"Someone? More of them?" he asks pointing out at where the other survivors have set up their home.
I shake my head my throat closing and unable to say the words. A tear falls and he wipes it gently away.
"Calista, what is this?"
"I'm pregnant," I blurt it out.
His eyes widen and he hisses loudly. "Pregnant?" he repeats the word cocking his head. "This is the right word?"
"Yes," I laugh looking down at my belly. "Pregnant."
"You're sure?" he says softly, placing his hands on my stomach.
I nod unable to speak, uncertain what his reaction is going to be. He moves his hands in a circular motion around my belly. He kneels down before me then leans in and kisses my stomach through my shirt. He makes a soft sound that is like a hum then low words reach my ears and I realize he's singing. I can't catch all the words but the sound of it is so beautiful it brings fresh tears to my eyes. When he's finished he turns his head and rests it against me like he's listening of a heartbeat. I rest my hands on his head holding him close and he wraps his arms around me. At last he stands up and blinks several times.
"I will prepare!" he says sharply
"Prepare?" I ask.
"Yes, there is much to do. The dome must be fixed. Our child will not be threatened here in our home. We will need more living space. You will no longer go on the hunts with me. It is too dangerous and you would risk two. I will train the others to be useful."
"I'm not broken," I say.
"No, not broken, perfect. You are perfect."
He leans in and kisses me.
"Thank you," I say feeling his love encircling me. "I love you."
He leans back and looks into my eyes like he's searching.
My heart refuses to beat as I realize I said the words. The three words that I've been holding back. I didn't mean to say them really. They slipped out but they feel right.
It's true, I love him!
I love the way he protects me, the way he touches me, the way he cares, I love the way he smiles and my heart leaps at the sight of it. I love him! He stares into my eyes then he smiles and it spreads across his face like the rays of the sun.
"I love you," he says and pulls me close.
I'm pressed into his coolness and encircled in his arms. He rests his head on top of mine and we stare out at the desert. His tail shifts side to side and his wings flutter making the only sound close to us. The city is a wreck but we can fix it. We'll work as a team, all of us, and we'll create a home for our child. Our two races will merge as one and the future will become something new and bright. That is what our love will create. I'm dreaming of what the future will look like, happy in his arms, in our new city which will be shiny and bright. The future our children will have and the world we will leave behind for them.
"I need to go see Jolie," I say, reluctant to leave his arms. "She'll want to know how you took it all."
"I will walk with my love," he says and we head down together to the library where I left her.
"Jolie?" I call out not seeing her.
Silence answers me. Ladon and I walk through the displays but she's nowhere to be found.
"Perhaps she went to get food?" he says.
"Maybe," I say, an uneasy feeling settling over me.
I stop as we emerge outside to let my eyes adjust to the brighter light. Mei is walking around the empty fountain.
"Mei!" I call out to her. "Have you seen Jolie?"
Mei stops walking and looks over at us. "No," she says. "Isn't she in the library?"
"No, I was just there."
"Hmmm, well I just got here to look at this fountain to see if I can figure out where its water supply comes from, sorry I haven't seen her. She probably ran off to investigate some idea. You know how impetuous she can be."
"Yeah, maybe," I say, but worry continues to gnaw at me.
"Try over at the barracks," she says shrugging.
"The barracks?" I ask.
"Yeah, that's what we're calling the building we're sleeping in. Easier than saying a dozen different things. It doesn't feel like a home yet so, well yeah."
"Okay, thanks," I say.
We walk towards the barracks. Ahead I see Amara and Inga. Amara is loud as always and abrasive, Inga is walking with her head down.
"All I'm saying is that if we just made sure that most of the power was going to the barracks we wouldn't be having this problem."
"Hey, Amara," I call out to her as we come closer together.
"What?" she asks as Inga looks up, begging me to take her away with her eyes.
"Have either of you seen Jolie?" I ask.
"No and don't care," Amara says, starting to walk past me.
"Hey! I can't find her," I say upset.
Ladon steps in front of her blocking her way forward.
"And that is my problem how?" Amara asks over her shoulder.
"Well, it's not but, I mean you could just help out some," I say feeling defeat.
"Yeah, I did. I haven't seen her. Anything else Princess?" Amara snarls.
"No, that's all," I say. "Let her go," I say to Ladon in his tongue.
He steps to one side and Amara marches past him obviously upset but not saying any more. She goes ten feet down the street then turns around.
"Are you coming or what?" she yells at Inga.
"Sure," Inga says, sighing and hustling after her.
"What was that?" Ladon asks as we watch them go.
"I don't know," I say. "My only other idea is to check her bunk."
"Okay my love," he says.
"You don't have to come," I say.
"I will," he says, looking back at Amara again.
It's obvious he's being protective but I like that about him. We make our way to the barracks and inside then up the stairs to Jolie's room. There are no locks on the doors but I knock just to be sure. No one answers so I push it open.
"Jolie?" I ask.
The room is empty. Frowning I turn to Ladon.
"You don't think she got kidnapped do you?"
"No, no one would dare now that you are in my city. It would be an affront. No Zmaj would dare."
"Ladon, she's my best friend. We have to find her."
"She has probably gone exploring," he says.
"Yeah, probably," I say but doubt gnaws at me.
He's right. I'm sure he's right. Nothing is out of place, none of her things are missing, she probably just got caught up looking at something and hasn't come back. I convince myself of it, mostly, at last.
"If she's not here tomorrow, will you help find her?" I ask.
"Yes, of course," he says.
"Thank you," I say then we head back to our home.
23 CALISTA
Home. When did this become home? The thought of it makes me smile as I finish cooking dinner for Ladon and I. This is home to me. Here, with him, in this city not so much for what it is but for what it will be. Because of us, he and I and my friends will make this place something wonderful. Our futures are tied together now. The life inside of me guarantees that. Ladon walks up behind me and wraps his arms protectively across my belly.
"Dinner is ready," I say as he nuzzles my neck.
"Good, I'm starving," he says.
"Then you'll have to let me go so I can finish dipping it up," I laugh as his cool breath tickles me.
He steps back and I finish our plates up then he carries them to the small table.
"Soon we should have vegetables to go with our meals," I say as we eat.
"Hmm," he says with a distinct lack of interest.
"I know, I know, me man, me eat meat, but vegetables are an important part of a balanced diet."
"As you wish my love," he says.
"Are you quoting the Princess Bride?" I ask.
"What Prince's bride?" he looks up from his meal looking confused.
"Never mind, it's a movie. Was a movie. I wonder if any of the entertainment survived on the shipwreck?" I muse. "It's not l
ike I didn't see it all a million times. Nothing new was being produced on the ship. All the entertainment was old books, movies, and television from Earth that came before the ship launched.
Ladon pushes his plate away and leans back in his chair sipping his water. He smiles as his eyes roam over me and I know where his thoughts are. Mine aren't far from the same place. He rises from his chair and comes around behind me. His strong hands massage my shoulders so gently it never fails to surprise me every time.
"Mmmm," I moan as the tension fades from my muscles.
I relax until I feel like I'm nothing but jelly under his touch.
"More?" he asks.
"Yes!" I say and before I can finish the single syllable he sweeps me into his arms and carries me to our bedroom.
He lays me gently down then motions for me to roll onto my stomach. I slip my clothes off then stretch out for him. The bed of hides and furs shifts side to side as he climbs onto it and sits straddling me. His strong, hard hands work the muscles of my back starting between my shoulder blades then lower.
My mind drifts as the tension and knots from the day give way to his touch. Relaxation flows from his fingers and through me until he reaches my butt then lower. He massages across my ass and down my legs. Slow, long touches, sensual and full of love that makes me feel special. At last he reaches my feet which he gives extra attention to. As he slowly works his way back up my legs I wiggle my ass and he hisses a sound of pleasure.
"See something you like?" I tease, wiggling again.
"Yessss," he says, one of the only words he knows of Common, dragging out the S.
His hands massage as he pulls apart the mounds of my behind. The hints of my musky scent fills the air and a flood of wetness leaks from me. He leans in and kisses each cheek then comes up my back to the base of my neck kissing his way along. A thrill runs down my spine like an electrical touch and I wiggle again. As he moves higher I can feel his cock dragging its way along my leg then it's pressing hard between my thighs straining towards my opening.
I push up with my hips forcing it deeper until the head of his impressive dick is at my slick tunnel. I'm so ready for him and I push back harder trying to get him inside me but he places a hand on my lower back and pushes down forcing me away from the object of my desire.
"Ahhh," I moan.
"My greatest treasure, you have no patience," he says softly into my ear.
"I have all the patience I need, I love you inside me, I want you," I say.
"I want you to enjoy the experience, we have no rush."
He's stronger than I am by far so I don't have much choice but to enjoy his touches which I do. He trails the tips of his fingers along my spine down to my ass then up to the nape of my neck. From there he trails along my arms to my hands and back then down to my ass. It feels like tiny electric sparks follow his exploring fingers creating a building storm along my entire nervous system. My senses go into overdrive. Every touch is a thing of beauty and wonder. I shiver then shimmy under him but still he doesn't stop instead he adds his mouth and tongue to the light touches. Touching, then kissing and licking his way along. His cock throbs against my ass as he works, constantly pulling my attention to it and my wet desire to have him penetrate me to the hilt.
"Ladon," I say, my voice tight with pent up desire. "I need you, now."
"Soon," he whispers.
Another shiver rocks through my body. The electrical storm is building to a crescendo. It's like thunderclouds moving in closer. The hair on my arms and neck stands on end. The pounding pulse of my clitoris accents the storm laying down a bass line underneath its building tempo. Each pulsing, pounding beat highlights the ache in my pussy demanding to be filled.
Unable to hold off I slide a hand underneath myself and down. I press against the top of my folds and makes circling motion but instead of giving me relief it just fills me with the need for him more.
"Ladon, please!" I whimper. "I need you."
"You are my greatest treasure," he says placing an arm to either side of me and sliding his cock forward so the head is just inside my silky outer folds. "You have saved me from emptiness and loneliness. When I saw you, I knew you were my treasure. I had to have you. Tell me you choose me."
"What?" I ask.
"Tell me your choice, choose me," he says, holding himself back from penetration.
"Of course I do," I say, not understanding.
"No, the choice is yours. I choose you Calista, I choose you to be mine, forever. You must choose, of your own free will, you must choose to be mine."
"I don't-"
"Choose," he cuts me off, whispering in my ear then licking my neck.
I shudder and shimmy but he moves with me so that he still doesn't penetrate any further in.
"I do," I say and as I say it I feel it between us.
I don't know what it is but something changed. I feel connected to him in some new, deeper way. My desire seems to double over becoming completely overwhelming. It floods through me and I'm stuck on a small island of sanity that I'm holding onto by the tips of my fingers alone, fighting to not be washed away in the storm that rages around me.
He wants me. Wants me more than anything I've ever experienced, he needs me in ways that I didn't know one person could need another. As he slides into me I don't just feel full, I feel complete. As he enters me everything in my life has been nothing but a prelude to this moment. This instant in the here and now when I become one with him.
As he enters me from behind the weight of him pressing me into the bed causes the ridges along the top of his cock to rub me differently. My body expands and shifts to accommodate his girth as he slides his length in.
"Oh!" I cry out my pleasure as he slides in deeper.
He reaches bottom and holds letting me get used to the new sensations. The ridge at the very base of his penis presses between the cheeks of my ass giving me new and interesting feelings that I'm only dimly aware of, his cock taking most of my attention. He pulls back and as each ridge pulls free of my silky folds I cry out in pleasure.
"Calista," he moans then he's sliding back into his hilt. "We are one."
"Yes!" I cry out as the raging storm takes me over and I lose my grip on the small island.
I'm washed away. Carried on wild winds and knocked around by waves of sensation and pleasure. He grunts and I buck up into him. I love the sounds he makes as we make love. I'm being tossed like a small ship on stormy seas then he's there and I latch onto him. We're entwined on some level beyond our bodies.
I hear myself crying out his name and he is moaning mine. Our voices wind up in each others then become one unified sound. Slowly my body pulls me back in and as I rejoin my flesh he collapses then rolls to the side and we cuddle close in the bed.
I can't speak. My throat is too dry and words just seem beyond me and unnecessary. My body is exhausted so I lie next to him with one leg thrown over his and let it all just come. I sleep, minutes or hours I don't know, but I wake and he's still there. His chest rising and falling evenly. I stir and he looks over at me smiling.
"I love you," I say on impulse and he smiles bigger.
"We are one," he says. "You are mine, I am yours."
"Is this…" I shake my head and laugh feeling so much joy filling me that I don't know if I can contain it.
"It is us," he says. "We are joined. We are one. You are my treasure, I am your treasure, we chose."
I smile and he touches my cheek. "I get it," I say.
"I know," he says smiling. "This is love."
I nod my agreement. This is what the poets wrote about and the songwriters tried to put into their music. This is what I was born for, to join him and be with him. The warm glow that is the life growing in my stomach spreads out and I know that our future may bring hard times. This world is harsh and full of danger but together there is nothing we can't overcome.
"I love you, too."
© 2016 Miranda Martin & Juno Wells
All Righ
ts Reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locations is purely coincidental. The characters are all productions of the author's imagination.
Please note that this work is intended only for adults over the age of 18 and all characters represented as 18 or over.
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Hi! I'm Miranda Martin, and I wrote the book you are about to read with my friend Juno Wells. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it, and I hope you read the rest of our books!
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Alien Dragon's Baby: A Scifi Alien Romance (Red Planet Dragons of Tajss) Page 15