aliens was helping them, it looked like.”
Darla’s heart sank. Jagul wasn’t supposed to leave her side. Not that she needed him, as it turned out, but she felt sorry for what he would go through once Gundar and the Chief found out that he’d left her alone. They’d know what he’d done as soon as she showed back up to their table without him.
“I best get back,” she told the woman, who was still standing in the doorway. The woman made as if to allow her to pass, then suddenly darted her arm out to grab Darla. “Wait, I’ll go with you. That alien was your bodyguard, right? You shouldn’t go out alone.”
“It’s fine, our table isn’t that far,” Darla smiled.
The woman tightened her grip. “I must insist.” She gripped Darla’s arm tightly while marching them both towards her intended destination. To Darla’s sinking heart, she realized that it was away from the luau.
“We’re going the wrong way,” she cried as the parking lot came into view.
“No, we’re not,” the woman insisted, dragging her forward.
“Help!” Darla screamed, hoping that Jagul would hear her despite the din from the luau.
“Shut up!” the woman scolded her, tightening her cruel grip even tighter. Darla could feel bruises already forming. She jerked her arm while planting her feet, determined to break away from the woman. Shit, she’s freakishly strong or something. Her mouth became dry when she saw a black SUV back out of a parking space and come to a stop in front of them, the rear passenger door flinging itself open. A man knelt on the back seat, reaching for her as the woman shoved her forward. What happened next was a jumble as one moment, the man on the seat wore an expression of determination and the next, his eyes had widened and his body recoiled as he stopped reaching for Darla and instead, reached for a weapon at his hip. Darla felt herself yanked backwards, strong arms capturing her before they were suddenly aloft, springing backwards.
Darla gasped for air as the arms released her and shoved her behind. Relief coursed through her as she realized she’d been grabbed by Gundar. She dazedly watched as Jagul straddled the strange woman and bound her with cuffs made of light and metal. Security Chief Dorflan had pulled the man who’d reached for her out of the SUV and was engaged in hand to hand combat. A crowd had gathered as people figured out something was going down in the parking lot. Darla could see cell phones held aloft, recording the scene as the human male dropped his gun and grabbed for a knife from his boot. Dorflan’s blade was already in his hand so the man didn’t have a chance. He screamed as Dorflan’s blade spun from his fingers and pierced his hand. Dorflan tackled him to the ground and pulled his blade free, holding to the man’s neck. The man stilled.
Sirens blared, the sound getting closer. Someone called 911. I hope they understand this isn’t our fault, that it was all self defense. Cars came a halt and a voice blared. “Drop your weapons and put hands in the air and get on the ground.”
Dorflan and the other Mylos growled and curled their lips, but did as requested. The man on the ground remained still, cradling the one hand to his chest but extending the other above his head. The driver of the SUV deiced to take the opportunity to try to make a break for the exit, ramming into a police car that had entered that way and was turning sideways to block the exit. “Ohh,” several in the crowd muttered, including Darla while she winced. The sound of metal crumpling was not a pleasant one. She could see the airbags in both vehicles go off.
I hope the cop is okay.
Officers swarmed the scene, securing all they could see were involved in the fight, human and Mylos alike. A familiar face appeared before her. “You all right, Mrs. Gundar?” Detective Ramos asked.
“Yeah, I’m okay,” she managed to reply. No thanks to you, she mentally added. “Are you arresting my husband and bodyguards?”
Ramos glanced over to where she was looking. “We have to sort out what happened before releasing anyone.”
Darla glared at him. This is so unfair.
Chapter Twenty-seven: Gundar
Gundar seethed. The humans had video of the woman who’d approached his mate during check-in. They’d contacted her old friend, Angie and gotten the name of the persons she’d spoken to, telling them about her guilt over Darla getting matched and her hopes that since Darla appeared to be happy, that she’d be forgiven for convincing her to apply for the scholarship in the first place. They’d linked those persons to a known movement that sought to see the Bride Program dismantled and the Mylos sent away. The very same group, no less, that had been linked to the previous incident with Nefrix’s mate. They were the same group that had promised Joseph Foyle money for his daughter, The Human Right as they called themselves. Officer Ramos had had to explain that name to him. At first, he’d thought it referred to left and right, and as Brides left to join their mates, he’d thought it meant something such as humans staying ‘right here’, on Earth. He’d heard that expression, ‘right here’, before, and right was the opposite of left, so he’d thought they were trying to be clever. He’d been wrong, however, as apparently right and left were also political positions, and this group considered anyone who thought mixing with another race, especially an alien one, as being very liberal and therefore on the left. He thought he’d never understand human politics, but he understood enough to know that The Human Right were not above trying to buy children to stop them from having a Mylos parent them, that they would happily disrupt a mating, going as far as kidnapping, and that they were not above throwing lit incendiaries at Bride Registry Offices.
So much information had been gathered, but the human police had still allowed local members to walk about freely because of ‘warrants’ and ‘needing things to be signed off on before taking action’ and now here they were, detained at a human police station for having to subdue his mate’s would be kidnappers themselves. Darla was distraught, talking about it being like an episode of ‘Hawaii Five-O’, whatever that meant. Detective Ramos kept telling her that real life was not like TV and that there was no room for ‘vigilante justic
e’. Another man, this one with a pinched look on his face, motioned to Ramos, who looked angry at what he was being told. Ramos stomped over and released his cuffs. He watched as the rest of his men were also released.
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