Winter

by Michelle Love

  Sabrina smiles. “How sweet. I’ll catch up with you guys later. After you’ve had time to make your decisions. Just so you know, I make excellent chicken and beef recipes.”

  “Noted,” I say and get to eating the tasteless food. “I wanted to talk to you about breakfast too. Do, you have a second?”

  “I do.”

  “I think we should get away from the freeze-dried breakfast foods. The garden has come in well. Do you think you could come up with some vegetable based breakfasts, so we can get away from this other food? You know, something we don’t think of as breakfast food? Maybe, roasted eggplant with a tomato and basil puree. Or yellow squash with pearl onions made soup style. We need to make up menus only using what we grow.”

  “I got you. Because we’ll use up all the freeze-dried food on the trip out, anyway.” She nods in agreement.

  “Yes, and my team has been working on plans to grow the plants as we travel, so that when we get there we can transplant them. That’ll help us to set up much more quickly than we did here. If I’m going to Mars, I’m going to be sure we can set up quickly and efficiently.”

  Ryker sighs. “You have no idea how great it feels to hear you say that.”

  “What? That I’m going to figure things out?”

  “No,” he says then kisses my cheek. “That you’re going.”

  Sabrina gives us a nod. “I gotta get to work. See you guys later.”

  Ryker gives me a quick kiss on the lips. “You’re making me happier than I’ve ever been and I wasn’t a real sad individual.”

  Stroking his long beard, I feel lighthearted and happier than I’ve ever felt too. “I suppose we’ll get even happier than this. The day we get married.”

  “The night after the wedding,” he says with a little grin and a wiggle of his brow.

  I blush as heat fills me. “And when we have our babies.”

  “And when we have our first one on Mars,” he says then leans in and gives me a longer kiss.

  Applause fills the air and I feel my blush deepen but he won’t let me go. He won’t end the kiss and the clapping just keeps on going. And I’m finding an odd feeling inside of me.

  Pride at being who this man has chosen to live his life with!

  RYKER

  It’s the last night in the dome, the lights have been dimmed. Gia and I have cleaned up after a long day, and she’s looking like a goddess as she lies on the bed. I move in next to her and kiss the warm spot right behind her left ear. “Tomorrow, we’ll get up and leave this place behind. First thing is to go home and change clothes, go to the courthouse and apply for that marriage license, then go buy you a fat engagement ring and our wedding bands.”

  She sighs, making her breasts heave. “Ryker, this is unreal.”

  “It’s very real, baby.” I take her mouth with a sweet kiss.

  Her arms run around me, taking me close to her. Our bodies start to heat as they touch. Her breasts feel squishy as they press against my chest. The sweet kiss grows into something a bit more sinister. A bit more heated.

  I move my tongue in a stroking motion and she ends the kiss with small pecks. “Get on your back.”

  Knowing what kind of Heaven she’s about to take me to, I roll over and let her have her way with me. Her soft lips move over my stomach, inching down to where I’m ready and waiting for her.

  She makes a brief pause to tickle my belly button with her tongue, making me giggle a bit, which I hate to do in the heat of the moment. “Gia!”

  With a giggle, she stops and proceeds to the promised land. “Party pooper.”

  She’s in a playful mood, which can be worrisome at times. When her hands move around to grip my ass, I feel her pinky sliding toward a place I’ve told her to stay the hell away from, so I change things around.

  Sitting up, I grab her around the waist and flip her over my shoulder, making her land on her back. She’s lying face up, so I move back until her face is level with my straining appendage. “Feeling playful, baby?”

  She bites her lip as I dangle myself just over her mouth. Her arms are pinned under my legs and she’s at my mercy. She gives me a wink. “I was, but I think I’m done with that.”

  “Good,” I say as I run my finger over her lips then push it inside. She sucks it as she looks at me and I find an evil smile moving over my lips. “So, you want it like this?”

  She nods and I pull my finger out and move my cock into her open mouth. From this position, watching her take me in, I’m hot as hell for her right now.

  I pump myself in a rhythmic motion, finding her mouth warm and the small amount of sucking she’s doing feels better than it does the other way. Leaning over to hold my body up with my hands, I go at her a little faster, making her moan.

  Her arms are freed as I move my legs. She moves her hands to my ass, squeezing it. After a few minutes, the sensations are getting to me and I’m about to explode, so I start to pull away from her but she holds me tight. “Baby, I’m about to lose it.”

  She sucks hard, letting me know she wants that. So, I get back to what I was doing and keep up the short strokes. Fucking her like this has me hotter than usual. “You like that? You like when I skull fuck you, Gia?”

  Her moan vibrates me just right. One of her hands move to mess with my balls and I can’t take it any longer. My orgasm rips through me and she groans as it all shoots down her throat. My groan matches hers as I feel it all come out.

  Moving back, I pull my cock out of her mouth. She runs the back of her hand across her mouth. “My turn.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  GIA

  His hot, wet tongue glides down my body. The way he handles me has me shaking with passion. His forcefulness is something that drives me wild. With the tip of his tongue, he taps at my clit that’s pulsing and throbbing. “Yes,” I moan as he changes the tap into an intimate kiss.

  His dark hair has grown long and when I move my hands into it, they get lost in the thick depth. One of his fingers dallies around the edge of my vagina, teasing it into a frenzy. Pushing in two fingers, he pumps them as he licks my folds all the way up my clit, over and over until I’m begging him to fuck me. “Ryker! Please, put your dick in me. I need it!”

  He chuckles as he moves up my body and slams his hard cock into me. “Is that what you want?”

  I arch up to meet his hard thrusts. “Yes! Harder!”

  Pounding me with his body, I feel the orgasm he started, taking off even more. “Shit, you’re so fucking tight and rippling all over me, baby!”

  Grabbing his huge biceps, I try to steady myself as my body is on sensory overload. “It just won’t stop!”

  He grinds into me with a deep groan. “Baby, I don’t want it to stop.”

  I’m quivering, my head is spinning. I might pass out!

  Has anyone ever passed out from an orgasm that’s went on for a long time?

  “Ryker!” I scream as somehow, he makes a deeper plunge, hitting a spot that sends my body into a different level of pleasure. It’s so intense, I grind my teeth as my head falls back and I writhe underneath him.

  “Oh, baby! Oh, baby!” The hot wet feeling, as his dick jerks inside of me, has me screaming with him. Our bodies are soaked in sweat as he’s finally given in to me.

  Ragged breaths, pounding hearts, and a slight sloshing sound is all I can hear as he keeps moving a bit as his cock shoots the last remnants of cum into me.

  He stays inside of me as he kisses my neck and holds his body up. I pull him to lean on me. I love the way it feels when his heart is pounding. I can feel it through my chest. I marvel at the way our hearts beat at different times and speeds.

  “Ryker, that was off the charts.”

  A gentle bite on my earlobe makes me moan. “You liked that, did you? My naughty girl.”

  My moan answers him. “You fuck like a pro.”

  “So do you,” he whispers. “And I’m about to make you mine in name too. Mrs. Crawford. Mrs. Ryker Crawford.”

&nbs
p; My breathing starts to calm as does my heart and the sound him saying the words I never dreamt I’d hear have tears stinging the backs of my eyes. “I’m going to be your wife. I’m going to go to Mars as your wife. It’s not a thing I thought I’d ever decide to do. Not in a million years.”

  Soft kisses are trailed down my neck then over my cheek. His dark eyes catch mine. “Just because you don’t imagine something, doesn’t mean it can’t happen. You’re about to be my wife. The mother of my children. The first lady of Mars.”

  I have to laugh at his over the top way of thinking. “You know, Ryker, things will be very different there. There will be no one to enforce anything. That’s scary.”

  He moves off to the side of me then moves his hand to rest on my stomach. “I’m not worried about that at all.”

  “Honestly, you don’t seem to be worried about anything that has to do with leaving this world to go to another one.”

  “Because I’m not worried about anything. I’m excited and quite frankly, now that I’ll have you with me, I can’t wait to go.”

  Closing my eyes, I have to take a few deep breaths before I go on, “Ryker, I’m scared about so many things. The weather, for one.”

  “It’s colder there. Okay, we know that. And there are people working on making clothing that’s not so bulky. They’re coming up with materials and they’re testing them in the Antarctic. Don’t worry about that at all.”

  “We have no idea if our temporary facilitates will hold up if a wind storm pops up,” I say as I pull the blanket up to cover me as a shiver has run through me with all of my fears.

  “Our ship will be there to shield us from any bad storms.”

  “And what about breathing? What if the air is too thin for us to get adequate oxygen?”

  He leans up on his elbow to look down at me. “We will acclimate to the air, the same way we’ve done here, on Earth. You know the air is thinner at higher altitudes and people have adapted.”

  With a huff, I say, “Is there no worry I have that you don’t have an answer for?”

  He shakes his head. “No.”

  “At least you’re honest.” I have to laugh as he looks at me through his massive beard. “That hair is getting cut tomorrow too. Right along with that beard.”

  His brows raise then he rubs his thick beard over my cheek, making me laugh as it tickles. “You don’t want to marry a caveman, Gia?”

  I laugh as I push him back. “Stop! That tickles. And no, I don’t want to marry a caveman!”

  He stops rubbing his beard on my face and kisses the tip of my nose. “Okay, I’ll get all prettied up for you, baby. Anything you want, you got it.”

  “Anything?” I ask as my mind starts working.

  “Anything,” he tells me then his lips touch mine and I melt with his light kiss. “I’ll do anything for you, Gia.”

  “I’ll have to think on what else I want you to do for me,” I say as I snuggle into his wide chest.

  He lies down and cradles me in his arms. “Would you do anything for me?”

  “Like what?”

  “Like anything.”

  “Um, I’m not as free-spirited as you are. So, if it’s within reason then I will do most anything for you.”

  “Would you walk through fire for me?” he asks.

  “If there’s a fire and you’re on the opposite side of it…”

  He places his finger on my lip. “You know what I mean. I need to know before we do all this. Would you kill for me? Would you die for me? Would you do all you had to for me? Because I would for you.”

  Blinking back tears, I find my heart swelling. “I would. I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone. And I would do all those things for you. You don’t have to worry about my commitment to you. I already am committed, now all we need is the paper to prove it. I wouldn’t go to Mars for anyone else. That’s the truth.”

  His eyes go a little glassy as he leans over and kisses me. “I know you wouldn’t. I love you. We’re going to make big changes, you and I.”

  “We are, aren’t we?”

  With one more kiss, he makes the fear in me subside. How does he do it?

  Part 8 - The Redemption

  GIA

  Lilacs and Gardenias tied into small bouquets, make a scent that has me feeling calm. “You look amazing,” my sister, Fancy, tells me as she comes into the dressing room.

  “I feel amazing. I can’t believe this is happening. It seems fast and insanely slow at the same time. Such an odd feeling.” I look at my reflection in the long mirror that’s surrounded with lights.

  Handing me a glass of white wine, my sister, Nancy, looks in the mirror too, adjusting the blue ribbon in her dark hair. “It got messed up when I walked to the car to get the wine. The wind’s terrible today.”

  “At least this is inside,” Fancy says as she pours herself a glass. “A toast, ladies.”

  I take my glass, as does Nancy, to meet our sister in the middle of the dressing room. “Don’t make me cry, Fancy,” I warn her.

  Her smile does nothing to convey to me that she’ll keep her sentiment short and sweet, instead of long and sappy. “Not to worry, baby sister. Now, let’s raise our glasses to adding another member to our ever-growing family.” She pats Nancy’s bulging tummy. “Along with the newest baby to enter our family, Ryker Crawford will be joining us. Thanks to you, Gia, finding that man has meant great things for us all. I want to wish you many years of happiness with the man who has brought you back to us. You had been gone for a while and we love having the old you back.”

  Nancy takes over, as often happens when the twins have something to say, “To you, Gia. The savior of the family!” She taps her glass to mine then so does Fancy.

  I find myself near tears and the things they said weren’t even remotely sad. “Why do I feel like crying? Did you two feel this way?”

  They laugh and hug me, then Nancy hands me a handkerchief. “It’s nerves, honey. You’re completely normal in that aspect.”

  I dab at my tears, so they don’t go cascading down my cheeks, ruining my make-up. “I’ve felt so calm up until now.”

  Fancy hugs me then hands me over to Nancy who takes over the hug. The door opens and Mom comes in, taking me next. “Oh, my baby girl.”

  “Mom, please don’t say anything to make me cry anymore.” I sniffle.

  “Now, why would I do such a thing?” she asks me then lets me go. “Your father is talking to your young man right now. Giving him the speech he gave your brothers-in-law on their wedding days.”

  “Oh, Lord,” I say as I go and take a seat. “Why, Mom?”

  “It’s his way of making sure the men who marry his daughters know what he expects out of them. I think it bonds them all. Ryker will be a part of the pack now.”

  Nancy’s beams as she adds, “My hubby likes him a lot. They had a lot of fun at the bachelor party.”

  “That’s what my husband said too,” Fancy says as she puts a necklace around our mother’s neck. “Gia bought these for us, so we’ll all match.”

  Mom’s hand goes to the pendant that’s dangling from the platinum chain. “Are these real diamonds and sapphires?”

  “They are.” I gesture to the earrings in the box on the vanity. “And don’t forget to put the matching earrings on too. Those are to be kept forever and handed down, you guys. I don’t like to talk about price but those cost me a pretty penny. I expect you all to do the right thing with them. I’d like to see my nieces wearing them on their special occasions.”

  “How can you do that?” Nancy asks me with a frown. “You’re going with him to Mars.”

  “He’s working on figuring out how we can make trips back and forth. Who knows? Maybe one day you all will decide to make a visit to us.”

  Mom laughs as she shakes her head. “Not me! Not ever! I’m afraid of heights. I don’t know how I’d feel about looking out a window and seeing nothing but space.”

  “Nonsense, Mom. You ride in the jet. You’d d
o just fine.” I get up and stand next to her and look at all of us in the mirror. “We all clean up, nicely, don’t we?”

  With a sigh, Mom says, “You three are my pride and joy. Gia, you have to start your family soon. I want to get to see those grandkids for a while before you take them away from us.”

  My heart aches with her words. “It’s not a thing I really want to do. I wish like hell there was an easier way to do something like start life on a new planet while still being able to see the ones you love.”

  “Don’t go,” Mom says as she takes my hand. “Talk Ryker into staying here. You can do that. He loves you like crazy. He’ll do it for you.”

  “Mom, he’s so committed to going. You have no idea. He was so lit up the entire six months we were in the dome. He was born to do this. I swear he was. It wouldn’t be fair to marry him then peck at him about not going. I know it’ll be hard but I have to go with him.”

  Mom nods and looks sad, making me feel sad too. “I know.”

  Fancy hands Mom a glass of wine too. “Drink this and let’s not talk about things that are in the future. By the way, Doug and I have talked about going too.”

  Mom’s eyes nearly pop out of her head and she chokes on the wine she was taking a sip of. I pat her on the back as Nancy takes the glass before she spills it. “No! No, Fancy! I take care of your kids. I love them like they’re my very own.”

  “Oh, we wouldn’t go until the youngest is out of college, Mom. Not to worry about that,” Fancy assures her.

  Mom doesn’t look reassured. “What if you two change your mind and do take off before that?”

  “We won’t,” she says with a shake of her head. “Neither of us feel that it’s right to take a child to another world. They should be allowed to make their own decision about that.”

  I sit back down, in silence. That must mean she thinks Ryker and I are bad people for taking our kids to Mars!

  Nancy catches my expression. “Gia, you are your own person. You and Ryker are allowed to make your own parenting decisions. I can see it written all over your face. You think we’ll judge you. We won’t.”