by Mikayla Lane
Deanna pretended to look offended before she laughed.
“I would like to learn how to fight, but I’m not much of a fighter. I’d love to see what’s in the library of records on Dranar though. Can you imagine what I could learn about our history? All the things they’ve lied to us about and kept hidden from us!” Deanna said excitedly.
Haruki smiled at the little touches she placed on his arm as she talked about what she loved. He knew from the moment Alderic mentioned it and the light that came into her eyes, that she wanted to get in that library more than anything.
“So you wouldn’t be too upset if I took that ambassador job then?” he teased, noting the widening of her eyes and increased delight.
Her answer was cut off by the sight that met her when they exited the ship. She was still looking around the massive hangar when her hand was tugged, and she looked down at the small blond girl smiling off to the side.
Deanna knelt down to the girl’s level as Haruki was pulled into a bear hug by a man that had to be the Uncle Koda he’d mentioned.
“Hi, I’m Deanna. What’s your name?” Deanna asked.
She couldn’t help but notice that the adorable girl kept her gaze averted and the fingers of her other hand twirled in the air.
“Oh, my God . . . you’re like Tristan aren’t you?” Deanna whispered.
“Joey, Joe, Joe,” the girl mumbled with a toothy smile.
Suddenly Deanna was pulled into a hug and quickly released as Koda’s dark eyes inspected her.
“You’re perfect for him!” Koda had said with a broad smile before he scooped the toddler into his arms. “And, yes, our little Joey is one of my nephew's warriors, but we try to keep that to ourselves.”
“Why? I’d shout it to the world! He . . . they are incredible,” Deanna argued, allowing Haruki to take her hand and pull her after Koda.
“That’s nice thinking, but would you have thought that about Joey if you hadn’t met Tristan first?” Koda asked.
Deanna’s eyes grew wide, and she blushed as she shook her head.
“You’re right, I wouldn’t have. I had no idea what they really were until Tristan. I’m sorry. I know I’ll never look at another handicapped person the same way again,” Deanna said as Haruki rubbed her hand in support.
“You shouldn’t apologize. Joey wouldn’t have touched you at all if she thought you were mean,” Koda assured her as they entered an elevator of sorts. “Now, your quarters are right down the hall from my own. Everything is operational, and there’s a menu on the comm in the living room that will allow you to order anything from one of the shops and have it delivered to your rooms.”
“I think I still have those credits Dad gave me,” Haruki said, trying to remember if he’d used any of them.
“Your Dad keeps your accounts full, but I checked yours before you docked and would appreciate you spending at least something before my people think my nephews are cheapskates,” Koda replied with a grin.
“I’m sure the two of us can come up with something to buy,” Haruki said, giving Deanna a smile. “Ainsley is back at home fixing up our new place, and I’d like to get her something. I’m getting ready to start training her if you can think of anything unique that I could gift her.”
Koda stopped in the middle of the hallway and turned to Haruki.
“Ainsley? The portal maker? Why is she fixing your place?” Koda asked in confusion.
“Oh, damn! You didn’t hear that yet either? I adopted Ainsley,” Haruki explained, seeing Koda’s smile light his eyes.
“You damn sure know how to do it right! Hey, I got my mate and child the same day too, and I couldn’t be happier!” Koda exclaimed as he hopped down the hall with Joey. “Joey, Joe, Joe.”
Deanna and Haruki couldn’t help but laugh when Joey giggled and squealed as Koda hopped. Deanna looked at Haruki and shrugged then started jumping after Koda causing Joey to erupt in more squeals. Haruki quickly followed suit causing people passing by to smile at their antics and Joey’s infectious laugh.
Koda stopped hopping and rubbed his leg as he continued down the hall, his limp more pronounced. Instead of protesting that he’d stopped, Joey threw her arms around his neck and gave him a smacking kiss.
“I love you too,” Koda whispered to the girl.
“Where’s Emily?” Haruki asked.
Koda laughed and jiggled Joey in his arms.
“Emily lied to me and said she’s at the market having a meeting with some vendors. She doesn’t want me to know she’s in the MedLab getting a pregnancy test,” he admitted with a wink at Joey.
“Seriously? She’s pregnant?” Haruki asked, hoping it was true. His uncle deserved to be happy.
Koda put his finger to his lips that were curved in a huge grin.
“Yes, she is. But we’re going to let her surprise us, aren’t we Joey?” Koda asked the girl who only smiled.
“The doctors told you before she could?” Deanna asked, thinking that was terrible.
“No, she hasn’t even been seen yet,” Koda said as he led them into a huge room. “I caught Joey talking to the baby’s beast a week ago, while Emily was asleep. Since then, I’ve been able to talk to him myself.”
“The baby or the beast?” Deanna asked in confusion.
“Both,” Koda said with a grin. “Now, here’s your comm. Don’t forget to check the shops. I have the sole surviving weapons master from Chantherian and will speak to him about something for my great-niece. You cannot get more unique than that.”
“Wow, that would be incredible Uncle Koda, thank you so much for everything,” Haruki said and hugged Koda and Joey.
“Enjoy your stay,” Koda said, leaving them alone in the incredible room.
“Why does he have the only weapons master?” Deanna asked, staring out the wall that was a window into space.
“Wow, that’s a story to tell,” Haruki said wiping a hand on his brow. “My dad and his brothers, Koda and Traze, saved people from planets that were being destroyed by an evil dictator that also happened to be their father. This ship is an Ark of sorts for the survivors.”
“Holy shit!” Deanna snapped. “Is there not one normal person in your life? I’m starting to feel like I’m in some sort of twisted tale and we’re all fucking crazy.”
She collapsed onto the couch and leaned her head back, groaning at how much her back and head ached. It only irritated her more when Haruki chuckled and slid down beside her.
“What the hell is so funny?” she demanded.
“I get grouchy when I’m tired too,” he admitted.
“It’s not because I’m tired! Although, I am,” she conceded. “Tired. Not grouchy!”
“You’re tired, your head is filled with tons of new information that contradicts everything you’ve ever known. You need a little time to assimilate it all in your head, and you’ll be fine,” Haruki assured her, confident she’d be OK.
“How would you know?” she asked, sliding over so she could lay her head on his shoulder.
“I don’t know, maybe because I learned everything at the same time you did,” he said with a grin as he put his arm around her. “I’m only ahead of you by some alien relatives, ufos, and other worlds. I figure you’ll catch up to me real quick.”
Deanna snorted and grinned up at him.
“Is that all?” she teased.
Deanna stood and walked around the spacious living room and the kitchen that were combined in one room. That one entire wall that was a window to space just couldn’t stop pulling her gaze away from everything else, and she found herself standing in front of it again.
“It’s so incredible,” she whispered. “And I’m not a space kind of person. I’m a dig in the dirt for years to find a pottery shard kind of person.”
“How is space any different than that?” he asked as he stood and wrapped his arms around her.
Deanna gestured at the vast space outside of the window.
“That doesn’t look like dirt, and I
can’t feel it. It’s one of the reasons I love archeology. I can touch things that no human has held for thousands of years and listen to the story it wants to tell me,” she whispered as she wrapped her hands around his and leaned back into his solid chest, enjoying the feel of him.
“You’re looking at it all wrong,” Haruki whispered against her neck. “The stars are your grains of sand and the worlds you find among them are the pottery shards. Each with their own story to tell. All you’ve done is expand the sandbox.”
“Are you going with that?” Deanna asked, tilting her head back to look at him.
“Why?” Haruki asked.
“That was so damn cheesy!” Deanna teased, even though she loved his analogy.
“You’re really terrible for my ego,” Haruki said with a snort of laughter.
“Guess we both need a reality check,” Deanna joked and squealed when Haruki tickled her. “Stop! I want a bath!”
Haruki stopped in his tracks and immediately wondered if he could find a way to take one with her. Having been on the ship many times before, he knew that these quarters held large sunken tubs and showers and his mind drifted to the sexual possibilities.
“Your thoughts are showing,” Deanna said with a grin as she shoved him then walked toward the only hallway to find the bathroom.
Haruki looked out at the stars for a moment and smiled at the warbled singing and water running from the bathroom down the hall. He turned to the sound and was stunned to see a trail of clothes from the beginning of the hallway to the bathroom door.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Haruki was at the bathroom door before he even realized he was walking toward it. He stopped only inches from it, fighting a war within himself to determine if she was inviting him or if he was only hoping she was.
“I can see your feet under the door,” Deanna said. “Are you going to come in and wash my back or not?”
Haruki smiled and slowly pushed the door open, his eyes glued to the vision of her sitting in the sunken tub as her blue eyes peered at him. With carefully controlled steps, he walked over to the tub and knelt down at the edge.
“I don’t think a back wash is what you’re really asking for,” he whispered, keeping his eyes on her face and not her beautifully naked form teasing him beneath the water.
Deanna smirked at him trying to play hard to get and shook her head as she glided across the small pool-like tub. She stared up at him until she had his complete attention before licking her lips coyly.
“With all of the adrenaline gone, I’m kind of floundering here and would really like to know you still have my back,” she said then laughed at her own words. “Literally and figuratively.”
Haruki smiled and relaxed his tight control of himself.
“I’ll always-” his words were cut off when she seized his arm and yanked him into the water.
Startled, Haruki rose from the pool and sprayed water all over them causing Deanna to laugh and back away from him.
“I’m fully dressed!” Haruki muttered as he held out his arms and his wet shirt drooped.
Backed into a corner of the tub, Deanna laughed, enjoying the way his shirt clung to his chest.
“They were getting kind of ripe,” Deanna said, wrinkling her nose. “I thought you had a heightened sense of smell?”
Haruki growled playfully and began unbuttoning his shirt as he stalked across the bath to her, thankful he’d taken his boots off earlier. He grinned and shook his head when the moment was ruined after he threw the shirt onto the bathroom floor and it made a wet plopping sound.
I can’t catch a break, he thought as Deanna snickered, wondering why the fates had it in for him.
Deanna grabbed hold of his belt and pulled him close, wrapping her arms and legs around him.
“You act as clumsy as I feel. It’s actually making me feel more comfortable with you,” she whispered in his ear before gently biting it.
“How is that making you feel better?” Haruki asked incredulously, holding her against him as he tried not to shiver from her touch.
“Oh, come on. Even if I do have a beast inside me, do you have any idea how intimidating you guys are? Your power and abilities. Hell, your ships and weapons! I’m a professional woman, one of the top in my field, and there were times I felt so inferior around you guys. When you make normal little screw ups, it reminds me that you’re still people that are evolving just like humanity. You may be farther ahead, but you’re not perfect either,” she whispered as her blue eyes held his dark ones.
“We’re far from perfect,” Haruki agreed with a soft snort. “I’m sorry if I ever made you feel inferior. We don’t think we’re above humanity or anyone else and know we’re still evolving too.”
“I guess all that crazy ancient alien stuff is true,” Deanna said with a laugh as Haruki led them to a bench in the water and pulled her onto his lap. “Maybe that’s why my mind elevated you guys to God-like status, the same way the ancients did.”
Haruki let his hands roam her back, gently caressing her water-slick skin as he tried desperately to ignore the strain his wet pants were putting on his throbbing manhood. Holding her naked form in his lap was wrecking havoc on his mind and body.
“Hey,” Deanna whispered putting her hands on both sides of his face and looking into his eyes. “Where are you? It’s like you’re disappearing in front of me.”
Haruki smiled at her and put his hands on her face as well.
“I’m trying real hard not to ravish you and letting my mind wander seemed to be a good way to help,” he admitted, wondering how she’d react.
“Why are you wasting time letting your mind wander then?” she whispered before catching his lips in a fiery kiss.
Haruki gasped at the bold gesture and groaned when she took advantage and slipped her tongue into his mouth. He caressed his hands over her hair and held the back of her head with one hand and slid the other down her back as he took control and deepened the kiss.
His hands roamed her body, learning what caused her to gasp and moan and using it to heighten her pleasure and her senses as the heat between them increased.
Deanna felt like she was in a whirlwind of sensation and couldn’t stop herself from yanking at the belt of his pants, needing to feel his naked body against her own.
Haruki could sense her urgency and pulled away from her long enough to slide his pants down. He couldn’t stop a sigh from escaping when they were finally off, but he didn’t have time to think beyond that as Deanna slid back into his lap. The intimate contact only increased the heat and need between them and Deanna shook her head to try and clear it.
“God, is this normal? I’ve never felt so hot, and desperate before,” she whispered before pressing her lips to his as her body writhed against him.
Haruki became wrapped up in the kiss and had to force himself away from her several minutes later.
“It’s supposed to be like this between us. Our heightened senses through the beast also gives us a greater intensity of feelings with our mates,” he growled out before leaning her back and sucking deeply on her nipple.
Deanna gasped and arched her back even more as she grabbed his shoulders to keep him from stopping. He didn’t disappoint, going from one to another until she was grinding against him, allowing his hard shaft to tease her sensitive nub until she didn’t think she could take anymore.
Releasing his shoulders, she leaned forward, forcing his head up. Dark eyes with glowing amber swirls clashed with her heated blue ones, and Haruki grabbed her bottom, pulling her closer to him as he seized her lips in a possessive kiss.
Deanna rotated her hips until just the tip of him breached her heat, and she gasped, pulling from his kiss.
“Wait,” Haruki growled. “I’m not done.”
Deanna leaned her forehead against his as she lowered herself onto him further.
“I’m too tired and need this too much. We can play later when I don’t feel like screaming for release,” Deanna whispered,
taking him deeper as he half tried to fight her.
She could see him struggling with it, still trying to hold her off even though she could see how much he was fighting himself. Leaning forward she sucked his earlobe into her mouth.
“Please, baby. Make me yours,” she whispered.
The words seemed to light a match within him, and Haruki tightened his arms around her. It was the only warning she got before he seized her mouth and plunged himself into her. She gasped in his mouth while he held her there, letting her adjust to the size of him.
The moment he felt her acceptance he used his grip on her hips to set a deep and controlled pace that had her screaming and begging him not to stop. The moment he knew she was close to release, he slid off the bench and pulled her away from him.
“No! No, don’t stop!” Deanna begged, so close she was trembling.
Haruki ignored her pleas and turned her around to face the bench, bent her over until her hands were braced on the edge of the pool and drove into her.
Deanna screamed from the depth of the penetration and the angle that seemed to hit every nerve and sensitive spot. Her hands gripped the edge of the bath, and the moment she recovered from the shock, she moved against him to encourage him to continue.
Haruki leaned over her back as he grabbed her shoulders and licked the side of her neck, slowly sliding out before slamming back inside of her. They both had groaned from the intensity before he set another controlled pace that had Deanna almost weak.
“Please,” she whispered, desperate for release.
Haruki used every bit of his control to ignore her pleas and that of his own body as he moved from behind her and spun her around. Before she could say a word, he backed her against the edge of the pool, gently pulled her legs over his arms and dove back inside of her.
Deanna held tightly to his shoulders as the new position sent him deeper than she thought possible. Her hips met his as if by their own volition, matching his strokes until she couldn’t take anymore.