“I ordered some items for him,” Daxx mumbled as he led me down another set of stairs outside the bedroom door.
We walked down to the third floor, down an open pale staircase with stairs that looked like they were made with cork. They allowed you to see through to the following floor between each step.
The third floor was the automation section so we didn’t explore all of it but he pointed out a big open kitchen with an actual stove and oven. It was huge and futuristic-looking but not far off from home. Lots of counterspace, a breakfast bar. Great lighting. It warm and welcoming.
“The man I bought the house from said his wife loved to cook. She didn’t use nourishment machines. I had the machines put in but just never took the kitchen out.”
“This equipment looks similar to what we have at home. But better.”
“I’ll get rid of it and find another use for the space,” Daxx shrugged.
“I’d keep it. Just because your planet has advanced beyond this, it could be good to show your kids. You know… someday. It’d be good if they knew how to prepare a meal without technology. It’s a good skill.”
She looked at Daxx and felt her face flush.
“You’ll be a good mother,” he said softly.
She shrugged and laughed, “I don’t know about that. I didn’t exactly have a shining example of a mother to learn from.”
“It doesn’t matter. I see it in you, the way you mothered those girls on the way to Phallyx. You comforted them. You were very nurturing. It’s one of the many qualities you have that attracted me and likely those three others who were willing to battle to the death to have you as their wife.”
“Do you know them? Outside the competition?”
“They knew me better than I knew them. Being Spar Blackstar’s son. You know. People know of me.”
“Ah.”
“I met Breck and Cairo just briefly the day before I saw you, at the finals. All of those men had won the ability to be there through competitions for entry order. They knew of me. I know Lars. Not well but well enough to not be surprised by the stunt he tried to pull with the rock. His uncle lives near here and he is here occasionally. He’s not someone I would typically associate with.”
“You look like you smelled something foul there.”
“His family has a questionable past. From the way he behaved, ready to strike me with a boulder over the head, he’s proven he’s cut from the same cloth. There were seven from that group of men who earmarked you.”
“Seven?”
“Seven. Only those three went toe to toe but seven initially were earmarking you.”
“What information was on those little calculator-like things you had. You never did tell me.”
“Body stats, your age, health levels. Fertility. There’s an overall scoring system. But your score was the lowest.”
“It was? Why?” Clipboard Assholes hated me. That was why.
“Because your planet rated you as difficult and argumentative. Ill tempered. That wasn’t the least bit off-putting to a third of the men in group one who all listed you as their first pick. Clearly, Phallyxian men tend to lean toward spirited women.”
“Assholes. Clipboard, not the competitors. Although some of them?” I made a sour face remembering their behavior and he chuckled and then led me down to the bottom level, which had another big furnished indoor living space and then a giant sunroom with a dining table and lounge area, much like the big office room on the main floor back at his father’s guest house.
“Every room has a combination nourishment and inventory machine. These are slightly more advanced than what my father had.”
I looked and instead of looking like microwaves with sliding doors, they were larger, standalone units with multiple shelves, the size of small bookshelves. All had screens.
“I’ll take a few minutes to update things. Then you can either access your profile, mine, or Banshee’s. There are general house sections as well. Some things can’t go to all stations, if there are size restrictions. The bedroom closet is the choice for very large items. If you look on the inventory screen you can also go directly to an item on the storage level.”
“Got it.”
“I ordered some items for you. Some clothing. Cosmetics. I don’t know if you’ll like what I chose but since you didn’t have very much with you…we can order more. The program made selections based on your existing inventory and I added a few more things, some formal wear. Sleepwear.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
Awkward silence surrounded us, kind of closed in on me.
“This here,” he motioned to the panel and there was a little orange circle, “will notify you of the weather forecast. We’re in the stormy season for this area so you don’t want to be outdoors during a storm. It’s extremely dangerous. You need to take cover if you find yourself out there. The rain is hard, the winds are harsh. And beyond that, there are orange pellets that sting the skin if exposed in small quantities. In large quantities, they can make you very ill. They can be fatal if the sores become infected, which can happen quickly.”
I nodded. Well, that sounded ominous. At some point, I might get myself in trouble with that. Knowing me, I probably would.
“It’s the only drawback to this area. These storms don’t happen everywhere. They’re over in about five minutes or so and almost always in the middle of the night but they are brutal. We get an early warning with this panel when the orange circle flashes it means a storm is imminent. When it turns large and fills this screen, it means there’s a storm in progress. I also get alerts on my phone. I’ll have a phone ordered for you. Modifications are being made to make them Earth female friendly.”
“Okay.”
“Any questions so far?” he asked.
“What’s for dinner?” I asked, “I’m famished.”
He smiled, “I’ll show you some options.” And we climbed the stairs to the level with the bedrooms.
Banshee was on the bed. Daxx made a whistle sound and Banshee jumped down with a huff.
“You want to sleep in the garage?” Daxx asked and I almost laughed.
Banshee tilted his head and went, “Aroo.”
And then trotted to me and bumped my legs with his head.
“He’s looking to you for protection,” Daxx muttered.
“And he’s gonna get it,” I said in a baby talk voice and then squatted so that I could scratch behind both his ears simultaneously. He lunged, knocking me onto my butt and then I fell back and he was on me just like that first day when I met him in the woods. He laid on me.
Daxx leaned over and hauled him off me. I was giggling. Daxx held the white fluff ball up and looked down at him, “What am I gonna do with you?’
Banshee licked Daxx’s chin. Daxx shook his head and put him down. And then he looked at me. I was still lying on the floor, looking up at him, at how tall he was, how muscular, his overall presence.
“And what am I gonna do with you?” he asked.
I smiled shyly. He leaned down and scooped me up, “I’ll start with feeding you dinner?”
“Okay,” I whispered, my nipples tingled.
He went to the food machine on the top floor, me in his arms, which was kind of odd but quite sweet. He sat in an armchair beside it, still holding me, and then he started to scroll through menu items and after I agreed, he ordered us a beef wellington looking entrée with roasted vegetables that looked like Earth vegetables but different colors. What looked like baby potatoes were a lima bean green color. What looked like carrots were white. He ordered us some wine as well. While we ate, he told me about his vineyards, about the herbs and spices he grew and how they were used in restaurants and resorts as well as in medicine.
The food was delicious.
He talked more about the owner of the property selling it to him specifically after losing the woman that he loved, who he built the house for.
“Did a lot of men commit suicide after losing their wives and families?”<
br />
“Some, yes. Others drank themselves to death or acted carelessly with blood sports. There was a lot of anger.”
I nodded solemnly. “What about you? You lost your mother, sisters, your niece. Did you lose a woman you were in love with, too, Daxx?”
Daxx shook his head, “No. I broke off a long-term relationship before the infection. I was single.”
“Long term? You weren’t married?”
“No. I had relationships before. The rule about sexual relations equating to marriage passed after the infection.”
“It’s too bad those rules didn’t extend to disclosure.”
I winced and his face changed. I knew my reaction disappointed him. I didn’t want to have that discussion again, or anything, but couldn’t help that it was still fresh in my mind. That wound hadn’t totally closed, although it was getting less painful by the day.
His phone made a noise, saving the awkward moment and he looked at it.
“Strom’s here.”
“Who’s Strom?”
“Neighbor. He works for me. He’s also a good friend.” Daxx rose from the table we were seated at. We were on the main, ground-level floor of the house.
I saw a tall beautiful black man stroll right in. He was bald and muscular. His skin looked like satin. He wore tailored black suit pants and shiny black boots as well as a navy-blue pea coat that was double-breasted. He worked it.
He had swagger. He was like a tall alien Taye Diggs. He stopped in his tracks, took me in from head to toe, and then gave Daxx a surprised look and gave me a panty-melting gorgeous smile.
“Strom,” Daxx greeted.
Strom stood, speechless, smiling. His eyes traveling up and down my body.
“This isn’t…” he stopped and winced, as if he’d misspoke.
“Treya. No. This isn’t her. This is Jetta. Jetta Blackstar. My wife.”
I stood up. Strom was even taller than Daxx. He was a freaking giant. And his arms were huge. I could see his bulk through his stylish suit.
“Is there a law against having no muscles here on this planet or something?” I muttered aloud. I should’ve said that in my head. I also should have stopped myself from slowly taking in the tall dark drink of water with my mouth open.
Daxx parroted what I said and Strom laughed heartily and looked at Daxx with approval.
Daxx looked at me and cocked one brow up. His jaw muscles flexed like I’d been naughty or something. Uh oh.
“Oh, she’s lovely, friend. Very lovely. I thought the deliveries I received were odd. Now I understand.”
“Where is it all?”
“The house received it. I only opened the one,” he looked mischievous.
I didn’t know what they were talking about so I reached for his hand to shake but he wrapped his arms around me and lifted me right off the ground in a hug.
Um, he was smelling my hair. Eek.
“Take it easy, friend,” Daxx warned and Strom put me down gently.
“Oh, Blackstar. You scoundrel.”
I heard a growling sound and for a second thought it was Daxx but Banshee was suddenly at my side.
“She’s okay, Banshee. Sit,” Daxx said.
I blushed. Strom was a big flirt.
His eyes drank me in again and he was smiling, huge.
“I decided to save the news for in-person,” said Daxx.
“I didn’t know you were back today. This is certainly a surprise. How, might I ask, did this come about?”
“Long story,” Daxx replied.
“I got time,” Strom sat down in the chair Daxx had been sitting in and unbuttoned his blazer.
I sat back at the table and sipped my wine.
“Well, it’s our first night here and we’ve only just finished dinner so we don’t,” Daxx replied, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Jetta, lovely to meet you. Daxx, old boy, I’ll see you first thing. Have a great evening, both of you.”
Strom rose, leaned over and took my hand and kissed it.
I heard Daxx rumble, “Strom.”
“Uh, you might not want to do that,” I said, “Last guy who kissed my hand wound up knocked out.”
Strom looked at me curiously. Daxx repeated what I said and then Strom threw his head back and laughed, “I don’t blame Daxx. I’d do the same.”
“He doesn’t understand you, baby; he doesn’t have a translator. Yet.” Daxx told me.
“Oh,” I said.
Strom turned to an annoyed-looking Daxx and slapped Daxx on the back, highly amused. Daxx walked him to the door and stepped outside with him.
I cleared our plates by putting them back into the food machine and hitting a button, which brought a door down over them and then a low sound of them being cleared away. I took my glass of wine and stepped out onto the balcony to enjoy the sky, which was beginning to go darker.
The water looked calm, serene, and the cliffs opposite us were breathtakingly beautiful at dusk like this. What a gorgeous place to live. I could see why Daxx preferred it here to living where his father lived. It was nice there, too, but nothing like this view.
I was alone for a good ten or fifteen minutes and starting to feel the wine I’d been slow-nursing by the time Daxx joined me on the balcony. It was furnished with a dining area for eight as well as some smaller chairs and loveseats. I was standing at the wrought iron railing.
When I felt his presence. I turned to look at him. He had a look on his face that made my heart skip a beat.
I downed the rest of the wine in my glass.
“It’s lovely here at sunset,” I told him but he was moving toward me with purpose.
He stopped an inch from me and looked down at me, “It’s even lovelier with you here.”
His expression looked so serious it sliced into me like a knife piercing my gut. I had trouble catching a breath suddenly.
He was just looking at me, not touching me, just looking. And I wanted him to kiss me. I could feel the sexual tension building and then he stepped away and put his hands on the railing and looked ahead.
“Strom seems nice,” I said softly, disappointed that the moment had been broken.
He grunted a sound of disapproval, “He was giving you a nice once over. I didn’t like his hands on you.”
“I guess it’s a novelty, seeing a girl in your house,” I shrugged.
“There’s also the fact that you’re beautiful,” Daxx said.
I smiled, “Um, thanks.”
“He’s in the next round for a wife in about three months. He’s looking forward to it. It can’t come soon enough, by the way he looked at you. I’m going to call my father. If you like, we can take a walk on the beach after or if you’re tired we can save that for tomorrow.”
“I’m kind of ready for a bath and bed,” I said.
“I’ll join you in a few minutes.”
“In the bath?” I gasped.
“In bed. Unless I’m invited to this bath?” he smirked and gave me a head to toe hungry gaze.”
“Uh, no. You’re not.” I couldn’t help but smile.
“But it’s a Phallyx tradition. Husbands and their wives bathe together. It might even be the law.”
“What?”
He cracked a smile.
“You’re funny. Hardy har har.”
“Damn. Caught me. Alright. I’ll see you in bed. I’ll take Banshee out. Tomorrow I’ll have a small tunnel door put in so he can wander as he likes.” He leaned over and kissed my temple and then he went downstairs.
I followed downstairs to the bedroom and found the ensuite bathroom which was similar to the one in the guest house at Spar’s. I navigated the menu with little difficulty and ran myself a bath and ordered a nice fluffy robe that looked the same as the one at his father’s house, only it was red instead of pink. I started to scroll through screens of what was available to me and was blushing when I saw all the lingerie in there. Um, wow. Loads of lingerie. Some nice gowns, pants, blouses, shoes, boots. It was as if a
personal shopper had kitted me out for a lavish holiday. I was excited about the prospect of playing dress-up. I found a huge stash listed of cosmetics, too. I’d go through them tomorrow. All the sleeping stuff was a little too revealing and I didn’t know where he’d put my gym bag so I went into his virtual closet and selected a white shirt. When it came, it felt too much like leather to sleep in so I sent it back. I found a long sleeve shirt that was a lot like a Henley, but softer, and it was like a sweater dress on me but lightweight fabric so I decided I’d sleep in that.
The bed was super-comfortable. But I didn’t sleep. I laid there for what must have been hours, looking out the huge window at the cliffs and the water, looking at the sky, which had just as many stars here as I’d seen through the cool ceiling in the bed at that guest house.
I was having trouble turning my mind off, thinking on all that had happened so far and found myself wishing I could talk to some of the other girls, have a pow-wow to discuss what they were dealing with. They all had ‘husbands’ by now. I didn’t know what became of Lacey but had to assume she’d been claimed by someone by now. I hoped all the girls were okay. I hoped that the savagery and caveman antics I’d seen at the reception weren’t indicative of the kind of life we’d all be living. Once the others were alone with the men who had claimed them, would they get sweet and romantic gestures like I’d had?
And then my mind wandered back to some of what we’d been told on the way over. There was the lie about a million Earth women being sent here over a five-year period. It sounded like it would be much more than a million. What did Daxx say? Five million to start with? And what about that briefing we were supposed to have by our handlers a few days after arriving? They weren’t going to have a meeting with us. They didn’t give two shits about us. They were heading back home and harvesting more women for Phallyx men because Earth fucked up. Earth fucked up huge.
I thought back to my behavior on the flight over. Daxx might want an exchange by this point because that girl on the flight over was feisty and nurturing and that wasn’t what he had with me. I felt like I’d lost my mojo somewhere through all of this. And right now, in the bed alone, for some strange reason I just wanted him to climb in and hold me.
Hot Alpha Alien Husbands: Book One: Daxx and Jetta Page 21