I filled with starlight going supernova, exploding fit to shake the cosmos. Wave after wave poured out of my body, shivering all of creation.
A voice spoke in my ear, intense and inexorable. “Again. Do it again,” it insisted.
Since the sensations that had taken me over were still there, still filling me and caressing me and tormenting me, it didn’t take long to obey. Another shattering cataclysm hit, twisting my insides like pretzels. Then I unraveled, losing myself in gorgeous release that left me limp.
A moment later Weln groaned and ground hard against me. His head fell back, his eyes squeezed tightly shut. His cocks pulsed, releasing delight inside my body, filling me up with his ecstasy.
“That’s good,” Esak whispered. His fingers stilled on my hot button. “That’s very good.”
Weln shuddered. He sagged a little, his head drooping down, his lips curving into a satisfied smile. A few more small pulses, and the Imdiko pulled free.
“Now your mouth on me, Shalia,” Esak said. “Your ass in the air for Dusa’s enjoyment.”
I could hardly move, I was so relaxed from my orgasms. Dusa had to help me raise up and crouch between Esak’s legs.
I hadn’t been in the mindset to disobey or even question anything I’d been told to do, but worry for Esak surfaced as I looked up his body to meet his heavy-lidded gaze. “Are you sure? You’re supposed to be careful.”
“I am going to lay here. I will be quite still as you suck me to climax,” he said.
“I will keep an eye on him,” Weln assured me.
“Give him your mouth,” Dusa said, wedging thick thighs between mine. “Show him how happy you are that he is still with us.”
I questioned no further. I was elated Esak remained among the living and that I could pleasure him. My hands closed over the bases of his cocks and I set about demonstrating my gratitude that he still lived.
His hands stroked through my hair as I kissed, licked, and sucked at his hot flesh. Meanwhile, Dusa speared me, his larger cock filling my ass delightfully full, his smaller one rubbing that special place inside my pussy. I moaned with delight as I greedily drank in Esak’s lubricating juices. I looked up from time to time to see my battered but beautiful Nobek watching me. His lips were parted and wet, his chest moving quickly as I fellated him.
I knew Weln watched us and I wondered which sight he enjoyed more: Esak’s cocks disappearing between my lips or Dusa’s cocks plumbing my ass and pussy. Knowing I was on display made me extra aware of how I pleasured Esak. I used lips, teeth, and tongue in every way I could think of to make the Nobek groan and pant. His legs jerked on either side of me in reaction. Esak’s growing excitement seemed to feed Dusa’s as he pumped harder and harder, his groin making loud slapping sounds against my ass. I could hear him gasping too.
They went at the same time. Dusa jerked frantically as Esak arched against the mattress. That exotic mixture of Kalquorian salty-spicy-sweetness poured into my mouth in thick, creamy expulsions. I greedily swallowed every drop I was offered.
Weln’s expression assured me he’d been impressed with my performance as we carefully separated. While he and Dusa argued which of them would share the small bed with me and Esak, I cuddled with the injured Nobek.
“Thank you,” Esak whispered. “For indulging my ordering you around and for the oral gift.”
I smiled at him, so very happy he was here with the rest of us. “Don’t ask me why, but I enjoy being told what to do. No thanks required.”
He grinned back. “I know you like it, but not many admit to such things. It takes a lot of strength to give yourself up like that. I’m glad I got the chance – I’m glad I’ve had the opportunity to know someone like you.”
He swallowed hard. The fact we were soon to be separated was not lost on Esak, and he lowered that fierce Nobek pride for a split second to show me how much it affected him. I kissed him in thanks for the gift of rare vulnerability.
Dusa finally turned dominating Dramok on Weln, making the Imdiko lie in the bed with me and Esak. Dusa sat in one chair, putting his feet up on another. “That doesn’t look comfortable,” I told him.
“Everyone be quiet and go to sleep,” he ordered, though he smiled at us. “I decide where I’m comfortable and who sleeps where. No more arguments.”
I certainly didn’t want to fight with any of them. Not when we were coming close to the end. So I was a good little Shalia. I shut up and snuggled between Nobek and Imdiko, enjoying the warmth of the two bodies settling against mine. Though it wasn’t very late, I think I was asleep only seconds afterward.
October 23
Aw, isn’t this sweet? I finally have a real friend … I think. I hope.
This all started as I headed for Medical to see how Mom was doing. I’d opted to walk this morning instead of taking the shuttle. The heat had fled before the first chill of autumn, and I was enjoying the crisp air. I was so busy concentrating on how good it felt not to sweat that I didn’t notice the perky blonde hurrying to catch up to me until she was practically in my face.
She was cute as a button with her shoulder-length hair, blue eyes, and pert little nose. Her cherub’s face wore a big smile. I judged her to be about my age. She was dressed for the cooler temperatures with a light woolen coat, corduroy trousers, and ankle boots.
When she saw I was aware of her, her smile grew into an outright beam. She started talking right away.
“Shalia Monroe, right? You hang out with a couple of Kalquorians named Dusa and Esak, right? And the commander of this peanut gallery, that big stern Nang? I’m Candy Dixon. Can I walk with you? Do you mind?”
It took me a couple of moments to catch up to the rapid-fire questions she shot at me. By the time I’d recovered, Candy was already falling in step, bouncing along next to me.
“You’re going to Kalquor too, right? Please say you are. If you are, we can compare notes, stick together, keep an eye out for each other. I’m a terrible judge of character and need someone to make sure I don’t clan with a bunch of losers. Not that I’m talking about clanning for money or any of that kind of stuff. I mean I want good men, men who don’t act like jerks and treat a woman like dirt. Nice guys. You know?”
“Yes,” I managed. The little blond tornado had blown every sensible thing out of my head. Stupidly, I said, “You’re name is Candy?”
She rolled her eyes theatrically. “Yes, my dad said I was just the sweetest thing ever, so he insisted. Mom could never tell him no on anything, so Candy it was. I like your name better. Shalia. So pretty. It just rolls off the tongue. It almost sounds musical.”
“Thanks.” I finally figured out how to be a part of the conversation. “Have you been here long?”
“About a month, the same as you, right? I think you got here a little ahead of me. You know, you’re like my hero. I couldn’t get up the guts to choose Kalquor until I heard about you working with the aliens.”
“You’re going to join a clan?” I sounded like the dullest tool in the shed, but Candy really was hard to keep up with. Her statements just piled on one another in her breathless, happy voice.
“Yeah. You know, people said nasty things about you, but I think you’re doing fine. I was so pissed off when those bitches kidnapped your mom. I couldn’t believe that! Most people thought that was pretty low, even if they didn’t like you. Now they’re getting more understanding. They’re seeing the Kalquorians aren’t really bogeymen and starting to relax a little. So here I am, being as brave as you and saying, yes, I like Kalquorians. I want to join a clan, and I don’t care how anyone judges me for it!”
The woman was a conversational steamroller. Apparently Candy was well aware of how she presented herself, because she started laughing.
“Shalia, I am an absolute motor mouth, so feel free to interrupt me when I get going. I mean to say one thing, and then everything in my head just kind of blurts out right along with it. Don’t you feel sorry for the men who are going to end up with me? Jesus, Mohammed
, and Moses, I am going to be the last woman to find her clan because I’m going to open my mouth and they’ll all run away.”
I had to laugh. I wanted to be suspicious of Candy, but she was just too funny and adorable to invoke my cynical side. She laughed right along with me.
“You could take a breath now and again,” I said. “At least you’re upbeat.”
“Oh, I’ve cried an ocean since Armageddon. Two oceans. I think I went a little crazy for a while. Hiding and starving and scared of what was going to happen next … well, who wouldn’t go insane? I was alone.” Candy’s sunny disposition faltered for a moment. “All alone with no one to talk to.”
I felt sympathy for her. At least I’d had Mom. “What happened to your family?”
“They lived in Atlanta. My brother and two sisters too.” Candy blinked hard. “There aren’t even any bodies to bury and say goodbye to.” She looked at me. “It was really our own bombs that went off?”
“Yeah.” The old guilt hit me. I’d known but I hadn’t told, leaving people like Candy to mourn.
“Bastards. Well, one nice thing; Holy Leader Copeland got a good shock when he found himself in Hell.” Candy actually seemed cheered by the thought. The bounce returned to her step. “Where are you off to?”
“Medical. My mother had a stroke.” I was glad for the change of subject.
“Oh no!” Candy took my arm and pulled close, like an old, dear confidante. “I’m so sorry, Shalia. A stroke after what she went through with that whole abduction thing! Will she be all right?”
“We think so. Once she gets to Kalquor and sees their doctors, they hope to have her back to her old self.”
“See? You and I are right to like them.” Candy looked around and whispered to me, “Those Kalquorians are so gorgeous. I feel like a freak, but I don’t care. The idea of being intimate with one of those big, strong men has got me just crazy! Have you … you know?”
Then her mouth flew open, and she went a deep shade of pink. “Oh, I am so sorry! That is none of my business. Tell me to shut up, Shalia. Don’t let me talk like that!”
I was laughing again. Candy was just so utterly, wonderfully ridiculous. I couldn’t help but want to shock her, just to see how she would react. “As a matter of fact, I have been with them. I was with three of them just last night.”
Candy’s mouth was so wide open, a manhole would have been jealous. She shrieked and jumped up and down, jerking my arm as she did. “No! Were you really? Are they amazing or is it scary? Does it hurt? You have to tell me. I’m still a virgin.”
Thank goodness no one was around to hear her carrying on like that. “Candy, quiet down! Do you want everyone to hang us for being whores?”
She clapped her hand over her mouth and looked around. “Sorry,” she whispered. “But I really want to know what it’s like. My mom explained it all to me, in private of course. She said it wasn’t at all like what we were told by the nuns. That it wasn’t bad and ugly. That it was very good when a man loved you. She said I should look forward to sex, not be afraid of it.”
“She was right, as long as you’re with the right man.”
“Or men.” Candy giggled. “Three of them? Wow, that’s amazing.” She looked at me with something like awe. “Not at the same time, though. I mean, where would you put them all?”
I lost it then. I stopped right there on the path and simply howled until tears flowed down my cheeks. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard my entire life. It was then that I knew I wanted Candy for my friend.
She stood there, grinning at me while I bent over double with the hilarity of the whole thing. Finally I was able to continue on. Still gasping for breath, I looped my arm back in hers and tugged her down the path.
I said, “Candy, it’s even more complicated than just the fact there are three men. I have so much to tell you about sex with Kalquorians.”
We decided we’re going to get together for a long talk as soon as I feel comfortable with Mom’s progress. I look forward to it.
October 23, later
Damn, what a day. Mom woke from a nap, looked at me sitting next to her, and started to cry.
I was leaning over her in an instant. “Mom? Mom, are you hurting?”
Her voice all slurry, she said, “No. No, Shalia. I’m so sad.”
“Why Mom? What’s wrong?”
“You’ve been such a good daughter, Shalia. I don’t deserve you.”
It took a few seconds for me to decipher what she was saying, because she was still having trouble talking. Then I realized that Mom was lucid. The dementia had receded, leaving me with depressed Eve.
“Don’t be silly, Mom. You know I love you.”
“I know, but I’ve been so mean so many times. I don’t want to be. I love you, Shalia. I want to be a good mother.”
Usually when she’s like this, it’s time to hide any pills in the house along with the sharp objects. But Mom couldn’t move and couldn’t act on her overwhelming guilt. Is it wrong that I was kind of grateful for the stroke that was keeping her safe from herself? Probably.
I think she bawled for a good five minutes, apologizing to me all the time. She begged me to tell her it wasn’t too late for us to repair our relationship. As all the times before, it was heartbreaking. But before, I’d had no real hope she would get better enough for us to be a real mother and daughter.
Now there is Kalquor. No guarantees, but a strong ‘maybe’ I will finally get the mother I am supposed to have. When she slipped back into her dementia state, I hung onto that hope. They can make her better. They can erase the effects of the stroke, reverse the dementia, remove her bipolar illness.
It sounds like a tall order. I know it some or all of it might not happen. But there’s a chance, and that’s more than we had before.
Jeez, I need my life to not be so complicated. Can I get a break, please?
October 26
I haven’t written in a few days. I am still trying to wrap my head around what is happening.
First the good news: Esak is on his feet. He’s still not allowed to work, but he’s getting better fast. Too fast, it turns out. Because once Medical clears it, he and Dusa are leaving. Yes, leaving.
Two nights ago I went to their dorm to visit after sitting with Mom again. When I got to their room I found Weln sitting on the edge of Dusa and Esak’s bed, his expression one of profound shock. Dusa sat on one side of him, with his arm wrapped around the Imdiko’s waist, looking grim. Esak lay glaring up at the ceiling as if it had done something to seriously piss him off. To say the room was filled with tension would be putting it lightly.
“Whatever it is, I don’t want to know,” I said. “Dad took me off the anti-depressants, so you’re all ordered to smile for Shalia.”
Dusa squeezed Weln, and then let him go to stand and wrap his arms around me. “My sweet, sweet, Earther,” he sighed.
If all the sorrows in the world could be contained in one sound, it would have been in Dusa’s sigh. Now I really didn’t want to know what was wrong. Too bad I hardly ever get my way.
“We’ve been transferred, Shalia. Esak and I are being sent to the Atlanta rescue site to work.”
“What? When?” I stared into Dusa’s face.
“As soon as possible. Even though he won’t be able to work for a month, the doctors say Esak could be ready to make the move as early as next week.”
“Gurlucks,” Esak growled.
“Nobek.” Dusa’s tone was lightly disapproving. He sighed again. “I can’t say I’m not in agreement with you.”
“But the Academy is understaffed as it is,” I protested. “We need Esak here. I need you guys here.”
Dusa smiled a little at my words. “Atlanta is overwhelmed, and there are more people that need help in that location. You’re leaving in a few weeks anyway. It’s not like we didn’t know we would be separated.”
“Yeah, but – but this is too soon.” Tears began to prickle my eyes. “What about Weln?”
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“I have asked him to join my clan and he has accepted. Getting him transferred will not be an issue.”
“I’m not going right away.” The Imdiko’s voice was soft. “Not until after you and Matara Eve have left, Shalia.”
Dusa smiled. “Weln has agreed to stay and keep an eye out for you and your mother on this clan’s behalf.”
The look on Esak’s face was terrible, as if he was ready to be sick. “My Imdiko and Shalia left to fend for themselves here with attacks coming without warning? It’s not acceptable.”
Shalia's Diary Book 2 Page 8