“We are going to need more Gnowlers if we are planning a large park area…” Asteen noted dryly.
“I can help with planning, six months isn’t a long time to get organized. The next dance should be even more spectacular. We could work on fireworks, the night of the dance we could set them off to music.” Amber was bubbling over with excited energy.
Kniam looked at her for a second and asked, “Isn’t there something else that might be more important for you to be focused on in six months?”
Amber was confused, “What could be more important than making the women feel welcome Kniam?” Her eyes swept around the room.
“Well, there are three things I can think of that might take precedence.” Kniam drawled, his voice hinting at laughter.
“You are being cryptic Kniam.” Amber sighed, “Three things exactly? And what might those be?”
Kniam had just stared at her belly for a moment, and then raised his eyes to hers. Waiting for Amber to catch up.
Everyone was watching Amber and knew the second it finally hit her. Her eyes got huge in her face, and her mouth opened, “Oh!” The she burst into laughter. “That’s right! In six months I might be huge pregnant, or I might be on bed rest…or I could be home with three babies!” Amber gasped out between laughs.
Chapter Twenty
Five Months Later
Amber, Mairi and Jen were leaning against the fence between properties chatting. They were waiting for Kniam, Knollig and Thian to come back from their Council meeting. There had been a few more requests for living quarters in New Haven, Fortem being one of those who had found a mate. The days after the dance had been a blur of activity. Some of the women had requested an industrial dome to practice different kinds of crafts. There were ceramics, paintings, yoga classes, one was practicing horticulture, and was trying for some very impressive new flowers. There was even a hair salon and it was fun to experiment with a crazy hairstyle. It grew so fast, that if you didn’t like it short, it was long again in no time.
Mairi was given the honor of naming the community to the North, she had chosen McPhersonville in honor of her grandfather. He was going to be so surprised when he heard that part of Terraneu was named after him!
“Do you think Knollig is going to freak out when he sees the guest room?” Jen teased Mairi.
“Yeah Mairi, what do you think Knollig will do first?” Amber jumped in, “Rip your clothes off and have his way with you…or get so excited he passes out?” Amber and Jen laughed.
Mairi had told the women of her plan to “surprise” Knollig, and they had helped her work over one of their guest rooms. They were her best friends and were as excited as she was to find out what Knollig would do.
Before anyone could say anything else, they spotted the men coming up the pathway.
“Good-luck Mairi!” Jen ran back down the path to her living space, which was behind Amber and Kniam’s.
“Yeah, good-luck Mairi…don’t let him hit his head on the way down!” Amber teased, then waddled slowly toward her home. She was seven months along now give or take, and was complaining that she was the size of a house. Mairi watched her go and was glad that there had been a doctor in the last group. A really nice one named Gwen. She had been watching over Amber these past five months, and everyone was happy that things were going smoothly. As long as Amber got plenty of sunshine, and drank her extra vitamin water.
Mairi turned back to her home, and raced inside, excitement making butterflies dance in her stomach.
She double-checked to make sure everything was ready. When she looked out the window that had been installed next to the door, she could see Knollig, Kniam and Thian were saying their good-byes. Knollig was coming across the common walkway, he would be here any second.
Mairi hurriedly went into the guest space between the great room and the master bedroom. They had changed this dome, so that there were two additional bedrooms, and a small washroom with bidet for guests. The surprise she had for Knollig was in one of the guest rooms.
“Sweet Mairi, I am home!” Knollig called from the living room.
“In here…” Mairi yelled, her voice shaky. She was sitting completely still in the rocking chair.
“Where Mairi?” Knollig suddenly appeared in the doorway, “There you are. What…?” his voice faltered then stopped. His eyes sweeping around the room to take in the changes she had made. “Mairi,” his voice got very thick. “Does this mean what I am hoping it does?”
Mairi just smiled weakly. She had asked the fabricators to create her an adjustable crib, a changing table and rocking chair. They had used the same template to create her things, as Amber had used for her nursery. She wasn’t going to go with Earth stereotypes about colors. She had already decorated this room to match the rest of the house. With reds and greens. She had added a dash of yellow to the mix for the sunny effect. She had also gotten the wood workers to make the letters “Welcome Baby”. She had painted them and attached them in a waving pattern above the wall that the crib was against.
“I figured we can add the babies name when it arrives.” Mairi gestured to the wording on the wall, when she turned around Knollig was stiff as a board. “Well what do you think?”
Knollig just stood there for the longest time then he launched himself at her, throwing her over his shoulder. He ran from their home, toward the nearest medical dome. New Haven had five of them placed in strategic locations. She wasn’t sure which one he had headed for because she was bouncing against his back. A few seconds later he skidded to a stop. Kniam was right behind them as equally out of breath as Knollig.
“Do you agree Mairi? “ Kniam asked, grabbing his side as if there was a stitch in it. He was taking great deep breaths. “I will report your answer to all the Council members.”
Knollig looked at her expectantly. His eyes were shining in his face.
“Yes, I agree.” Mairi told Kniam.
“It is so noted, that Mairi has hereby agreed.” Kniam got a distant look on his face, then stated, “It has been unanimously approved.” Giving them a huge smile, he opened the medical dome and they entered.
Mairi hurried to follow as Knollig ran to the unit and pushed some buttons. Kniam gave the computer the Council permission code. Knollig proceeded to jump in and close the machine around him. A few seconds later there was a beep, and Knollig jumped out. Ran over to where she was standing, picked her up over his shoulder again. Then ran full out for home. Not even bothering to say good-bye or thank his brother. Mairi had managed a quick, “Thank-you” to Kniam, but at the speed Knollig was running, she didn’t think he heard her.
Once they were back in their dome, Mairi was put on her feet in the living room. He stood there panting. Holding up his hand he gasped, “One…second…”
Mairi moved to go take a shower while Knollig composed himself and figured what he wanted to say. She didn’t make it. One second she was on her feet, moving through the bedroom. The next she was tossed across the room to land with a bounce on the bed.
She let out a startled scream, “Knollig! Of all the…” she had landed on her back, then bounced to her stomach and was in the process of rolling over, when he was suddenly pressing over her. She looked over her shoulder at him, “You are…” she gasped suddenly when he ripped her dress down the middle. “That was my favorite, you are replacing that you know!” She ended on a groan. He had slipped his fingers around her thong, and was using them to stimulate her sex. Making her forget about the dress.
“You are not mad about the dress…” He rubbed his fingers against her wetness, his thumb swirling around and around at her most sensitive spot. Pressing more firmly, he said, “I know because if you were angry, you would be asking me to stop. Wouldn’t you my little vixen.” He was right, she wasn’t angry. She was excited by the suddenness of his desire. It was thrilling that he was so strong, yet so gentle at the same time. With one deft tug, she felt her thong ripped off too.
She pressed her hips back and against
his fingers. He answered her silent plea by thrusting first one, then two digits deep into her welcoming warmth. She moaned at how good that felt. She pushed her hips back in rhythm with his fingers. Suddenly he stopped, and she was left wanting. He placed both hands on either side of her head, whispered in her ear, “Do you want me to stop?” He was rubbing his steely shaft against her, soaking him as well as turning her on more. “Do you?” He gave her shoulder a playful nip, and she gasped.
“You know I don’t…stop being a tease…” Mairi grunted as he thrust forward suddenly. Giving her no warning, and because of her anticipation the feeling was almost painful. She squeezed his shaft with her inner muscles, and he groaned in response. Knollig moved his hips thrusting, and then grinding. Mairi was flexing her inner muscles, and hips to find release.
“We need to change this position…I want to play…” with that he flipped them over. Now Knollig was on his back, still fully sheathed. Mairi was lying on top, her back against his chest. He bent his knees, drawing her legs onto either side of his hips and thrust deeper. Mairi thought he had gone as deep as possible before. She was wrong. In this position he was deeper than she had ever felt, or she was just hyper sensitive right now because he was hitting nerves that had her seeing stars.
He used his hands on her hips to pull her up his body and slam her back down to his thighs. Their sweat glistened bodies added to the slip and slide motion. Up to the tip, then slam down, his hips thrusting to meet her when her ass hit his lower stomach. She knew she wouldn’t last long, “Knollig, I won’t last...” She moaned and grabbed his hips, grasping at him. Knollig responded by thrusting deep, and holding her impaled, ground his hips against her. Then taking a hold of her breasts, he pinched and tweaked her nipples. His hips still flexing, she was grinding down on him. Mairi shrieked as her body spasmed. Shaking her with its intensity, her climax left her shuddering on top of Knollig. She felt warm spurts of his release filling her. They lay joined together, Knollig still semi-hard their breathing returned to normal. Still Knollig just fondled her breasts, or gently rubbed her abdomen and thighs.
“We need to get cleaned up.” Mairi started to roll to the side, when Knollig just lifted her up and carried her to the bathroom. After running a shower, they both got under the water. Soaping each other leisurely, whispering words of love between passionate kisses.
Toweling off they headed to the bedroom, Knollig walked her into the edge, lifted her up, and followed until his chest was pressing into hers. “I want to go all night Mairi. I want to make love to you again and again…” his voice held a new urgency. She felt him lax against her stomach, and reached up to cradle his face.
“You are going to need time to rebuild your strength.” Mairi whispered. Suddenly his velvet shaft shifted against her stomach and he proved her wrong about needing more time. “Or maybe not.” She laughed. She was still wet from their previous love play. She wrapped her legs around his back and shifted her hips until he was trapped against her stomach.
Knollig groaned and leaned down to kiss her fiercely. She responded, instantly aroused again. He kept his weight on his elbows, rubbing her chest with his. Her nipples responded to the friction, his tongue flicked at them. When they were hard nubs, he took them into his mouth and gently used his teeth on them.
Mairi shifted her hips, and raised her knees. With one quick thrust Knollig was again fully encased in her body. She wasn’t sure if she could go “all night” like Knollig wanted, but she would pass out trying.
Pushing his upper body up, Knollig ground his lower body into hers. “Hold on…” Mairi gasped out. She had never been flexible enough, but there was something she wanted to try. She had Knollig hold still while she pulled her legs through, and draped them against his shoulders. This put her at a whole different angle, and Knollig took advantage and slowly worked his shaft in and out. Mairi grabbed a hold of his arms to keep from being pounded off the bed. Knollig was in a frenzy, sweat was glistening over his chest and shoulders. He was wildly pounding into her, the friction of their bodies sliding and slapping against each other. With an agonized groan, he found release and she followed him to fulfillment. Shuddering against him, she brought her legs back down and wrapped them around his hips to hold herself against him, making her climax last as long as possible.
“That was amazing Knollig.” She gasped, turning into his side. “What has gotten into you?”
“You decorated the room for our baby. I had the procedure reversed so we could make one.” Knollig stated sleepily. “So we are making one.”
“What?” It all became clear now. She knew he was getting the procedure reversed when Knollig had raced to the medical dome. When Kniam had asked her if she agreed, she knew it what without even asking what she was there for. That is why she said ‘yes’ so quickly. But Knollig thought they were making a baby right now?! Mairi had to laugh softly. He figured it was just that easy. Have sex a few times, and then viola, she would get pregnant. She would have to explain that it wasn’t that simple. It was going to take time, and making lots of attempts at getting pregnant wasn’t going to hurt her feelings!
~*~*~*
A few weeks later, she woke up with a zit…A ZIT! She was so tired she was in the sun all day long and drinking twice as much water…with minerals added! Knollig had laughingly said all puffed up with pride, “See sweet Mairi it is that simple!” At her groan, all of their friends and family had laughed.
Knaleg couldn’t miss the opportunity to dig at Kniam, “We have to hope that Knollig has a stronger constitution than you when it comes to finding out the sex of the baby.”
Everyone laughed at the reminder that their illustrious leader had hit the floor upon learning he was having not only a daughter, but also twin sons.
Kniam just laughed with the others, he had taken a lot of ribbing from the men. The fact that he was going to be a father was worth a little teasing.
“Well, Mairi is not going to Antilles in a week.” Knollig had stated. “We will have to change the plans again.”
“Maybe we should take Jen. What do you think Thian?” All eyes moved to the couple.
“I think it’s a great idea.” Jen gushed with enthusiasm.
“I agree with Jen, it is a great idea.” Thian leaned closer to his mate and whispered something that had Jen blushing.
“Just remember Thian, as a member of the Council it is important that you act in a professional manner at all times.” Knaleg joked.
“Like Amber and Kniam did during their trip…and Knollig and Mairi did during theirs.” Thian teased, “I plan to follow the exact same example.”
Everyone burst out laughing, because they all knew what “example” of behavior he was referring to.
Mairi looked around and sighed, snuggling deeper into Knollig’s arms. The men and women were getting along famously, and nobody had been sanctioned for breaking the rules. She had family and friends that loved her. She was helping Gwen with minor medical problems that arose. The medical unit was continually being updated with women’s health data. Amber and her pregnancies were being monitored closely. She was going to be a mother! She and Knollig had decided to wait for her grandfather to arrive before finding out the sex of their baby. He was going to come through the portal soon, and would be the youngest…okay for now, only great-grandfather in the history of Terraneu!
All in all, life was good.
Keep Reading for an excerpt
Chapter One
Knaleg
(A Terraneu Novel, Book Three)
Catherine Chambers stared at the digital tablet on her bed. She had all of the pertinent information on this case saved in an encrypted file. She had just gone over the details again, so she would be prepared for the official “welcome” breakfast tomorrow morning. She was still shocked at the events that had led up to her checking into the quaint Bed and Breakfast in the Scottish Highlands. It had all started two days ago.
She had been going through the most boring Intel on a place
that quite frankly she wasn’t even sure she could find on a map, when her supervisor had walked in. She had given him a polite smile, that didn’t quite reach her eyes. She had never really liked her boss, he was a first class sexist jerk. She avoided dealing with him whenever possible. It wasn’t that he couldn’t be a nice guy when he wanted to be, she just never got to see that side of him. All of the younger, more attractive field operatives had his attention. A few years ago, Catherine had passed the age of being eligible for undercover work and was placed at a desk job.
It wasn’t that she was out of shape. She still did all the drills to keep her abilities fresh. She worked out and kept as fit as she could. She just wasn’t young enough to keep up, and in the eyes of her superiors was a liability in the field. Tell that to James Bond she wanted to yell! No one would dare tell James he wasn’t fit for field duty!
So for the last three years she had been required to do random intelligence paperwork. While she still yearned for the freedom of working undercover, she was told that it was too much of a risk to put her in the field.
Her boss handed her a USB and told her to open the folder titled McPherson, then made himself comfortable in one of her chairs. She did as he asked, it was easy since there was only one folder on the flash drive. When she looked back at him expectantly, he asked her to read the Word document titled “Overview”.
She opened the file and went over the details. Somewhere in the Highlands of Scotland a bunch of women had gone missing. Her first thought was really? Scotland isn’t exactly terrorist central. How many women could they be talking about? The answer surprised her, there were around ninety women unaccounted for. Not figuring in an earlier report of a missing person by the name of Amber Anderson. She had gone missing in the same area under unknown circumstances a year earlier.
Knollig: A Terraneu Novel ( Book 2) Page 14