“Mm, I thought I was going to have to start without you,” S’rah said in a seductive whisper.
“Start without me?”
She curved a hand over her breast, cupping the heavy flesh and running her thumb across a peaked nipple. His eyes were glued to her hand as she teased the distended nub. When he didn’t move, she bit her lip and started to remove her hand.
“If you don’t like—”
“I like it very much,” he growled, finally recovering from his shock and stepping inside the room, closing the door behind him. “Continue.”
Her cheeks were almost as red as those impudent nubs, but she obeyed and brought her other hand up.
“Take off your clothes,” she whispered. “I want to see you too.”
He didn’t hesitate. The shirt slipped free, then his belt. It was only when he came to his pants that his doubts intruded.
“Those too. There should be nothing between a warrior and his L’chka.”
This afternoon their mating had been fast and heated. She had not had time to linger over his damaged flesh. Would she recoil now that she had an opportunity to truly see his wounds? He looked into the pale blue eyes watching him so steadily, so filled with love, and his doubts disappeared. His pants fluttered to the ground.
“Come to me, my warrior.” She held out her arms and he didn’t hesitate. Just the feel of naked flesh against naked flesh had his cock leaking drops of precum. His lips met hers in an explosion of need and she returned the kiss with equal fervor.
“Oh, T’gana. I love you so much,” she whispered when at last he raised his head.
“I love you too, my S’rah.”
He started to lower his head again, but she pushed him gently. “Lie on your back for me.”
“But why?”
“You’ll see.” Her eyes were alight with love and a hint of mischief and he could not refuse her.
“Now hold still,” she said when he obeyed.
She started pressing a line of small kisses down his chest, then across his stomach. His cock jerked in anticipation, but she avoided the throbbing shaft and instead devoted her attention to his hip before continuing down his good leg. The soft, wet little kisses should not have been as arousing as they were but his whole body hummed with excitement. When she reached his ankle, she moved across to his injured leg and he realized that she intended to retrace her path along that leg.
“S’rah…”
“Hush now. I told you that I was going to kiss you all over and I meant it.”
His scars were not as sensitive as his flesh, but he could still feel the damp press of her mouth, the soft caress of her breasts as she moved higher, and his hands clenched so tightly on the sheets that he heard fabric tear. Her mouth skated across the deep scars on his thigh and nuzzled the base of his cock.
“S’rah,” he said again. He had to know. “You are not repulsed?”
“Repulsed?” A look of genuine shock crossed her face and then she responded without words. Her legs parted over his thigh and she dragged her very hot, very wet cunt the length of his leg, leaving his scars glistening with the proof of her excitement. The knowledge that she was not only not repulsed but was as excited by his body as he was by hers was the ultimate arousal. He seized her hips and pulled her down over his cock, exploding in heated jets of seed as soon as he felt the silky tightness of her cunt, as he felt her shudder and convulse around him, as he pulled her body down against his so that every inch of their bodies was entwined together in mutual pleasure.
The next morning, Sarah awoke feeling warm, content, and a tiny bit sore. The explosiveness of their first encounter last night had not slowed T’gana down at all. He had made love to her again as soon as they recovered their breath and then woken her twice more during the night. From the feel of the very hard erection against her stomach, he could probably continue again this morning. Not that she was averse to the idea, despite the lingering ache between her legs. She slipped her hand between their bodies to stroke the hardened flesh and—
“Pancakes?” a small voice asked, and Sarah jumped. She rolled over to see Tabby’s head peeking over the edge of the bed.
“Goodness, you startled me, sweetie. Is everything all right?”
“I’m hungry and Jane won’t leave our room.”
“Is something wrong with J’ne?” T’gana asked immediately.
“She’s playing,” Tabby said, making a face.
Sarah laughed. “Why don’t you close your eyes for a minute while T’gana gets dressed and then we’ll go see if we can lure her out of your room?”
Tabby scrunched up her face obediently and Sarah felt a brief kiss against her shoulder before the heat of his body disappeared.
A few seconds later, he appeared in front of her, once again wearing his uniform, and scooped Tabby up into his arms.
“Good morning, little one.”
“Morning, Daddy Tigga. Pancakes?”
“I will have to see what I can do with the replicator. Do you want to help while Mama S’rah gets dressed?”
She nodded eagerly and they disappeared. Sarah climbed somewhat gingerly out of bed and went to check the closet, blessing Emily again when she found a small collection of clothing already waiting for her.
The pancakes were not entirely successful and the syrup even less so, but the girls ate without complaint. Just as they were finishing, a knock sounded at the door. T’gana immediately placed himself in front of them as he went to answer it.
“I’m sorry. I know it’s early, but we just arrived and I really wanted to see Sarah.”
“Rachel?” Sarah was on her feet as soon as she recognized her friend’s voice. She ducked under T’gana’s arm and gathered Rachel into a fierce hug. “I’m so happy to see you again.”
When she pulled back, both women had tears in their eyes.
“You remember, T’gana, don’t you?”
“I remember he left you,” Rachel said grimly.
“Hush, zuzu.” Commander T’chok stepped forward and tugged Rachel against his side. A heavily muscled, older alien, T’chok had always intimidated Sarah, but she couldn’t argue with his devotion to her friend.
“Sub Commander T’gana chose an honorable path,” T’chok continued. “And his bravery on Klendat Five is admired by all.”
The faintest tremor crossed T’gana’s skin and she slipped her hand into his.
“He is the bravest warrior I know,” she agreed, and felt his muscles relax. “Now come meet my girls.”
“I can’t wait to meet them,” Rachel said. “And Lizzie and Benji are here as well.”
“If you’d stop blocking the doorway, we could come in,” Lizabet said. The pretty young teenager had been picked up accidentally by the Yehrin and now made her home with Rachel, T’chok, and Rachel’s younger brother Benji.
Rachel laughed and stepped inside and there was a blur of introductions and reunions. Tabby retreated to T’gana’s lap, but Jane stared at Benji in fascination.
“T’chok, why don’t you and T’gana take the kids outside to play,” Rachel suggested finally. “I want to talk to Sarah.”
T’gana raised an eyebrow at her and she nodded. He swept up the girls, T’chok ushered Benji and a protesting Lizabet before him, and then they were alone.
“Are you sure about this?” Rachel asked immediately. “He left you.”
“I know.” The next words escaped before she could call them back. “But in a way, so did you.”
“Me?”
“Oh, I know you didn’t have any choice and I’m happy that Lizzie got to go and live with you, but I was still alone.”
“Oh, Sarah, I’m so sorry. I never thought of it like that.”
“I know you didn’t, and I honestly don’t blame you, but I don’t want you blaming T’gana either. He did what he thought he had to do also, and he paid a terrible price.”
Rachel frowned. “Do you love him?”
“I do. I think I have since the first mo
ment I met him.”
“Damn, that’s too bad.”
A startled laugh escaped. “Why would you say that?”
“Well, Emily has been talking to A’rathia—you know, the chief medic?”
“Yes, I know her.”
“She thinks there is a biochemical reaction that determines pregnancy. If it didn’t work with T’gana, it might work with another male and I know how much you want a baby.” Rachel’s hand curved over her own stomach.
“Yes, A’rathia told me. And I did—do—want a child, but I have the girls and I have T’gana. We might even adopt another child at some point. T’gana is more important to me than the possibility of carrying a baby myself.”
“So you’re happy?”
“Very happy.”
“Then that’s all that matters. I’ll try not to blame T’gana for leaving you and can you please, please forgive me?”
“I’ll try,” she said drily, then laughed at Rachel’s startled expression and pulled her into another hug. “Of course, I forgive you. You’re my friend and I love you.”
“I love you too. And I’m sure everything is going to be smooth sailing from now on.”
Chapter Thirty
Despite Rachel’s optimistic pronouncement, the next few days were not without their troubles. Although she refused to talk about it, Jane was obviously hurting from her father’s death. She was subject to bouts of tears and finally threw a truly horrendous tantrum one morning over the color socks she wanted to wear. Sarah rocked her until she calmed and gently encouraged her to share her feelings. The storm seemed to relieve some of her tension, and she began to return to her normal happy self. Benji proved to be a very helpful distraction and Jane was on her best behavior whenever he was around. Despite his youth, the boy was extremely patient with her.
Tabby reacted differently. She showed few outward signs of unhappiness, but she had several nightmares and her thumb was never far from her mouth. T’gana started going through the training exercises with her again and they seemed to calm her as much as they calmed him. The sight of the big horned warrior and the tiny girl moving slowly and gracefully through the ritual motions never failed to make her heart melt.
T’gana too was having some difficulty adjusting. He was working with T’renan on the security plan and she knew that he enjoyed feeling useful, but he still worried that he did not have enough to contribute. At least he never seemed to worry about her love. Their nights were as passionate as ever, but she valued the time they spent cuddled together talking about their days almost as much.
“What would you do if you could do anything you wanted?” she asked him one night.
“Make love to you,” he said immediately.
She laughed and rolled her eyes at him. “You just did that.”
“I am quite prepared to do so again.” It was undoubtedly true. As far as she could tell, he was ready twenty-four hours a day.
“I’m serious, my love. What do you want to do?”
“I was serious as well, but I understand your question. Unfortunately, I do not know. I have been a warrior all my life. Other than the time I spend with you and the girls, I enjoy cooking and gardening but those are not professions.”
Of course, they were both professions, but she couldn’t see him as a chef in a restaurant any more than she could see him mowing someone’s lawn.
“So, shall we return to my current want?” he asked, beginning to ease her nipple into a tight point. She arched into his touch and temporarily gave up on the attempt to help him find a new purpose.
As for herself, she felt oddly restless. Being the calm center of the surrounding storms left her tired and out of sorts. After she yawned her way through one lunch, after picking at her food, T’gana ordered her back to bed.
“I am taking the girls this afternoon,” he said firmly.
“But, Daddy, we was supposed to go to Rachel’s this afternoon,” Jane protested. “Benji is gonna show me how to find animal tracks.”
“I will take you over there later,” he promised. “For now, we are going to let Mama rest.”
Three sweet kisses later, the house was quiet, and she climbed wearily back into bed.
T’gana took the girls for a short flight into town for ice cream before taking them to R’chel’s but he spent the trip thinking about S’rah. Her pallor worried him, and he debated calling A’rathia for advice, but when he dropped off the girls, T’chok informed him that Commander T’lan had requested his presence. Despite the apprehension that stiffened his spine, he reported immediately.
T’lan greeted him pleasantly and told him to take a seat. After inquiring about the girls, he sighed.
“My mate has an expression that I believe is appropriate in this instance. There is good news and bad news.”
T’gana frowned at him. “The good?”
“With the aid of Icluthians, we have defeated the Saviji on Klendat Five.”
“At what cost?” Even though they had come to his rescue, he found it hard to believe that the Icluthians had assisted them out of the goodness of their hearts.
“We are sharing the planet with them.” T’lan shrugged. “It is not a great sacrifice. Klendat is not particularly suitable for habitation.”
He flashed back to that green sky, the black desert, the searing heat, but it was just a memory, and he could nod and agree.
“So, we have agreed that the Yehrin Empire will have the mineral rights for the pole regions and the Icluthians will use the central portion for their clutches.”
“Clutches?”
“Yes. Their females—their queens—lay eggs and they bury them in the sand. Can you imagine?”
“It seems… unnatural.”
“I agree. And their queens choose many warriors with which to breed.”
He shuddered at the thought. “I would never share my S’rah.”
“Nor I my M’lee.”
“Is that the bad news you mentioned? This agreement with the Icluthians?”
“No. It is an unusual arrangement but not, I think, harmful. The bad news is that the Saviji were only forced off of Klendat Five. They are still swarming in that sector and we anticipate more battles.”
T’lan hesitated, clicking his claws together slowly.
“Supreme Commander T’rarchar has a request of you, Sub Commander.”
“I will not leave my L’chka and return to battle,” he said immediately. For all his longing to be of worth, he would not abandon his family.
“No, of course not.” T’lan looked genuinely shocked at the idea and T’gana relaxed.
“Then what is it?”
“The information you provided about your battle was most helpful. You have not only the personal experience, but the background military knowledge to understand their tactics. T’rarchar would like you to expand upon that. He will provide you with all of the information we have on the Saviji, as well as the information from any additional battles. He would like you to analyze the information and prepare consolidated reports of the results, along with any suggestions as to effective methods to combat their advances.”
T’gana considered. In truth, the idea appealed to him. To apply the scholarly tendencies learned from his parents to his chosen path seemed only fitting.
T’lan mistook his silence. “It is, of course, only a request. If it is too… difficult in light of your experiences, that is quite understandable.”
Difficult? The faintest chittering echoed in his ears. He suspected it always would, but as long as he had his L’chka and his family to keep him grounded, it was no more than a warning. If anything, the additional knowledge would only help to control his fears.
“No,” he said truthfully. “It will not be too difficult. I am ready to begin whenever he can transmit the information.”
“Excellent. He will be most pleased.”
A squeal sounded outside the room and both males froze, then T’gana laughed. “That is my J’ne. She sounds happy.”
/> “That is as it should be.” T’lan rose to his feet and extended an arm. The two males clasped elbows and T’gana departed, anxious to tell S’rah the news. And if she was still unwell, he would insist that they visit A’rathia.
He found S’rah no longer in bed but sitting behind the house staring out into the forest. As he walked around to kiss her, he saw the tears streaming down her beautiful face. He immediately dropped to his knees in front of her and took her hands in his.
“My S’rah, what is wrong?”
“Do you know what today is?” she asked.
“It is Thursday.”
“It’s the thirtieth day. The breeding contract is up today.”
He calculated quickly. She was correct. “Yes, my L’chka, but that no longer matters.”
“Scan me, T’gana.”
He frowned. After the incident with the older female, he had stopped performing the morning scans, and in truth, it had been a relief not to see her disappointment each time he was forced to tell her that she was not with child.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” she said fiercely, still crying. “Do it.”
With aching hearts, he pulled out his scanner and aimed it at her stomach. He was already searching for the words to let her down gently when something caught his eye. Stunned, he forgot about his missing claw as he rocked back on his heels and almost fell.
He scanned her again, still unable to believe his eyes.
“S’rah—”
“I’m pregnant, aren’t I?” The smile that lit her face was so blinding that he wondered if they could see it from the ship. “I knew it. I just realized why I felt so different.”
For the third time, he waved the scanner across her body. “This must have happened the day of the fire. The day I claimed you.”
The tears were still flowing. “I can’t believe it. We’re already so lucky.”
“We are indeed. The Ancestors have smiled on us beyond my greatest dreams.”
He leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her stomach. “Hello, little one.”
S’rah’s hands stroked his head, then tugged on his horns until he looked up at her. For the first time, a shadow crossed her face. “What if… what if I lose this baby too?”
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