“Honestly, it’s just lotion. It won’t bite you”
His expression was dubious but he nodded consent.
Meridan worked the lotion into his shoulders and across his chest. His eyes drifted closed, a soft expression settling on his face. With another pump, she spread the lotion down his arms and his back. Finally, only a bit remained in her hands. The surface of his horns seemed dry. She moved to rub off the excess lotion. Kalen flinched away.
“They are sensitive.”
“Too sensitive for your wife to touch?”
A feral grin flashed, giving the smallest hint of fang against his plum complexion. “I would not be able to control myself, wife.”
Oh. Meridan became aware that she knelt on the mattress beside Kalen, her breasts shoved near his face, completely nude. She sat the bottle down on the nightstand.
“I probably should get dressed now. And pack. The Relocation Committee can pack up most of this but I should bring some clothes with me. And it’s not like I have to worry about the furniture. It came with the apartment.” She babbled to cover up her embarrassment and Kalen’s obvious erection. You’d think he’d pass out from the lack of blood flow.
“Do you require lotion as well?” he asked.
Meridan’s back straightened at his sultry tone. He was at the edge of his control and so was she and there he was pushing it. “We have an appointment. Can’t keep the warlord waiting.”
“You are correct. I will prepare the morning meal.” Kalen strode buck ass naked into the kitchenette.
“I don’t have much,” she said, dressing quickly in stretchy black pants and a grey sweater that wrapped around her body. She twisted her hair into a sloppy braid but it got it out of her face. Glamorous, right? Screw glamour. She had shit to do. “I’m not much of a cook.”
“Or a housekeeper,” he replied.
“Oh, I’m sorry. The maid had the day off,” she said sarcastically. “I usually just have a bagel and coffee for breakfast.”
The fresh food stuffs she had in the small refrigeration unit spoiled during her hospitalization. Kalen tossed the contents into the recycler before ordering two plain bagels from the reconstructor unit.
The cream cheese was still good. Spread on thick, it covered the slight artificial taste of the processed bagel. Surprised by her own hunger, Meridan scarfed down the bagel and a packet of almonds.
As she packed, she dictated a letter to her father. He refused to use a view screen and received communications the old-fashioned away through electronic mail. That man practically lived in the stone age. She updated him on the big changes in her and Daisy’s situation while tossing clothes into two piles on the bed. One pile was keep. The other was discard.
“We’re going to be okay, Papi,” she said as she finished off the letter. She straightened as a thought struck her. “I don’t imagine the dress survived.”
“No.”
“I liked that dress.”
He nodded. He neatly folded the garments she haphazardly threw onto the bed. “I admired it as well. You were very attractive in it.”
“Attractive?” Meridan stuck a hand on her hip. “That dress was hot and you were practically drooling over me in it.”
“I would have drooled over you with or without that dress.”
“Hmph.” Meridan rolled her eyes as if she was unimpressed but a blush crept over her. Kalen’s unexpectedly sweet moment caught her off guard. “So your tattoo,” she said, changing topic. “You have a complex design for someone who’s allegedly only twenty-six.”
“You have an ambitious husband.”
“Mylomon is older but he had no tattoos.” None. Not a single stroke of black ink adorned his dark purple skin.
“Ah. He is a special case.”
“How so.” Meridan packed her toiletries into a square vinyl bag before stuffing them into a larger duffle. Kalen dressed in the rumpled clothes from yesterday, much to her relief. As easy on the eyes as he was, all that sculpted male nudity was distracting.
“He is a foundling. He has no family. No home.”
“I never asked about your family.”
“My mother is on Sangrin. I have no brothers.”
“And your father?”
A dark expression moved across his face. Clearly a touchy subject.
“Never mind,” she said. “Fathers are weird. My Papa lives in the mountains like an old coot.”
“My father dishonored his clan,” Kalen said. “The warlord ended his life.”
“Oh. I’m so sorry,” she said to quickly to sound sincere.
“We do not speak of him but his dishonor hangs over the family name. I tell you this because we are family now.”
“Yes, I suppose so.”
“Are you upset being matched to a dishonored house?”
“No,” she said instantly. Kalen was an acquired taste, lacking social skills and too blunt at times, but he behaved honorably. “I don’t think Terrans get hung up on that sort of thing.”
“Terrans are curious.”
Meridan plucked a worn teddy bear off a shelf and stuffed it into a bag. Missing an eye and with matted fur, the bear survived an invasion, years in the mountains and she refused to part with the stuffed animal. She gave her small apartment a final survey. The Relocation Committee would pack up the rest of her personal belongings. She had the most precious items, the sentimental knick knacks she’d brought from Earth, packed in two duffel bags. Everything else would be shipped. Still, so much had changed so quickly. She wasn’t ready. Not yet.
Kalen’s hand rested on her shoulder, warm and comforting. “It is time.”
“I need to say goodbye to Ishraam.” The list of people she needed to see and hug farwell kept growing. She missed Vox’s departure already but there were other friends and colleagues she needed to see.
“You can send a message from the Judgment.”
“Hardly seems appropriate. He visited me every day, you said.”
“The little warrior will understand. This is our way.”
“Dragging my feet won’t make this easier,” she said. “Let’s go.”
Kalen slung the bag straps over his shoulders and picked Meridan up with ease.
“I can walk,” she protested.
“You are still weak and too proud to admit it.”
Darn that perceptive alien. Meridan snuggled in, enjoying the way his hard body felt as he carried her to the Transport Station. She pressed her face into the fabric of his shirt. His scent, spicy and male, was strongest here. “I think you’re a big old romantic, Kalen Halse. You have this sharp, barky exterior but you’re all gooey on the inside. Admit it.”
“Perhaps.” He lowered her onto the teleporter platform. She stood with her hands on her hips, defiant as he smoothed out the wrinkles in her clothes and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ears. “Perhaps I am only gooey for you.”
Total romantic. Meridan couldn’t help but go a little gooey on the inside herself.
The teleporter hummed to life, the safety light blinking green. An automatic voice gave a countdown.
“It occurs to me that I have not kissed my wife this morning,” he said, leaning down.
“She’s going to be upset when she realizes.”
The light burned a steady green, the countdown completed.
His mouth captured hers, a tingling started in her lips and spread throughout her body as the teleporter scattered them across the stars.
Chapter Twelve
Kalen
He was a romantic. The teleporter reassembled them molecule by molecule, separating his particles from hers. The only sensation was the hum of assembly. Then the sensation of her pliant lips against his.
A male cleared his throat.
Kalen pulled away from Meridan. She gazed up at him in that wide-eye way of hers, open and receptive.
“The warlord’s mate is ready for her check-up,” the male said.
“Thank you, Aden,” Kalen said, gaze fixed o
n Meridan. “My mate and I are in progress to the medical bay. Have these items delivered to my quarters.”
He moved to lift Meridan. She stepped away. “Seriously, I can walk.”
There her spirit was, reassembled and whole again. Kalen smiled at the sentiment. He was a shameless romantic, it seemed.
Meridan
“Where is she!”
Meridan jumped off the exam table at the sound of the familiar, beloved voice. She ripped the thin, plastic diagnostic sheet off her abdomen. Kalen’s medical bay was a brightly lit, glowing white environment. Leaf green accented the wall panels, keeping the space from complete sterility. Smaller exam and specialty rooms ringed a central space. The Medical Bay shared the curved, organic lines of the rest of the battle cruiser and somehow, managed to be less inviting than the grey, dimly lit rooms in the rest of the battle cruiser. Kalen gave her a quick tour, disinterestedly introduced his staff—Drow, Jarre, Rasad, Levin, and Thanh—and insisted on a thorough examination. That’s why she was tugging down her shirt when Daisy came skidding into the room.
Daisy’s red, puffy eyes briefly registered Meridian's state of undress before she threw herself at her, laughing and crying. The sister’s hugged each other tightly, laughing and crying in joy.
“I thought—”
“Why are you here—”
“I came as soon as the big idiot told me.”
Their words came out in a jumble. Kalen watched impatiently, tapping his foot, muttering about volatile Terrans. Mylomon stalked into the room, frowning. “Female, I told you to remain in our quarters.”
Daisy pulled away. Fresh tear tracks glistened on her face but she smiled until she turned toward her mate. “It’s cute the way you think you’re the boss of me.”
“I am your mate. You are mine. I will have obedience.”
Daisy rolled her eyes. Clearly this was an old argument and Mylomon wasn’t winning.
“I was so upset yesterday,” Meridan said. She bawled till she was sick to her stomach. Kalen distracted her by stripping nude. He bathed her and soothed her with sweet words. Not one of those sweet words had said she would be reunited with her sister, that they were headed for the same battle cruiser.
She turned on her heel and jabbed a finger into his solid chest. “You! You thoughtless, inconsiderate purple bastard!”
“Calm yourself, female,” he said, placing his hands on her arms. She shook him off.
“No. I was sick with worry last night. I cried and cried and cried and not once did you think to mention that you and that—” She waved vaguely at Mylomon lurking, “jerk were in the same clan.”
“I said many times that I serve on the Judgment. This was not secret information. Is it my fault you didn’t compare notes with your sister?” He cocked his head to one side and grinned like he was indulging a tantrum throwing child.
“You bastard.” Meridan wanted to slap that indulgent smile off his cocky face but stayed her hand. Her nostrils flared. The monitor beeped a warning as her blood pressure fluctuated. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you just let me bawl my eyes out? Or maybe you liked being the big, strong male with a weak, emotional little female? Is that what you want? You want me to cry some more so you can feel better about your masculinity?”
Mylomon snorted. Meridan whipped her head, giving him a hard look. He held up a hand in surrender. “You can have both irrational Terrans, medic,” he said and left the room.
“Typical,” Daisy muttered.
Kalen used the distraction to move away from his angry wife.
“I’m not done with you, bub,” Meridan said.
“And I am not done with your exam,” he snapped. The diagnostic sheet wrapped around her outstretched arm. She looked down at it in surprise. Damn he was fast. She didn’t even see him move to put it on.
The comm unit chimed that the warlord’s mate had arrived for her appointment.
Kalen looked at her, then the door and back to her, eyes narrowed. “You will sit. You may bawl and chatter and do whatever silly females enjoy but you will not leave this room until I am satisfied you are well.”
Meridan pressed her lips together, unhappy. “Is that a command, husband?”
“Yes!” He stormed out of the room, cursing stubborn females.
“Oh hell no,” she said, following him.
A small woman with long dark hair and a round belly waited in the central room. She clasped Kalen’s hand in greeting and a sharp stab jealousy went through Meridan. A warm smile spread across her face when she saw Meridan. “Another human! We’re growing by leaps and bounds now. And I hear you’re in obstetrics?”
“Yes.” The woman’s cheerful demeanor dissolved some of her anger. Some.
“How incredibly fortunate for me.” She patted her stomach. “Paax sent Medic Kalen off because, well, you know how he is.”
Barks orders? Rude? Makes decisions for you? Withholds information? “I know.”
“Warlord’s female, you must sit,” Kalen said, steering the woman to a chair. “Are you well? Do you feel any pain?”
The woman ignored Kalen for a moment and continued to speak to Meridan. “I’m Mercy, by the way. Pleased to meet you.”
“I must insist you sit!” Kalen barked.
Mercy rolled her eyes but complied. “I am well but Paax insisted I see you immediately for a checkup.”
“I’m surprised he didn’t meet me at the teleporter.”
“He nearly did.”
Mercy’s gaze went from Meridan to Kalen and back again. “Am I interrupting?”
“No.”
“Yes,” Meridan said, speaking over Kalen.
He frowned, rubbing his chest.
“I can come back later,” Mercy said. She struggled to her feet.
“Sit.”
“I won’t let you ignore me,” Meridan said.
“Female,” he growled. “Will you cease yapping at me?”
“Yapping!” Her hands clenched and unclenched. She counted to three. And again. This was about to be the shortest marriage in history because she wasn’t going to let him talk to her like that. Yapping.
A familiar touch at her elbow caught her attention. “How about I give Meri a little tour of the ship. You can message us when you’re ready.”
“She needs to rest,” he started but stopped, hand on the bridge of his nose. “This is a good idea. I must attend to the warlord’s mate. If another medic would do, he would not have specified me. But do not tire yourself.”
“I understand,” Daisy said, steering her sister out of the medical bay. Kalen continued to bark restrictions: do not go far, do not walk swiftly, and do not speak to another male.
“You two are a piece of work,” Daisy said once they were out of earshot.
“He started it.” That sounded childish but she had been inconsolable yesterday. He could have eased her worry and stopped her tears but he said nothing. Why? Meridan could only conclude that he didn’t care.
Meridan became aware that she was blindly following Daisy down a corridor and was completely turned around. “Where are you taking me?”
“I’m not sure. Away.” Daisy shrugged. “I’ve only been here a day and the purple monster hasn’t exactly given me the grand tour.”
“That’s not very kind.” Daisy matched her slow pace. As much as Meridan did not want to admit it, she grew tired.
“Yeah, well, so far three people have warned me about ‘the foundling’, which I assume is Mylomon. How’s that for the welcome committee?”
“What’s a foundling?”
“Quiet jerk, as far as I can tell. I’ve been matched for two weeks now and Mylomon only speaks to me three words at a time. Female, stay here. Female, be quiet.”
She shouldn’t be laughing, really. It hurt her ribs too much.
“At least I have you again,” Daisy said, nudging her shoulders with her own. Then she clapped her hands. “Oh, I forgot the best part. Vox is here!”
Small freaking univer
se. “This is the clan with room to grow?”
“New warlord. The old one… Well, I’ll let one of the males explain but apparently with a new warlord comes staff reshuffling.”
“These aliens are so weird.”
“He didn’t sleep, you know,” Daisy said. “The entire time you were in that tank, he stayed. Didn’t eat. Didn’t rest. Wouldn’t leave your side.”
“Kalen said you did the same.”
“I guess we kept each other company. The medics spiked his tea with a sleeping agent.”
“I didn’t know.” The idea that he wore himself down to exhaustion over her was comforting. Out of character, maybe. Events from last night played in her mind. Maybe not so out of character. “He keeps going from jerk to sweetheart and back again.”
Daisy glanced at her wrist. “We’ve been summoned. Come on, slow poke.” She grabbed the hand closest to her and squeezed. “I’m glad you’re here. We’ll be okay as long as we’re together.”
Chapter Thirteen
Meridan
Meridan cradled the cup in her hand. Bird song filtered through the speakers, surrounding her. The view screen took up an entire wall. It displayed the view from atop a river bluff. Deep mauve trees provided shade and overlooked a vista of a low flow, slow moving river winding through the golden harvest colors of rolling hills. The sun gleamed silver on the murky water.
“This simulation is very restful,” she said.
After returning to the medical bay, Kalen completed the exam to his satisfaction. She was fine. She could have told them that but she doubted he would listen. Then they went to his quarters. Well, their quarters. He had a suite of rooms. Much like the medical bay, it was a large central space ringed by smaller rooms.
A sunken conversation pit dominated the center of the room with bright orange cushions against plush white carpeting. At the center of the pit was a low table. The bedrooms had similar features. Beds were sunken into the floor. Bolster pillows and blankets were piled up high on all fours sides. It looked rather cozy but she returned to the living room and fell asleep on the garish orange upholstery.
Kalen: Warlord Brides (Warriors of Sangrin Book 2) Page 9