by Cora Blu
Sadie Ochi Alexander sensed their absence throughout her body hours before the call reached her at work. A hollow void in her heart, life, and soul. Oh, she wasn’t a child. At thirty, she’d been semi on her own for years. Shared a Brownstone with her sister and held a decent job. Although trained as a nurse, she was hired to be both caregiver and maid. She worked the last seven years for a wonderful family out in Beacon heights. She took care of a banker, his wife, and a little boy five days a week, sometimes six, depending on what party they were throwing. Savannah Edwards was the stereotypical socialite. Unlike the company she kept, Mrs. Edwards knew the importance of Sadie having some time off to handle this wretched disfiguring of her life. Sadie requested two weeks leave and the way she felt, she could use two more.
Death of one parent held enough grief, but it was a double-fisted blow to the spine when a tragic accident hundreds of miles from home takes both parents at once. No chance to say I love you, or how much they meant to you. All you have is a sheriff standing at your front door forcing back the lump in his throat with thick audible swallows.
Well, Sadie Ochi Alexander’s day was a week ago today. Now, with the partially hidden sun suffocating the air with its heat and the swollen clouds bursting every thirty minutes making the grass wet and soggy, she and her sister had the dubious honor of burying their parents.
The funeral she never wanted to see arrived under the green tent protecting the side-by-side open burial plots and caskets, each covered in flowers. Her father's in all white carnations. Her mother's in pink.
Each step across the graveled path brought back every funeral they’d attended over the last twenty years. Varying headstones marked each location like addresses in the old neighborhood full of people she knew and loved.
Lord, this was depressing.
Sadie smoothed a hand down the black dress that came to her knees, the tips of her black pumps dusty on the toe from the gravel she’d have to clean tonight. These were her favorite. She toyed with the single strand of pearls resting on the underside of the collar of her dress. Her grandmother’s gift to her on her deathbed, and Sadie’s most prized possession.
“Honey, sleep downstairs in my apartment tonight,” her sister, Theresa, pleaded. “I hate the thought of you upstairs alone with this day on your mind. Please stay with me.”
Sadie fought not to crumble under the pity in Theresa’s warm eyes and relented to her just to appease her sister.
Years ago when they inherited the brownstone, Sadie claimed the upstairs apartment as it held the most sunlight. From the bedroom window, she had an unobstructed view of Salem Park. At night, the moon lit the tops of the trees down to the open expanse of lawn.
“Theresa, I’d rather be alone tonight.” Approaching Theresa’s car, Sadie opened the door to the old Ford, and placed her purse on the back seat. Heat from the closed up car rolled out in moist waves. Gripping the stick holding the program, she fanned her face, sweat trickling down her back. The rain had stopped, and the humidity rose, curling the edges of her hair. She watched the hive of well-wishers swarming her way to offer condolences. The part she didn’t care for were the fake smiles and hugs that lasted too long to be appropriate.
If one more person said it was a blessing for them to go together, Sadie would scream. The grimace of her compressed lips must have scared off the next round of comments.
It was time to go home and get ready for the guests. She loved her family, but they hadn’t given her a moment's rest since the accident and all she wanted was to lie down and cry. Sadie scooted in, got comfortable then settled back to let her mind stop spinning.
She waited for the tears. They never came. In her heart, resentment for the careless driver ate at her soul leaving her too upset to cry.
***
At the house, cars lined the curb down to the corner to wrap around the block. Inside, she worked off the heels, setting them on the stairs. Sadie slid her feet into her well-worn greenhouse shoes while tying on an apron, protecting her dress from the overflow of food covering the table. She straightened the lace tablecloth bunched up around the dishes and platters of food covering the dining room table. Collards, green beans, black-eyed peas, fried corn, cornbread, spaghetti, fried chicken, a small plate of ribs, and enough desserts to open a bakery. Sadie reclined along the wall to the back stairs. She’d fielded her last marital status question and headed up to her apartment. By nightfall everyone had gone, leaving behind an echo in the house.
She changed into comfortable, although well worn, shorts and a tank top. Grabbing a garbage bag, she helped Theresa restore the first floor to the immaculate apartment they’d left before the funeral this morning. Before the mourners arrived, with mounds of tissue and stories that were partially correct and half made up along the way.
Mosquitoes buzzed in the twilight. She grabbed the trash bag from Theresa, still in her suit. There was no point in her sister going when she’d already changed and was on her way out to hang the clothes. She sprinted into the alley beyond the brick shed. The metal can lid clanked on the cement after she dropped it to lift the two bags of trash. She slid the lid on the can. The waning evening light caught and held her attention. Tomorrow’s a new day full of possibilities for a fresh mental start.
The grass gave off its leftover raindrops to coat her bare feet as she ran in then grabbed the basket of clothes she’d washed to keep busy. Outside, she fished out a pillowcase from the basket. She gave it a hard snap then hooked one end of the line. The close line creaked as she secured the clothespin over the corner of the material. Momma would have gone crossed eyed knowing she hung clothes out at night. Out of nowhere she laughed, laughed hard from her stomach like a child. It progressively got louder and louder, then the tears streamed down her face. Her grip on the bag of pins weakened. The pieces of wood scattered over the grass mimicking the shattering of her heart.
Agony settled on her shoulders. They began to tremble, and her arms were suddenly heavy. Momma gave her those pillowcases when she moved out of their house years ago.
Around her in the backyard, crickets chirped, June bugs bounced off the screen door, lightning bugs dance in the air, and her quiet cries added another layer when an arm came around her waist. Sadie struggled against the hold, screaming into the hand now covering her mouth and eyes. The hand was enormous.
Her body prickled, with tiny bites of electricity coursing through her limbs. She caught a glimpse of the hand under the moonlight on her face. Impossible. It held a reddish-pink tinge to the skin. Warm breath coated her ear. Panic worked a second sheen of sweat over her body under her clothes.
“Let go,” she mumbled into his hand, and stiffened when his mouth touched her ear.
“You’re mine now.”
Terrified, Sadie struggled against the hold. A sizzling sensation ran over her skin as a lightheaded haze drew spots before her eyes. His unearthly deep voice filled her head.
“Sadie, I need you more.”
Chapter 3
Captain Aroc Farkus of the karuntee clan of moon dwellers, stationed on Sector Seven, studied the human female huddled in the corner of his gray sofa. Asleep, she appeared fragile and small, but he knew different. She’d struggled in his arms to free herself, hitting and scratching his face and chest. He’d have bruises on his legs for weeks.
She fought like an animal trapped in a cage once they were up here, before she passed out on the sofa. Impressed by her fight, he couldn’t take his eyes off her now. The last thing he wanted was to find her attractive or worse alluring. Dammit if she didn’t heat the blood rushing through his body headed for his cocks. He stepped out wide, letting the larger cock fall to the side.
Aroc raised his eyes to the sound of the doctor running the scanner over her forehead, taking her temperature to make certain she hadn’t run a fever when she passed out.
“Captain, don’t hesitate to contact me if anything changes. From her numbers—I’m basing them on my knowledge of your late wife, Katherine’s
, annual physical—this young lady will be okay. Her blood pressure’s a little high, but I suspect it would be under the circumstances.”
“I can handle it from here, Doctor.” His gaze settled on her flat belly under the T-shirt, a hint of her brown skin peeking out from the raised hem. He shot a look at the doctor. “And you’re certain she’s not pregnant?”
“No. The scanner would’ve picked up a second heartbeat. I’ll prescribe human vitamins and a birth control injection. I’ll perform a bio-scan; adjust the active ingredients so I don’t over dose her system.”
Katherine believed she couldn’t have children, the reason they never used protection. He’d ask Sadie once she came around if she needed any medicine.
The Doctor continued. “She may be on a prescription now. Humans are fragile. This one’s particularly attractive. You could find yourself mated again. No reason for you to remain alone, Captain.”
“She’s not my mate, Doctor. I won’t be having more children. She’s Norese’s caregiver,” he urged with the wave of his hand. “Write her out the prescription you had Katherine take and have them sent over immediately. We’ll leave soon and be away for a month.”
The doctor blinked rapidly, his mouth opening and closing before he focused his attention on Sadie. “I’ll leave you with your guest while I return to the medical bay. I don’t keep Katherine’s files on my device any longer.” The doctor gave Sadie’s shoulder a light squeeze then stepped away. “She’ll be cautious of her surroundings when she wakes; possibly combative. Be patient, Captain. She'll need your understanding.” The doctor patted a hand to the side of his medical bag. “I’ll send her vitamins shortly and pain killers. Humans are susceptible to headaches when they’re stressed.”
The doctor left, leaving behind a list of human ailments Sadie may experience. He scanned the list…constipation. He shuddered, setting the paper on the table The exam reminded him of the time Katherine suffered a common illness among her people, a cold. Hot, clammy, achy, and mucus ran from her nose constantly. It pained him to see her ill.
In front of the replicator panel, Aroc stole furtive glances at his guest, while making himself a hot cup of coffee and a new selection of snacks for Sadie to eat. The ones Katherine preferred. The tray of replicated items he’d thought she might eat remained untouched on the table. Condensation ran down the sides of the chilled, unopened bottle of the ale he added to the fresh meal.
Being seven feet tall, with wine-tinged skin, and retractable spikes down the length of his spine made humans edgy. The carpeted floors masked his footsteps across the room. At the wall, he peered out the window into the vast expanse of space. Down on Earth, he’d watched her for weeks.
One of his males spying on one of the men they suspected of transporting tainted fuel informed him of the maid that worked for Edwards. She visited his office at the bank several times a week running errands. They placed her under surveillance. Every day the reports came back clean. Sadie Ochi Alexander had worked for this family for seven years, helping raise the son. The family didn’t deserve Sadie.
He needed a female—not a wife—to help him raise his half-karuntee, half-human daughter. He’d keep Sadie indefinitely and see if she could help with his other problem, insomnia.
Up close, Sadie held a fierce elegance appealing to him in a way he thought long buried after his life mate died two years ago. Aroc Farkus took whatever he wanted. A family that stole from their government, in turn, from him, when he allowed their fuel to recycle on his bay would pay for their treachery.
The treaty between them allowed for the fuel exchange. Karuntee filtered it then sent back metal to use for their train cars. Edwards sent contaminated fuel to a rogue clan of karuntee living on the fringe of civility. That fuel, once recycled, they sold to the underwater world. Cutting off the treaty with the humans would slam the lid on all the work he’d put in with the marine king.
Becoming allies to the humans—he’d wrestled with the notions for months when they presented it to him. He’d put the benefits to his species before his dislike for the humans. However, making himself an enemy to the underwater species would kill all future endeavors. Many nights he went without sleep to establish a relationship with their king to share their fuel. He couldn’t chance severing that alliance.
“What are you? And what do you want from me?” Sadie’s strained voice roused him from thought.
“Your help. My name is Captain Aroc Farkus of the karuntian clan from the moon. You’re in my home in Sector Seven in outer space.”
He waited for her response to his words. She gasped, staring up at him. “Outer space… I don’t believe you.” Sadie cocked her head to the side. “What are you? Some weird magician with a picture of outer space taped to the outside of this window.” She rubbed her hands over her thighs left bare by the shorts she wore. “Your skin’s pink and,” she stuttered, “and you have a patch of hair growing on one shoulder, and I’m supposed to accept everything you say as gospel.”
“Gospel?” he repeated, confused.
“Truth, fact,” she told him with a wave of her hand, her fingers spread wide. “You know… undisputable information.”
He tipped his head back understanding her meaning. “Sadie, again I tell you, I’m a moon dweller. A karuntee. Most of my species live on space stations, adapting to more human comforts.” He gestured to the table and her tray of food. “I made you something to eat.”
She leaned forward, tentatively eyeing the platter of assorted goods. “What’s that on the left? I don’t recognize the meat.” She shot him a confused look, her eyes wide with fear. “Please tell me you're not into cannibalism?”
“Relax,” he spoke in a hushed tone, getting to his knees on the opposite side of the table and placing them at the same eye level. “I don’t eat humans, Sadie.” He moved the platter closer to the edge of the table facing her. “This, over here, is charnok and this is glacier protein; two favorites among my people.” Her mouth twisted into a grimace. Obviously she’d never tasted glacier protein, or she’d have devoured it by now. “Charnok’s a grain, similar to human wheat. Simmered in a salted broth, we eat it as a warm breakfast cereal. Norese likes it mixed with chopped moon peaches.”
Sadie tucked hair behind her ear, the motion raising the hem of her top, exposing a slice of light brown skin above her shorts. Both his cocks twitched. He hadn’t been attracted to a female since Katherine’s death two years ago. And he wouldn’t be now.
“Who’s Norese?” Sadie asked.
His reason for continuing after Katherine died. “My little female, ah, daughter.” Light filled her eyes at the mention of him having a child. When she said nothing, he continued. “And this, glacier protein, dried fish from Earth. Our beaches only sustain plant life.”
Sadie shot a glance toward the window then back to him. “I’m not hungry.” She untucked her warm brown legs, curvy and smooth. Aroc found the color alluring and wondered if he stroked a hand down her skin, would she moan or purr low in her throat. He shoved back the arousal growing within him. She wasn’t here for him, but Norese.
Their females were all the same visually, not much variation in their tone. Sadie’s brown skin he wanted to see under the flow of water in his shower. Play in her dark hair plastered around her oval shaped face. Taste the now fragrant water as it ran between her thighs, trickling in rivulets to her delicate feet, to catch it on the tip of his tongue. His pulse raced. Illuminated shades of reds, pinks, and fiery orange burst through his mind at the mere image created from his imagination.
Aroc blinked back the feral need riding his body with each inhale of Sadie’s uniquely human feminine, warm, and inviting scent. The surge of lust hit him hard and unexpected. The safest thing for both of them was for him to get to his feet. As strong as he was, it crippled him to tear his gaze away from perfection. He pushed up at the sound of tiny footsteps padding down the hallway.
Sadie heard it too and made a gasping noise, then drew up tight on the so
fa tucking her feet beneath her hips. Her eyes widened. She leaned out, a hand gripped tight on the edge of the sofa.
Reddish burgundy curls bounced on the head of his daughter as she sprinted into the living room. She bounded into his arms, wrapping herself around his neck. She pointed manically in Sadie’s direction. “Daddy…”
He smoothed curls from her face to tuck behind her ears. “Norese, this is Ms. Sadie Alexander. A human female. She’s visiting from Earth to live with us for a while. She’ll help you learn to read, write, and other things little girls do.”
The pulse that thudded in the crook of Sadie’s neck a moment ago now lay quiet under her even warm brown skin as he introduced Norese.
“This is my daughter, Norese Farkus.”
Seconds passed as he watched his daughter and Sadie size one another up, their eyes searching the other’s face. Something eased in the midst of their showdown, and Sadie’s face grew soft, her tense shoulders unhinging from her ears. Aroc’s gut flipped when Sadie’s large brown eyes found his.
“Captain, she’s beautiful and a head full of thick burgundy curls.” Flashing him a bright white smile, Sadie appeared happier somehow. “Is she an only child?”
He nodded once, feeling bewitched by the glow on her face.
“How old is she? Where’s her mother?”
The mention of his deceased wife twisted a knot in his gut. He pushed back the sad thought, not wanting to relive the agony. “Two—she’s why I invited you into my home.”
“Kidnaped,” she blurted out, then slapped a hand over her mouth. “I mean,”Sadie stuttered “not exactly an invitation, Captain. You never introduced yourself to me until you had me in your home.”
Her words rang true. He hadn’t given her a chance to refuse his offer, by never making one. Well, he’d introduce her to his daughter. He skirted the table to come around and sit beside her on the sofa.
“My daughter is half human and half karuntee. As you can see, raising her without the aid of a human female would be unfair.” He released his hold on Norese, allowing her to sit between them on the cushions. “Stay and help me raise my daughter, Sadie.”