by Viola Grace
“Welcome to my bachelor quarters, hereafter named the date-night chamber.” He smiled, and while he directed her toward his bed, the music in her mind played a song that he moved to. His armour came off in clattering pieces, and when he was free of them, wearing nothing but snug fabric trousers and a tight shirt, he pulled her into his arms.
They danced to the song in her mind, and he kissed her, peeling off the jewellery that was her mark of rank and position.
She should have been panicked, should have been frightened, but there were no social repercussions here, and she already knew his touch. When his hands skimmed her back, she arched toward him, pressing her breasts against his chest.
His ease with bending down to kiss her for so long was made suddenly clear when she realized that her feet hadn’t been touching the ground for quite some time.
Her tongue duelled with his, and she threaded her fingers through his hair, revelling in the rising heat in her limbs.
Her skirt kept her from wrapping her legs around his, but she desperately wanted to.
She kicked off her shoes, and as they clattered to the floor, the music in her mind took on a heady beat. Her feet felt the firm surface of the bed underneath, and he let her go for a moment. With smooth moves, he lifted the gown up and over her head.
Her uniform didn’t come with undergarments, so she wanted to lunge at him to steal his body heat. He was exceptionally warm.
Jill felt the slick, wet warmth between her thighs, and she was terrified to move. If she moved, there might be more moisture or her knees might give way. She had no idea what was going to happen next.
He stripped off his clothing and stared at her. She returned the favour.
Blue and grey moved across him in waves and blended on his extremities. It was a fascinating colour pattern, and the muscles that it delineated made her fingers curl, as they wanted to touch, stroke and learn.
His erection was pointed, had drops of pearly liquid emanating from it and seemed to be getting larger as she watched. It was only when Rimash’s hands were on her, easing her to the bed, that she focused on the fact that he was right in front of her.
“I don’t have a lot of practice at this.”
He smiled apologetically. “And I have been waiting for this moment for a very long time. It might be over before we both know it.”
She eased her thighs apart and closed her eyes, waiting.
When his mouth covered her sex and his tongue undulated inside, her eyes snapped open wide and her breath rushed out of her lungs.
Tension so intense she thought she would snap wound tight inside her. When Jill was positive she couldn’t stand anymore, he pulled away.
The sound that came out of her throat was a soft mewl that cut short when he fitted his cock to her and eased forward. The flared point of his erection made its way into her and the thick column widened her. Each sensation caused a riot and the focus was her clit.
When he was fully inside her and he began to thrust and withdraw, he put his thumb on her clit and pressed while using his other hand to support his weight. It was considerate and gave her another lovely view.
The full sensation coupled with the circling of his thumb increased her breathing until a high wail exited her throat and she arched against him.
He bucked against her, and his groan was the answer to the sound of her release.
Rimash slowly lowered himself onto her, his heart beating a heavy pounding that tripped until it matched the slowing beat of her own heart.
He whispered against her lips. “I dreamed of you.”
“I dreamed of you, too.” She nudged his lips with hers.
He smiled, and he slowly moved his hips, keeping him inside her, the earlier tight friction now a slickly eased passage.
Jill sighed and stroked her hands down his torso. “How much longer do we have?”
“Two hours. I say we spend one here and then go downstairs and play with the baby.” He rubbed his nose against hers.
The playful act took her aback, but now that the dark seduction was gone, it was time for fun. She could enjoy a little fun.
Chapter Nine
Laughter and silliness was just the right way to leave their first encounter. It certainly kept her from trying to seek out the contract that he had alluded to when he had said that he dreamed of her.
If he had dreamed of her, he had known about her, and if he had known, then her assignment here and instalment as the Contract Archive was not a coincidence. She had been summoned here for the purpose of being Rimash’s mate.
She wasn’t complaining, but she hated surprises.
Laughter ran through her mind with the bright notes of the Archive. Apparently, while she couldn’t find the contract, she had found their plan.
When he flipped her to her belly and pulled her back against him. She gasped as he slid into her swollen flesh again, and when he started playful nips on her shoulders, she found that her arousal doubled and then tripled in rapid succession.
The small bites of his sharp teeth scratched the skin, but she backed into the bites with enjoyment. The moment that his thrusts drove her head down into the bedding, he leaned forward and his bite got less playful and far more deliberate.
She groaned and shrieked, pinned at shoulder and sex by him. His wings covered them and shielded them from the night around them.
Jill relaxed and listened to her body. The pulse of her channel, throb of her shoulder, ache in her thighs and shaking in her arms. Sex was definitely a workout.
He kissed her shoulder and licked the bite softly. “I should have warned you.”
“Yup. Not covered in the Drai briefings. Not much is, really.”
“You can ask me anything.”
“Did you really get bigger after you came?”
He chuckled and eased out of her. “No, you simply had increased blood flow in the area, so it became very tight, very fast.”
“Fair enough. I guess that that just happens normally during sex.”
“I believe I bring something extra to the table.”
She looked around with a dazed feeling. “Are we on a table?”
He chuckled, “No, dear heart. I think you will feel better after a shower.”
“Probably. Do you know where I left my motor skills? They appear to have deserted me.”
“I will help and help you dress. Imjay awaits.”
She nodded and let him help. He scooped her up and carried her into a shower that was obviously designed for him. Sprays of water struck her from all exposed sides as he slicked his hands with soap and ran them over her. When her breasts and the throbbing juncture of her thighs were clean, he turned her toward him and washed her back with long strokes of his wide hands. She sighed and leaned her head against his chest, letting him take care of her.
She tilted her head upward and smiled. “I am not rushing you, but would you show me your beast form?”
He frowned. “Are you sure?”
Jill nodded. “I am a big fan of finishing contracts. If this is the final phase, I am up for it.”
“It isn’t final, it is just the beginning.”
“Then, show me the beginning.” She pressed a kiss to his chest and slowly winked.
The rest of the shower was a whirl of water in Rimash’s eagerness to show her everything.
When she was back in her dress with her headgear in place, he took her to the upper terrace and held her hands.
“Are you sure?”
She smiled and lifted his hands to her lips. She kissed each in turn. “You are the one standing naked in the cooling wind. Are you sure?”
He laughed, kissed her, released her hands and jumped off the roof.
A wave of wind with the scent of the ocean shot up from the edge of the tower. Jill walked to the edge and watched the undulating body of a huge ocean-coloured Asian dragon.
This would not have been her first guess. His wings were
barely visible on his body; he was simply a long, undulating body of muscle and shining scales.
He was beautiful, and the light of the city and stars glowed and gleamed against his body.
The huge head slowly rose above the edge of the tower, and he looked at her with one large eye while his body undulated slowly.
“You are lovely in the light of the stars.”
She blinked. “So, you can speak to me in that form?”
He undulated slowly. “Of course.”
“Well, you are stunning.”
“Would you care for a ride?”
“It is tempting, but I wish to return to Imjay.” She smiled.
His head bobbed. “There is a world out there to experience, and I am the fastest mode of transport on the planet.”
She grinned. “Stop showing off and get down here so I can hold my daughter.”
He rose higher in the air and showed her that he actually surrounded the entire tower and halfway around again. She was standing in the coil as he rose above her, and her hair whipped wildly as he shifted back into his normal nakedness.
As he walked to her again, she smiled. “I approve of your beast.”
His shoulders relaxed, and he hugged her. “I approve of everything about you.”
Jill grinned. “I guessed that. Come on, I want to tell Imjay about my day.”
“All of it?” He wagged his eyebrows.
“The parts she needs to know. I am Mom, you are Dad and Lali will take care of her while a planet watches over her.”
“It is an excellent story.” He kissed her hands and led her back to the steps that would take them down a level. He got dressed and showed her the hidden panel to the lift that went down.
As they entered the lift that would take them down to their living quarters, she leaned against him. “Yes, and it is just getting started.”
Two weeks later, Jill faced the two families that were laying claim to her daughter.
She would have been nervous if she hadn’t felt the Great Archive in the room and had Rimash at her side.
The courtroom was seldom used on the world of the Archive, but today, it was in action.
Jill had stood with Imjay in her sling throughout the entire claim process, and finally, it was her turn to speak.
She let Imjay hold her finger as she made her own claim to the child, including everything that could sway the balance. Each statement of fact caused the smugness of the Selna and the Nyal to fade.
The judge finally stood and inclined its heads to all participants. “Having weighed all the testimony, it is found that Imjillema Imbri Rimash is the daughter of Jillema Ahamad and Rimash of the Drai, as well as a citizen of the Great Archive. It shall be recorded and registered as such. Anyone found attempting to circumvent this ruling shall be committing an act of war against the Great Archive and will be subject to any punishments it chooses to levy.”
The two-headed judge inclined its heads toward her and the baby. “Your claim is upheld. Enjoy your daughter.”
“Thank you, Judge.”
Rimash put his arm around her, and he led her out of the courtroom. He whispered, “Take her home. I will make sure that the others leave.”
“Thanks, love. Don’t forget, it is Laliette’s birthday. We are having a party tonight.”
“I will be there.” He grinned.
She left through the security doors, and the guards made sure she wasn’t followed.
Imjay squirmed, so Jill lifted her to her shoulder as they entered the secure shuttle. “You were a very good girl, Imjay.”
Imjay smiled and waved her hands as she was held in a more upright position. She was growing fast. Exponentially fast. The doctors at the med centre said that her body was growing to species standards; it was just doing it very quickly. Her brain was developing even faster.
“Mama.”
Jill nearly dropped her.
Imjay was sucking her fist and smiling. “Mama.”
“Imjay.”
The baby beamed. “Me.”
Their shuttle was whisking through the underground tunnels and Jill wanted nothing more than to have a witness to her daughter’s words.
Five minutes later, they had crossed half a continent at ridiculous speeds and were pulling in to the secure station near their home.
Jill lifted Imjay high against her chest and walked the three blocks to their home, stepping into the lift and heading for their place.
Laliette was waiting for them. “So?”
“She’s ours. How long has she been talking?”
Lali blinked. “What?”
Imjay waved her arms and squawked. “Mommy, Me!”
Jill pointed at the baby in her arms. “That.”
Lali grinned. “That is new. Congratulations on the custody.”
“Thank you. It is a load off my mind knowing that Rimash is legally allowed to kill anyone who tries to take her.” It was a statement she had never considered until she had begun to delve into some of the contracts and what could happen to a child given to either of those species. It was not an outcome she wanted for her daughter.
Imjay would have the chance to choose, she would have a chance to be free, and she would have access to the best education in the known universe. It wasn’t a bad legacy to give to a child.
The accelerated development would be something they had to keep track of, but fortunately, they were in the perfect spot to keep her developing mind stimulated.
After feeding and changing the baby, Lali put her down for a nap. Jill changed into casual clothing and went to her terminal, ordering the presents that she had had constructed for Lali the previous week.
When the delivery stations started humming, Jill opened the first of the units that decorated the main dining room with sparkly ribbons along the ceiling.
The presents arrived and were put in the centre of the table, a special Driar festival meal had been ordered, and Jill had ordered the equivalent for her and Rimash.
When Rimash arrived, he was a little battered, but he had grim triumph in his expression. “They are gone.”
She smiled and walked up to hug him. “Thank you.”
When she looked up at him, he grinned. “They had to leave in one ship. I ate the other one. It drove the point home.”
She laughed and touched his cheek in a caress she was used to when he was in his on-duty armour. “Well done. The party is ready. Lali is in her room studying.”
“And now our little family is official. I feel like celebrating.” His eyes heated in a familiar way.
“No celebrating until after the party.”
A happy squeal came from Imjay’s room.
Jill gave him an arch look. “She has started talking.”
He didn’t have a chance to ask. The squeals of, “Daddy, daddy, daddy, daddy,” were hard to ignore.
Rimash was in the baby’s room in a moment, and he was lifting her up and out of her little bed. She was waving the small stuffed dragon while she chanted, “Daddy, daddy, daddy.”
Jill looked at her focus and started snickering.
Rimash glared at her as he cuddled their daughter against his chest. “Not funny.”
“You gave her the toy. I just used it as an example when I was explaining how you can fly. I had no idea she was listening.”
Imjay patted his metal chest and chortled. “Daddy, daddy.”
Rimash’s eyes filled with moisture, and he sucked in a deep breath. “That is surprisingly touching.”
Jill fought her own tears.
Suddenly, Imjay perked up and chirped, “Me, memememememememmeme.”
Rimash looked down with a smile. “And the moment is gone.”
Jill took the baby and grinned. “Go and change for the party. We will be here when you are ready.”
Lali was shocked by the party, moved to tears and deluged by the waves of presents that Jill had arranged. The pads were links t
o a variety of archives that included a holographic learning element. Their quarters were equipped for the projection, so Lali could learn more efficiently while watching Imjay.
It was another step in the evolution of their family, and Jill enjoyed watching the faces around her as they made their own traditions and changed to match the needs of their grouping.
With Rimash at her side, she felt pretty confident that they could meet whatever was coming their way.
Epilogue
With her white hair curled in an elaborate coronet, Imjay led the new students through the Learning Annex of the Great Archive.
“This is a new structure and a pet project of the Master Archivist. In an effort to help students learn their areas of focus, representations of the entire Great Archive are found in these walls.” Imjay was dressed in the soft-white beaded gown of the Archive and wearing the uniform felt peculiarly right.
“Any questions so far?”
One of the students raised her hand.
“Yes?”
“I have heard that there is a Drai on the Great Archive. How does that work?”
Imjay smiled. “The Great Archive gave him a territory in exchange for assistance in securing this world. That territory includes the building we are standing in.”
A male, swathed in fabric with only golden eyes showing, raised his hand.
“Yes?”
“Are you mated?”
Imjay laughed. After five decades, she was used to the question. She had grown fast, but she had never experienced the side effects of either of her genetic originators. She didn’t have to mate or go insane. She enjoyed her life as a single woman with the informational wonderland surrounding her day by day.
“I am not.”
The man’s eyes focused on her with intensity. “Why not?”
She grinned. “I am waiting for a man just like my father.”
As if summoned by her comments, the Master Archivist and the Security Master entered the space for their part of the introduction lecture.
Imjay walked over to them, hugged her mother and kissed her cheek and then did the same to her father.