by Mallory Rush
Before Urich could protest, Raven intervened. "She is affected by this as well, Urich. Let Eva have the audience she desires. It's the right thing to do."
Fingertips to temples, the Tribunal cast their affirmative concurrence.
"Yes," Zar agreed. "It is just."
Urich's glare was accusing. "Have it your way, Eva. Just don't make me further regret that you came here."
His ungracious acceptance stung, but Eva knew he was smarting even more. She had publically over-ruled her mate in front of his peers, and in this male dominated society, that was quite a blow. Lord, but they needed some women to straighten them up and turn them around.
"Come, Dr. Campbell." Though Zar didn't proffer his arm, she took it anyway.
He stiffened at her touch, but Eva held on. It was the first step of the plan she snuffed from her mind. If Urich got a whiff of her intentions, God only knew what he'd do. For sure he'd do more than all the snarling he was doing now.
It lanced her ears as they exited, and she knew Urich was this close to lunging, asserting his primal claim.
Only after they reached a private room did Eva breathe a sigh of relief.
"I'm also surprised he was able to restrain himself," Zar commented as he removed her grip—regretfully, she thought. "Such contact of a female mate can incite a violent reaction in the male. For all Urich's misguided behavior, it seems that he did acquire some discipline over his instincts during his stay on Earth."
Zar motioned her to a streamlined metal chair, which she disdained for what passed as a couch. Patting the space beside her, she invited, "sit with me."
"So, Urich was correct in saying that you humans like physical proximity." Seating himself at the far end, Zar shifted uncomfortably when she scooted beside him. "Please, Dr. Campbell, this really isn't—"
"Call me Eva. We don't have much time, so let's drop the formalities and get down to business."
"Ah... yes, the deal." He jerked when she ran a finger from his knee to his thigh, sucked in his breath as she began to lightly stroke. "What do you think you're—"
"This is the deal. You want babies. I can give them to you. Finding someone else means you'll have to start from scratch. I'm here and I'm willing to get to it right now."
"Dr. Camp—"
"Eva," she whispered seductively into his ear.
"E-Eva. You must stop this. It-it's not acceptable."
"Who cares? Don't you want your race to continue?"
"Of course, but..." he groaned at her nip to his lobe.
"I can help you, Zar. Spare Urich and I'll give you babies. But you'll have to let me raise them, give them the emotional values of my people. We can work something out with logistics—divvy up the time between our two worlds."
"How—how can you profess this thing called love to my son and betray him with your hands on me like this?"
"Only love could drive anyone to a desperate act. That's what this is, Zar. I'll do anything to save him, even if it means selling my soul and bartering my body for a man who'll never forgive me for it." The stakes so high she was queasy, Eva courted Zar's capitulation and forced herself to lightly brush his crotch. One that surely hadn't been touched in an eon, judging from his strangled groan, the rise of his hips, as she quickly returned her palm to his knee. "Take the deal, Zar," she purred over the heave of her stomach. "Take it, take me, and let him go."
"But he would rather die."
"Why should you care?" she asked, blowing the question into his ear.
"I—I don't know. But this not only goes against our code of honor, it feels wrong."
"Feels," she repeated, inching her hand higher, not giving a damn about his honor or hers, just desperate, beyond desperate to cinch her win. "See, you can feel after all. Feel me, Zar," she murmured, leading his hand near her breast. "Feel what it's like to want something, someone so much that even if you know it's wrong, you can't help yourself."
"Help me," he panted. "Remove my hand. I can't. I—I've never touched anything like this."
"Urich tried to resist me, too, but he didn't stand a chance. So, how does it feel, Zar? How does it feel to be in the position he was in?"
"It... it's horrible. Wonderful."
"Oh yes, it is," she assured him. And then she beseeched him. "If you can understand what he went through, can't you show him some mercy?"
"You're torturing me," he said raggedly. "Why are you doing this?"
"Because our time's running out and you have to make a decision." When his reply was a frantic clutch at her breast, Eva steeled herself to further compromise them both. "Take it out, see what you're touching."
With a savage swipe, he rent the gown's bodice. But how reverent was his awe-struck gaze, the trembling of his hand as he lifted a single breast.
"You want to claim it, claim me."
"Yes, yes," he sifted out between groans.
"And you'll accept the better deal, right?"
His gaze was so devouringly needful, she was torn between pity for his starved senses and abject terror that her master plan was about to blow up in her face.
"Yes, anything. I accept anything for this." With a deep, yearning growl he bent to taste what he held.
Before he could take a single lick, Eva sprang from the couch and lifted her gown near to her thighs.
"What—what are you doing?" he sputtered.
"Keeping my end of the bargain. I'm naked under my gown, so I'm ready. Pull down your pants and let's just do it." His jaw dropped and she demanded, "C'mon, what're you waiting for? Put your penis in my vagina, do what it takes to ejaculate, and we're done." Her deliberately clinical summation got the right reaction. Zar flushed as he covered his straining crotch with folded hands.
"I'm waiting," she taunted. "So is the Tribunal. And Urich. Considering you want to claim his mate, he might be a little upset."
"You tricked me!"
Oh, but she had, and Zar didn't know the half of it yet. "I just beat you at your own game. Now, about our deal—"
"There is no deal."
"Oh yeah? With my own two ears I heard you say, and I quote: 'Yes, anything. I accept anything for this.' End quote. Now, according to you guys, once a deal is struck, you can't change what's already been ordained. You did, however, unordain Urich's deal in exchange for mine. Far be it from me to go back on my word, the deal we agreed to still stands. Unless you unordain this one, too."
Zar shook his head in bewilderment. "How could I have come so close to betraying my people? Urich could have had me emasculated and then there would be no hope for us at all."
"He still could," she pointed out, holding onto her hard line despite her sympathy for the jerk. But maybe, just maybe he wouldn't be such a jerk after this. Eva gestured to her bodice. "If I go back in there like this, he'll want to attack you and nobody would stop him. Your laws, Zar, could use some flexibility. Not to mention a little less logic and a lot more human empathy."
Zar considered that, and then he nodded. Once. "You make a good case, but we are not like your kind."
"You're like us enough to let something besides your brain do your thinking." Eva was gratified to see him blush. "You know, Zar, I think there's hope for you yet."
"Not if you return in the gown I tore. My deepest apologies for that... Eva."
He could get turned on. He could be angry, even blush and say he was sorry. Definitely hope.
"I could be persuaded to change."
"How?" he said, coming out his seat and quickly jerking her bodice together. Quicker still he clasped his hands behind his back.
Eva pinched his cheek. And smiled. Conspiratorially.
"Forget the other two, I'm gonna make you deal you can't refuse. A honey of a deal, Zar. You're gonna love it."
Chapter 22
Where were they? Urich wondered in the ferocious silence he had kept. He couldn't track them in movement or thought, his own mind a maelstrom of turbulent emotion.
If Zar touched her, even once, he'd carve
out Zar's crotch before he put the blade to himself. That's exactly what he'd do... wasn't it? He'd have every right. But then again, would it be fair for his race to become extinct so he could 'have his pound of flesh' as Eva had once put it?
Damn her anyway. She made him see things in that convoluted human perspective of hers. And even if by some miracle she skewed Zar's perspective as well, the woman would be the death of him yet.
He should be dead by now. But there came Eva, roaring like the lioness she was, cutting her teeth on his heart and his pride, while every male in their midst licked their lips as they savored the sight of his mate.
Even now all eyes were on the spot she had exited. And even now, as she and Zar made a regal entrance together, Eva dressed in Deducian attire—much too clingy, it left nothing to the imagination, or rather, too much—the assembly rose in expectation, then bowed to her as if she were the Queen of their Universe wrapped in a wet dream.
Urich forced himself not to stalk Zar's impossibly smiling way and wrench Eva's hand from his arm. She was smiling too, a grin that was between a glow and a gloat.
Her eyes, shining and bright, caught his. Eva winked.
Before he could ponder what in the world she had managed to pull off, Zar bypassed his exalted end of the table and directed their sweeping pace to where Urich stood, waiting in amazement. Amazement on top of amazement, Zar extended his hand and said, "She is yours. You are free. Shake on it?"
Urich was about to grip the hand Zar offered, but stopped short. "I'll hear the deal first."
"As she said, she gets what she wants, and I get what I want. It's a... honey of a deal? A deal I couldn't refuse. I agreed, certain the Tribunal would be thrilled as well with what Eva so generously offered."
Eva? Thrilled? Urich wasn't sure which term alarmed him the most. "You've never been thrilled a day in your life. And as for your familiar reference to my mate, I'm not overly thrilled with that."
"But she is going to be my daughter-in-law. Aren't you, my dear?"
"Absolutely," Eva confirmed. "After we go through some formalities here to do it up right, Zar wants to come with us to Vegas to give the bride away. And Raven, you'll stand up as a witness both places, won't you?"
"Of—of... but of course. I would be honored."
Eva pecked his cheek, then turned her gaze to Urich. Love and laughter she sent him as she said softly, "Shake your father's hand, Urich. It's the right thing to do."
His trust in Eva implicit, he took Zar's offering.
"I was wrong," Zar said. "Forgive me for my crimes against you and your woman, Urich."
A crime against Eva? "What happened in there?"
Eva and Zar exchanged a secretive glance.
"Quite simply, she made me understand the virtues of a woman's wiles, the merits of empathy, the rare treasure to be had in being loved as deeply as she does you." With an eloquent bow to Eva he added, "And the benefits of compromise."
Chapter 23
"She's perfect for our purposes, Urich."
"Indeed, Raven, I do believe we have another gem to add to our celestial crown." Urich's gaze sharpened on the latest lady of adventure he'd put his mind to seeking out.
"Would you stop that!" Eva pinched his thigh beneath the pub's table. "For heaven's sake, Urich, how many more women do you need? The Tribunal's starting to look like a harem, and Zar has enough cat fights to make me wonder why he's taking his sweet time deciding which one he wants for a mate."
"He's waiting to fall in love and wants just the right one to laugh and argue and get beastly with. After all, once he picks, she's it and his days of fawning females are done."
Even as he said it, Urich could hardly believe he was actually taking up for his father. But Zar had changed, as had they all. Humanity was proving highly contagious, but it seemed everyone in Deducia was eager to catch the germs. And as for love, what a deliciously rampant plague it had struck.
"Besides, Eva, it was your idea," he proudly pointed out. "And what a marvelous idea it was."
She blew her knuckles and shined them on her shirt. "I did okay. But to tell the truth, I didn't expect so many volunteers. Or virtually all of them wanting to stay."
"Why should this surprise you?" Raven asked, joining in. "They're revered by our males and even those who believe themselves unattractive are gazed at in wonderment of their beauty by what they consider to be the 'hunks of the universe'. Besides that, no matter how badly they cook, their dishes are raved over. And to top it all off, any mate they take will never, ever stray."
"Here, here," Eva said, raising her beer in salute.
Three amber longnecks clinked. Sipping his, Raven went on. "Anyway, it seems ample incentive to stay rather than return to their previous lives, thinking they've suffered some temporary amnesia. Then again, they could keep their memories along with their mates and live as the two of you do. But none seem so inclined—unless we're displaced, but at least we could all survive here now that we've found our balance between logic and the illogical wisdom of women."
Urich laced his fingers with Eva's and squeezed. They both knew that Raven had left out a sensitive detail. Children. A contributing factor to Zar being in such demand. Those who had paired up knew it was a trade-off: a devoted mate in exchange for the children they could never have.
Not wanting to talk about it, Urich said, "well, it's easier for them to stay without having family to grieve over their absence. So many orphans, I'm glad they seem to feel that they've found family amongst us and themselves."
"Me, too." Eva nuzzled closer to her husband, her lover, her companion for life. She had news, great wonderful news, and couldn't wait to tell him. With a kittenish lick of her lips, she whispered, "let's go home. Tomorrow's our two year anniversary, but I'd like to celebrate tonight."
He gave her a swift kiss, then insisted on paying the tab. Eva let him, knowing what pride he took in his Earth earnings. Big bucks, too. Urich gave new meaning to Psychic of the Stars. Quite a splash he'd made with his accuracy and unerringly transcendent advice. He gave it free to those he perceived were in need of some guidance, and stuck it to Hollywood—which was a lot more impressed with him than he was with anything so "fleeting as fame and Jags" as he put it.
"We're calling it a night, Raven," he said. "As always, we'd be happy to have you stay with us."
"Actually, I need to get back. Darla's probably missing me and I know that I'm missing her." He sighed in delight. "Who would have thought that I'd feel like a boy again at my age? Oh, but I'm happy these days. And Eva, I am so happy for you. Congratulations again on the grand opening of your interactive amusement center. At Disneyland, right?"
"Right." Maybe she wasn't TinkerBell, but she'd managed to sprinkle her share of fairy dust on others. It seemed that some had landed on Ethan, currently honeymooning in the Caribbean and up to his elbows in researching what she'd refused to learn from Urich. "We can check out the holodeck the next time you're here."
"It's a date. I don't suppose you'll have a matter converter incorporated by then."
"No way," she assured him. She was perfectly happy with things just the way they were. The holodeck was the newest craze, but nobody was going crazy or being controlled. It was an escape that lent some borrowed companionship to those who needed it and simple amusement to those who didn't. And good old freedom of enterprise was preventing any power mongering of innocent people. The funders were selling patents like mad.
"Tell me, Eva, why is it that you don't want what's there for the taking?"
"Let's just say, Raven, that invention, like relationships and time, has to take its natural course. You know us humans, having to evolve at our own snail's pace while we play catch up with you guys."
They left Raven laughing heartily.
"It is pretty funny," she said as Urich drove in a brooding silence. "I mean, for anyone to become so highly evolved only to take a giant step back to get where they need to be going—with the help of lower life forms, no less."
His own chuckle was strained.
Should she tell him? She should, but this news was too good to spill in a car.
"Why don't you zap us home?" she suggested. "Do your 'I Dream of Jeannie' trick."
"It's closer to 'Bewitched'," he muttered dryly.
Sliding her hand up his thigh, she knew how to get her way. "Oh honey, if you don't zap us home, I'm going to be a very naughty girl and you know what happened the last time I had my way with you in a car. Remember, the one you totaled?"
Seconds later, Eva was giggling on top of him in their bed. "Did you put the car in the garage?"
"It's in. Now you have to deal with my beastly bedroom manners." With a lusty growl, he nipped her neck. "Purr for me," he commanded like the sweet beast he was.
"Ur-r-rich," she did indeed purr. "Or should I call you, mmm, how about... Daddy?"
With a wave of his hand, a dozen candles leaped to life. His beloved face, all angles and dark shadows, was etched in pained lines as he said tightly, "Eva, if this is your idea of a joke, it isn't funny."
"I know. And if you'll notice, I'm not laughing."
His eyes searched hers and she could see forever in his gaze. Like Alice through the looking glass, she tripped through and saw a rainbow of shimmering hope.
"We've got the pot of gold, Urich. The adoption agency called today and we have our babies on the way. Twins. A boy and a girl. They're a year old and flying in from Korea."
"But I thought—" He blinked back the quick tears of emotion she joyfully gave into for them both. "They said my background was too sketchy, my profession too unstable, that we hadn't been married long enough. How... why?"
"You're asking me?" Eva laughed and cried while he swept her face with kisses. "Belief is the key," she reminded him. "And now, oh great companion, before Beauty summons her Beast, read my thoughts and say with me..."