CELENK

HOW THE ALIENS WERE WON

HONEY PHILLIPS

Copyright © 2024 by Honey Phillips

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author.

Disclaimer

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or people, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Cover Design by Mariah Sinclair

Edited by Lindsay York at LY Publishing Services

Created with Vellum

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Epilogue

Author’s Note

Other Titles

About the Author

CHAPTER 1

Lottie ducked around a fast-talking street vendor and slipped between two market stalls, almost colliding with a floating tray offering samples from a nearby bakery to bypassers. She rolled her eyes and wiggled past it. Although, she was willing to bet that most of the samples would be consumed by the beggars and pickpockets that frequented the market, it wasn’t any of her business - and they probably needed the food more than the colorful assortment of local residents, domestic servants, and crew members from the nearby spaceport who thronged the area.

A bell began to chime sonorously from the administrative building at one end of the market, an old-fashioned contrast to the large digital time display, and she swore under her breath as she tried to move even faster. She couldn’t afford to be late for her waitress job again. The tavern owner, Grisham, had already threatened to fire her the last time she was tardy. It wasn’t that she ever intended to be late - she prided herself on being a responsible person - but things always seemed to happen at the worst possible time.

The last time she’d been late it was because her neighbor Caralt had begged her to run and pick up a prescription for her sick daughter. This time it had been a tiny creature mewling pitifully in the alley next to her rundown apartment building. She’d finally located the fluffy ball of fur and found that its leg had been trapped in some debris. She had no idea what type of animal it was - probably an escapee from one of the spaceships - but she couldn’t leave it there. Once it calmed down enough for her to free its leg, it clung to her so tightly she thought she would have to carry it with her all day.

Instead, she snuck it back to her rooms, thankfully avoiding her landlady in the process - Mrs. Harper would not have approved. As she carried it upstairs, it kept trying to chew on her long brown braid, so she pulled out some of the leftovers she’d brought home. As it devoured everything she put down, she made a quick bed of towels, put down a bowl of water, and pushed a few boxes across the entrance to the tiny kitchen area. Hopefully it wouldn’t destroy anything before she could get home and figure out what to do with it.

The second bell chimed and her heart pounded anxiously as she wove around yet another food stall and turned down the street leading to the tavern. The bustle of the surrounding market faded into insignificance, drowned out by the thought of Grisham’s scowling face, but it came rushing back when a group of three men in faded uniforms ambled up the street towards her. She came to a jolting halt to keep from crashing into them, only to realize with a sinking feeling in her stomach that they were spaceport guards.

The spaceport attracted a rough element and the city of Port Cantor had resorted to hiring private security firms to patrol the area. The results were… mixed. Some of the guards took the job seriously; others considered it an opportunity to run their own little empires. These men stood out as being particularly intimidating. With their broad shoulders, muscular builds, and the swirling tattoos on their temples and arms, they looked like soldiers. Their presence certainly seemed to be affecting the market crowd, people hastily ducking away in an attempt to avoid attention.

Damn. She usually did a better job of staying aware of potential dangers but she’d been in such a rush that she hadn’t paid as much attention to her surroundings as she normally did. She considered fleeing too, but the alternative was to work her way back down the market to the next street over and that would take time. Grisham would definitely fire her if she didn’t show up soon and her rent was due tomorrow. Then what would she do?

After a lightning fast debate with herself, she bowed her head and hunched her shoulders as she edged as far away from them as possible. She was neither particularly young nor particularly attractive. Most likely they would ignore her.

She hadn’t taken more than two steps when a hand shot out and grabbed her wrist.

“What’s your hurry?” one of the spaceport guards said with an unwholesome leer on his narrow face. His eyes were fixed on her chest, and she realized with a sinking heart that age and beauty didn’t matter - the fact that she was female was enough for him. “Why don’t you join us for a while?”

“I can’t. I’m late for my job.”

She did her best to keep her voice low and calm, but when she tried to pull away from him, he just laughed and tightened his grip. His friends moved closer and she started to panic as she realized they were surrounding her. She cast a desperate look around, but everyone passing by was studiously avoiding looking in their direction.

“We’ll give you a job, ain’t that right, boys?” The man gripping her arm pulled her closer. “If you please us enough, we might even pay you for it.”

When she shuddered, he laughed again and turned his head to say something to one of the other men. As he did, his grip loosened slightly, and she took advantage of the momentary distraction, twisting her arm out of his grip. She darted around him and managed to gain a couple of yards before the three recovered from their surprise enough to give chase.

Her heart racing in her chest, she dodged past a trio of startled shoppers and cut through the middle of the street, almost colliding with a cart piled high with fruit. The driver yelled and tried to avoid her but the wheel of the cart caught on the ragged pavement and started to tip, the mountain of oranges and apples tumbling across the street. Shouts and curses filled the air behind her but she didn’t look back.

A quick duck down an alleyway, around a corner, and then she was through the backdoor of the tavern. She slammed it behind her, leaning back against it as her heart pounded frantically. Samta looked up from where he was lazily stripping the legs off the small crustaceans native to Cresca and shook his head.

“You got a death wish, girl? Grisham’s on the warpath already. Tax collector came by this morning,” he added and she groaned as went to hang up her cloak and fetch her apron.

Grisham hated tax collectors even more than he hated everyone else and he was going to be in an even fouler mood than usual.

“Tell him you were helping me,” he added and she gave him a brief, startled smile.

Although she’d been working in the tavern for almost a year now, they weren’t exactly friends. None of the employees were - not only because Grisham strongly discouraged it but because most of them didn’t last long enough for more than a casual acquaintance. Samta was the only one who had been here when she arrived and was still here. A lanky Caradan with pale green skin and long white hair, he was nonchalant enough not to react to Grisham’s outbursts - and he was an excellent cook.

She’d lasted because she worked hard, kept her head down, and didn’t complain. Something shriveled inside her each time Grisham dumped another litany of insults on her head but his tavern was one of the few that was just that - a tavern, not a thinly disguised brothel. He only paid her a minuscule wage but the tips were enough to get by on, and it wasn’t as if she had a lot of marketable skills. Caring first for her elderly grandparents and then for her worthless ex-husband had left her ill-prepared for life on her own. At least he was finally out of her life, even if he had taken her small inheritance with him.

Still, she was grateful for the job. She’d managed to clear the rest of her ex’s debts and with any luck she’d be able to save enough to take some type of training course - as long as Grisham didn’t fire her.

As if her thoughts had conjured him up, Grisham came barreling through the swinging door separating the kitchen from the bar. He was a big brute of a man with ham-sized fists and a perpetually red, scowling face.

“Godsdammit, you’re late again. I won’t put up with it, I tell you. And what the hell are you doing back here?”

“Just helping me with some lunch prep, boss,” Samta responded before she could open her mouth. “When are you gonna hire someone to replace Jarvis?”

Grisham opened his mouth to blast the cook, then thought better of it. Samta wouldn’t care what he said and despite his irascible temper, Grisham wasn’t fool enough to fire him. Instead he rounded on her again.

“I don’t pay you to hang around in the kitchen. Get out front and start on the silverware.”

Too grateful that he hadn’t fired her to protest that it was already done, she scurried out of the kitchen. The bar had opened earlier and a few of the regulars were already staring down at their beers. Even at this hour the tavern was dark, the wooden walls stained almost black by years of smokestick fumes. Only a few dim lights penetrated the gloom. Grisham claimed it was for atmosphere, but she knew it was because he was too cheap to turn them up - and probably reluctant to reveal the overall dinginess resulting from years of neglect.

Nate, the bartender, jerked his chin at her without any great degree of enthusiasm. He was a good-looking man a few years older than her and he’d put the moves on her when he first arrived. She might even have fallen for it if she hadn’t held him off long enough to realize that he used the same lines on every unaccompanied female customer.

She nodded back and the day fell into its usual rhythm - a handful of regulars mixed with a steady flow of customers from the spaceport, most of them crew members off the ships that landed there and quite a few of them aliens. Cresca was a colony planet and outside of Port Cantor, it was primarily populated by humans. Even in the city, humans tended to associate with other humans, but Grisham wouldn’t turn down anyone with a pulse and a purse full of credits - and the first was definitely less important than the second.

As a result, the alien who entered late that afternoon shouldn’t have caught her attention. He was big - a head taller than Grisham - with wide shoulders and an impressively muscled chest beneath a tight-fitting shirt. He clearly had reptilian ancestry; his features unfamiliar but not displeasing. He was hairless, his skin covered with shimmering golden scales marked with a copper pattern. She watched in fascination as a thickly muscled tail flicked behind him as he strolled over to a table in the far corner.

“Get over there, you stupid woman,” Grisham hissed, pinching her arm painfully, and she realized she was still staring at the stranger.

Blushing, she hurried over to take his order. He looked up when she approached and their eyes met. Her heart skipped a beat when she met that piercing blue gaze and once again she found herself staring. Not human eyes, she thought absently as the slit pupils started to dilate, then a corner of his mouth curved up to reveal very white, very sharp teeth.

“Did you plan to give me that?”

He had a deep voice, cool and slightly mocking, and she winced as she realized she was still clutching the plas sheet with the menu. Her cheeks burning, she handed it over, their fingers almost touching.

“Do you want something to drink while you’re looking?”

“Ale. Whatever you have on tap.”

“Yes, sir.”

As she started back across the room to the bar, the door opened. She looked over automatically and her stomach clenched. It was the three guards from the street. Maybe they won’t recognize me, she thought optimistically, but then the leader caught sight of her and grinned. It wasn’t a happy expression.

“Well look who we have here, boys. The little bitch who caused such a mess earlier.”

Ignoring the protests from the half a dozen patrons in the way, they shoved through the tables towards her. She tried to edge back behind the bar but misjudged the distance and ended up against the wall. Her heartbeat sped up as the three of them surrounded her, leaving no room for escape this time.

“We have some unfinished business,” the leader snarled. “The vendor filed a complaint and the boss ain’t happy. You owe us.”

“I can give you my tips,” she said quickly. It was all she had, but maybe that would satisfy them.

“Tips from working in this dump? We don’t want your pitiful credits. We want something else.”

The implication in his voice was clear, and when his gaze dropped to her breasts she felt physically sick. She tried to peer past him, searching for help. Nate was concentrating on polishing a glass and refusing to look in her direction. It was almost a relief to see Grisham stomping out of the back. He opened his mouth, then took in the guards’ uniforms. His scowl darkened, but then he turned on his heel and returned to the kitchen. Oh, God.

One of the guards had seen Grisham, and he elbowed the leader, jerking his head towards the kitchen.

“Better take it out of here. There’s an alley round back.”

The look on his face made her stomach churn even more, then she yelped as the leader suddenly jerked her against his body, twisting her arm behind her. Tears of pain filled her eyes.

“You’re hurting me!” She tried to twist free, but he wasn’t making the same mistake again, his fingers digging painfully into her flesh as he jerked her arm higher. “Stop it! Let me go!”

A shadow fell across the guard’s face and he jerked around, still holding onto her arm. The golden stranger stood there. He appeared at ease but even Lottie could sense the danger rolling off of him as he smiled in a way that did not look friendly at all.

“Walk away,” the guard snarled. “If you’re interested in the woman, you can have her when we’re finished with her but we’re going to play first.”

The alien’s smile widened, showing those very sharp teeth.

“I am afraid that won’t be possible. Let her go and leave. Now.”

One of the other guards tried to pull the leader aside.

“No need to get in a fight for a piece of ass. Boss won’t like it.”

“I don’t fucking care. I’m taking her with me and no godsdammed alien is gonna stop me.”

“Wrong answer.”

The alien stepped forward, grasped the leader by the neck, and pulled him away from her in one smooth, rapid motion. She stared, frozen in place, as he tightened his grip on the guard’s neck. The guard gasped, clawing at the stranger’s arm, but it was like a child trying to overcome an adult. The two other guards started to rush in but the alien extended an almost casual hand, throwing the first guard to the side, sending him crashing into a nearby table. A split second later the third guard was slammed against the wall, crumpling into an unmoving heap on the floor.

“Let me go,” the leader begged, and the alien smiled again.

“You didn’t listen to her. Why should I listen to you?”

She watched in horror as claws emerged from the alien’s fingertips, digging into the leader’s neck as blood started to trickle from the wounds. He’s going to kill him, she realized, her stomach sinking. As much as the guard had terrified her, she couldn’t bear it if someone died because of her.

“Please - let him go.”

“Why shouldn’t I kill him?”

He almost sounded curious, but the dangerous note in his flat, cold voice made her wince.

“Because I asked you not to. You don’t want his death on your conscience, do you?”

The noise that came from his throat couldn’t be considered a laugh.

“It’s far too late for that, my flower.”

Despite his words, he let the guard drop to the ground. The man choked and held his hand to his throat. He glared up at the alien, but at least he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut as he crawled over to the guard who’d been slammed into the wall.

Now that it was over, Grisham came storming out of the back. He looked at the alien, calmly examining his blood stained claws, at the three injured guards, and then at her, his face mottled with rage.

“That’s it. I’ve had enough of this bullshit. You’re fired.”

CHAPTER 2

Celenk watched as the little human waitress slumped in defeat. Wasn’t she going to argue? It wasn’t her fault that those bastards had threatened her, and the owner certainly hadn’t shown any signs of intervening. Although he would have preferred not to be involved, he couldn’t let those three males drag her away.

“She didn’t ask to be attacked,” he said when she remained silent.

“I don’t fucking care - and neither will they when they recover. There’ll be a target on my back as long as she’s here. I want her gone. Now. And you too.”

The owner’s bluster faded a little when Celenk stared at him, but he clearly wasn’t going to back down. Frek.

“Does he owe you anything?” he asked the waitress.

“Two week’s wages. Minus today,” she added, and he nodded before turning back to the owner.

“Pay her. The full two weeks.”

“Who do you think you are…”

The owner took a hasty step back when Celenk started to move towards him.

“Fine,” the man snapped, then cast a nervous glance at the guards now staggering out of the door. “No hard feelings, I hope.”

The leader snarled, but none of the men looked around before the door closed behind them.

“Wages. Now.”

The owner glared but went behind the bar. The little human was starting to shake. Adrenaline, now that it was over. He put a hand under her arm to support her, half-expecting her to pull away, but she flashed him a quick, surprisingly sweet smile. When she’d waited on him earlier, he’d decided she was attractive in a quiet way with brown hair and brown eyes, and skin that looked temptingly smooth and creamy. On the taller side for a human female, she had a delightfully lush ass for an otherwise slender female. His tail had twitched, but he’d ignored it.

Even if he hadn’t given up on females, he had other things on his mind. Those things resurfaced as he waited for the owner to return. When he did, thrusting a handful of credits at the waitress, he told her to count them.

“I’m sure it’s fine,” she said, giving the owner a nervous look.

“Count it.”

She obeyed, and he saw her shoulders slump just a little more even though she didn’t say anything. The bastard had seriously tried to cheat her?

“You will pay her the full amount that she is owed,” he said coldly.

“But…”

His tail began to lash back and forth as his claws emerged and he was aware of a stirring from the handful of customers in the tavern. Most were still sitting down, enjoying the unusual entertainment, but a few of them were edging towards the door. Frek. He usually avoided this kind of attention. The sooner this was over, the better.

He gave the owner an icy look. The man paled, then counted out a second short stack of credits. This time she nodded and slipped them into her pocket.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, but the owner only glared at both of them.

“Now get the hell out of here.”

He didn’t bother to respond, just kept one hand on her elbow as he escorted her to the door.

Outside the sky was fading to shades of red and orange in the western sky, casting an eerie glow on the tavern and the surrounding buildings. A ship soared up into the sky, leaving a fiery trail behind it, and he watched it go, idly wondering if he should book passage on the next one out. But he’d realized after the war that one place was as good as another, and jobs were plentiful here.

As much as he’d come to hate his military background, it had more than prepared him for work as a mercenary. He was fast, he was efficient, and he kept his mouth shut. He suspected it was the latter trait that had led to him being summoned to Marshall Thompson’s office that morning.

He usually picked up his jobs in taverns like the one he’d just left, or even the alleys behind them. The expensively furnished reception area had been quite a change. But being surrounded by luxury was nothing new and he’d sprawled causally in a too-small chair, his face set in its usual unreadable mask. He let his tail thump heavily on the polished stone floor, and amused himself by counting the number of nervous looks the very dignified male receptionist shot at him.

He was up to fifteen when the inner door opened and a young human female came out. She had blonde hair and a slender build, and she might have been pretty if her face hadn’t been so pale and tear-stained. Still, she carried herself with commendable dignity, nodding politely at the receptionist, and even at him before heading to the private elevator which had brought him here. Instead of pushing down as he expected, she chose to go up to the private quarters.

Interesting. A mistress, perhaps? No, he realized a moment later when the receptionist nervously directed him through the same inner door. The resemblance was unmistakable - the same pale blonde hair and elegant bone structure, although in Marshall’s case the effect was chilling rather than attractive. Expensively and impeccably dressed, he surveyed Celenk coldly from behind a massive desk. Symbols of his wealth were everywhere, from the expensive art on the walls to the highly detailed inlay on the desk, but it was the male who drew his attention.

On the surface he appeared to be nothing but a very successful businessman, but Celenk knew better. The legitimate business was simply a cover for far less salubrious - and far more profitable - activities. Marshall was suspected of being involved in at least half of the illegal activity in Port Cantor and studying him now, Celenk found he believed it. But then many of his clients were on the shadier side of the law.

“You sent for me?”

“Yes. I have a job for you, outside of Port Cantor.”

Interesting. As far as he knew, most of the illegal activity on Cresca occurred in the city, not the far more primitive countryside. He knew better than to tip his hand so he kept his mouth shut and waited. A flicker of what could have been annoyance crossed the male’s face at his silence, before it resumed the previous arctic expression.

“I require a survey.”

That was unexpected. His talents were in other directions.

“I haven’t done any surveying work.”

Marshall waved a dismissive hand.

“Not an issue. I will provide you with a device. You will simply need to carry it with you. It will gather the information I need and send it back to me.”

It sounded simple enough, but there was always a catch.

“Why me?”

Marshall steepled his fingers together.

“The property I want surveyed belongs to someone else. I tried sending a human last time, but it did not go well.”

“Why not?”

“The farm is owned by a group of former warriors. Alliance warriors.”

Frek. The last thing he wanted was more reminders of the war.

“That’s very interesting but-”

“I am prepared to pay handsomely.”

“How handsomely?”

Reminders or not, he still needed to pay his bills and add to his savings.

“Ten times your usual fee.”

Since his usual fee was already high, it was an extremely generous offer - but Marshall Thompson was not a generous man.

“What’s the catch?”

“There are two… conditions. First, you will be required to actually work on the farm as an employee.”

“Not an issue.” Physical labor had never bothered him. “What’s the other one?”

“You will need to be accompanied by a wife - a human wife. Several of the other males also have human wives and it will help you blend in.”

He froze. The prospect of a mate, a family, was another one of the things he had lost with the war. He would never ask a female to commit to someone who had done the things he had done.

“I do not have a wife.”

He managed to keep his voice calm, and Marshall waved his hand again.

“Obviously. And equally obviously, this would only be a temporary arrangement. I will provide one for you. I expect we could even fulfill any specific… requirements you might have to make the ruse more palatable.”

Marshall offered him a choice of females as casually as if he were offering him a choice of weapons, but he shook his head. He didn’t have many rules, but refusing to harm females and children was one of them.

“I will not expose a female to harm.”

“There is no danger,” Marshall said impatiently. “Even if you were discovered - which I trust will not happen - there would be no blame attached to an innocent female.”

The other male was probably correct, he conceded silently - especially if the warriors retained the same code of honor that he’d once had. He still didn’t like the idea of being responsible for a second person, or of claiming the type of female Marshall would undoubtedly provide as his mate.

“I wish to consider it.”

Another flicker. Irritation, perhaps?

“You do not have long. I need an answer by the end of the day so I can make the arrangements and provide you with a wife.”

“Understood.”

Marshall clearly was not happy with his answer, but he was also intelligent enough to recognize the futility of argument.

“Very well. You may go.”

The other male didn’t wait for a response, already dismissing Celenk as he pressed a button on a communication panel.

“Warshan, I need you to deal with Algar. He let my daughter out of his sight. Again. There will be no further opportunities - is that understood?”

The door closed behind Celenk before he heard any more of the conversation but he suspected that the unfortunate Algar was about to meet an untimely end. Then again, if he’d had a daughter, he might have been just as ruthless about her protection.

He’d chosen the tavern at random after he left, simply as a place to have a quiet drink while he decided whether or not to take Marshall’s offer. Not so quiet after all, and yet here he was with a female - a human female - giving him a tremulous smile.

He looked down at her speculatively. He still found her attractive, perhaps even more so now that he’d seen the dignity with which she’d handled herself. Now that they were away from the tavern and its prevailing odor of smoke and stale beer, he caught a faint elusive sweetness that must be her natural scent. His tail twitched again but his physical reaction was irrelevant, perhaps even inconvenient. This would be a business arrangement nothing more.

That is, if she agreed. Although he regretted the fact that she was out of a job, it could provide an excellent incentive. Yes, he decided, she would do.

“Let me buy you a drink.”

CHAPTER 3

Celenk’s words came out more as an order than a request and the female gave him a startled look.

“What?”

“You’re still shaky. A drink will help.”

“Thank you, but no. I need to figure out what I’m going to do now. But thank you for what you did - I’m sorry, what’s your name?”

“I’m Celenk, but you do not need to thank me.”

“I’m Lottie, Lottie Cooper, and I do need to thank you. You saved me from those men.”

“They had no honor,” he said, then winced. Neither did he these days. “But even if you will not accept that drink, I intend to accompany you home - in case they have recovered enough to seek vengeance.”

She paled and stepped closer to him, looking around nervously. She seemed so small and defenseless. Perhaps he shouldn’t even discuss the job with her - but Marshall had promised there was no danger and while he didn’t particularly trust the man, he agreed with his reasoning.

And she will be safer with me than alone in Port Cantor.

“Would you consider tea instead? I have a suggestion about your future. At an outside cafe if you prefer,” he added when she gave him a thoughtful look.

“All right. I suppose a half an hour won’t make much difference. But let’s get out of the market area first.”

“Agreed. Where do you live?”

She hesitated, then sighed.

“I have rooms over by the fishing port. At least for now.” Her hand dropped to the pocket holding her credits. “This isn’t going to last long.”

He made a noncommittal noise, not wanting to discuss his proposition here. Putting his hand under her elbow again, he started to lead her down the street, surprisingly gratified when she accompanied him without protest. They walked back through the market, then down one of the winding streets leading to the fishing port, both of them silent until she looked up and smiled.

“It’s very different walking with you. Everyone gets out of your way. I have to weave my way through.”

“Prey always recognizes a predator.”

Another thoughtful look from those clear brown eyes.

“Why do you call yourself a predator? I don’t believe you prey on anyone. You certainly came to my rescue.”

He shrugged, even though he knew he’d been correct the first time.

“A dangerous male, if you prefer.”

She smiled up at him.

“I don’t think anyone would argue with that. There’s a cafe at the end of the street by the harbor. Will that do?”

“Wherever you would like.”

Back on Karthika, back before everything had changed, he could have escorted her to one of the grand tea rooms that adorned the capital, the china and crystal glittering beneath the lights of a thousand chandeliers. Stop that, he told himself. He had no reason to turn maudlin all of a sudden. Those days were a long way behind him.

And the cafe was nice enough, a quiet little spot overlooking the harbor with gaily striped tablecloths and a small candle on each table. The breeze blew in from across the water, carrying the scent of the sea, and the beacon on the lighthouse outside the harbor began sweeping through the gathering darkness.

“I’ve always liked it here,” she said after they’d ordered tea and he’d insisted on adding a platter of pastries.

“Because you like the sea?”

“I do, but it’s not really that. It’s the fact that even with the city behind us, it’s so open. Endless waters and endless possibilities.” She gave him an apologetic smile. “Sorry. I used to bring my grandfather here before he got too ill and he said that a lot.”

“Is he…”

He hesitated and she shook her head.

“No, he died three years ago. What about you? Do you have family?”

“No,” he said shortly, relieved when the cafe owner returned with their order before she could ask any more questions.

Lottie poured the tea, then nibbled on a pastry, watching him again.

“You said you had a suggestion about my future. I hope you won’t be offended, but although I’m very grateful for your assistance, that gratitude only goes so far.”

It took a second before he understood what she was saying and he couldn’t decide if he was amused or offended. Amusement won out.

“If you think I’m about to make a sexual proposition, you’re quite wrong.”

That pretty hint of color flushed her cheeks.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have made that assumption - I know I’m not really the type.”

“The type?”

“The type that men find attractive,” she said quietly, looking down at her hands.

Were human males such fools? Her beauty might not be obvious at first glance, but it was easy to see if one looked. He was about to say as much, then caught himself.

“Have you never been married?” he asked instead.

She looked up and the pain in her eyes surprised him.

“I was, once. It didn’t work out.”

Frek, it was nothing to him what type of male she chose or had chosen in the past, so why did he feel annoyed? It should make his proposition more acceptable.

“Any children?”

“No. I wanted one but it didn’t happen. A blessing as it turned out,” she added.

She shrugged and he found himself following the movement of her shoulders. So small and delicate beneath the plain blue tunic she wore. How would they look bare? Or moving beneath him as he bent over her? Frek. He quickly forced his attention back to the matter at hand.

“I have a job offer at a farm,” he said abruptly. “It’s a long way from Port Cantor, close to the base of the mountains.”

“Really?” Those perceptive eyes were studying him again. “I would have thought you were a city boy.”

“Not really. And I’m tired of the city.”

He suspected there was enough truth in those words to be convincing, although the city wasn’t the source of his weariness.

“I can understand that. When are you leaving?”

“That’s an excellent question, and it brings me to my proposition. The farm has had… issues with unmarried males in the past. They don’t stay only and they are frequently unreliable.”

“I suppose I can understand that, but you aren’t married, are you?”

“No.” He hesitated, deciding how to phrase it. “Which is why I am proposing that you accompany me as my wife. In name only, of course,” he added when her eyes widened.

“You want me to move to a farm in the middle of nowhere and pretend to be your wife?”

“Only for a period of six months. That should be enough time for the owner of the farm to see that I’m hard-working and reliable. When our arrangement comes to an end, I will tell him that we have separated and you can leave, with a considerable number of credits in your account. Enough for you to buy a house of your own perhaps. Or to start over somewhere else.”

“Start over…” She stared down into her teacup. “It would be nice to start again, but I’ve never lived anywhere else.”

“Is there anything keeping you here? You said you have no family, no children. Are there friends here that you will miss?”

“Friends? Not really. Caralt and I get together occasionally, but she has a young daughter and a job and a very busy life. I’ve tried to keep in touch with a few of the previous waitresses from the tavern but once they leave, they don’t really want to remember it.” She looked back up at him, her eyes suspiciously bright. “It sounds pathetic, doesn’t it?”

“No. It simply sounds as if you are alone.” Something he was all too familiar with. “Perhaps a new start would also give you a chance to form new relationships.”

“Maybe.” She didn’t seem convinced, but she hadn’t rejected the idea outright. “There’s something else you may not have considered. Here in the city, non-humans are pretty common. I understand it can be different in the smaller settlements. Does the owner know that you are… not human?”

“Of course. And neither is he. The males on the farm are all former warriors from off world. And their mates are all human,” he added when her eyes widened. “Another reason you would be the perfect person to accompany me.”

“And if I refuse?”

“Then I don’t believe I will take the job,” he said truthfully.

He’d found the idea of Marshall providing him with a wife distasteful to begin with; it seemed even more so now that he’d met Lottie.

“But you still want to leave the city?”

“Yes.”

She didn’t respond immediately. Instead she twisted her hands around the empty teacup and looked out over the water. As he waited, he noticed for the first time the deep shadows beneath her eyes, the weariness in her posture. For some reason it suddenly became even more important to him that she join him.

“When would you want to leave?” she asked slowly.

“As soon as possible. I don’t know what business you may need to attend to first…”

“That’s not an issue. I live in furnished rooms and I only have my clothes and a few personal items to pack.” She took a deep breath, her body moving enticingly beneath the blue tunic. “The reason I was asking is that my rent is due tomorrow. It seems foolish to pay for another month if we are leaving almost immediately.”

We. A smile threatened to erupt, but he forced himself to maintain his usual stoic expression.

“We could be ready to leave by tomorrow. The arrangements will not take long.” Especially with Marshall pulling the strings.

“Then I think… I think, yes. I will accept your proposition.”

An unexpected sense of triumph filled him. He had caught his prey.

CHAPTER 4

Alittle after noon the next day, Lottie perched next to Celenk on the seat of a mechanized wagon as they passed through Port Cantor’s outer gates, still stunned at how quickly her life had changed.

Celenk had escorted her home the previous night, then left to prepare for the trip. She’d climbed the stairs, still dazed at her decision. Rather than second guess herself, she’d immediately started packing. Almost everything had fit into the small trunk she’d brought with her when she moved.

Almost everything, she thought with a smile as an inquisitive squeak came from her lap. Raja poked his head out of the satchel she’d used to transport him and sniffed curiously. She’d returned to find the small ball of fluff half-buried in the nest of towels. He squeaked eagerly when he spotted her and immediately tried to climb up her leg. She laughed and picked him up, studying the small face with the big eyes.

“Since it appears I’ve adopted you, I’m going to call you Raja.” The two big ears moved as if he were listening more intently. “I hope you’re going to like the country.”

When Celenk had arrived that morning, he’d informed her that Raja was a kedji, a race of small marsupials who were frequently found on spaceships as they were clean, pleasant companions.

“Not that that means they are suited for wagon journeys,” he added, eyeing the fluffy little creature suspiciously.

“I’m not going to leave him - he’s just a baby.”

He’d looked from her face to Raja’s, then shook his head.

“As long as you do not expect me to tend to him.”

He picked up her trunk, hoisting it onto his shoulder without any sign of strain, the muscles in his arms rippling beneath the gold and copper scales. That was… impressive, she thought breathlessly, then realized she was staring at him. She blushed and turned away to tuck Raja into the satchel. When she picked up her additional satchel, Celenk immediately took it and slung it over his other arm.

“I can carry something,” she protested.

“You can carry the rodent.”

Was that a flicker of amusement on that usually unreadable face? Before she could decide, he turned and headed for the stairs.

She took a deep breath before she followed him. Was she being foolish to trust him? She’d certainly trusted her ex-husband far too easily, but then Ken would never have stepped in to protect her or anyone else. Celenk hadn’t told her pretty lies, but he’d protected her and he made her feel safe. She was going to trust that feeling.

As she stepped out into the hallway, closing the door behind her with an odd feeling of finality, Caralt came hurrying out of her rooms. Lottie had gone to see her earlier that morning to let her know what she was doing. She hadn’t gone into any details - just told her that she was accompanying a friend to a settlement in the country to make a fresh start. Caralt had clearly had her doubts, but she’d finally sighed and nodded.

“I know what it’s like to want to start over - and I know you haven’t been happy here. I wish you well.”

She’d give the other woman an impulsive hug and promised to keep in touch, but she hadn’t expected to see her again.

“Here.” Her friend thrust a bag into her hands. “I put together some food for the trip. Just to get you started.”

“That was very sweet of you. Thank you.”

Caralt smiled at her, then looked thoughtfully at Celenk, already striding down the stairs.

“He’s impressive, isn’t he?”

She knew she was blushing as she followed her friend’s gaze to Celenk’s tall, powerful frame.

“Yes. Very.”

“I can see why you wanted to go with him. Just think of all those long nights on the trail…”

An odd tinge of jealousy hit her at the speculative look in her friend’s eyes, but she simply shook her head.

“It’s not like that.”

“But it could be,” Caralt teased, then smiled at her. “If it turns out he has a single friend, you’ll send for me, right?”

“I promise.”

She kissed Caralt’s cheek and hurried down the stairs. Celenk was already outside, stowing her trunk in the back of a compact mechanized wagon. As she went to join him, the faint sound of her landlady’s disapproving voice drifted down from above.

“Honestly, I can’t believe that girl is running off with a stranger. It’s not right. And those alien men - no decency. Heaven only knows what he’ll expect.”

What would he expect, she wondered now, sneaking a look at him from under her lashes and remembering not only Mrs. Harper’s words but Caralt’s teasing about nights on the trail. It’s not like that, she told herself again, even as her imagination whispered, but what if it could be? An image of those strong, scaled fingers trailing across her bare skin flashed through her mind and heat filled her cheeks.

The thought was not… distasteful. For the first time since her ill-fated marriage she felt a spark of interest in a male, a pulse of warmth starting low in her stomach. Stop it, she ordered herself. He’s only interested in the job. Nothing more.

He suddenly made an odd sound and looked down at her.

“Are you hot? Your face is flushed.”

Her cheeks heated even more, but she seized his excuse.

“It is a little warm.”

“A disadvantage to traveling during the summer, but it should get cooler as we head north.”

“How long will it take to get to the farm?”

“If we followed the main road, it would take three to four weeks, even though we will travel faster on our own than as part of a caravan. The road follows a somewhat circuitous route in order to connect the towns along the way so I propose to use some smaller trails and travel cross country instead - that should get us to the farm in just under two weeks.”

So they would be completely on their own for the next two weeks? Those nights on the trail suddenly seemed all too real. She stroked Raja’s soft fur, carefully not looking at Celenk.

“You must be in a hurry to get started.”

He shrugged and the gesture caused his arm to brush against hers, leaving a trail of heat behind. Why was she so hyper aware of him all at once? Because now the image of him touching her had appeared in her mind, it was impossible to ignore. It’s just a job.

“I’d like a chance to get up to speed before the harvest season,” he said, increasing the speed of the wagon slightly now that they were moving away from the clusters of shops and retail establishments outside the gate.

They sprawled in an unorganized way for several miles outside the city walls. The walls around the main part of the city had been erected to control trade - and the resulting taxes and licenses - not for defense, so a number of people tried to avoid both by living outside the official city limits. She’d only been outside the walls once before, and it had been a long time ago when her grandfather had still been healthy enough to make the long trip to visit an old friend.

His friend had passed while she was a teenager, but her grandfather had lingered for much longer. Forcing her mind away from the unhappy memories, she watched as even the small houses and farms that dotted the fields gradually disappeared, leaving only open rolling hills as far as she could see. Like the ocean, she thought, taking a breath of air untainted by fumes or smoke or people. Raja seemed equally as enthusiastic, his little nose quivering almost continuously.

“Do you have experience on a farm?” she asked a little while later.

“Why else would I apply to work on one?”

Despite the slightly sardonic response, his big body had tensed.

“Were you brought up on a farm?”

This time there was a perceptible hesitation before he answered and although his voice was still calm and controlled, she had the distinct feeling he was uncomfortable with the subject.

“The land my family owned was not strictly a farm. It included several orchards, as well as pasture land for several herds of drishni.”

“Drishni?”

“They are large animals with four legs, shaggy fur, and big horns. They are generally placid animals - except during mating season.” Those other worldly blue eyes glinted as he looked down at her. “But then most males are aggressive when in pursuit of a female.”

“So what happened?” she asked, feeling oddly breathless all of a sudden. The teasing light vanished and she realized he didn’t want to talk about it. “You don’t have to tell me. I’m just curious about my new… husband.”

“I understand,” he said, giving her a sideways look, the light gleaming on the scales on the side of his head. His ears were much flatter and closer to his head than a human’s. Another hesitation and what might have been a sigh. “I suppose a wife is expected to know something of her husband’s past. To answer your original question, I was not raised on that land but I did spend a lot of time there as a child.”

“And as an adult?”

“That part of my life no longer existed.”

His voice had turned so cold that she shivered, deciding not to ask him any more questions about his past.

“Is there anything you want to know about me?” she asked instead.

“A much more interesting subject.”

Since his body had relaxed again, she smiled up at him as she shook her head.

“Not really. I’ve always lived in Port Cantor. My mother died when I was so young I barely remember her and my grandparents brought me up - both of them at first, and then just my grandfather.”

“And your father?”

“Joined the crew of a spaceship after my mother died. We never heard from him again.”

“Some males should not be allowed to propagate,” he muttered.

Did he include himself in that group, she wondered, but didn’t have the nerve to ask. She gave him a quizzical look instead.

“It’s just as well he did, otherwise I wouldn’t be here.”

“You have a point. That would have been most unfortunate.”

A flush of warmth filled her at his words - it was the closest she’d had to a compliment in a very long time.

“What did you do when you grew older?” he asked.

“I remained at home. My grandfather was ill so I nursed him until… until the end.”

Her throat threatened to close, the memory still raw even after three years. Raja squeaked and nudged her hand as if he had picked up on her distress, and Celenk put a warm arm around her waist. Not an arm, she realized a second later - a tail. It felt a little strange, but also oddly comforting and she cautiously patted the tip where it had curved over her stomach.

He went completely still, then she saw a small muscle clench in his jaw as he looked over at her. She was willing to swear that he hadn’t even known his tail was there until she touched him. His eyes focused on where her hand rested on his tail, his face inscrutable.

“Be careful where you pat.”

She quickly snatched her hand away, blushing.

“I’m sorry. Was I hurting you?”

His eyes closed as if he were in pain, but he shook his head.

“No, but touching that area can be very… stimulating.”

Stimulating? Oh. Oh!

Unable to help herself, she darted a quick glance between his legs, but there was no sign of an erection. Maybe she didn’t arouse him after all.

“What happened after your grandfather died?” he asked, and she gladly took the opportunity to change the subject, even though it wasn’t a pleasant topic.

“I didn’t know what to do with myself at first, but somehow I ended up working at a nice restaurant in one of the big hotels on the coast. My grandfather had left me the house and a small inheritance so I could have managed without the job, but I wanted to get out of the house, to meet people again.”

Unfortunately, one of those people had been her ex-husband.

“My ex was one of my customers and we had what I suppose you would call a whirlwind romance. We were married three months after we first met. I was lonely and he was charming. At first, anyway.”

His hand tightened on the control rod.

“What happened?”

I was a fool.

“He convinced me to sell the house and move into a larger place. I didn’t realize until much later that he hadn’t used the credits to buy the place outright and we’d acquired a huge mortgage.”

“What happened to the rest of the credits?”

“He spent them on - how does the expression go? - wine, women, and song. I’m not sure there was much singing, but the first two were true enough. I was just naive enough not to recognize what was going on until one of his women showed up at our house demanding money.”

Ken had managed to get rid of her, but it had been enough to finally make her take a good look at their marriage. As soon as she started asking questions, his web of deception had crumbled. If only she’d asked earlier, before everything was gone.

She shrugged, staring unseeing at the countryside.

“When it was all over, I had no husband, no house, and no inheritance. The bank sold the house at a loss and I’ve spent the last year paying off the debt. I thought I might finally be able to save something, to make a new plan, but then those guards showed up.”

His tail was still around her waist and it tightened slightly, as if he were hugging her.

“But now you will have enough income to make any plan you wish.”

“I suppose so.”

Although she was glad of the opportunity, she would still be starting all over again on her own. Shaking off the melancholy, she changed the subject to their route and the territory they would be passing through.

The rest of the afternoon passed pleasantly enough. By tacit agreement they avoided any more personal subjects and, in spite of that occasionally forbidding manner, he proved to be a good conversationalist. By mid-afternoon they’d left the main road and turned on to a much smaller and rougher track. Fortunately, the wagon had oversized tires and an excellent suspension and although it was a little bouncy, it was not as uncomfortable as she’d feared.

When they reached a grove of trees next to a small stream, he shot a look at the sun and brought the wagon to a halt.

“It’s a little early, but this looks like a good campsite.”

It was a pretty spot, nestled in a small valley between two of the low hills and she nodded approvingly as he swung down from the wagon. Raja had fallen asleep in the satchel and she placed it carefully over her shoulder before she started to climb down. As her feet reached the ground, her legs suddenly threatened to give out on her. Celenk caught hold of her - or rather his tail caught hold of her - before she could fall, steadying her until she found her feet.

“I guess I’m not used to sitting for most of the day,” she said ruefully, smiling up at him.

He didn’t return the smile. Those intense blue eyes were focused on her mouth, his expression almost… hungry. She hadn’t realized he was quite so close and her pulse started to race. Her tongue darted out to moisten suddenly dry lips and his tail gently tugged her closer. Just as her body made contact with his, he stiffened, then released her with a muttered oath.

“I’ll get the camping supplies,” he said, his face once more expressionless as he headed towards the back of the wagon.

She watched him go, her heart still pounding in her chest. She was almost positive he’d intended to kiss her. And I wouldn’t have stopped him. The flutter of arousal had returned and she didn’t need to look down to know her nipples were erect, still tingling from that all too brief contact with his big, hard body.

What’s more, she was sure the arousal had been mutual. He was attracted to her - but apparently he didn’t want to be. I’ll just have to keep my distance, she decided, then took a somewhat shaky breath and followed him to the back of the wagon.

“Can I help?”

He didn’t look at her as he opened the storage compartment beneath the wagon bed.

“I’ve got it. Once I get everything set up, I’ll fetch some water and start gathering wood. I thought we’d cook outside tonight and save the stove for another time.”

“That sounds good, although I don’t know much about cooking over an open fire,” she added doubtfully.

He finally looked at her, his face still unreadable.

“I’ll teach you. We’ll start with something simple like a stew. Why don’t you get some food from the supplies in the wagon? Just the usual ingredients for a stew.”

“Of course.”

Having something to do made her feel more like herself as she climbed into the wagon. The inside of the wagon clearly wasn’t new, but it was clean and tidy, everything neatly packed away in a surprising number of compartments. The compact area was also well-equipped with a small kitchen area, a built-in bench and table, and a bed platform across the back.

One bed platform.

One that barely looked big enough for him, let alone both of them. When she’d accepted his proposition, she hadn’t really thought about this aspect of the arrangement, but of course a married couple would share a bed. He’d said their relationship would be in name only, but as she looked at that narrow mattress, she suddenly wondered just what she’d let herself in for.

CHAPTER 5

Iam a fool, Celenk thought as he returned to the campsite with an armload of wood and began preparing the fire. He had not considered the impact of having a soft, sweet-smelling female so close to him all day, nor the enforced intimacy of their solo journey. The fact that she didn’t seem immune to him either certainly hadn’t helped - he’d caught the delicious hint of her arousal several times throughout the afternoon. And how did his tail keep ending up around her waist?

If he had been involved with a Karthikan female, naturally their tails would have intertwined, both as a sign of intimacy and a way of heightening their sexual pleasure. It had never occurred to him that a small human hand stroking his tail could be equally - more - arousing. So arousing that his codix had threatened to emerge.

The same thing had happened when he steadied her as she descended from the wagon. Frek, that one brief moment when her soft little body had been pressed against his was still branded in his memory.

This is a business arrangement, nothing more, he reminded himself as he finished lighting the fire and she emerged from the wagon. Her cheeks were flushed again and she didn’t look at him as she carried a basket of vegetables to the fire and sat down next to him, concentrating on organizing the vegetables and carefully placing Raja’s satchel next to her. Was she remembering that moment as well?

“I didn’t realize that the wagon interior was so… compact,” she said hesitantly, sneaking a quick look at him from under her lashes.

“It should be enough to serve our needs for such a short journey.”

He deliberately kept his tone casual, but he hadn’t missed the note of uncertainty. Was there something about the wagon that bothered her? It was only a standard model but it was more than adequately equipped for a couple… A couple. Ah. He suddenly understood the cause of her discomfort.

“Are you concerned about the sleeping arrangements?”

Her head jerked up and that delightful hint of color appeared in her cheeks.

“Not exactly. I just hadn’t realized we would be sharing a bed. I mean… well… obviously, a married couple would sleep together but I assumed…” She trailed off, shaking her head. “I know you said you didn’t expect us to have a physical relationship. I’ve just never shared a bed with anyone other than my husband.”

The thought of her sleeping with that worthless male angered him, but he pushed it aside.

“You are correct that I am not seeking a physical relationship. I will do my best to respect your privacy.”

“Oh. I see.”

She started slicing the vegetables and he couldn’t stop himself from watching her. The slender, capable little hands were suddenly fascinating. How would they look wrapped around his codix? Or would she stroke her long graceful fingers up and down the length, learning him before she lowered her head…

Frek!

“Of course, there are some restrictions around the job,” he added hastily. “For example, you cannot not have a sexual relationship with anyone else while we are masquerading as a married couple.”

“Of course not!” She gave him an indignant look, then tilted her head and studied his face. “I assume that applies to you as well?”

He almost laughed. The only person who’d aroused his interest in years was sitting next to him right now.

“Of course,” he said firmly, and she gave him a quick tentative smile as she returned to the vegetables.

“I feel as if I should apologize. It’s just… awkward.”

“I understand. However, you - we - will need to overcome that awkwardness if we are to pull off the illusion that we are married.”

“What do you mean?”

He reached over to smooth back a lock of hair that had come loose from her braid, and she jumped.

“That’s what I mean. You can’t flinch away from me.”

“Oh.”

She hesitated, then leaned into his hand as he stroked the silky strands. He hadn’t expected to find the small gesture so… pleasant, and he quickly let his hand drop.

“I do not want you to be alarmed if I touch you. Just so that you became accustomed to my touch,” he added, although he suspected that his motive wasn’t quite that innocent.

“I suppose that makes sense.”

“But of course I expect you to tell me if I do something you dislike. Are there any parts of your body that are particularly sensitive?”

He didn’t realize the implications of the question until she gave him a startled look. Startled, but also interested. He caught the hint of arousal in her scent as her nipples beaded beneath her shirt.

“Easily irritated, I mean,” he said quickly.

“I don’t think so.” That tempting blush reappeared, accompanied by another peek from under her lashes. “Married couples also… kiss.”

Was that an invitation? His codix evidently thought so, pushing eagerly against his slit, but he did his best to ignore it.

“That might be appropriate.”

His voice came out deeper than normal and he suddenly found his tail about her waist again. He was about to pull her closer when an indignant squeak came from the satchel as Raja tried to work his way free. She gave a breathless laugh and turned to her pet, leaving him uncertain if he was irritated or relieved. His codix certainly wasn’t happy, but he hadn’t accounted for the attraction between them in his plans.

“I’ll get the cooking tripod and show you how to set it up,” he said, rising to his feet as she settled Raja in her lap, nibbling on one of the vegetables.

“Thank you. Also I wasn’t sure about meat for the stew?”

He looked at the fading light and decided it was too late for hunting.

“We’ll just use dried meat tonight. I’ll fetch some of that as well.”

A short time later, the stew was bubbling gently in the pot he’d hung from the cooking tripod. The rich smell of the stew mingled with the scent of the damp moss near the stream and Lottie’s faint elusive sweetness. His tail flicked but he stopped it before it could wrap around her waist again and draw her closer.

Maybe I need to tie it down, he thought grimly as he reached over to take the ladle from her. As soon as their hands touched, her skin warm and silky beneath his, his tail threatened to escape his control again. She didn’t flinch this time, just looked down at his hand covering hers, an odd expression on her face.

“Your hands are so much larger than mine.”

“That’s because you’re a tiny little thing.”

His voice came out rougher than he expected, and she shot him a quick look before she smiled and shook her head.

“I’m considered fairly tall for a human female. You’re just very large. All over.”

Her fingers ghosted over the back of his hand, exploring the texture of his scales, as he fought not to react. Did she even realize how her words could be interpreted? Perhaps not - she had a surprising degree of innocence for someone who had worked in the kind of tavern where he’d found her.

“I expected your skin to be rougher.”

Her exploration grew bolder, her fingers sliding up his forearm and tracing the darker pattern there.

“It is not as smooth as yours.”

As he spoke, he captured her hand and turned it palm up, using one finger to lightly trace a circle on the soft skin. He knew he should stop, but he couldn’t resist.

“So soft.” he murmured, and she shivered.

“I never realized my palm was so sensitive. But then I don’t think I ever really paid much attention.”

“I think I would enjoy paying attention to every inch of your skin.”

The words emerged before he could stop them and she gave him a startled look, her lips parted and her cheeks flushed. Despite the warning voice in his head, he slowly bent down towards her, but just before their lips met, Raja gave a plaintive little squeak and she jerked back, looking flustered.

He growled under his breath, and placed the wandering hand back in her lap and removed the ladle from her other hand.

“Our meal is ready,” he said tightly, lifting the pot from the fire. “We should eat now.”

She didn’t respond as she collected bowls and utensils from the wagon, her movements jerky. What was going through that pretty little head? Was she regretting her decision to accompany him? But she gave him a shy smile as she returned to his side and he relaxed as he dished out the stew.

After she took her bowl, she handed him a small additional plate she’d brought for Raja.

“I didn’t plan on feeding the rodent,” he grumbled as he ladled some stew onto the plate.

Ignoring him, she stirred it until it was cool, then placed it on the ground in front of the kedji. Only then did she pick up her own bowl and take an appreciative bite.

“This is very good. How did you learn to do all this?”

“How did I learn to cook?”

“Yes, but the rest of it as well - gathering wood and building a fire.”

Because I had no choice. Images of smoke-filled skies and devastated countryside flashed through his mind. He could also smell the smoke - not the clean woodsmoke of a campfire, but the burning of buildings and farms and bodies. Conditions on Vizal during the last years of the war had been so bad, the warriors so poorly supplied, that they’d had to learn how to live off the land or die. Then the two competing forces reached an agreement which essentially returned everything to the way it had been before the war and he’d realized that all that pain and suffering had been for nothing.

“While I was in the military,” he said briefly, concentrating on his own bowl.

Perhaps something in his voice gave him away because she reached over and touched his hand again briefly, not in exploration this time but as a gesture of comfort. Her eyes were full of sympathy, but thankfully she didn’t pursue the matter.

Instead she smiled down at Raja and the now empty plate.

“I was worried about what to feed him, but he seems to like everything.”

“I believe they are good hunters as well. They have a reputation for catching vermin on the ships.”

“I hope there aren’t any vermin out here.” She shuddered, then cast a nervous glance at the darkness beneath the trees. “Or anything else. Do we need to worry about wild animals?”

“Not here. The only natural predators of any size on Cresca are the adyani and they live high in the mountains.”

“I think I remember hearing about them - but not down here?”

“No, my flower. And even if they were, I would protect you.”

Her gaze traveled over his chest and shoulders before she blushed and dropped her eyes.

“I know you would.”

Why was her faith in him so rewarding? And unjustified, he thought uneasily. Not that he wasn’t capable of protecting her but because she wasn’t aware of his true occupation or the real reason they were going to the farm. It’s safer for her if she doesn’t know. But he couldn’t quite convince himself.

After they finished eating, he gathered up the dishes to take them to the stream to wash.

“I can do that,” she said immediately.

“I can see more easily in the moonlight than humans can. Why don’t you get ready for bed? It will be a long day tomorrow.” He pointed to a pot of water he’d left warming by the fire. “You can use the warm water to bathe. I’ll wash in the stream while I’m there.”

She gave him another quick look and he was sure he caught the sweet scent of her arousal before she picked up Raja and rose to her feet.

“If you’re sure you don’t need any help, I am kind of tired.”

“Not at all.” He gave her a long, thoughtful look. “I’m ready for an early night as well.”

CHAPTER 6

Celenk hid a smile as Lottie’s gaze darted from him to the wagon and she bit her lip. He was tempted to let her wonder a little longer, but took pity on her instead.

“Don’t worry. I have a bedroll in the wagon. I’ll sleep out here by the fire.”

“Oh.” Small white teeth worried her lower lip. “Are you sure? It doesn’t seem very fair.”

“I’m sure. I’ve slept in a lot worse conditions than a soft bedroll under the stars. Now go on. I’ll give you a little privacy but I don’t plan on spending the night by the stream,” he added.

That made her laugh, and she relaxed again.

“Thank you. I’ll be quick.”

He nodded abruptly and headed for the stream. Once the dishes were washed, he took the opportunity to strip down and wash the dust from his scales. Once he would have had servants to help him bathe and to oil his scales afterwards, but those days were long gone and he no longer missed them. Although I wouldn’t object to Lottie oiling me. His codix pulsed eagerly at the thought, pushing against his slit and threatening to appear.

He hadn’t gone far - the light of the campfire was still visible through the trees - but he was sure he was out of her sight. After a second’s hesitation, he ran his finger down his slit and let his codix emerge, rigid and gleaming in the light of the twin moons. He wrapped his hand around it, shuddering slightly at the sensation. How long had it been since he’d even taken himself in hand? But hopefully this would relieve the pressure that had been building all day.

As he watched his hand stroking his shaft, he imagined how it would look disappearing into her small body instead. It would stretch her to the limit, he was certain, but he would make it good for her. His codix was almost fully extended now, the extra thick ring at the base already slightly swollen. He imagined how that would feel pressing into her, locking them together as his seed filled her.

He pumped harder, but he didn’t want his own hand. He wanted her tight body or her soft hands or that tempting little mouth. An agonized groan broke from his throat as he gave up, pulling his hand away and forcing his codix to retreat, wincing at the slight sting as the underside scraped against his scales.

Turning abruptly, he strode back to the camp. She was standing by the fire with her hair unbound, the firelight creating red and gold highlights in the dark strands. Instead of her sensible shirt and pants, she was wearing a long sleep tunic. It covered her from just below her neck to her ankles, but it was thin enough that he could see the outline of her body against the fire and the stiff little peaks of her nipples.

“There was a bottle of oil with the bath supplies - did you want it?” she asked.

His tail flicked at the idea of asking her to apply it, but he shook his head, keeping his voice even.

“Thank you, but not tonight.”

“Okay. Then I think I’ll go to bed. Raja has already taken possession of one of the pillows.”

How was it possible to be jealous of a rodent?

“All right. I’ll just get my bedroll.”

She accompanied him back to the wagon, waiting outside while he retrieved his bedroll and cast an envious glance at Raja.

When he stepped back outside, she was twisting her fingers together nervously.

“I was thinking… maybe we should practice,” she said, her voice slightly higher than usual.

“Practice?”

“Acting like a married couple.” The pretty color had tinted her cheeks again, but she kept her eyes resolutely on his face. “Wouldn’t they kiss goodnight?”

He looked down at her, his throat suddenly going dry.

“They might.”

“I thought we should… that is… I should… get used to being kissed. In case…” She bit her lower lip again and he had the irrational urge to soothe the hurt away. “In case we need to convince people.”

“Convince people. Of course. That makes sense.”

“It does, doesn’t it?” She sounded as if she were trying to convince herself as well as him. “I just want to be prepared.”

“Then we should prepare.”

Her eyes widened as he stepped closer, but she didn’t back away. Instead she tilted her face up to his, her breathing fast and shallow, her lips slightly parted. Her pupils had dilated until the soft brown was only a thin rim, but she looked more aroused than alarmed.

“So this is just for practice?” he asked, stopping when they were almost touching, just far enough apart that he didn’t have to bend over too much. This time he didn’t try to keep his tail in check and let it slip around her waist.

“Yes.” She lifted her chin a little. “I think it’s important to make the relationship seem authentic.”

He tried not to smile as he leaned down until they were less than a breath apart.

“An excellent point. I’ll do my best to make sure I do a thorough job.”

She nodded, still looking up at him with an oddly hopeful expression.

“I do think it’s important.”

“Very.”

Her little tongue darted out to moisten her lips, leaving them slick and enticing, and his codix tried to press through his slit. He took a deep breath, then dipped his head, bringing his mouth to hers.

He’d intended it to be a swift, perfunctory kiss, just to get her accustomed to his touch. That was the only reason he’d agreed to her suggestion, he told himself, but when his lips touched hers, he knew he was lying to himself.

This was not a demonstration kiss. This was a kiss for his own pleasure. A chance to taste her, to discover the feel of those soft little lips.

He had intended to be gentle, to ease her into the experience, but as soon as he tasted her, a wave of arousal hit him. One hand slid down to grasp her luscious ass as his tail pulled her closer to his body. His other hand tangled in the silky strands of her hair, tilting her head back as he deepened the kiss.

Frek, she was perfect - her eager response, the way her small body molded to his. She seemed so fragile that he instinctively wanted to protect her, but at the same time, he wanted to take her, to conquer her, to claim her as his.

The sudden image of him bending her over the wagon, that lush ass raised, her delicate folds revealed as she begged him for his codix almost drove him to release. He pulled his head away with a low growl. She made a small mewling sound as he ended the kiss, her face flushed, her lips wet and inviting.

He should put her aside, head for the cold water of the stream and get control of himself. Instead he nuzzled the soft curve of her throat, taking a deep breath of her warm sweet fragrance. She sighed, leaning into him as her hand curled around the back of his neck.

“That was… nice,” she whispered, her fingers stroking the small scales on his nape.

“Just nice?”

“Very nice.”

She still sounded dazed and he chuckled.

“Then I definitely need to try again.”

“Again?”

Her breath caught, her body quivering in his arms.

“Mmhmm.”

He was still nibbling a path up and down her throat, her pulse rapid beneath his lips.

“Perhaps I require more practice.” He raised his head and looked down into her flushed face as he brushed his thumb over her lower lip. “What do you think?”

“Practice is important,” she said solemnly.

His lips covered hers again. He was determined to go slower this time, to savor the experience, but she met his kiss so sweetly, so eagerly, that his control snapped. His codix pushed free, throbbing against her stomach despite the layers of fabric separating them, and she squeaked and tried to pull back. He kept his tail around her waist, but reluctantly raised his head.

“You… grew,” she gasped.

In spite of his frustration, he couldn’t help smiling.

“That is what happens when a male is aroused.”

“But… it’s so much.”

“Thank you for the compliment, my flower.” He pulled her closer for a brief second, just long enough for her to feel the whole thick, throbbing length, then forced his tail to release her and stepped back.

“Time for bed. Our separate beds,” he added when her eyes widened again. He lifted her up into the caravan and made himself release her. “Good night, my… wife.”

“Good night, my husband.”

She gave him another shy smile, then disappeared into the wagon, leaving him to pick up his bedroll and head back to the fire. Alone. It was hardly an unfamiliar state, but as he lay there looking up at the stars sprinkled across the dark velvet of the night sky, he’d never felt more isolated.

CHAPTER 7

Lottie closed the door to the wagon behind her with a trembling hand. She still couldn’t quite believe she’d had the nerve to suggest the goodnight kiss, but she’d been thinking about it ever since he’d mentioned practicing looking like a married couple.

She’d told herself that was the reason, but it was more than that - she wanted to know what it would be like, needed to know if it would be different from Ken’s brutal kisses.

“It was certainly different,” she whispered to herself, pressing her fingers to her mouth.

The difference was more than the actual physical differences - his lips were thinner than a human man’s, his tongue longer and more agile - it had been the intensity, the sheer hunger of his kiss. Demanding, but not brutal. Taking, but also giving. His big hand cradling the back of her head, protecting her while making her feel cherished at the same time.

And then that enormous bulge had suddenly appeared, hard and hot against her belly. Hard and hot and huge. Far larger than a human male, or at least much, much larger than Ken who was her only point of comparison. Was a physical relationship between them even possible?

“It doesn’t matter because it’s not going to happen,” she told herself firmly as she climbed into bed. “In name only, remember?”

But her dreams were haunted by just that possibility, even if they were a little vague on the details. She woke feeling achy and aroused and it didn’t help when she opened the wagon door and saw a shirtless Celenk stretching in front of the fire, his powerful upper body gleaming in the morning sunlight.

Putting Raja down to scamper around, she went to join him, smiling apologetically.

“I’m sorry. I knew it wouldn’t be comfortable sleeping on the ground. Are you very stiff?”

He quirked a brow ridge at the question and she blushed as she realized what she’d said. She couldn’t help a quick glance down at his pants, but they were as flat and smooth as they’d been the day before. Her color deepened even more when she looked back up and realized he’d followed the direction of her gaze.

“I’m not stiff - in either sense. I was simply stretching. And since you appear to be wondering, my codix remains within my body until I am aroused.”

“I wasn’t… I mean… I’m not…”

A small smile twitched at the corner of his mouth at the tumble of words, but thankfully he didn’t comment.

“Time for breakfast. I’ve already made tea, and now that you’re up, I’ll get food from the wagon.”

“You didn’t have to wait. You could have woken me if you were hungry,” she protested.

Those blue eyes glinted at her.

“Perhaps I feared that finding you in your bed would have aroused another kind of hunger.”

Her mouth fell open, and he closed it gently before turning towards the wagon, giving her another view of those impressive muscles flexing. When he returned a few minutes later, she’d recovered her composure and was sipping on a mug of tea. She watched as he broke eggs into a pan on the cooking tripod and started scrambling them, then took a deep breath.

“Should we talk about what happened last night?”

The muscles in his back tensed, but then he shrugged a shoulder.

“I don’t believe it’s necessary. Your responsiveness surprised me. Delightfully so,” he added, shooting her a quick glance. “But I wasn’t prepared. I will not lose control again when we… practice.”

“Do you still think we should do that?”

“Of course. As you so convincingly argued last night, a married couple is expected to display that kind of behavior. To touch. To kiss.”

His eyes focused on her mouth as he spoke and she actually felt her body response to that heated look.

“Okay,” she said breathlessly. “As long as you think it’s a good idea.”

He put a large scoop of eggs on a plate and brought it over to her, closing his hand over hers when she reached for it.

“Oh, I don’t think it’s a good idea. I think it’s a frustrating, tormenting, impossibly tempting idea. But I also think it’s necessary if I am to complete my… job.”

She stared up at him, unable to speak, but then Raja hopped up on her lap with a demanding squeak. Grateful for the interruption she smiled down at him.

“I guess someone else is ready for breakfast too.”

“Don’t give the rodent any of your eggs,” he ordered. “You need to eat. I’ll bring some for him.”

Her heart did a funny little flip as he quickly scrambled another egg, plated it, and put it on the ground in front of Raja. It flipped again when he stopped Raja up after breakfast, cradling the ball of fluff against his massive chest.

“I’ll take him down to the stream with me while you attend to your morning necessities. There’s more warm water if you want it.”

She made a quick trip to the woods, then was washed and ready when he returned with a very damp Raja, chittering indignantly.

“What did you do to him?” she demanded, snatching Raja away and hugging him to her chest as Celenk frowned at her.

“I didn’t do anything to him, but it turns out that the kedji enjoy the water. The rodent is simply annoyed because I wouldn’t let him swim around all day.”

“Did that mean old male stop you from having fun?” she crooned to the still chittering Raja.

“It doesn’t speak well of his intelligence if he’d prefer a stream to his current position,” Celenk murmured, looking at the kedji nestled between her breasts. “I certainly know which I would prefer.”

Her nipples immediately tightened under that intense blue gaze, but he’d already turned away to start breaking camp. He had everything packed away in a remarkably short time, then smiled at her.

“Your carriage awaits, my lady.”

Playing along, she dropped a mock curtsey.

“Thank you, kind sir,”

A shadow crossed his face.

“Not so kind, I’m afraid.”

He lifted her onto the seat before she could respond, then vaulted up after her. As they set off into the warm morning, his tail curled around her waist and she smiled.

Over the next week their days followed the same pattern. They drove for most of the day, although he would sometimes stop for a few hours during the hottest part of the day. Sometimes they followed a crude trail; other times they traveled across unbroken ground. Most of the area they traveled through consisted of low rolling hills sprinkled with wildflowers. He preferred to camp near one of the wooded copses that tended to nestle in the valleys between the hills. Most of them were next to a water source, either a creek or a stream or like yesterday, a good-sized river.

He’d taught her to fish there, smiling at her delight in catching what was probably the smallest fish in existence, and smiling even more when she insisted on throwing it back. Once he realized that she really was interested in learning his survival skills, he seemed to enjoy teaching her. And he was a good teacher, surprisingly patient and even-tempered.

Of course, she’d learned something else at the river as well - what he looked like naked.

It had been a long, hot day and once she’d caught her fish she gave the stretch of water a longing look.

“Do you think it would be all right to bathe in the river?”

“I don’t see why not. I’m not aware of any predators haunting the rivers of Cresca.”

She gave him a grateful smile.

“That’s wonderful. I’m tired of sponge baths.”

She expected him to leave as he usually did when she bathed, but he remained sprawled on the riverbank next to her.

“Are you, err, going to go back to the wagon?”

“No. I don’t believe there are any predators but it’s a large, unfamiliar body of water. Who knows what might happen - there could be unexpected currents, or you could get a cramp. I’m not about to leave you on your own, my flower.”

As much as she appreciated his concern for her safety, she wasn’t sure she was ready to undress in front of him in broad daylight. She looked at the tempting shimmer of the water, then at him, then back at the water. In the end she compromised by stripping down to her camisole and panties. Even then she felt naked when his eyes swept approvingly down over her body.

“Very pretty,” he purred.

Self-consciously turning her back on him, she scurried into the water to cool her burning cheeks. Raja squeaked happily and swam a circle around her before darting off to investigate a half-submerged log. He was astonishingly agile in the water and would play happily in it for hours. Celenk frequently had to pluck him out of any water source they encountered.

She was far less at home in the water, although she could swim a short distance if she had to. Fortunately, the river bed was quite shallow near the shore and she could stand on the bottom.

“I really think it’s perfectly -”

Her mouth went dry as she turned back towards Celenk. He had risen to his feet and was casually stripping off his clothes. She’d seen his bare chest many times, but she’d never seen him without his pants and her mouth dropped open as he pushed his pants down over thickly muscled legs. The area between his legs was as smooth as he’d indicated, but there was a long line of dark orange scales that extended from between his legs to just below his belly button.

“What… what are you doing?”

“Cooling off, of course,” he said calmly as he entered the water and walked towards her. “Do you have any objections?”

“You’re naked.”

“Quite. But my codix is safely tucked away. My people would consider this entirely respectable.”

“I’m not sure I’d agree,” she muttered as he came to stop in front of her.

“Why not? Do you think those two thin pieces of cloth really conceal anything?”

She gasped as he reached out and gently tweaked a stiff little nipple. He’d never done that before, although he’d come close. The nightly kisses had continued, and each night they lasted longer. But although he always pulled her tightly against his body and seemed to take great delight in squeezing her ass, the closest he’d come to touching her breasts was the night before when he’d gone as far as cupping one of the small mounds in a big hand before pulling away.

He was always the one who pulled away, she admitted reluctantly. She had a disturbing tendency to get lost in the kisses, but he managed to retain enough control to stop them from escalating. But he wasn’t stopping now, rolling her nipple between his thumb and finger as it grew even stiffer.

“You… you’ve never done this before.” Her voice sounded a little breathless but surprisingly calm.

“No, although I’ve thought about it often enough. Do you object?”

His tail had settled in its familiar position around her waist and when it urged her towards him, she went willingly.

“N…no, I don’t object. Married people do touch each other like this.”

Not in front of other people, an inner voice argued, but she was too focused on the little streaks of electricity running from her breast to her clit to care. His mouth curved in a slow, seductive smile.

“Good.”

His hand closed around her waist and then he was lifting her up out of the water, high enough to fasten his mouth around the throbbing peak, the sudden warmth of his mouth making her shudder as he pulled her nipple into his mouth. She clutched desperately at his shoulders as his tongue flicked the sensitive flesh, a moan escaping her lips.

“What are you doing?”

“Kissing your pretty breasts,” he said, then returned to the task.

His mouth was just as clever as she’d dreamed and her head fell back as he nibbled his way from one breast to the other, his tongue tracing the lace edging the top of her camisole as he explored her. His hands were occupied with supporting her weight but his tail moved higher, the thick length sliding between her legs. The combination of his hands, his mouth and his tail, and the slowly building tension, had her rocking against his tail.

“Oh God, Celenk. I need…”

She was too far gone to be embarrassed by her pleas.

“What do you need, my flower? Tell me.”

“I… I don’t know. I just need…”

His mouth returned to her nipple, tugging it deep into his mouth as his tail flicked across her clit. Her body was so tight it was almost painful, but then his teeth scraped across her nipple as his tail pressed hard against her swollen nub and her body convulsed, shaking in his arms as he continued to milk her nipple through her climax.

She slumped forward, boneless, as it finally subsided. He lowered her gently back into the water, smiling as Raja swam up and floated next to her.

“We gave him quite the show,” he observed, shaking his head at the kedji.

Her entire body felt languid, and she couldn’t find the energy to reply. A soft little hum emerged instead and he smiled again as he picked her up and tucked her against his chest before carrying her back to the sunny river bank. Her eyes were already starting to close when he laid her on the warm grass.

“Sleep, my flower.”

“But you were going to show me how to clean the fish,” she protested sleepily.

“A pleasure that can wait for another day.”

He sounded amused but she didn’t open her eyes to see if he was smiling. Even Raja wedging his cool, damp little body under her chin couldn’t stop her from falling asleep.

Somehow she’d expected things to change after that, but they hadn’t. They’d cooked dinner together just as they usually did and he hadn’t given the slightest indication that he even remembered what had occurred by the river. Even their good night kiss had been the usual exciting but limited kiss, and his hands had remained completely away from her breasts. The only sign of anything different was that she’d felt the growing bulge of his codix against her stomach just before he quickly backed away - the first time it had happened since their initial kiss.

Now she sighed and cast him a sideways glance, annoyed that he seemed so focused on the path ahead. Admittedly the trail was rougher today as they climbed into some taller, rockier hills, leaving the flower-scattered meadows behind. For the first time since they’d set out, clouds scudded rapidly across the sky, frequently veiling the sunlight.

“What is it, my flower?”

He always seemed to know when she was looking at him, even if he were looking straight ahead.

“I was thinking about yesterday afternoon.”

His hand tightened on the control knob, but his voice remained calm and unchanged.

“I see.”

“What do you see?” She threw up her hands in exasperation, startling Raja into hopping off her lap. “Did you enjoy it? Hate it? Regret it?”

“I think the more pertinent question is whether or not you enjoyed it.”

“You know damn well I did,” she said crossly. “I’ve never -”

“Never what?”

He finally looked down at her, something on his face she couldn’t read.

“Never had someone make me feel like that,” she admitted, her cheeks flaming.

The wagon jerked to a halt, and he turned around to stare at her.

“You’ve never experienced a climax before?”

“Of course, I have,” she snapped, already regretting bringing the subject up. “Just by… by myself.”

“Your husband never…”

“No, he didn’t. I told you he was a bad husband, although he claimed it was because I was frigid.”

“Frigid? My flower, you are the most delightfully passionate, responsive female that I have ever encountered.” He brushed a thumb lightly across her nipple, his lips quirking when she gasped, the little bud immediately stiffening. “Definitely not frigid.”

He tweaked the stiff peak lightly then reached for the control knob again, but she put her hand over his.

“Can we please just talk for a minute? I’m so confused.”

“Perhaps I am as well.” He hesitated, looking down at their hands. “This is supposed to be a job, a temporary job. But when we are… practicing, it is easy to forget that.”

“I know,” she said softly.

He picked up her hand, cradling it gently in his much larger one.

“Look how small you are, small and delicate, physically at least.”

“Are you afraid that you’re going to break me?”

“I am more concerned about the opposite.”

Her eyes widened, but before she could respond, a bolt of lightning streaked across the sky accompanied almost immediately by the boom of thunder. Raja squeaked and jumped back into her lap, trying to bury his head in her shirt. Overhead the fast-moving clouds had turned dark and threatening. Celenk froze for a moment, then swore, quickly starting the engine again as he scanned the path ahead of them.

“I don’t like the look of the sky,” he said as the wagon picked up speed. “These summer storms can be dangerous. The wagon should be sturdy enough but I’d feel better if we could find some shelter.”

Unfortunately the trail was both narrow and rocky and there was nowhere to pull off. The first drops of rain began to fall, huge cold drops that immediately started to soak into her clothes despite the rain canopy overhead. The angle of the wind meant it provided little protection. She’d unbuttoned her shirt so Raja could snuggle against her stomach, and she could feel his small body trembling as the lightning strikes came closer together.

“You should get in the back,” Celenk ordered.

“What about you?”

“There’s too much wind on this trail.” Even as he spoke a fierce gust shook the wagon. “I don’t want to stop while we’re so exposed, but there’s no point in both of us getting wet.”

“I’m staying with you,” she said firmly and he shook his head, even though his lips quirked again.

“Stubborn female.”

“Yep.”

She grasped the side of her seat as another gust swept past them and prayed they’d find some shelter soon. The rain was pouring down now, soaking both of them to the skin, and making it difficult to see, especially with the sky darkened by the storm. A sudden flash of lightning illuminated a small side trail leading into a narrow ravine.

“There,” she cried and he nodded grimly, already turning into the opening.

The sides of the ravine rose over the top of the wagon and immediately helped block the wind, even though they also made it darker. He drove slowly between the rocky walls until the ravine widened slightly, then wedged the wagon beneath an overhanging rock and turned off the engine.

“Into the back now. Quickly.”

Keeping a protective hand over Raja, she jumped down from the seat. Even with the protection of the surrounding rock, the wind threatened to knock her off her feet, but Celenk tucked her against his side and urged her around to the back of the wagon. The wind threatened to tear the door out of his hand, but then they were inside. Safe.

Inside with a very large, very wet alien, his eyes shining with an eerie intensity as he moved towards her. Her heart started to pound and she suddenly wondered if she was safe after all - or if she wanted to be.

CHAPTER 8

“Strip,” Celenk ordered and Lottie’s eyes widened.

“What? Why?”

Calm down, he ordered himself, but adrenaline was surging through his body. He hated storms - the flare of the lightning and the crash of thunder were far too similar to the chaos of war. The dangerous trip along the trail fighting to keep the wagon on course hadn’t helped. And beneath it all was the frustrated arousal that had been threatening to swamp him since yesterday afternoon at the river.

He had foolishly allowed himself to be carried away, letting the warm afternoon and the peaceful setting lull him into complacency. He’d only intended to play when he joined her in the river, but as soon as he touched her and felt her immediate response, he’d given in to the illusion that their relationship could be real. When she’d quivered so delightfully in his arms as she gasped out her climax, he’d been on the verge of releasing his codix. He night even have done so if she hadn’t been half asleep by the time he carried her to the shore.

Even then he’d simply been delighted that he’d given her pleasure. He’d been smiling as he left her to sleep. It wasn’t until he was halfway through cleaning the fish, his knife sliding through the flesh with practiced ease that the memory of why they were really there had returned. This wasn’t a relationship - couldn’t be a relationship. As soon as he gathered the information that Marshall had requested, they would part ways.

Even though he intended to give her twice what he’d originally promised, he suspected that the knowledge that he’d lied to her would sour any possibility of a future between them. Not that there was any chance of that anyway. She deserved far more than a cynical, ruthless mercenary, no matter how much his chest ached at the thought of leaving her on her own.

He decided that taking their interactions any further than kissing would be a mistake. They should probably stop kissing as well, but he’d been unable to resist when she raised her face for a good night kiss. Unfortunately, his body had strongly disagreed with his decision to limit their interactions, and his codix had been pushing painfully against his slit ever since the previous afternoon.

But he couldn’t let his frustration scare her. He forced himself to take a deep breath, then almost groaned as her sweet scent washed over him, heightened by her soaked condition.

“If you remain in those wet clothes, you’ll catch a chill,” he said, doing his best to speak calmly. “You need to get out of them as quickly as possible.”

As soon as she nodded, he began stripping as well, removing his shirt and pants and slinging them over one of the benches to dry before turning to the small stove.

“I’ll put the stove on. That will help warm you and make our clothes dry more -”

He broke off as he turned to face her and saw her staring at him. She’d removed her shirt, but she was still holding the wet garment in front of another of those pretty camisoles.

“Finish removing your clothing, Lottie.”

She nodded, but she was still staring at him. He followed her gaze and swore when he realized the ruffled edges of his slit had started to unfurl. Fortunately, his codix had yet to emerge.

“It’s just a physical reaction,” he said gruffly, turning away so he could press the edges back together before gathering some towels.

“Here.”

This time he was the one to stare. He’d swung back around just as she pulled the camisole over her head, her small, perfect breasts fully visible to him for the first time. Her hard little nipples tightened even further under his avid gaze, flushing a deeper pink.

Frek, she was beautiful. He wanted nothing more than to bend her back over his arm and feast on those tempting little peaks with nothing between her skin and his mouth this time. He even took a half-step towards her before he came to his senses. To his shock, she didn’t flinch away from him. Instead she let the wet camisole flutter to the floor, an unreadable expression on her face.

Gods, he wanted to touch her. Instead, he reached out and wrapped a towel around her, doing his best not to let his hands linger on that cool, silky skin.

“Rub yourself down with the towel. It will help warm you up.”

She nodded, but instead she picked up Raja and gently dried him off as he chittered happily.

“I said dry yourself, not the rodent,” he growled, but she only shrugged, her small, bare shoulder moving gracefully above the towel.

“It was cold and scary for him too. It will make him feel better.”

Once the kedji was thoroughly dried, she reached under her towel and slipped off her pants and underwear. The knowledge that she was now naked beneath the towel made it even harder to control his codix but he managed to keep his face expressionless as he handed her another towel.

“Once you’re dry, put on something warm.”

“You’re being awfully bossy today,” she murmured, giving him another one of those inscrutable looks.

Before he could respond, a bolt of lightning struck close to the ravine, making the entire interior of the wagon flare white as a deafening crack of thunder crashed against his ears. Raja squealed and dove under a pillow.

“Oh poor baby!” Her sympathetic smile immediately vanished as she looked at his face. “Celenk, what’s wrong?”

He couldn’t move. Part of him knew he was safe inside the wagon, but the cries of wounded warriors filled his head and the stench of death clung to him.

“It’s all right. You’re safe now.”

Soft arms wrapped around his waist and he shuddered, then clung to her, burying his face against her hair and filling his lungs with her sweet scent, letting it chase away the memories. He wasn’t sure how long he stood there, her hands gently stroking his back as he tried to pull his shields back in place, but he finally took a last deep breath and straightened. He was almost afraid to look at her face, but there was no judgment there, no disgust at his weakness.

“I don’t like storms either,” she said quietly and he almost took the excuse, but then he shook his head.

“It’s not really the storm. It’s what the storm reminds of - war and pain and death.”

“I understand. I know it doesn’t begin to compare to what you’ve been through, but every time I smell antiseptic I’m back in my grandfather’s room, watching him die.”

“The death of a single person is no less painful, especially when it’s someone you care about.”

Her eyes were suspiciously bright, but she managed a shaky smile.

“I suppose we’d better get dressed before we catch those colds you’re so worried about.”

Since the stove was now emitting a steady stream of warmth he was no longer as concerned but he didn’t argue. Perhaps if she covered that delectable body he would find it easier to control himself. Unfortunately, it did not. She donned a fuzzy robe in a pale shade of blue that just begged for his hand to stroke the soft fabric and the even softer skin beneath. Even though the robe covered most of her body, it made the visible parts even more tempting - the soft curve of her neck, the delicate line of her collarbone, even the brief flash of a pale, slender calf.

Her calf? By the gods, he was losing his mind.

She gave him an inquisitive look as he struggled to keep his codix restrained.

“Is everything okay?”

“Perfectly fine,” he said between gritted teeth, ignoring the sharp sting of his scales rubbing against the edges of his slit.

“It doesn’t seem like it to me,” she said, stepping closer to him. “Does this hurt?”

A tentative fingertip brushed against the exposed edge of his slit above the soft sleep pants he’d put on.

“Lottie,” he said warningly.

“Am I hurting you?”

She pushed his waistband down far enough for her hand to rest lightly over his slit, heat sinking into him as his scales parted even further, eager for more of her touch.

“Frek. What are you doing?”

“I just want to help.”

“It’s not necessary. This will pass.”

“Will it? Does it always hurt so much when it happens?”

No, but how could he tell her that it was his attempt at restraint that was causing him pain?

“It has never happened quite like this.”

“What if I…”

He sucked in a breath as she stroked up and down the opening of his slit and it parted even further. His codix expanded to full size, the thick base of the ring beginning to swell as his seed sac filled. Her eyes widened as she looked down and she tentatively stroked a fingertip against the tip of his codix. It was like an electric current straight to his core and he shuddered as the thick length finally sprang free.

“So big. So different,” she whispered, but she didn’t sound frightened. “And a ring? How does that work?”

Her long, graceful fingers had found the swollen base and were exploring the thin tendrils that had emerged.

“Stop,” he said raggedly.

“Doesn’t it feel good?”

“Too good.”

“You made me feel good yesterday. Can’t I return the favor? Isn’t that what a wife would do?”

That shy, teasing smile, the hopeful look, her fingers gently caressing his swollen ring - after a week of almost constant frustration, it was too much. With a low growl, he swept her into his arms and dropped down on one of benches with her on his lap facing him, his codix pulsing between them.

“Wrap your hand around me, Lottie. Tight. Gods, yes.”

He moaned as she obeyed, the feel of her fingers almost unbearably exquisite as they tightened around the base of his codix, gripping him tightly just above where his swollen ring throbbed. She hesitated for a moment when the long thin tendrils stretched towards her, but then she stroked her finger over the thicker tips and he shuddered.

“Should I do that again?” she asked, uncertainty in her voice.

“Yes,” he managed to say, then groaned as she repeated the gesture, stroking back and forth across the sensitive tips.

“Like that?”

“Frek, yes. Just like that.”

“They’re like little fingers,” she whispered, continuing the gentle stroking, sending tingling pulses through him. “Touching me.”

He tried to explain it but he’d lost the capability for coherent thought. Especially when her other hand joined the first, carefully wrapping around the middle of his throbbing codix.

“I… I don’t know what to do. Help me,” she asked shyly.

“My seed sac. Cup your hand at the base of my codix.”

The pressure of her fingers against the thick, sensitive organ increased as she positioned her hand beneath his codix. Pearls of liquid formed on the head of his codix, and her breath quickened as they dripped down onto her palm.

“What is it?”

“Lubricant,” he panted. “My seed sac releases it as the pleasure builds. When the ring expands completely, you’ll know I’m ready.”

“Ready for what?” she asked as she slid her hands along his length, then up again, spreading the thick fluid everywhere.

“Ready to release my seed.”

“And then what happens?”

He fought the urge to roll his hips, to drive himself into her hands, and tried to explain.

“The ring expands, locking us together with our partner.”

She stopped stroking, her hands resting lightly against his codix, and he fought to keep from demanding she resume her strokes.

“What if you’re not… inside a partner?”

“It will still happen. I’ll try and warn you but for the love of all the gods, stroke me again.”

She didn’t hesitate, squeezing her hands together as she stroked, the pressure she exerted making him gasp.

“Now. Frek, now.”

He hissed in a breath as the tendrils curled around her wrists, tugging her hands even tighter as his ring expanded. The intensity of her soft hands covering the swollen area, his fluid seeping between her fingers as the tendrils pulsed against her skin, the look of wonder in her eyes, all combined to push him over the edge. A roar burst from his throat as his codix throbbed and then the pressure released, thick spurts of his fluids erupting as her fingers caressed the sensitive organ.

It felt as if his release lasted for hours, but the trembling in his limbs eventually subsided and his ring began to shrink. She pulled her hands away, damp and sticky with his release. She examined the milky white substance, then brought one of her hands to her mouth. He groaned when she stuck her tongue out and licked one of her fingers.

“You… you shouldn’t…”

“I just wanted to know what it tastes like,” she said, a little defensively, and he couldn’t help smiling.

“Well, do you like the taste of it?”

“Mmm.” Another small lick. “Sweeter than I expected… and sort of salty.”

He smiled again as he watched her, his entire body limp and satiated. His codix was still partially exposed, the very tip still poking through his slit. Before he realized what she intended, she’d leaned forward and closed her soft lips around that small bit of exposed flesh, her tongue swirling gently around the tip.

“What are you doing?” he managed to say in a strangled voice as his codix started to respond.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have assumed that you would enjoy it just because human men do.” She sat back, licking her lips, her brow furrowed.

“Not like it?” A choked laugh escaped. “I had no idea that it would be so pleasurable.”

“You mean no one has ever done that before?”

“No, and truthfully, I would never have thought that I would enjoy it.”

It would have been almost unthinkable with a Karthikan female given their sharp teeth and aggressive nature. But Lottie with her small, blunt teeth and inherent sweetness - he could definitely enjoy such a thing. But he still tucked himself away and pulled his pants back into place.

“I think we’d best stop. I fear that you’re going to kill me with pleasure.”

A pleased smile replaced her frown.

“I think that would be a rather nice way to die.”

“I suppose so, although perhaps a little painful at the end,” he agreed gravely,

“I don’t want to cause you any pain,” she said quickly.

He believed she meant it, but he suspected it was now inevitable.

CHAPTER 9

Lottie smiled into the dimness, even though she was wedged in a tiny space between the wall of the wagon and Celenk’s huge, warm body. Raja had not been pleased with the new sleeping arrangements, chittering at both of them indignantly before climbing up on a bench and curling up in the pile of now dry towels.

The storm had lasted for most of the day although fortunately, it was muted enough that Celenk only froze a few times at a particularly loud boom of thunder. Each time she’d put her arms around him and he’d let her, although he hadn’t clung to her as tightly as he had the first time. Still she was sure she had given him comfort and that thought pleased her.

By the time the storm finally passed, he decided it was too late to travel any further and suggested they remain in the ravine. She had no objections - the day had passed very pleasantly even with both of them in the small space - and he was big enough to count as two all by himself. She’d taken advantage of the small stove to not only cook a meal but to bake some cookies. She only had the ingredients for sugar cookies but from the ecstatic expression on his face when he bit into one, he didn’t seem to find it a loss.

She’d tried to ask some more questions about their destination, but he’d changed the subject, bringing out a pack of cards instead. She kept her mouth shut as he patiently instructed her in a game of Stars, then trounced him three times in a row, unable to keep a straight face when he frowned at her.

“Are you sure you’ve never played before?”

“Of course I’ve played before - you didn’t actually bother to ask.”

“Yes I did-” He hesitated, then sighed. “No, I suppose I didn’t. But you could have said something.”

“You enjoyed teaching me, and I didn’t mind. But my grandfather taught me a long time ago because he loved to play. At the end, it was one of the few things he could still manage.”

“Did he also teach you to play Slapdash?” he asked suspiciously.

“I don’t think so.”

The game was new to her but she still managed to win the third hand and he gave her a wry smile.

“I can see you have a talent for cards.”

“Like I said, I played cards with my grandfather a lot, even if this particular game wasn’t one of them.”

The memory of that last year made her heart ache, and he put his hand over hers, stroking it gently with his thumb.

“You still miss him, don’t you?”

“Very much. Don’t you miss your parents?”

“No.” His voice turned cold and she gave him a startled look. He sighed and shook his head. “Probably a story for another time.”

She didn’t pry, bending down to pick up Raja instead when he tried to climb up her robe. He settled comfortably in her palm as she rubbed her cheek against his soft fur.

“Do you know how much bigger he will get?”

“About the size of two hands - somewhere between the size of your hands and the size of mine,” he added when she gave him an exasperated look.

“That’s a pretty big difference.”

‘Yes, it is.” He picked up her hand and placed it in his. Even outstretched, her fingers barely reached past his palm. “All of our body parts are very different in size.”

He was still looking at her hand, but she wondered if he was thinking of more intimate areas. His codix certainly was intimidatingly large, but then again, a woman’s body was designed to stretch. Her clit throbbed at the thought of trying and he suddenly looked up, his nostrils flaring.

“This excites you?”

She didn’t pretend to misunderstand, quickly shaking her head.

“No! Well, maybe. But not because of the size difference, but because it’s you.”

He gave her an unreadable look, then tugged her into his arms and kissed her, gently at first, and then more deeply as she wound her arms around his neck and responded eagerly. She ended up on his lap as he toyed with the collar of her robe, his fingers lightly brushing her skin.

“This is a dangerous game, my flower.”

“Why?”

“Because I cannot be what you want - what you deserve.”

“What is it you think I want?”

“A home. A family. Someone you can care for who cares for you in return.”

Sudden tears threatened. She hadn’t thought to put it in those terms, but he was exactly right - she wanted all those things. And she was beginning to suspect she wanted them with him.

“Is that so bad?” she asked softly.

“Not at all, but… But they are things I cannot give you.”

“Why not?”

His face closed into the expressionless mask that he had worn less and less frequently over the past week.

“I am… damaged.”

He didn’t give her a chance to respond, returning her to her seat and picking up the deck of cards again.

“Another game?”

“All right. As long as you don’t mind losing.”

She tried to keep her voice light and teasing but from the look he gave her, she wasn’t entirely successful. However he didn’t comment, just started dealing the cards.

In spite of a lingering sorrow from that conversation, the rest of the day passed pleasantly enough. They played several more card games - most of which she won - and he made her laugh each time he protested that he was being hustled. They cooked dinner together, just as they had been doing over the campfire, but it was considerably more… intimate, dancing around each other in the small interior of the wagon. She couldn’t help noticing that he did his best to avoid touching her, but she didn’t say anything and the conversation remained on safe subjects.

After dinner, they sat around the small table, talking in the soft glow of a single lamp. He encouraged her to share more of her memories of her grandfather, and she found herself smiling as she talked, remembering more of the happy times before he’d become so ill, until it almost felt as if he were sitting at the table with them.

“You know that’s the first time I’ve really talked about him,” she said softly. Ken certainly hadn’t been interested. “It’s nice to remember those times.”

He nodded.

“The bad memories can become… overwhelming.”

“What about you? You must have some good memories?”

A shadow crossed his face.

“In my case, what happened afterwards destroyed them.”

She waited patiently, letting him decide if he wanted to continue.

“My parents were wealthy landowners on Karthika. Very wealthy. The orchards and cattle I told you about? That was just the beginning of their holdings. They owned mines, a fleet of trading ships, more. I had a happy enough childhood. They were not… affectionate, but I was well cared for.”

“By servants?”

He hesitated briefly, then nodded.

“Of a sort. My parents didn’t send me to school - I was tutored at home. On everything from fighting to dancing to etiquette. I can speak all three languages native to Karthika without a translator. I can even tell you the correct wine to serve at a harvest dinner when the moon is full.”

He sighed, looking out the window of the wagon into the darkness beyond.

“There were so many lessons that I didn’t realize at the time that they were actually very selective about what I was taught. My access to books and learning programs, even videos, was also strictly controlled. I was being very carefully groomed to take over their empire. They even had a mate picked out for me, one who came from an eligible family - and who also came with a dowry that would add to the family holdings.”

She didn’t like the sound of that at all. No doubt it had been some tall, elegant female, full of grace and poise. But it didn’t happen, she reminded herself, giving him an uncertain smile.

“It sounds very…”

“Privileged?” he asked, raising a brow ridge. “It was. And as I said, I was not unhappy. I just didn’t realize the cost.”

“What cost?”

“You remember I told you I used to spend my summers on one of our ranches? That was my favorite time of year. Of course I still had lessons, but I felt… freer there than anywhere else. Somewhat ironically as it turned out.”

He picked up her hand, looking at it, not her, as he played with her fingers.

“It was the summer after my eighteenth birthday. I was at the ranch as usual but I was feeling rather resentful because my time there was being cut short in order for me to return to the city for some meetings my father wanted me to attend. I started complaining about it one morning when I was out riding with Armsal. He was one of the hands, about five years older than me and I’d always looked up to him. He’d never given any indication that he thought of me as anything other than a companion, but that day he suddenly looked at me as if he hated me.”

His hand had tensed beneath hers and she turned her hand over so she could wrap her fingers around his.

“When I asked him why, he told me it was because his mate was being sold to another landowner and they were going to be separated forever. She was pregnant with his child.” His voice turned bitter. “I told you about all the land my family owned. I didn’t tell you about all the people they owned. I knew about it, of course, but I had been so carefully taught that until that moment, I truly hadn’t realized what it meant to the people they owned.”

He was clutching her hand now, his grip almost painful but she didn’t complain.

“I was horrified. I returned to the city, to my father. He sat me down and explained that it was a necessary part of our business, of our world. He prided himself on being a good master, in making sure that all of his slaves were well fed and well housed, provided with medical care and an appropriate level of education. Separations such as this were unfortunate, but couldn’t be entirely avoided. I remember sitting there looking at him behind his big desk, so calm, so rational, his conscience completely clear. I knew at that moment that if I stayed I would become exactly like him, exactly like he’d groomed me to be.”

His face was as tormented as if it had just happened, even though it must have been many years ago.

“What did you do?”

“Made a foolish, quixotic gesture. I took one of the space-going ships my family owned and returned to the farm. I picked up Armsal, his mate, and anyone else who wanted to come and left the planet. Do you know only a dozen people were willing to leave?”

“Change can be frightening. Better the devil you know.”

“Exactly. The authorities caught up with me eventually but Armsal and the others were long gone. My father had reported the ship as stolen,” he added, his face expressionless once more. “Fortunately, the patrol officer who caught up with me was sympathetic. He impounded the ship, but he let me go. He was the one who suggested I join the military. From spoiled heir to lowly recruit - it was quite a shock, but a good one. At least until the war.”

He finally looked back up at her.

“So you see, any happy memories of my childhood were corrupted by what lay beneath the surface. Any good memories of my early years in the military were ruined by that useless war.”

“The fact that you had the strength to reject that way of life and leave should be a good memory.”

“Is it? It didn’t feel like it at the time.”

“I think it is. You were very brave.”

“I was terrified.”

“But you did it anyway. My grandfather always said that was the true definition of courage - doing the right thing even if it scares you.”

“Your grandfather sounds like a very wise male.”

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it, his mouth warm and enticing. She opened her mouth, not even sure what she wanted to say, but he shook his head and got up.

“I believe we should call it a night. I’ll take the rodent out for a quick run while you get ready for bed.”

A confused mix of emotions filled her, but she nodded. By the time they returned, she’d put on a short nightgown and was perched uncertainly on the edge of the bed. He gave her a thoughtful look as Raja hopped up on her lap.

“I would offer to sleep on the floor but I don’t believe there’s enough room.”

“Of course you don’t need to sleep on the floor. There’s plenty of room in the bed. Well, not plenty, but I’m sure it’s enough.”

He nodded and started stripping off his clothes. Although he was good about giving her privacy to change, he didn’t seem to have any hesitation about getting naked in front of her. I should look away, she told herself, but she didn’t, admiring his strong muscular body, his golden scales shimmering slightly in the lamplight. Without conscious volition her eyes were drawn to the long slit concealing his codix. Was it her imagination or had the edges parted slightly? She licked her lips, remembering their encounter by the river.

“My flower, we are about to spend the night in very close quarters. I am trying to behave with honor, but it would be much easier if you weren’t regarding me as if I were a feast for your delectation.”

Heat flooded her cheeks and she looked up to find those impossibly blue eyes focused on her mouth.

“I’m sorry. I was just remembering yesterday.”

He groaned.

“That does not help either. Why don’t you lie down?”

She obeyed, but she couldn’t help peeping at him over the blanket as he turned around to find his sleep pants. He had a remarkably fine ass, she decided, and it was amazing how quickly she’d gotten used to that tail. Which was just as well since the first thing that happened after he managed to wedge himself into bed with her was that his tail wrapped around her waist. That was also the point at which Raja decided there wasn’t room for three.

Now she was lying there smiling and idly stroking Celenk’s tail until he put his hand over hers to keep it still.

“Are you trying to torment me, my flower?”

“Oops, sorry. I wasn’t thinking.” He groaned again as she twisted around to face him. “But I was thinking that you haven’t kissed me good night.”

“Under the circumstances, I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

His voice sounded strained and she hid a smile as she wiggled a little higher.

“No? Why not?”

“Tormentor,” he growled, but then he kissed her.

The kiss was thorough and slow, his mouth hot and persuasive. That long tongue curled around hers, stroking, caressing, and sending little pulses of excitement through her body. She gasped into his mouth and felt an increased pressure against her stomach, but then he raised his head.

“Good night, Lottie. Go to sleep.”

She tried, she really did, but the arousal caused by the kiss refused to fade. Being pressed against the big, hard body, his deliciously masculine scent filling her lungs, didn’t help and she found herself trying to rub her breasts surreptitiously against his back to relieve the aching peaks. He sighed and suddenly she was on her back while he loomed over her, a shadowy figure in the dimness.

“I knew I shouldn’t have kissed you. Are you feeling needy, my flower?”

“Yes! You can’t expect me to go to sleep now.”

“I suppose not. I shouldn’t be doing this,” he murmured, as his mouth dropped to the curve of her neck, nibbling the sensitive curve and making her gasp. “But perhaps I can help you sleep.”

His hand slid up beneath her nightgown and found her nipple, plucking at the sensitive peak and she moaned.

“Harder.”

He obeyed, pinching it between two fingers until she was squirming eagerly. He started to lower his head, then muttered a curse as he collided with the wagon wall.

“Don’t stop,” she begged when he lifted away from her.

“I have no intention of stopping.”

He knelt on the floor in front of the bed platform, then pulled her forward until her legs were on either side of him. A quick flash of his claws and then she was naked as he bent over her. He found her breast with his mouth, his tongue flickering rapidly across the tip, a teasing contrast to the pressure on her other nipple. She clutched at his shoulders, desperate to keep him there, to keep the sensations flooding her body. He switched sides, the rapid movement of his tongue almost exquisitely painful on the distended peak but it only added to her arousal. The hand on her nipple applied more pressure, a sharp counterpoint to the gentle pleasure of his mouth.

She cried out when his mouth abandoned her, but then he was kissing his way down across her stomach, then lower, gently pulling her legs further apart.

“What a pretty little cunt. And look how wet you are for me.”

She shuddered as he ran a thick finger between her folds, but then he started to lower his head.

“What are you - Oh, my God!”

He ran his tongue along the sensitive folds before he covered her with his mouth, that long, flexible tongue sliding up and down as he licked her, a faint, purr-like vibration buzzing against her flesh. She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, she could only clutch at the sheets and surrender to the rising tide of pleasure. He grasped her thighs, holding her open, making the sensation more intense as his tongue entered her, fucking her with a slow steady rhythm, the tension spiraling tighter and tighter. Then his tongue was replaced by a thick finger - no, it was his tail stretching her open as his tongue returned to her clit, licking and sucking and flicking across the exposed nub until she was thrashing beneath him.

“I’m going to - I - oh, my God. Celenk!”

Her back arched and she cried out his name as her body spasmed, waves of pleasure slamming down over her. The tremors kept coming as he continued to lick her, more gently now, while her body slowly went limp. Finally, he drew back, pressing a last kiss to her mound, and stroking a gentle hand down her thigh.

“Sleep now, Lottie.”

“Okay,” she whispered, obediently closing her eyes. She vaguely heard him laugh and then she slept.

CHAPTER 10

Celenk gently arranged a sleeping Lottie in the bed, hesitated, then climbed in after her. He tried to maintain a little distance between them but there just wasn’t enough room. He finally curved his body around hers and tucked her back against his chest, surpassing a groan when her soft, luscious ass landed directly over his engorged slit. He’d managed - barely - to keep his codix restrained but it was a throbbing ache against his slit.

Although he was happy that she was now sleeping peacefully, he suspected it would be a lot longer for him in spite of the emotionally draining day. First his reaction to the storm and then dragging up memories of his family. Former family really - his father had disinherited him and had his name stricken from the family records. A new heir had been born less than a year later, although he’d heard a veiled rumor that his mother had not been the one to give birth to him.

His hand clenched around Lottie’s waist, but she slept on. His relationship with his family wasn’t something he liked to dwell on, but somehow the story had poured out. It felt strangely freeing to tell someone, to talk about it for the first time in twenty years. She hadn’t judged him - she’d even made him see it through different eyes.

Maybe she was right. Maybe it was a good memory. At any rate, it was a memory that didn’t hurt any longer. Perhaps he was healing. He took a deep breath, inhaling her sweet scent as he hugged her closer against his chest and tried to calm the desire pulsing through his body. Forcing himself to breathe slowly and steadily, he stroked the soft skin of her arms until his body started to relax and his eyes drifted closed.

This is nice, he thought sleepily. I could get used to having her in my arms.

No. His eyes snapped open. No, he couldn’t get used to this. He had a job to do - a job with a very limited timeframe - and then they would part ways, no matter how much he was beginning to hate that thought. The only thing he could do was to make sure that she found somewhere where she could be happy with a nice, safe house of her own and enough credits to make sure she was comfortable.

I’ll give her everything I’m due for this job, he decided. After all, he wouldn’t have been here if it wasn’t for her. And if that wasn’t enough, he had more in his bank accounts. Or perhaps he could use some of his funds to arrange for someone to watch over her… No, he didn’t like the thought of someone else doing what he should be doing. Perhaps he could check in on her between jobs…

And what if I come back and find her married?

His arms tightened around her at the thought, and she mumbled a sleepy protest.

Frek. There was no good answer to the situation. Nonetheless he spent most of the night trying to come up with one. By daybreak he was tired, irritable - and still damnably aroused. A condition that only worsened when Lottie woke and stretched, her luscious ass moving gently against him. He clenched his hand on her hip, his claws threatening to emerge.

“Stop moving,” he said through gritted teeth.

“What?” She gave him a startled glance over her shoulder, her eyes still heavy with sleep. “What’s wrong?”

“You’re torturing me again.”

He tried to keep his tone light but didn’t succeed. She quickly wiggled around to face him, then slid her hand between their bodies, gently cupping his codix, throbbing behind his slit. He knew he should stop her, but those long graceful fingers felt too good on his body.

“Do you want me to help? Like I did yesterday?”

They both felt his codix press even harder against his slit.

“We… we should get going.”

He didn’t sound convincing even to himself and she smiled as she stroked her fingers along his slit, feathering over the ruffled edges and starting to tease it open.

“I bet I know a way to make it nice and quick,” she whispered, urging him on to his back.

She pulled back the blanket, watching herself stroke him.

“How do I get your codix to come out?”

“Here.”

Ignoring the voice in his head warning that this was a bad idea, he showed her where to press, groaning with relief as it sprang free, already rigid and glistening with lubricant. Her eyes widened, but she licked her lips.

“Oh my. I’d forgotten how big you are. I may not be able to take much of you, but I’ll try.”

Just as she had the previous day she closed her soft lips around the head of his codix, gently swirling her tongue across the tip. She was right - very little of his shaft fit between those pretty lips but the feel of her mouth surrounding him was too exquisite for him to complain.

She hummed approvingly as his hips jerked toward her, putting her hand on his shaft to help position him for her mouth. The tendrils around the base of his codix entwined themselves with her hand, encouraging her to stroke him. She tried to follow their guidance, her hand twisting around the swollen length as she suckled the head, and he couldn’t hold back a roar as he exploded, her mouth tightening as she struggled to swallow his thick seed.

A few pearly strands still glistened on her chest when she finally sat back on her heels and gave him a triumphant smile.

“I told you it wouldn’t take long.”

“That’s not generally considered a compliment for a male,” he said dryly as he reached out and rubbed the traces of his seed into her sweet soft skin. She laughed breathlessly.

“I suppose not. Do you mind?”

“Karthikan males are known for their ability to… recover.” Her eyes widened when he gestured at his already swelling codix. “But since we do need to get moving, it would be helpful if you got dressed.”

The pretty color rose in her cheeks, but she shook her finger at him.

“I would have been dressed if you hadn’t ripped my nightgown in two. I don’t have that many clothes, you know.”

“I didn’t want anything between us, but I will replace it.”

“That’s all right. I don’t mind sleeping naked with you.”

She bent over and gave him a quick kiss, tasting deliciously of their combined essence, then hopped out of bed before he could tell her that they wouldn’t be sleeping together again. Last night had proven that it was much too dangerous a pastime if he were to have any hope of keeping his promise.

Somehow he managed to keep his resolution over the final few days of their journey, sending her off to the wagon each night while he bedded down by the fire. She was not happy about it, and he hated seeing the hurt look in her eyes when he told her he wouldn’t be joining her the first night.

“Was it so terrible?” she whispered.

“No, my flower. The issue is the opposite - I enjoyed it far too much.” He tugged her gently into his lap and wrapped his tail around her waist. Her body stiffened, but she came. “It is too easy to forget that this is a temporary arrangement.”

She bit her lip, looking into the fire and avoiding his gaze.

“It doesn’t feel temporary,” she said, almost too quietly for him to hear.

“I know it doesn’t and that’s the problem. As much as I wish it were otherwise, I cannot be the husband you need.”

A tear sparkled on her cheek as she nodded.

“I understand you feel that way.” She finally looked up and gave him a shaky smile. “Does that mean no more goodnight kisses either?”

He knew he should say yes, but he kissed her instead. By the time he sent her off to bed again, his codix was throbbing painfully against his slit again, but at least she was flushed and smiling again.

Although he had been successful at not sleeping with her, he’d been far less so at keeping his hands off of her. It wasn’t just the goodnight kisses that tended to escalate. It was his tail curled around her as they rode in the wagon all day and the casually affectionate way that she would lean over and kiss his cheek while he was sitting by the fire. He seemed to exist in a constant state of arousal.

Twice she had asked him to “help her sleep” and the urge to bury himself inside that sweet tight body had grown stronger each time. He’d even been weak enough to let her use her hot little mouth on him, hoping it would ease the perpetual ache, but as delightful as it had been, it had only made him want more.

Knowing they would reach the farm today was both a relief and a source of unease. Things were bound to change, but he wasn’t sure it would be for the better. He hoped that focusing on his task would relieve his frustration, but he didn’t like the fact that she didn’t know the truth behind their trip.

“How much longer?” she asked, recalling him from his wandering thoughts. “I can’t wait to see what it’s like.”

Raja squeaked in seeming agreement and he couldn’t help smiling.

“Not much longer.” They’d turned on to an actual road an hour ago. “But remember what I told you. Much of the farm was abandoned so it may not be in great shape.”

“I know. But I still think it’s wonderful that this Commander Temel is restoring it so it can provide homes for former warriors. Like you,” she added quietly.

Not like me. His part in the war had been dirty and messy and less than honorable, even if he had been acting under orders. He was no returning hero worthy of a second chance.

“It’s not the same. I am simply going to be an employee.”

Assuming Marshall’s plan had worked. His employment had been arranged through a third party in Port Cantor - a connection of Temel’s who had been looking for workers on his behalf.

“Look,” she said excitedly as they came around a bend. “That must be it. Although it certainly doesn’t look abandoned.”

She was right - it looked like a peaceful, prosperous farm. The rolling fields and pastures next to the road led to a big white farmhouse surrounded by a barn and stables and several additional outbuildings. Several horses grazed in the paddock next to the barn but his attention focused on the herds of shaggy brown cattle. They were not the same as the animals his family had raised, but he still felt an odd, fleeting sense of nostalgia for those innocent summers on the ranch so long ago.

He shook off the foolish sentiment and smiled down at her indignant face.

“Matthew Johnson, the former owner, lived on this part of the farm so you’re right, it is in good condition. It’s the smaller surrounding farms which were abandoned. He insisted on acquiring them, even though he had little use for them.”

The dossier Marshall had given him had provided a surprising amount of information about Matthew Johnson, the previous owner, but then Marshall did have a reputation for insisting on knowing every detail.

“What happened to him?” she asked.

“Apparently the widow who owned the only farm he hadn’t bought fell in love with a former warrior. He did not like the fact that his new mate was being threatened by the man and called in… reinforcements. More former warriors from a ranch up in the mountains. They, err, persuaded Mr. Johnson to sell the farm and leave town. In fact, I heard he left the planet.”

She raised an eyebrow.

“Persuaded?”

He shrugged.

“From what I understand, he was offered a fair price and an opportunity for a new life. He took it.”

“Somehow I suspect it wasn’t quite as straightforward as you’re making it sound, but I’m still glad we’re here. What do you think, Raja? Do you like the looks of our new home?”

Raja chittered happily as she held him up so he could see the farm, but Celenk froze for a moment.

Home.

He’d never thought that word would appeal to him again, but he was suddenly filled with an aching longing for something he knew he could never have.

But Lottie will, he vowed as he set the wagon in motion again.

They followed the road to a big sweeping driveway that curved in front of the main house and he pulled the wagon to a halt.

“This is it. Our new home.”

CHAPTER 11

“It’s awfully big,” Lottie whispered, looking up at the two story white farmhouse surrounded by a wide porch, and Celenk gave her an amused look.

“There are a lot larger buildings in the city.”

“I know, but they’re all jumbled in together, not sitting on their own like this one.”

He understood her point. The house was located on a slight rise, looking out over the surrounding land and it had a certain peaceful dignity.

“I’m sure it will seem smaller inside,” he said as she tucked Raja into her skirt pocket. He helped her down from the wagon and she rolled her eyes at him.

“I’m sure it will. Now, do I look all right?”

He’d told her that the nearest town of Wainwright was based on Old Earth principles and most women wore long dresses. She didn’t have any of those, but she’d pulled on a long cotton skirt in a pretty flowered pattern and a short-sleeved lace blouse.

“You look beautiful,” he said honestly, but she gave him a doubtful look.

“Really.” No one had emerged from the house so he stepped slower, trapping her between the wagon and his body. “Beautiful. Sweet. Tempting.”

He punctuated each word with a small, sucking kiss to her pretty neck, and noted with satisfaction that her nipples had beaded beneath her blouse.

“Celenk,” she whispered, her hands sliding up around his neck, and what could he do but kiss her.

She gasped into his mouth as he grabbed her delectable ass and pulled her closer, close enough so she could feel his codix bulging beneath his slit. She wiggled eagerly and he groaned, his kiss growing more demanding and -

“I see you found us.”

A cool, amused voice interrupted his lustful haze and he whirled, automatically thrusting Lottie behind him. How could he have let himself be so distracted?

An older Kemberian warrior stood behind him, horns glinting in the sunlight. He was dressed in casual, human-style clothing but nothing could disguise that air of command.

“Commander Temel?”

“Just Temel now. And you must be Celenk.”

‘Yes, sir.” The title emerged automatically. “And this is my wife, Lottie.”

Frek, that sounded good, right. Even he could hear the pride in his voice as he took her hand and pulled her out from behind him.

“I’m pleased to meet you, Lottie,” Temel said courteously.

“It’s nice to meet you too. I was just telling my husband that your farm is beautiful.”

He liked the sound of that even more.

“Thank you. We’ve come a long way, but of course most of the work that needs to be done is on the outer farms.” Temel smiled at her. “It’s somewhat of a challenge balancing that with working the existing farm, which is why I’m very glad that your husband accepted our offer. We could use some experienced help.”

Ignoring an unexpected feeling of guilt, he nodded.

“I’m looking forward to it. However, I did warn the representative in Port Cantor that my experience was some years ago.”

“I understand. The war interrupted many of our lives. Would you-”

“Like to come into the house for a cup of tea?” A plump, attractive older woman interrupted, her hands on her hips. “Honestly. Are you just going to keep them standing out here talking all day after that long journey?”

“No, my sweet,” Temel said meekly, his face softening. “Celenk, Lottie, this is my mate, Ida. Ida, this is Celenk and his wife Lottie.”

“I’m very glad to meet you both, but please come into the house.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Lottie said, smiling, just as Raja poked his head out of her pocket inquisitively.

“Oh my goodness. Who’s that?” Ida asked, a delighted look on her face.

“His name is Raja. Would you like to meet him?”

Lottie held out her hand and Ida bent over it, gently stroking Raja’s head as he squeaked happily.

“A kedji?” Temel asked him, raising an eyebrow. “Where did you get one of those?”

“My wife rescued him. She has a kind heart.”

Kind enough to accept him, flaws and all.

“I - we - have discovered that these human females are quite amazing. But you don’t need me to tell you that, do you?”

Temel didn’t wait for an answer, moving over to put his arm around his mate. He found himself watching, fascinated, as she leaned into him even as she continued cooing over Raja. He suspected that Lottie would have done the same.

Even as he thought it, she looked over and smiled at him. He went to her and just as he’d thought, she slipped her free arm around his waist as his tail circled hers. This wasn’t playing a part or putting on a show. It was real. But it was also something he couldn’t have.

“Is something wrong?” she whispered when he tensed, and he shook his head.

“Goodness me. I invited you to come in and now I’m the one keeping you outside.” Ida quickly shepherded them into the house and through a formal living and dining area to a large, comfortable kitchen. “We don’t stand on ceremony around here. Have a seat and I’ll get the kettle on.”

He sat down, his tail still around Lottie’s waist and Raja clambered up on his shoulder. It was one of his favorite perches but he abandoned it as soon as Ida brought out a cake and started cutting huge slices, hopping back down on Lottie’s lap with a hopeful squeak.

“Does he eat cake?” Ida asked and Lottie laughed.

“I’ve yet to discover anything he won’t eat, but he has a definite weakness for sweets.”

Temel frowned.

“The kedji are also good hunters, at least of smaller prey.”

“You’re not a predator, are you sweetheart?”

She was talking to Raja but she also gave him a quick, teasing smile. He returned it, even though his chest ached. She had no idea.

“We should discuss your living quarters,” Temel said as Ida finished making the tea and joined them.

“I understood the job came with accommodation for myself and my wife?”

“It does, but there are a couple of different options. There is plenty of room in this house, but most of the mated males have preferred a greater degree of… privacy.”

Would that help him resist temptation? Lottie answered before he could.

“We definitely need more privacy. Celenk likes to walk around without any clothes on,” she added with an innocent look.

Temel growled. “My mate has no desire to see another male naked.”

“And I have no desire to appear naked in front of anyone other than my wife,” he said firmly. “Although it is true that Karthikan customs are somewhat different as far as what is considered acceptable.”

“Very different,” Lottie laughed and Ida nodded.

“I’ve also found some non-human customs… different.”

The two females smiled at each other and he realized that Lottie already seemed at home here. If only…

No. He forced his attention back to the original subject matter.

“What other options are there beside the house?”

“Several of my males have chosen to remain nearby, but most of the remaining options are quite small. I wonder…” Temel tapped his chin thoughtfully. “Would you be interested in taking over one of the abandoned farms? There wouldn’t be any obligation to work the land, of course, but it would allow you privacy. And space - I thought you might appreciate that after being in the city for so long.”

“That sounds nice,” Lottie said eagerly. “I’d love to have a home of our own. What do you think, Celenk?”

If it made her happy, he was willing to give it a try. Then it occurred to him that being in a separate location would allow him to come and go more freely.

“All right. Did you have one in mind?”

“I think the farm next to Borgaz and Mary would be a good option. It’s still close enough that it won’t take you long to travel back and forth. However, I warn you that the farmhouse will need some work.”

“But we’ll all help,” Ida said cheerfully.

“Based on the survey Borgaz did when we first arrived, the roof is intact and the structure is basically solid.”

“Why do I suspect that you planned to put us there all along?” he asked dryly.

“A good comm - a good leader - tries to plan for all eventualities.”

“Not in my experience.”

The obvious bitterness in his voice made everyone look at him. Lottie patted his tail in what he was sure was intended to be a soothing fashion while Temel studied him gravely.

“Then he was not a good leader. I’m sorry.”

He forced himself to shrug.

“It’s in the past now.”

“That doesn’t mean it’s gone.”

He looked at Temel and saw a familiar look in his eyes - the eyes of a male who has seen too much suffering. He dipped his head in acknowledgment, then rose.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to take a look at this structurally sound house.”

“Of course.”

“Why don’t we all go?” Ida asked. “Our son Tommy is out on the farm today, and our daughter and her husband have plans.”

“Of course, if that would please you, my sweet.”

As soon as Temel agreed, Ida jumped up and pulled out a large basket. “I’ll just grab a few things so you don’t have to worry about cooking tonight.”

Based on the amount of food with which she stuffed the basket, he didn’t think they’d have to worry about cooking for a week.

“We have plenty of supplies,” he said quietly to Temel who was watching his mate with a smile on his face.

“I assumed you did. But my mate enjoys feeding people. Don’t be surprised if, having given you all this food, she then invites you to come back here for dinner.” Temel grinned at him. “And that is an open invitation, by the way. Most of my males have lunch here if they are nearby, but you and your wife are welcome to join us for as many meals as you wish. Or none at all,” he added. “Although I suspect my mate will keep trying to get you to join us.”

He laughed, and a short time later they set out - he and Lottie in the wagon and Temel and Ida in a horse-drawn carriage. He knew that mode of transportation was common outside the city, but it still served to bring home the difference between the farm and his life in the city.

“Do you think we should get a horse?” Lottie asked, watching the carriage as well, then blushed. “I forgot. It would be silly to get a horse just for six months.”

If they even had six months. His heart squeezed in his chest and his tail tugged her closer.

“If you would like a horse, we’ll get a horse. You could always take it with you.”

He had to force himself to add the last sentence, and she shot him a quick look.

“Why don’t we see how the first few weeks go?”

They followed Temel’s carriage back the way they had come, then continued straight ahead for a short distance before turning to the left. A neat white farmhouse appeared to their right and she gave it an eager look.

“That doesn’t seem too bad.”

“I don’t think that’s the farm he mentioned. You can see that someone is already working on it.”

He was right. They continued past the white farmhouse, then a short distance further on turned down a narrow lane between overgrown trees, their branches scraping the top of the wagon. She shivered and moved a little closer, and his tail gave her a comforting squeeze.

The road ended along with the patch of woods. Open farmland stretched out in front of them, but he was too busy staring at the house to the left to pay much attention. He’d never seen such a rundown wreck. He opened his mouth to say so, but Lottie spoke first.

“Isn’t this wonderful? I love it!”

“You love it?” he asked cautiously.

“I do. It’s just what I dreamed of when you offered - I mean when you told me about this job.”

“You dreamed about this house?”

She followed his gaze to the small cottage nestled at the edge of the woods. It had a green roof and a wide front porch just like the one at the main house, although on a much smaller scale. The paint was peeling, leaves and other debris had piled up on the lopsided porch, and two of the windows had broken panes. None of that appeared to deter her.

“Maybe not exactly, but it will be adorable once we finish fixing it up.”

“I agree,” Ida said as she joined them. “It has a lot of potential.”

“Potential?” he asked Temel as the two women went ahead, and the older male gave him an apologetic look.

“Believe it or not, it is in better shape than many of the farmhouses. The roof doesn’t leak and it’s -”

“I know. Structurally sound.”

“If you’d care to look at some of the other properties…”

He shook his head as he watched his wife climb the rickety looking stairs, Raja in her hand so he could inspect the house as well.

“No. My wife likes it and that’s the most important thing.”

“I agree.” Temel said and they smiled at each other.

They had just reached the steps when he replayed the conversation in his head. He hadn’t been choosing his words to allay any suspicions on Temel’s part - he had meant every one of them, from calling her his wife to the importance of her happiness.

He had fallen in love with his fake wife.

CHAPTER 12

Lottie smiled happily as they stood on the front porch waving goodbye to Ida and Temel, then looked back out over the open fields. They clearly had not been worked for some time but they were filled with wildflowers, nodding peacefully under the summer sun. And best of all, they stretched uninterrupted to some low, rolling hills and then a row of high mountain peaks far in the distance, as expansive as the ocean view she loved.

“Isn’t this beautiful?” she asked Celenk.

“Mmm,” he agreed, but his mind was clearly elsewhere.

He’d been remarkably quiet as they toured the house, his face not quite set in his former unreadable mask, but definitely abstracted.

“Are you worried about the amount of work it’s going to take to fix it up?”

The inside wasn’t in any better shape than the outside, although some attempt had been made to prepare for their arrival. The floors had been swept and the generator turned on. There was a table and chairs in the big kitchen at the back of the house, and even more importantly, a big bed with clean sheets and a pretty quilt in the downstairs bedroom.

He’d raised a brow ridge at that and Temel shrugged.

“Just being prepared. It was easy enough since we’re so close, but if you hadn’t wanted it or chose somewhere else, we would have moved the furniture. We still can.”

“This is fine,” she said quickly. “Isn’t it, Celenk?”

He’d looked at her then, his eyes bright blue.

“As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”

She gave a relieved sigh and turned back to Temel.

“No need to move furniture then.”

“But we can move more in.” Ida smiled at her. “I know there’s a halfway decent couch in one of the storage buildings and I think there’s a rocker as well. You’re welcome to come and take a look and see if there’s anything else you want.”

“You don’t need to give us more furniture. You’ve already been very generous.”

Ida shook her head. “Don’t be silly. I’d love to see it put to good use. All of it is from the various farmhouses on the property. Matthew took it after he acquired the farms, although he was very random about what he put in storage.” She sighed. “I used to see him in town occasionally before he moved away and I always thought he was a very unpleasant man. Of course, I didn’t realize then that he was running people off their land.”

“Celenk told me. What an awful man.”

Temel had carried the big basket inside and they started putting things away as they talked while Temel and Celenk went to inspect the rest of the house.

“He bought out some of the other farmers - not always willingly - but others he drove away with threats or sabotage. Definitely not a nice man.”

“Celenk said there was only one woman left and her mate convinced him to sell, with some help from his friends?”

Ida laughed and lowered her voice.

“That’s what Rosie told me - she’s the one who was left. One of the warriors from the ranch threatened to eat him.”

“What?!”

“Oh. not really, of course. I’ve met Benjar a few times. He’s the sweetest thing - and very good-looking - but he does have some very impressive teeth.”

They were both laughing when the males returned. From the look Temel gave Ida, she wondered how much he’d overheard, but he didn’t say anything. Ida announced it was time for them to leave and now they were alone at last - except Celenk still seemed distracted.

“Are you listening to me?”

“Yes, my flower. And no, I’m not worried about the work although it may take longer than you anticipate.”

She forced herself to smile, even though the reminder that their time was limited made her chest hurt.

“Six months should be plenty of time.”

He started to say something, then shook his head.

“You’re right. Six months is a long time.”

Raja had been perched on her shoulder, but now he tugged on a strand of hair and she sighed.

“You can’t use my hair as a dinner well, Raja, and you can’t possibly be hungry after devouring that huge slice of cake.”

He chittered softly and gave her a pitiful look. She laughed.

“I think he’s a better actor than you are, Celenk. He actually looks as if he were starving.”

“Actor?”

“Acting like I was really your wife in front of Ida and Temel. I thought you were very convincing.”

So convincing that it made her heart ache even more at the thought of leaving him. I have six months, she reminded herself. I’ll just have to enjoy them as much as I can.

“You were very convincing yourself,” he said slowly.

Because it didn’t feel like an act.

But she couldn’t bring herself to tell him that. Instead she thanked him and led the way back to the kitchen to feed Raja and start putting together a simple dinner. They worked together as they always did, but he was still unusually silent, frowning down at the vegetables he was cutting.

“Celenk, what’s wrong? Are you regretting coming here? Do you miss the city? Are you… tired of me?”

He finally met her gaze directly, eyes gleaming.

‘To answer your questions in order - no, no, and absolutely not.”

He spoke with enough sincerity that she believed him and relaxed. Enjoy the present, she reminded herself.

They cooked and ate and cleaned up, falling back into the easy rhythm of their trip. After dinner she beat him at two hands of cards, then asked him what his job would entail. He told her he was going to be assisting with the cattle. He talked about it willingly enough, although she wondered if he realized how often he referred back to those childhood summers.

She finally couldn’t stop herself from yawning, and he laughed.

“I get the message. No more boring you with cattle tales. Time for bed.”

“You’re not boring me, but it is getting late.” Raja had fallen asleep not long after dinner and had been curled in her pocket ever since.

Her heart rate sped up as they turned out the lights and walked through the dark house to the bedroom, but he didn’t follow her through the door.

“Aren’t you coming to bed?”

“I thought perhaps I should sleep in the wagon,” he said stiffly, and her heart sank.

“In the wagon? Why?”

“It seems less… complicated.”

She crossed her arms and glared at him.

“Well, it’s not. And in case you’ve forgotten, we’re not alone anymore. What if someone comes by early and sees that you’re sleeping out there? Have you thought about that?”

She was so angry she actually stomped her foot. He looked shocked, then smiled at her.

“My fierce little flower. Very well, I’ll sleep in the house, although I suppose I could -”

“You’ll sleep in the house, in the bed, with me, just like you’re supposed to!”

“Yes, ma’am.” His tail tugged her closer as he smiled down at her angry face. “Any more demands?”

“I could think of a few things,” she whispered, slipping her hand around behind him to stroke his tail, loving the resulting groan.

“I’m almost afraid to ask.”

One of his hands had dropped as well, kneading her ass as he did so frequently and she wiggled happily. This was more like it.

“Afraid of a little mutual pleasure?”

“Yes,” he said and it took her a moment to realize he was serious. “Afraid that the more we have, the more I will want - and I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you.”

Her heart was beating frantically now, but he didn’t say anything else. He pulled off his shirt and made it into a small nest, then took the sleeping Raja from her pocket and carefully placed him in it.

“I’ll make him a real bed tomorrow,” he promised, then stalked towards her, all lethal power and grace in the moonlight shining in through the uncovered windows.

He stripped away her clothes, fortunately with his hands and not his claws, then picked her up and carried her to the bed. The mattress was very comfortable and the bed much bigger than the bed platform in the wagon, but the only thing that really mattered was the male standing over her.

“Do you want something to sleep in?”

She shook her head mutely, watching as he stripped away his pants to reveal the rest of his powerful body. His codix had not been released, but she could see that his slit had already widened slightly in preparation.

“Do you need my assistance in falling asleep?”

“Yes, please,” she whispered, and he smiled at her, warmth underlying the hunger on his face as he joined her in the bed.

He kissed her, slowly at first and then more intensely, his tongue teasing hers as he caressed her breasts until her nipples were stiff and aching. He kissed a path to her neck as his hand slid lower, trailing across her stomach to cover her mound, letting the warmth of his big hand penetrate as he rocked his palm against her clit.

“Do you know how much I love those little sounds you make when you climax against my hand or my mouth?”

“You make me feel so good.”

His fingers slid lower, stroking the slippery seam of her sex and she instinctively spread her legs, encouraging him to probe further and he did, that big finger sliding between her folds, then pausing to circle her clit. She shuddered, and he chuckled softly, pressing down a little harder as he continued the tiny circles. She clutched at those big shoulders as her body quivered, the pleasure building until she moaned softly.

“Gods, I love that sound. Now come for me, my flower.”

His tail pressed against her opening, pushing deeper as he clamped down on her clit and she came with a startled cry, her body clenching around the thick intruder, now moving in and out in time to her convulsions until she finally stopped shuddering and he withdrew.

“Wow,” she murmured. “Tails. Who knew?”

He laughed, but it sounded strained.

“Do you want to stop?”

“God, no.”

Another strained laugh, and then he took her hand moving it down his body until it was resting over the base of his codix. The small tendrils that surrounded it wound around her fingers, stroking her gently and seeming to urge her to caress that slippery shaft. She obliged and he groaned, then pushed against her fingers, thrusting into her fist until she was cupping the broad head.

“Frek.”

He shuddered as she squeezed lightly, encouraged by the sound of his voice, then groaned when she stroked back the length of his shaft. His hips twitched as if he was trying not to pump against her hand again.

“Faster,” he said hoarsely. “Tighter.”

She followed his directions eagerly, loving the way his powerful muscles tensed at her touch. The tiny tendrils urged her back towards the thick ring around the base of his codix, hot and swollen beneath her hand. He groaned again, and kissed her, his mouth hungry and demanding as his codix throbbed against her fingers, and suddenly it wasn’t enough.

“I want you inside me,” she whispered.

“I… I can’t.”

Despite his words, his codix jerked in her grip and she gave it an encouraging squeeze.

“Please. I want you so much.”

There was enough moonlight for her to see the indecision on his face, his expression tortured. How had she ever thought him expressionless?

“You don’t know what you’re saying.”

“I do.”

Even if it was only for a limited time, she didn’t want to waste a moment of it. His hand cupped her face as he looked at her, his eyes burning blue in the moonlight.

“Tell me you’re certain.”

His voice was rough and she smiled up at him.

“Very certain. I trust you.”

He groaned, closing in his eyes as if in surrender.

“Frek. I hope you still feel that way when this is over.”

He guided the tip of his codix down to her wet entrance and pushed lightly. Her body tried to resist at first but the combination of her arousal and the slickness that coated his shaft eased the way and the head of his codix slid inside. She gasped at the fiery stretch - he felt every bit as huge as she’d imagined - but he also felt wonderful as her body opened for him.

“Gods, you’re so tight. So perfect. I can’t last. I can’t.”

She wrapped her arms around his neck as he slowly and steadily worked his way deeper, his body shaking with the effort of restraining himself.

“Don’t then. Not this time. Just take what you need,” she urged.

“Lottie.”

Her name was a harsh plea and then he began to move, sliding back and forth, forcing himself deeper with each stroke as she wrapped her legs around his waist. The thick base of his ring brushed against her entrance, sending shockwaves through her as his tendrils surrounded her clit. She arched against him as he lowered his head, dragging his teeth against the side of her neck and then his codix throbbed inside her, a thick liquid heat flooding her as he roared.

“Celenk,” she gasped and the world exploded around her as the rush of heat triggered her own climax.

“Frek, yes,” he growled and then he was moving again, his codix still hard as he thrust into her with a demanding rhythm, driving her towards a second climax. The swollen base of his codix slammed again with each stroke, but never entered her. She writhed under him as she peaked again, but he was still hard, his hands and his mouth and his codix everywhere as he drove her to a third, gasping cry.

She was vaguely aware that he was moving within her again, but the sensations had blurred into an almost endless wave of pleasure that finally drew a happy sigh from her lips before she sank into exhausted sleep.

CHAPTER 13

Celenk gasped as another burst of seed erupted from his codix, but it still wasn’t enough. What he wanted, what he needed, was to push the thick ring at the base of his shaft inside her sweet cunt, to feel her surrounding him completely even as he filled her with seed, but she was already so tight she couldn’t possibly take it. Even as desperate as he was, he couldn’t bring himself to do that. Instead, he’d allowed himself to revel in her cries of pleasure as he fucked her hard and fast, as he -

Frek. Another round of seed burst free as she cried his name again.

He didn’t think he’d ever get enough of her, his hips still rocking against her, but her eyes fluttered short as her body went limp and he realized she’d fallen asleep. Poor little flower.

He forced himself to withdraw from the hot, silky confines of her body, then padded quietly to the bathroom. He returned with a warm cloth, cleansing her gently. Even asleep she responded to his touch, her hips moving restlessly as he carefully wiped her still swollen clit. The whole area between her legs was pink and swollen, and he would have felt guilty if she hadn’t so clearly enjoyed it.

He pressed a quick kiss to those pink folds, tempted to cleanse her a second time with his tongue, but he wanted her awake enough to enjoy it. Instead he climbed into bed and drew her into his arms, his tail settling around her waist.

Frek. A female he loved and a place that he could see becoming a home, and he couldn’t keep either of them. But he refused to dwell on that tonight. Instead he allowed himself to enjoy the soft warmth of his mate in his arms, the quiet sound of her breathing, and the serenity of the peaceful house as he drifted off to sleep.

The sun was just rising as he left the house the next morning. The morning light revealed even more flaws, but he didn’t mind. Every crack and rotted board was just an opportunity to make a better home for Lottie, to give her what she wanted.

Only for a short time, his inner voice reminded him and his chest ached.

Unwilling to leave without telling her, he’d dropped gentle kisses on her lips and cheeks until her eyes fluttered open. Her sleepy smile had been so warm, so… loving that he hated to leave her.

“I’m going to work,” he said anyway.

“Okay.” She yawned. “Do you know when you’ll be back?”

“Not really. I’ll find out if there’s a specific schedule so maybe we could have lunch together?”

“I’d like that.” She smiled again, reaching up to stroke his face. “Thank you for last night.”

He choked back a laugh. Didn’t she realize how much it had meant to him?

“I’m the one who should be thanking you. It wasn’t too much for you?”

“Mmm.” She wiggled happily and gave him a teasing look. “Wonderfully too much.”

The sheet had slipped a little, revealing her pretty little nipples, also pink and swollen but stiffening under his gaze.

“You may be a little sore,” he warned. “Take a hot bath when you get up.”

“I’d rather take one with you.”

He liked that image far too much, but he shook his head as he rose.

“Bath. Alone.”

“Spoilsport.”

She gave him a teasing smile as he went to fetch Raja and bring him over to the bed. The kedji protested sleepily, but promptly curled into a contented ball in the curve of Lottie’s neck.

“I find myself jealous of a rodent,” he muttered, then bent and kissed her one more time before forcing himself to leave.

Under other circumstances he would have enjoyed the walk to the main farm, following the shortcut Temel had shown him the day before. The air was still pleasantly cool, the scent of freshly cut hay filled the air, and avians chirped merrily in the woods next to the path

But his mind was still focused on the woman in his bed, and the realization that he’d fallen in love with his wife. He’d been on the verge of telling her last night, but his love wouldn’t change anything and he was afraid the knowledge would only cause her pain.

He was also supremely conscious of Marshall’s device, now strapped unobtrusively beneath his belt. He’d reluctantly turned it on before he left the house, tempted to wait a little longer, but a few more days wouldn’t change the inevitable result.

Not for the first time he wondered why Marshall wanted the property surveyed. He couldn’t imagine the wealthy businessman having any interest in country living, especially under such comparatively primitive conditions. Nor could he see the farm as being useful for any of his illegal activities - it was too far from the city, or indeed any town of a reasonable size, to serve as a meeting point, or even as storage. They weren’t even close to the coast if he really wanted to stretch his imagination as far as smuggling activities.

He was still wondering when he reached the farm buildings and turned up the hill towards the barn. A male was working outside the barn, a Catari he assumed, based on the pale purple skin, pointed ears, and dark purple hair. The male straightened as he approached, even though his footsteps were barely audible and Celenk nodded to himself. The Catari had obviously been well-trained.

“You must be -” The neutral voice turned ice cold as their eyes met. “You.”

Frek. This was the last thing he needed.

“Hello, Kalpar.”

“So you’re Celenk. I never knew your real name, you betraying bastard.”

“I didn’t betray you and you know it.”

Kalpar’s eyes blazed white.

“You lied to me, to the whole squad.”

“I didn’t have a choice. I was under orders.”

He’d been sent undercover in order to investigate Kalpar’s commanding officer. Justifiably as it turned out. The male was ruthlessly exploiting the war-torn locals. Unfortunately, he also had a knack of commanding loyalty and the males under his command, including Kalpar, had refused to believe he was capable of the crimes with which he’d been charged.

“Orders to plant false evidence.”

“It wasn’t false.” His voice turned ice cold, his face falling into its usual mask. “I spoke to those girls myself. I know what he did to them.”

Only a slight shift in Kalpar’s stance indicated that his words might have penetrated.

“I didn’t trust you then and I don’t trust you now. What are you doing here? Is Celenk even your real name?”

“No,” he said truthfully. He’d left his original name and title behind when he left his planet. “However it’s the one I’ve been using since I left Karthika. I’m not pretending to be anyone else. And I’m here with my wife, to give her a new life away from the city.”

Again the truth as far as it went, but before Kalpar could respond, another male joined them. A younger male with a golden mane, he gave Celenk a cheerful smile.

“You must be Celenk. I’m Naffon. Welcome to the farm.”

“I wouldn’t be too hasty about that,” Kalpar muttered. “I don’t trust him.”

“You don’t trust anyone. Now come on, both of you. Tomlin called a meeting.”

To Celenk’s surprise, Tomlin turned out to be human - a tall, lean male dressed in black with an inscrutable expression that matched his own. He studied Celenk thoughtfully, and he suddenly felt as if he were wearing a blinking red light around his waist pointing to the monitor. But Tomlin didn’t comment. Instead he placed a map of the farm on the large dining room table and started going over the required activities for the next few weeks. He wasn’t issuing orders, if anything he was quietly deferential, but he clearly expected his plans to be followed.

In addition to Kalpar and Naffon, Temel had been waiting with a huge Haldan warrior. He too gave Celenk an accessing glance, but nodded amiably enough.

“I’m S’kal. My mate and I live over by the orchard.”

That caught his attention.

“How large is the orchard? Are you just selling the fruit? Or are you also producing fruit butters or juices? Although cider is usually the most profitable. My family had orchards,” he added when S’kal raised an eyebrow.

“That might be helpful. As a matter of fact I’ve just started to experiment with cider, although on a very small scale. We should talk.”

“Perhaps that could wait until later, Lord S’kal,” Tomlin said calmly. “I believe Celenk will be moving cattle today. Is that correct, Lord Temel?”

Temel nodded, looking amused.

“I was going to do that,” Kalpar protested.

“It will be faster if you do it together.” A hint of steel entered Temel’s voice. “That is why we agreed to hire another hand.”

Celenk tensed, expecting Kalpar to bring up their past encounter, but the other male only muttered something unintelligible under his breath. Tomlin’s cool gaze flicked between them but he didn’t say anything as he began rolling up the map again.

A young human boy came flying into the room.

“Mama said there’s someone new -” The boy broke off, his eyes widening as he looked up at Celenk. “You must be him. And you have a tail!”

There was enough delighted awe in the boy’s voice that he laughed and everyone except Kalpar smiled.

“Celenk, this is my son, Tommy,” Temel said proudly, even though the boy was clearly human. “Tommy, this is Celenk. He and his wife Lottie will be living on the farm next to Borgaz and Mary.”

“I know. Mama told me. She also said you should stop talking and come and eat breakfast.”

More amused smiles, and everyone began trickling through into the kitchen. Everyone except Kalpar. He stopped next to Celenk.

“I still don’t trust you, but I trust Commander Temel enough to give you a chance. But if you betray him, I’ll kill you.”

“You could try,” he said coldly. “But it won’t be necessary.”

I hope. With any luck his quiet survey would go unnoticed and he would be long gone before Marshall decided to do whatever he planned to do with the information. But then he would be without Lottie.

That thought kept him silent throughout the boisterous breakfast and as he followed Kalpar to the stables.

“I assume you know how to ride?” Kalpar asked sardonically.

“Of course, although I am not familiar with horses.”

The animals were hybrids based on Earth creatures but they bore a strong resemblance to the riding beasts of his youth. The saddle was an unfamiliar shape, thicker and more structured than he was used to, but the remaining equipment was much the same and he was soon mounted and following Kalpar out of the stables.

I missed this, he realized as they trotted down the road towards the pasture where the cattle were currently kept, the horse moving easily beneath him. The day was already growing warmer but he’d never minded the heat, his scales absorbing the warmth. He would have enjoyed the ride even more if it hadn’t been for the waves of hostility emanating from Kalpar.

They rode in silence, only stopping once they reached the gate to a large pasture. Kalpar reached down easily from his horse to open the gate, then closed it behind them after he rode through.

“They’ve had free range of this entire field, but the grass is wearing thin,” Kalpar said stiffly. “Time to move them to another field.”

“Are there no larger fields where they could roam?”

“Not yet.” The other male hesitated. “We haven’t had the capacity to run the necessary fences.”

“Perhaps we could do that.” He almost added while I’m here, but stopped himself in time.

“Perhaps. Are you familiar with running fences?”

“Isn’t everyone who deals with cattle?” Maintaining the fences was a constant chore.

Kalpar actually unbent enough to give him a slight smile. “Indeed.”

They were only moving the cattle as far as the next field so all they had to do was open the gates between the fields and herd them through. Of course, it was never quite that easy and he was hot and dusty by the time they’d managed to get the last wayward cow into the new fields and closed the gate.

Kalpar had been keeping track of the animals as they passed through the gate and made some quick notes on his datapad before looking over at him.

“I’ll show you the tracking program when we return to the house.” Another hesitation. “There’s a small pond just beyond those trees. We could stop long enough to rinse off before returning to the house.”

“Sounds like a good idea,” he agreed. The dust was making his scales itch - one of the less pleasant parts of dealing with cattle.

They both removed their shirts and splashed water over their heads and chests before sitting down next to the pond to let the sun dry them.

“Is the rest of this land all abandoned farms?”

‘Yes.” Kalpar’s mouth twisted. “All except one. S’kal’s brother took the furthest farm.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s an unsocial bastard with a criminal record. You two probably know each other.”

“It’s possible,” he said evenly. “I have met a number of questionable people over the years.”

Kalpar didn’t miss the implication but to Celenk’s surprise, he gave a half shrug.

“That damn war brought out the worst in a lot of people.”

The other male was right. He hadn’t known what he was capable of until then.

“I never liked undercover work,” he said, surprising himself. “But I was good at it and that’s all my commanding officers cared about.”

“They were a bunch of worthless bastards,” Kalpar agreed. “Except for Temel. He’s the finest officer - the finest male - I’ve ever encountered.”

He didn’t respond and after a long moment the other male sighed.

“And that includes Captain Margat. He won our loyalty but even before you had him dragged away in chains, there were a few times when I… wondered.”

Surprised by the admission, he turned to look at Kalpar.

“But you were so outraged.”

“It’s a long way from a few idle suspicions to seeing him hauled off like that. And the betrayal only added to it. You’d lived with us, eaten with us, fought with us - but it wasn’t real.”

Like my marriage.

The thought made him cringe internally, as did the memories of that time.

“I’m not proud of anything that I did during the war, although some of it needed to be done. Are you proud of your actions?”

Darkness swept across Kalpar’s face.

“Gods, no. And I would prefer not to discuss it further.” He rose and pulled on his shirt, tossing Celenk’s shirt to him. “Time to get back to work.”

He nodded and followed silently, but he was not displeased. The morning had gone better than he expected. That satisfaction continued throughout the day. He and Kalpar worked well together and while he couldn’t exactly say the other male had softened towards him, they’d reached a cautious detente. He also found a surprisingly comfortable familiarity in the work with the cattle.

The only part of the day he truly disliked was that he hadn’t had a chance to get back to the house, to Lottie. The sun was low on the horizon by the time he returned, casting long shadows across the meadows as he reached the house and dismounted. The barn once attached to the property listed dangerously to one side but the small lean-to was intact and Kalpar had suggested stabling his horse there.

He removed the saddle and wiped down the horse, then made sure he had food and water before finally entering their house. Not just our house, our home, he thought as walked into the kitchen and Lottie smiled at him, so beautiful she took his breath away.

“Perfect timing. Dinner’s almost ready. Would you like to take a shower first?”

“Yes.” He leaned against the doorway, drinking in the sight of her. “Would you care to join me?”

“It is a little warm in here,” she said demurely, but her eyes sparkled with mischief, and he laughed as he followed her down the hall to the bedroom. His codix was already beginning to press against his slit as she removed her clothes to reveal that pale, enticing body. He turned away long enough to remove the survey device, carefully tucking it away out of sight, then herded her into the bathroom.

As he leaned over to turn on the water, those long graceful fingers slid around his waist to tease at this slit.

“I want you in my mouth,” she murmured as he opened enough for her to skim her fingers across his codix.

“Lottie…”

He knew he should say no, but how could he when she looked at him so hopefully? He tugged her under the water with him, wrapping his arms and his tail around her, but when she dropped to her knees in front of him, he didn’t try to stop her.

“Please, Celenk.”

Her voice was soft and eager, and she moaned as his hand tangled in her hair.

“Beautiful and so freking polite,” he muttered. “And all mine.”

Then he lost the ability to speak as she released his codix and immediately closed her mouth over the head. Gods, that felt good. But it got even better as her fingers curled around his ring as well. She squeezed firmly, sending a shudder through him as his codix pulsed in her mouth.

“Frek, yes. Harder, my flower.”

She hummed a response, trying to take more of him. He forced his eyes open so that he could watch, so that he could see the way the tip of his codix stretched her pretty mouth. His tail circled her wrist, urging her to squeeze tighter still, and then she did, her soft whimper vibrating down the length of his shaft.

“Frek, Lottie, you’re so good. Such a good girl taking my codix in that tight little mouth.”

She looked up at him with wide brown eyes, her tongue dancing around the head of his shaft as she continued to stroke him hard.

“More,” he growled, and her mouth engulfed him in a hot rush, her tongue sliding over the head of his codix.

She moaned as he began to move, thrusting helplessly against her. He tried to resist, to draw out the pleasure, but there was something about that wicked little tongue and her greedy little sounds as she lapped at him that sent his control spiraling away.

“That’s it. Take it all.”

His climax raced down his spine, his ring swelling beneath her fingers as his seed flooded her mouth. Her eyes widened but she swallowed eagerly, continuing to stroke him and triggering a second smaller rush. Her hand finally released him as she gave him a few last licks, the pleasure still sharp and sweet.

“What a good girl.” He slid his hand out of her hair, helping her to her feet and pulling her under the stream of water with him. “That was quite a welcome home, my flower.”

She smiled up at him.

“I missed you today.”

Her face was so warm, so open and trusting, that his chest literally ached. How was he ever going to leave her?

CHAPTER 14

Ashadow flickered across Celenk’s face as Lottie smiled up at him, but then it disappeared and he returned her smile.

“How was your day?” he asked as he reached for the soap and began washing her.

“I don’t really need a shower, you know.”

“You can never be clean enough,” he said sternly and she laughed, giving in to the pleasure of his hands sliding across her body. “Now, are you going to tell me about your day?”

She gasped as he brushed across her sensitive nipples and tried to concentrate.

“I met our neighbor, Mary, this morning.”

The quiet house and the comfortable bed had seduced her into sleeping longer than she’d intended. She hadn’t been up for long when a strange woman knocked on the open kitchen door. A few years younger than Lottie she had brown hair drawn back in a braid, light blue eyes, and a friendly smile.

“Hi. I’m Mary. I live on the next farm so I thought I’d come and introduce myself. Is this a bad time?”

“Not at all. I was just thinking about having a second cup of tea. I’m Lottie. Won’t you come in and sit down?”

As Mary joined her at the table, she handed her a mug, then brought out a plate of the cookies Ida had included in the basket. Raja had been curled in a sunny spot by the window but he immediately rushed over to the table and climbed up her skirt.

“You have a kedji? He’s adorable.”

“And a shameless beggar,” she said sternly as he gave her his most pitiful look, but she still handed him part of a cookie. “How did you know he was a kedji?”

“I lived in Port Cantor for several years and one of the women in my second, no, my third rooming house had one. He seemed very sweet, although I didn’t really get to know him.”

“He is very sweet.” She stroked the soft fur between the two big ears and he gave a little chirruping purr, even though he didn’t look up from his cookie. “So you’re from the city?”

“Not at all. I was raised on the same farm I’m living on now. My parents had to sell and we moved to the city.”

“More of the evil Matthew Johnson’s work, I assume?”

“I’m afraid so.” Mary cupped her hands around her mug. “Then after we moved, my parents were killed in an accident and everything just kept getting worse and worse. I don’t know what I would have done if Rosie hadn’t written and offered me the farm.”

“I understand,” she said quietly. “My life wasn’t exactly great, although I was trying to pull it together. It didn’t help that Celenk got me fired.”

“He did what?”

She laughed.

“I’m teasing. He actually saved me from some of those spaceport guards.”

Mary shivered and nodded understandingly as she continued.

“I mean I did get fired, but it wasn’t his fault. My boss was afraid the guards would cause trouble and fired me.”

“What a bastard!”

“That he was. But at least Celenk was there.”

“Was it a quick romance?”

“Definitely. But sometimes you just know.”

“And sometimes you fight it. That’s what I did - what we both did - but these warriors capture your heart, don’t they?”

Tears suddenly sprang to her eyes. That was exactly what Celenk had done - captured her heart.

“Oh, please don’t cry,” Mary said swiftly. “Is something wrong? Can I help?”

“Nothing’s wrong. I think I’m just tired from the journey and feeling a little emotional today.”

Mary gave her a thoughtful look. “Emotional? I don’t mean to pry but is there any chance that you’re pregnant?”

“I couldn’t possibly be -”

Could she? It hadn’t even occurred to her last night, but if quantity counted, he certainly seemed to have an endless supply. The image of a son with Celenk’s golden skin and her dark hair flitted through her mind, but she immediately pushed it aside.

“Wouldn’t it be kind of difficult? Since we’re not the same species.”

“You’d think so, but I’m pretty sure Borgaz succeeded the first time we tried,” Mary said dryly, then gave her a curious look. “The two of you haven’t discussed it?”

“No. I told you it was a whirlwind romance and then we were getting ready to come here and I suppose we weren’t thinking of anything beyond that.”

“Since he hasn’t mentioned it, he’s probably on a fertility restrictor. Most of the warriors are. But you should definitely talk to him.”

“I will,” she promised

That had to be why he hadn’t said anything. She couldn’t believe that he was the type of male to get her pregnant knowing he was going to send her away. The thought made her stomach ache.

Mary reached over and patted her hand.

“Are you sure nothing’s wrong?”

“I’m positive.” She managed a shaky smile. “It’s just been a lot of change in a short period of time.”

“Believe me, I understand. What’s your husband like?”

“Big and strong and caring. He makes me feel safe. And he has golden scales and blue eyes and a tail.”

Her lips curved more genuinely at the thought and Mary grinned at her.

“Aren’t tails amazing? I never knew one could feel so good, in so many places.”

Fiery heat flooded her cheeks as she thought of all the places Celenk could put his tail and her nipples tingled, but she did her best to keep her voice normal.

“I guess that means Borgaz has a tail?”

“And how.”

“What’s he like?”

“Bossy.” Mary rolled her eyes. “But also sweet and protective and thoughtful. He has red skin and horns and kind of looks like a devil. My own personal devil.”

Mary’s smile slowly faded as she studied Lottie’s face.

“Borgaz… struggles with the aftereffects of the war. I think they all do in their own way. Does your husband struggle too?”

She nodded, remembering the storm. And although that had been the most obvious sign, it wasn’t the only one. His discipline, the way he’d locked himself off from all emotion, even his insistence that he couldn’t give her the life she deserved - she suspected all of that was at least partially driven by the war.

“Our love - it helps them,” Mary said quietly. “To know that they’re wanted, that they’re not alone.”

The way she’d been with him during the storm when the memories washed over him. She nodded again, and then Mary’s face lightened.

“And of course the amazing sex doesn’t hurt.”

She blushed and laughed, and then they talked some more about their time in the city before she showed Mary around the house, looking more decrepit in the morning light. Mary assured her that her own house had been just as bad, gave her a few suggestions, then left, promising to visit again soon.

She’d put away the cookies - to Raja’s dismay - then decided to tackle the bedroom, starting with the peeling wallpaper. It was a long, tedious process, but she was happy with what she’d achieved when she finally gave up and went to start dinner.

Thinking of that conversation now, she took a deep breath. Celenk was pretending to wash her ass but he was really caressing it, massaging soap into the generous flesh for at least the fifth time. Ignoring how good it felt, she tugged lightly on his tail to get his attention.

“Celenk?”

“Yes, my flower?”

He ran a thick soapy finger down between her butt cheeks and she squeaked, surprised that it was so sensitive.

“I can’t concentrate when you’re doing that.”

“Doing what?” he asked innocently as his finger circled the tiny hole, awakening nerves she didn’t know existed.

“That! Please, I need to ask you something.”

He stopped at once, focusing on her face.

“Is something wrong?”

“I don’t think so. It’s just… Can you get me pregnant?” she asked in a breathless rush.

Emotions rushed across his face too fast for her to read. Sorrow, perhaps? Or longing? But then he shook his head.

“I’m on a fertility restrictor.”

Why did she feel so disappointed?

“Mary thought you probably were since we hadn’t discussed it.”

His hand dropped again, but this time to cover her stomach.

“Did you think I would do that to you? To fill your sweet body with my seed and create a new life together?” He almost sounded as if he wanted that too, but before she could gather up the courage to ask, his face hardened. “I would never betray you that way.”

“I know you wouldn’t,” she said quickly. “But I had to ask.”

“I understand. I should have mentioned it, but I never intended…”

He stopped abruptly and returned to washing her but the mood had definitely shifted and it was quick and efficient rather than slow and sensual. They dressed and returned to the kitchen and he played with Raja while she put the finishing touches on dinner.

As they ate, she told him about what she’d accomplished and what she planned to tackle over the next week. He joined in on her plans, except when she asked him if he could find her a ladder.

“No ladders,” he said sternly. “Not when you’re here by yourself. I’ll take care of it the next time I’m free.”

She rolled her eyes, but his protectiveness still filled her with warmth.

“I’ve told you everything about my day, but you didn’t mention yours,” she said as they finished eating. “How was it?”

“A little mixed but good overall. I enjoyed working with the cattle. It felt… familiar.”

She was glad he’d been able to enjoy it, despite his feelings about his family, but what wasn’t he telling her?

“If that was the good part, what was the bad part?”

“I don’t think bad is the right word exactly, but I knew one of the other warriors - Kalpar.” He sighed. “I met him during the war, but it wasn’t under the best circumstances.”

“Do you want to talk about it?”

“No. Well, perhaps. You should know anyway.”

“Know what?”

He sat back in his chair, looking out the window, unseeing.

“The Alliance decided I had some useful skills and they ordered me to do a number of… not nice things. And I did them. At first because I believed I was helping to win the war. But by the end… I had become the monster they wanted me to be.”

“You are not a monster,” she said fiercely. “You’re strong and brave and caring and I…”

“You what?”

His eyes focused on her face with burning intensity, the blue so bright it was almost incandescent.

“I love you,” she said quietly.

For a second the blue blazed even brighter, but then he closed his eyes.

“You shouldn’t, Lottie. I can’t give you what you want.”

Her chest ached, but she wasn’t given up that easily.

“Can’t or won’t? I don’t have to leave the farm. I already love it here.”

His fist clenched.

“I know you do. But I… I might not stay.”

It should have surprised her, especially after recruiting her so he could get the job, but somehow it didn’t. He’d never really mentioned the future.

“Why not?”

“I haven’t stayed anywhere for long since the war ended. I always felt the need to move on, and there was always another job waiting.”

There was something on his face she couldn’t read.

“I could go with you.”

“You don’t understand. I have nothing to offer you.”

He sounded as if he were trying to convince himself more than he was trying to convince her and she put her finger over his lips.

“Shhh. If you don’t want to be with me, if you aren’t attracted to me, that’s one thing. But if you’re just using your past as an excuse not to have a relationship, then I don’t think you’re being honest with yourself.”

He laughed bitterly.

“The one person I never lie to is myself.”

“Are you sure? Do you want to be with me?”

“Frek, yes. You’re perfect, my flower. I’m the damaged one.”

“Not to me, you’re not.”

But she knew it wasn’t an argument she couldn’t win with words. All she could do was to show him that she loved him and hope that he would be willing to accept it before their time together ended. She rose and held out her hand.

“Come to bed.”

CHAPTER 15

Ilove you too.

The words had been so close. Celenk had almost said them before he remembered all the reasons why he could not. His love didn’t change anything. He hadn’t even been able to bring himself to tell her the truth about why he was here, although at least he’d finally hinted at the fact that he wasn’t going to remain.

But then she’d stopped trying to convince him they could be together and held out her hand.

“Come to bed.”

“I shouldn’t.”

“Why not? That horse has already left the barn after all.”

“I…”

“I still want to be with you, Celenk, even if you don’t think you can return my love. Can’t we just enjoy the time we’re together and worry about the future later?”

Her smile was a little shaky but her face was still warm and caring. Her sweet scent filled his head, an impossible temptation, and he placed his hand in hers.

“As long as you know this won’t change anything.”

“I know you think so.”

That wasn’t exactly an agreement, but before he could press her on it she was tugging him down the hall and into the bedroom. She turned on the small light near the bed, then started undressing. He didn’t think she was trying to be seductive, but just the sight of her beautiful body, golden in the lamplight, had his codix demanding to be freed.

He couldn’t wait to remove his own clothes before pulling her into his arms and kissing her, his mouth hungry, urgent, trying to tell her with his body what he couldn’t say with his words. She responded just as eagerly, then tugged impatiently at his shirt.

“Take off your clothes.”

He obeyed and as soon as he was naked, she returned to his arms, her small, soft breasts pressing against his chest. He groaned and pulled her onto the bed on top of him, her thigh sliding over his hip as he feasted on her breasts.

“Oh God, yes.”

She thrust her nipple deeper into his mouth and he sucked harder, switching from one side to the other as she rubbed herself against him. Gods, her breasts were magnificent. Small and soft and responsive, the rosy tips darkening further as he suckled, but he wanted more.

“Put your legs around me.”

She obeyed at once, the damp heat of her cunt a delicious temptation against his stomach as he stroked a hand down her spine, pausing to squeeze that delectable ass.

“I love your body.” That at least he could say. “So sweet and responsive. Even when I’m inside you, I’m not sure I’ll ever have enough.”

“You have me.” Her voice was breathy and eager as she kissed her way up his neck. “Always.”

She covered his mouth with hers before he could speak, exploring him with her sweet tongue. He devoured her in return, kneading her luscious bottom before settling her over the upper edge of his slit.

“Yes,” she breathed into his mouth as he released his codix and it thrust between her soft thighs, parting her lower lips as he dragged her across it.

She held tight to his shoulders, her breath coming faster and faster as he lifted her higher. The tip of his codix found her entrance and she sucked in a breath, then moaned as he pulled her down over him, her tight little cunt enveloping him in warm wet heat.

He thought he would explode from the pleasure of it, the sweet torture as her inner walls clung to him. But then he pulled her closer and his swollen ring pressed against her soft little entrance. He froze, but she made an impatient noise and tried to sink down further over him.

“Lottie! You’re… I’m too big. It will hurt you.”

She looked up at him, her eyes heavy with passion.

“You didn’t hurt me before. You don’t have to worry so much.”

“You didn’t take my ring before. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t,” she said confidently.

She arched her hips and they both gasped as he slid even deeper, his ring pressing against her entrance.

“You feel so good inside me.”

She was rocking now, small movements that allowed her to rub her clit against him, little pulses of pleasure that echoed through his body as he tried desperately to restrain himself, to hold still for her.

“Do you feel it too?” she asked in wonder.

“Yes, frek, yes.”

She moved again and his ring swelled, pushing harder against her opening. She sighed happily as she clung to him, but he didn’t want to hurt her, couldn’t hurt her. He wrenched his head away from the temptation of her mouth.

“Lottie, stop.”

“No. Not yet,” she murmured, her eyes still closed.

She rocked her hips again and he was no longer thinking clearly, unable to do anything but follow the demands of his body and her soft little cunt.

“Please. Please, Celenk. I want all of you.”

Frek. His tendrils curled around her clit, teasing the sensitive nub until she was quivering on top of him. Her body softened, stretched, and then his ring was inside her, gripped so tightly it was almost painful. She was panting, her fingers scrabbling desperately at his shoulders as the pressure increased. With every pulse of his seed sac, his codix stiffened and grew until they were joined so tightly they felt like one person and fire streaked down his spine.

“I can’t hold back any longer,” he gasped.

“You don’t have to, my love.”

Her words sent him spiraling into a climax, his codix filling her with spurt after spurt of his seed as his ring expanded even further, locking them together. Her sweet little cunt gripped him, the pulses of her own climax milking him of every drop as he groaned his release.

The pressure slowly eased and he clutched her against him, both of them gasping for breath. She made a tiny noise and he panicked, pushing her up slightly so he could see her face. Tears streamed down her cheeks but she was smiling.

“Oh gods, did I hurt you?”

“No - well, maybe just a smidge. But it was wonderful, overwhelming but wonderful,” she whispered and he pulled her back against his chest with a relieved sigh, gently stroking her back.

When he reached her ass, she wiggled against his hand, sending a streak of fire through his ring and his hand tightened.

“Mmm.” She stroked his chest, her voice dreamy. “Mary said tails could go all kinds of places. Did she mean… there?”

His codix stiffened so quickly they both groaned.

“I guess you like that idea.”

“I lo - like everything about you,” he said, and proceeded to prove it.

He left at dawn again the next morning, kissing her awake before he did. She smiled at him, her eyes still full of trust, of love, and his chest ached as he left. His body had never felt so sated but his mind was in complete turmoil. Was there a future for them?

What if we stay here on the farm together? After all, there was no reason to think that Marshall’s survey represented a threat. And if no one knew what he had done…

He’d taken the longer way around by the road to give himself time to think and as he passed the farm next door, a big red male was swearing at a large tree stump. He hesitated, then reined in and dismounted.

“Need a hand?”

Cold amber eyes studied him, then the other male nodded.

“You must be Celenk.”

“I am. And I assume you’re Borgaz?”

“Aye. Try levering up that side while I pull.”

He grabbed the iron bar and worked it under the stump. It shifted, but it took another fifteen minutes before it finally came free, knocking him back off his feet in the process.

“Excellent.” Borgaz looked at him and grinned. “You have half the dirt on the farm covering you now. Come up to the house and wash.”

“I’m supposed to be moving cattle with Kalpar today.”

Borgaz shrugged.

“Ten minutes won’t make any difference. And what’s he going to do if you’re a little late? Start throwing those knives of his at you?”

“He’s very good with them,” he said, but started to accompany the male up the long driveway.

“You know him?”

“Not well, but we were in the same unit for a while during the war.” He hesitated, then decided there was no point in trying to hide it. “I was with the Intelligence branch, working undercover to find out the truth about his captain.”

“Dirty job,” Borgaz said mildly. “Did you discover the truth?”

“I did. He was as guilty as they come.”

“I’m guessing Kalpar didn’t like that?”

“No. He was very loyal to his captain.”

Borgaz snorted.

“That may have been part of it, but I’m guessing that he was also really annoyed that he didn’t know. He doesn’t like secrets - or at least he doesn’t like other people to have secrets. He has a few of his own.”

“Don’t we all?”

Borgaz gave him another accessing look as they reached the farmhouse but didn’t pursue it.

“Do you mind washing up by the barn?” he asked instead. “My Mary is still asleep.”

Even though it was phrased as a question it quite clearly was not, but he agreed.

“I don’t mind. I still remember when I would have killed for running water.”

“So do I.”

They exchanged a brief glance and Celenk saw the same shadows in the other male’s eyes.

“I understand your mate came to visit my wife yesterday,” he said, changing the subject. “They seemed to hit it off.”

“Mary said that too - while I was lecturing her about going off without telling me. Stubborn little female,” Borgaz grumbled affectionately.

“Females can be a challenge,” he agreed.

“And worth every minute of it.”

He thought of Lottie’s warm, sleepy smile and nodded. In spite of the pain waiting in the future, he wouldn’t have missed a moment of their time together.

“They are.”

A shadow fell over them as they finished washing and both of them looked up at the sky. Clouds were scudding rapidly overhead and the wind was starting to pick up.

“Hope there isn’t another storm coming.”

Something in Borgaz’s voice caught his attention and he looked over to find the big male watching the sky uneasily.

“You too?”

Borgaz didn’t pretend to misunderstand, looking directly at him.

“Yeah. Too much like being back there.”

“I know,” he said quietly, and the other male nodded. “Now I’d better get going before Kalpar decides to use me as target practice after all.”

“Thanks for the help. If you need any help around your place, just let me know.”

“I appreciate the offer.”

He remounted, saluted, and rode off. How long had it been since anyone offered to help him? Not since before the Intelligence branch had plucked him out of his unit. He’s almost forgotten what it was like to be part of such a unit. To have someone’s back and know they had yours.

And I still don’t have it, he reminded himself. That camaraderie is for the person I’m pretending to be.

But he still found himself smiling as he headed up the road to the main house.

Kalpar was irritated that he was late, but when Celenk told him he’d stopped to help Borgaz, he nodded almost approvingly and dropped the subject.

It was still early afternoon when they finished moving another herd and Kalpar suggested he take the rest of the afternoon off.

“I’m sure your wife would like some help. Females are demanding little creatures.”

The faint bitterness in his voice made Celenk give him another look. Something Naffon had said had made him think that Kalpar wasn’t interested in females, but that sounded as if it were based on personal experience. However, he knew better than to ask any questions given Kalpar’s forbidding frown.

“Since I’m always happy to help my wife, I’ll take you up on that. Is there a more direct route back to our house?”

“You could ride further down this road, then cut back cross country along the tree line. That will bring you out on the far side of your farm.”

“I think I’ll go that way then, see some more of the property.”

And cover more area for Marshall’s device. The thought made him uneasy and perhaps it showed because Kalpar frowned at him before shrugging.

“If you want. I don’t think you can get lost.”

“My survival skills haven’t deteriorated that far,” he said dryly, and Kalpar flashed a quick smile at him before he rode off.

Celenk continued down the road, really more of a trail than a road, but didn’t turn off when he reached the line of trees Kalpar had indicated. They followed a narrow creek back towards his house, but he kept going along the road, determined to reach the far end of the property. Once the survey was completed, he would be free of his obligation to Marshall and perhaps, just perhaps, he could figure out a way where he and Lottie could be together.

He passed another abandoned farmhouse, this one barely standing, before reaching an even narrower wooded trail like the one that ran to his house. Curious, he started down it, welcoming the thick shade under the trees. The clouds had moved on and the day had turned hot and sunny.

The trail ended in a small grove. A surprisingly well preserved cottage was tucked to one side, but he was more interested in the well next to it. It was still working, the water cold and refreshing. He drank, then pulled up another bucket for his horse. As he did, he thought he saw a flash of yellow in the woods behind the house.

“Hello? Is someone there?”

The unmistakable sound of a safety being released came from behind him and he froze.

“Who the fuck are you and what the hell are you doing on my property?”

“I’m Celenk and I work for Temel. Who are you?”

He kept his hands out as he turned slowly, his tail lashing. He wanted to know who he was dealing with before he went on the attack.

“Who I am is none of your fucking business. Get the hell off my land.”

A massive, scarred Haldan male stood behind him. He was missing his warrior braid, his dark hair cut close to his head, but he was still unmistakably a warrior. Celenk might be able to take him, but it would be close, especially with a weapon pointed at his head.

“I thought this was Temel’s land.”

“You thought wrong. This is my land.”

The male’s eyes flicked behind him for a second and he remembered that flash of yellow.

“Is there someone else here?”

“Don’t make me tell you again.”

“Fine, I’m going.”

It wasn’t until he had his foot in the stirrup that he realized he must have reached the furthest farm, which meant this must be S’kal’s brother. Once he realized that, he would see a faint resemblance, although this male was much more brutal looking.

“You must be H’zim.”

The hard face didn’t even flicker. H’zim just gestured at the path back through the trees with his weapon.

“Go.”

“I’m going.”

The back of his neck crawled as he rode away, sure that the weapon was still aimed at him, but despite his hostility, H’zim hadn’t done more than growl at him. Although a good brawl might have helped ease his guilt over living a lie.

Perhaps Lottie can come up with an alternative way to relieve my tension, he thought, and encouraged the horse into a trot as he headed for home at last.

CHAPTER 16

Two weeks after she told Celenk she loved him, Lottie was busy planting flowers in the bed he’d dug for her during one of his free afternoons. He and Kalpar had agreed to each take a free afternoon every third day, and he usually spent it doing some type of project with her. In spite of their previous history, Celenk and Kalpar seemed to be working together quite well.

He’d struck up a friendship with Borgaz and they’d shared a meal with the other couple several times. They’d also accepted Ida’s invitation and eaten dinner at the farmhouse a few times - a noisy, occasionally raucous affair, but it felt like being part of a family - something she’d missed so much since her grandfather died.

The house was coming along as well. She didn’t mind that it was going to take time. She enjoyed putting the effort into building a home together - even if it wouldn’t last. But perhaps it would. He still hadn’t told her he loved her, although she was quite sure he did, but he had stopped trying to remind her that was a temporary arrangement with every other breath. On the whole, she considered that a win.

And at night when he’d reach for her… Or in the afternoon… Or the morning… He couldn’t seem to get enough of her and she felt the same way. Perhaps it was because of the threat of separation that hung over them - or perhaps it was because he could say with his body but he wouldn’t say with his mouth. And every time it just seems to get better, she thought with a shiver of remembered pleasure.

Her body started to respond to the memory, but she sighed and did her best to ignore it, focusing on her planting instead. When the last plant was safely in the ground, she sat back on her heels to admire the results of her hard work. It was a little late for planting flowers, but Naffon had assured her that as long as she watered them every day, they should withstand the late summer heat.

“Very pretty.”

A strange male voice came from behind her and she whirled around so quickly she almost fell over. Raja had been digging through the overturned soils searching for grubs, but now he hopped up on her knee and chittered at the stranger.

He seemed ordinary enough, a human dressed in standard work clothes but something in his eyes sent a chill down her spine. Although he wasn’t as physically intimidating, he reminded her of the spaceport guards and her pulse started to speed up. She put Raja on her shoulder and rose quickly.

“Who are you?”

“A friend of your… husband.” Her stomach sank at the way he said the last word, and it only got worse as he ran his eyes over her. “Maybe not what I’d have picked myself, but I reckon there weren’t too many women willing to move to the wilderness with an alien. Not unless they’re desperate.”

“What do you want?” she asked coldly, ignoring the deliberate provocative words.

“Got a message for Celenk, from Marshall. He wants to see some results. Soon. The job wasn’t supposed to take this long.”

“Job?” she whispered, her lips numb, and the man laughed.

“Didn’t he tell you? Oops. Guess I let that cat out of the bag.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Probably just as well. Women like to start gabbing instead of putting their mouths to better use. You just give him the message. Results. Soon. Or he won’t like the consequences.”

He tipped his hat in a mock courteous gesture and ambled away, leaving her shaking. Raja huddled closer to her neck and she lifted him down, taking comfort in his warm, soft little body. What should she do?

Celenk. I have to find Celenk.

He’d explain. He couldn’t really be in league with a man like that, could he? No. She refused to even consider it. She trusted him and that’s all there was to it.

She hurried around to the front of the house to find Celenk was already there, dismounting from his horse just as she reached the porch. He took one look at her face and strode to her side, pulling her into his arms and wrapping his tail comfortingly around her waist.

“Lottie? What is it? What’s wrong?”

For a moment she just leaned against him, taking comfort in his big warm body and familiar scent. There had to be an explanation, there just had to be.

“What’s wrong, my flower?”

His voice was so gentle, so concerned, that tears sprang to her eyes.

“There… there was a man.”

“A man?” His voice sharpened. “What man? Where?”

“I don’t know who he was, but he was here. He said he had a message. From Marshall.”

Any faint hope she might have had that the man had chosen the wrong house faded as his big body turned to stone.

“What else did he say?”

“That he wanted results. Now.”

He swore under his breath and she clutched his arm.

“What’s going on? What’s this all about?”

“Let’s go inside. We’ll talk there.”

His face was grim as he ushered her into the house, but his eyes burned as he looked her over, as if reassuring himself she was unharmed. He gently removed Raja from her shoulder and put him in his box with a carrot, but for once the kedji didn’t immediately start eating, his big eyes trailing back and forth between their faces. Then Celenk poured a glass of wine for each of them and sat down opposite her at the table.

“You don’t have to do whatever it is he wants,” she said fiercely. “We could just leave here.”

He took her hands in his, squeezing lightly.

“You don’t understand. I’m already doing it.”

“Doing what?”

He sighed and sat back, loosening his belt. Surely he didn’t think… His belt slipped free to reveal a second narrower belt beneath it, this one holding a small device with a tiny flashing light. Oh. Not what she’d expected, but from the grim look on his face, something much worse.

“What is that?”

“It’s a survey device. It surveys the land as I travel across it and sends the information back to another machine.”

“A survey device?” She gave him a confused look. That’s what this was about? “What are you surveying?”

“To be honest, I don’t really know.”

Her stomach started to churn again.

“Then why are you doing it?”

“Because that’s what I was hired to do. Because that’s why I’m here. That’s my real job.”

“You lied to me,” she whispered.

“Not exactly. I did come here for a job - just not the one working on the farm.”

“Is that supposed to make me feel better? I trusted you!”

His face was a stone-like mask, but she could see the torment in his eyes. She refused to give in to pity.

“I didn’t lie to you, Lottie. I just didn’t tell you everything.”

“Why not? Didn’t you think I had the right to know?”

He looked down at his hands.

“Would you still have come with me if you knew what I had been hired to do?”

“I… I don’t know.”

If she’d known before they set out, of course she would have refused. But after they’d spent time together - after he’d kissed her and touched her? She wasn’t as sure as she would like to have been. Her stomach churned again as the additional implications of what he had been doing sank in.

“You didn’t just lie to me; you lied to our friends.” The friends who had started to feel like family. She felt sick. “You’re conspiring with someone against them.”

“No, I’m not,” he said defensively. “I’m simply gathering information.”

“For what?”

“I told you I don’t know.”

“So you don’t know if it could be used against them. And if someone was willing to pay you to gather it, it has to have some kind of value.”

He shrugged uneasily and she rose to her feet, blinking back the tears.

“I’m leaving.”

“You can’t leave me,” he growled, his face hardening even more. “You told me you loved me.”

“I did. I do.” Her voice sounded remarkably calm considering that her heart felt like it was splitting in two. “That’s why I’m not going directly to Temel right now. I’ll wait until I get to Wainwright, and then I’ll send him a message. That will give you time to get away.”

“I don’t want to get away. Not without you.”

“No.”

She turned and walked out of the kitchen as the first tear fell. Raja came skittering after her and she picked him up and cradled him against her cheek, her tears dampening his fur.

“Time to leave,” she whispered.

She was throwing her clothes in her trunk when she heard the front door slam and looked out of the window in time to see him climb back on his horse and gallop away. Had he decided to leave in spite of his claim that he wouldn’t leave without her? But he hadn’t carried anything out of the house with him.

Maybe he’s going to do the right thing and tell Temel… Maybe I should wait…

No. Waiting would only make it harder. If he really wanted her, if he found some solution to this terrible business, he would come after her.

It wasn’t until she finished packing that she thought about the fact that she didn’t have any transportation except her own feet. She didn’t mind walking, but she couldn’t carry her trunk as well, not all the way to Wainwright. She decided to just take a small satchel instead and send for her clothes later. She was sure Mary would send them to her, no matter what Celenk had done. She quickly repacked a few necessities in a leather satchel, tucked Raja inside and headed outside.

She’d only made it as far as the path under the trees when a horse came trotting towards her. For a moment she thought it was Celenk and her heart leapt, but then she recognized the man astride it. The same one who had been at the house earlier.

“What are you doing here?” she asked as he dismounted, her voice commendably calm. “I gave Celenk your message.”

“Slight change of plans.” He grinned but she didn’t trust that smile one little bit and took a cautious step back. “Told the boss about you. How you didn’t know about the job. How Celenk picked you special. He thought that was interesting, very interesting.”

‘We just ran into each other in Port Cantor.”

“Did you now?’

He took a much larger step towards her and her knees started to shake.

“Yes. Now please go away. This has nothing to do with me.”

“Ah, that’s where you’re wrong. The boss thinks you might be a good little incentive. If not… I’m sure we can find something else for you to do.”

She whirled and tried to run, but she’d waited too long and he was too close. He grabbed her arm before she’d gone more than three steps.

“Now, now. None of that.”

He twisted her arm painfully behind her back. Her satchel started to slip and she did her best to lower it gently toward the ground.

“What’s in there?”

“J-just some clothes,” she whispered, praying Raja stayed out of sight. If he went back to the house, she was sure Celenk would take care of him.

“Can’t say I’m interested in those.”

His leer made her feel sick as he hoisted her roughly onto the horse, keeping a tight grip on her ankle until he could vault up behind her, his body much too close.

“Now we’ll go and find a nice quiet place to wait. You’d better hope Celenk is willing to cooperate. If not…”

His voice trailed off and she shuddered. He laughed and spurred the horse into motion.

CHAPTER 17

Celenk didn’t know where he was going, just that he had to move, to try and outrun the pain in chest. But no matter how fast the horse ran, all he could see was Lottie’s pale, distraught face, all the warmth and trust and love draining out of it.

I was foolish to believe I could have her and do the freking job, he thought bitterly. Why didn’t I just tell her the truth from the beginning?

“Because she would have refused to come with me,” he muttered, and kicked the horse into an even faster gait.

The road flashed by under the horse’s hooves, but he was barely aware of it. It had been so easy to fall into the trap of pretending that they had a future together over the past few weeks. So easy to ignore the reality of the situation. He’d even started to think that perhaps he wouldn’t have to leave - that he could pass the information to Marshall and remain on the farm with his wife. To have a home and companions again.

But now he’d lost her and all that was left was a hollow ache in his chest, as if someone had ripped his heart out of him. A heart I didn’t even know I still had until I met her.

No matter how fast he rode, the pain didn’t ease and he finally reined in the horse, slowing to a walk. He’d run away once before - run away from Karthika and his past - but this wasn’t a pain that he could escape. The memories of her softness, the taste of her kiss, the warmth of her smile - they would haunt him forever.

There had to be a solution. He could only think of one option - honesty. He would start by telling Temel about Marshall and what he had sent him to do. He knew the other male would order him to leave, but he’d ask, beg if he had to, that Lottie be allowed to remain in the house that had made her so happy. He would move to Wainwright and hope that with time, she might consent to see again, to let him beg her forgiveness.

It wasn’t much of a plan, and the thought of not seeing her every day, of not touching her soft skin or hearing her laughter, caused him to clench his fists against a fresh wave of agony, his claws digging into his palms. But what else could he do? If he told the truth, if he proved that he was willing to face the consequences, perhaps she’d be willing to give him a second chance.

He finally looked around to see where he’d ended up, then headed back cross country to the farmhouse. If nothing else, his afternoon rides had given him a thorough knowledge of the local terrain. Afternoons that would have been better spent with Lottie.

No one was in sight when he rode into the stable yard, so he took a few moments to wipe his horse down and cover him with a blanket before heading into the house. The kitchen was empty for the first since he’d arrived and he frowned as he passed through it towards Temel’s office. But he didn’t have to go that far. All of the warriors were gathered around the dining table, with Tomlin standing discreetly behind Temel’s chair.

“I need to talk to you,” he said abruptly, but Temel shook his head, his eyes cold.

“No. You need to talk to all of us.”

He looked around at their faces, all of them cold and remote, even Borgaz’s, and saw Kalpar pull out a knife, flipping it casually.

“You know, don’t you?”

“Why don’t you tell us what you think we know?”

Temel’s voice echoed with command, and he stood at attention and reported.

“I was hired by a man named Marshall to infiltrate the farm.” Only S’kal and Tomlin showed any reaction to the name, and he kept going. “He gave me the survey device I’m wearing. It’s beneath my belt if you’d like to examine it.”

He slowly removed his outer belt, keeping a careful eye on Kalpar’s knife, then removed the belt with the device attached. Tomlin stepped forward and took it.

“I don’t know what type of survey it’s conducting and I didn’t ask,” he continued. “My only instructions were to cross the entire farm while wearing that device. Once it had sufficient information, it would shut itself off and I was free to leave.”

“It’s still active,” Tomlin said calmly, his face expressionless. “Either you didn’t cover enough of the farm or it hasn’t found what it’s looking for.”

“And you didn’t even bother to ask?” Borgaz said, his voice hard.

“No. The only question I ever ask when I take a job is if there are women or children involved.”

“There are both on this ranch,” Naffon snarled, his usual cheerful expression replaced by a dangerous scowl.

“I had no reason to believe that simply sweeping the land for information would endanger them. If I had thought that, I would never have brought Lottie.”

His voice caught on her name, just the tiniest bit, but Temel noticed.

“Tell us about her.”

“We met in Port Cantor. She was working in a tavern and the owner fired her after I had to prevent three of the spaceport guards from harassing her. Since it was partially my fault she was fired I offered her a job as my wife.”

Another catch.

“She knew?”

“Of course not. I just told her that you wanted a married male because they were more reliable employees. It was to be a marriage in name only. An act. I was a fool.”

“Yes,” Tomlin said calmly. “When did you fall in love with her?”

“Probably the moment I saw her, but it had been… a long time since I’d allowed myself to feel.” And now here he was stripping himself bare in front of a room full of judgmental eyes - but if anyone would understand the wall he’d erected, they would. “I didn’t admit it to myself until we came here.”

“And you still didn’t tell her?” Borgaz asked.

“No. I told her she deserved better. I told her there was no future for us. But I didn’t tell her why.”

“What did she say?”

He closed his eyes as the pain washed over him.

“She told me she loved me.”

He saw a flash of understanding on Borgaz’s face and on Naffon’s. The others remained unreadable, although Kalpar flipped his knife again.

“What changed?” Temel asked.

“A man showed up at our house this morning. He told her that Marshal was running out of patience and he wanted the survey completed immediately. I told her everything, and she said she was leaving.” He straightened his shoulders. “That’s why I’m here. You can do whatever you want to me. I will accept whatever punishment you see fit. But she is innocent and she loves our - her house. She has found a home here and I would ask that you let her stay.”

“Of course she can stay,” Borgaz snapped and he threw him a quick, grateful glance, but ultimately it was Temel’s decision.

The commander was frowning and his heart sank.

“She truly is innocent in all this,” he said urgently.

Temel sighed. “I believe you. If that is what she wishes, she may stay.”

He gave a great shuddering sigh of relief. “Thank you.”

“I am not doing it for you,” Temel said coolly, and he nodded.

“I know, but I’m still grateful.” He hesitated. “Are you willing to tell me how you knew?”

“There is a monitor around the majority of the property. Harkan installed it originally when Matthew Johnson was causing trouble - so he would have a warning if anyone approached. We expanded it. When a human male crossed the boundary and went directly to your property, Tomlin notified me. This isn’t the first incident. A human male tried earlier this year but S’kal’s mate recognized him. She had seen him kill someone in Port Cantor.”

“And you think that was related?”

“I do not believe in coincidences.”

“Marshall said something… He said that he’d tried to send a human before and it hadn’t ended well.”

“He died,” S’kal said briefly.

“I see. So Marshall sent him as well. Why?”

“We don’t know.”

“This device may reveal some information,” Tomlin said, turning to over in his hands, the suddenly cocked his head. “Master Thomas is arriving.”

A few seconds later, Tommy came racing in, flushed and breathless.

“Daddy,” he panted as Temel went to him.

“What is it? Why aren’t you at the lake with your mother? Is she all right?”

“She’s fine,” the boy gasped. “She told me to run ahead.”

Tomlin handed him a glass of water and he took a few quick gulps.

“It’s Miss Lottie.”

Celenk’s blood turned to ice.

“What about her?” he demanded.

“We saw her riding off with a strange man. They was a long way away but it was her. And Mama said that it wasn’t right.”

“Where did you see them?” he asked, trying not to frighten the child with his urgency.

“On the other side of the lake, heading for the woods.”

“That’s where the perimeter was breached,” Temel said grimly.

Celenk was already headed for the door when Borgaz joined him.

“I’ll show you where.”

He nodded grimly and they raced to the barn. Kalpar caught up with them as they were saddling their horses, bringing out his own mount.

“Looks like I’ll get to use my knives after all,” he said coldly when Celenk gave him a questioning look.

“Not if I get there first.”

A few seconds later they were galloping towards the lake and he was praying with all his heart that she was safe.

CHAPTER 18

Lottie subtly tried to adjust her uncomfortable position. As soon as they arrived at their destination, which turned out to be a campsite in the woods outside the farm, her captor had hauled her off the horse, tied a dirty rope around her wrists, and then tied the rope to a tree.

She’d hoped he was alone but there were two other men waiting for him. A big, silent one who watched her far too closely, and a small, thin one who never stopped talking.

“I don’t like this, Evans,” he said for at least the third time. “Are you sure the boss wanted us to take her? Women always complicate things.”

“I’m sure, Harris,” Evans snapped as he had the previous times but he didn’t look at Harris as he spoke and she found herself as dubious about the orders as Harris.

“If you say so,” Harris said doubtfully. “But what happens when he gets the job done? How are we gonna get her back.”

“Maybe we’ll just leave her here for him to find.” Evans shrugged. “Maybe we’ll take her along.”

“I really don’t think that’s a good idea -” Harris began, but the big man interrupted him.

“I do.”

He licked his lips as he watched her and she felt sick.

“I thought you’d like it Mongo,” Evans laughed. “But you’re gonna have to wait until then. Might still need a bargaining chip.”

Mongo gave a disgruntled huff, but remained where he was, still staring at her.

“How long are we gonna have to wait?” Harris whined, also not for the first time. “I hate camping out.”

“Do you think we can just walk into a hotel with a tied up woman?”

“No. But we could find a house. Most of the ones out here are pretty isolated.”

She’d thought Harris wasn’t as bad as the other two, but he didn’t seem to have any qualms about breaking into a house.

“You said you didn’t want complicated. A house full of captives is complicated.”

“I reckon.”

He was quiet for a minute or so, then started complaining about the food, or rather the lack of it. Mongo actually stopped staring at her long enough to glare at the little man. Maybe they’d take each other out.

Her pocket moved and to her dismay, Raja picked his head out, his nose quivering. He’d climbed in there sometime before she discarded the satchel but she’d hoped he would stay out of sight. Now he scrambled quickly out of her pocket and wiggled behind her just as Mongo started staring again.

Raja nudged her hand, his presence comforting even though she worried about what would happen to him. She didn’t think they were that far from the farm. Maybe he could still find his way back if… if these men took her with him. Terror washed over her at the thought but she did her best not to let it show. If Celenk knew what had happened, he’d come for her.

But what if he doesn’t know?

Even though Evans had claimed he wanted to use her as leverage, he hadn’t made any attempt to contact Celenk. What if he just saw the missing satchel and assumed she’d left him? No. The satchel was next to the path to the house. He was too observant not to see it when he returned - but when would he return?

Raja wiggled behind her and she suddenly felt the rope around her wrist loosen a little. He was chewing through the ropes? Her smart little kedji. Not that it would do any good with all three men in camp and Mongo’s watchful eye on her, but it offered a sliver of hope and she grabbed on to that sliver.

The time passed with excruciating slowness. Her wrists were now completely free, but she held on to the rope to make sure it looked as if she were still bound. Raja had tucked himself beneath her hands, but she didn’t think he was sleeping. His body suddenly tensed, quivering beneath her hands, and she took a tighter hold on the rope, sure something was going to happen.

For a long moment nothing changed. Harris kept complaining about the beans - after he’d eaten most of the pot - Mongo stared, and Evans concentrated on a device that looked very similar to the one Celenk had on his belt.

Then a knife appeared in Mongo’s throat and he slumped forwards. It happened so quickly and so silently she wasn’t even sure what she’d seen.

“What’s wrong with you, Mongo?” Evans snapped, and Harris kicked him impatiently with his foot.

“Wake up, you idiot.”

Mongo’s body fell sideways, revealing the knife in his throat, and both men jumped up, scanning the woods. Raja took advantage of the confusion and clambered back into her pocket.

“What the hell happened? Where did that knife come from? Who’s out-”

“Shut up, Harris.”

Evans backed slowly towards her as Harris kept talking.

“You can’t tell me to shut up. You can’t make -”

A second knife appeared - in Harris’s chest this time. As Harris fell to the ground, Evans whirled and grabbed her hair, yanking it painfully as he put his own knife to her throat.

“Don’t even think about it, Celenk. You can’t get me before I get her.”

“Your friend didn’t think anyone would make him shut up either. He was wrong and so are you.” Celenk stalked out of the woods, his face in the old emotionless mask but his eyes blazing blue fire. “Let her go and I will consider letting you live.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Celenk shrugged. “You might prove useful. Do you have anything worth bargaining with?”

“Other than your wife, you mean?”

She winced as Evans tightened his grip on her hair and fury flashed across Celenk’s face. The knife at her throat terrified her, but there had to be something she could do.

“Yes. I will be getting her back. Is there anything else?”

“Maybe I do,” Evans taunted. “I bet you’d like to know why Marshall is so interested in this godforsaken farm.”

“Perhaps.”

“Don’t act like you don’t care. You know that’s worth -”

His anger distracted him and the knife wavered, moving a few inches away from her throat. She ducked away from it and twisted, using all her strength to jam her elbow directly between Evans’s legs. He yelled, the knife falling away from her entirely as he doubled over, and she staggered away from him.

“Lottie!”

Celenk charged towards her but Evans lurched upright and dove for her. She froze as Raja suddenly leapt from her pocket and latched on to his face. Evans screamed and staggered backwards, pulling her down with him.

She clawed at the ground, struggling to get away from him and then Celenk was there, yanking Evans’s limp body away from her before pulling her into his arms, his tail locking her against him. She clung to him, unable to stop trembling.

“Frek, I’ve never been so scared in my entire life. I love you, Lottie, do you hear me? I can’t let you go. I can’t.”

“I don’t want you to let me go,” she sobbed. “I love you so much.”

He started to kiss her, but she suddenly panicked.

“Raja! Where’s Raja?”

“He’s right here.”

She blinked as Borgaz kneeled down next to them and held out his hand. Raja perched in the middle of his palm, his whiskers red with blood but otherwise intact. He squeaked and jumped over to her, and she cradled him against her.

“Oh thank God.”

“I believe you’re more worried about the rodent than you are about me,” Celenk grumbled, but he stroked a gentle finger over Raja’s head.

“A sign of her intelligence, no doubt,” Kalpar drawled as he emerged from the woods as well.

“You’re here too?”

“Obviously. You didn’t think your husband was that skilled with a knife did you?”

Kalpar went to retrieve his knives and she shuddered and looked away.

“Do they know?” she whispered.

“Yes, my flower. I told them everything.”

She sighed with relief.

“Good.”

“Does that mean you forgive me?” he asked, his eyes intent on her face.

“Yes, as long as you promise to never, ever lie to me again either directly or by omission.”

“You have my solemn oath,” he promised, and she smiled at him.

He bent his head to kiss her but once more they were interrupted.

“While I appreciate the romantic ambiance of three dead bodies as much as the next male,” Kalpar said dryly, “We need to report back to Commander Temel.”

“Agreed.” Borgaz rejoined them. “I loaded up their saddlebags and everything they had in their pockets. We can deal with the bodies later.”

“Did you get the device Evans was using? It looked like the survey device,” she added.

Borgaz hadn’t found it on him, but after a few minutes searching, located it near the campfire where Evans had been sitting. He picked up the device, then put out the fire, and nodded approvingly as he came back.

“Good thinking. Maybe Tomlin can make something of this.”

“I gave him the other device as well,” Celenk said quietly.

“Good idea. Hopefully he can get some information out of it.”

He nodded and rose with her in his arms.

“I can walk.”

“I know, but right now I need to hold you, need to know you’re safe.”

She stopped arguing and nestled against him.

He did the same thing once they reached the horses, keeping her cradled in his arms as they rode. When they reached the main farmhouse, he dismounted and finally let her stand on her own feet again.

“Time to face the music, my flower.”

“We’ll face it together,” she said softly, and took his hand.

CHAPTER 19

The dining room was empty this time, but they found Temel and Tomlin in Temel’s study.

“Report,” Temel ordered.

The command was addressed at Borgaz so Celenk let him respond, focusing on Lottie’s small hand still clasped in his. Whatever Temel decided, the fact that they were together was all that really mattered. It seemed inevitable that he at least would have to leave, which meant that Lottie would lose her home. I’ll find her another one, he vowed, but he knew it wouldn’t be the same - for either of them. He would miss the farm and the other warriors, the feeling of community that he had been so foolish as to destroy.

“Three human males,” Borgaz said. “They were camped in the woods just outside the perimeter. All dead.”

Temel gave a faint sigh.

“I don’t suppose any of them lasted long enough to provide answers.”

“I left the leader alive for that purpose,” Kalpar said coldly. “Celenk eliminated him. Justifiably,” he added, surprising Celenk. “He was an active threat to his mate.”

Equally surprisingly, Temel only nodded and turned back to Borgaz.

“Anything else?”

“I brought back their belongings and one of them had this device.”

The big male handed it to Tomlin, who turned it over thoughtfully in his long fingers.

“This may be useful.”

“Unless Tomlin can retrieve some information from those devices, we know little more than we did earlier, only that this Marshall wants something on this ranch. He has now lost four men. Perhaps that will stop him.”

“No, my lord,” Tomlin said. “Those men will mean nothing to him.”

Temel raised an eyebrow. “You know him?”

“I know of him. One of his minions approached me once about including some of his wares on one of our journeys. I politely refused. Fortunately, that was the end of the matter.”

Celenk couldn’t help wondering what form that refusal had taken. Marshall did not take kindly to having his plans thwarted.

“What else do you know of him?” Temel asked.

“He owns a conglomerate of businesses, all of which appear legitimate. But he has other… activities.”

Tomlin looked at him and he nodded.

“He has his fingers in a good portion of the illegal activities that take place in Port Cantor.”

“And you took a job working for him?” Kalpar gave him a disgusted look.

“Most of the people who wish to hire my services were not entirely legal. The job did not appear to violate my… restrictions, although as you pointed out earlier, it may have eventually done so.” He sighed. “Of course, I regret it now - except for the fact that it led me to my wife - but I had not allowed myself the luxury of emotions in many years. It was the only way to survive.”

Both Borgaz and Temel nodded.

“That has changed now, thanks to my mate, but it doesn’t alter the past.”

He squeezed Lottie’s hand and she squeezed back, giving him a small smile.

“What else do we know about him?” Temel asked. “Can he be reached?”

“Anyone can be reached,” Kalpar said. “But the cost can be high.”

“He and his daughter live in the penthouse of his primary business tower. He owns numerous other properties, but I don’t believe he uses them personally. He attends some high profile social events, but he is always guarded.”

Kalpar gave him a thoughtful look.

“And the daughter?”

“Much less visible. He keeps her very close.”

One of Kalpar’s knives appeared in his hand and he flipped it a few times before addressing Temel.

“I will go to the city and investigate. We need to know more.”

Tomlin looked at Kalpar, his expression as unreadable as always, but Celenk could have sworn he saw a flash of amusement in his eyes before he looked away.

“You do have work here,” Temel said, his voice even.

Kalpar shrugged. “Celenk can handle it.”

It was the last thing he would have expected Kalpar to say, but Temel didn’t look surprised, only regarding Celenk thoughtfully.

“Which brings us to the question of your future. Lottie, you should know that Celenk requested that you be allowed to remain in your home and we agreed.”

This time she was the one to squeeze his hand, her eyes bright with tears, but she shook her head.

“I’m very grateful, but I’m not staying without Celenk. I go where he goes.”

“I’ll find you a new home, my flower,” he promised.

“That’s very touching,” Temel said dryly. “But I don’t recall saying that you had to leave.”

The sudden flare of hope almost made him dizzy.

“You would allow me - us - to remain?”

“Are you concealing anything else from us?”

“No,” he said immediately, then hesitated. “The things I did during the war - they were not good things. I learned to be… ruthless.”

“That damn war,” Borgaz muttered, then looked at Temel. “All of us were affected by it. I don’t think that’s a reason why Celenk should have to leave.”

Perhaps Borgaz hadn’t completely given up on their friendship after all.

“I agree.” Temel steepled his fingers, regarding him. “I am willing to give you a trial period. If you continue to work as hard, if you can prove yourself trustworthy, you may remain.”

“And if you betray us again, I will take care of you myself,” Borgaz said.

His tone was mild, but Celenk knew he was serious.

“I won’t. Thank you, Commander.”

Temel dipped his head, then rose. “Now I intend to spend some time with my mate and my son. Kalpar, when will you leave?”

“The day after tomorrow. No point in putting it off. We can go over what needs to be done while I’m away tomorrow, Celenk.”

“All right. Thank you,” he added quietly but Kalpar shook his head.

“No need to get sentimental on me. It was a logical solution.”

“If you will allow me, Lord Kalpar, I have a few suggestions.” Tomlin took Kalpar to one side.

He helped Lottie gently to her feet and they followed Borgaz back to the horses. By unspoken accord, they rode slowly down the road next to the farm, sleeping peacefully in the light of the twin moons. The air was warm and still, only the distant song of some night bird and the sound of their hooves disturbing the quiet.

Lottie leaned back against him and pulled Raja out of her pocket. He sat up on her palm, his nose twitching eagerly, and his eyes bright.

“There’s a fierce heart in that tiny body,” Borgaz said and Lottie nodded.

“He was so brave.”

She kissed Raja’s head and he squeaked happily.

“Don’t waste all your kisses on the rodent,” he muttered and she laughed, the sound so happy his chest ached.

When they reached the entrance to Borgaz’s farm, they stopped for a minute.

“Thank you for what you did today. And for what you said.”

Borgaz regarded him thoughtfully, his small horns giving his face a saturnine appearance in the moonlight.

“The war damaged us all, but I believe you have found redemption. Don’t fuck it up.”

“I won’t.” he promised. “Do you still want my help with the rest of those stumps?”

“I suppose so.”

“Then I’ll come by the day after tomorrow. I’m sure Kalpar is going to keep me busy tomorrow.”

“All right. Bring Lottie with you. And your little warrior.”

Borgaz stroked Raja’s head, then turned down his driveway.

“I can’t believe he’s willing to forgive me,” he said as they continued down the road.

“I can,” Lottie said. “You’re worth forgiving.”

She snuggled back against him and he hugged her closer, still overwhelmed that she was here with him.

“I was so afraid I was going to lose you.”

“You almost did.”

He knew she was referring to his lies, not her encounter with Evans and his men, and he sighed.

“I am a fool.”

“Was a fool, I hope.”

“Absolutely. I love you, my flower.”

She looked over her shoulder at him and gave him a misty smile.

“I love you too.”

They rode down the lane to their house, its flaws invisible in the moonlight, as a peace he’d never known settled over him.

Home. He was home at last.

EPILOGUE

Six months later…

CELENK peered out of the window at the white flakes that had been drifting down all afternoon, then shook his head.

“If this keeps up, I’m not sure we’ll be able to make it to the main house tomorrow for this Christmas celebration you’ve been planning.”

“Nonsense,” she said cheerfully. “You’re going to insist on checking on the cattle, aren’t you?”

“Yes, but-”

“If you can make it through the snow to check on them, then we can make it through the snow for Christmas dinner.”

“I don’t want you to get chilled, my flower.”

She rolled her eyes at him.

“I’m not as delicate as you seem to think.”

“I know very well how strong your spirit is, but your body is more delicate. And Raja doesn’t like the snow,” he added hopefully and she laughed.

The kedji was most definitely not a fan of snow. The first time he’d stepped off the porch and almost disappeared in a fluffy cloud of white, he’d squealed loudly and scrambled back up the steps, chittering unhappily. As much as he enjoyed playing in the water, he did not enjoy being surrounded by cold wet snow. He’d refused to go out in it again, preferring to remain curled up by the fire when he wasn’t in her lap or Celenk’s. Fortunately, he was quite happy to use the litter box Celenk had rigged up for him.

“That’s not a very convincing argument since we both know quite well that he’ll be riding in your pocket.”

“I suppose.”

“Is it just the snow that’s making you so reluctant?” she asked softly.

The past six months had not always been easy. Although Borgaz had forgiven him, it had taken longer for the others, and she knew the lingering coolness had bothered him. But he’d assumed his stoic mask, worked hard, and let her comfort him during their long nights together. And just last week, Temel had told him that the probationary period was over. He was now fully a part of the community.

“Not really.” He sighed and came to join her on the couch, lifting her onto his lap. “We had a similar type of holiday on Karthika, full of formal social events and lavish displays of wealth. They are not good memories.”

“I’m pretty sure you don’t have to worry about that here. Although you might get a pair of socks,” she teased, trying to make him smile.

She had been trying, not very successfully, to learn how to knit and he had been an amused witness to her frustration. He didn’t know that she’d finally succeeded in producing the pair of rather lumpy multi-colored socks that were currently in a small box under their tree, but she knew he’d understand the effort she’d put into them. And she did have another present for him…

He sighed. “I suppose you’re right.”

“And you know Ida has prepared a feast.”

Everyone on the farm had been involved in the preparation at one point or another over the past week.

“Also tempting,” he agreed. “It just seems odd.”

“Odd good or odd bad?”

“Good,” he said finally, and she kissed him.

“Remember it’s just a casual gathering, full of good friends and good food. It won’t be like it was with your parents, I promise.”

“All right, you win. We’ll show up for Christmas.”

“Thank you,” she said and kissed him again, this time letting her mouth linger over his.

He responded as he always did, curling his tongue around hers, the kiss growing more demanding until she was breathless when he finally pulled back. His codix had started pushing against his slit, but there was no hurry. They could let the need build slowly.

The fire crackled in the fireplace, the firelight dancing across the now polished wood floor, and she gave the room a satisfied look. The walls had been stripped and painted, long curtains framed the window and the view of the falling snow, and the old but comfortable furniture was heaped with pillows and throws. They’d even added a thick soft rug to the floor in front of the fireplace. A very tempting rug…

She slipped off of his lap, ignoring his protest, then undressed slowly in front of the fire, drawing it out, letting the hunger in his eyes add to her excitement. Her nipples were taut and aching and her clit throbbing by the time she was finally naked. He had his hand cupped over his codix, and she knew he was trying to keep it restrained so she could have the pleasure of releasing it.

Deciding to draw it out a little longer, she went to her knees on the soft rug, spreading her legs so he could see her slick folds.

“Lottie -”

“Give me your tail,” she whispered.

He groaned and obeyed, the tip of his tail beginning to dance over her, a light, teasing touch that immediately made her want more. He kept it moving as she arched and tried to wiggle against it.

“Celenk -”

“Is there something you need, my flower?”

“You, just you.”

He rewarded her by thrusting his tail inside her, a quick, shocking intrusion that had her on the verge of climax when he withdrew again. She whimpered and his lips curved.

“My flower wants something more.”

“Yes, please. I want your codix.”

“My polite little wife.”

His eyes gleamed very blue as he joined her on the rug, kneeling in front of her and stroking her hair gently as his tail danced down over her clit, sending little fiery streaks of excitement through her body with each touch.

“But you’ll have to wait a little longer.”

He bent her back over his arm and took her nipple in his mouth, sucking and nibbling on the stiff peak until she moaned and her hands clenched at his shoulders.

“Now release me,” he ordered as he pulled her back up and she obeyed eagerly.

As always the sight of that thick glistening shaft made her clit pulse with excitement and she reached for him. He only allowed her a few brief strokes before pulling her hands free and swinging her around, urging her onto her knees. She went willingly, already shivering in anticipation. He stroked a soothing hand down her spine before moving to her ass, massaging the full mounds and spreading them further apart so his tail could tease her sensitive bottom hole.

“Please, Celenk.”

He growled, and then his tail, still slick with her arousal, plunged into her ass. She cried out and immediately rocked back against him, trying to take more.

“Now your codix,” she demanded.

“You have no patience,” he chuckled, but she could feel him moving into position, the thick length of his codix pressing at her entrance while his tail continued to thrust into her ass.

She tried to push back against him, to take his codix inside her, but he held her in place, one arm wrapped around her hips, as he began to slide into her. Slow, lazy thrusts that filled her more and more as the tension built. His tail matched the movement of his codix, surging into her, fucking her faster and faster until she was whimpering and shaking under him.

“Come for me, my beautiful wife.”

The final words pushed her over the edge, and she cried out as she exploded around him, her inner muscles convulsing as he gripped her hips and pumped into her. A final hard thrust forced his ring inside her, filling her so completely that another climax crashed over as he filled her with his seed. Her whole body went limp with satisfaction and he gathered her against him as he carefully lay on the rug, his codix still pulsing as it rested inside her.

“I love you,” she whispered, and he nuzzled her ear.

“I love you too, my flower.”

She drifted in a contented daze, murmuring a sleepy protest when he finally softened enough to pull out. He left her long enough to fetch a warm cloth and cleansed her gently before gathering her back in his arms, the firelight flickering over their entwined bodies and gleaming on his scales.

“Do you think it’s after midnight?” she asked, stroking his tail thoughtfully.

“I think so. Why?”

“Because that makes it Christmas Day.” Cresca had designated the morning after the longest night of the year as Christmas.

“I suppose so.”

“Then I have a gift for you. Or more accurately, I’ll have a gift for you in about seven and a half months.”

She took his hand and guided it to her stomach, watching his face as the realization hit him. About a month after her kidnapping, he had brought up the subject of having a child and she’d eagerly agreed. But unlike with Mary and Borgaz, it didn’t happen right away. Not that month, or the next, or the next, and they’d both begun to fear it wouldn’t happen.

“You mean…”

“Yes. I’m pregnant, my love. I guess we’re going to have a baby after all.”

“A daughter,” he said softly, gently stroking her stomach.

“Or a son.”

“Yes, of course.” He caressed her stomach again, then looked up at her, his eyes very blue in the dim light. “If it’s a boy, we will name him Samuel, after your grandfather.”

A tear rolled down her cheek, followed by another. He swore, sitting up and pulling her into his arms.

“Don’t cry, my flower.”

“I can’t help it,” she sniffed. “It’s just… He would have loved that so much. And he would have loved you too,” she added, reaching up to touch his beloved face.

“I’m not as sure.” The old mask flickered across his face for a moment. “I doubt he would have chosen an alien mercenary with blood on his hands for his granddaughter.”

“Stop that. He would be grateful that I’m married to someone who can protect me so well. Who has made me so happy. Do you remember the storm we encountered on our way here?”

“All too vividly.”

“You told me that night that I wanted a home. A family. Someone to care for who cared for me. You were right - and you have given me all those things. He would have loved you for making my dreams come true, just as I love you.”

His lips came down on hers, kissing her fiercely.

“Thank you,” he whispered, and then he was moving over her, making love to her with sweet, desperate urgency.

They fell asleep there on the rug, and if she woke up a little stiff the next morning, it didn’t matter. It was their first Christmas morning together, the first of many happy Christmases to come.

KALPAR IS DETERMINED to find answers, even if means taking desperate measures - but is he going to go too far? Find out in Kalpar!

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Thank you so much for reading Celenk! I had a lot of fun writing this one - a damaged hero saved by the love of a good woman is one of my favorite tropes. Especially a good woman who needs a little saving as well! And of course, the more time I spend on Cresca, the more I discover!

Whether you enjoyed the story or not, it would mean the world to me if you left an honest review on Amazon – reviews are one of the best ways to help other readers find my books!

As usual, I have to thank my readers for coming on these adventures with me - I couldn’t do it without you!

And, as always, a special thanks to my beta team – Janet S, Nancy V, and Kitty S. Your thoughts and comments are incredibly helpful!

How the Aliens Were Won

continues with Kalpar!

Kalpar is determined to protect the farm and his fellow warriors, even if it means kidnapping the daughter of a ruthless crime lord. But the innocent little female needs his protection just as much. Can he find a way to save her as well as the farm?

Click here to order Kalpar!

And if you’d like to read about more about how the farm became available, check out You Got Alien Trouble! - Rosie and Harkan’s story!

You Got Alien Trouble! is available on Amazon!

Or you can get a FREE copy by clicking here to sign up for my newsletter!

The audio version of You Got Alien Trouble! is also available for FREE on my direct store -

honeyphillips.myshopify.com!

OTHER TITLES

HOMESTEAD WORLDS

Seven Brides for Seven Alien Brothers

Artek

Benjar

Callum

Drakkar

Endark

Frantor

Gilmat

You Got Alien Trouble!

How the Aliens Were Won

Borgaz

Temel

Naffon

S’kal

Celenk

Kalpar

Cosmic Fairy Tales

Jackie and the Giant

Blind Date with an Alien

Her Alien Farmhand

Cyborgs on Mars

High Plains Cyborg

The Good, the Bad, and the Cyborg

A Fistful of Cyborg

A Few Cyborgs More

The Magnificent Cyborg

The Outlaw Cyborg

The Cyborg with No Name

Cyborg Rider

KAISARIAN EMPIRE

The Alien Abduction Series

Anna and the Alien

Beth and the Barbarian

Cam and the Conqueror

Deb and the Demon

Ella and the Emperor

Faith and the Fighter

Greta and the Gargoyle

Hanna and the Hitman

Izzie and the Icebeast

Joan and the Juggernaut

Kate and the Kraken

Lily and the Lion

Mary and the Minotaur

Nancy and the Naga

Olivia and the Orc

Pandora and the Prisoner

Quinn and the Queller

Rita and the Raider

Sara and the Spymaster

Tammy and the Traitor

Folsom Planet Blues

Alien Most Wanted: Caged Beast

Alien Most Wanted: Prison Mate

Alien Most Wanted: Mastermind

Alien Most Wanted: Unchained

Stranded with an Alien

Sinta - A SciFi Holiday Tail

Cosmic Cinema

My Fair Alien

The Alien and I

Skruj

Horned Holidays

Krampus and the Crone

A Gift for Nicholas

A Kiss of Frost

Treasured by the Alien

Mama and the Alien Warrior

A Son for the Alien Warrior

Daughter of the Alien Warrior

A Family for the Alien Warrior

The Nanny and the Alien Warrior

A Home for the Alien Warrior

A Gift for the Alien Warrior

A Treasure for the Alien Warrior

Three Babies and the Alien Warrior

Sanctuary for the Alien Warrior

Exposed to the Elements

The Naked Alien

The Bare Essentials

A Nude Attitude

The Buff Beast

The Strip Down

The Alien Invasion Series

Alien Selection

Alien Conquest

Alien Prisoner

Alien Breeder

Alien Alliance

Alien Hope

Alien Castaway

Alien Chief

Alien Ruler

COZY MONSTERS

Fairhaven Falls

Cupcakes for My Orc Enemy

Trouble for My Troll

Fireworks for My Dragon Boss

The Single Mom and the Orc

Mistletoe for My Minotaur

Valentine for My Vampire

Protected by the Orc

Monster Between the Sheets

Extra Virgin Gargoyle

Without a Stitch

Standalones

Hot Wolf in the City

Mated to the Swamp Monster

FANTASY

The Five Kingdoms

The Orc’s Hidden Bride

The Orc’s Stolen Bride

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Honey Phillips writes steamy science fiction stories about hot alien warriors and the human women they can’t resist. From abductions to invasions, the ride might be rough, but the end always satisfies.

Honey wrote and illustrated her first book at the tender age of five. Her writing has improved since then. Her drawing skills, unfortunately, have not. She loves writing, reading, traveling, cooking, and drinking champagne - not necessarily in that order.

Honey loves to hear from her wonderful readers! You can stalk her at any of the following locations…

www.facebook.com/HoneyPhillipsAuthor

www.bookbub.com/authors/honey-phillips

www.instagram.com/HoneyPhillipsAuthor

www.honeyphillips.com