Two short strides took him to her side, and he lowered himself onto the bed beside her. He couldn’t resist; he had to kiss her awake. Leaning forward, he brushed his lips over hers and gently caressed the soft skin of her arm. Gods, she was beautiful. He got a damned hard-on just looking at her.
Moaning, she wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her fingers in his hair.
“Good morning, Nico,” she said, her eyes still closed.
“How did you know it was me? You haven’t opened your eyes yet.”
“Your hair is a bit longer than Rod’s, and you’re a bit thinner and taller, where he is broader.”
“Are you saying I’m fat?” Herodes asked as he walked into the room.
Lania blushed. The action looked so good on her Nico vowed to make her do so more often.
“No, you’re just more muscular.”
“Oh, so she’s saying I’m a weakling,” Nico joked.
“Will you two quit twisting my words?” Her face reddened even more, and she bowed her head, allowing her hair to cover her face in a thick, golden curtain. “You both know that I couldn’t possibly find anything wrong with you after last night.” She fidgeted, her hands twisting the thick coverlet. “After all those wonderful things you did. The things you made me feel...”
Nico felt a surge of pride and pure male ego at her words. The bond he shared with Herodes told him his triad mate felt the same.
“We must go, Nico.”
Nico rolled his eyes. “Time to get up, princess. We must go to the ship. It is almost time for the dedication and boarding. We cannot leave you here. You might be bumped back or put on another ship.”
“Why can’t I just meet with you later?”
“Because, agapi, you are not on the boarding list as a member of a triad. You must board with us or risk being left behind.”
Nico held his breath. Well, there it was, out in the open. If she wanted to be rid of her mates, she merely had to tell them she would stay behind and catch up with them later. Was their bond true? Would she go with them to not risk separation?
She worried her lower lip, deep in thought. “Can I... Can I have a few minutes to pack some things?”
Herodes glanced at his communicator, his expression suspicious. It was almost as if he suspected a disembodied voice to order them to the ship right now, regardless of their new status as a triad. Nico shook his head. Not likely.
It seemed that their Lania wasn’t like most women. Very fast and efficient, she didn’t pack necessities that he knew would be on the ship. Instead, she packed very few things that, he was sure, held tremendous sentimental value. A silver brush and comb set, several renderings of an older triad he thought must be her parents, and several program discs.
“Is that all you’re taking?”
She nodded. “It’s all I need. The replicators will make anything else we may desire.” She looked down at the small case she held in front of her. “These are irreplaceable.”
Nico felt a new respect for his mate as he watched her hug the small case to her breast. He could only hope that others were as prudent. Somehow, he knew there would be conflict among the boarders when they found they couldn’t bring everything they wanted. He was just glad Lania was about to set a good example.
When they arrived at the spaceship, a crowd of people stood upon the boarding platform. They awaited the commanders to board The Poseidon and make their final inspection.
Nico shook his head at the security people who argued and sometimes fought with other Narians in an attempt to get them to place their belongings in the ship’s hold to be recycled later. They must have known there would be no room for such inanities in personal quarters.
Personal quarters were shared for the equivalent of one revolutionary year per triad team. After all teams were cycled, it would start over. Otherwise, they would require not just larger ships but also many more of them. They didn’t have the time. Besides, several years in space could drive a person mad. This way, there was less chance of that.
“Where to now?” Lania asked as they strode through the crowd, brushing past people as they quarreled with the harried security personnel.
“We board,” Herodes said as he led the way up the embarkation plank.
“Where do you think you’re going, loner?” A rough looking member of security asked as he grabbed Lania’s arm.
“Leave her go, or die.” Nico growled, his temper flaring at seeing another male touch his mate. Reaching out, he grabbed the man by the neck.
Herodes rushed back down the plank. “Release her!”
The man swallowed visibly. “I didn’t know you had mated, sirs. My apologies and my congratulations.” He released Lania’s arm and held his hands up as he took a step back. “I was just doing my job, sirs.” He darted his gaze back and forth between them.
Nico raised his brow and bared his teeth in a predatory smile. “That is the reason you still live.”
Nico tensed when he felt someone grip his arm. Once he realized Herodes held him back and not another member of the security team, he relaxed his stance. He could feel both Rod’s and Lania’s anxiety through their mate bonds.
“Ensure all who are scheduled for duty this cycle are in their quarters before our departure. Everyone else should be put in stasis well before the second sun reaches its zenith.”
“Yes, Commander Konstantinos.”
With a nod, Nico turned on his heel, reaching for Lania’s hand as he boarded The Poseidon then made his way down the corridor toward their quarters.
He could feel Herodes’ amusement through the tri-bond. Oh, shut up, you ass. Like you wouldn’t have flattened him if you thought she was being threatened.
Herodes snorted. But he hadn’t threatened her. You overreacted, Nico.
So what if I did. Now, I’m going to work off my anxiety in our mate’s sweet body. You have any complaints?
Hell, no. Let’s hope she’s in agreement. Just thinking about sliding my cock into her ass has me harder than I can ever remember being.
“You know, I can hear every word you two are saying to each other.”
Nico squeezed her hand then pulled her to a stop. “And are you objecting, agapi?”
Lania cleared her throat. A flush of pink worked over her cheeks and down her neck as she fidgeted beneath his gaze. “Not at all. Just thought you should know I can hear you is all.”
Nico once again headed toward their quarters. Herodes’ low chuckle followed them down the hall.
After they reached their quarters, Nico and Herodes took her in their arms and began to peel her clothes from her body. "We don't have much time," Nico murmured against her lips. "We have to attend the chancellor's speech in a half hour."
Lania looked at him through hooded eyes. "Then what are you waiting for?"
Nico swallowed and looked over her shoulders at Rod. If his eyes held half as much heat and need as Rod’s did, their mate should be quivering in fear. So why wasn’t she?
Because I know that neither of you will ever hurt me, Nico. Now stop wasting time and start worshipping me as I deserve.
“Yes, agapi,” they both quipped.
Rod stood transfixed. His eyes watched the play of light across her skin as each piece of clothing they removed from their mate revealed another tantalizing bit of flesh.
Beneath his trews his cock hardened. Beads of sweat gathered upon his forehead, and his hands itched to reach out and pull her into his arms. Damn it. He wished they had more time to love her slowly, to love her as she deserved.
As though she read his mind—and perhaps she had—Lania turned to him, heat and need in her eyes. “Whether it’s fast or slow, as long as you both love me, I’ll be happy.”
Rod swallowed past the lump in his throat. How did we ever get so lucky as to find a mate so perfect, Nico?
Aren’t you glad now you listened to me when I told you to wait for Lania?
Yes. Yes, I am.
“Hello… Guys? I’m
right here, and time is running out.”
Herodes chuckled. “You’re right, agapi. We should definitely be seeing to your pleasure.”
As one, the pair moved in on their mate, each taking one of her hands and leading her deeper into their assigned suite. Having known they would be bringing a mate to their quarters beforehand, they arranged to have the rooms decorated as close to a traditional Narian home as they could manage.
The room was large, as befit the commanders of the ship. Several hand-painted panels separated the living quarters from the sleeping area. A thick beige carpet covered the floor, and the utilitarian chairs with colorful throws and pillows gave it a homey feel. There were colorful renderings of Narian landscape and the Limni Krystallos on the walls. A gaming table stood in the corner—no doubt for the long days they would have during the year that they would be caretakers.
Behind the beautiful panels, a large bed dominated the sleeping area, taking up most of the available space. Covered with bright, thick quilts, it was so big it didn't look as if it belonged in the room.
"Did you...?" Her voice cracked. "Did you do this for me?"
“Haven’t you figured it out by now, mate?” Herodes whispered. “There isn’t anything we wouldn’t do for you.”
Herodes noticed tears gather in her eyes. His heart cracked as he saw her try to prevent them from falling. He couldn’t watch her cry, not when this should be a joyous time.
Nico must have had the same thought because he, too, reached out for her, sandwiching her body between them. “Shh, my mate. Shh.” They both held on to her, doing their best to offer her comfort and warmth.
Minutes passed as the trio held on to each other. Whispered words and soft caresses passed between them. Lingering touches turned to heated stroking and deep kisses. Soon, touching and kissing wasn’t enough, not for any of them.
As they moved toward the bed, a strident alarm shattered their intimacy. “Dammit,” Nico muttered. “That’s the fifteen minute warning.”
“Fifteen minute warning?”
“Yes, the high chancellor’s speech,” the two men said in unison with obvious frustration.
Lania glanced up and met each of their gazes. “So soon? I hoped we could—”
“Us, too, agapi. Us, too,” Nico muttered. With dismayed frowns, Nico and Herodes gathered up their mate’s clothes. Too soon she was dressed, and the triad headed to the bridge. They had preparations to finish, and not a lot of time in which to do it.
* * * * *
“People of Naria, I present to you, High Chancellor Carrain!” The high elder stepped down and away from the temporary dais. The high chancellor clasped the high elder’s shoulder then stepped up onto the dais and faced the people gathered on the boarding platform.
“Fellow Narians. I come to you in this great hour to remind you of your quest. It is with a heavy heart that I send you out into the blackness of space to find a new home for our people. You are now explorers, emissaries if you will. I ask you to seek out a new world. When you find this world that fits our requirements, radio our people and give them the coordinates so they may join you, just as we will do the same. We are all taking different paths, every ship heading in a different direction, with the hope of finding a better life—for our mates, for our children, and for ourselves. May the gods bless your journey.”
Nico watched with a thoughtful expression as Domanus Carrain addressed their people.
He reached out and took Lania’s hand and waited for her to reach out to Rod, taking his hand in hers.
I love you, mate, Nico whispered into her mind.
As do I, agapi, Rod added.
Tears filled her eyes. She smiled. I love you guys, too. She laughed when they just stared at her. What? Do you think I spread my legs for just anyone?
About the Authors
Tianna Xander is the author of several paranormal, time-travel, and science fiction romance novels. She loves reading everything from romance novels, murder mysteries, and encyclopedias, to handbooks on solar energy. Tianna is the first to admit she spends far too much time surfing the Internet and chatting with her online friends and critique groups.
Having written several novels and always working on at least one more at any given time, Tianna still finds time for her family, friends, and her many pets. At present, she lives in Michigan with her husband, two children, three cats, two big dogs, and one occasionally terrorized Netherland Dwarf bunny. Her life is anything but boring. Please visit Tianna at her Web site at: www.tiannaxander.com.
Bonnie Rose Leigh has been writing since she was just a tyke. She lives in a small town in Upstate, New York and spends most of her time on the computer either writing, or visiting with friends. If she’s not busy on the computer, she spends her free time reading. It doesn't matter what genre the book is either, although she admits to being partial to romance novels. If not in her office, she can be found sprawled in a chair with a book clutched in one hand and a steaming cup of cocoa sitting nearby.
To find out more about Bonnie, visit her Web site at www.mybonnierose.net.
Narian Summer Page 4