As she screamed out her pleasure, he felt the contractions of her body on his cock causing him to let it all go. He let it all sink into him, the feeling of love, and admiration, and pure animal lust that he felt for her. It washed over him and left him as sated and complete as she said he made her feel. His life was empty before her. This fiery haired woman from the beach was something he could never live without ever again. He remembered the first time he heard her laugh just as she kissed his neck and said to him into his ear just as he ran his fingers through her curls, “I love the way it feels when we make love. I feel so wonderful with you like this. God help you for the rest of our lives. I don’t think that I will ever get enough of you.”
He laughed and she joined in. Zane looked into her eyes and kissed her deeply. “I am glad to hear that. I feel the same way as you do. I would rather die than be without you. My life was nothing before you. I thank the Gods that they lead me to the beach that day to find you. I love you so much Grace. Stay with me forever.”
She looked in his eyes as she laced her fingers between his and said, “Forever Zane. I will stay with you forever.”
Chapter 22
The heavy realization that she was leaving today overcame her when she woke the next morning. Had she done enough to make sure that everyone knew how much she loved them? Was she absolutely sure that she had completed all the business that needed to be taken care of before she left? Then she remembered that if she hadn’t, Michael would certainly be able to do it with the power of attorney. It started to dawn on her the similarities of the 102 year old heiress. It was farfetched, but maybe there was a similar story here? Maybe she was abducted as well and put all her money in a trust to be safely stored away just in case she needed to retrieve it later? Could it possibly be this simple, yet this complex at the same time? Who on this planet would believe a story like this without the evidence that Michael experienced firsthand. Would her editor? Surely, not! He would compare this to some tabloid trash piece. Maybe there was some truth in tabloid journalism? Maybe there was some validity in the pieces that they wrote that seemed too odd or strange to be true. Hell, she was living one of those stories now.
Grace looked over to the other side of the bed. Zane was not there. He must have woken early and left the room so that he would not disturb her. They shared a magical night last night. It was getting better and better as they were learning what the other person liked and what turned them on. She knew that she would have to let her life here go if she wanted to share her life with Zane. There would be no other option because he could not stay here. He was needed on his planet just as he needed her to help carry on the proud race of the Theron Warriors. She imagined her children with him. Children were an enterprise she never ever indulged in before meeting him. She was going to miss her best friend Emily that was for sure. How would Emily fare without her? She didn’t want to think about it anymore. Thinking about it was just going to make her cry. Besides, Emily had the best man on the planet by her side. Michael would take great care of her and the kids. She had no worries about that.
She rolled out of bed and after she got dressed started to pack her things. It was hard to think about what she would need on his planet. She did not have any clue about what the weather was like on his planet. She went to pack the jewelry that was once her mothers and several heirloom pieces passed down many generations. If she ever had a daughter, she would want her to have them. Eventually, she gave up packing her outerwear. Anything she would need to pack would take some input from Zane. She went ahead and packed a small bag with some underwear, socks, several pairs of jeans, and several shirts and sweaters. She threw in her hair brush and tooth brush just in case and zipped up the case. This would get her to the planet at least. She still did not have a clue how the clothes were washed on the ship and would have to remember to ask Zane as soon as she found him. She put her bag next to the door and went out to find Zane. She wanted an idea of what time they would be returning to the ship.
He was in the kitchen with Jo drinking a cup of coffee with her and telling her about his date with Grace last night. She was putting a plate piled high with pancakes in front of him when Grace walked in. “Good Morning, Miss Grace. I am making some pancakes for you too. Have a seat and I will make you a cup of coffee.” Grace sat next to Zane placing her hand on his back and rubbing it gently. He kissed her on the forehead and drizzled syrup over his pancakes.
Zane said, “Good Morning, my love. I had a wonderful time last night. I was just telling Jo about the opera you took me to last night.” Jo looked back at the couple and smiled as she flipped the pancake that was on her spatula. Grace took a sip of her coffee. “Are you ready to leave today my love?” He asked. Concern clouded his eyes. He knew that she would have a tough day today. He had a great time here on the planet. His time with her here was much better than he thought it would be. He made several good friends, especially her cousin Michael. It would be really hard for him to say goodbye to Michael and Emily, and the kids, especially Jacob. They had really bonded the other night.
“I am just figuring out what to pack. I don’t know what weather conditions to expect in your home town. It is actually a bit frustrating. Do you think you could help me when we finish breakfast?” She asked him. He nodded with his mouth full of pancakes and maple syrup. The anxiety was showing on her face but she knew that whatever happened, she was still going with him. They were tied together now by forces unseen, by love and sacrifice. She was determined to enjoy this new chapter of her life without regret so she pushed aside all the negative feelings and focused on the positive ones.
Emily and Michael were going to arrive in an hour with the children. Em thought taking them to the park would be a good way for them to say goodbye. After the outing to the park, Jillian would take them home and Michael and Emily would stay behind with Zane and Grace as they left to return to the ship. She hoped that she would have a friend like Emily on board the ship. Avery was very nice but they were just getting to know one another. Besides, Emily wasn’t just a friend, she was a sister. The relationship they shared was sisterly even though they were unrelated.
They ate breakfast in silence. Jo was getting a feeling something was wrong. She could see it on Grace’s face. She knew her too well to know that something weighed heavy on her heart at this moment. “Are you alright, Miss Grace? You look like something is bothering you?” She said with a genuine look of concern plastered on her face.
Grace knew she had to be strong and courageous. She had to put on a face that showed less emotion. She could do it. She did it every time she interviewed a subject on a story. She put aside her thoughts and fears as well as her own personal beliefs, and she asked the questions that were the focus of the story, in order to tell the people exactly what they needed to know. Zane could see the mask of her determination sink into her face just like the time she questioned him on the ship after being so upset. “No, there is nothing wrong Jo. I am going to meet Zane’s parents and I am worried they will not like me as much as he does. The only people who took care of me before he came were you and Michael. The prospect of meeting the parents of the man I love is just a bit overwhelming.”
Zane piped in and said, “My mother is going to love you and my father will be just as taken with you as I am. He is an excellent judge of character. He is going to see you and be amazed at the strong, loving, and perfect mate that I have found for myself. Just you wait and see.”
Jo nodded and said, “It is impossible not to instantly to be impressed by you Miss Grace. You are a very kind and loving person. They would be insane to not like you. You relax and listen to Dr. Zane. He knows how his parents think. You will be fine.” She had finished cleaning up the kitchen but for the dishes they were currently using and went off to do her chores.
“Are you sure, positively sure?” Grace asked. “You know this is going to be a tough day for me.”
“I am positive they will love you. Don’t you worry, my love. I will be by y
our side the entire day. Look, I am going to miss them all very much too. I am going to miss them more than I thought possible.” He looked in her eyes giving her what strength he had. He was feeling the pain in his heart because they were leaving and knew beyond a shadow of doubt she felt it as well. He never thought that he would bond so tightly with these people. That it would be hard, even for him, to say goodbye. He took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Not to change the subject or anything but do you think Jo would mind very much if I took some of the spices in the cabinet?”
Grace gave him a quizzical look and said, “I don’t think she would mind, you can actually take anything that you would want from our apartment. What is mine is yours now, husband.” She said as she watched him gathering what items he wished from the kitchen and place them on the counter. She retrieved a canvas shopping bag from the pantry and started to put all the bottles in. He took several bottles of the wine they shared on the first night in the apartment as well as most of the spices in the cabinet. Gathering up all the various bottles that would not fit in the bag into his arms, he brought them to the bedroom to pack. She added the small travel cork screw to the lot and gave him a large suitcase to pack whatever he wished to bring back with him. The clothing that Grace acquired for him was definitely going with him. The clothes fit him like a glove and he really liked the way he looked in them. He also brought the boxer briefs that Grace had delivered to the apartment for him. They were much more comfortable than what was available as standard issue on the ship.
They went into the closet so she could pack up what she needed. He was giving her insight into what clothes she might want to bring. The women on his planet were so much larger than her so it would be important for her to have a few things to wear. She asked him about ship laundry and he promised he would show her when she got back. She had a question that she wanted to ask him for days now but it always slipped from her mind before she could ask it. “Zane, why did they put us up for auction? Out of all the experiences that I have had on the ship, that was the most unsettling. Didn’t the women just get purchased by the warrior that scouted them out?”
“Well, I never thought of that. It seems that they did. I was there for the whole auction and all the purchasers ended up being the warrior that initially brought the woman aboard the ship. I guess we did not know how to handle how the females were to be distributed. I guess that the council thought that by giving all the other warriors a chance to purchase a mate made it fairer for everyone. We had not thought that we would ever find suitable mates in the universe so everything was decided rather quickly.” Zane was clearly thinking about this as he became quiet and was staring at nothing in particular.
“When we get back on the ship, I would like to meet with the council about this specifically. If we are to ever return to obtain anymore women from any planet the distribution will have to be handled differently. Auctions are what you do to obtain cows, cars, and fine pieces of art. They are not for obtaining people.”
He collected her in his arms and said, “You are the finest piece of art I have ever purchased.” He laughed and kissed her.
When he was finished teasing her she slapped at his chest playfully and said, “I am being serious Zane! I am not a cow and I will not have women from my planet treated this way ever again on your ships.”
“You are so sexy when you are mad. Your eyes actually do light up. Has anyone told you that your hair matches your temperament?” Zane said amused.
“This is not a laughing matter. Besides, I am not mad. I just want to make the adjustment of the merging of two cultures more acceptable for the women. It really is degrading to be sold to the highest bidder. However, you should know that I was extremely scared until I looked out into the crowd to see you there. I knew that you would be kind to me. It is the only reason I didn’t freak out up there.” She reached up to tenderly lay her palm on the side of his face. Her face was serious as she looked into his big aqua eyes.
“You are going to make an excellent advocate for the women from your planet. I will set up the meeting with the council as soon as we are back on Theron. I will make sure that they hear every one of your suggestions.” He admired her strength and her concern for others. “I will stand behind you on this or any other endeavor you have in mind and I will support you in every way. Is this acceptable for you?”
She smiled, knowing that her greatest supporter stood in front of her and not only had her heart in his embrace but currently had her body. She nodded to him and pulled him down for a kiss that was interrupted by the sound of Jo knocking on the door to tell them that Michael and his family had arrived.
They went to join them in the living room. The kids were so excited. It seems that the weather outside was wonderful with a bit of a chill and the wind was perfect for flying kites. The children went up to Grace and Zane with their kites in hand showing them the pretty patterns made with varying colors of nylon fabric. Jacob went straight to Zane with is kite held tight in his hands. He lifted his arms to have Zane pick him up and in his broken language described his kite that he considered a great treasure.
All of them left the apartment with a blanket and picnic lunch that Jo had packed for them with crackers and cheese and small sandwiches. There were juice boxes for the kids and wine for the adults. The men set out the blanket and Grace and Emily sat down as Zane and Michael helped the kids with their kites. This was the first time since she had been back that she had been alone with Emily. She wanted to spend some time with her this week but Emily was busy with the kids and she was on her own mission doing something.
Grace asked Emily, “Can I ask you a personal question?”
Emily was laughing at the kids running circles around the men, “You know you can ask me anything Grace.”
“When you met Michael and you had sex with him the first time, was it different than any other experience you had ever had? Because, when I saw Zane for the first time I knew that he was supposed to be in my life and when we have sex, I can’t even describe how intense it is. I have never felt so whole in my whole life. Is this how it is with you and Michael?” She looked at Emily trying to validate the feelings she felt for Zane.
“You have just found your soul mate sister. That is exactly what it was for Michael and me. The minute I met him I knew he was the one. The first time we made love was mind blowing. I can still reflect on it from time to time. The electrical feeling that pulsed through me upon our first kiss was something I have never felt before. I am so happy that you found him. He is good with you, you are happier than I have ever seen you before. It is the only reason I can find it in my selfish heart to let you go.” Emily’s eyes started to fill with tears.
“Oh Emily, I am trying really hard to hold it together here. Please don’t cry or I will cry too and that is not going to be easy for the kids or Michael. I can see that he has been trying very hard to contain his emotions all this week.” Grace was really putting that mask to work today. It was all she could do to make it easier for everyone around her.
Emily put a hand to her abdomen, “The baby just kicked!” She said excitedly and grabbed Grace’s hand and placed it on her belly. “The baby is kicking! Michael, the baby is kicking!” The tears were now excitement as Michael rushed over to feel his unborn child kick for the first time. The girls rushed to join their father but were soon bored and went to stand by Zane and Jacob and resume their kite flying. Michael kissed Emily and took off behind them. “You know that if it is a girl we intend to call her Grace and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it this time.” She giggled.
“Fine, point taken, but what will you name the baby if he is a boy?” Grace said excitedly.
“Michael would like to name him Zane. He said that Zane is a wonderful man and he is so glad that you are happy. Do you think it is alright? I mean it is not a common name, but it is not that outlandish either,” Emily asked.
“Zane is a wonderful name. It is not even that odd compared to some
of the names I have come across in journalism.” Grace smiled. “So, how was your date with the astronaut the other night?”
“Astronaut? What are you talking about Grace?” Emily asked, puzzled.
“Well, technically your husband has been to space and by definition an astronaut is someone who travels or works in space. Michael was brought aboard the ship and even though he wasn’t trained to work there, he traveled in the same orbit as the moon. Just think Em, the song “Rocket man” could be his song now.” They giggled as they glanced over to where Michael was standing.
“I hadn’t thought of that. Just wait until I tell him. He is going to make such a big deal of this. His head is big enough as it is and the idea of him being an astronaut will make his day.” Emily paused a moment, “The reason I have been so busy this week is because I have been working on a project for you. I was going to make it for your birthday, but since you won’t be here in a couple of weeks I had to rush to finish it. I am going to give it to you before you leave today.”
Theron's Hope (Brides of Theron) Page 25