“Of course she is,” Raze said, smiling to let them know he wasn’t offended. “I know I’m big—like all Kindred are—and I might look ‘scary’ to you,” he said to Lucia’s mother. “But I will give you my oath as a Warrior before the Goddess that I will never hurt your daughter or her little ones. Female life is sacred to us because women are scarce in my society.”
The older woman frowned at him and put a hand on her hip.
“And how do we know if your word is good?” she demanded. “My daughter just met you!”
“Mami!” Lucia exclaimed but Raze shook his head.
“No, it’s all right. I understand why you’d be scared. I’ve heard some of the things males do to females on your planet.” He frowned, thinking hard. “What if you brought your dog with you?” he asked at last, nodding at Lady, who was sprawled on the ground at his feet, looking perfectly relaxed. “I can tell she’s very protective of you all. She would certainly never let anyone hurt you—right?”
“Well…” Lucia’s mother’s frown softened a bit. “That might be an idea,” she said to Lucia. “Though I still don’t mind lending you my car, mija,” she added.
“Yes, but if I take your car I have to bring it back to you and then ride the bus all the way to work and back again,” Lucia pointed out. “That’s a long trip and I’ll probably be late in the morning.” She looked at Raze. “Speaking of which, you’ll have to get up pretty early if you really don’t mind taking the kids to school and me to work.”
He shrugged.
“Won’t I be up early anyway, feeding the kittens?”
“Yes, you will,” Lucia admitted. “Well, I guess if you really don’t mind…”
“I don’t,” Raze said firmly. “Will I see you in the morning then, Lucia?”
She smiled at him tentatively.
“Thank you, Raze. Yes—we’ll meet you in the lobby.” She nodded at her three children and Lady, the dog. “All five of us.”
“Six,” her mother said, frowning. “If you’re going in a car with a strange man, I’m following right behind you, mija.” She pointed a finger at Raze. “And I’ll have my cell phone set to 911 just in case, so don’t get any funny ideas.”
“Mami!” Lucia exclaimed, looking embarrassed. She looked at Raze. “I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. Your mother is just being protective of you and your children,” he told her gravely. “I don’t blame her. Until you get to know me, I’m still just a stranger who accosted you in the middle of the night with a handful of cattens—kittens, I mean.”
He grinned and Lucia laughed—a warm, feminine sound Raze liked at once. Gods, she was lovely.
“All right then—see you in the morning,” she told him. “At six thirty sharp.”
“No problem.” Raze made certain all the kittens were secure in the small cardboard box Lucia had fixed for them and gathered the supplies she’d given him. He said his goodbyes to her mother, who still seemed suspicious and her children as well. The twin boys hid bashfully behind Lucia’s legs but Frannie, the little girl, spoke to him boldly.
“Be sure you feed the kittens at the right time,” she said, pointing to the box. “If they get too hungry they could get sick. So promise to be good to them!”
“Frannie!” Lucia looked horrified but Raze only smiled. He liked the little girl’s spirit and the fact that she was so protective of the little creatures.
“I promise,” he said gravely, bending down to look at her. “And you can hold their box while we drive to your place of education tomorrow. How would that be?”
She broke into a shy smile.
“I’d like that.”
“I thought so.” Raze nodded. “Then I’ll see you in the morning.”
Lucia walked him to the door of her small apartment and smiled up at him as her mother hustled the children off to a bath and bed.
“You know,” she said, “When you first came up on me tonight, I was scared to death. I thought this might be my last night on Earth.”
“Gods!” Raze shook his head. It was awful that females had to be so fearful of strange males on this planet! It wasn’t so in Kindred society. “I didn’t mean to frighten you, Lucia,” he told her. “I’m really sorry about that.”
“No, no!” she said quickly. “I’m just saying…” She made a frustrated gesture, as though looking for the right words. “You know how they say that first appearances can be deceiving? Or anyway, that’s an Earth saying,” she went on. “But it means…well, I guess it means I’m glad I met you. And not just because you’re going to give us a ride and try to fix my car. Because you seem like a genuinely nice guy.” She sighed. “And it’s been a while since I met one of those.”
Raze wondered if this distrust of males was born of her society—or other problems in her past. From what she had told him of her ex-mate, it sounded like he hadn’t been a very good or kind male. Had he hurt or abused her somehow to make her so wary?
“I’m glad we met too,” he said gravely. “Thank you again for helping me care for these little ones.” He nodded at the box of sleepy kittens. “I’ll see you in the morning, Lucia.”
“See you in the morning,” she echoed, giving him that shy smile again, which made his heart fist in his chest. Gods, she was gorgeous with those big brown eyes and ample curves!
She’s beautiful but she’s not for you, Raze reminded himself sternly as he smiled and turned away to go back to his own apartment. Nobody is for you, Raze, so don’t get any ideas.
Five
The next morning, Luci wondered if it hadn’t all been a dream. But the first thing out of Frannie’s mouth when she went to wake her daughter were,
“Mami, do we get to see the kitten man today?”
“Yes, mija, that’s the plan,” she said, smiling. “If he’s there,” she added, not wanting to get her daughter’s hopes up. “He might not remember or he might be sleeping in. Like Daddy.”
Her ex had almost never gotten up before noon on days off and weekends and if the kids woke him up before he was ready, there was Hell to pay. Luci shivered when she remembered it—walking on eggshells and trying so hard to keep all three kids absolutely silent so they wouldn’t disturb Tony. He would fly into a towering rage at the least little sound, which meant that Luci usually had to take all three of them out of the house lest they wake their father and anger him.
“He’s not like Daddy,” Frannie said, with such absolute certainty that Luci was surprised. “He’ll be there.”
“I hope so, mija,” she said cautiously. “Now get dressed while I get your brothers up.”
“Yes, Mami.” Frannie got up obediently and began getting dressed at once.
“Such a good girl!” Luci gave her daughter a kiss and bustled off to get the twins.
When all of them—her mother and Lady included—rode the elevator down to the lobby of their building, Luci was surprised to see the big Kindred standing there waiting with the box of kittens in his arms. Maybe it was just her bad experience with Tony—who was the only man she’d ever been with, since they had started dating in high school—but she hadn’t really expected a man—not even a Kindred—to be willing to get up so early and drive her and her kids all around town.
But there Raze was, smiling at her and the kids as they all clattered out of the elevator.
“The kittens, the kittens!” Frannie exclaimed, running right up to him, though she was usually so shy of men—probably because Tony had shouted at her so many times, Luci thought, with regret.
But she forgot about her ex as she watched Raze crouch down obligingly to show Frannie the three little kittens again. He smiled easily and spoke to her kindly in his deep voice. And when the twins, Antony and Julio approached—a bit more warily—he showed them the kittens too. Lady came along as well and sniffed the tiny, mewing creatures before licking Raze’s hand happily.
It warmed Luci’s heart to see her children interact with a man who wasn’t angry or shouting at them to “Shu
t the fuck up so I can get some fucking peace and quiet around here!” as Tony had so often. Maybe the big Kindred really was a nice guy—a kind and caring soul. Only time would tell—she wasn’t going to rush into anything. Rushing to get married was what had gotten her stuck with Tony for so long. Luci was determined to take her time and be careful this time.
Not, of course, that the big Kindred liked her that way, she told herself hastily. He was just being friendly—returning her favor with the kittens by driving the kids to school and her to work and fixing her car.
But she couldn’t help the butterflies that took off in her stomach when Raze looked up from talking to the kids and their eyes met. There was an intensity in his mismatched gaze that made her feel like the only woman in the world when he looked at her like that. He smelled really good too. What was that aftershave he was wearing? Something woodsy and fresh and wild and just a bit smoky—whatever it was, it was really attractive. But come to that, all of him was attractive…
Stop that! Luci scolded herself. You can’t start thinking that way about him. He’s just being nice—he wouldn’t want anything to do with a single mom who already has three kids. No man in his right man would want a girl with that kind of baggage!
As they followed Raze out to his vehicle—a Kindred shuttle that converted to a sleek, silver car—she determined to keep a firm grip on her emotions. After all, there was no point in falling for a guy she could never have.
Six
“All right—give it a try,” Raze said, stepping back and wiping his big hands on a paper towel Luci had brought him.
Getting behind the wheel, she turned the key and gave a little gasp of joy when the ancient engine turned over and began to purr.
“You did it!” she exclaimed when the big Kindred came over to her driver’s side window.
Raze grinned and leaned over to see her better.
“Nothing to it. Your engines remind me of the mechanical toys I played with as a young one,” he rumbled.
He had been working on her car all day, out in the Paws and Purrs parking lot as she did her shift in the clinic. She had been keeping an eye on the kittens for him as Lady roamed around—being a well-behaved dog, she was always welcome at Luci’s work. Now her shift was almost over and it looked like she would be able to drive her car home.
“Thank you!” Luci was so excited she turned off the engine and jumped out of the car. “Thank you so much! You don’t know what this means to me!” she exclaimed, giving Raze a spontaneous hug. “I didn’t know how I was going to get it fixed and it’s so hard to get around without a car and…and…”
She trailed off as she realized the big Kindred was returning her hug. Very gently, he had enfolded her in his arms. The top of Luci’s head barely came up to his chest, which made her feel like a little girl. But despite their height and size difference, the embrace felt warm and safe and wonderful and she couldn’t help thinking again how good Raze smelled. Without thinking about it, she pressed her face to the broad planes of his chest and breathed him in until she felt almost dizzy from the incredibly enticing scent.
Then she realized what she was doing—hanging all over the big Kindred and smelling him, for God’s sake! What was wrong with her?
“Dios, I’m sorry!” she said, pulling away abruptly. “I, uh, just got so excited that you fixed the car,” she added, looking up at him shyly. “I didn’t mean to get carried away.”
“I don’t mind,” Raze rumbled. His mismatched eyes were half-lidded as he looked at her. “Don’t friends embrace each other on Earth when they’re happy?”
“Oh right—friends, of course,” Luci said quickly. “Yes, of course they do.” She smiled and tried to act casual. “Are you sure you won’t let me pay you for this?”
“Positive,” Raze said firmly. “It’s the least I can do after you showed me how to care for the kittens. How are they, by the way? I feel bad that you did the last feeding without me.”
“It was no trouble at all—you were up to your elbows in my car engine,” Luci pointed out. Although he really hadn’t had to take it apart very much at all to fix it. And he hadn’t used any tools other than the ones he had brought with him from the Mother Ship. Best of all, he hadn’t had to ask her to get any replacement parts, which she was very grateful for.
“But are they all right?” Raze asked anxiously. “I was worried about Little Bit this morning. She seemed listless.”
“Little Bit?” Luci frowned.
“Oh…that’s what I call the little black female.” Raze looked slightly embarrassed. “She’s such a tiny little thing.”
“Did you name the two boys?” Luci asked, amused. “Because Frannie has been calling the white one with the black spot over his eye ‘Pirate Cat’. Because the spot looks like an eye patch and pirates wear eye patches,” she explained, seeing his confused look. “At least here on Earth they do—that’s the stereotype, anyway.”
“I have known space pirates who have monocular vision,” Raze told her. “Cycloptians—you don’t want to mess with them.” He smiled. “But I think ‘pirate cat’ is a fine name. Now we just have to think of a name for the last one—the one that’s black and white all over.”
“I think Frannie is calling him ‘Spots’,” Luci told him. “I know it’s not nearly as good as Pirate Cat but—”
“It’s fine.” Raze smiled down at her. “I love the names your daughter came up with. She’s very intelligent, isn’t she?”
“She’s my good, smart girl,” Luci said with pride. She sighed. “I just wish I could spend more time with her—with all my kids. I work so many hours here, sometimes I feel like I never get to see them. I mean, don’t get me wrong—I love my job. I just wish I could do it part time and spend more time with my little ones, well…while they’re still little.”
“Why can’t you?” Raze looked mystified.
“The same reason I was in such a bind when my car broke down,” Luci told him. “Money. It’s not easy for a single mom to make it alone, you know?”
Raze frowned.
“I don’t understand why your government doesn’t offer you more support. On the Kindred Mother Ship, all females are compensated for raising young ones. A female can work if she wants—as much as she wants—and free childcare is available for that purpose. But if she would rather stay home, she will still get plenty of credit to survive and take care of herself and her family.”
Luci sighed longingly.
“Dios, I wish! Unfortunately that’s not the way it works here. I get a little help with food but that’s about it.” She shrugged.
“That isn’t right!” Raze exclaimed. “Someone ought to be taking care of you and your young ones.”
Luci bristled a little.
“I’m taking care of us,” she pointed out, a bit stiffly. “It’s not easy, but we manage. My mom helps and the kids are happy.”
“Of course they are. Forgive me,” Raze said formally. “I wasn’t implying you’re not good at taking care of your family. I just meant, well…it’s not the Kindred way for a female to have to be alone and raise her young ones all by herself with no male to help.”
“I have my Mom,” Luci pointed out. “She’s a lot more dependable with my kids than my ex ever was. And she doesn’t yell at them, either,” she added, before she could stop herself.
Raze’s frowned deepened.
“Your ex-mate shouted at your young ones?”
“Tony…had a very hot temper.” Luci wished she hadn’t brought it up. It made her feel like a bad mom to have stayed with her ex as long as she had. “Look, you have to let me thank you for fixing my car,” she said, hoping to change the subject. “How about having dinner with me and the kids tonight? I’ll cook you something special.”
The big Kindred’s face lit up.
“I’d like that very much, Lucia,” he rumbled. “But you have to let me buy the food—you just cook it.”
Luci put a hand on her hip.
“Look, I
know I just told you money is a problem, but I can manage the groceries!”
“I’m sure you can,” Raze said mildly. “If you were cooking for a human male. But I have a big appetite. So please, let me buy the food and you just prepare it.”
“Well…” Luci bit her lip, practicality warring with pride.
It was true that her food budget was stretched to the breaking point, but she hated to seem like a charity case. It was just so hard to make ends meet when she had three kids to feed and only herself to depend on! She could never take a sick day or any time off, even though Dr. Canody would have given it to her—she simply couldn’t afford it. Dios, sometimes she just got so tired of being poor.
“Please, Lucia.” The big Kindred’s voice was a soft rumble. “Allow me to buy the food for the meal you’re going to make. It’s the custom of my people for the male to provide for a female if he can.”
“Well…”
Luci felt her stubbornness melting under that sexy, mismatched gaze of his. What was it about the big Kindred that drew her so strongly? Was it just that he was the first man she’d looked at since her divorce? Or the fact that he was so kind and gentle and patient—both with the tiny kittens and with her kids? She didn’t know, but she did know she wanted to spend more time with him.
“All right,” she said at last. “I’ll give you a grocery list and you can pick the things up on the way home. I’ll take the kittens with me,” she added. “That way you don’t have to bring them into the store with you.”
She was curious to see how the big Kindred would handle this arrangement. Tony had always used to fly into a rage if she asked him to do any of what he called “women’s work.” Once in a very great while he might run to the store for a gallon of milk or some bread if they were all out but he always grumbled about it and expected to be praised to the skies for his heroic effort afterwards.
It was the same with laundry or dishes or any of the other domestic chores her ex had considered himself above doing. Tony absolutely wouldn’t help in any way. “Not my job, babe,” he would always tell Luci if she asked him to change a diaper or take out the garbage. “I bring home the bacon and you cook it—that’s how it goes.”
Dark and Light: A Kindred Tales DUET Novel. Contains: Saved by the Drake AND Captured by the Kru'ell One Page 4