by KD Jones
“Here, I brought this for you.” She thrust a handmade quilt toward him.
He took it in his hands and stared at it in confusion. “What is it?”
“A quilt. When your people supplied us with new clothes and blankets, some of us had a hard time parting with our old clothes. It was a sentimental thing. They were all we had of our old lives, and we took care to make things last. Throwing things away seemed so wasteful. A couple of our older women had an idea. They requested that everyone bring the worn-out clothes that they wanted to save, and the women made each person a quilt out of pieces of their old clothes, mixed with some of the new sheets that your people gave us. This was mine. I know you have blankets, but I thought just in case you got cold or something…” She felt heat rise to her cheeks. Oh my God, why did I bring him my quilt?
Devlon opened up the quilt and fingered each of the little squares. “It’s unusual, but with all the little squares put together in this intricate pattern, it makes it look beautiful. Thank you.”
She shrugged. “It was nothing.”
He scratched his chin. “Do you think that these talented women would be able to create a quilt for the baby shower?”
“It’s in a few days, right? If you supplied the material, maybe new thread and needles, they could probably get it done.”
“I’ll ask Rachel’s mother for any of her childhood clothing. I can get it here by tomorrow afternoon.”
“It’s cutting it close, but I’m sure some of the other women will pitch in to help get it completed.”
He put the quilt on the bed next to him.
“Well, I’ll go then.” She stood up, and he stood too. His big body was making the tent seem to shrink in size.
“We still need to talk about what happened between us earlier.”
“Do we have to? It’s just sex. We’re attracted to each other, so one thing led to another… No big deal.”
“It is a big deal. I didn’t use protection.”
She felt like a cold bucket of water had been dumped on her. All her insecurities were right there on the verge of coming out. She had to harden herself up, push the emotions down.
“Don’t worry about it.”
“I can’t dismiss this, Heather. Your body accepted my seed and it’s possible that you are pregnant.”
She shook her head sadly. “I can’t have children.”
He frowned, looking her up and down. “You are still of breeding age, and your body shape is very conducive to carrying a child.”
“Wow, I’m glad I have a body type conducive for breeding, but the issue is that my eggs don’t release regularly.”
“I am confused.”
“I tried for years to get pregnant with my ex, but it never happened. I miscarried once but couldn’t get pregnant after that.”
“Could your doctors not do anything to help you?”
“I had problems with ovulation and most of the procedures the doctors could perform were just too expensive. Mark said we could always adopt, but we never did. I’m glad of that now, because Mark would have been a horrible father.”
“What of the young child? You have a bond with her.”
“I do. I can’t help but love her. But as much as I want her, she needs to have a family, siblings to grow up with. I can’t be selfish about it. If it means I’m alone, so be it.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I’ve accepted that I’ll never be a mother. Now I’m older, and even if I could get the procedure, it would be a difficult pregnancy on my body. So you see, you have nothing to worry about. Our one and only time together won’t have any consequences.”
Just was she was turning to leave, he grabbed her arm gently, halting her. “That’s where you’re wrong. There are always consequences, and...I hope that won’t be our only time.”
She looked up at him in surprise just as his lips came down to claim hers. She should fight this, break apart, slap him. Instead, she sighed and leaned into his embrace. Damn the consequences, she wanted him again.
Heather gasped when she felt herself being lifted up in his big arms and carried over to his floating cot. The quilt got knocked down onto the floor, but who had time to care about that? He lay down on top of her body, and she loved the feel of his weight pressing into her.
She opened her legs, letting him ease between her where she’d been imagining him being since the last time they made love. He’d been on her mind all day, driving her crazy. Getting one taste of Devlon wasn’t enough for her, and she was glad he felt the same way.
His fingers plucked her nipples through her shirt, making goose bumps spring up all over her body. As he pulled away to break their kiss she leaned forward and used her teeth on his bottom lip to tease him. She planned to nibble every inch of his perfect body.
“Clothes off,” he growled out.
Yes, she wanted them to be skin-to-skin, no barriers. She reached for her shirt to pull it off…and then their intimate bubble was broken.
“Commander, there’s a situation that needs your attention,” a voice called from outside his tent.
Devlon groaned as he leaned his head against her neck. “Sometimes being the commander…”
“Sucks?” she offered.
“Yes, it sucks.” He moved to stand up and reached a hand down to help her to her feet. “I suppose I couldn’t convince you to stay until I got back?”
She shook her head. “I’ve got some things to check on before going to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Yes, I’ll see you in the morning.”
She didn’t prolong the moment. She exited his tent, and ignoring the curious looks his men gave her as she passed them on her way to her subcar. It was probably a good thing that they were interrupted. She couldn’t have a relationship with him; he’d be going back to his own world and she would remain here, taking care of her tribe. Better to keep their distance, keep from getting attached now and then hurt later when he finally left. At least that was what tried to tell herself.
Chapter 12
Devlon was stunned over Heather’s revelation that she was unable to bear children. It seemed wrong somehow that a female who cared for so many others would have that denied her. He’d watched her with the child earlier and saw the bond that they shared, yet she gave the girl up so that she could have a family.
For the first time he began to understand Heather’s stern demeanor. Her husband had abandoned her, and she had no family to call her own. She had people depending on her, and some of those she thought she could trust had betrayed her. Of course she would have a hard time opening up to others. He couldn’t help but want to be the one to break down her barriers.
“Sir, the situation…”
His lieutenant reminded him of the reason that he and Heather had been interrupted. He activated his communicator. “This is Commander Devlon.”
“Commander Devlon, this is Senior Commander Drake Bond of the Red Fleet. I’ve been commissioned to come and review your status and relieve some of your ships so that they may continue traveling back to Drasta.”
He sighed. He’d known that this was coming, that the high command was sending someone out, but Senior Commander Bond wasn’t the easiest commander to work with. It didn’t help at all that he was Devlon’s senior officer, but the same age as Devlon’s oldest son Jared.
“Sir, we welcome you and your fleet to this area. I am currently overseeing the reconstruction of the tunnels some of the humans call home. I shall return to my command ship in a few days. Captain Liam Estro is in charge until I return.”
“Very well. I’ll be debriefed by Captain Estro and then join you down in the tunnels myself in two days.”
By the stars! Could he not catch a break? Now was not the best time to have someone possibly interfering with all the groundwork he’d laid with the humans. That was all he needed, a young upstart looking over his work. Unfortunately, he wasn’t in a position to refuse him.
“I look forward to meeting wit
h you and seeing the progress you’ve made, Commander Estro.” The communication ended.
The impulse to throw his communicator across his tent was strong, but he’d learned a long time ago to control his temper. It wouldn’t do any good to break a communicator. He would show Senior Commander Bond the progress, answer his questions, and then send him on his way.
*****
The next day
Heather marveled at how fast the foundation of the apartment complex was going up. Once the big shiny silver equipment had arrived and the training started with her volunteers, it seemed to be exactly what her people needed. They had a focus and a purpose now, where before they were just consumed with surviving.
The machinery used liquid metal to form foundations and walls. It set fast and cooled quickly, so it was easy to make mistakes. This would keep her people busy for a while. Busy people couldn’t get into trouble. At least that had been her father’s logic for always having work for her and siblings to do on the farm.
“I can’t believe how much they’ve done in mere hours,” her new second-in-command, Mabel, commented. She stood watching next to Heather, fascinated.
“It sure helps that the equipment the Drastans are using is so incredible. Their liquid smart steel pours where it’s programmed. I never even thought something like that could be possible.”
“It doesn’t hurt that the alien guys are easy on the eyes, too, right?”
Heather rolled her eyes and snorted. “Mabel, aren’t you a little too old to be checking men out?”
“Honey, I’m older, not blind or dead. Besides, none of these young ones hold a candle to your commander.”
“He’s not my commander,” Heather denied.
Mabel raised her eyebrow. “Really? That’s not what I hear.”
Oh God. Heather groaned. “What rumors are going around now?”
“That you and the hot alien commander did the dirty deed yesterday and that you spent all night in his tent.”
“I didn’t spend the night in his tent.”
“You’re not denying you had sex with him.”
Heather shrugged, “I’m a grown woman. I can have sex with whomever I like.”
“True, and no one is begrudging you any happiness. You’ve been too long without anyone to share your burdens with.”
“Mabel, I can’t afford to get involved with anyone right now.”
“I know your ex-husband did a number on your self-esteem, but you’re a good, strong woman. You took up the reins to lead us and care for us. It’s time someone else cared for you.”
“We’re not dating, Mabel, we just had sex.”
“Was it good?”
She couldn’t lie. “It may have lasted twenty minutes but it was the best damn sex I ever had.”
“You still want him?”
Heather hesitated to answer that question. Did she still want him? More sex with him—yes, definitely. She liked talking to him about the tribe, and issues she had. It’d been a long time since she could share that, so that was something she wouldn’t mind having more of either.
“You’re thinking too hard about this, Heather. What does your heart tell you?”
“That I could really care for him.”
“You don’t sound too pleased about that.”
“I just don’t see how this will work out. He’s the commander of the fleet, and he’ll need to lead his people back to his home world. I’m tribe leader and I’ll need to be here to take care of things on Earth.”
“What if you didn’t?”
“Didn’t what?”
“What if you could leave with him, start a new life with the commander on his home world? Would you go?”
“I can’t leave the tribe…”
“Can’t, or won’t?”
Heather stiffened. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“Of course not. I just want you to be honest with yourself.”
Heather would’ve continued to deny that she had any interest in the commander, but just security came and told her that Leonard had tried to return to his subcar. As she stormed in his direction, the coward broke free of the guard holding him and took off down the tunnel.
“That’s right, you little weasel! You better run!” When she turned to walk back toward the tribe’s main square, the Drastan warriors practically jumped to move out of her way. They had expressions of both awe and fear on their young faces. Some Drastans didn’t look like they could handle a strong woman. If she did go to their home world, it wouldn’t know what hit them.
She headed toward where the medikos were set up to give treatments. She wanted to make sure that all her people were seen before she came in for her treatment.
*****
Later that evening
Devlon walked down the subway tunnel that had collapsed. The workers had done a great job clearing out the rubble. They’d added liquid metal to reinforce the structure of the tunnel walls and ceilings. The tracks were still in good shape. With the new steel beams in place, it would be stronger than it had ever been and would last the humans for many decades before repairs were needed.
He didn’t need to supervise the work, but it gave him something to do to take his mind off both the senior commander and Heather. Heather was a distraction he couldn’t afford to have right now, but damn if he couldn’t stop thinking of her.
He called several times, checking to see how security was holding up and to see if she’d come by for her treatment. Devlon knew he shouldn’t have interfered but he found himself calling the lead mediko for the team and requesting that a full scan be done on the tribe leader. He would explain why when he returned but he thought that maybe there was something that Drastan medicine could do to help Heather have a child of her own. He wouldn’t say anything to her until he knew for sure if it was a possibility, though.
Devlon wondered if her not being able to have a child had contributed to the failure of her marriage. If the problem was corrected, would her husband try to reclaim her as his mate? The thought of another male touching Heather made him angry. He clenched his fists at his sides, trying to keep himself under control. There was just something about Heather that pulled at his deeper emotions. Even his dead mate had never pulled him in so many different directions.
His mating had been arranged, but he’d never regretted it, only that he let his career keep him from being with his family when they needed him the most. When his mate had died, Devlon had still been young, and many assumed that he would mate again. He shared sex with females, but never felt the need to bond with them.
This thing between him and Heather worried him. Was it just the heat between them and that the sex was unbelievable? Or was there more building between them? One thing was for sure, he didn’t like this union that Heather had with another. That male was a worthless piece of shit if he allowed someone like Heather to leave. It occurred to him on more than one occasion to use his resources to hunt this male down and tell him just what he thought of him, but he didn’t want to make things more difficult for Heather when he left Earth.
The thought of leaving for Drasta brought a feeling of sadness he had not expected. His fleet had had a long tour out in deep space, and he was looking forward to returning home before they intercepted the mayday call from Earth. Despite the many issues and headaches that he’d had to deal with since coming to Earth, he couldn’t say he regretted it.
He had beautiful daughters-in-law, was closer than ever to his sons and nephew, and his grandchildren were amazing. His baby granddaughter, Jared’s stepson, and now he had another grandchild on the way. He loved the little ones and wanted to take the time with them he hadn’t taken with his sons and make sure they formed a bond.
Family was the most important thing to him now, and he knew that taking them back to Drasta was the best thing for them. Earth was just too dangerous for mixed-raced children right now. Maybe after enough time, humans would change their attitudes. Not all humans were anti-Drastan, but the smal
l group of rebels out there had proven to be a real threat.
His daughters-in-law argued with him that there were some Drastans that were a threat as well and it was an argument he could not refute. However, he knew that once the high council gave their protection to the human mates and mixed species children, no Drastan would dare go against it. After the communications that he had with his superiors, he didn’t doubt that the council would be on their side. He wanted his grandchildren to have a chance to grow up in a world free of radiation, with technology that promoted growth and happiness. Drasta would give them that. He just needed to help convince his daughters-in-law of this. That was going to be, as the humans said, hard as hell.
Chapter 13
The next day
Heather carried the wrapped package with the baby quilt to Devlon’s tent. He was waiting for her. His eyes traveled up and down her body. She was wearing a skirt and a pretty blue blouse. Totally not her style, but some of the women in her tribe had refused to let her go off with Devlon wearing her usual baggy jeans and sweatshirt. They would have put makeup on her if there was any available. They did put her hair up in a french braid. She hadn’t felt this nervous since she was in high school. She was out of her element. At least she had her gun strapped to her thigh under the skirt, which made her feel a little better.
She stopped a few feet from him and shifted the package on her hip. “Hi.”
“Hi. You look…”
“Weird? Stupid?”
“You look beautiful.”
Her heart skipped a beat. “Thanks.” She remembered the package and thrust it at him. “Here, it’s the baby quilt. You might want to check it out to make sure it’s okay. You didn’t say whether the baby was going to be a boy or girl so they used neutral colors, yellows, browns, and white.”
“I’m sure they’ll like it just fine. I love the one you lent me.”
She imagined him in that quilt and wearing nothing at all. Her lips were suddenly dry, and she had to clear her throat. “So, are you ready to go?”