Desolation (Earth Evolution Series Book 1)

by K. D. Jones

  “Is she sleeping?” Liam asked, walking over to the bed.

  “Yes. I gave her another healing treatment and mixed it with a sedative. She’ll be out for a couple of hours.”

  “Thank you for taking care of her for me.”

  “I’m a mediko. It’s what I do.” There was an awkward silence. “Sorry about that scene out there. I told Father not to bring her family here until we had talked to Maggie first. But you know how Father is.”

  “He thinks he knows the best thing for everyone. He thinks that we should all just do what he says.” Liam sat on the other side of Maggie. He took her small hand in his and brought it up to his lips.

  “You’ve bonded with her already?” Jared sounded shocked.

  “The bonding has started. We are a perfect fit, physically. Our minds and hearts were beginning to align. I’m afraid that if we separate now, the bonding will deteriorate.”

  “If you are true hala asawanis, love mates, then the bond will easily be renewed upon your return,” Jared told him reassuringly.

  “Father says I should work for two weeks on my mission. He thinks if I’m not around that Maggie will be able to bond again with her family.”

  “You don’t agree?”

  Liam shook his head. “I just don’t want to be apart from her. She is amahala, my love, even if she doesn’t yet recognize me as hers.”

  “Then don’t go,” Jared said.

  “I have to. I saw how the tribes were living. They need supplies and medical assistance. There were children down there, Jared. They have survived the best they can, but their living conditions are horrible. I have to help in any way I can.”

  “So you’re following Father’s advice? That’s a first.”

  “I will leave for no longer than two weeks. But if she needs me for anything, I will return. I need you to look out for her while I am gone.”

  “I will care for her as if she were mine.”

  Liam wasn’t sure he liked how that sounded. “Keep in mind that she belongs with me, brother. Now leave us. I want to hold her while she sleeps. I leave tonight to continue my mission. I know that after I tell her I am leaving, she probably will not let me hold her.” Jared closed the door behind him as he left. Liam climbed into the bed and pulled her into his arms.

  He wasn’t going to give her up. Not now that he found her. But his father was right. She needed time to bond again with her family. She might be resistant if Liam remained. So he would give her two weeks. But if being separated from her got to be too difficult, he would come back early. He didn’t care what his father would say about that. Maggie was his hala asawani. He wasn’t going to let her go now that he had found her.

  ***

  Maggie tried to stretch, but her hands hit a face. She looked up and found Liam was lying next to her on his bed. She soaked in every detail of his face. He really was a beautiful man. One that was supposed to date her sister. She pulled her hand away from his face.

  His eyes popped open and looked into hers. “I am not nor will I ever be courting your sister,” he said immediately, as if he could read her mind.

  Okay. He wanted to start with this. Fine. “Then why did she think you were?” She tried to move away from him, but he wouldn’t let her. He wrapped his arms around her and rolled them over until she was underneath him.

  “I visited the domes and your sister took a liking to me. I barely spoke three words to her. She had your father call mine and they decided that a courtship between me and Rachel would be a good way to bridge the gap between Drastans and humans. I had no interest in her but I agreed to spend time with her because she was …”

  “Beautiful. Perfect. Sexy,” Maggie finished for him.

  Liam growled at her. “You are all those things. I just thought she was pretty. But she didn’t capture my heart. Not like you did. You, with your brave spirit, strong will, and loving heart. How could I not be captured by you?”

  “You never dated Rachel?” she asked.

  “Never.”

  “Never kissed her?” She found that hard to believe.

  “No.”

  “You only want me?” she whispered shyly.

  He leaned down and captured her lips. “Only you.”

  She sighed a relief and melted into his embrace. They were wearing too many clothes. She tried to get his shirt off. He chuckled as he pulled away.

  “Easy, little one, not yet. I need to talk to you about something else.”

  “What?”

  “I have to finish my original assignment. I was ordered to check certain domes and their surrounding areas for more subway survivors. I need to seek them out and offer medical assistance and supplies.”

  “Will you be going back to my Tribe?”

  “Not yet. Father wants to contact your Tribe leader and work out a meeting. I will check other areas until then.”

  “Okay.”

  “It means that I will have to leave you here.”

  “For how long?” Her voice hitched.

  “About two weeks. Maybe less, depending on whether I’m able to recover any survivors.”

  “When do you leave?” She asked.

  “Tonight, around 21:00.”

  “So I am supposed to just sit here all alone for two weeks, doing nothing?”

  “Of course not. You will be receiving your treatments. You can take the time to get to learn about Drastans. Also, you could start building a new bond with your family.”

  She tried to push him off her. “I don’t want to spend time with them.”

  “Maggie, give them a chance. They thought you were dead.”

  “My father is a jerk and my sister is a spoiled, jealous bitch. No thank you.”

  “What about your mother?” He saw her hesitate. “Don’t you want to see your mother again? It was clear that she was overjoyed to find you alive. I heard that she cried all the way back to the dome.”

  Her eyes narrowed at him. “That’s not fair.”

  He nibbled her neck. “I never said I was a fair man. But you love me any way.”

  God, she did love him. He somehow managed to break through that wall she kept up between her and everyone else. It left her feeling vulnerable.

  “Kiss me,” she whispered lifting her face up for him.

  “My pleasure.

  Chapter 14

  The first two days without Liam were miserable. Other than getting her treatments, she stayed in their bedroom and sulked. Liam’s father would stop by at least twice a day to speak with her and make sure she was okay. By day three, she was sick of the bedroom. She met Jared in his office, which was like a small doctor’s office complete with a patient bed and everything. Talk about bringing your work home with you.

  “Are you meeting with your family today?” Jared asked as he looked over her vitals.

  “Yes, for lunch. Your father is having a shuttle bring them on board.”

  “You don’t sound excited about it,” he observed.

  “I’m not. If your father hadn’t agreed to have lunch with us, I would have declined.”

  Jared stopped what he was doing and looked at her with a strange expression on his face. “My father has agreed to have lunch with you and your parents? Is he discussing business with your father or something?”

  “I don’t think so. I asked him if he would come with me. He said yes.”

  Jared laughed. “I can’t believe it.”

  “What?” She frowned at him.

  “My father likes you.”

  “He likes everyone.” She shrugged.

  “No, he really doesn’t.” Jared shook his head.

  “Well, he has been nothing but sweet to me.” She felt the need to defend Devlon.

  “You are easy to be sweet to,” Jared said. She looked at him in surprise and noted color rising to his cheeks. He was adorable.

  “Thank you. Can I ask you some questions?” She asked him tentatively.

  “Sure.”

  “None of you boys seem to be cl
ose to your father. Why is that?”

  Liam looked down at his hands. “I can’t speak for the others, but I have never had his approval for following in my mother’s chosen profession.”

  “That can’t be true. I see pride in his eyes when he looks at you. Being a doctor or Mediko and saving lives is a very valuable career choice.” She reached out and took his hand in hers, squeezing it comfortingly.

  “He wanted me to follow him in the military. He was angry at me for it. He made that blatantly clear when he didn’t come home for my graduation from Medik School. I accepted that I was a disappointment to him a long time ago.”

  “You two need to sit down and talk.”

  He snorted. “Men do not do that.”

  “He loves you. And it is obvious that you love him. You chose to work on his ship.”

  He released her hand and turned back to his computer. “I need to get some work done.”

  She was being dismissed. “Okay, will I see you later for dinner? I am having dinner brought down so that all of us can eat at the kitchen table together.”

  He waved her off. “Yes, I’ll be there.”

  ***

  “You are looking much better today,” her father commented.

  Maggie wasn’t sure whether that was a compliment or an insult. She saw Devlon frown and thought she might be able to use the opportunity to help him and his son. “Liam’s brother is a mediko, a doctor, and has been very helpful in providing the treatments.”

  “Kyle?” Rachel asked with a raised eyebrow. It was the first time she had spoken directly to Maggie.

  “No, his older brother Jared.”

  “You must be so proud, Commander Estro, to have a son that is a doctor,” her mother gushed. Maggie smiled as her mother unknowingly helped her personal mission of bringing the Estro men closer together.

  Devlon puffed out his chest. “I am very proud of all my sons. But Jared especially. He followed after his mother and I am afraid he had to follow that path while I was mostly gone serving on missions. I wish I could have been there for him.”

  Maggie couldn’t help herself. She was beginning to care for all the Estro men. They were strong and caring, but they didn’t let people see the caring side that often. She squeezed his hand reassuringly.

  Her mother sighed. “As parents, we all try to do the best for our children, but there are always sacrifices we have to make. Any time away from them is a sacrifice, but sometimes they don’t understand that.”

  Maggie was floored when her father spoke up. “Melissa is right. As parents, we can only do what we can and hope for the best. You have three sons that have their own successful careers. It is those sacrifices that we make as parents that aid the success of our children.”

  Holy shit, her father was being philosophical. She never would have guessed the Lt. Colonel had such depths. She was beginning to enjoy his company for once. Then he had to go and ruin it.

  “I thank you and your sons for all that you have done to help my daughter, but Margaret will be returning with us today.”

  “The hell I am!” She stood up and stormed away from the table. She could hear her mother yelling at her father. Did she really just call him an asshole? Maggie didn’t care. She wouldn’t let anyone tell her what to do.

  ***

  Liam called her every day on the vid communicator.

  “How did lunch go with your parents?”

  “Okay at first. Then my dad insisted I return with him. I … said no.”

  “Oh really? My father said that you told him hell no and stomped off.”

  “I didn’t stomp,” she insisted. He chuckled.

  “Father also said that your mother yelled at your father and cried on their way back to the dome.”

  Maggie felt guilty for hurting her mother. She just couldn’t do anything right. She bit her bottom lip.

  “What’s wrong?” Liam asked with concern.

  “Nothing,” she said quickly. Too quickly.

  “You’re biting your lip. You only do that when you’re anxious or worried.”

  “I do not!” She was supposed to see her family again tomorrow. Devlon and Kyle were taking her to the dome this time, at her father’s request. She bit her lip again.

  “There! You did it again. Talk to me, beautiful.”

  She sighed. “My parents keep insisting on spending time with me. I just don’t …”

  “Don’t what?”

  “ … want to be disappointed. I know I am not the daughter they remembered. It stands to reason that they aren’t the same either.”

  “Did you stop loving them when you thought they were dead?”

  “Of course not.”

  “I am sure that they never stopped loving you either. Give them a chance to get to know you again. Give yourself a chance.” She sighed.

  “Okay. I’ll try. When are you coming back?” She laid her head on her hand.

  “Not soon enough. I miss you.”

  “I miss you, too.” They stared at each other’s images. “Are you alone?” She asked slyly.

  “Yes, why?”

  She smiled at him and moved the vid communicator, propping it up on a pillow. Then she moved backwards. “Can you see me?”

  “Uh, yes. What are you doing?” he asked.

  “I wished I had music to do this to,” she mumbled shyly.

  “Do what to?”

  “Do your people dance?” She tilted her head to the side.

  “What is ‘dance’?”

  “My people have music. We move our bodies to the rhythm of the music. We call that dancing. Like this.” She hummed a slow tune, one she remembered her grandparents playing on their radio. She couldn’t remember the words to it, though. She swayed back and forth.

  “My people don’t dance. We have music and singing, but we have never moved our bodies like that,” Liam told her.

  “We can dance together in a group, with another person up close, skin to skin, or by ourselves.” As she said that last the tune she hummed changed to something slower, sexier.

  She began to rotate her hips side to side. She looked at Liam on the vid communicator and saw he was leaning closer. She smiled, turning her back to him. She was wearing one of the dresses he had given her. It had thin straps. She pulled one slowly off one shoulder, then did the same on the other side. She slowly moved the dress down her body, swaying her hips the whole time. The dress pooled around her feet. She stepped out of it, wearing nothing but her sandals. She hummed her sexy tune the whole time.

  “Maggie.” Liam’s voice thickened with desire.

  “When we it feels like a heartbeat. The beat of the rhythm is intoxicating.” She turned around slowly. Facing his image, she undulated her body while running her hands up and down her body. She felt warmth where his eyes followed her every move.

  “Is taking your clothes off part of dancing?” His voice croaked a little.

  “For some it is. But usually it’s done in private. We usually keep our clothes on when we dance in groups in public.” She shivered with the need to be touched.

  “How many men have you danced this way for?” He licked his lips.

  “Only one.” She reached her hand down to her mound. She never had the means to shave herself down there. She had a small dark patch of curls. She moved past that and rubbed herself.

  “I wish I could see you better while you do that,” Liam said with desire.

  “Okay.” She moved to the bed and adjusted the vid communicator position so that it was showing her bottom half as she lay on her side. “How’s that?”

  “You are so damn beautiful. Touch yourself for me,” Liam growled.

  She rubbed her pussy lips. She looked at the phone, watching his every reaction. His breathing increased and he licked his lips more frequently.

  “Penetrate, Maggie. I need you to penetrate. Use your fingers. Yes, go deeper. Deeper Maggie. Curl your fingers for me.”

  “Liam.” She started to pump in and out of her puss
y with her fingers. She listened to his voice, rough with need, and followed his directions. She felt the tingles of goose bumps forming all over her body. Her nipples were tight little points and her arousal was flowing steadily from her womanhood. She had tried touching herself in the past but never felt anything like this. Having him watch her heightened the pleasure she was feeling.

  “You are so sexy,” he whispered. “Damn, I’m about to come in my pants.”

  She reached to pull the vid communicator up closer to her face so she could see him. “Liam I’m about to …”

  “Give it to me, amahala. Show me how good that feels.”

  “Liam!” Waves of pleasure crashed over her leaving her feeling a little shaky. Her breathing was heavy and so was Liam’s. There was a relieved and satisfied look on his face. She smiled. “Did you just jack off?”

  “If ‘jack off’ means that I pleasured myself while watching you pleasuring yourself, the answer is a definite yes.”

  Maggie giggled. “Hurry home, Liam.”

  “Goodnight, amahala.”

  Chapter 15

  “It’s another dead end.” Liam said. “Everyone return to rendezvous point.”

  He hated this. The two new locations he was supposed to investigate were proving to be failures. There were no signs of any life forms at all. His team did find a subway entrance, but the tunnel proved to be cut off on both ends. There was nothing there.

  Liam knew he still needed to go back to Maggie’s section. He knew that there were people there and they needed help. But his father advised waiting two weeks to let things settle down. In the meantime, he would attempt to make contact with Maggie’s tribe leader, Jerry.

  He missed Maggie. Talking to her over the vid communicator helped some, but it didn’t take away the ache and emptiness being apart from her seemed to cause. How could one small woman wrap herself around his heart so quickly?

  All he knew was that it was getting harder and harder to stay away. Liam felt instincts pushing him to protect what was his. He had to get back to her soon.

  ***

  “You need to spread your legs further apart. Further. Are you ready?”

  “Yes.” Maggie answered. Umph! She landed hard on her backside. She looked up at Kyle, who towered over her.