by Rena Marks
He laughed. “We know we’re a bunch of saps. We just don’t point it out.”
She kissed him, grinning against his lips.
“Hi.”
She broke away from Blaze to see a tiny girl dressed in a pink one-piece with a fluffy tutu, a teddy bear clenched in her hand. Behind her stood Sam, the cop who had just joined their security, and Winnie.
“Sorry for the interruption,” Sam said. “This is my daughter, Olivia. We were just at Winnie’s shopping for clothes, and she told us about the baby. Olivia wanted to get her a matching ballerina sleeper.”
“Yes,” Olivia said. “Here.”
She thrust a tiny, doll-sized onesie in pink at Irina. The tiniest, softest tutu flared around the middle.
“Oh, that is too cute,” she said to Olivia. “Baby will love it.”
“I love it. I will love to plaaay with Baby when she grows bigger. Now I have to be careful with her and only kiss her little feet very softly.”
“Is that what daddy told you?”
“Uh, huh. And Miss Winnie.”
“They’re pretty smart,” she winked. “I have an idea. If it’s okay with your daddy, maybe you can come with me to babysit the new baby? We can use the replicator to whip you up some macaroni and cheese to eat. And daddy can probably get dinner with Miss Winnie.”
“I love it!” Olivia said quickly.
“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” Sam said. “I’d hate to impose.”
“Daddy, I love it!” Olivia said sharply. “You and Miss Winnie can go eat. I wanna eat maca cheese and help watch Baby.”
Blaze snorted.
“Well, if you’re sure,” Sam said to Irina.
“We’ll be just fine. You’re not far away. Anyone can point you to Covet’s quarters.”
“Thank you. In that case, Winnie”—he turned to the Xeno Sapien woman—“Would you like to have dinner?”
“Thank you. I love it.” She looked pointedly at Olivia as she spoke, and took the arm he offered.
Olivia giggled. It was obviously a phrase she said often.
“Livvy, you be on your best behavior.”
“I promise, father. I’ll be your favorite daughter.”
He rolled his eyes. “So far, you are.”
“And you’re my favorite daddy. Kiss, kiss.” She turned her face up and he deposited a kiss before he and Winnie left.
“I imagine I should walk you ladies to Covet’s apartment.”
Irina took Olivia’s hand as she stood. Olivia slipped her other hand into Blaze’s and stood between them.
Blaze looked at Irina with surprise.
She winked at him as they began the trek to Covet’s.
Blaze knocked softly on the door in case Baby was sleeping, but Reson flung it open. He had Baby in his arms. “Come in. Covet’s getting dressed.”
“I’m dressed!” Covet called from the bedroom. “I don’t know why women complain about getting back into their pre-pregnancy clothes. Mine work just fine.”
“You’ll need to work on your sympathetic mode if you do start dating,” Irina said.
“That’ll be a puzzle,” Blaze said. He mimicked a high-pitched voice. “Honey, would you like to have this next child or shall I?”
He and Reson laughed. Covet entered the living area. “Very funny. Oh, who’s this?”
He kneeled down toward Olivia.
“Olivia. I’m Baby’s best friend.”
“Oh. Well, welcome, Olivia.” He shook her hand.
“I only have a daddy, too,” she whispered. “Me and Baby love our daddies. I have a song for her.”
“You do? Would you like to sing it for me?”
She nodded solemnly and then belted it out in a tuneless voice.
Hush, li’l Baby, don’t you cry.
Daddy’s gonna sing you a lullaby.
And if that lullaby ain’t sweet,
Daddy’s gonna tickle the bottom of your feet.
And when nighttime shadows fall across your bed,
Daddy’s gonna let you cuddle with him instead.
“I love it,” Covet said solemnly. He looked surprised when Olivia threw her skinny arms around his neck and squeezed tight.
“You just used her favorite phrase.” Irina smiled, her heart full.
Olivia let him go and plopped herself onto the couch.
“Let me replicate her mac and cheese,” Blaze said, heading into the kitchen where a series of beeps could be heard.
“Maca cheese,” Olivia corrected, as if her way was the correct way.
Reson handed Irina the baby. “She’s been fed. Burped. Changed. Cuddled. And changed again.”
“But if you need a bottle, there’s one in the fridge,” Covet said. “I use the warmer on it for forty-five seconds. It’s the perfect temperature.”
“’Course, she’s not finicky,” Reson said, cooing at her. “Are you precious? My little gooby-love is so sweet. Such a good girl.”
Irina forced a straight face.
Blaze returned from the kitchen, bringing the bowl of macaroni and cheese. He laid a dishtowel over Olivia’s lap and gave her the bowl.
“Well, men, are we ready for a night out on the town?” Blaze asked.
Covet looked confused. “Aren’t we just having dinner in the mess hall?”
“I’m not really down with the singles scene,” Reson complained. “I have two women watching and criticizing my every move.”
Blaze sighed. “Just roll with it, guys. I’m trying to impress my mate, here.”
“No need, honey,” she said, leaning up on her tiptoes to kiss him. “I know you can party with the night owls if you wanted to.”
“Darn right,” he said. “Wait for me?”
“Mmm,” she murmured, kissing him.
The three men finally made their way out the door.
“Can you bring gooby-love over here?” Olivia asked, bringing a spoonful of macaroni to her mouth.
This time, Irina couldn’t help but smile.
* * * * *
Sam returned in an hour for Olivia. Irina had placed Baby in her bassinet while she and Olivia had watched a kid program.
“Were you good, Livvy-girl?” he asked.
“I was the best, daddy. I sang a song and ate my dinner. Me and Irina talked, and we played with Baby, but she felled asleep. So we watched cartoons.”
“I had a great dinner, too. Then I walked Miss Winnie home.”
“I like her, daddy. Will we go buy me some more clothes tomorrow?”
He laughed. “No, pumpkin. We have plenty of new clothes for you.”
“But I wanna see Miss Winnie again.”
“She lives here in the same town as us. I’m sure we’ll see her lots.”
“Okay. Thank you for having me,” Olivia said shyly. She held out her arms and Irina hugged her tight.
“Any time, sweetie. You just remind daddy to bring you by, okay?”
“Okay.”
The sweet child left with Sam. Irina heard voices down the hall. Sure enough, Blaze, Reson, and Covet entered the apartment a few minutes later.
“How did tearing up the town go?” Irina grinned.
“Well, we would’ve, but this was my first day away from my gooby-love,” Covet said, peering into the bassinet at the sleeping baby.
“I heard they’re going to use the apartment next door for your live-in nanny,” Reson said. “I’m glad you named her Baby. I’d hate to have had to explain Gooby-Love as a name.”
“Besides, we could tell Blaze was all emotional over not being with his mate,” Covet snorted.
“Well, to be fair, he is a newlymate.” She giggled.
“He’s been a newlymate like three times,” Covet pointed out.
“He claimed it when they first did it,” Reson told him, eyes big as Irina elbowed him.
“He claimed it when she told him she loved him,” Covet said.
“And he claimed it when she accepted being his mate,” Reson finished. “We’d
all appreciate if you would act like an old mated couple. Maybe you can hang out with Joseph and Marjorie some more. Pick up some behavioral tips.”
“Fine, if that’s what you want. Please be advised that old Joseph is why Irina suggested Baby’s name. He’s a closet romantic,” Blaze said.
Covet gaped. “Well, who would’ve known?”
“You both have insulted me enough,” Blaze said. “I’m taking my new mate and getting home for the night. Covet, I’ll visit tomorrow after work.”
“Not me,” Reson said. “I’ve had enough of you two.”
“Covet, tomorrow is your exam. And I’ll take a look at Baby, too,” Irina said. “If you’d like, I’ll take you to lunch afterward? Then you won’t have to use your arms carrying her and her diaper bag and a plate of food.”
“I’d like that,” he said. “Good practice for when I get a nanny. I hope she’s as hot as you.”
“I think she’s gonna be old, dude,” Blaze teased. “No offense to Nanna Elsa, but you do realize she’s the only nanny here? That should tell you something.”
Covet groaned. “Much as I hate to believe you, I think you’re right.”
Irina laughed. “Probably a good thing you won’t be salivating over your nanny.”
“Yeah, you’re butt-ugly, dude,” Reson said.
“I don’t see the last two chicks you were interested in beating down your door, buddy,” Covet countered. “In fact, I think they’re more interested in each other now that one’s had you and is telling the other all about your charms.”
Blaze groaned. “I think you’ll find Covet’s back to normal. This is just like old times,” he said to Irina.
She laughed and hugged Covet and Reson before she and Blaze made their way out the door.
When they reached their apartment, they both placed their thumbs on the door-lock screen together. Once inside, she turned to the love of her life.
“I had no idea when I entered Xenia’s gates for the first time, how wonderful my life would be. I’m so glad I met you. I wouldn’t change a thing about it.”
“You don’t regret sleeping with your patient?”
“Never, sexy. Speaking of which…” She eyed his body hungrily.
* * * * *
From her study off the living room, Irina had a holographic glow of Blaze’s sperm sample in a petri dish. “Well, well. Isn’t that interesting?”
It was nearly morning. The soft glow of the sun should be coming up very soon. She’d been up half the night making love with Blaze, and the other half in her study. Once his sperm sample died, she’d been prepared this time and already had the attributes recorded into her hologram to study. It was a good thing she was off work. She could probably snatch a few hours to sleep.
“What’s interesting, beautiful?”
Blaze leaned against the door, a blanket wrapped around him as he watched her. His hair was tousled, falling across his forehead adorably.
“We had too much concern over your sperm dying off when hitting air. In a warm, damp environment, it acts like charged super-sperm, swimming around like Olympic gold medalists. I’ve never seen anything like it. I don’t see any reason for incompatibility between us. Of course, you’re rather unusual with your mainly human attributes.”
“I do look more human than most. It stands to reason I’d be pretty compatible with humans.”
“Compatible?” She snorted. “We’re actually a tad bit on the irresponsible side, Blaze. I’ll need to get on birth control like tomorrow.”
He grinned. “I agree with your choice. It’s selfish, but we’re newly-mates and I would like to have you to myself for a while. Come back to bed to get some sleep before you rush off to get your birth control.”
She stretched, suddenly feeling the hours she’d been awake instead of sleeping. “I’d like you to myself, too.”
The idea of curling up to his warm body in the wee morning hours was too good to pass up. With the number of times they’d made love, it was remarkable that she wasn’t already pregnant.
What was one more session of irresponsibility with the number they’d already accumulated?
He opened his blanket when she reached him so she could squeeze in.
Damn if the man wasn’t beautifully bare underneath.
Epilogue
“Good morning. Thank you for waiting.”
Irina sat behind her desk as Robyn entered the office.
The human—a brunette—who sat in the chair in the waiting office, uncrossed her legs, showing her nervousness. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes, it’s perfect.” Robyn smiled. “I’m sure Irina explained that your background cleared. We’ll hire you on the spot if you’ll agree to one last condition.”
The woman leaned forward, wary. “I thought every bit of paperwork cleared?”
“It did,” Irina assured her. “But in order to work here full-time, there’s a bit of security protocol we’d like to follow. It’s your choice, of course.”
She knew by the woman’s eyes narrowing that she was well aware of the fact that if she chose not to accept, she’d be turned away at the last moment. They’d deliberately set things this way—basically giving her no choice in the matter.
“This is an experimental procedure,” Robyn said. “It is safe, but you’re the first—and only—to go through it. This is a device that is implanted underneath your skin, at the base of your skull, close to the brain stem. We’ll mark it with a tattoo to let us know of the implantation.”
The woman squirmed uncomfortably, and Irina knew from experience that if her situation wasn’t so desperate, she’d be up and out of there, tossing the job behind her.
“Basically the device will reset your brain with a trigger when you cross the front gates. There are certain things within Xenia that you won’t remember.”
“Like what?”
Robyn signaled at the front door and Blaze entered, carrying Kaden in his arms.
Ava gasped.
“This is my son.” She retrieved Kaden from Blaze, who immediately came to Irina to kiss his beautiful mate.
Ava’s eyes were large as she realized the prestigious Dr. Mescar had a Xeno Sapien as a significant other.
“You’re able to—”
“Not everyone is able to,” Irina said gently. “I’m trying to study those who can and help determine ways for procreation to be enabled for everyone. We haven’t yet had much success.”
“But with such sensitive secrets, surely you can understand why we need secrecy?”
Ava nodded. “I see.”
“Will you agree to take the oath to be implanted?”
“It’s only in effect when I leave the gates?”
“Yes,” Robyn said. “And since you’ve agreed to give us a five-year contract, we hope to develop it further in the next few years. Perhaps update it with a more modern model, one that doesn’t cause amnesia upon your return.”
“Amnesia?”
“Unfortunately. We haven’t had time to prepare this fully. As I said, you would be the first test subject.”
Ava shuddered, but even with that, Irina knew she would do it. How could she not? Her background revealed the genetic predisposition for the ancient genemarker—cancer. The disease had been wiped out of existence because humans were able to pay for a surgery to freeze the gene.
If a family had enough wealth.
For those who didn’t, there were two other options. Free sterilization to eliminate the possibility of passing the gene to offspring, and early life termination depending upon the age the cancer would hit.
Of course, they would give Ava the surgery she needed. But they wouldn’t tell her she had free health access while on Xenia unless they needed to sweeten the deal.
“I’m sorry. Experimentation is everything the Xeno Sapiens have been fighting. They were test objects. And yet you people expect me to submit as a willing object?” Ava stood, smoothing her skirt over her legs. “I don’t think so.”
<
br /> Robyn stood also, Kaden dropping his head to his mother’s shoulder as she did.
“I—I won’t tell a soul about what I’ve seen. You have my promise. I’m sorry. I would have liked to stay. But I can’t go through with the demands established.”
Irina understood. Ava would have had a lot of demands placed upon her when the cancer gene was discovered within her DNA. She felt Blaze’s warm hand squeeze her shoulder, giving her his strength.
She stood also. “Ava. Perhaps you’d like to know that during the five-year contract you would have on Xenia, you’d have access to free health care? No limitations to status. We offer every procedure imaginable, including those you’d have to travel to Iota Nine to achieve.”
Ava froze.
“All it takes is a five-year contract.”
“What if the device isn’t safe? You’ve already determined I’m the first to go through it.”
“The entire world has heard of our health care. Not only do we have the best team of doctors located right here in Xenia, but our medical technology is unrivaled. Of course our records were obtained by unprecedented and unethical means—namely experimentation on people themselves—but we have access to those records and no one else. No matter what the ramifications from the implantation, we’ll be able to help you should side effects arise. You’ll be our number one priority.”
“I assume this is in writing?”
“Right in the disclosure document you’ll affix your DNA to.”
Irina handed her a small, 6x9 tablet. She was impressed that Ava took the time to read the document, scrolling through the clauses.
“I don’t see a pre-existing clause.”
“There isn’t one,” Robyn said softly. “We have the technology to take care of all conditions. There is no reason why we’d penalize you for having one.”
“I’m able to book a procedure as early as my first available weekend off?”
“As early as you wish,” Irina acknowledged. “Some procedures may require a bit of down time afterward, but I’m sure your Xeno Sapien employer would work with you to keep your workload light during that period.”
“I know your employer personally,” Blaze said. “Covet is one of my best friends. He’ll give you the time you need for recovery.”
“In fact, he understands completely,” Robyn said softly. “He recently had his own health issues, which is why we’re hiring someone to dedicate to him.”