“You’ll have to die your hair black,” I said.
“Why? Don’t you like it?”
“I think it’s lovely but we don’t have anyone with dark skin and silver hair. We do have people with dark skin and they generally have black curly hair. You two…” I indicated Jarmasin and Lashak’ka, “…could just about pass muster as exotic mixtures of genes as you are. It’s just as well Cherevine’s not here. Blue is definitely out.”
“I don’t understand,” Lashak’ka said. “Why should Lorca’s hair be a problem?”
“Because it says she’s definitely not from Earth. Of course, you don’t know. Some people believe that there’s probably other life in the universe but many don’t. As far as the people of Earth are concerned, humans are the only intelligent species in the galaxy. Even if Lorca dies her hair we’ll attract attention; partly because you’re all uncommonly attractive but mostly because, to a human, you’ll appear exotic and outlandish. Not enough to raise suspicions but be prepared for looks and comments.”
“Weird.”
“I agree but that’s the Earth. To make matters worse, almost all the people where I live are similar to me… racially, that is. We have some Pakistanis and Indians and some Chinese and Afro-Caribbeans but only a few. Black, brown and yellow faces tend to stand out in a crowd. Fortunately, we get lots of visitors from all over the world so that’s what you’ll be… oversees visitors on holiday.”
“That’s what we are,” Lorca said with a grin. “Visitors from far-off lands.”
“Don’t get cute. We’re a bit beyond the ‘here there be tygers’ stage.”
“What do you mean?” Jarmasin asked.
“Well…” I began.
“May I?” Hermes interjected. I nodded. “I think you’ll find life on Earth or, at least, Crawford’s part of it isn’t that different from Geretimal. Most of the things you’re accustomed to have an Earth equivalent.”
I left him to it and went to make a sandwich. I was hungry and realised I’d missed lunch. I also realised I needed to do some planning. Lorca was right; charging off with the cats in a steegee was hardly a plan. For a start, where was I going to land? My steegees were larger than Hermes’ and the local park was hardly a suitable hiding place. The trouble was that there wasn't anywhere else suitable within several miles of my house. Then there was the question of how to transport us all from the steegee to the house. I couldn’t very well call a taxi. And where would we stay? My wee house had two bedrooms. At a pinch, the ladies could double up in my room and the spare room and I could sleep on the couch. It wasn't ideal but… I pushed it all to the back of my mind. I needed to talk to Hermes. He’d been on Earth before. Perhaps he’d have some ideas.
I munched my sandwich unhappily. Why was I beset by so many problems? No sooner had I solved one when another jumped up and bashed me on the head. Why couldn’t someone else take over for a while and give me a rest? Honesty compelled me to realise I was whining. All my problems were of my own making. I had insisted on bringing the cats. I had decided to fight the Lottery Commission. I had abducted the girls and wheeched them off to Earth. They were my problems so I had to solve them. If only there didn’t seem to be such an endless supply of them.
Hermes was in his suite. I’d given him a free hand and he’d taken me at my word. I shivered as I stepped through his door, not because it was cold but because it hit me that he was an alien. I remembered Cherevine’s comment on seeing my suite and understood what she meant. The basics were the same as I was familiar with but they were put together in a way that was totally unnatural to me. I also realised I’d been very sheltered. Hermes’ ship was bland, designed for all beings. Bartimarm was the same. It was a cosmopolitan city and the public bits I’d seen were designed to be accessible to beings from all over the Theocracy and beyond. My hotel suite had been built especially for me. I said as much to Hermes.
“Good,” he nodded. “It’s a difficult trick but you need to be aware of the differences between beings as well as their similarities. That you recognise that is a good sign.”
He wasn't, however, much help about what to do on Earth other than to confirm that the problems I’d identified were the correct ones.
“What I really need is an assistant on Earth,” I said gloomily and stared into space. “Wait a minute. Fiona. She’d help, I’m sure, if I asked her. Can we tap into the phone system from the ship?”
“Once we’re in orbit, yes.”
“Good. Then that’s what I’ll do. I’ll call Fiona and ask her to help.”
“Who is Fiona?”
“My sister.”
He nodded. “It might work. How do you think she’ll react to the news that you’re phoning her from an orbit around Saturn?”
“Good point. I’ll need to think about that. Now, do you have detailed maps of Earth and, specifically, the area around my city?”
“Julian does. Let’s go to the control room.”
Fiona lived closer to the country than I did so I hoped I might find a suitable hiding place close by. After much debate and some input from Julian, we decided on a disused quarry about a mile and a half from her house as the crow flies. It was further by road but it looked like a car could get to within half a mile. The problem was there was no way of knowing if we could land until we were actually there. Hermes suggested that we should land at night. He also insisted we select a second site in case the first proved to be unusable. We chose a sheltered valley in the hills. It would be more of a slog but do-able.
Clothes and shoes were the next problem. Geretimalian day-wear was hardly suitable for hiking over fields and hills though Fiona and I could find something suitable after we were there. The problem with that was that the girls would need to spend the best part of a day in the steegee, not the ideal situation. As Hermes had no better idea, we agreed to discuss it with the girls.
I spent the rest of the afternoon worrying about how I was going to persuade Fiona to help, how I was going to get the cats to the vet and what I’d do if the news wasn't good. I had to face the possibility that, if he said they were beyond saving, I’d need to have them put down. Callous as it may seem, it would at least solve the problem. The worst possibility would be if they needed long-term care. I couldn’t afford to spend more than a few days on Earth so staying to look after them was out of the question. I had no answer to this problem so I was forced to shelve it.
After dinner, Lorca took me aside. “I think you should take Lashak’ka with you tonight.” She grinned. “Unlike the rest of us who needed to be persuaded, she’s already a member of the Crawford fan club.”
She seemed such a quiet girl that I hadn’t thought of that.
“She’s not as, er, forward as we are so behave a bit more like a Lottery Winner.”
“Yes, mother,” I said with a grin.
“Well, someone has to look after you.”
I gave a rueful smile. “I’m not being a very good host, am I?”
“You’ve a lot on your mind. We forgive you. Now go and make it special for her.”
She kissed me on the cheek and pushed me away.
As unobtrusively as possible I steered Lashak’ka in the direction of my suite.
“Come and talk to me,” I said, plumping myself in an easy chair and pulling her gently onto me knee. She put up only a token resistance before settling in to the crook of me arm.
“Tell me about the sea,” I said.
“Have you sailed?”
“No. I’ve always had the idea it would be fun to do but never managed it. You?”
“Yes. Not right out to sea but around the coast.”
As we talked, I gently caressed her shoulders and arms and it seemed a natural progression to go from there to kissing. She seemed slightly hesitant at first so I took it gently. As she warmed up, I became more forceful. I was quite pleased with myself. I’d learnt a lot about women in the last two weeks and seemed more sensitive to what they wanted and needed. With the kissing came some
fondling and I was pleased to feel, under the loose top she was wearing, that her breasts were nice and firm. I could feel her heart thumping in her chest and her kisses were passionate.
“Time for bed,” I said. “Dim the lights, please, Julian.”
To my pleasant surprise, they dimmed.
“No peeping. I’ll call you if I need you.”
“Yes, Crawford.”
Lashak’ka giggled. “You’re funny.”
“I know it’s only an ibic but I wouldn’t feel comfortable knowing it was watching. Some things should be private.”
I pulled her to me and started to fumble at her clothes. She giggled again.
“You do it like this,” she said.
A few quick motions and her top was off. She was nowhere near as busty as Lorca but her round breasts, like ripe fruit, sat high and full.
“Beautiful,” I said with honest admiration.
She blushed and looked away coyly but didn’t hesitate to remove her skirt. She was naked underneath. Her waist was trim, her hips broad, her thighs firm, her legs shapely. She was no catwalk model but the epitome of ripe womanhood. Her pubic hair, like the hair on her head, was exotic and erotic. I was already erect in anticipation.
“Truly beautiful,” I said again.
“I’m not really but thank you,” she said.
“I don’t say things I don’t mean.”
“It’s your turn now.”
She watched avidly as I stripped. I was becoming accustomed to removing my clothes in front of beautiful females and no longer felt embarrassed. I pulled of the final garment and straightened.
“Beautiful,” she said. “Odd but beautiful.”
“The word is handsome. Beautiful is for women.”
She shook her head. “No. You are not handsome. You’re beautiful. There’s a world of difference.”
It took me a moment to work out what she meant.
I nodded. “I can accept that.”
I took her in my arms and held her close.
“This is nice,” I said. “There’s no pressure. We’ve all the time in the world and tonight I’m going to take my time and enjoy you.”
“What do you mean?”
I led her to the bed and urged her onto it.
“You’ll see. Lie back and enjoy.”
I did enjoy her. Every inch of her. I started with her face, planting little kisses all over it, then I moved to her neck and ears. I picked up one hand, sucked each finger in turn into my mouth then made my way slowly up her arm to her shoulder. Her skin tasted spicy and exotic. By the time I finished the other arm she was panting and squirming.
“If you touch me I’ll explode,” she said with a squeak.
I was feeling wicked. “I want you to explode.”
I started at her shoulders and licked my way down her chest. I paid much attention to her breasts but ignored the nipples. She was rolling around trying to get them into my mouth. I teased her bit more then suddenly sucked the tip of one breast into my mouth and flicked my tongue rapidly back and forth. The effect was immediate and dramatic. She arched her back, thrusting her breast deeper into my mouth and cried out. I thought I had hurt her and stopped immediately.
“No, no. Don’t stop. Don’t stop,” she wailed, thrusting her breast at my face.
I realised she must have had a climax so I returned my attention to her breast. I’d broken the moment, though. Perhaps I wasn't so good at reading females as I fancied. She solved the problem herself by tugging me up, wrapping my arms around her and kissing me fiercely.
“That was wonderful,” she said when we parted. “I’m sorry for screaming.”
“Don’t be. It’s good for my ego to know I can make you scream. It distracted me ’cos I wasn’t expecting it.”
She giggled. “Neither was I. My turn now.”
She basically did to me what I’d done to her, licking and kissing her way down my body. I didn’t have any breasts to distract her, though she did spend some time nibbling at my nipples which turned out to be more arousing than I would have thought, so she continued down my stomach towards my groin.
“What are these?” she asked, cupped my testicles.
I was somewhat distracted. “My testicles. Balls. Where my seed is made.”
“Interesting.” She looked up and her gaze was hot. “We must make good use of them.”
She climbed up and straddled me. What had become of the slightly shy girl of half an hour ago. She caught my eye and smiled lustfully.
“Just think,” she said in sultry voice. “In a moment this…” she waggled my manhood, “…is going in here…” she thrust her pelvis forward. “This big hard thing is going to force its way right inside me.” She was breathing heavily. “Deep inside me. Won’t that be heavenly?” She lowered herself slowly. “Yes, heavenly,” she said with a hiss. “Then, when it’s all inside…” she rolled he hips gently, easing herself down on me, “…I’m going to milk it. I’m going to slide up and down…” she was already doing that as she worked me deeper into her, “…up and down, up and down… oof.” She had dropped the last inch. She smiled slowly and sensuously. “Nice. A perfect fit.”
She leant forward and rested her hands on my chest and began to slide slowly up and down.
“Up and down, up and down until you can stand it no longer. Then you will empty these testicles of yours inside me. Lots and lots of lovely sperm to make me pregnant. Oh, yes. You’ll make me pregnant. I’m fertile and you’re virile. I know you’re virile. And you’ll give me a child. A child of my own. But not just any child, my child will be the child of the Lottery Winner. All these billions and billions of beings all over the galaxy and only one of them wins the Lottery and I’m with him and he’s mine and he’s going to fill me with his seed and I’m going to have his child, the child of the Lottery Winner.”
She was bouncing up and down on me furiously by now. Her head was thrown back and her words came in short bursts between her panting breaths. I had never understood why a woman would want an unknown man to make her pregnant but Lashak’ka did. She wanted it desperately. It was strange and disturbingly erotic.
“Fill me with your seed. Fill me deep. Make me conceive. Give me your child.”
And, suddenly, I was there. I grabbed her hips and jerked mine upwards, giving her exactly what she wanted. Utterly spent, I sagged back on the bed and she collapsed on top of me. Suddenly she gave a squeal and rolled off to lie flat on her back with her knees bent and her pelvis raised.
“Quick, give me a pillow,” she demanded. “I mustn't let any escape.”
Bemused I pulled a pillow down and she shoved it under her bottom.
Satisfied, she turned her head and smiled at me. “Not very romantic, I’m afraid.” Her tone was smug.
“But very sexy,” I said. I leaned over and stroked her sweat-damp hair. “I’d never thought of it from your point of view before.”
She flushed. “It’s… a bit of an obsession of mine. Silly.”
“I’m very flattered.”
“You don’t mind? I mean you’ll be the father but you won’t ever see him?”
“Him?” I smiled.
“Oh, yes. Firstborn are generally male.”
“Oh. No, it doesn’t bother me. It all seems a bit unreal, somehow.”
She nodded. “I can understand that. It seems a bit unreal to me, too. It’ll become real soon, though.”
“You’re sure you’ll get pregnant?”
“Oh, yes, I’m sure.”
I rolled off the bed to fetch a damp cloth and some refreshments. She couldn’t drink lying down so I had the kitchen make some fruit; strawberries and peaches and kiwi fruit and melon. I gently bathed her then fed her bits of fruit.
“Nice,” she said. “What are they?”
“Fruits from my planet.”
“You’re sweet.”
“Just protecting my interests,” I said with a grin.
She giggled. “Triss is silly. You’re more of
a man than she’ll ever know. A man should be loving and caring as well as strong. How can he be a proper father if he can’t show love?”
“You’ll give me a swollen head.”
She giggled. “Only if it’s the one down there.”
“That one, too.”
“Will you be able to…?”
“Perform again? Absolutely.”
“Good. How soon?”
“Eager, aren’t you?” I said with a smile.
She clutched my hand. “I’ve waited a long time for this. I’m going to make the most of it.”
“There’s no hurry. It’ll be several days before we return. We’ll have other opportunities.”
“But I have to share you with Jarmasin and Lorca.”
I leant over and kissed her lightly on the lips. “I promise you’ll get your fair share.”
The light kisses turned heavier and, before too long, I gave her another share. Spent, we collapsed and lay unmoving as our hearts thumped together and we fought for breath. She groaned and I realised I must be squashing her. I rolled off and she reluctantly released me.
“I want to keep you inside me,” she husked, “but you’re too heavy.”
“S’okay. Didn’t mean to squash you.”
“Nice squash.”
We drifted for a while until the sweat cooling on our bodies made us shiver. I urged her into the shower where we lovingly soaped each other clean. She fetched food and drink while I repaired the bed and we sat snuggled up together and fed each other titbits. I felt surprisingly close to her. Perhaps it was the knowledge that we’d openly tried to make a baby.
“You’re a surprising person,” I remarked.
“What makes you say that?” She popped a piece of fruit into my mouth.
“You seemed so… shy… innocent, perhaps. I’d never have thought you’d be such a tigress in bed.”
“You disapprove?”
“Quite the reverse.” I planted a quick kiss on her lips. “I feel very close to you and privileged to have shared this occasion with you. Thank you for… just being you, I suppose.”
She giggled and blushed. “My Dad says I’m quietly determined. I generally get what I want. I just don’t make a big fuss about it.”
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