by KD Jones
“We have our dining table in the main living space set up,” KadEN told them as he walked ahead of them.
She followed him into the suite, glancing around. It was larger than her own suite, but the basic layout was the same. She spotted the quiet and demure Prima Lindsey sitting on the couch next to Lizzie, who was giving her a lively and detailed description of her trip on the transport. The Prima scooted to the edge of the couch to get up. KadEN entered the main living space, rushing over to her side.
“Let me help you, beautiful.” KadEN gently helped her rise up to her feet. His hand went to her swollen belly and rubbed it back and forth with tenderness. “Is she kicking?”
Lindsey nodded. “Yes. I think she wants to be a soccer player.”
KadEN frowned. “What is that? Is it dangerous?”
Lindsey laughed. “It’s a sports game that people play by kicking a ball around the grass. I guess some people have gotten injured playing it, but I haven’t heard of anything serious.”
“If it’s dangerous, she will not be playing this sport.”
Lindsey shot both Lizzie and Rose a look and rolled her eyes. “He’s already overprotective and the baby hasn’t even been born yet.”
Rose smiled at her. “Thank you for inviting me this evening. I hope it wasn’t too much trouble for you.” She nodded at Lizzie. “Will Commander TylOR be joining us?”
Lizzie shook her head. “Unfortunately there were some security issues he needed to handle. I’m actually not staying for dinner; I’m going to take him a meal at the operations room. We’ll eat there. I just came by to see how Lindsey was doing.”
Lindsey looked a little disappointed. “I wish you would stay, but I understand. I had the chefs make you a take-out bag so you don’t have to go by the meal room.”
Lizzie smiled as she took the containers of food offered to her. “You’re the best. I’ll see you later.” She waved goodbye to everyone as she left the suite.
Lindsey turned to Rose. “Thank you for coming.”
“I hope arranging the dinner has not been too much trouble,” Rose said.
“Of course not. I’m glad to have someone from Earth to talk too. There are only a few Earth females on Kiljor, and they’ve been shipped to other areas while we’re reconstructing the prime city. I have to admit I’ve been a bit lonely. KadEN is busy with running a planet and protecting us all from the Morins, and with the pregnancy progressing, I’m not as active as I used to be.” Lindsey motioned for Rose to follow her to the dining table.
Rose sat in the seat presented to her; JadEN seated himself across the table. KadEN pulled out a chair next to his and helped Lindsey sit down. Rose frowned; there was another place setting, but Lizzie had left.
“Will someone else be joining us?” Rose asked.
“Yes.” Lindsey answered just as the bell to the suite went off. “And there he is.”
KadEN stood up and went to answer the door. He walked back into the main living space followed by Interrogator StrykER. Rose was excited to see him again. She hoped to be able to ask him more questions about his abilities.
StrykER greeted everyone. “Prima Lindsey, Dr. Garrett, lovely to see you both again. Medic JadEN.”
JadEN nodded his head at StrykER but didn’t stand up or clasp forearms. He wasn’t pleased when StrykER sat right beside Rose. He should have sat next to her himself, but he’d wanted to look at her beautiful face from across the table. He didn’t like another male sitting so close to his mate. Oh, Goddess forgive him, he had mated Rose without asking her first. He hadn’t really thought about it, he just acted on instinct. Was that why she was acting so distant from him? Was she angry with what he had done?
Rose felt uncomfortable sitting next to StrykER. She wasn’t sure why, it just seemed wrong to her. It didn’t help that he seemed to be sniffing her the way Prime Leader KadEN had. She tried to lift her arm up inconspicuously and smell herself without looking like she was smelling herself. She didn’t stink, but there had been no time to take a shower after making love to JadEN. The Kiljorns, like the Katierans, had enhanced senses. They probably could tell that she and JadEN had just had sex. Great, just what she needed, to have everyone around her know what she’d been up to.
She sighed, accepting that there was nothing she could do to change the situation. At least KadEN and StrykER didn’t comment on it. She didn’t think Lindsey knew what was going on, since she was also human and didn’t have an enhanced sense of smell. She would just have to pretend like there was nothing happening.
A staff of two came out from the kitchen area to serve them dinner. They lifted the plate lids to reveal a steaming, shish-kabob style dish, with meat and vegetables alternating on skewers. She waited for the primes to eat first, then took a bite. It was delicious. The vegetables tasted similar to potatoes and carrots, and the meat was tender and fell apart in her mouth like roast beef. She couldn’t help but emit a low moan of satisfaction. She felt the heat of a blush rise to her cheeks when she looked up and caught JadEN gazing at her with desire in his eyes. She licked her lips, and his eyes tracked the movement. No matter what else was going on, she knew that JadEN still wanted her. That made her feel a little better about herself. She wasn’t the only one affected by these feelings.
“Miss Garrett, how exactly do you treat your patients?”
“She is Dr. Garrett.” JadEN’s voice was stern as he glared at the other male.
“My apologies, Dr. Garrett.” StrykER spoke to Rose, but his eyes never left JadEN’s.
“I mostly listen to my clients talk. Sometimes it’s clear what their problems are, but there are times that they keep things hidden even from themselves. Allowing them to talk freely opens them up. I ask questions to help direct where the conversation goes.”
“I would like to observe one of your sessions sometime, Dr. Garrett.”
“It would have to be a group session, and I would have to have my clients’ permission. The one-on-one sessions are restricted.”
“This talking helps your clients?” StrykER asked skeptically.
“She has helped many people, including Prime ConEL and his family.” JadEN defended her work.
“I didn’t mean any offense.” StrykER looked at her apologetically before glaring at JadEN.
Rose didn’t understand what the two men were having a staring match over, but it was making the whole evening very uncomfortable. “That’s okay. You’re just curious about how the therapy sessions work. It’s not that different from what you do. You have your prisoner talking, asking questions to direction the conversation. You get images from them and you focus your questions there. Isn’t that how it works with you?”
StrykER nodded his head. “Yes. I suppose it is similar, except you do not get images from your patients. It must make it harder for you, Dr. Garrett.”
Rose shrugged her shoulders. “Sometimes it can take a while for patients to open up. I think what you do is fascinating.”
“Perhaps we can discuss it more in a private setting.” StrykER suggested.
She ignored the growl that JadEN emitted, and took another bite of her meal. “This is delicious. It tastes like a roast beef dinner.”
Lindsey smiled. “We have wonderful cooks here on Kiljor. I was having cravings for things we have on Earth, so I gave them a few of the recipes I could remember and a description of what they were supposed to taste like. They’ve re-created many of the dishes I loved and have been missing. Even ice cream, which we will have for dessert.”
Rose perked up. “What flavor ice cream?”
“Vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate.”
“Chocolate ice cream.” Rose moaned with desire. She hadn’t had chocolate ice cream in so long.
Lindsey winked at her. “I know...it’s so good.”
KadEN chuckled. “I suggest we all get through the main meal so we can get to this ice cream.” Everyone joined in the laughter, some of the tension in the room dissipated.
After they finis
hed the main meal the staff brought out glass bowls with scoops of the three different flavored ice creams in them. Lindsey picked up her bowl and stood. “Rose, would you care to join me on the balcony? It’s warm out tonight and we could eat our ice cream out there with the warm breeze.”
“I would love to.” Rose stood and picked up her ice cream bowl, following Lindsey out onto the balcony and leaving the men alone. She could smell the ocean; it wasn’t too far from the main building, but it was too dark for her to see it. The breeze was warm but when she ate the ice cream, she soon found her body cooling. She felt relaxed for once.
*****
As soon as the females were out of sight, KadEN turned angry eyes on the two males sitting at his table. “How dare you come to my dinner table and attempt to start a fight. I will not have my mate upset by either of you. What is your problem?”
“My apologies, Prime Leader. I’m not used to feeling these protective emotions for a female.” JadEN admitted.
“It didn’t take you long to mark her and mate her. The images I picked up from her indicate this was a total shock to her. Does she understand what it means that you mated her?” StrykER demanded.
“Stay out of her head. She has been with the Katierans for long enough to know how the mating works.”
“Did you ask her before you claimed her with your seed?” StrykER was pushing JadEN. Part of him wanted a fight. He didn’t understand it himself, except that he had been overwhelmed lately with emotions and images from everyone around him. His mutation had been affecting him more and more since he had left the Colonial planet to seek out family he once had on Kiljor. The Colony was more remote area and he easily found quiet and peace there. But it was difficult on Kiljor. There so many people, crowded in smaller locations. His abilities were overworked. A physical outlet like fighting helped get him out of his own head and temporarily relieve the pain he was feeling.
JadEN moved forward towards StrykER. “It’s none of your business.”
“StrykER, perhaps you should cut the evening short, tensions are running high and I want this situation neutralized,” KadEN dismissed the other male.
“I agree Prime Leader. I will go out and say my goodbyes to Prima Lindsey.” StrykER was relieved to be able to leave. He walked out onto the balcony. The Prima was heading towards him. “Prima, I came to thank you for inviting me to dinner. I’m going to leave early.”
“Oh, I’m glad you came. I hope you will come again. I’m sorry, I must excuse myself; the baby is pushing on my bladder.” She wobbled quickly inside the suite leaving StrykER and Rose alone.
StrykER watch Rose. She was leaning against the balcony railing. She glanced over at StrykER. He could see why JadEN mated her. She was a beautiful female, smart and sexy. He could imagine waking up to her every morning. The thought made his body react. He needed to leave.
“I’m sorry we didn’t have more time. I was hoping to ask more questions about your abilities,” Rose told him.
“Perhaps another time.” He stepped closer to her. She had the most kissable lips he had seen; too bad she belonged to another male. “May I be frank with you?”
“Of course,” she answered curiously.
“Our males, Katierans and Kiljorns and Colonists alike, are all very physical. Sometimes we don’t say what we feel, but we show it in our actions. But one thing is absolutely true: when we claim our mate, we never let them go.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because whether you realize it yet, JadEN has claimed you. The question is whether you will claim him as well.”
“The best way to clear up confusion is to be direct and talk about it.”
She looked at him in surprise. “I thought you could only see images, not read minds.”
He laughed. “That’s true, but you have a very expressive face and I could see the conflict there. You should talk to JadEN and get this cleared up. Thank you for a very interesting evening.” He bowed and headed back into the suite.
Rose looked up at the moon and sighed. StrykER was right; she needed answers, and the only way she could get them was to talk to JadEN. She feared what the discussion would reveal, but it was better than being in the dark about things. She was determined to get those answers from JadEN as soon as they were alone.
Chapter 11
JadEN walked next to Rose, escorting her back to her suite. He followed her in without waiting for an invitation. He enjoyed watching her fidget with her hands as she tried to come up with something to say. JadEN had better things she could use her hands for. He reached for her, pulling her into his arms.
She tried to resist his embrace at first. “JadEN, we need to talk.”
“Later. We’ll talk later.” He leaned down and kissed her. She hesitated a moment, and then gave in to him. He growled with the need to possess her. Those were his only thoughts, taking her and making her his for all time.
He lifted her up until she wrapped her legs around his waist, then moved until he had her back against the wall as he devoured her mouth. Nothing tasted as good as his Rose.
He was on fire with need for her. The moment JadEN pulled her into his arms, he was lost to the passion she brought out of him. He could tell she was feeling the same by her eager responses. He’d never thought of himself as particularly sexual, but damn if he didn’t want to devour every inch of her.
“I need to feel your skin.” Rose moaned.
She ripped at his shirt, causing the fasteners to pop open. Her fingers caressed his exposed chest possessively. He loved how amazing it felt having her touch him.
She gazed at him admiringly. “You feel so smooth and soft but hard at the same time. I love your muscles.”
He emitted a moan at being stroked by her. But then she leaned forward and nipped at him with her teeth. That brought about a whole new reaction from him.
JadEN lost all restraint when she bit down on his chest with her teeth. “Kitana!” He pulled her dress up and ripped her panties off of her. Then he practically ripped open his pants to release his cock. Once free, he didn’t waste a moment. He plunged upward, deep inside of her to the root.
“Oh God, yes.” Rose tilted her head back against the wall, gripping his thick hair with her fingers.
He loved how she moved against his every thrust, riding him hard. It felt so good, he never wanted it to end, but he could feel himself tightening up all over.
JadEN continued pounding up into her, grinding himself against her. He knew he should be taking it slower, but having her near other males that evening set him off. He needed to mark her again, to make sure other males knew who she belonged to. His teeth nipped her shoulder, and she moaned squeezing his shaft even tighter within her.
Mine...mine...mine...mine. He started chanting in his head, in time to his thrusts. “Mine!” he growled out as he released his hot seed into her depths, soaking her and marking her completely. He frowned, realizing that Rose had not released yet. He reached between them and rubbed her labia with his fingers as he continued moving in and out of her. Finally he felt the tight grip of her inner walls as she spasmed with her orgasm. She melted in his arms after that. He picked her up and carried her to the bed, then laid down next to her.
He needed to talk to her about what had happened on the transport ship. He needed to apologize to her for claiming her without first asking her permission, and he needed to let her know that he was falling in love with her. But he knew his words would not come out right, so he told her they would talk in the morning. For now, he would enjoy holding his mate in his arms.
*****
Rose lay in JadEN’s arms, content and sated, as he caressed her stomach and hips. It felt beyond wonderful. But how long could this last, especially if he was still in love with another woman? She also needed to face her own feelings for ConEL. It was past time to lay those to rest. After spending time with JadEN, she could look at ConEL and say that she cared for him but she wasn’t in love with him. The only man who held
her heart was holding her at that moment.
“We need to talk,” she told him.
“I know. But let me hold you for right now. We’ll talk in the morning.”
It was a small reprieve. “Okay.” She snuggled back against him and closed her eyes.
She loved how JadEN held her close to him. She enjoyed his warmth and how safe he made her feel. She nuzzled her nose against his neck taking in his scent. She loved how he smelled, especially how their combined scent blended. It made him smell like he was…hers.
*****
“Hey, wake up,” a security guard whispered to the prisoner in the dark holding cell.
HarvEY lifted his weary head and tried to see who was talking to him. “What do you want? I’m trying to sleep.”
The guard snorted. “I was here to tell you that you will be rescued soon, but since you seem to like your living accommodations, I’ll leave you here.”
HarvEY scrambled to get to his feet. “Wait!”
The guard shushed him. “Keep it down!”
HarvEY whispered back, “What’s the plan? How do I know that you are really part of the rebellion?”
The guard stepped closer and turned his arm over to show a small tattoo of a fist holding a spear. This was the unofficial symbol of the rebellion. Most rebels did not get tattoos for fear that it would signal them out to the others. HarvEY turned his own arm over and showed the same tattoo.
“Okay fine, you’re part of the rebellion. When do I get out?”
“In a few days. My team is assessing their ability to get all three of you out, but it may not happen.”
“I don’t care about the others, just get me out,” HarvEY told him.
“Don’t care much for helping your friends, do you? Be ready when the time comes. You aren’t our only mission.”
“What’s the other mission? I can help. Let me know what you’re looking for.”