by Rena Marks
Leah stopped, looking at her funny. “Why?”
“In case I make you uncomfortable.” Tempest squirmed. “I know I am not the easiest person to be friends with. But friends talk to each other—”
“It’s not you, Tempest. It’s me. I want to hang out with you. There are just certain things going on in my life.”
“But you won’t share them with me.”
“I’m not used to sharing,” Leah said. “I’ve been silent for six years, remember?”
“So you are freezing Trance out, too? He is your sponsor. I am your best friend.”
Finally. The edges of Leah’s lips squirmed upward into a small smile. “Yeah. You’re my best friend. You’re right, we should hang out more. Do you want to come with me to this cooking lesson?”
Tempest really didn’t see the point to learning to cook, not like a few of these crazy Xeno Sapiens. They followed Leah faithfully—like sheep. After all, it wasn’t like they didn’t have fine food prepared for them in the mess hall. Every day. But sometimes friends had to make sacrifices.
“Yes. I will come to support you.”
She sent a quick message to Trance to let Shawn know she’d be a little late in meeting him because she was off on a cooking lesson.
“You want to take a break carrying that heavy box?” Leah asked her. “I can take it back.”
“No, I have more strength than humans. Plus, I am taller than you so I can actually see over the top of it.”
Leah laughed. “That’s what I love about you, Tempest. You’re so open. I wish I could be like that. It would be simpler. But I’m not. I’m closed off and tend to hide things.”
“It is not simpler,” Tempest said. “I had a ton of work making others see things my way. They thought I did not have true friendships.”
“You’re just a little unorthodox,” Leah said. “The most important thing is Shawn loves you the way you are.”
“Yes, he does,” Tempest said. “And as far as you being closed off and hiding things? That makes Trance the perfect sponsor for you. He has also learned to be closed off, so he understands this. He accepts it, just as Shawn accepts me.”
“Yeah,” Leah said. “I guess as sponsors go, he’s not a bad guy. I just don’t want to take too much of his time and he keeps wanting to be right there, always in my business.”
“He cares for you.”
Leah winced. She definitely didn’t want to hear that.
“In a platonic way,” Tempest amended.
Leah winced again. “Let’s not talk about that, okay?”
It was curious that her friend wished to avoid speaking of a relationship because she’d seen the way she looked at Trance. It seemed, before Leah had moved from his apartment, that things might swing that way. What had happened in the meantime?
“Okay, but I will be here should you wish to open that discussion in the future.”
“Gotcha.”
“How about dreams? Do you dream?”
She heard Leah’s swift intake of breath. “How do you know about that?”
She couldn’t tell her. Leah had already shut down the discussion of Trance. “The circles under your eyes,” she said gently.
Leah relaxed and Tempest knew that was the right move. “They’ll sort themselves out. Dreaming is a way of your subconscious releasing your fears from daily life, you know? For the first time in my life, I am safe from my ex. And instead of allowing me to feel safe, my dreams intrude to remind me of how scary it was.”
So her dreams were now of her ex? That was interesting.
“Perhaps they will go away soon,” Tempest said, hesitatingly. She wondered how much she should tell Leah. “I just came from a meeting with my security team. You are to be released from Xenia to testify at your ex-husband’s trial. The meeting was to decide if you needed a team of protection—which is somewhat dangerous for Xeno Sapiens to be outside of the city—or if one person will suffice.”
“I don’t need a whole team of people,” Leah said, panic in her voice. “I don’t want to cause drama.”
“Good. It was decided to allow your sponsor to escort you.”
Leah froze.
Tempest nudged her with her shoulder, the way Shawn usually did her. But she was gentle about it, because Leah was smaller than her.
“That means Trance.”
“Yeah. Got that.” Leah sounded cranky.
“You were friends with him at one point,” Tempest said. “Things were simpler then. Why don’t you just forget every stress that has occurred—every embarrassment over people knowing that you were an abused female—and lean on that friendship?”
“I don’t want to put him out.”
“Trust him. Perhaps he needs this as much as you. Like I said, he has learned to close off from others, too.” That struck Leah’s curiosity.
Finally, she slowly nodded. “I can try.”
Chapter Seventeen
Shawn:
“What was the decision?” Trance asked, jumping up from the bench in the gazebo.
“You’re to remain Leah’s sponsor.”
Trance released a deep exhalation, but immediately he looked worried. “Does Leah want me to be her sponsor?”
“That doesn’t matter,” Shawn said carefully. “She needs one. And Tempest will use their friendship to encourage her to open up more.”
Trance sat down. “Then Leah will tell her about her dreams.”
“Is that why she’s avoiding you?”
“Yes. But she doesn’t know that’s why.” He took another deep breath. “Her dreams were filled with pain and suffering. Years of abuse with that ex. It’s sent her into a frenzy—almost as if she doesn’t believe she’s worthy of being free.”
“That’s understandable,” Shawn said. “Why haven’t you shared with her that you’re privy to her dreams?”
“She won’t let me,” Trance practically snarled. “She refuses to talk about anything meaningful. She changes the subject expertly. When I press the matter, she avoids me. Like a punishment. And now, her dreaming has begun to affect her daily life. She’s not getting proper rest because she’s living a dual life—one while asleep and one while awake. Both lives are real in her mind.”
“You have to keep trying,” Shawn said. “I know it’s not easy. I just mated with Tempest and it took me two years. But patience is the key.”
“How can I be patient when I’m the one causing her stress?”
“I caused Tempest’s also, remember? My death fucked her up royally. Leah will work through it. You just have to be there for her. And be honest with her.”
“Honesty causes me to lose everyone around me.”
“Not true,” Shawn said. “I’m still here. Tempest is still here. You invaded both of our dreams.”
“But Leah may choose not to be.”
“I don’t think so,” Shawn said. “Especially because of the decision we reached in today’s meeting. You’ll be escorting Leah to the trial. Just you.”
“Does she know?”
Shawn shrugged. “Tempest is with her. She may or may not tell her.”
“So I’m to tell her about pulling her into my dreams? Even though she refuses to talk to me.”
“Yes. Just be patient. You’ll have your opportunity. It’s going to be just the two of you soon—and there’s nowhere for her to run.”
“Thanks, Shawn.” Trance looked down. “I don’t know what I’d do without you and Tempest.”
“We’re your friends, man. You’ll get used to that.”
Shawn and Trance were in the game room when Tempest left the cooking lesson. Shawn looked up at the same moment she entered, as if he was waiting for her. He clasped Trance on the shoulder and motioned for someone else to come replace him in their game.
She waited in the doorway until he reached her, and they left the game room. Taking her into his arms, he pulled her out into one of the seating areas. She laughed as he sat first and pulled her down onto his lap.
&
nbsp; “Everything go okay with Leah?”
“A little better than I expected. She’s exhausted and fighting it every step of the way. She refuses to discuss what’s going on with Trance. She’s going to try and trust him, though. Treat him like the friend he’d become since she’d moved into his apartment.”
“Do you think something happened between them to make her wary? Maybe Trance pushed too hard?”
“I don’t think so. I think Leah’s just too wrapped up in her head. I think she’ll either explode or she’ll realize she’s safe and can finally relax.”
“Then maybe the trial will help reach that conclusion.”
“And maybe if Trance is with her when that happens she can finally see him as something more than a friend.”
She chewed her fingernail. What if Leah decided she never wanted to be involved with a male again? It would break Trance’s heart—and he was more sensitive than anyone else realized. It could do some permanent damage to him.
“Hey,” Shawn murmured, pulling her finger from her mouth. “Everything will be fine. You’re a good friend.”
She grinned. “I am rather nurturing. I keep telling everyone that.”
“I believe you.” His voice was soft, serious. “I’ve always believed it.”
She lowered her lips to his, planting one of her sweetest, most nurturing kisses on him.
Epilogue
Leah:
Leah Ciregna walked down the front steps of the main hall to find her husband waiting below the steps.
“Hey gorgeous.”
“My man.” She jumped into his arms, her legs wrapping around his waist as she pressed kisses to his face. Laughing, he captured her mouth with his and spun her around.
“My wife. Did I not just see you last night? Same bed, I believe.”
“Mmm,” she agreed. “But we showered and got ready separate this morning. Now I feel like I miss you dreadfully.”
“That’s not a sight for Xeno Sapiens first thing in the day,” someone called out, but their voice held laughter.
“Like X-rated porn,” his partner mumbled, punching his arm as they headed up the steps. “Don’t stop them, stupid.”
Leah waved at them, and slowly slid down Trance’s body. “I missed you. So much.”
“It’s only been a few hours,” he teased.
“That’s not what I meant.” She hugged him unabashedly, because only here could she be herself. This wonderful world of living in the city of Xenia, among the Xeno Sapiens. People who protected and loved each other.
“What did you mean then?” he asked, but his voice was wary. As if he suspected like she did—that things may be all right. But then again, they might not be.
“You know,” and her voice held a bit of warning because she wasn’t sure she wanted to know.
“Not yet.” His large hand cupped the back of her head, bringing her face up to his, where he kissed her thoroughly, but this time, somewhat desperately. As if he didn’t want to let other thoughts intrude in his head, either.
“Trance,” she sighed in that breathless way she did around him. But things were okay again. She was firmly grounded again—rooted for a lack of a better word. Rooted in this world—this reality—and happy again.
“We have a little time,” he said against her lips. “Make the best of it?”
“I love you.”
“I love you, Leah. So very much.”
He was the most handsome man in the world. He almost looked human, except he’d probably have to get a license for the unusual color of his eyes. If they lived on the outside, that was. His eyes were a deep, piercing royal purple. And his pupils? Instead of being the normal black, they were gold. But everything else on his body could pass—except for his marvelous cock. That was pretty alien.
“Whose place are we working at this morning?”
“It’s Pax and Serena’s. I can’t believe no one told me they weren’t triplets,” she said, shaking her head. That one had thrown her for a loop. Pax had multiples…other personalities that emerged from his body. They always made huge amounts of food because one never knew which multiple would emerge at dinner time. Two of them had requested cooking lessons, so she assumed that they and Pax were a set of triplets.
“Sometimes we see what we want to see.” He grinned. “And your delicate human mind wasn’t ready to see there were other rules in the reality of Xenia.”
“I wish this was real.” Despite her resolve not to shake her happy thoughts, that truth burst forth.
“It is real, Leah.”
She smiled at him, somewhat sadly. “Yeah, I know.”
“Hey,” he said. “Let’s skip work for an hour. We’ll change the menu for something that cooks a little faster. You have an extra set of handsome hands”—he wiggled his fingers—“so we can afford a delay.”
“Um, okay,” she said. “But why?”
He lifted her up into his arms. “So I can please my gorgeous wife.”
He was so perfect. She giggled as they retreated backward…back toward their apartment which she’d just left. His mouth was glued to hers, so she pressed her open palm to the door to get it to unlock. They tumbled inside, the door slamming shut behind them.
He unfastened the waistband of his pants, so she did the same to her own. He removed his shirt in the sexy way she loved, by reaching back and dragging it over his head. Every ripple of muscle slowly exposed with the lift of the shirt. She gulped. No matter how many times they had sex—and it had been countless at this point—she craved him like she did the first time.
She kicked out of her panties and he helped her out of her bra, flinging it over the sofa as they scrambled to the bedroom. Once there, she pushed him onto the bed and straddled him. She lined his cock up to her wet pussy and sank down.
She was so ready there was just a burning need between them. Slowly she pumped her hips, circling them onto his length. Catching her eyes, he reached up and licked his thumb, then deliberately brought it down to rub her clit.
It didn’t take long to explode, her body convulsing around him. He allowed himself to release as soon as she did, timing it perfectly.
She collapsed on his chest, his cock still twitching inside her. They panted for a couple of minutes before she spoke. “You know now we’ll have to rush to make it there?”
His hand rubbed her naked back. “It was so worth it. Tell me it was worth it.”
“Hell, yes, it was worth it.”
“But now, gorgeous wife, you’ve made us late,” he teased. “Go wipe up and I’ll take the other bathroom. Yell out the ingredients you need and I’ll have one of the kids at the mess hall box it up for us.” Telepathic communication among the Xeno Sapiens was a huge convenience.
“Great idea,” she said, kissing him briefly before pulling off him. Her sheath felt empty without him buried inside her. “Aww, I hate when we’re separated.”
His hand trailed up her thigh, smacking her lightly on the rear as he rose.
She walked down the wide hallway into one bathroom as he headed to the other. Once there, she dipped a washrag into a bit of soapy water she ran into the sink. Thinking fast, she decided to go with an Asian-inspired meal, so she called out the ingredients to him. “A bag of noodles. Four roots of Bok choy. Soy sauce. Rice vinegar. Brown sugar. Two onions. A bulb of garlic. Three carrots. A bag of Jasmine rice. Two pounds of thinly sliced beef. One pound of ground pork. Wonton wrappers. Two eggs. I think that’s it.”
“Got it,” he called out. “One of the kids will get it prepared.”
They had to meet back in the living room to sort through their scattered clothing, giggling as they passed items back and forth.
Trance twirled her bra around his finger by the strap. “I assume this piece is yours?”
She arched her back, pushing her naked breasts out into the air. “I’d shoot myself if not.” She laughed.
He was completely dressed and she was a hot mess drooling over him. He wagged his finger at her.
“Uh, uh. Don’t look at me like that. You’re already late. The next set of orgasms will have to wait for tonight.”
“I know. You’re right. I’m going to have to squeeze my eyes closed while I get dressed because you are just too tempting for me, husband,” she teased. She loved the way they called each other that—being newlyweds and all. Instead of simply getting mated, she’d chosen to go the human route with Trance. The reason why was a dark spot in her life. But she didn’t want to have her previous marriage as a dark mar forever. She wanted to have a second marriage to wipe that first one from existence. Trance was on board with that.
He laughed. “How about if I go pick up the box of ingredients, my wife? I’ll meet you in the same place as earlier?”
“Would you?” She didn’t care that she was naked and he was dressed. She flung herself into his arms. As usual, they immediately wrapped around her, holding her tight. She loved this. It was like he couldn’t get enough of her.
“Of course. You know I’d do anything for you.” He kissed the top of her head. “See you in a few minutes.”
It was easier to get dressed once he’d left the apartment because she was she could avoid thinking dirty thoughts about him. Life was so perfect. She was so glad she’d taken a chance and married Trance.
Chance. Trance. Her mind kind of slowed and the world warbled for a minute. God, she loved that luscious Xeno Sapien. That incredibly hot, sexy Xeno Sapien. Chance. Trance.
That rhymed, she said to herself. So rhymed. She shook her head, feeling a bit drugged. But she wasn’t. She’d never touched anything mind-altering.
Shaking her head cleared it, brought her thoughts back to where they should be. In order.
Dammit, where was her bra? She just had it a second ago. Quickly, she walked back to the bedroom to grab another flimsy lace thing. Trance preferred the dainty, thin pieces, even though she teased him constantly that the purpose of a bra was to cover up poking nipples.