“I will make it a top priority,” he promised. “The spectrometer will perform the analysis while we talk. Did you wish to share your knowledge of childbirth now?”
“Sure.”
He led the way to the back room, and Abby gasped when she saw Kwaret’s battered face.
“What happened to you?” She whirled to confront Mekoi. “I thought the Cires were civilized.”
“They did not do this,” Kwaret said quickly. “Commander Khaen was… unhappy to learn that I provided assistance to the Cires. Captain Hrebec and Medic Mekoi have graciously allowed me to remain here rather than returning to the brig.”
“I’m so sorry you were hurt because you tried to help us.”
Kwaret looked uncomfortable. “I was originally trained as a medic. However, my family determined that it would be more profitable for me to join this… trading mission.”
Mekoi made a derogatory noise and Kwaret’s shoulders hunched. TeShawna and Abby both glared at the doctor and he looked a little ashamed.
“Well, I’m glad you were on this mission, no matter how ill-intentioned it might have been,” Abby said. “If it weren’t for you, Tiana would have died. You’ve also been a big help here on the ship.”
“He has been of assistance,” Mekoi admitted. “Now, shall we discuss how human females give birth?”
Chapter Twenty-One
When Abby left the lab with TeShawna a few hours later, there was a small packet burning a hole in her pocket. Mekoi’s machine had provided him with an analysis and he had slipped the resulting pills to her before they left. He had also provided two bottles with different variations on the nutritional supplement for Cassie to try with Angel.
“What did the doc give you?” TeShawna asked curiously.
Her attitude had softened considerably while they were in the lab, and Abby had noticed that she and Mekoi seemed to gravitate towards each other. By the time the women were ready to leave, his tail had been wrapped around TeShawna’s wrist for quite a while. The girl had looked almost startled when she went to leave and seemed to notice it for the first time, but Abby saw her give it a quick stroke before she unwound it from around her wrist.
Now she tried to bluff. “What, the bottles? Those are for Cassie.”
“Not those. What you put in your pocket.”
Abby sighed. She had intended to discuss birth control with Hrebec first and then bring up the subject later with the girls, but TeShawna’s sharp eyes put an end to that idea.
Resigned, she pulled out the packet and showed her the four small white pills. “Mekoi said they would act as birth control pills.”
“Why, Miss Abby, you dog!” TeShawna gave her a look of mixed admiration and jealousy.
“I don’t know that I’ll need one, but you know what I always say...”
“Better safe than sorry,” TeShawna recited wryly. “But won’t you need more than four?”
“He said each one would be good for at least six months, perhaps longer.”
“Then why do you need four? Oh.” TeShawna blushed, her cheeks darkening. “I don’t need one of those things.”
“Can you honestly tell me that you don’t have any feelings for Dr. Mekoi?”
The blush intensified. “He’s an alien. A bossy older alien.”
“And?”
“I guess he’s all right. That body sure don’t look old.”
Abby didn’t say anything, waiting patiently.
“Oh, fine. I like him, okay? Even if he did get all jealous for no reason,” the girl finally muttered.
“I don’t think they have a lot of experience with women,” Abby said thoughtfully. “He didn’t understand that you were just being friendly.”
TeShawna’s eyes widened. “No experience? You mean he’s a virgin?”
“I don’t know, but remember that they don’t have any women? He wouldn’t have had many opportunities.”
“A virgin? Who’d a thunk? But yeah, I can work with that. Train him up right.” Her smile turned dreamy before she saw Abby looking at her. “Not that I’m planning on doing nothing… Fuck, give me one of them pills.”
Abby handed it over, praying that Mekoi’s machine was as accurate as he claimed. When she retrieved Lucie, she passed one along to Cassie as well.
Cassie frowned at the little pill. “These aliens are nice enough, sure, but I’m not interested in them. Or any other man, for that matter,” she said with a shudder. “I’d be just fine if no man ever laid a finger on me again.”
Abby bit her lip. She knew that Cassie had been abused, but her contempt for the male gender troubled her. “I understand where you’re coming from, but not all men are bad. You can’t judge everyone based on your past experiences.”
The words echoed in her own head. Didn’t she have the tendency to do the same thing? But this wasn’t about her and she gave Cassie a concerned look.
“No?” Cassie shook her head. “I’ll admit that these guys seem all right, but I still don’t know them.” She grabbed a pill. “Better to be safe than sorry. Just in case.”
Once Abby had Lucie and Tiana settled in the cabin, she knocked on the door next to hers.
Elaina opened the door, blushing when she saw Abby outside. “Oh, hi, Miss Abby. I was planning on coming to talk to you.”
She stepped to one side and Abby could see that she’d followed Abby’s lead. Both babies napped in bassinets made out of the large storage containers. The room was smaller than Hrebec’s, with only a small seating area in front of the bed—the only bed.
Elaina’s blush deepened when she saw where Abby’s gaze settled. “It’s not like you think. He’s just helpin’ me with the babies.”
“But you want to be here, don’t you?”
“Yeah.” The girl turned away, fussing with a blanket. “I’ve never known anyone like him. Well, duh, I know he’s an alien, but he’s just so sweet. And big. Kinda makes me feel safe, you know?”
“I know.” Abby knew only too well how good it felt to be tucked up against Hrebec’s big body. She sighed and showed Elaina one of the pills. “This is a birth control pill. It should be good until we get back to Earth.”
“Back to Earth? But we’re not goin’ there yet, right?”
“No. It could be another three or four weeks.”
“Good.” She blushed again. “I mean, it’ll be nice to have the help.” She looked at the pill but didn’t take it. “But it’s not like that between us. He hasn’t even kissed me.”
“I understand, and I’m certainly not encouraging you to do anything you don’t want to do, but just in case?”
Elaina hesitated, then took the pill. “Is it a problem that I’m nursin’?”
“Dr. Mekoi said it wasn’t.”
“Are you taking one?”
It was a natural question, but Abby hesitated, surprisingly reluctant to discuss her feelings about Hrebec. Still, she’d never lied to the girls and she wasn’t going to start now.
“Yes, I am. I don’t know that I need it, but…”
“Better safe than sorry,” Elaina finished.
“I guess I may have said that once or twice.” Abby laughed. “I’ll see you at dinner.”
Unlike the previous night, when they gathered for the evening meal, she didn’t try and segregate anyone. Ribel wasn’t there, and after one hopeful glance around, Molly collapsed at one end of the table and didn’t speak. Mekoi walked up to TeShawna and offered his hand to her with a bow. Her back straightened, and for a moment, Abby thought she would deny him, but then her face softened and she took his hand. Amber and Cassie were both surrounded by admiring young males, but Abby didn’t see any signs of the previous night’s rivalry. Many of the babies napped in makeshift bassinets, and the crew members were almost as fascinated by them as they were by the women.
Lucie introduced Abby to Inzen, the chief engineer who had provided her game. After a brief conversation, she saw his eyes move to Cassie. Despite the more relaxed atmosphere, Cassie ap
peared uncomfortable surrounded by the group of men.
Inzen scowled. “Young fools. Can’t they tell the girl doesn’t want ‘em so close?”
“She’s had a… difficult past,” Abby explained.
“Puts on a brave face, though.” Fleeting sorrow crossed his face. “Kind of reminds me of my daughter.”
“Your daughter?” Shocked, Abby took a second look at Inzen. This time, she noticed the thickness of his ridges and the number of markings and realized that he must be considerably older than Hrebec.
“Red Death took her, too. She was one of the last. I hoped and prayed that she would be spared, but in the end…”
“I’m so sorry.” Impulsively, she took his hand and squeezed it.
His tail patted her hand for the briefest instant before he cleared his throat. “I’ll go keep an eye on the girl.”
“Thank you.”
She watched as he walked over to Cassie, dispersing the group surrounding her with a few well-chosen words. She couldn’t hear what he said, but judging by the abashed expressions, he hadn’t held back. Cassie gave him a grateful smile, and he started talking to her, careful to keep an easy distance between them.
“Why did you touch Inzen?” Hrebec growled next to her ear, and she jumped. She hadn’t heard him approach. He loomed over her, cradling a sleeping Tiana in a one-handed football hold.
“Because I was sorry about his daughter.” Her chin went up. “Why does it matter?”
“I don’t like seeing another man’s hands on you. Or his tail.”
Abby repressed an eye roll as his own tail wrapped around her waist and tugged her to his side. The easy strength he used did nothing to alleviate the arousal that bubbled beneath her skin. His scent enveloped her, and she suddenly felt breathless.
He took a deep breath and his tail tightened possessively. “I can scent your arousal.” His voice deepened. “I’m looking forward to our hankee pankee.”
She was definitely blushing now, and her annoyance disappeared in a blaze of lust.
His eyes heated, and for a moment she thought he would kiss her right there in front of everyone. But then Lucie came running up and the moment was lost.
Despite her constant awareness of Hrebec seated next to her, dinner was very pleasant. Inzen watched over Cassie and Amber, while TeShawna and Mekoi focused on each other. Elaina and Jedan looked like a perfect family as they concentrated on the two babies, although Abby suspected that she and Hrebec and the girls presented the same image. The only unhappy person was Molly.
“I’m worried about her,” she said to Hrebec while Lucie was distracted.
He followed her gaze and sighed. “I’m afraid Ribel is in the same state. The mating bond is difficult to overcome.”
“What do you mean mating bond? There’s no bond. They haven’t done anything yet.” She hoped.
To the best of her knowledge, Molly had only ever been alone with him the one time, when he had told her that they couldn’t have a relationship.
“A mating bond is much more than just a physical relationship.” He looked at her. “You can feel the connection with the other person, even if the relationship is never consummated.”
Well, shoot. Where exactly did that leave her and Hrebec? She thought back to her attraction to his scent and the faint hint of repulsion when confronted with another’s, her desire to be with him, and just a general feeling of rightness when he was with her. Even as she had gone about her business this afternoon, part of her had been searching for his presence, and her only comfort was knowing that he was on the ship.
Would she continue to feel the same way when she was back on Earth? Would no man ever feel right? For now, her life revolved around Lucie and the girls, but some part of her had assumed that someday, in the future, she might meet someone. She had never thought it would be an alien captain.
“But it’s not permanent, right?” She searched his expression for reassurance. “They’ll both get over it once they’re apart.”
Hrebec hesitated. “I do not know how it will work for a human.”
“How does it work for a Cire?”
“Mating bonds are permanent,” he said, a touch of longing in his voice. “But I do not know at what point that occurs.”
“But it’s not through—” she lowered her voice even more. “Not through sex?”
“I have had sex before,” he reminded her. “I felt no bond then.”
He had told her that previously, so why did she feel there was something he wasn’t telling her?
Tiana had been resting quietly against Hrebec’s chest, big eyes taking in her surroundings, but now she started moving her head and rooting against his chest.
He stiffened as his eyes widened in alarm. “What’s wrong with her?”
Abby couldn’t help but smile. She loved Hrebec’s determination to be a good father. “She’s hungry. Do you want to feed her here or go back to the cabin?”
“Let us return to our cabin.”
As he rose to his feet, Inzen appeared at his elbow. “Captain, may I speak to you?”
Hrebec gave the older man an irritated look as he began to move past him. “I was about to feed our—my daughter.”
Inzen moved with him. “It will only take a moment.”
Hrebec squared his massive shoulders and scowled at his chief engineer, but she stepped forward and reached for Tiana. “Hrebec, it’s all right. I’ll get her bottle ready.”
Glancing down at Tiana, his expression softened. His hold on the baby tightened—a quick hug—before he passed Tiana to her. His tail swept over the baby’s head, caressing Abby’s hand as well.
“Thank you, Abigail,” he said, his dark eyes holding her in a steady gaze.
“Go ahead,” she said reassuringly. “We’ll see you soon.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Inzen was as good as his word. When Hrebec returned, Abby had just finished preparing Tiana’s bottle and was trying to supervise Lucie’s bedtime preparations. Unfortunately, Lucie was objecting to everything. She didn’t want to take a shower; she wanted a bath. She didn’t want her pink jammies; she wanted her new white ones. She didn’t want Abby; she wanted Hrebec.
As soon as he walked in, Lucie threw herself at him. He had entered the room looking more solemn than she’d seen him since their very first encounter, but when Lucie rushed over and hugged his legs, his face softened.
His tail curled about Lucie, hugging her back. “What’s the matter, little one?”
Lucie mumbled into his legs. “Mama’s being mean.”
“I don’t believe that for a minute,” he said firmly.
Abby sighed. “She doesn’t want to get ready for bed.”
He lowered himself onto one knee before Lucie. “But if you don’t get ready for bed, I can’t tell you a story.”
“A story?” Her eyes went big.
“Yes, but only once you’re all clean and tucked into bed.”
“I’s can do that!”
“That’s a good girl.” He kissed her head before she danced off towards the bedroom.
“You do have a knack with her.” Abby shook her head while she handed him Tiana and the bottle. “Will you feed her while I go supervise Lucie before she sets the ship afloat?”
“What if she won’t take it from me?”
“Here, try this.” She handed him her cardigan. “Wrap it around her first.”
“You think it’s scent?”
“I think that’s part of it.” The sound of running water came from the other room. “I have to check on Lucie. If it doesn’t work, I won’t be long.”
Feeling slightly guilty, she abandoned him to his fate. However, by the time she had Lucie in her pajamas and into bed, he joined them with a triumphant smile.
“She took the bottle.”
“I’m so glad.” And she was, but a part of her was also a little sad that Tiana was already learning to live without her. She had to, she reminded herself, but it warmed her heart when s
he took the baby from him and Tiana gave her a wide, toothless grin.
While she rocked the baby to sleep, Hrebec told Lucie about another princess, a brave one who had to travel to a new land and leave her friends behind to save her people. She wondered if he was trying to prepare Lucie for the inevitable. Her own throat grew tight at the thought.
She pulled Tiana closer and couldn’t help but give a longing look at Hrebec, his big body so strong yet so gentle as he settled Lucie under the covers. He looked up and their eyes met, his own yearning crystal clear in those strange dark eyes. The lump in her throat expanded, but she dragged her gaze away and went to put the now sleeping Tiana in her bassinet. Hrebec followed her silently into the next room as she closed the door behind them.
“I think I would like a drink tonight,” Abby blurted out as soon as they were alone.
“Of course, my flower.” He went to the small bar and poured her a drink. “Are you worried? I hope you know I would never force myself on you.”
“Of course I know that.” She took the liquor and sat down on the couch. “I guess I’m just nervous.”
He frowned and poured himself a small glass. “I thought you were anticipating our time together.”
“I was. I mean, I am. It’s just…”. She twisted her fingers together nervously. He sat down next to her, covering her restless movements with one big, warm hand. His touch—and his scent—soothed her and she took a deep breath. “I don’t know why I’m so nervous.”
“Would you prefer to do something else? Do your people play card games?”
His question startled her out of her panic. “You want to play cards? Now?”
“Oh no, my flower. I want to remove this very tempting outfit and worship your body. To caress your delightful breasts and to sate my thirst with your delicious cunt.” He leaned closer, his tail snaking around to hold her. “I have thought of nothing else since we parted. My shaft has wept for you.”
He drew her hand to his lap, holding it to the massive erection straining against the tight uniform, and she could feel the dampness. Her own desire came flooding back, washing away her doubts. Her hand tightened around him. He moaned, and she realized that his tail had wound itself between her legs, pressing against her rapidly hardening clit.
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