by S. E. Smith
Jesse gripped Hunter’s hand as the door slid open for her to step out. She felt him squeeze her fingers in comfort when she trembled. This was it. This was their new home. She gazed around the interior courtyard in awe. It was huge. White stone pathways wove around small gardens. A fountain bubbled in the far corner before emptying into a pond.
She turned and gazed up at the house. The rounded dome roof disguised how large the home really was from the air. Stepping up the stone path to the steps leading up to the front door, she paused when it opened to reveal an elegant woman in her early sixties. A smile lit up the woman’s face and she walked forward to brush her nose along both of Hunter's cheeks.
“Hunter! It is good to have you back. How long will you be staying this time?” Charma asked warmly. “Bronze and I have missed you.”
“Only for a short time, I’m afraid. I still have to finish my duty before I can be released,” Hunter responded. “Charma, I’d like to introduce you to my Amate and her sisters. This is Jesse, Jordan and Taylor.”
Charma gazed over at the three small alien females who stood looking up at her with uncertainty. She studied them carefully, amazed at how different they were from the Trivator. They were cute in their own unique way.
“Welcome, Jesse,” Charma said, bowing in respect. “Welcome, Jordan. Welcome, Taylor.”
“Hunter said you have grandkids my age,” Taylor said, stepping forward in excitement. “Can I meet them?”
Charma laughed in delight. The youngest female glowed and her eyes sparkled with an inner light of mischief that she recognized from her own children. Charma couldn’t resist giving Taylor a hug before stepping back and waving everyone to enter the house.
“I would be honored to introduce you to my children’s children,” Charma said. “But first, I think refreshments should be served. Bronze will get your things and take them to your rooms.”
“Thank you, Charma,” Jesse responded, thinking she matched her name perfectly. “My sisters and I are famished.”
Jesse’s eyes widened at the beauty of the interior of the house. Curved ceilings leant a depth to the house. A staircase was carved into the stone that made up the house and ran along one wall curving up to the second level. Polished floors gleamed with just a trace of blues, blacks and pinks running through the stone. Spiral pillars held up the entrance way to several different rooms.
They followed Charma through a set of pillars and down a bright corridor which opened into a huge dining area set in front of clear windows that overlooked a covered patio area and the back gardens. Several women were setting food on the table.
“I thought you might like to sit outside as it is a beautiful day,” Charma smiled. “I will have Gola and Jacel attend you while I see to the unpacking.”
“Oh, but we can…” Jesse’s voice faded as Hunter squeezed her fingers.
“Thank you, Charma,” Hunter nodded. “As usual, you and Bronze have done a marvelous job of caring for my home while I have been away.”
“It is always a pleasure, Hunter,” Charma responded before turning to re-enter the house.
“Why couldn’t she stay?” Taylor complained. “I wanted to ask her some questions.”
“She will return later,” Hunter replied. “She knew I wanted this time alone with all of you.”
“What for?” Taylor responded as she sank down into the chair with a small pout. “You get to see us all the time.”
“There is much I need to explain before I turn you loose on my world, Taylor,” Hunter explained patiently. “First, you are now a member of my house and what that means.”
“What are you talking about?” Jesse asked, sitting back as one of the women place a bowl of warm soup in front of her. “I thought you were just a warrior. This house seems a bit much for just a warrior.”
“I am part of the founding family of Julumont. As the youngest male in my family, I am expected to serve ten years with our military. I will be completing that within the next few months. When my tour is finished, I will join the governing board and oversee the safety of our region,” Hunter explained as he passed a dish of fruit to Jesse. “As part of my family, you will all be expected to participate in many social functions.”
Jordan paled. “I’m not so good around other people,” she whispered. “I do better with books and learning than I do with people.”
Hunter chuckled. “It won’t happen overnight. I would never do that to any of you. Just understand that there will be times when you will all have duties outside our home,” he explained.
“So,” Taylor said, sitting back. “How many brothers and sisters do you have?”
Hunter gave Taylor a sharp tooth grin. “Three older brothers and two older sisters.”
Jesse sat stunned. She never thought of Hunter having a family. He had never mentioned any of them to her and so she had assumed, incorrectly it would seem, that he was an only child.
“Are your parents still alive?” Jesse asked nervously.
“Yes,” Hunter said with a nod. “You will be meeting them but not for at least another month. They have traveled to see my sister who has recently delivered her first babe. Her Amate is a scientist on a planet the Alliance is trying to cultivate.”
“Oh,” Jesse said looking at her sisters with dread.
“Jesse,” Hunter said.
Jesse looked over at Hunter. She placed her hand in his when he reached over to her. A shy, uncertain smile curled her lips as she waited for him to say what was on his mind.
“They will accept you as my Amate,” he assured her. “They will accept all of you as my family.”
“I hope so,” she murmured under her breath. “I really hope so.”
*.*.*
Several days later, she was busy fixing lunch for Hunter who was working on the deck he was building outside of their bedroom. Jordan and Taylor were off with Charma who was helping them catch up on the language and culture lessons. Jesse worked with Charma and her sisters in the morning but preferred to have the afternoons free to do things around their new home.
“You smell delicious,” Hunter whispered, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her back against him so he could press a kiss to the mark he had left on her neck. “Good enough to eat.”
Jesse giggled as he rubbed his nose up and down her neck. “It is the stew I’m making,” she pointed out. “You are probably starving. You’ve been working like crazy building the deck. I finally convinced Charma to take Jordan and Taylor out for a bit and gave the other two girls that help out around here the day off. I wanted some us time.”
“I want to make love to you until you cannot move,” he said, turning her around. “When are your sisters due back?”
Jesse blushed. She still couldn’t get over how quickly he could fire her body up. She reached up and sealed her lips to his in a hungry kiss.
“Not for a couple more hours,” she whispered against his lips. “Charma was going to take them to her daughter’s house to meet some of her grandkids that were close to Jordan and Taylor’s age.”
“The stew?” Hunter asked.
“Needs to simmer for at least an hour,” Jesse said, reaching behind her to release the tie of the apron she was wearing.
“Almost enough time,” Hunter said, bending over and pulling Jesse over his shoulder.
“Hunter!” Jesse laughed as she got a wonderful view of his firm ass. “What are you doing?”
“Abducting my Amate! I am going to take her upstairs and ravish her until she can think of no other but me!” He declared with a flourish. “I will kiss her until she is breathless. I will love every inch of her body until she begs me to…”
“Put her down as the blood is rushing to her head?” Jesse giggled before letting out a squeal when he slapped her ass. “Ouch! That… oh lord!” She breathed out as he rubbed her offended butt.
“I am courting you,” Hunter growled. “You are supposed to say things like I am your true love and call me sweet names.�
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Jesse’s breath left her as he lowered her onto their bed. She gripped his shoulders as he followed her down. She saw that while he was teasing, he was also serious.
“What brought this on?” She asked. “Have you been watching those movies from Earth again that Saber downloaded and sent to you?”
“I want you to be happy, my Jesse,” Hunter admitted. “I never want you to doubt my commitment to you or to your sisters.”
Jesse shook her head and smiled tenderly up at him. “I have no doubt about your commitment, Hunter. I just wish…” her voice trailed off as she looked down.
Hunter tilted her chin back up so she was forced to look at him. He had been right to sense there was still something holding his Jesse back. He had loved her and tried everything he could think of to make her happy but he sensed a sadness still inside her sometimes.
“What do you wish? If it is possible, I will get it for you,” Hunter replied.
“I wish you loved me,” Jesse said quietly. “I know you care about me but…”
Hunter couldn’t stand to hear the doubt in her voice. He kissed her with a desperate hunger. He thought back feverishly over the past almost two months. He had shown her every way he could that he loved her but the only time he had said the words had been when she was unconscious.
“Oh, my Jesse,” Hunter breathed out as he pulled back to look down at her. “Don’t you know that I love you with everything inside me? You are my Amate.” He tenderly cupped her face between his huge palms. “I am Hunter. I belong to Jesse as she belongs to me. Forever will I tie my life to hers. I will care for, protect and give my seed only to her. She is my Amate. She is my life. You are my life, Jesse. I thought you knew that.”
Jesse shook her head. “I need the words too, I guess. Oh Hunter, I love you so much.”
“Forever, my Jesse. Forever, my Amate,” Hunter said, kissing her deeply.
“What were you saying you were wanting to do before the girls got home?” Jesse whispered in a husky voice as she wound her hands around his neck.
“I believe it started with ravishing,” he chuckled as his hands began sliding up under her tunic. “Followed by loving every inch of your body.”
“I think I like this courting,” Jesse replied before she groaned as he began ravishing her. “Oh yes, I definitely love this part of it.”
*.*.*
Jesse grinned at Hunter who was watching every move she made later that night as she set the table for dinner. Jordan and Taylor were talking about their day. She set the fresh bread that the girls had picked up from the market bakery down and sat down.
“Thank God!” Taylor muttered. “I was wondering if you were ever going to sit down.”
“Why?” Jesse laughed as she scooped some stew into her bowl.
Taylor rolled her eyes as she broke some of the bread up into her bowl. “If I had to watch Hunter look at your ass and growl one more time I swear I’d see if Jordan wanted to give you guys some more privacy!”
“Taylor!” Jesse said shocked, glancing back and forth between her sisters and Hunter. “He was not… we… I…”
“It’s okay, Jesse,” Jordan said quietly. “We know you guys are like newlyweds. We’ve been trying to stay out of your hair and give you guys some time alone.”
Jesse set her spoon down and reached over to touch Jordan’s hand. She glanced at Hunter in concern. She didn’t want her sisters to ever think they were in the way.
“Jordan, neither you nor Taylor will ever be in our hair. This is your home. If I offend you because of the way I… stare at your sister, I apologize,” Hunter said quietly.
“Oh, you don’t offend us,” Taylor replied. “Jordan and I are cool with it. I’m just glad we aren’t on the same level as you at night. It was bad enough when we were on the Star Raider.”
“What do you mean when we were on the… You could hear us?” Jesse asked turning a bright red.
“It wasn’t very often,” Jordan interrupted. “I mean, it was but we just turned up the sound on the videos we were watching.”
“Oh lord,” Jesse said, burying her face in her hands. “This is so embarrassing.”
Jordan and Taylor laughed and shook their heads. “It really isn’t that bad. I mean, well, we’re cool, right Taylor?” Jordan finished awkwardly.
“Yeah, zip my lips. No more comments on the sounds, like growls and roars or shouts and screams or anything else,” Taylor agreed. “Boy, this stew is really good, Jesse.”
Hunter’s low laugh grew louder and louder until everyone at the table was laughing. He watched as Jesse and her sisters wiped tears from the corner of their eyes from laughing so hard. They teased him about the different types of growls and purrs he made and he teased them about their girly screams when he caught them coming out of the bathroom in the mornings with their hair sticking up everywhere and cream on their faces.
Warmth flooded him as he listened to the girls talk about some of the different products they had discovered in town and wanted to show Jesse. They talked about their day at Charma’s daughter’s house. This is what having a family was about. It was about the embarrassing moments and the laughter and the sharing. It was about not being alone anymore.
Chapter 20
They had been on Rathon for a month and life was beginning to settle down. Saber and Dagger had gone off on another mission. Hunter had received permission to stay behind for an additional few weeks to make sure that Jesse and her sisters were settled. He had three more months to complete his service before he could stay full time with them. Jesse understood that but it did not make it any easier to push back the unease and fear.
Jesse knew the day would come that he would tell her he had to go again. She just wasn’t expecting it to happen so soon. She knew that something was wrong as she came up the path from town with Jordan and Taylor. They had gone to the market for Charma. Hunter was standing looking out over the garden when she came in.
“Hey, are you finished with the deck?” Jesse asked, slipping her arms around his waist. “Jordan and Taylor are going to try making a pizza for dinner tonight.”
Hunter stood stiffly for a moment before he drew Jesse around so he could wrap his arms around her. He rubbed his nose gently against her hair. A shudder went through him as she tightened her arms around him.
“What’s wrong?” She asked.
“I’ve been called back to duty,” he replied quietly. “I leave within the hour.”
“The hour!” Jesse whispered in horror. She pulled back to stare up into his face. “For how long? Where will you be? Can I go with you?”
Hunter brushed her hair back from her face and tenderly rubbed his thumb along her cheek. He was unable to resist kissing her smooth nose. Soon, his mouth worked its way down to her lips and he hungrily kissed her.
It took every ounce of his self-discipline to pull back. He had not expected it to be this difficult. He had never before had any issues fulfilling his duty but the idea of leaving Jesse and her sisters was tearing him apart inside.
“I am not sure how long I will be gone. A situation has arisen with one of the new worlds that was recently brought into the Alliance. I am meeting up with Saber and Dagger. You cannot go with me on this trip. It is too dangerous. No females are being allowed,” he said gruffly. “Besides, I need to know that you are here where it is safe and that you are watching over your sisters.”
Jesse wanted to argue but knew from the look in his eyes that this was tearing him apart as much as it was her. She understood duty. She understood sacrifice. She was just tired of making them. She wanted to be greedy and keep him all to herself. Instead, she did what she had always done when her dad was called out. She did what she could to help him.
“What do you need?” She asked huskily. “I can help you get your things together.”
Hunter cupped her cheek in his hand, enjoying the way she turned her face into it and brushed her lips across his palm. She continued to amaze him with her strength.
Unable to stand the thought of her hurting, he pulled her into his arms and held her as he looked out over the garden.
“I have everything already in the transport. Charma and Bronze will be here if you should need anything. My parents are on their way back,” he said. “I have asked them to come stay with you and the girls. I don’t want you to be alone at night.”
“We’ve been alone a lot of nights,” she whispered against his chest.
“Not any longer,” he bit out harshly. “They will arrive in a few days. Until then, Charma and Bronze will stay in the guest wing.”
Jesse shielded her pain, knowing that he would be able to smell it. She had learned a lot about shielding her emotions over the years. She did not want him to worry about anything but coming back to her.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
Her arms tightened around him as she sensed their time was up. She hugged him to her one last time before pulling away. Tilting her chin upward in determination, she smiled.
“You better come back to me,” she said quietly. “You know what will happen if you don’t.”
“You’ll come after me?” He teased, drinking in the beauty of her face.
“You bet your ass I will,” she said hoarsely. “I’ll always come after you.”
“And I will always come back to you,” Hunter whispered, touching her cheek. “Always.”
“Forever,” Jesse choked out. “You promised me forever.”
“My lord,” Bronze said behind him. “The transport is ready.”
Hunter nodded without turning around. Bending, he brushed another kiss across Jesse’s soft lips before he turned and walked back into the house. He could feel Jesse’s eyes on him as he walked away. He was just getting into the transport when Jesse came flying out the front door. Her eyes glittered fiercely but no tears fell.
“I love you, Hunter,” she said, holding onto the door as it started to close. “I love you. Forever.”
Hunter couldn’t reply. His own eyes glittered with fierce emotion as Jesse stepped back several steps. He watched as Jordan and Taylor wrapped their arms around her waist and lifted a hand to him. He raised his own in response.