by Susan Hayes
He nodded, then turned his head to kiss the inside of her wrist. “My species is much older than yours, but we still struggle with some things. Your skin colour, though, will not be an issue on Pyros.”
“No? Well, that will be a refreshing change.”
“So, if colour and culture aren’t issues anymore, what do Pyrosians struggle with? Is this part of why you wanted to be invisible when you were young?”
“It is. And I’ll tell you about it once I have you back in bed again. The only thing holding you up right now is that counter.”
This time when he lifted her, she didn’t feel a single twinge of concern about her weight. He accepted her as she was. More than that. He cared for her. Somehow, they were going to make this work.
Kash wrapped them both in towels before entering the corridor and making his way to their new quarters. It was only across the hall from their current location, and he had Gwen back behind closed doors in a matter of seconds.
“Wow. We got an upgrade,” Gwen muttered as she looked around.
“These rooms are normally reserved for the royal family and their guests.”
“So, you get practical and utilitarian, and they get…this? I’m afraid to touch anything in here in case I set it on fire. I’m betting those sheets cost more than you make in a month. And is that bedspread velvet?”
“Torel would have ensured that everything in here is fireproof. There’s no risk of damage. We are not the first couple to initiate the Scorching while on a space vessel.” There were protocols in place. Protocols that he had forgotten about.
Her soft hand cupped his cheek. “You look like someone just kicked your puppy. What’s bothering you?”
“I should have initiated certain protocols for us – for you – before I left.”
“If I were Pyrosian, then sure. But how could you have known I was suddenly going to turn into a superhero and fwoosh? And you never lose control, so why would you need it?”
“Is that what you think, that I never lose control?” He carried her over to the bed and settled her carefully atop the sumptuous bedspread.
“Mhmm. You’re the most disciplined man I’ve ever met. You’re all about duty, and honour, and ensuring that everything goes exactly the way it’s supposed to.” She nestled against the soft fabric and then patted the empty space at her side. “Why is that?”
“You’re wrong about that. I used to be disciplined. Then I saw your picture on my monitor. From that moment on, I had no control. I ignored the orders given for the mission and came to Earth. I broke more rules when I told you who I was, and where your friends were. I defied a royal command to take you as my mate, and if I had the chance to do it all over again, I know I’d make the same choices. You have broken me, kaheya. When it comes to you, I have no control at all.”
He stripped away the towels and stretched out beside her on the bed. She curled up beside him before he was even fully settled. He liked how it felt. She didn’t fear him. There was no pity in her eyes when she looked at him. There was only admiration and desire…and occasionally irritation, but he had earned that.
“That might be the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me. But that’s not the answer I wanted. I asked you why you need to control everything. Why are you so concerned with duty? I’ve seen the way the others look at you. They follow your orders without question. They trust and like you. You’ve already earned their respect. Believe me, I know what that looks like. So why are you still trying so hard?”
“My mother asks me the same question. She is going to like you, very much.” He wrapped an arm around her and turned his head to kiss the crown of her hair. “My father is the High Commander of the armies of Pyros. I have lived my life in the shadow of his accomplishments. I had to work twice as hard to prove that I earned every promotion and accolade I was given because there was always someone who would say I only got it because of who my father was.”
“Surely they don’t say that anymore? I mean, look at what you’ve made of yourself.”
“The habits of a lifetime are hard to break. And I’ve never had a reason to try. Not until you came along.” He toyed with her curls as they talked, amazed at how content he felt simply holding her. He never talked to anyone like this. Well, no one but his family.
“I’ll do my best to remind you that you’re already pretty damned amazing so long as you keep saying such sweet things. You make me feel special. Like I…I matter.”
He rose up on one elbow to stare down at her. “Of course you matter. Flames and fury, you’re my mate! No one matters more than you do. Not my parents, or my sister, or even the royal family I’m sworn to defend.” The moment he said the words, he recognized the truth behind them, and something clicked into place deep within his soul. Nothing mattered more than she did. Nothing ever would.
“Let’s not mention that to them, hmm? I love that you feel that way, but if I have to meet your family and the king and queen, I’d rather not have them know where your priorities lie. It might make things awkward, and I really want them to like me.”
“They will like you. You are smart, generous, and your spirit is as beautiful as your smile. You represent the future of our race.”
Her smile faded. “You’re talking about children. I was rejected from the dating site because I’m too old for that. Remember?”
“The Gods brought us together for a reason. Maybe it includes having younglings, or maybe not. We’ll find out the answer to that in time. I have you, and that’s enough for me.”
“Will it be enough for your family?”
“Not even my father would dare question the will of the Gods. You are my mate. That is all they have ever wanted for me.”
She exhaled softly. “You’re probably going to have to remind me of that a fair bit. I’m not used to being what anyone wants. Well, except for Maggie and Lisa, but they’re different. They’re my family.”
“You’re my family now, too.” He wasn’t sure how to do it, but he tried to open his mind to her and let her sense the feelings she stirred inside him. When her smile returned, he knew he’d succeeded.
He had a new mission, now. For the rest of his life, he’d do everything he could to make sure she always smiled at him that way.
8
Gwen lay in bed, surrounded by luxuries and comforts she never thought she’d experience. The furnishings were sumptuous, soft, and molded to her body to make even the act of sitting into a sinful experience. The dark red décor had just enough gold and other pale colours interjected to be lovely without being overpowering. Even the lighting was a soft, buttery yellow. If this was a taste of what life in the palace would be like, then she was going to live a very pampered, comfortable life.
Kash was spending a few minutes on the bridge, and she was using the time to practice wrapping her tongue around the unfamiliar sounds that made up the Pyrosian language. Kash had tasked Torel with ensuring that the cognitive augmentation programs were safe for her to use. Once that happened, she’d been learning all she could about their language and culture between bouts of mind-blowing sex with Kash.
Kash. Just thinking about him made her smile. The Scorching was almost over, but her feelings for him hadn’t diminished in the last two days. They’d grown stronger every hour, as had the bond they shared. His presence was always with her, and she reveled in the idea that she would never be alone again.
She felt the now familiar buzz that heralded his close proximity, and seconds later he came charging into their quarters, grinning from ear to ear.
“We found them.”
“Lisa and Vadir? Are they alright? Where the hell have they been?”
“They crashed, as we suspected. They’re both fine, and Lisa has been very concerned about you. She wanted me to tell you that she’s sorry she couldn’t let you know she was alright.” His grin widened. “I told her I would pass that information along to you.”
“Oh my god. You told her I was here? Do they know about us? What did
she say?”
“Slowly, my love. One question at a time.”
“You can command a starship, but you can’t keep track of more than one question?” she rose from the bed and bounced over to him, relief making her footsteps light.
“Of course I can, but I’ve discovered that your nose wrinkles in the cutest way when you’re annoyed with me, and I wanted to see it again.”
“You’re impossible! Answer, me, please.”
He wrapped her into his arms and held her close. “Vadir noticed my eyes, and Lisa guessed who I was mated to right away. She seemed very pleased and quite proud of herself for arranging for the three of you to sign up. I believe she said she was taking credit for the way things worked out.”
Gwen laughed. “She would say that. When will they be here? Do Joran and Maggie know?”
“Joran contacted me while I was speaking with Vadir and Lisa. He and Maggie are at your residence. I made a request for them to bring you some of your things.”
“You did? Thank you! I’d kill for some hair product to tame these curls, and it would be nice to be in my own clothes again.” Kash had provided her with clothing made from flame resistant fabric, but she hadn’t had much of a chance to wear them while they were in the thrall of the Scorching. The fabric was stiff and strange against her skin, too. She was dying to get back into a pair of faded jeans and a nice, comfy sweatshirt.
“Your curls are beautiful, just like the rest of you. I cannot wait to introduce you to Vadir and Joran. They are going to be amazed that the Gods gifted me with such an incredible female.”
“Just promise me I don’t have to meet your parents just yet.”
“They are happy to wait. As eager as they are to speak with you, they understand this has been a surprise for us both. We’ll talk to them once we are on our way home.”
“You mean after we leave Earth forever.” She hadn’t expected to be sad about leaving. The only people she cared about were going to Pyros with her. She was taking the few belongings she owned that mattered to her, like the cookie tin and her grandmother’s recipe book. But it still bothered her to think that she could never come back.
“That might not be the case anymore. Your friend claims she’s found a workaround that would negate the Council’s laws. Vadir believes it will work so it could be that you’ll be able to come back. Knowing Vadir, he’s probably already working on plans to build a vast trade network with your planet.”
“You’re full of good news today. When are they getting here? I can’t wait to see them, and meet the guys they’re mated to. Do I have to bow to the prince or anything?”
“We’re going to meet them on the surface. Vadir’s ship still needs some parts and final repairs before it can fly again. I’ll assist, along with Joran and his guards, while you catch up with your friends.”
“We’re going? When?”
He ran a hand down her spine to cup her bare ass. “That depends on whether you want to have sex in our bed, or in the cockpit of the shuttle once we’re underway.”
Feeling indecently wicked, she grabbed his shoulders and hopped upward, knowing that he’d catch her. “Why can’t we do both?”
“Because we’re going to be late if we do that.”
“Then they can start the repairs without us. For once, I vote we do what we want and not worry about what anyone else thinks.”
Heat flared in his eyes as he caught and lifted her high enough to kiss her. “Just this once.”
She hummed in agreement, but she knew this wouldn’t be the last time they broke the rules. She made him lose control, and he gave her the courage to reach for things she thought were beyond her reach.
Epilogue
(One Year Later)
Gwen sat out in the small but private garden that had come with their new apartment within the palace. The sky overhead was a paler blue than the one she’d known on Earth, but after a year of living on Pyros, she’d grown accustomed to the differences. The stars that filled the night sky may not be the ones she’d grown up with, but they were still beautiful, and the twin moons that orbited this world made for some truly amazing moonlit nights.
Sometimes, it felt like only a few days had passed since she had been reunited with Maggie and Lisa. That first meeting had been memorable. They had hugged and babbled incessantly, alternating between laughter and tears as they caught each other up on the momentous events of their time apart. Lisa had been gleeful about how well her suggestion to try the Star-Crossed dating site had worked out, and Maggie had repeatedly demanded her friends’ solemn word that they would help her step into her new role as a princess. Gwen’s golden eyes and new abilities amazed everyone, including her friends’ new mates.
Meeting the powerful men who had claimed Lisa and Maggie’s hearts had been nerve wracking, but that feeling hadn’t lasted long. They looked at her friends with the same adoration as Kash looked at her, which made it easy to like them. By the time they arrived on Pyros, the six had become fast friends, full of hope and plans for not only their futures, but the future of both their races.
Her infant daughter burbled softly and stirred, drawing Gwen’s attention down to the tiny miracle in her arms. Hope had been born two months ago, and the entire planet had celebrated her arrival. She was the first child to be born to any of the human/Pyrosian pairings, and the only female to be born on the planet in nearly five years.
“Hello, sweet pea. Did you have a good nap?” she cooed, her heart overflowing with love for her little girl.
“Of course she did. She’s resting up so she can cry at maximum volume for hours tonight when her parents are trying to sleep.”
Gwen turned to see Kash standing in the doorway with a smile on his handsome face. “You’re back. How did the meeting go?”
“It would have gone much faster if everyone wasn’t asking after you and Hope. Lilanna was disappointed you weren’t in attendance. It was all I could do to stop her from sending someone to escort you to the meeting. She insists that you come to the next one.”
“And when Hope gets fussy?”
Kash walked over to where she sat and crouched at her side, his big hands stroking his daughter’s cheek as he leaned in and kissed Gwen. “To quote our beloved queen, ‘anyone who complains about Hope can bring it up with me, and I will tell them what I think of their priorities.’ I don’t think we’ll have any trouble.”
“The only trouble we’ll have is getting our daughter back from Lilanna afterward. She’s quite smitten with our little angel.”
“Along with the rest of the planet.”
“That’ll change soon enough. Maggie’s due in four months. When the princess gives birth, everyone will forget about us. I’m starting to think Lisa was the smart one. She’s gallivanting about the galaxy with Vadir right now, having the time of her life.”
“I know you don’t mean that. You wouldn’t give up our Hope for anything in the universe, and neither would I. It will be easier once we’re on our way to Earth. Joran and I have already decided that we’re going to stretch out the journey as long as we can and turn it into something of a vacation. We’ll have Isli with us to help with Hope, too. Vadir and Lisa will meet up with us before we use the rift generator to make the hop to the far side of the galaxy.”
“That sounds nice. Are we going on the Firebrand?” She had fond memories of that ship. After all, it was where Hope had been conceived. Birth control pills don’t work when you don’t take them for several days, and thanks to the Scorching, she hadn’t even thought about it until they returned to her house to pack up her things.
“We are. Along with two other vessels that will carry the males selected for this miss— I mean, this round of pairings.”
A lot had changed since she and the others had been quietly whisked away from Earth. There were no more missions to sneak in and steal human women. It had taken time to convince the Inter-Planetary Council that the existence of Pyrosian DNA in the human population was proof that first conta
ct had already been made, but Vadir had used his considerable influence to maintain the pressure until the Council had agreed. Thanks to Lisa’s idea, Earth was entering a new phase, one that might save both the people and the planet a great deal of suffering.
“What was the final count?” Originally, Gwen had been part of the planning process, but since Hope’s birth, she had stepped back and allowed others to take over. Today’s meeting had been the first of several to finalize the details of the next part of the adventure.
“Five hundred and thirty-seven males have been matched and will be accompanying us to Earth.”
“That many? The last I heard it was only three hundred or so.”
“The information campaign we’re running on Earth is starting to work. More females have signed up to be tested in the last few weeks. By the time we bring the first group home, there may well be enough matches to send more ships. Once they meet you and the other females already living on Pyros and hear your stories, I imagine that we’ll have more volunteers than Earth’s governments were counting on. There might be some resistance once they realize what’s happening.”
“If they are true mates, it won’t matter what the governments want. They all signed the same agreement. No technology or trade unless they agreed to allow any woman who voluntarily signed up to be taken to Pyros if she is matched.” And the governments had agreed so quickly she’d wondered if they’d even read the whole agreement. Some of them probably hadn’t, but that was their problem.
Earth was now a probationary member of the Council, and they had quickly come to realize that their newly discovered neighbours were more advanced than humans in every way. If they wanted access to the technology and knowledge to stabilize their world, end hunger, and create a brighter future for everyone, then they were going to have to play by the Council’s rules.
“You are adorable when you’re being fierce. Of course, they’ll abide by the agreement. Just as the application process here is open to any unmated male, regardless of their age or status.”