A GIFT FOR THE ALIEN WARRIOR

TREASURED BY THE ALIEN

HONEY PHILLIPS

To Bex McLynn

Author extraordinaire, best friend, and treasured companion on this amazing author journey!

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

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Epilogue

Author’s Note

Other Titles

About the Author

Copyright © 2022 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 Cameron Kamenicky and Naomi Lucas

Edited by Lindsay York at LY Publishing Services

Created with Vellum

CHAPTER ONE

Taranov almost missed the yacht. The spawning on Tillich Two would be beginning soon, and he had been bending over his console, planning out the best trade route for maximum profit from the rare delicacy. When the proximity alarm sounded, his ship automatically corrected its course. He didn’t even bother to look up at first, but his ingrained instinct for caution reared up, and he glanced over the monitor.

That was odd. A small luxury yacht was floating in space—the kind of expensive vessel that cost more to purchase than the profits of an entire spawning season. Lights blazed through the portholes, but the ship wasn’t moving.

He looked down at his console and then back at the yacht. He had five days to make it back to Tillich Two and he was already pushing that window, but even though the yacht wasn’t putting out a distress signal, something was obviously wrong. He sighed and brought his ship to a halt and tried hailing the other vessel.

No response.

It could be a trap… The expensive yacht would be a tempting target for pirates—but if someone had tried to set a trap using the seemingly abandoned ship to lure their victims, then surely the distress signal would have been transmitting.

He sighed again, then began maneuvering his larger ship into position to board the other vessel. Unfortunately, the yacht was too large to fit into his cargo bay so he would have to secure it with his grappling arms. That connection went swiftly, but they rarely used the boarding tube, and it took him longer than he would have liked to get it in place. He was swearing under his breath by the time he had it hooked up, already regretting his decision to investigate. Still, he’d decided to find out what had happened to the other ship, and he wasn’t going to stop now.

After floating quickly through the tube, he paused to check the conditions inside the yacht. The artificial gravity was still in place, along with a breathable atmosphere. Once the airlock cycled, he placed one hand on the hilt of his knife and cautiously opened the inner door. As soon as he did, the metallic scent of blood filled his nose.

Fuck. Something was seriously wrong.

He had entered on the lower level and a wide formal stairway—a ridiculous waste of space on a ship this size—led upwards directly in front of him. He shot it a look, then decided to survey the lower level first. The engine rooms appeared to be intact, as was a small hangar with an equally expensive land vehicle, two minuscule crew cabins, and two much larger storage rooms, the shelves filled with expensive products. Neither of the crew cabins appeared to be inhabited, unusual for the type of lifestyle suggested by the yacht. A wealthy merchant usually had multiple servants at his beck and call.

He walked cautiously up the stairs, the smell of blood intensifying. From the landing at the top, he moved into the front half of the ship—a gallery that could have served a dozen people, an impressive dining room, and an exquisitely appointed lounge. All of them were empty and showed no sign of recent use. The bridge too was deserted, only the lights of the instrument panel indicating that the controls were active.

Already dreading what he would find, he moved to the back of the ship. A wide hallway, the walls paneled in exotic woods, led into an enormous suite that appeared to occupy the entire rear of the ship. More expensive furniture defined two tasteful seating areas, but his gaze went immediately to the enormous bed, visible through a curtained archway, and the two figures crumpled next to it.

The bed coverings had been torn away, and a startling combination of blue and red blood stained the white silk. Fuck. As he strode into the next room, the scene was all too clear. A Kek male, naked except for a ridiculous amount of jewelry, had fallen at the foot of the bed. From the pool of blood beneath his skull, he had hit the elaborate metal bed frame as he fell. One of his hands still gripped the second figure’s leg, his claws digging into a softly curved, feminine calf. Scratches on his face and neck made it obvious that the female had tried to fight him off.

Taranov went around the corner of the bed to get a better look at the Kek’s victim, already dreading what he would find. A small female, her lush figure obvious through a torn and nearly transparent gown. A cloud of soft dark hair obscured her features, but he could see bruises on her pale skin and the shocking blue of the Kek’s blood, along with traces of her own blood. As he kneeled next to her, he caught her sweet, floral scent beneath the blood, and his tail curved protectively around the fallen figure. He leaned forward and gently brushed the hair away from her face, her skin impossibly soft beneath his fingers, and his breath caught.

He had never seen such a female. Her cheeks were round, her mouth curved. She had no fangs, no armor, no obvious defenses. Everything about her appeared soft and fragile, and a growl rumbled in his chest. How dare the Kek attack this female? Assaulting any female was heinous enough, but especially one who looked so delicate. At the sound of his growl, a hushed moan emerged from between plump red lips, and he suddenly realized she was still alive.

Thank Granthar.

He carefully pried the Kek’s claws away from her skin, growling again at the gashes left behind, as he tried to decide what to do. The signs of struggle, the body, even the female’s presence—all of it argued that he should call in the Patrol. He had been a Guard for the better part of his life. Law and order were drilled into him. And yet, when he looked down at this fragile female, the bruises clearly evident on her pale skin, it seemed… wrong to hand her over to a faceless authority.

Could he help her? His medical knowledge was minimal, based more on practical experience than training. Fuck. Why had he come on this trip alone? Slighton was only a part-time medic, but his background was far more extensive than Taranov’s. He had to get her back to his ship, he decided. Their medical unit was old, and he wasn’t sure how it would work on an unknown species, but it was the best option he could come up with.

He didn’t even realize he’d made up his mind until he was leaning down to gather her in his arms, his tail coming up to curl protectively around her back. Her weight was barely noticeable, her unarmored skin impossibly silky against the rougher texture of his own skin. Beneath the reek of blood, her sweet scent filled his head. In spite of his care, she moaned when he picked her up, her arms flailing helplessly.

“Hush, little female. You are safe now,” he said firmly.

To his utter astonishment, she stilled immediately. A second later, her head turned into his chest. He saw her take a deep breath, and then her body went limp and still once more. Despite his concern, he was overwhelmingly conscious of how soft and warm and perfect she felt in his arms. He carried her rapidly through the yacht and back down the boarding tube, pulling himself along easily with one hand. He didn’t want to put her into the medical unit—it reminded him far too much of the hospital beds that had overflowed with his people at the height of the Red Death, but it was the best way to find out if she had more than superficial injuries.

As he put her down, her torn gown gaped apart, revealing one pale perfect breast. The generous mound was topped with a small reddish brown nipple, stiffening as he watched. To his astonishment, his body started to respond. He had seen female breasts before, of course. Ten years of meandering around the galaxy meant that he had landed in a number of ports, some considerably more… decadent than others. In some of the shadier places they had stopped, pleasure companions quite blatantly displayed all of their charms, but he had never been particularly interested.

He had assumed that his sexuality had been forever damaged by the pressure put on any remaining Cire males to produce seed. He had obeyed the order, of course, and done his duty, but even locked into the machine, with the scientifically proven method working his cock, he had barely managed to respond. But one glimpse of this partially clothed female and his long-neglected shaft stiffened.

He forced his gaze away from the tempting sight, trying to assess her condition. The gown was not only torn but stained with blood. More blood covered her hands and splattered her bare feet. He couldn’t leave her in this state. He tried to preserve her modesty as he carefully washed away the blood, but despite his attempt to focus only on her injuries, he was acutely aware of the second perfect mound and an intriguing patch of dark fur between her thighs.

He discovered several more gashes and more bruises beneath the blood, but as much as the sight of them horrified him, he knew that they were mostly superficial. The gown was too torn and stained to be of any use, and after a moment’s thought, he pulled off his own shirt. He slipped it over her head, nodding with satisfaction as it fell into place around her. It was far too large of course, but that meant that more of her was covered.

As he lowered her into the padded medical unit, her eyes fluttered open. Dark eyes, almost as black as his own. She blinked once, twice, and then her gaze fastened on his face. The fine dark lines of her brows drew together, and a word emerged.

“B—baby.”

CHAPTER TWO

Taranov stared at the female in shock. She had a child?

“Baby? What baby?” he asked urgently, but her eyes had closed again and her body had gone limp.

He automatically scanned the monitor as his hand sought the pulse in her neck. A little rapid but surprisingly strong. She was alive, just unconscious again. The monitor screen beeped as it identified her species.

Human.

It meant little to him, and based on the screen, there wasn’t much information available. Where had she come from? And how had she ended up with a Kek lord? Although he could certainly understand why the Kek had wanted her. He had never encountered such a desirable female.

The monitor beeped again, instructing him to step away from the bed, and he reluctantly obeyed, still thinking about what she’d said. Could there be a child on the yacht? He’d inspected all of the rooms—except for the bathing room in the main suite, he reminded himself. An unlikely location for a child, but then again, everything about this seemed improbable.

He looked down at the unconscious female as the scanner swept back and forth over her body. There were no indications of danger on the monitor, and although he hated to leave her, his duty demanded that he at least look for her child. Swearing under his breath, he took off at a run.

The bathing room at the back of the suite was as large and elaborate as he would have imagined, but there was no sign of a child. Uncertain if he was relieved or disappointed, he started back through the bedroom… and heard a faint cry. He looked around frantically, but couldn’t determine the source.

The only spaces remaining were the two large storage closets flanking the entry hall. He threw open the first door and found it as he expected—lined with elaborate outfits and expensive jewelry. He fleetingly noticed that all of the clothing was intended for a man, but perhaps the other room contained her clothing…

When he opened the second door, a wave of horror washed over him. The small space was white, sterile, empty other than a set of white cabinets along one wall and an incubator occupying the center of the small space. He approached the incubator cautiously, already dreading what he would find. A small infant was curled on the white cushion. It appeared to be the same species as the female, but he couldn’t see a specific resemblance. Its—no, her—features were soft and unformed, and her skin a deep golden tone.

The baby’s legs kicked, and once again he heard a pitiful, exhausted cry. Despair washed over him, but he couldn’t help himself. He reached down and unlatched the incubator and lifted the child into his arms. She shuddered, a spasm rolling over the tiny body, and her eyes opened, as huge and dark as the female’s, and looked up at him. Small pink lips pushed in and out, and then she shuddered again and her body relaxed. But this time he didn’t panic. He could feel the tiny ribcage fluttering against his chest, and he was sure she slept. His tail came up to pat the small cheek, and he vowed in that moment to protect the child with his life.

Holding her carefully, in order not to disturb her sleep, he searched rapidly through the small bank of cabinets. They were almost empty, and the comparison with the overstuffed wardrobe filled with the Kek’s clothes made him want to growl again, but he didn’t want to disturb the child. All he found was a blanket and two small outfits, along with several bags of a powdery white substance. Rather than pausing to analyze it, he gathered it all together, and hurried back to his ship.

The medical scan had finished by the time he returned, and even though there were a number of unknowns, it indicated that his female’s heart beat steadily and she didn’t have any internal injuries. He decided she was unconscious more from shock and exhaustion than any lasting damage. Although he didn’t want to disturb her, he wanted the child checked as well. He started to lower the baby into the medical bed, but as soon as he lifted her away from his body, the small mouth opened and the tiny hands started flailing. He immediately gathered her back against his chest, his heart aching. She settled down instantly as his tail gently stroked her back. She obviously didn’t want to be put down.

After a moment’s thought, he lowered one side of the medical bed then carefully wedged himself alongside the female with the baby between them. Despite the confined space, an immediate sense of rightness swept over him. He had always known he would never have a mate or child, but for this brief moment, he could pretend. The scan started again, and he forced himself to relax, trying to erase the memory of the incubator.

The incubators had been what led him to abandon his home planet. He had started his job as a Guard just as the Red Death, the plague that had swept through the Confederated Planets system, began to devastate Ciresia. Despite the horrific impact it had on his planet, he stayed.

He stayed as their entire way of life disappeared. As he lost his friends, his family, and almost everyone he had ever known. He stayed as the cities collapsed, as the Council gathered everyone who remained into one location. He stayed until the day the Council decided to try and save their civilization by producing life through artificial methods. He had walked into the vast room filled with artificial wombs and looked at row after row of waiting incubators. Then he turned and walked out. He walked all the way to the spaceport, to the first ship he could find.

“I need to leave the planet,” he said to the captain. The other male was a Vandar, perhaps close to his own age, and he studied him thoughtfully.

“Where do you want to go?”

“I do not care. Away.”

“Do you have any credits?”

“Yes.” His salary had continued to be deposited automatically into his account, even though he had nothing on which to spend it. “But it is in Cire currency and I am not sure if it has any value,” he added.

“I see. You look strong enough. Help me load this cargo and I’ll consider the matter.”

He didn’t object, even though he knew it was quite possible that the captain was only taking advantage of his desperation.

Loading the ship was hard, dirty work but there was something immensely satisfying about seeing the direct result of his labors, and he enjoyed the companionship, even though the captain did little more than grunt directions as he worked alongside him. When the job was finished, the captain turned to him.

“You work hard, and you don’t complain. I am willing to give you a chance and hire you for the trip to Bartol. That’s my next stop. If it works out, we can talk about a longer contract. If not…” The other male shrugged. “At least you will be away from here.”

“I accept,” he said immediately.

“My name is Jedrar. Welcome aboard.”

The trip to Bartol had worked out, and he remained on board the ship for the next five years. He developed an odd relationship with Jedrar. He trusted the other male implicitly and even considered him a friend, but despite the amount of time they spent together, he never really felt as if he knew him well. Neither one of them ever mentioned the past. At the end of their partnership, Jedrar sat down with him and offered to let him buy the ship. Taranov had done well during their time together and his accumulated salary had turned out to have value after all. He had the funds for the purchase, but still he hesitated.

“Why are you leaving?”

“It’s time to go home,” Jedrar said slowly. “I’ve been running for a long time, and it’s time to stop.” He shot a glance at Taranov from beneath heavy brows. “You don’t need to feel obligated to buy the ship if you are ready to go home as well.”

“I have no home.”

Although he had thought about it a few times, the Ciresia he had loved was no more. They were still attempting to rebuild their civilization, but he didn’t have the desire or the heart to be part of that rebirth.

Jedrar nodded. “The Red Death hit the Cire especially hard.”

It was the first time that they had ever mentioned the plague. The question hovered on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t force himself to ask. Jedrar answered anyway.

“We lost our son. And I… I could not stay there. I left my home, and I left my mate to deal with it on her own.”

“How long has it been?”

“Ten years. I have no doubt that she has moved on, but I have to tell her how much I regret what I did.”

Taranov could see the sorrow on his friend’s face, and yet he couldn’t help a pang of envy. At least Jedrar had once had a mate. The Red Death had killed all of the Cire females, and a Cire male could only experience a true mating bond with a Cire female.

He would never know that happiness, but right now, with the female’s scent filling his head and the baby tucked safely between them, he closed his eyes and let himself pretend.

CHAPTER THREE

She swam back to consciousness as if she were rising up out of the ocean. As if she were fighting her way up through the water, fleeing something dark and dangerous in the depths. Her thoughts were as sluggish as if they too were underwater. Her eyes didn’t want to open but she gradually became aware that there was something warm and comforting curved over her waist—an arm, perhaps? But whose arm?

She searched her memory, looking for some clue, but nothing surfaced. She tried again, searching for something—anything—but all of her memories were gone, wiped away or hidden behind the fog in her mind. Even her resulting panic felt subdued and somehow distant.

When she finally managed to force her eyes open, the first thing she saw was a face only a few inches away—a non-human face. The fact that she not only recognized him as not being human, but knew that she herself was human was actually somewhat of a relief. At least some knowledge still lingered in her mind.

But who was he? She couldn’t remember ever having seen him before, but then again she couldn’t really remember anything, and the position they were in suggested that there was an intimacy between them. There was something comforting and familiar, not so much about his face as his scent, warm and slightly spicy. He had a strong face, attractive despite its differences, with high cheekbones and a firm jaw line. His mouth was wide and thin-lipped, his nose flattened, and his ears almost undetectable.

Instead of hair, he had ridges going back over his skull and his skin was patterned in shades of green, covered with small raised nubs that gave it a subtle texture. He was lying on his side facing her, and her eyes went instinctively to the broad width of his shoulders, the massively muscled arms, and then down over his chest to… a baby?

I have a child? Her mind stuttered at the sight of the infant tucked between their bodies. Her companion’s tail—his tail!—curved protectively over the baby before wrapping around her waist. Was it their child? Everything she could see of the child seemed completely human. She searched desperately for any kind of memory of the baby, but there was nothing—she couldn’t even remember being pregnant, let alone having a child.

Once again panic threatened, and even though it was still muffled and distant, a half-sob escaped her lips. Her companion’s eyes immediately flew open. They were black, solid black, but when she looked into them it was as if something snapped into place—a connection that she couldn’t explain. His tail tightened around her waist, as if he had felt it also. They must be more than just companions, she decided, but how was she going to explain to him that she didn’t remember anything?

“What happened?” she asked tentatively, hoping that he might provide a clue.

“What do you remember?”

He had a nice voice, deep and resonant, but his response didn’t help. Something must have happened to her—but what? For the first time, she looked beyond him and realized they were in a small white room with banks of equipment on each wall. A doctor’s office, her mind supplied, and she grasped gratefully at the scrap of knowledge.

“Have I been sick?”

“You were unconscious,” he said, and she had the impression he was choosing his words carefully.

“Why? What happened to me?” she asked again.

“You do not remember?”

“I… I don’t remember anything.” The dreadful truth came rushing out. “I don’t know who I am, and I don’t know who you are.”

She looked again at their position, so close together on what must be some type of hospital bed, and thought about the way his scent seemed so familiar. “Are you my husband?”

She could see the astonishment on his face and hurried on. “I’m really sorry that I don’t remember. I don’t even remember our baby. What happened?”

He hesitated for so long that she thought he wasn’t going to answer her.

“You were attacked,” he said finally.

He obviously hadn’t wanted to tell her, but despite his reluctance, she felt a surprising surge of relief. At least it was an explanation, something to explain her confusion and lack of memories.

“Did I hurt my head?”

He shook his head. “I am not sure. The medical scan did not find any evidence of brain injury, but it is not programmed for human anatomy.”

Another wave of relief. She had remembered correctly that she was human. But why did she know that and not any other details about her life?

“You do not remember anything?” he asked.

“Nothing. It’s as if there’s this big wall of fog in my mind and I can’t get through it.” She bit her lip. “What’s your name?”

“I am Taranov.”

She didn’t recognize it at all, but she liked the sound of it.

“Taranov,” she repeated, and saw his eyes heat. “And what’s my name?”

He hesitated again, and finally said slowly, “I call you Latiri.”

It didn’t strike a spark of recognition, but it was a relief to have a name again and she smiled at him.

“Latiri,” she repeated. “I like it.”

“It means precious in the old tongue,” he said, his eyes on her face.

She actually felt herself blushing—his appreciation seemed so sincere. “And the baby?”

“She is Kivi. Flower,” he added.

She studied the little girl, so clearly human, and asked tentatively, “But she is not… ours?”

“She is most definitely ours,” he said immediately.

His tail lifted away from her waist to stroke the baby’s cheek possessively, and she immediately missed the comforting warmth of it around her.

“But you are correct that she is not biologically my daughter,” he added.

His eyes went back to her face, curiously intent.

“Do you not remember her?”

“I’m afraid not.”

Somewhere in her mind there was a deep well of grief, but it too was muffled by the wall of fog. She had the oddest urge to cry, but no tears came to her eyes.

“I see.”

He tucked the baby against his chest and stood. She was conscious again of his sheer size, but she didn’t find it frightening. However, her body felt cold without his heat next to her. When she looked down, she realized that she was dressed only in what had to be one of his shirts. Perhaps that was why all he was wearing was a pair of tight-fitting black pants.

Once again, it seemed to indicate the intimacy of their relationship, but her bare legs felt cold and she was uneasily conscious of the fact that she was naked beneath the shirt.

“Do I have some other clothes I could put on?”

Once again, he hesitated, gently rocking the baby against his chest.

“Not on board,” he said finally.

On board? They were on a ship? No, she thought, it’s got to be a spaceship. But why wouldn’t she have any clothes if she was traveling with him?

Her confusion must have been obvious, because he added, “You were not with me at the start of the voyage.”

Once again she had the impression that he was choosing his words carefully. The nagging sense that something horrible had happened to her still lingered, despite the fog of her memories. An image floated across her mind, a pool of thick blue liquid. Blood, her mind whispered, and then the image was gone, safely tucked behind the clouds.

The flash of memory was enough to discourage her from asking any more questions. She would have to know eventually, but one thing at a time.

She gave him a hopeful smile instead.

“Maybe I can alter a pair of your pants. I’ve always been a good sewer—”

She came to an abrupt halt as she realized what she’d said. She was quite sure it was true, but how did she know? Why could she remember that she could sew but couldn’t remember her own damn name?

“At least I think I am,” she added doubtfully.

“I have not had the opportunity to see you use those skills,” he said carefully. “But you are welcome to any of my clothing if you wish to try. I will take you to my—our—cabin. Can you stand?”

“I don’t know.” Her body felt sore and achy, but nothing seemed to be too hurt to move. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and very cautiously started to stand. Her knees shook and Taranov’s tail immediately wrapped around her waist, supporting her as she found her balance. It felt right there, as comforting as when it had been wrapped around her earlier, and she leaned into him, putting her own arm around his waist as she smiled up at him.

“Thank you. I guess I’m still a little shaky.”

“Would you like me to carry you?” he asked immediately.

Yes. The sudden urge to acquiesce surprised her, but she shook her head. She wasn’t the wilting flower type who needed to be carried. Once again, the knowledge surprised her—but she did need to walk.

“I’d rather try it on my own. Just stay close, okay?”

“I will not leave your side,” he said, and it sounded more like a promise than a simple agreement. He very slowly led her out of the medical room and down a short corridor lined with doors.

“Crew quarters,” he explained. “But we are currently alone on board.”

“What happened to the crew?”

He gave a half-shrug. “I was scouting opportunities for our next trade route. It didn’t require multiple people, and the rest of the crew preferred to stay at our home base on Tillich Two.”

She shook her head in frustration. The name of the planet did not ring any bells, nor did the fact that he was a trader.

“Is that why I didn’t come along?”

They were climbing the compact flight of stairs at the end of the corridor, his tail still helping to support her, and he didn’t answer immediately. When they reached the landing at the top of the stairs, she could see through a set of double doors into what had to be the bridge. Even though she had decided they were on a spaceship, her mind reeled as she looked across the room to windows that showed an endless expanse of space. She swayed, and he muttered something under his breath as he reached down and picked her up with impressive ease, careful not to disturb the baby in his other arm.

On the other side of the landing were two more doors, and he opened one to reveal a good-sized bedroom with a huge bed at one end and a desk and sitting area directly in front of them. The space was oddly sterile—neat and functional, but with no personal items on display. He must not spend much time here. He took two steps towards the bed, then evidently changed his mind and carefully placed her down on the small couch.

He remained standing, still holding the baby, as his tail swished back and forth in what appeared to be agitation.

“About why you were not with me…” he began, just as the baby woke.

CHAPTER FOUR

The baby stirred against Taranov’s chest, her fragile limbs stretching out, and he immediately looked down. Her eyes opened, startlingly blue in her small face as she looked up at him. Then her mouth trembled, and a moment later a piteous wail emerged from between her lips—as loud as it was heartbreaking. What had happened?

He looked desperately at Latiri.

“What’s wrong with her? What did I do?”

She looked as disturbed as he did when the baby continued to cry.

“I don’t know. Why don’t I know?”

He didn’t have an answer for her—he didn’t even know if the child was her biological daughter—but before he could think of a way to tell her that, she came over to join him.

“Shush,” she whispered, stroking her hand over the baby’s head. For a moment, curious eyes opened, fastening on Latiri’s face, but she immediately resumed crying. When Latiri tried stroking her cheek, Kivi turned her head to it, her mouth working.

“I think she’s hungry,” Latiri said tentatively.

The thought devastated him. He had taken the child under his protection. How could he have failed her already?

“Can you feed her?” he asked desperately.

“Me?” She looked down at her chest, then shook her head. “I’m sure I’m not lactating. Don’t you—we—have any formula?”

A feeding formula? He thought of the artificial incubator on the ship still attached to his and shuddered. He hated the incubators, and Kivi had seemed so unhappy inside it, but they were designed to feed and care for infants. If it could feed her… Then he remembered the powdered substance he had brought over from the ship.

“I think I have some. Would it be a powdery substance?”

“Hmm. I think so.” She screwed up her face as if she were trying to remember. “You would mix it with water to make a thin liquid and put it in a bottle.”

“A bottle?”

Kivi’s cries were getting louder and making it hard to think.

“Yes, to hold the liquid, and with a rubber nipple for her to suck on.” She looked up at him, her face just as concerned. “At least that seems right. But I don’t know if I remember it correctly.”

Her suggestion made sense. The incubators were fitted with feeding tubes that seemed similar to what she had described. He thought he had the materials to replicate one on board—at least he wanted to try. Anything other than returning Kivi to the sterile confines of the incubator.

“Here. Take her while I see what I can find.”

He thrust the baby into her arms and saw her mouth open as if she were about to protest, but he headed for the door and raced back to the med lab. The bottle was easy enough, and although he had no idea of the correct proportions, he mixed up a liquid using the powder and warm water. Then he hesitated—the location of the substance had certainly indicated its possible use, but how could he be sure? He took a small sip of the liquid. Bland, but not unpleasant, he decided it was safe. Moving as quickly as he could, he created a nipple from the finger of a glove, then hurried back to his cabin.

He found Latiri with Kivi cradled against her chest, a sheet wrapped around both of them as she paced back and forth. The baby was still crying, not as loudly now, but just as heartbreakingly.

“Here. Do you think this will work?”

“It’s worth a try.”

She opened the sheet, and he realized she had the baby pressed against her naked chest. He couldn’t force himself to look away as she cradled Kivi in one arm and gently rubbed the artificial nipple against the baby’s lips. The small mouth opened immediately, but then she spat the nipple back out again. Latiri sighed and squeezed a little milk on the baby’s lips. It took several tries, but eventually Kivi started to drink steadily.

“Oh, thank goodness,” Latiri said, watching the baby suck on the bottle. “It’s obviously not what she’s used to, but she took it.”

“It is a great relief,” he agreed, leading her over to the couch so she could sit while she fed the baby.

As his anxiety about the baby lessened, he couldn’t help noticing the expanse of naked flesh where Latiri had pushed the sheet back to feed the baby. He hastily averted his eyes and tried to ignore his growing erection.

“Was there something wrong with your clothing?”

She gave him a rueful smile.

“Not at all. But she just kept crying and I remembered—at least I thought I remembered—something about skin-to-skin contact comforting an infant. I thought I’d give it a try. I was pretty desperate.”

“It did seem to help calm her,” he said, remembering the way the baby had nestled against his chest when he first picked her up. “I think she has been deprived of contact for some time.”

“Why? And why weren’t we with you?”

He had to tell her the truth. When she had mistakenly assumed that he was her mate, he had been too shocked to deny her assumption. Truthfully, he hadn’t wanted to deny it—he wanted her and the baby to belong to him with a passionate intensity. But he couldn’t keep avoiding the truth, even though he was afraid of how she would respond when she found out she had been responsible for the death of another being. He wondered if that was why she couldn’t remember anything—if the shock and horror had been too much for her.

Perhaps it’s not the right time, a part of him suggested. Perhaps he should give her time to recover before he gave her yet another shock. What if he triggered the terrible memory of what had happened on the ship?

“You were taken,” he said slowly. He was sure that much was true at least.

“Who took me?”

“I do not know, but although it is illegal, some races have turned to slave traders since the Red Death left such a vacuum.”

“The Red Death?”

“It was the plague that devastated our systems. It impacted all of us to some degree. Some species were wiped out entirely. Others suffered only minor casualties.”

“Oh, no. I’m so sorry.” Her eyes softened. “And your people—were they…”

“We were very heavily affected. Many of our males died, but even more terribly, we lost all of our females.”

He had never thought to have a mate or a child, and yet now he had both a female and an infant to care for, however temporarily. He watched Kivi nurse with a profound sense of satisfaction, knowing that he had provided nourishment for her. As soon as she was satisfied, he would have to see if he could determine the proper ratio of formula to water, and the frequency with which she would require feeding.

Latiri looked equally satisfied as she watched the baby, but then she wrinkled her brow and looked up at him.

“Can you get me a towel? Something to wrap around her bottom?”

“Of course.” He retrieved several from the bathing room and returned immediately to hand them to her. “What are they for?”

“I’m pretty sure the next thing that comes after eating is pooping.”

Ah. He should have thought of that. He was woefully unprepared for the responsibility he had assumed.

“Can you help me wrap one of those around her?” she asked.

Together the two of them managed to wedge a towel in place, but it was an awkward business trying to do so without disturbing the feeding baby. His fingers brushed against Latiri’s incredibly soft skin several times, and he caught several more glimpses of her delightful body. Was it wrong to find himself with a massive erection under the circumstances? His body did not seem to care.

A few moments after they put the towel around her, there was a faint squirting noise, immediately followed by an appalling stench.

“Is that normal?” he asked, horrified and already preparing to race the baby back to the medical unit.

“I don’t really remember, but I think so.” Latiri sighed. “She seems to have lost interest in her bottle, anyway. Can you help me get her cleaned up?”

“Of course.” He hesitated, and then brushed his fingers across her cheek. “You never need to ask if I am willing to help. I may not know what you or the child need unless you tell me, but whatever it is, I will do my best to provide it for you.”

An odd expression crossed her face, and then she nodded. “I believe you. Thank you.”

He was still trying to figure out why she would have any doubts when she handed him the baby and stood, immediately tripping over the sheet.

“Dammit.” She shook her head and smiled at him. “Since she’s not crying any more, I think your shirt is a better alternative.”

To his shock, she walked over to where she had left his shirt, then casually dropped the sheet before leaning over to pick it up. He had thought the brief glimpses he had seen while they were caring for Kivi were enticing, but seeing the soft curves of her back and hips intensified the ache in his shaft to the point where he could almost have come from the sight alone.

Perhaps fortunately, a second wave of foulness reached his nose and reminded him of more pressing matters. The baby seemed completely unconcerned, waving her arms and legs as she gurgled happily. He quickly tightened the towel before she could spread her excrement everywhere and carried her into the bathroom.

It proved surprisingly difficult to cleanse a small wiggling infant, but together the two of them managed to get her clean and dry. The same could not be said for the two of them—they were both soaked by the time they were finished.

“Would you like to cleanse yourself as well?” he asked her.

“Let’s talk first. Can I borrow another shirt?”

He brought her the shirt, then hastily left the bathing room with the baby before she changed in front of him again.

“Let’s try this again,” she said as she joined the two of them on the couch. “Tell me—”

Her question was interrupted by the sound of the proximity alarm, immediately followed by an announcement.

“This is Captain Mordova of the Confederated Planets Patrol. Please identify yourself.”

CHAPTER FIVE

Taranov swore under his breath. He should have disengaged from the yacht as soon as he had Latiri and Kivi on board. He just hadn’t anticipated anyone else stumbling across them so soon.

Latiri looked up at him, her eyes wide. “Are we in trouble?”

“I hope not,” he said sincerely. “But I need to talk to them. Will you remain here in the cabin with the baby until I return?”

“Yes, of course. Are you sure we’re not in trouble?”

“Not if there is any justice.” He immediately realized how gloomy that sounded and gave her an apologetic smile. “I am sure that everything will be fine. But please, just remain here.”

She nodded, and he gave her a brief hug before heading for the bridge. A small Patrol vessel appeared on the screen, sized for no more than two officers. It appeared to be floating harmlessly in space, its size dwarfed by his ship, but Taranov didn’t make the mistake of underestimating it. Patrol ships had advanced technology and weaponry—and he had always preferred to stay on the right side of the law.

“This is Captain Taranov Nak’Toran,” he responded.

“Are you the authorized owner of this vessel?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Is there anyone else on board your ship?”

There was no point in denying it. All they would have to do to confirm his statement was to scan the ship. The baby was probably too small to be detected, but Latiri would not be.

“My mate is with me.”

To his relief, the captain did not ask any more questions about his ship.

“We are not receiving any response from the ship attached to yours. Do you know the owner?”

Once again, he hesitated.

“I believe he is dead. There is a body on board, and I assume it is the owner.”

He heard a muttered curse from the other end of the call.

“How did he end up that way?” The officer’s voice had turned suspicious.

“I do not know. The ship was just floating in space so I stopped to see if the occupant needed help. He was already dead.” He tried for a more casual tone. “Actually, I am glad you showed up. I did not want to haul it to the nearest base, but I did not want to leave it here either.”

“Turn on your visual feed.”

The other male still sounded suspicious, but Taranov obeyed promptly. The officer enabled his own feed, and Taranov breathed a silent sigh of relief. An Afbera. They were one of the outer sector races and, he hoped, not particularly sympathetic to the wealthy Keks. The officer also seemed to relax a little as he regarded Taranov. Good. It appeared the officer was familiar with his people’s reputation as honorable warriors.

“A Cire. We don’t get many of them in this sector.”

He shrugged casually. “I’m a trader. I go wherever there are goods to trade. My mate and I were just doing some preliminary scouting before the spawning system season begins on Tillich Two.”

The officer made a face. “I know they’re considered a delicacy, but I never saw the appeal to eating slime covered worms.”

“It is an acquired taste,” he agreed.

The officer returned to business.

“All right. Please meet me on board the yacht. I’ll dock on the far side, and you can show me what you found.”

“Very well.”

He ended the communication, already considering possibilities. He did not want to lie to the Patrol officer, but if he realized that Latiri had been on board the yacht, at the very least he would want to question her. And what if he did not believe that she could not remember what happened? In the worst case scenario, he could demand that she accompany them back to their base. He could not let that happen.

He hurried back to his cabin and found Latiri looking pale and worried as she cradled Kivi to her chest.

“What do they want?”

“They just have a few questions,” he said soothingly. “I am going to meet with the captain, but I will return shortly. I think it would be best if you remain here.”

The look she gave him was surprisingly thoughtful. “I suddenly suspect that there are a lot of things that you are not telling me, but… I trust you.”

She actually looked surprised to hear herself say it.

“Thank you. Please believe that I am acting in your best interest.”

At least I hope I am, he thought as he hurried away.

The officer was already on board the yacht when Taranov entered through the boarding tube. He was a big male, his dark furred shoulders stretching the patrol uniform, but he gave Taranov an amiable nod.

“Where’s the body?”

“Upstairs.”

He led the way as the officer looked around, shaking his head.

“I guess it’s nice to have credits.”

“Other things are more important.”

“I can’t say I disagree with you.” A bright red gaze suddenly focused on his face. “It doesn’t appear to have been looted.”

“No, it looked intact when I found it.”

“A lot of traders would have used the opportunity to acquire some additional cargo.”

It honestly hadn’t occurred to him, and his surprise must have been clear because the officer laughed and shook his head again.

“You Cire really are as honorable as you claim, aren’t you?”

He did his best to keep his face impassive, uneasily aware of Latiri hiding in his quarters, and opened the doors to the main suite. Mordova sighed at the sight of the body and walked over to take a closer look.

“Dead all right. And there was obviously a struggle.”

“It might have been an accident—it looks like he hit his head on the bed frame,” he suggested, but the officer was already shaking his head.

“Somehow I doubt it. The question is, who attacked him and why would they leave without taking anything?”

Mordova walked around the room, then to his Taranov’s horror, he opened the door to the closet holding the incubator. “Ah. Perhaps this explains it.”

“It does?” he asked cautiously.

“Children are valuable these days. Perhaps whoever killed him took the child in return.”

“Perhaps they were recovering their own child,” he suggested.

The officer tilted his head, considering the idea, then shook it again.

“Unlikely. Look at this ship. The blue bastard had enough money to purchase a child if he wanted one. He had no need to steal one.”

A thousand objections rushed through his mind, but he was afraid to argue in case Mordova became suspicious. Instead, he nodded amiably.

“No doubt you are right. It is a relief that you are here. I assume you will take charge of the yacht and I may resume my journey?”

“I don’t see why not. That’s not Cire blood mixed with the victim’s.”

Fuck. The officer had been paying more attention than he would have liked. He forced himself to nod, then turned to leave. He had almost reached the doorway when the officer spoke again.

“Wait a minute. Perhaps I should speak to your mate.”

He couldn’t take the chance that the officer might connect Latiri with the second type of blood.

“I am afraid not. She was… with me when I discovered the body and was quite overwhelmed by the sight. She is very delicate,” he added truthfully—at least as far as her physical condition. He was beginning to suspect that beneath the amnesia was a very strong female.

The officer chewed thoughtfully on his lip, obviously torn.

“She did not see anything other than what you see,” Taranov added. “If you wish to question her further, we will be on Tillich Two until spawning season is complete.”

“I suppose that will be all right. Your ship’s registration indicates that that’s your home base.”

Ah, so Mordova hadn’t just taken his word for it. There was a competent officer behind the casual persona.

“Of course. I would not lie to you.”

Mordova grinned and held up a small device. “I know you wouldn’t—especially since I have been monitoring your words. Everything you have said you believe to be the truth.”

“As you say, we have earned our reputation.”

He managed to respond coolly, grateful that he had stuck to the truth, if not the entire truth.

“All right. You may go on your way. Just remember that I will be following up with you and your mate on Tillich Two.”

Was that a veiled threat? Mordova’s cheerful expression gave no such indication, but there was definitely a hint of warning in his voice.

“Of course. Perhaps we might even tempt you to try the hivik.”

The officer shuddered, and Taranov laughed as he went on his way. He still half-expected the other male to call him back and reached his ship with a sigh of relief, immediately disengaging the landing tube and retracting the clamps to free the yacht from his ship.

As he headed back to the bridge, he tried to decide on the best path forward. Mordova seemed fairly insistent on following up with him on Tillich Two, and he clearly needed to find both Taranov and his mate.

He suddenly stumbled to a halt. His mate. Mordova had been using a truth detector, and he had accepted the truth of Taranov’s statement. Latiri was his mate, no matter how different, no matter how often he had been told that the Cire could only mate with another Cire.

The knowledge settled into his bones in a great wave of happiness, immediately followed by guilt. She did not know the truth. He had been too shocked by her questions to respond, and she had taken his silence to mean that they were in fact mated. Twice now he had tried to tell her the truth, but now he found himself wondering if he should. If Mordova came looking and did not find her with him, suspicion would be sure to fall on her.

Perhaps it would be best not to tell her until after the investigation was closed. His conscience immediately protested, but his instincts told him to protect her at any cost. With a sinking heart, he realized how high the price might be for his secrecy—she would be sure to feel betrayed. But keeping her out of the hands of the Patrol was more important.

He could do this, he decided. He would have to do this. He would treat her respectfully, but he would maintain his distance until he could tell her the truth. He suspected it would be difficult, but he didn’t realize just how difficult it would be until he opened the door to his quarters and found it empty.

Momentary panic seized him. Had someone taken Latiri and Kivi while he was preoccupied with the Patrol? But then he heard the sound of water in the bathing room. He knocked tentatively, but there was no answer. He couldn’t hear any sound other than a rush of water. Had she injured herself?

When he peeked through the door, Kivi was sleeping peacefully in one of his drawers and Latiri was in the shower. He started to withdraw, then realized that her shoulders were shaking and he could hear the faint sound of her sobs beneath the flow of water. He couldn’t prevent himself from going to her. When she immediately turned and buried her face against him, he realized that maintaining a distance between them was going to be much harder than he had anticipated.

CHAPTER SIX

Latiri looked after Taranov as he left and sighed. She did trust him—and why did that surprise her?—but she hated not knowing what was happening. But maybe it’s a relief not to be in charge for once, she thought as a wave of exhaustion swept over her, then sighed again. How did she know that she was usually the one making decisions?

She shook her head and looked down at Kivi. The baby now seemed to be sleeping peacefully and Latiri was tempted to join her, but Taranov’s earlier mention of a shower sounded even more appealing. But what was she going to do with Kivi?

She looked over at the big bed, but hated the idea of leaving the baby alone. Instead, she pulled one of the drawers out of the storage wall. Taranov’s clothing was neatly folded inside, but she removed it, padded it with the coverlet from the bed instead, and then laid Kivi down inside. The baby stirred a little, and Latiri tucked one of Taranov’s shirts over her. After she did, Kivi settled back down again and she breathed a thankful sigh as she carried her into the adjoining bathroom.

As she placed the makeshift bassinet carefully on the counter and turned around, she realized there was a full-length mirror on the back of the door panel. She stared at herself in shock. She was almost positive she recognized the woman standing there, and yet she didn’t think she usually looked like this. She was sure her hair was usually shorter, cropped close to her chin in a precise line. And her clothes—she had a swift vision of a tailored suit, something a long way from the oversized shirt she was currently wearing.

What happened to me? The question continued to haunt her. As soon as Taranov returned, they had to have a serious talk.

In the meantime, she really wanted that shower. She managed to figure out how to turn it on, but as she stripped off her shirt, she caught another glimpse of herself in the mirror.

Oh my God.

She’d noticed a few scratches on her legs and some deeper gashes on her calf, but the shirt had concealed a lot more damage. She took a step closer to the mirror, noting the bruises on her upper arm along with the scratches on her forearms. Defensive wounds. The phrase echoed in her head.

Red marks covered her breasts, along with more scratches. She had what looked like a burn mark on her side and a hand-shaped bruise on her left hip. Taranov had said he didn’t think she’d been raped but… She bit her lip and very cautiously touched between her legs. To her relief, she didn’t feel sore or swollen. The worst injury appeared to be the gashes around her calf—as if someone had grabbed her there.

A sudden image surfaced, of trying to get away from someone and feeling a hand clamp down on her leg. She could almost feel the claws digging into her skin, and she shivered. Suddenly desperate to forget the memory, she climbed into the shower and let the hot water flow down over her head.

She didn’t even realize she was crying at first. But then she leaned against the shower wall and sobbed as the terror and confusion swept over her. A big warm figure suddenly lifted her into his arms. A startled yelp escaped her lips, but then she recognized Taranov’s familiar scent and she leaned into him.

“I should not have left you, Latiri.”

“No, it’s fine. I knew you had to go with the Patrol officer. And I don’t usually cry like this. At least, I don’t think I do?”

“I do not believe you do, but you have been through a very difficult time.”

His words reminded her of all the questions that remain unanswered.

“I think we need to talk about that.”

He didn’t look happy about the idea, but he nodded. “If you insist. But perhaps you should finish cleansing yourself first.”

She managed a smile.

“I think I’m clean enough now, and you’re getting wet,” she added as she realized he’d stepped into the shower fully clothed.

The tight-fitting outfit had left little to the imagination before, but now that it was wet, she could see every muscle ridge of his abdomen and the way his pants clung to what was surely an oversized cock. It certainly appeared that he had been blessed in that department. Maybe there’s more than one reason why I married him, she thought with a hidden grin. Her nipples tightened in response, and she was suddenly aware that she was completely naked in his arms.

Her cheeks heated, but she told herself not to be silly. He must have seen her like this many times before. Although actually, he wasn’t looking at her. If anything, he seemed to be looking anywhere except at her naked body. Perhaps the sight of her injuries distressed him as much as it had distressed her.

She put her arms around his waist and gave him a quick hug, trying to ignore the way his cock jerked against her as their bodies came together.

“Can you get me another one of your shirts while I dry off?”

“Of course,” he said, sounding relieved.

He manipulated the control panel and warm air started to swirl around them. “I’ll dry off once you are through.”

He picked up Kivi’s makeshift bassinet and walked quickly out of the room. His tail swished behind him, but she was more focused on the extremely fine ass showcased by the tight, wet pants.

When she joined him in the bedroom, her heart—or perhaps her ovaries—did a sudden flip. Taranov had picked up Kivi and was cradling her against his naked chest.

“Did she wake up?”

“Not exactly, but she seemed somewhat restless.”

“She was or you were?” she asked dryly.

He smiled at her, an unexpectedly charming grin, and shrugged. “Perhaps a little of both.”

She sighed, a sudden wave of tiredness washing over her.

“I don’t suppose you have a glass of wine?”

“Forgive me. Of course you must be hungry and thirsty.”

He returned the baby to the bassinet, his tail patting her gently after he tucked her in, then headed for the door. “I will be back in a few minutes.”

She started to protest—she really needed to get some answers—but she did feel exhausted. Perhaps some food and drink would help. She slumped down on the couch next to the drawer, watching Kivi sleep, her little rosebud mouth pushed out in a baby pout.

Is she my daughter? She couldn’t see any resemblance, but then again she’d never really thought that most babies looked like their parents. Another unexpected thought, but she was quite sure it was true.

Too tired to deal with the whole confusing mess, she leaned back against the cushions. She was almost asleep when Taranov returned carrying a tray laden with food, along with a carafe of what looked like water and a bottle of what she hoped was wine.

“I was not sure what you would like.” She must have looked confused because he added hastily, “I mean, I was not sure what your stomach would tolerate.”

“I don’t know either. And I don’t recognize anything,” she said miserably.

“Then I shall assist.”

He hesitated for a fraction of a second, then moved Kivi’s bed to the far end of the couch and sat down next to her. He poured her a large glass of water, and she drank thirstily—that at least she recognized. However, none of the bites he handed her seemed even remotely familiar. Even some items which seemed to taste similar to things she’d had before looked completely different. A small red globe that looked like fruit but tasted like cheese. A pale green slice that tasted like steak.

She abandoned any attempt to make sense of it and just tried the things he handed her. It didn’t take long until her stomach felt uncomfortably full.

“I think that’s enough for now.”

He looked unexpectedly angry. “I do not believe you were fed a sufficient quantity while you were gone.”

The reminder brought up all of the mysteries surrounding her adventures. She took a deep breath and pointed at the bottle of golden liquid.

“Is that wine? I think I’d like a glass before we continue.”

He nodded and poured her a small amount. She took a cautious sip, and sighed with delight. Not wine exactly, but a thick honeyed liquid that tasted more like the mead she’d once had at a Renaissance Faire. Dammit. Another random memory.

He reached over and ran a gentle finger between her brows, smoothing away the frown line.

“What troubles you?”

The question surprised a little laugh out of her.

“What doesn’t trouble me? But specifically, I was wondering why I have these odd memories of things that happened in the past, on Earth I think, but nothing useful, and nothing recent.”

“It is possible that your memory will return in multiple small instances.”

He was choosing his words carefully again, and she shook her head in frustration as she downed the rest of the wine.

“One thing I am sure about is that I am not a particularly patient person.”

“I am sorry. I know that it is difficult.”

The comforting warmth of the wine spread through her body, and it gave her an idea. The taste had triggered a memory. Perhaps there were other things that would trigger her memories…

She leaned into him, and his tail tightened around her waist. It had been there ever since he sat down, she realized.

“Kiss me,” she demanded.

He looked utterly shocked as she tried to tug him closer.

“Maybe it will help me remember.”

“But I—”

She didn’t give him a chance to finish. She covered his mouth with her own, licking between his parted lips. Mmm. Dark chocolate and cinnamon and something that was completely Taranov. The kiss felt both new and oddly familiar, and she wanted more. Her tongue slipped along his, the textured surface making her shiver, and then he growled and took over.

He devoured her as if she were a banquet and he were a starving male. He explored every inch of her mouth as he pulled her closer and she let herself be swept away in the flood of pleasure. When he finally lifted his head, she had somehow ended up on his lap, her pussy perched over the thick ridge between his legs. His tail had wrapped around one of her nipples while his big hands held her against him.

Desire had washed away her confusion, but she saw the moment he remembered their situation. He looked horrified, but he still kept her cradled in his lap as he apologized.

“I am sorry. I did not intend for this to happen.”

“I’m not complaining.”

She tried to pull his head back down for more kisses, but he resisted.

“I do not think this is a good idea.”

“You weren’t objecting a moment ago.” Her body still hummed with excitement, but she frowned up at him. “What changed?”

“You do not remember me, do you?” he asked gently.

“I don’t know. You seem familiar, and this feels right—more than right,” she added. “But no, I don’t have any specific memories.”

“I think we should wait. Get to know each other again.”

“I think I’m a little too old to start dating.”

There it was again—that elusive knowledge—and exhaustion washed over her. Perhaps he was right.

“Dating?” he asked.

“You know, when you go places together and talk a lot about each other. Doesn’t it work like that out here?”

“A Cire knows his mate as soon as he meets her,” he said solemnly.

“That would certainly prevent you from kissing a lot of frogs.”

He frowned. “The translation does not appear to be correct. A frog is some kind of amphibian? Why would you kiss one?”

She laughed, and snuggled against his chest. The combination of exhaustion and the lingering effects of the wine were really hitting her now.

“It’s an expression,” she murmured sleepily. “It means sometimes you have to try a lot of males before you find the right one.”

“I prefer the Cire way,” he said firmly, and she smiled.

“Tell me about us. How did you know I was your mate?”

“Because of your scent. Sweet and floral, but with something bright—”

She didn’t hear the rest of his description as she fell asleep in his arms.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Something was chasing her. Outstretched hands, blue and clawed, reached for her. Pain and blood, sticky pools of blue blood.

She screamed and woke up, her body drenched with sweat as Taranov came rushing in.

“What is wrong?”

He pulled her into his arms as he spoke, and she went willingly, her whole body trembling.

“I had a nightmare.”

“Do you remember it?”

She shook her head, the images already fading. The terror was fading too as she nestled against his chest, his comforting scent filling her head and his tail firmly around her waist.

“Not really. Just a lot of… blue. Blue hands. Blue blood.” She shivered again. “Are there blue aliens?”

“Yes.” His voice sounded oddly strained. “There are races of all colors in the Confederated Planets.”

For some reason, that comforted her.

“I just hope we won’t see any blue ones anytime soon. I mean, we are going to see other people, aren’t we? You never said where we were going.”

“We are returning to Tillich Two.” She could feel the tension in his body, even though the words sounded innocuous enough.

“Already? Didn’t you say you were scouting trade routes?”

“The Patrol captain wished to know where to find us.”

His voice was carefully neutral, but now it was her turn to tense. She remembered the way he had asked her to remain in the cabin while he dealt with the Patrol, and she was quite sure there was something he wasn’t telling her about that encounter. Before she could gather up the courage to ask him, Kivi suddenly cried out.

Saved by the bell, she thought.

Taranov looked equally relieved as he went to get her. She finally noticed that he was bare-chested, wearing only a pair of loose, low-slung pants that showed the upper curve of his ass. The view was equally fine when he returned, showcasing the V of muscles at the base of his abdomen. She was so distracted that it took a moment for her to remember that he hadn’t been in the room when she awakened.

“Where were you?”

“I decided to sleep in the other cabin. So that you could rest undisturbed.” He didn’t look at her as he chose a bottle from several lined up on a shelf. “Do you want to feed her?”

“Yes, please.”

Holding the warm little body seemed like the perfect antidote to her nightmares. She smiled when the baby started feeding eagerly, and looked at the row of bottles.

“I see you wanted to be prepared.”

“I did not want her to go hungry again.” He hesitated for a second, then sat down on the bed next to her, his tail immediately moving into its usual position around her waist. “I found some absorbent bandages to use as coverings for her lower half.”

She gave him an approving smile, then realized that Kivi was also wearing a white onesie-type outfit.

“Where did the clothes come from?”

“I found this outfit and one other with her when I found the two of you.”

“But nothing for me?”

A memory rushed over her, and she tensed. Someone had been thrusting a gown at her, but it was short and sheer and she refused. And then… pain.

Kivi whimpered, and she realized she was communicating her anxiety to the baby. She did her best to relax, snuggling back against Taranov.

“What is wrong?” he asked gently.

“I think someone was trying to make me wear something I didn’t want to wear.”

It sounded ridiculous when she said it out loud, but he nodded gravely.

“You were wearing an… unsuitable garment when I found you. I destroyed it,” he added with unexpected vehemence.

“Thank you.” She rubbed the red place on her side she had noticed before her shower. “I think they shocked me when I refused.”

A growl rumbled through his chest. She was quite sure that a human man would never make that sound, but she found it oddly comforting. Kivi’s eyes opened, but she didn’t seem disturbed by the noise either.

As soon as the baby finished drinking, he changed her makeshift diaper and started to put her back in her bassinet. The small mouth trembled, and then she started to sob. It was not her hungry wail, but it was just as piteous. He immediately picked the baby back up and sat down next to her again. Kivi settled down as soon as she was back in his arms.

“I wonder why she does that.”

“When I found the two of you, she was in an incubator.”

His voice was absolutely neutral, but she was sure that the memory upset him.

“Is that bad?” she asked.

“They are designed to provide for every need—except the need for contact. For family.” He looked over at the window, but she didn’t believe he was seeing stars streaming by. “It was the Cire Council’s solution to rebuilding our race—artificial reproduction and care. I had always done my duty, always, but that was the one thing I could not face. That was when I left Ciresia.”

“I don’t blame you. What a terrible thing to do.”

He sighed heavily and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

“Perhaps I should not judge them too harshly. It is a terrible thing for a race to vanish. But it was a line I could not cross.”

“I understand. I don’t think I was ever in an incubator, but I was raised by nannies and governesses. My parents were never there for me.”

The words emerged without conscious thought, but once again she knew they were true. She recognized that aching longing for love and attention. He looked horrified.

“Why would that be so?”

“I’m not really sure. I get the sense that they were very wealthy and important.”

She wasn’t certain about this knowledge, but it felt true. She deliberately pushed aside her unhappiness and smiled up at him.

“But that won’t be true for Kivi, will it? We’ll make sure she has all of the love and attention she needs. Although you will have to put her down eventually,” she added as she yawned.

“Go back to sleep,” he urged her. “I’m not sure how long she will slumber.”

She yawned again and nodded. “I think you’re right. But this time, you’ll stay, won’t you?”

A strange combination of relief and reluctance crossed his face, but he nodded.

“I will remain.”

They sat in silence until Kivi fell asleep, then he dimmed the lights and returned to her side. The bed was large enough that their bodies didn’t have to touch—but she wanted to touch him, to know that he was there. She snuggled against his side, and a moment later his arm went around her shoulders and his tail around her waist.

She nestled closer, breathing in his comforting scent, but sleep eluded her. The events of the day swirled in her head, along with all of her unanswered questions.

“I do not believe you are sleeping, Latiri.” His voice was a deep rumble in the darkness.

“Why wasn’t I here on the ship with you?” she blurted out. The question had been bothering her since she realized that there was no sign of her on board. “Did we have a fight?”

“How could I fight with you?”

That was sweet, but…

“Then why were you alone?”

“I get restless when I am on the planet surface for too long,” he said slowly.

“Then how did I end up out here?” She could feel the tension in his body, and put it together with the marks on her skin. “I was taken, wasn’t I?”

Taken. The word seemed to echo in her head, and a wave of dizziness swept over her. Taranov’s tail immediately tightened around her waist, and she clung to the comfort of his body.

“I was not there. I could not prevent it,” he said.

She could hear the regret in his voice and she believed him. He hadn’t been anything but protective and caring since she’d awoken.

“But you came for me.”

He hesitated. “It was only luck that I found you.”

She shuddered and wrapped her arms tighter around his waist. Those black depths in her mind threatened to rise up and swallow her, but she firmly pushed them aside. Whatever was waiting there was not something she was ready to face.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Taranov stared into the darkness long after Latiri’s body softened into sleep. He still thought—hoped—that not telling her that they weren’t actually mated was the best course, but it didn’t assuage his overwhelming feeling of guilt. And his attempt to maintain a distance between them hadn’t even lasted a single night, he acknowledged ruefully.

But in spite of his guilt, he had never been happier.

He awoke the next morning with Latiri half on top of him, her leg pressing against his throbbing shaft. His hand spanned the curve of her ass, holding her in place, and his finger was only inches away from the tempting heat between her legs. Overcome by longing, he shifted his hand—only the merest fraction—and felt the damp kiss of her sweet cunt against his fingertip.

“Mmm.”

She moaned softly and wiggled against him, and for one brief, blessed second, his finger slipped completely between those soft, wet folds. His cock jerked, threatening to explode from the mere promise of that touch, and he was overcome with shame. He slid her gently to one side and rolled into a sitting position.

“Taranov?” Her voice was thick with sleep.

Unable to resist, he looked back over his shoulder at her. She gave him a languorous smile, her face flushed and her eyes heavy—the same way she would look after sex, he suspected. The longing to find out was so intense he had to turn away, uneasily aware that his attempt to protect her might backfire to the point where she would never even consider him as a mate.

“Where are you going?” she murmured. “It’s still early. At least, I think it is.”

“It is, but the lights will be coming on soon.”

He tried to sound matter-of-fact, but he must not have been as successful as he hoped, because her soft fingers gently touched his back.

“What’s wrong?”

“I have much to do today.”

“Hmm.” She didn’t sound entirely convinced. “And what am I going to do?”

“Do?” The thought hadn’t even occurred to him.

“Yes. I have to have something to occupy my time. I’m not used to being idle.” An indrawn breath. “At least I don’t think I am.”

“Of course not.” He was quite sure she was right. “What would you like to do?”

“Why don’t you start by showing me around the ship—as soon as we’ve taken care of Kivi,” she added as they both heard the baby whimper.

After the baby had been fed and changed and bathed—with another change of outfits for everyone involved—he followed her suggestion and led her on a tour of the ship. She had a thousand questions—surprisingly perceptive questions—but to his relief, she didn’t ask anything else about their past. Perhaps it haunted her as much as he suspected.

When the tour ended, he prepared breakfast as she sat in the galley and watched him, bouncing Kivi in her arms.

“I suppose it makes sense that I don’t remember the ship if I don’t usually accompany you.”

Fortunately, he had his back to her or he was afraid his expression would have given him away.

“It seemed to be for the best, with the baby so young,” he said carefully. It was a logical assumption—but he would never leave his family behind.

“Maybe…” He heard her sigh. “How old is she?”

He couldn’t bring himself to lie. “I do not know. She was with you when I found you.”

“I see. I guess we’ll have to give you a birthday, munchkin.” Her voice faltered again. “What’s the date?”

“I do not know what it would be in Earth terms. My people would have said it was the Day of the Salir in the Year of the Cromat.”

Her laugh surprised him, and he turned around to find her shaking her head.

“Sounds like the Cire could give the Chinese calendar a run for its money. I suppose it doesn’t make much difference out here anyway. But when we get back to Tillich Two, I want a big calendar to keep track of everything just like…”

“Just like?”

“Just like the one I used to have.”

Her eyes were bright with unshed tears again, and his heart ached.

“You shall have whatever you want,” he promised.

After they ate, she returned to his quarters to make herself some additional clothing. He went to the bridge to enter the routes he’d explored prior to finding the yacht—but his mind kept straying to his cabin and the two females within. He even found himself standing outside his door, listening as she laughed and talked to the baby.

Like a thief in the night, he thought gloomily, longing to enter and knowing he should not. But perhaps that is all I deserve.

His resolution to remain at a distance disappeared after their midday meal when she asked him about his morning tasks. Somehow her questions ended up with her sitting with him for the rest of the afternoon as he explained trade routes and Confederated Planets currency and the inner sector markets versus the outer sector markets. Her questions were as intelligent as they had been during the tour of his ship, and they triggered several of her own memories, although nothing definitive.

“I know that I know these things,” she said with a sigh as they sat down for the evening meal. “Markets and trading. But it feels different—more technological than personal.”

“We have that as well, although it is mainly in the inner sectors. Since the Red Death, most people prefer to deal with what they can see and touch.”

After they finished their meal and put Kivi to bed, Latiri carried her glass of wine to the couch and patted the cushion next to her.

“Come and sit down. We’ve talked about a lot of generalities. Now I want to know more about you and your trading business.”

He should make an excuse and refuse, but as he looked at her sitting there, dressed in the remarkably elegant little gown she had created from his clothing, he knew he would not.

“What do you want to know?” he asked as he joined her. The lights had been dimmed so as not to disturb Kivi, and there was an intimacy to the darkened room that hadn’t existed earlier.

“Have you always traded hivik?”

“No.” He looked off into the distance, remembering. “My former partner Jedrar liked to travel. He would deal in anything that made a profit so we traded from one end of the galaxy to the other. I found out later that he too was running from the past. But I have not been as… restless when it comes to traveling great distances.”

“But I thought you said you did not like to stay on the planet for long?”

Her memory of what happened prior to the incident on the ship might have been uncertain, but she certainly didn’t seem to have any problem remembering their subsequent conversations. He sighed.

“I know. I am… tired of traveling, but I do not feel at home on any planet I have found so far.”

“Not even with me and Kivi?” she asked softly.

The truth struck him like a sword. Of course that was why he had never felt at home. It wasn’t because he was on a different planet; it wasn’t because he wasn’t on Ciresia. It was because he had no family. Although that is not entirely true, he thought. His crew had become a family of sorts, and perhaps that was why he had lasted so long on Tillich Two.

But Latiri was still looking at him, waiting for an answer.

“I am not entirely sure,” he said slowly, trying to balance the fine line between truth and lie. “I suspect that the end of the life that I knew on Ciresia had affected me more than I was aware.”

Unable to help himself, he took her hand, marveling at how small it was compared to his and yet how right it felt in his. “But now that I have you and Kivi, I know that I was wrong. It is not the place, but the people who make a home.”

Her eyes were bright with unshed tears again, but she didn’t respond, only clasped his hand in return.

The urge to tell her the entire truth was far too close, so he quickly returned to the original subject.

“After I bought the ship from Jedrar, my crew came to me and suggested finding somewhere where we could stay for longer periods of time. Tillich Two turned out to be the answer. Between the profits from the major spawning in the spring and the second minor spawning in the fall, we have sufficient credits to remain on the planet for the rest of the year. In between, I occasionally take smaller local jobs with whatever members of the crew want to participate. It is a good life,” he admitted, surprising himself.

He hadn’t really taken the time to think about it before. He had done it for his crew rather than for himself. He had benefited more than he realized, but there had still been one thing missing.

“But it is better now that you and Kivi are part of it.”

Her eyes still bright, she leaned over and kissed him. Perhaps she had intended it as a thank you, nothing more, but as soon as their lips touched, the heat that had been lingering between them exploded into flame. Her mouth opened beneath his as she returned his kiss with equal passion. He pulled her onto his lap, desperate to have her closer to him.

He groaned as he realized that she was naked beneath her new gown. Even through the fabric of his pants, he could feel the dampness of her hot little cunt. She ground herself against him, and he willingly helped her move, one hand clasping the lush roundness of her ass while his other cupped a full breast, delighted to find her nipple hard and waiting for his touch.

A distant part of his mind tried to remind him that he shouldn’t be doing this, but he was too lost in sensation—in her—to pay any attention to it. It wasn’t until she reached between them and tried to wrestle open his pants that he finally came to his senses.

He quickly pulled her hand away, cursing under his breath at the absence of those soft little fingers against his aching flesh.

“Why won’t you let me touch you?” she demanded.

“We were going to take it slowly. Remember?” The words came out as a growl.

“I don’t want to take it slowly. I want you, Taranov. I need you.”

The three words he could not resist. He would not allow himself to mate with her, but surely it wasn’t wrong to ease her, he decided as he looked down at her flushed face.

“I will take care of you,” he promised.

He allowed himself another taste of her sweet mouth, but this time he tried his best not to lose control. This is about pleasing her, he reminded himself. He wanted to ask her what she liked, what pleased her, but that would only raise more questions. By Granthar, how had he gotten himself into this position?

There was more than one way, he decided, to know if a female was pleased. As he kissed her again, his hands and tail began to explore, noting every sigh and gasp against his mouth, feeling the way her body responded, the way she rose to meet him and the way she shivered at his touch. Her breasts were sensitive, and even the slightest tug of his tail on one of her tempting nipples had her arching against him.

The slippery heat between her legs intensified when he pressed his tail gently, oh so gently, against her small entrance. The tight clasp around the tip of his tail as he slipped inside threatened to override his control, but somehow he managed to retain it. The most surprising discovery was a small pleasure spot at the top of her slit. When he brushed it carefully with his thumb, her whole body shivered and her blunt little nails dug into his shoulders.

“Oh, yes. Right there.”

He kissed her again as he circled it, feeling it swell into a hard little nub. When he finally brushed across the top, just as he pressed his tail deeper inside her, she climaxed, her body convulsing in his arms. She whispered his name over and over, her sweet little cunt so tight around his tail that he could barely move, but it wasn’t until she opened her eyes and smiled up at him that his own climax roared through him and he felt the warm rush of liquid dampening his pants.

It was not a complete climax—it wouldn’t be until he was buried inside his mate with his knot locking them together—but it was the most satisfaction he’d ever had. He sagged against her as his body went limp with relief, and she hugged him, her hand stroking his back. He suddenly felt as if the tables had turned and she was the one comforting him. It was not a sensation with which he was familiar, but he could rapidly become addicted to being in her arms this way.

I’m supposed to be comforting her, he reminded himself, and reluctantly pushed himself away. She smiled up at him again.

“That wasn’t so bad, was it? I bet it didn’t hurt at all.”

“I am not sure that my cock agrees,” he said dryly as he adjusted his still stiffened shaft.

Her eyes widened. “But didn’t you… I mean I thought I felt you…” Her words died away as a rush of pink covered her face and she looked adorably embarrassed.

“I released my seed, yes, but only time will lessen my erection.”

“Is it always like that?”

“It would subside more quickly if I climaxed inside your body.” His cock stiffened even more at the tempting thought.

The color in her cheeks deepened even further. “Then maybe we should…”

“Not tonight,” he forced himself to say as he rose to his feet. “I will bring you a cleansing cloth.”

He fled to the bathing room and did his best to clean himself up before returning to her. She was sprawled on the couch where he had left her, her cheek still flushed and her eyes closed. He hesitated for a moment, not sure if he should wake her or not, then carefully cleansed her. She was so small, so pink and delicate beneath the small patch of dark curls. Perhaps it wouldn’t even be possible for them to truly mate. His body did not seem to be convinced.

Her eyes finally opened as he carried her back to the bed.

“I’m sorry I keep falling asleep on you.”

“I think you have been through a very difficult period. Your body needs time to recover.”

“Well, I certainly feel more relaxed now.” As he put her down, she put her hand on his arm. “Please stay with me.”

There was no way he could resist the temptation.

“Very well.” He settled down in the bed next to her and didn’t resist when she curled into his arms. His tail wrapped around her, and he was half-asleep when Kivi began to cry.

He shook his head and went to get the baby and her bottle.

CHAPTER NINE

She was dreaming, but this time she wasn’t terrified. She didn’t feel anything except a kind of cold numbness. She was standing on a beach in winter as grey waves crashed onto the sand beneath a grey sky. An icy wind whipped across her cheeks and she heard the distant squawk of a gull above the roar of the waves. She was completely alone. No one was with her and no one waited for her. The certainty of that knowledge jerked her awake.

But when she woke up, she wasn’t alone. Her face was buried in the curve of Taranov’s shoulder. His arm kept her locked against him, and his tail was in its usual position around her waist, the end sneaking down towards her thighs and resting just over her mound.

Mmm. Her body still remembered the pleasure he’d given her the night before. She snuggled a little closer as she took a deep breath of his now familiar scent, using it to wash away the last of the sadness.

He was still sleeping, and she dimly remembered that he had been up twice in the night with the baby. Once he’d brought Kivi to her and she’d fed her, still half-asleep. The second time, he’d simply told her to go back to sleep. He must have taken care of her all by himself.

He was such a good male. Such a good father. And such a good husband? The word didn’t sound right somehow, bringing back a disturbing echo of her dream. What was the word he used? Mate. Yes, she liked that much better. He was a good mate, and maybe a good mate deserved…

Her hand was resting on the wide expanse of his chest, the intriguing texture of the skin tantalizing her fingertips. Moving slowly so as not to wake him, she traced down over the strong pectorals to the ridges of his abdomen and then lower to where his cock waited, already hard and ready. She touched him, carefully, lightly, still trying not to disturb him as she explored. His shaft was also covered with the same small nubs as the rest of his skin. Her nipples beaded as she tried to remember what it felt like inside her. His tongue and his tail had been tantalizing hints of what it must be like.

She tried to wrap her fingers around his cock, but they wouldn’t quite meet. Instead, she contented herself with grasping as much as she could and gently running her hand up and down the thick shaft. When she reached the top, she swiped her thumb across the broad tip, already pearled with liquid. His scent intensified, rich and heady, and she wondered if he tasted as good as he smelled.

A smile curved her lips as she gave in to impulse and very slowly slid down his body until her face rested on his stomach, next to that tantalizing, gleaming head. His tail moved with her, now slipping deeper between her legs and setting the sensitive nerve endings on fire. She squeezed her legs together, seeking more of that tantalizing touch as she brought his cock to her mouth and very carefully licked the tip.

The taste burst across her tongue, rich dark chocolate with the underlying hint of spice. Delicious. She licked again, not quite as tentatively, and then again and again, coaxing more sweet drops from his body.

She heard him groan, and then his body tensed.

“Latiri?”

She didn’t respond in words. Instead, she covered his cock with her mouth, her lips stretching wide as she took the entire head into her mouth. God, he was big. Her jaw ached, but she refused to release him, rubbing her tongue across the underside of his shaft. He groaned again, much louder this time, and put his hand on her head.

“No. Latiri, we can’t…”

His words disappeared into a growl as she adjusted her grip and sucked him deeper. Perhaps he’d intended to pull her away, but instead his fingers tightened in her hair. He urged her on, encouraging her to take more and more of that thick shaft. She responded eagerly, using her hands to work the rest of his length as she focused on his head, licking and sucking. Her teeth accidentally scraped against him, but from the sound of his groan, he enjoyed it so she repeated the gesture. His hips jerked upwards, almost overwhelming her as she did her best to take as much of him as she could.

She felt him tense again, felt that thick shaft become impossibly harder, and then he flooded her mouth with his hot, sweet seed, a litany of praise spilling from his lips as he shuddered helplessly against her. She swallowed as much as she could as he came and came and came. Her jaw ached even more when the pulses finally stopped, but satisfaction filled her as she lifted her mouth from the still erect shaft. She curled her tongue around him as she pulled away and felt him shudder again before she looked up and gave him a triumphant smile.

“What… what did you do?” he asked.

He looked dazed and oddly uncertain. Had she done something wrong?

“We call it a blowjob. Is it not something you do?”

“It is forbidden,” he said slowly, still looking dazed.

“Oh no. I didn’t mean to upset you or do anything you don’t like. I just thought it would be a nice way to say good morning to my mate.”

His face stiffened, and a second later she was alone in bed as he hastily pulled his pants back over his now diminishing shaft.

She sat up, biting her lip as guilt swamped her.

“I’m so, so sorry. I didn’t know—I didn’t remember.”

None of it seemed familiar now that she thought about it—not his delicious taste or his jaw-stretching size or the way he shuddered when she closed her mouth around him. Was that why?

He sighed, and some of the tension left his body, even though he still seemed curiously stiff as he came and sat down next to her, keeping a small space between them.

“You did not know. The act was forbidden by the Cire Council. The only acceptable way to release our seed was inside one of the milking machines.”

His voice still sounded stiff, but she no longer thought it was directed at her. She shuddered at the image he conjured up.

“I really didn’t mean to upset you.”

He gave her an astonished look.

“Upset me? I have never experienced such an incredible sensation. But…” He sighed again. “I am not being very successful at giving you a chance to get to know me first.”

Was that all he was worried about? She smiled and edged a little closer.

“I don’t mind. I enjoyed it very much.”

His tail started to move towards her and he suddenly grabbed it, frowning down at the glistening tip.

“You were aroused?”

She was pretty sure she was blushing, but she did her best to meet his gaze directly.

“I just said I enjoyed it.”

He still looked astonished. “You mean you enjoy giving your mate—giving me—pleasure even when I am not reciprocating?”

“Well, yes.” She closed the final inch between their bodies and nudged him gently with her elbow. “I like to make you happy. I loved it when you climaxed because of me.”

He still looked so astonished that her heart ached. Had they never discussed this before? Or had she simply accepted that it was forbidden? Maybe there was a bright side to her lack of memory. They could move forward without any preconceptions of what was allowed and not allowed.

“Is there anything else that we haven’t tried—” she began as she reached for him again, but he caught her hand before she could touch him.

“Latiri, we must talk. I must tell you—”

Dread swept over her and she jumped up.

“No. I don’t want to know.” The dark place in her memory seemed to grow larger. “I mean, not yet. Please, Taranov.”

He hesitated, but then Kivi started to whimper.

“Perhaps you are right. Perhaps this is a subject best left for another time.” His face was an odd combination of relieved and regretful, as he bent down and kissed her. “Thank you for the experience. It was indeed a very good way to begin the day.”

“I don’t see how single mothers do this,” she said as she collapsed next to him with a sigh later that afternoon. “No wonder Deanna was always yawning.”

She felt his body tense and realized what she’d said.

“Deanna?” he asked cautiously.

“My… my assistant.” The memory was suddenly there. Deanna in the office in front of hers, her tailored clothes always just a little bit rumpled, and somehow managing to be cheerful despite her obvious exhaustion.

“I remember her,” she whispered.

“Do you remember anything else?”

She could see her assistant sitting there, smiling cheerfully as she handed her a cup of coffee. She could see the desk that grew steadily more cluttered over the course of the day but was always spotless again when Deanna left. She could even see tall buildings through the window behind her assistant, but that was all. It could have been something she had seen in a movie, except she remembered more than how the other woman looked. She knew that she smelled of baby powder and the strawberry gum she liked to chew when she thought no one was watching.

“I’m afraid not, but maybe it’s a sign. Maybe my memory is coming back.”

“Perhaps so,” he agreed, but he didn’t look as happy about it as she would have expected.

“Didn’t I ever talk to you about my past?”

“No.”

“I wonder why not.” The dark place threatened again. Had it been so bad that she didn’t want to talk about it?

She sighed and let it go.

“I really wish you had some clothing that wasn’t white or black. I’d like to see Kivi in pink. Or maybe blue to match her eyes.”

“I did not anticipate that my clothing would become a source of fabric,” he said solemnly, and she laughed.

“Am I raiding too much of your wardrobe?”

“Not at all. Everything I have is yours.” The sincerity in his voice tugged at her heart, but then he smiled. “Although perhaps it would be best to leave me with at least one outfit for when we arrive on Tillich Two.”

“Good point. I don’t want anyone else looking at my mate’s huge cock.”

He looked so shocked that she laughed, but she also saw his body react. Apparently, Cire males were no more immune to flattery than any other males. She reached for him, but she only had time to brush his shaft before he gently but firmly moved her hand away. Instead, he bent his head and kissed her.

The passion instantly flared between them, but he took his time, worshiping her body as he brought her to climax after climax with his talented mouth and his even more talented tail. But when she finally rested in his arms, her body limp and satisfied, she realized that he hadn’t let her touch him in return.

The pattern continued over the next few days. Taranov was always happy to use his tongue or his tail or his fingers to bring her pleasure, but he refused to enter her with his cock, even though she was growing increasingly frustrated by his refusal. He rarely let her touch him in return either. He hadn’t even let her go down on him again, still insisting that they get to know each other better before they—or rather before she—did anything else.

But it was very difficult to get to know a male who was so reticent about his past. The few times she managed to get him to talk about his home planet she could see the pain on his face and couldn’t bring herself to press him. Although he was much more willing to tell her stories about his time as a trader, about his business and his former partner, she still felt as if there were something missing. She could tell that he hadn’t been completely happy.

The things he let slip indicated a longing for a home, for a family, but he didn’t talk about the life the three of them must have shared. Why was he still holding back now that she and Kivi were with him again? The question haunted her, along with her missing memories, but she found herself curiously reluctant to search for answers. That horrible darkness still loomed in the back of her mind and she was afraid—afraid to look beneath the peaceful surface.

Despite the unanswered questions, she enjoyed their time together. She loved taking care of Kivi, and she loved watching him with the baby as well. The small body curled against that big chest, his tail wrapped protectively across her tiny back. The way he talked to her so solemnly, as if she could understand every word.

She enjoyed destroying more of his wardrobe in an effort to make clothes for herself and Kivi. She especially enjoyed the heated look in his eyes when she modeled one of her new outfits—and the way it increased when she removed the outfit. Once he realized that she was really interested, he talked more about his business. The details of trade routes and profit and loss felt familiar to her, even if the specifics did not. She even enjoyed helping him cook, although no hidden knowledge emerged to help her there and she suspected it was not one of her talents.

But her body still ached with frustrated desire. And perhaps because the days were so peaceful, her nights were still haunted.

CHAPTER TEN

She was in a small white room. Her hands were chained over her head, and she was naked. Another woman was present, also chained naked next to her. Her pale, pretty face looked scared and impossibly young, but Wendy thought she was probably in her early twenties.

The door opened, and two aliens walked in. She knew that the one with the white skin, black hair, and red eyes was a Vedeckian, but she didn’t recognize the other species. He had blue skin and small dark horns. His horns, his dark braids, and his elaborate curled beard were all adorned with gold chains and jewels. His long white robe had a subtle pattern that shimmered when he walked. Everything about him screamed wealth and arrogance.

Ignoring Wendy, he went straight to the young girl, circling her thoughtfully, almost as if he were a rancher inspecting a prize specimen. But no rancher had ever looked so lustfully at a cow.

“Quite satisfactory,” he said, then reached out and pinched the girl’s nipple. She jumped and whimpered, tears starting to roll down her pale cheeks.

“Leave her alone, you asshole,” Wendy said, using the icy tone which had earned her a reputation as a cast iron bitch.

He turned to look at her, arching an eyebrow as he addressed the Vedeckian.

“You are collecting older specimens as well?”

“Yes, Lord Gazdok.” The Vedeckian ducked his head nervously. “We have found that there is a market for a range of types.”

“Indeed?”

Lord Gazdok strolled over to her. He was at least a head taller than her, but she stared up at him defiantly, refusing to back down. He ran his gaze down over her body.

“She appears to be in reasonable shape. A little heavy perhaps, but she carries it well.”

Asshole. Perhaps she had been a little slack on her workout routine lately after everything that had happened, but she kept herself in shape. Not that it was any of his business.

“I don’t give a damn for your opinion about my body,” she said coldly.

He shook his head. “A little spirit can be entertaining, but I require a compliant mate.”

The Vedeckian hummed. “I believe we may be able to assist you in that matter, my Lord.”

“I am not interested in a shock collar. So unattractive.”

“I understand, my Lord. We have been working on an alternative, something designed to appeal to a more sophisticated buyer such as yourself.”

“I see.”

His eyes crawled over her again, but she still refused to cower, even though she wondered what the hell the Vedeckian was talking about.

“Is she breedable?”

“We are not entirely sure, my Lord. Although she is at the upper limit, she should still be within the acceptable age range. We also have some ways of enhancing her fertility, but I am afraid I cannot guarantee it.”

Lord Gazdok shrugged. “No matter—if you have the other product I requested.”

“Oh, yes, my Lord. I have three for you to choose from. If you will accompany me.”

The Vedeckian started for the door, but Lord Gazdok lingered a moment longer, still studying her. He took a step closer, so close she could feel the heat of his body, then repeated the same gesture he had used on the girl, twisting her nipple between his fingers. Pain streaked from the abused tip, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of flinching.

He finally removed his hand, then laughed.

“Oh, yes. I think you’ll do very nicely.”

He and the Vedeckian left the room and…

She awoke with a start, the incident still crystal clear in her mind. Wendy. Her name was Wendy, and she had been taken by those creepy white-skinned aliens, the Vedeckians. She was utterly sure that much was true, but she couldn’t remember any of the details of how she was taken, nor could she remember what happened after Lord Gazdok had departed. Darkness loomed on the other side of the wall of fog, and she couldn’t find the courage to try and make her way through it.

“Latiri, what’s wrong?” Taranov asked softly, sitting up next to her and wrapping his arm and tail around her.

“Another memory. Not a good one. I remember a Vedeckian trying to sell me to someone—a blue male called Lord Gazdok. I don’t know if he actually did but I know he wanted to buy me.”

His arm tightened around her as a low growl rumbled through his chest.

“Those bastards.”

“They were the ones who took me, weren’t they?”

“It seems likely,” he said carefully. “The Patrol is doing their best to shut down the traffic in slaves, but they do not seem to be able to succeed. The Vedeckians are among the primary culprits.”

“You mean this isn’t the first time they’ve taken women?”

Even as she asked the question, she was certain of the answer. Both the Vedeckian and Lord Gazdok had been too comfortable with the transaction. There had been no suggestion that her sale was anything new or unexpected.

“I am afraid not.”

“I wasn’t alone,” she whispered. “There was another woman there—another human woman. What happened to her?”

“I am sorry, but I do not know.” He sighed and tightened his arms around her. “I almost regret that you remembered this much.”

“I do too, but it’s another piece of the puzzle.” She took a deep breath. “Did Lord Gazdok buy me? Was he the one you saved me from?”

“I believe it is more accurate to say you saved yourself,” he said slowly.

“You’re not telling me everything, are you?”

She could see the uncertainty on his face before he nodded.

“I am not. I believe it will be… better if you let your memories return as you are ready for them.”

Maybe he was right. She was still aware of the darkness looming in the back of her mind, and she was afraid of what lurked within it. She could ask more questions, push him harder—but did she want to? She had the horrible feeling that everything would start to unravel if she did. In the end, she chose the safer alternative.

“I did remember something else,” she said, trying for a lighter note. “My name is Wendy.”

Saying it out loud triggered another memory.

Ms. Ballard will see you now.

Deanna had said that, often.

“Wendy Ballard,” she whispered. That was her name.

He stroked a finger down her cheek.

“You will always be Latiri to me. Precious.”

That odd expression was back on his face, but the warmth in his eyes was undeniable.

“I don’t mind. I like hearing you say it.” Suddenly desperate to forget the dream she reached for him. “Kiss me, Taranov. Make me forget.”

He hesitated for a fraction of a second, but then he sighed and kissed her and did his best to wipe away the unwanted memory. He succeeded so well that she fell asleep with a smile on her face.

Taranov lay awake long after Latiri—after Wendy—had fallen asleep, staring into the dim room as the stars streamed by outside. How much longer could he do this? He wanted to tell her the truth—but he also feared it. What if she rejected it? Rejected him?

If it had just been a matter of his own happiness, he would have done the honorable thing and told her. But his honor was not the only consideration. He remembered only too clearly how she had been when he found her, pale and bruised and fragile, and he was genuinely afraid of what the memory might do to her. And then there was the not insignificant concern about the Patrol investigation.

Captain Mordova seemed to be an upstanding officer, one not easily swayed by the wealth and power of the Kek, but what if Taranov had judged him incorrectly? No, he decided, he would have to wait until after Mordova came to Tillich Two, until after he closed the investigation. Then he would finally be free to tell Latiri everything. In the meantime, he would swallow his guilt and his desire and continue along the path he had chosen.

Despite his resolution, it proved to be a constant battle. His body did not care about his guilt or his sorrow. His cock ached, endlessly. The memory of her hot little mouth closing over him haunted his dreams. The only time he found relief was when she let him pleasure her, but the experience was growing increasingly frustrating.

As much as he enjoyed pleasing her, as much as he enjoyed feeling the tight clasp of her sweet little cunt around his tongue or his fingers or his tail, he wanted more. What was worse was that she wanted more as well. It was growing ever harder to refuse her. He took to spending an increasing number of hours in the training room, working himself until his muscles were limp and trembling, but to no avail. As soon as he walked into a room and she smiled at him or he caught a hint of her scent, he was instantly hard and aching.

The night before they were scheduled to arrive on Tillich Two, the tension between them finally exploded. Kivi had been unusually fussy all day. So far she had been a happy baby, quite content as long as she was fed and changed and held. Her need for touch didn’t seem to have lessened, but he enjoyed having her warm little body tucked against his and so did Latiri. He assumed eventually she would feel secure again, but in the meantime, he was happy to carry her.

Today, however, nothing satisfied her. She acted as if she were hungry, then spat out her bottle. She cried when she was put down, and then cried again when she was picked up. By the time they finally got her to sleep that evening, they were both exhausted.

“I wish I knew what was wrong with her,” Latiri said. “I wonder if she’s teething.” Her eyes suddenly filled with tears. “How awful is it that I don’t even know how old she is? Or if it’s time for her teeth to start emerging?”

“I do not know either,” he said truthfully.

“But I’m her mother.” Her face fell. “At least I think I am. How can I not know?”

His heart ached as she burst into tears. He lifted her onto his lap, wrapping his arms and tail around her as he rocked her gently, making soothing noises. But she kept crying and finally, in desperation, he bent his head and kissed her. She immediately opened to him, her sweet taste flooding his mouth, mingling with the salt of her tears.

He meant to comfort her, to reassure her, but they were both tired and his usual control was hard to find. The kiss intensified as he delved deeper, devouring her mouth. She brought his hand up to her breast, sighing into his mouth when he automatically squeezed the tempting mound. His tail slipped between her legs, finding her wet and ready, and when she reached between them and freed his erection, he didn’t have the strength to object.

She chose to touch me, he told himself, even though he would normally have stopped her. But tonight he was too tired and she felt too good. His tail swept across her pleasure nub, and she gasped into his mouth. He felt her body shudder as the climax washed over her, hard and fast, but she didn’t relax afterwards.

She kissed him even more frantically, pushing her breasts into his hand and grinding against his tail. And then she moved, clinging to his shoulders as she rose over him. He felt the hot, wet kiss of her sweet little entrance against his cock and groaned. She slipped lower, beginning to open around him, and the wave of pleasure that washed over him was so intense that it finally brought him to his senses.

He couldn’t do this. He wouldn’t do this.

With the last shred of control he had left, he lifted her off of him and strode across the room, trying to control his cock, his breathing, and the overwhelming desire to return to her side.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Wendy stared at Taranov in frustration. Her body ached and throbbed. They had been so close, and she wanted him so much. But once again, he’d refused.

“Why won’t you let me touch you?” All of her fears came rushing out, and she finally found the courage to ask one of the questions that haunted her. “I was raped, wasn’t I? That’s what I can’t remember, and now you don’t feel the same way about me.”

The look of utter shock on his face actually comforted her a little.

“No! Even if that had happened, you would still be precious and desirable to me.”

“Even if? You mean it really didn’t?”

He shook his head. “There was no… damage, and the medical unit did not show any indication of such trauma.”

An overwhelming sense of relief washed over her, and she burst into tears. He made a distressed sound and returned to her side, lifting her onto his lap and wrapping his arms and tail around her as she sobbed into his chest.

When her tears finally died away, she remained on his lap absently stroking his chest. She realized how scared she’d been of what she didn’t remember. He started to lift her free and she protested, snuggling back down into his arms. As she did, she suddenly realized that he was hugely, massively erect.

“So you do want me after all,” she murmured and brushed her hand across the thick shaft.

He groaned and for a moment pushed against her hand. Then she was suddenly sitting on her own and he was halfway across the cabin again.

“Dammit. Why do you keep doing that? Why won’t you let me touch you? I know you want me.”

“Because you are not my mate.” The words came out with a tortured growl.

The world spun around her as his words penetrated.

“What do you mean I’m not your mate?” she whispered.

His expression was as tortured as his voice. “I know that you are my mate, but I have never claimed you. And you have never accepted me.”

“Why haven’t I accepted you?”

The idea seemed almost inconceivable, but her flashes of memory suggested that she had spent much of her life on her own. Had she been reluctant to give up her independence?

Taranov bowed his head, refusing to look at her. “Because the first time we spoke was in the medical unit. I rescued you from the yacht, just as I said, but we had never met before that moment.”

“I don’t understand. Why did you tell me you were my husband?”

“I did not, but I did not contradict your assumption.” He looked up at her, and she could see the mixture of guilt and sorrow on his face. “I wanted so much for it to be true. And then every time I tried to tell you, we were interrupted. When the Patrol came, I was afraid that they would not understand, not believe that you were innocent of Gazdok’s death, so I told Captain Mordova that you were my mate in order to protect you.” He sighed. “He said that he would come to Tillich Two to complete his investigation. I needed him to find you there as my mate.”

Her head was still spinning, but now his actions began to make sense.

“So that’s why you wanted two bedrooms originally. And why you keep rejecting me.”

“I would never reject you! But I did not want you coming to me under false pretenses. Not responding to you was the hardest thing I have ever done.”

“I see.”

Numbness started to creep over her.

It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been betrayed by a man, she thought, remembering that dream of the winter beach. At least he really had tried to maintain a distance between them. She had been the one trying to close the distance, she remembered, her cheeks flushing.

“I honestly thought it was for the best,” he said.

“I believe you,” she said slowly. “But I need some time to think about this.”

He nodded, looking absolutely defeated. Even his tail drooped as he picked up Kivi’s bassinet.

“I will watch Kivi tonight so that you may have time alone.”

She almost protested. She had gotten used to the late-night feedings and the warm little body snuggled into her arms. But was that a lie as well?

“Wait. Does that mean that she’s not mine either? Not ours?”

She is ours, her mind immediately objected, but she kept her gaze on Taranov, waiting.

“I really do not know. What I told you before was the truth. I found her with you. She was on the yacht also.”

“Well, she’s mine now,” she said defiantly.

She saw his mouth open as if to protest, but then he dipped his head and quietly left the room.

The night passed with agonizing slowness. She paced until she was too tired to keep moving, but as soon as she lay down, her mind started spinning again.

Everything she had believed about their relationship was a lie—but it hadn’t felt like a lie.

How could I have accepted it so easily? she asked herself. I never trust anyone that quickly.

Another one of those frustrating little bits of knowledge, but it felt true.

Maybe I trusted him because he is my mate. The thought finally occurred to her just before the ship’s lights were due to brighten. The idea was completely foreign to everything she thought she knew about relationships, but she couldn’t deny that she had felt comfortable with Taranov from the moment she had awoken in his arms.

Fated mates with a green alien? The concept seemed impossible, and yet she couldn’t entirely discount it. Maybe it was time to give Taranov the benefit of the doubt—and ask some of those questions she had been avoiding.

She found Taranov in the galley, staring down at a pan, his tail still drooping. He had Kivi fastened against his bare chest with a length of fabric, and her heart gave a funny little skip.

“Hello,” she said quietly.

He whirled around and as soon as Kivi saw her, she gave her a big toothless smile. The baby’s normal good humor seemed to have been restored, and her heart melted a little more.

“I missed the munchkin last night.”

“Do you want to hold her?” He quickly untied the fabric sling and passed her the baby.

Kivi gurgled happily as Wendy buried her face in the baby’s soft hair. When she looked up, Taranov was watching her.

“I missed you too,” she admitted.

“Can you forgive me?”

“I believe you did what you thought was right.”

“I am not so sure. I have been considering the matter all night, wondering if I let myself think that simply because I wanted it so much.”

“Maybe I didn’t question it because I wanted it too.”

“Really?” He took a step towards her, but she held up a hand.

“One of the things you kept telling me was that we needed to get to know each other. But you weren’t just holding back because of this secret, weren’t you?”

“I did not want to lie to you.”

“I believe you, but it was more than that, wasn’t it?”

“Perhaps.” He started pacing the short length of the galley as she and Kivi watched. “I told you how I felt when I saw all the incubators. How I left as a result.”

“Yes.” Her heart ached as she remembered.

“I think I closed off a part of me when I did. I knew that I would never have a mate or a child so I built a wall and hid those longings behind it. Even with you and Kivi here, a part of that wall was still there because you did not know the truth.”

“And now?”

“The wall is gone. I belong to the two of you—if you will have me.”

Yes, a part of her urged, but…

“I need more time.”

“I understand.” He hesitated. “Time apart or time together?”

“Well, you did say that the Patrol officer would be looking for us, didn’t you?”

He nodded eagerly.

“Then I suppose it had better be together.”

A relieved smile crossed his face, and she found herself returning it. Was she kidding herself? Was there ever going to be a time when she didn’t want to be with him? But for now, it was enough to think about the immediate future.

“I do have one more question.”

“I will answer anything you wish to ask.”

“Last night you said that you hadn’t claimed me as your mate. What does that mean?”

He came to her side, and his tail wrapped around her waist. She hadn’t realized until that moment how much she’d missed that simple physical connection between them. Then he bent his mouth to her ear, his warm breath sending a shiver of pleasure across her skin.

“When I claim you, my cock will be buried completely in your sweet little cunt. My knot will expand and lock us together, and you will be truly mine.”

Another stronger shiver skated across her skin as her clit gave an excited little pulse. He brushed a kiss across her lips and returned to his pan.

He said when, not if, she thought, and smiled.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Tillich Two appeared below them, growing steadily larger as they descended. The surface was covered primarily with ocean in a deep vibrant blue several shades darker than the ocean in the pictures she had seen of Earth from space. Land masses were scattered across the surface—either very large islands or very small continents, their surfaces covered with vegetation in multiple shades of green. From here at least, it looked like a pretty place.

“Who lives here?” Wendy asked. She and Kivi had joined Taranov on the bridge for the landing.

“The Tillichi. They are an amphibian race, much like your frogs,” he added dryly. “They are equally at home on land and in the sea.”

“Were they also affected by the Red Death?”

He shook his head. “They were lucky. They were only lightly touched.”

“Why is that?”

“No one knows. The Tillichi locked down the planet, but other systems also tried that and it made no difference. They only reopened to interstellar trade about ten years ago.”

He headed for one of the larger islands, and she leaned forward, Kivi nestled in her arms.

The island was long and almost oval in shape with a line of mountains down the center. She caught a glimpse of a brightly colored town before the ship settled into place on the landing field.

“We are home,” he said, then winced. “I mean, I am home.”

“Do you really feel as if you’re coming home?” she asked, remembering their previous conversations.

He looked directly into her eyes, his black and intent. “I do because you and Kivi are here with me. I understand that you are not certain if you feel the same way, but I do not wish to hide my feelings.”

A lump appeared in her throat as she nodded. “I understand.”

He helped her to her feet as Kivi burbled cheerfully, then kept his arm and tail around her as they headed for the exit. She didn’t object. In spite of everything, his presence still comforted her.

They emerged onto the landing ramp stretching from the lower portion of the ship, and she stopped there to take in the view. The spaceport was at the edge of town, but it looked down over the sea—a sea that stretched out into the distance, sparkling in a thousand shades of blue and purple. The warm breeze tasted salty, like any sea air, but it also carried a hint of exotic spices, and she took a deep breath as it whipped around her.

They had landed so quickly that she hadn’t managed a good look at the town. For some reason, she had expected to find frogmen living in palm huts. Instead, the town stretching away from the spaceport and down to the sea would have looked at home on the coast of Italy. Vibrantly colored buildings were dotted with balconies and courtyards, and there was a profusion of flowers everywhere she looked.

“This is beautiful.”

“I am so glad you like it.” He smiled down at her. “Curall says it is large enough to be interesting but small enough that you cannot get lost.”

“Curall?”

“He is our chef and quartermaster,” he replied as he helped her down the ramp and they made their way towards the town. “He may appear a little gruff, but he has a kind heart.”

“Maybe you should tell me more about the rest of your crew,” she said as they walked through the marketplace, suddenly nervous about meeting all of them.

“Perhaps I should let you form your own opinions.”

“That doesn’t sound ominous at all.”

In spite of her words, she suspected he was simply teasing her, but she was distracted by the market. Many of the items on display were strange to her, but that was a familiarity about the place, as if she had been somewhere similar. The memory hovered frustratingly just out of reach. She was concentrating so hard on remembering that she didn’t notice a small boy ahead of her until she slammed into him.

“Oh my goodness, I’m sorry. Are you hurt?”

The boy grinned up at her. He was obviously one of the Tillichi that Taranov had described. He had long white hair and equally white skin, although it was currently obscured beneath a layer of dirt, and a fin-like fringe ran along his bare arms and down the back of his legs.

“I’m fine, mistress. But you made me drop my apple, and I am rather hungry.”

He blinked up at her with huge purple eyes. She watched in fascination as the nictitating membranes opened and closed before his words penetrated. She turned to Taranov to find him frowning down at the boy, his face stern.

“You know the rules, Pietr. Hand it over, and if you are really hungry, go and find Curall. You know he will feed you.”

The boy grinned cheerfully, then held out the small communication device from Taranov’s belt. She hadn’t even noticed him take it.

“Why did you take that?” she asked gently.

He gave her a pitiful look. “To buy food of course.”

“Pietr,” Taranov warned, and the boy shrugged before resuming his previous cheerful expression.

“A bunch of sailors were bragging about their dice skills. I thought I’d join the game. But don’t worry, I’ll find the stake somewhere.”

He slipped free of Taranov’s grip and darted off into the crowd.

“Shouldn’t you go after him?” she asked.

“Why?”

“He’s too young to be out on his own, let alone gambling.”

“I suspect he came out of his cradle with a pair of dice in his hands—and they were probably loaded,” Taranov said dryly, then his face softened. “He chooses to live like this, Latiri. He knows that he can always find a meal and a bed in my house, but he does not often choose to take advantage of it. He prefers to make his own way.”

“By stealing?”

“He wasn’t really trying to steal from me—he just wanted to see if he could get away with it.” He smiled down at her. “He hasn’t yet.”

“But what about school?” she protested. “He has to have an education.”

You have to have an education. The words popped into her head with an odd sense of déjà vu. Her mother had told her that as they sent her off to boarding school. She suspected she had been about Pietr’s age. She looked around at the sunny marketplace, the breeze fluttering the awnings overhead, and suspected he might have a better arrangement. But still…

“Can he at least read and write?” she asked as they resumed their journey.

“I do not know. I do know that he can calculate faster than anyone I have ever met.”

That didn’t surprise her. She’d seen the intelligence in those bright purple eyes.

“I wonder if I could entice him with an interesting book,” she said thoughtfully, then swore. “Damn. What am I thinking? I can’t read and write here either.”

“If you would like to learn, I would be more than happy to teach you.”

“Of course I want to learn, but maybe you could teach both of us?”

He shook his head, but she saw his lips curve.

They had left the marketplace now and were walking down the cobbled street in front of the harbor. More Tillichi bustled along the street, as well as a scattering of other aliens. Of course, she was just as much of an alien on this planet as the two orange-furred males walking towards her.

“This is our house,” Taranov said, distracting her from her thoughts, and she stared up at the big pink building in amazement.

“It’s so big.”

“The bottom portion is mostly storage,” he said, opening an iron gate into a passageway that ran down the center of the building. “Toolit lives down here—he likes to keep an eye on things. Curall’s rooms are down here as well, close to his kitchen.”

At the far end of the passage, she could see a lushly planted courtyard, but he led her up a set of interior stairs instead. The stairs ended in another open-air hallway that spanned the depth of the building.

“Nibra and Slighton have rooms on that side,” he said, pointing to the other side of the passage before turning to the right and throwing open a set of double doors. “And these are our quarters.”

The doors opened into a comfortable living area. More doors separated the living area from what appeared to be an office at the front of the house overlooking the street. On the other side of the living area was a large dining room with a balcony overlooking the courtyard below. Another set of stairs led up to the third level. It was set back from the lower levels and surrounded by a lushly planted roof deck.

He showed her a small bedroom at the back of the house, then a large bathing room, and finally his room, looking out over the ocean. She stood for a moment, looking at the white walls and plain wooden furniture. Just as on the ship, it contained no personal belongings—no clues to the male who inhabited it.

He really hasn’t let himself feel at home anywhere, she thought sadly.

“You and Kivi will take this room, of course,” he said. “I will sleep in the small bedroom.”

She sighed and turned back to him. “Is that what you want?”

“You know it is not.”

“I’ve been thinking,” she said slowly. “I… I wish that I could be as certain as you are that we should be together.”

“I understand. I do not mean to—”

He started to turn away and she put her hand on his arm. It was the first time she had touched him voluntarily since the previous evening, and his tail immediately curved around her waist. She gripped it as she looked up at him.

“I’m still not as certain, but… I want to be. I want to try.”

“To try?”

God, why was this so hard?

“To try to be your mate. To be a family.” She looked down at Kivi, now asleep on her chest and her heart ached. “I think she needs us both.”

“It would be best for the child,” he agreed, his voice oddly stiff.

When she looked up again, she saw the pain on his face before he could mask it and realized how he had interpreted her statement.

“You don’t understand. It’s not just for her sake. I want to be with you as well. Part of me thinks it’s crazy, but part of me feels as if it’s right—and that’s the part I want to listen to. Can we try? Please?”

He gently pulled her closer, careful not to crush Kivi between their bodies.

“I told you once that you did not need to ask. If there is anything you need—anything you want—I will do my best to provide it for you.”

He slowly lowered his head towards hers, watching her face as he did. When she lifted up on her tiptoes to meet him halfway, he groaned and covered her mouth with his. As soon as their lips touched, a sense of conviction filled her. She was sure she had made the right decision.

She leaned into him, still careful of the baby, as the kiss began to escalate, as the desire flared between them. She was just wondering where she could put Kivi down when a gruff voice called from below.

“Captain? You up there?”

Taranov lifted his head and gave her a rueful smile. “I should have realized that Curall would know I was home. I think perhaps we had best get this meeting out of the way. But I look forward to continuing our conversation later.”

She smiled back and brushed a quick kiss against his lips.

“So do I. Now let’s go make the introductions.”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

As Taranov led Latiri back down the stairs, his heart sang with happiness. She was willing to try and be his mate. He hadn’t dared to hope that she would forgive him, but he would do everything in his power to reward her trust.

Curall was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. He was Tillichi, lean and weathered with age, and he frowned as he saw Latiri at his side. He ignored the suspicious frown, his voice full of pride as he introduced her.

“Curall, this is my mate. Wendy. And our child, Kivi.”

Curall studied him from two bright purple eyes, his gaze still sharp despite his years.

“Your mate? What kind of fool talk is—” He broke off as he stared at Latiri’s face. “A human? You mated with a human?”

His mate raised her chin defiantly and stared back at Curall.

“Is there something wrong with being human?”

“Only if you don’t mind having a price on your head,” Curall muttered and glared at him. “Don’t you know that trading in humans is illegal?”

He was not surprised that Curall had recognized her species—the old man heard every scrap of gossip that passed through the port—but he didn’t like his assumption.

“Of course I did not trade for her.”

“He rescued me,” Latiri said indignantly. “Don’t you know him well enough to know he would never do anything so despicable?”

Her defense of him warmed his heart and mollified his own anger. He raised an eyebrow at Curall who looked completely taken back, then watched in surprise as the old man actually ducked his head.

“You’re right. Shoulda known better. Sorry, boy,” he muttered in Taranov’s direction.

“I understand that it is an unusual situation.”

“It certainly is.”

“You can say that again.” Curall and Latiri spoke at almost the same time. She laughed, and a reluctant smile creased the old man’s face before he sniffed defiantly.

“I suppose you’re hungry.”

It wasn’t a question, and Taranov knew better than to argue. He suspected that Latiri did as well because she only looked at him and shrugged, then followed in the old man’s footsteps.

The kitchen on the ground floor overlooked the courtyard and even though it was indisputably Curall’s domain, it was one of Taranov’s favorite places. He led Latiri to a seat at the big wooden table, then reached for Kivi when the baby’s eyes opened.

“Let me take her. She will be hungry soon.”

Curall frowned at him from his position at the stove.

“How old is she?”

Latiri shot him a panicked look, but he gave her a reassuring smile. He had no concerns about Curall betraying them.

“We do not know.”

“Hmph.” The old man came close and peered at the baby. Kivi stared back, her eyes wide, as Curall gently ran a gnarled finger along her gums. “No teeth yet. I’ll try cereal.”

Latiri shot him another alarmed look. “Are you sure she’s old enough?”

“We’ll find out, won’t we?” When she opened her mouth to protest, the old man grinned at her. “Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing. But it will probably be a mess,” he added as he returned to the stove.

Curall proved to be correct on both counts. Kivi obviously enjoyed the cereal, and quickly learned how to suck it off of the small spoon, but despite her enthusiasm—or perhaps because of it—she ended up covering herself, him, and half the kitchen with flecks of cereal.

“Told you it would be a mess,” Curall chortled as he started wiping down the table. “Better get her changed.”

“I’ll come and help you,” Latiri said, starting to rise to her feet.

“You sit right back down, missy. I’m sure the boy can handle it, can’t you?”

It was clearly a test, one he wanted to pass.

“I am sure I can,” he said with more confidence than he felt, then looked at Latiri. “You stay here and rest.”

It wasn’t until he was halfway up the stairs that he wondered if leaving her had been a mistake. Although he trusted Curall completely, he suspected that the old man was about to ask her some very probing questions. He did his best to hurry through Kivi’s bath, but despite the experience he had gained over the past days, he still ended up soaked. Once he had changed and they were both clean and dry again, he hurried back down the stairs with the baby, relieved to hear laughter coming from the kitchen. He walked in to find Latiri sipping on a mug of liquid, an ecstatic expression on her face.

“Curall calls this serja, but it tastes almost like coffee.”

“Coffee?”

“The nectar of the gods,” she said firmly, and he gave Curall a puzzled look.

The old man shrugged. “It’s just a drink brewed from berries that grow on trees on the side of the mountains.”

He took a cautious sniff, but did not find the scent in the least appealing. Still, as long as his mate enjoyed it, he was happy.

“Thank you for providing it.”

Curall shrugged again. “I’ve been experimenting with using it as a flavoring.”

“You can mix it with sugar and use it in desserts,” Latiri said thoughtfully, then gave them both a rueful smile. “Although I don’t know the details. I don’t think I was much of a cook.”

She must have seen his surprise, because she added, “I told Curall that I’m having problems with my memory.”

“I do not see any reason to keep it a secret from our crew, but I would not tell anyone else.”

Curall snorted. “She’s not stupid, boy”

“I did not mean—”

Latiri smiled at him. “I know you didn’t. He’s just an old troublemaker.”

Curall cackled and shook the spoon at her. “Watch your mouth, missy, or there’ll be no more serja berries for you.”

“Then I take back everything I just said. You are a wise and forgiving elder.”

They both laughed and Taranov relaxed, happy to see his… family happy.

Kivi bounced in his arms, reaching for Latiri, and he handed her over, smiling as he watched her cooing over the baby. Curall came to stand next to him.

“You’re damn lucky, boy,” he said softly. “You hold onto them both.”

“I intend to.”

None of the rest of the crew was around, so the four of them ate dinner together in the courtyard behind the house.

“This is so beautiful,” Latiri said, looking around at the profusion of plants and flowers. “I think I tried to grow flowers but I never had time to take care of them.”

A sorrowful expression crossed her face, and he patted her hand with his tail.

“Perhaps you would like to assist Toolit? He is responsible for all of this.”

“When will I get to meet him? And the rest of your crew?”

“Tomorrow. It is the first day of spawning season, and everyone will be here.” He hesitated. “I frequently accompany the fishers on the first day, before it gets too busy. Would you be interested in coming?”

“A trip out on the ocean? I’d love that, but…” She looked down at Kivi, and shook her head. “I’m not sure it would be a good idea to take her.”

“I’ll look after her,” Curall volunteered. “What?” he demanded when they both turned to look at him. “Don’t you think I know how to care for an infant?”

He’d been right about the cereal, but…

“She needs to be held when she is awake,” he said hesitantly. “She was in an incubator when I found her, and she does not like to be alone.”

Curall shot him one of his penetrating looks, but he didn’t question him. He only nodded. “I’ll take care of it.”

He looked over at Latiri and found her looking at him, her expression half doubtful, half excited.

Curall snorted and shook his head as he got up and started collecting their plates.

“Fine. You two go discuss whether or not I’m worthy.”

“I’m sorry, Curall,” Latiri said as she jumped up and started helping him. “It’s just that we’re very new parents. I guess it makes us more nervous than we need to be.”

Curall’s face softened. “Nah. I understand. If you decide to go, I swear on my life that I’ll take good care of her. But if you want to stay here with her, no hard feelings.”

“Thank you.” Latiri reached up and kissed the old man’s weathered cheek, and for once, Curall seemed to be at a loss for words.

As soon as the table was clear, Taranov rose to his feet, trying to conceal his eagerness to be alone with his mate.

“I believe it is time to put this little one to bed.” Kivi was already half-asleep in his arms. “Will you join me this time?”

“Of course,” Latiri said immediately, and he saw an answering warmth in her eyes.

Ignoring Curall’s knowing look, he led her out of the kitchen, stopping only long enough to snag a bottle of the honey wine she seemed to like.

“Maybe I should help him clean up first,” she murmured.

“Another night,” he said firmly, wrapping his tail around her waist. “Tonight it is time for… conversation.”

“Okay,” she agreed, her voice breathless.

It wasn’t until they reached his room that he remembered that they didn’t have a bed for Kivi. The drawer solution which had worked on the ship would do for another night, he decided. Tomorrow, he would find her an actual bed.

Together they emptied out the drawer, made sure it was well-padded, and placed the sleeping baby inside. For a moment, they both stood looking down at her.

“She looks like an angel,” Latiri whispered.

“An angel?” The word did not seem to translate. She thought the child was a deity?

“I just meant she looks so sweet and innocent.”

“Ah, then you are an angel as well.”

She gave a choked laugh and tugged him away from the sleeping baby.

“I’m fairly sure that I am neither one of those things, although I sometimes wonder about you.” She looked up at him, her eyes big and dark. “You’ve always been very sweet to me.”

“I—”

She cut off his attempt to protest with a laugh. “Aside from not telling me the entire truth, that is. But your behavior has always been kind and protective.”

“Not always,” he growled, lifting his hand to cup her breast and stroke his thumb across the tempting peak of her nipple.

Her breath caught. “Mmm. That’s sweet too.”

“I do not believe that word means what you think it means.” He deliberately tightened his grip a little, just enough to make her gasp and her eyes grow heavy.

“Maybe not,” she agreed. “Are you going to show me how not sweet you can be?”

“That is my plan,” he assured her as he picked her up and carried her to the bed.

He laid her down, and she immediately sat back up. Before he could protest, she pulled her gown over her head, leaving her body perfectly naked. It was still early—the sun had not yet fallen below the horizon—and her body shimmered gold in the low rays of the setting sun, so beautiful she took his breath away.

“Now,” she said with a seductive smile as she lay back down. “Why don’t you get naked and join me?”

He didn’t need a second invitation. When he stripped off his clothes and joined her, her hand immediately went to his aching cock.

“I was beginning to think I’d imagined how large you are,” she whispered as she stroked slowly up and down his rigid shaft. “Since you never really let me touch you again.”

“I regretted it constantly,” he told her. “But I did not want to take advantage of you.”

She smiled at him, and there was no anger on her face.

“You see what I mean? Sweet.” She hesitated for a moment, her fingers still working their magic on his throbbing cock. “You told me that you could only truly climax inside your mate. Does that mean that you have never truly climaxed before?”

“I have not.” He put a gentle hand on her face. “I did not think it would ever happen. You are a miracle, my Latiri.”

“I think you might be my miracle as well,” she whispered, and pulled him down for a kiss.

There was no more talking after that. Instead, he focused all of his attention on pleasing her. On repeating the gestures he had already learned she enjoyed and finding new ones. He discovered a place just beneath her ear that made her gasp and tremble, and found that increasing the pressure of his mouth around her nipple added to the slick heat between her thighs.

He spent the longest time there, licking and worshiping, driving her into climax after climax with his tongue as his tail gently stretched her small entrance. The sun had set completely by the time he decided she was ready and rose over her. She looked up at him in the dim light of the single lamp, her face flushed and her eyes dark as he notched his cock in her entrance.

“Are you ready, my mate?”

“Oh, yes, Taranov.”

As he pushed gently into the tight confines of her body, he started to shake. He had never thought to experience this, never thought to have found such a perfect female. Electricity streaked down his spine, his body already on the verge of climax, but he refused to hurry this moment. He clenched his teeth and slowly, carefully worked his way deeper. Despite his efforts to prepare her, she was impossibly tight. He hesitated, but she wrapped her legs around his hips and urged him on with soft cries. He had never realized that a mere physical experience could be so transcendent.

By the time he had lodged himself completely in her body, he was trembling, his muscles quivering beneath his control like taut wires. Her eyes had been closed, her breath coming in rapid pants as he entered her, but she opened them now and looked up at him.

“I don’t think I’ve ever felt this full, this complete. And it’s not because of my memory loss. It’s because it was never you.”

His restraint disappeared and his hips jerked forward, gaining another impossible inch before he withdrew, only to thrust again and again, the sensations overwhelming his body. Her legs tightened around him, her tiny nails digging into his shoulders the way they did when he licked her, and then he felt her climax, felt her perfect little cunt squeezing him in long pulsing waves. The small shred of control he had managed to retain vanished, and he plunged blindly until his knot expanded, locking them together, and his seed finally, finally erupted in a rush of liquid heat.

He rolled to the side, their bodies still locked together, dimly aware that a second wave of convulsions had swept over her as his knot expanded inside her.

“Oh my God,” she whispered. “I had no idea what you meant when you said you would knot inside me.”

He forced himself to think through the haze of pleasure that filled him.

“Is it unpleasant?”

“God, no. Just unexpected and… intense.” She shivered, sending ripples through their joined bodies, and his breath caught. “How long does it last?”

“I am not sure,” he admitted. “Are you ready for it to be over?”

“Not at all.”

He felt her channel tighten around him experimentally, and he groaned.

“I suspect that as long as you keep doing that, I will remain enlarged.”

“That sounds promising,” she whispered.

Shocked, he raised his head to look at her, and she gave him a teasing smile. Ah, his mate wished to play, did she? Then he would oblige.

He slipped his tail between their bodies and found her little pleasure nub. She quivered as he circled it gently, and he smiled. Oh, yes, he would definitely oblige her.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Wendy woke to Taranov’s mouth on her breast and his tail gently stroking her clit. Mmm. What a great way to start the day. She ran her hand over his head, the small nubs that covered his skin teasing her fingers. She loved the way they felt, especially the ones covering his cock.

Although his tongue is pretty amazing too, she thought happily as he wrapped it around her nipple. But then his tail probed at her entrance and she winced. He immediately stopped and lifted his head.

“Is something wrong, Latiri?”

“I think we may have overdone it a little last night.”

He looked appalled. “I hurt you?”

“Not at all,” she said firmly. “I enjoyed every minute of it. But we may need to wait a little while—just a very short time—before we try again.”

He still looked doubtful so she reached down and ran her fingers along his shaft. “But there are other alternatives…”

He didn’t jump at her suggestion as quickly as she expected, and she wondered if he was a little sore as well. They had spent most of the night locked together after all. But then he thrust gently against her hand. Or maybe not.

But before she could carry through on her suggestion, they both heard Kivi’s soft whimper.

“Such as feeding the baby,” she said with a smile.

He returned it, then pressed a quick kiss to her lips before going to get Kivi. He handed her the baby and a bottle, then sat down next to her as she fed their daughter.

“I just realized that she slept through the night,” he said, watching the baby eat.

“Hmm. Maybe it was the cereal—it filled her up more than the formula.” An unexpected pang of sadness washed over her. “Or maybe she’s just growing up.”

“She is just a baby,” he protested.

“Babies grow up. But at least we’ll be here to see it.”

She felt him tense and looked up to find his eyes on her face.

“We?”

“Yes, we,” she said firmly.

“My mate,” he whispered, leaning over the baby’s head to kiss her.

She still couldn’t quite bring herself to say the words, but she kissed him back, hoping that her kiss would convey what she couldn’t yet say.

She was still smiling when they went down to join Curall for breakfast. Her body was a tiny bit sore but so, so satisfied. Taranov had been everything she had hoped for and more. And that knot. Her clit pulsed with excitement at the memory. No human male could compare to that, she thought, then frowned. Not that it mattered. There was no way to return to Earth.

It was surprisingly easy not to care, and the loss of her memory no longer seemed as significant either. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to remember as much as she had decided that there was no point in looking to the past. From now on, she intended to focus on the present and the future she was building with Taranov and Kivi.

The baby looked up at her and gurgled as if in agreement, and she laughed. Taranov shot her an inquiring look but she shook her head.

“It’s nothing important. I’m just happy.”

“As am I,” he said solemnly. “Happier than I ever dared to imagine.”

He rewarded her with a kiss that went from sweet to passionate with startling speed.

“Well, well. Curall said you found a mate, but I didn’t believe him.”

The voice was low and slightly mocking, and she looked up to find a cat-like alien leaning against the wall studying them. He was dressed flamboyantly in a full-sleeved white shirt with an open front tucked into tight black pants and shiny knee-high black boots.

All he needs is a feathered hat, and he could be Puss in Boots, she thought, trying not to giggle.

“Granthar has blessed me,” Taranov agreed. “Wendy, this is Slighton. He is our engineer and medic.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” She gave his outfit a doubtful look. “You’re really a medic?”

Slighton laughed and swept her a flourishing bow.

“At your service. Would you care to be examined?”

She was quite sure he was kidding, but Taranov tensed and growled.

“She does not need your assistance.”

While she was inclined to agree with him, if he really was a medic…

“That may not be entirely true. What do you know about amnesia?”

Slighton straightened, his face turning serious. “Why? Do you have gaps in your memory?”

“A lot of them. It’s like I know things about myself, but I don’t have very many actual memories.”

“Did you hit your head?”

“I don’t think so.”

“The medical unit on the ship did not show any signs of head trauma,” Taranov said. “But it is not programmed for humans.”

“Human?” There was an odd note in Slighton’s voice and his gaze sharpened. “Were you taken?”

There was that word again. She did her best to hide her shiver and respond calmly.

“Yes, although I’m not sure when or how.”

“My cousin, Rafalo, has had some experience with humans,” he said slowly.

That sounded rather ominous, but apparently he saw the apprehension on her face because he shook his head.

“Not like that. He is mated to one and he has conducted a number of rescue missions.” He shot another glance at Taranov. “I assume that is not necessary in this case?”

His tone was lightly mocking again, but there was an underlying solemnity that suggested he was genuinely concerned.

Taranov tensed again, but this time he waited for her to respond.

“No,” she said softly. “I don’t need to be rescued.”

“Good.” Slighton’s tail lashed thoughtfully. “I will download whatever medical records Rafalo has on human anatomy.”

“I do not want anyone to know that she is here,” Taranov said immediately, but Slighton waved a dismissive hand.

“Please. I am the soul of discretion. Once I have the records, we can scan you again and confirm that there was no brain injury.”

“But if it wasn’t an injury, why can’t I remember?”

He rubbed his chin. “It could be for a number of different reasons. Shock perhaps, or trauma. Or it could possibly be pharmacological.”

Something about the last word started to trigger a memory, but before she could grasp it, a second male entered.

“Slighton is down for breakfast before me? I must be very, very late,” he said cheerfully, and Slighton mock-hissed at him.

Taranov laughed. “Wendy, this is Nibra. He is the pilot and my second-in-command.”

Nibra was short and rather stocky, with pale blue scales and huge lavender eyes. He was wearing a rather too tight grey jumpsuit and gave her a friendly smile. She liked him immediately.

“Although he likes to think he’s first,” Slighton added dismissively. Despite the sardonic tone, he smiled at Nibra and Wendy realized that the two males were obviously friends.

The two males continued to swap jibes, but Taranov ignored them both and led her into the kitchen. Toolit was already seated at the table. For some reason, she had expected the gardener to be a little old man. Instead, he was a huge, muscular male, even larger than Taranov, with pale green skin and short dark green hair. When he rose to greet her, his body loomed over her and she froze for a second, but then he gave her a shy glance and ducked his head. She suddenly suspected that he was much younger than his forbidding appearance suggested.

“Pleased to meet you,” he mumbled, his voice a deep growl.

“I’m very pleased to meet you too. I understand that you’re responsible for this beautiful garden.”

A hint of darker green washed over his cheekbones.

“I like plants,” he said softly.

“I do too.” Kivi gurgled, and she laughed. “I think the baby does as well. Perhaps you can show us around the garden and tell us about the plants?”

She half-expected Taranov to protest, but he only smiled at her. Curall was the one to object.

“Not until after breakfast,” he ordered. “Now sit down.”

They all obeyed.

To her vast relief, although the others made an effort to include her in their conversation, no one asked her any questions about her past. Instead, they talked about the spawning season and the trade routes that Taranov had discovered. All of them were obviously at ease with each other, and she felt surprisingly comfortable in the big kitchen, listening to them talk.

No, she thought again. I don’t need to know about my past. I think the future is going to suit me very well.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Satisfaction filled Taranov as he looked around his kitchen. Slighton and Nibra were arguing as usual. Even though he knew that each male would give his life for the other, they delighted in their verbal battles. Latiri was coaxing Toolit into talking more about his garden, and the shy male was beginning to respond. Curall had taken Kivi and was feeding her—rather more adeptly than Taranov had managed the previous day.

When had the old man learned to do that, he wondered. Curall had never discussed his past and Taranov had never asked him. For that matter, he knew little about Slighton or Nibra’s history either. He did know that Toolit had been forced to fight for credits—but only because Taranov had found him there and offered him an alternative position as security on the ship. The young male had jumped at the chance.

One of the many scars the Red Death had left on their civilization was this lack of history. Too many people had lost too much—and now very few people ever talked about the way things had been before. Latiri’s scar was much more recent, but perhaps it was just as well to leave what had happened to her in the past as well.

Pietr slipped into the kitchen a few minutes later, stealing one of Curall’s biscuits, and Latiri gave him a brilliant smile.

“It’s so nice to see you again. Are you hungry? Did you sleep all right?”

The boy gave an exaggerated yawn. “Told ya there was a dice game last night.”

Taranov winced as Latiri shot a glance at him. He strongly suspected that she had already decided to add the boy to their family. He had no objections—he worried about the youngster himself—but he knew from his previous attempts that Pietr would resist and he didn’t want Latiri upset.

Ignoring the concerned look on Latiri’s face, the boy turned to watch Kivi as Curall wiped her face.

“She’s a cute little thing. How old is she?”

A sudden silence fell.

“We do not know,” he said calmly.

The boy shrugged. “I don’t know how old I am either. Never bothered me much.”

He plucked Kivi off of Curall’s lap, making faces at her until she squealed with baby laughter. Taranov saw Latiri’s delighted smile and resisted the urge to sigh. She definitely wasn’t going to give up on Pietr now—which meant he needed to soften the boy’s resistance.

“We’re going out on Restr’s boat this morning. Would you like to come?” he asked.

Pietr shrugged. “He might not want me to. I might have borrowed a few of his fish last week.”

“He will let you come,” he said firmly. Although I will probably have to pay for the fish.

“That’s wonderful. I love sailing.” Latiri’s smile trembled for a minute. “When do we leave?”

“As soon as the two of you are ready.”

“I’m ready,” Pietr said cheerfully. “Is the baby coming?”

“No, she’s staying with Curall.”

For a moment, the boy looked as if he were about to protest, but then he handed Kivi back to Curall and jumped up.

After Latiri reminded Curall at least three times about when to feed Kivi and how she liked to be held, and brought down two more of her outfits, the three of them finally left the house. Even then her steps lagged and she kept looking back over her shoulder. He was almost as reluctant, but he had seen the excitement on her face when he suggested the voyage.

“Maybe I should—” she began.

“Come with me and enjoy yourself? Curall will take good care of her.”

“I know, but… But what if something happens and I lose my memory again and I don’t remember her?”

His brave Latiri looked on the verge of tears. He swore under his breath and pulled her into his arms as Pietr made a hasty escape.

“That is not going to happen. I will not let it happen,” he promised, his tail stroking her back.

“I couldn’t stand to lose the memory of her. Of you.”

“You will not.”

He held her until she calmed, ignoring the interested looks they were attracting from the others on the street. She finally looked up at him and managed a smile.

“I’m sorry. I know I’m being silly.”

“You are not being silly. I do not want to leave her either, but Curall will take good care of her.”

“I know.”

“Here.” Pietr raced back up to them and thrust a handful of pink at Latiri. “Take these.”

“What are they?”

“Ribbons, one for you and one for Kivi. I didn’t steal them,” he added quickly.

“Thank you,” she said, giving him an uncertain look. “That’s very sweet, but—”

“To help you remember.” The boy brushed his fingers across a tattered piece of blue fabric woven into his belt. “This is all I have to remember my mother, but it helps.”

Latiri’s mouth trembled again, but she smiled down at the boy.

“That’s a wonderful idea. Thank you.”

The boy gave her a shy grin, then tugged on her hand. “Now come on. We don’t want to miss the sailing.”

Pietr skipped ahead and they followed more slowly, Latiri running her fingers along the ribbons.

“What happened to his mother?” she asked softly.

“I do not know. He was already alone when we decided to base ourselves here.”

“That’s so sad.”

“Perhaps. But he does not look unhappy, does he?”

The boy was darting around the wharf, exchanging greetings with everyone. All of the sailors knew him and although a few gave him suspicious looks, most of them smiled at him.

“I guess not.”

She wove the ribbons together and tied them around her waist, then smiled up at him.

“At least he helped calm me down. Tell me more about the town. How did you end up here?”

“Chance mostly,” he said as they started walking again. “We were running low on goods so Curall suggested we stop here. He is from the planet, but from another island.”

“Which one?”

“I do not know, and I did not wish to ask. We arrived at the end of the season, but we still made a decent profit and decided to return the next year. That year we made enough to buy the house. My crew likes it here.”

“Do you?”

“Yes,” he said slowly. He’d never really thought about it before. “The weather is good, and the people are friendly. I like the ocean. And now, my family is here.”

She patted his tail, but didn’t respond, looking around the harbor instead.

“I just realized that all of the ships are sailing vessels,” she said.

“What did you expect?”

“I don’t know. Something more technologically advanced?” She waved up the hill at the spaceport. “It just seems odd that you have spaceships up there and wooden sailing ships down here.”

“I see. There are two reasons for that. The first is that the Tillichi are very proud of their traditions. The ships are built and decorated the same way as their fathers did and their fathers before them.” He pointed out Restr’s ship. “You see the symbols painted on the sail and the colors of the hull? They have been passed down for generations.”

“That’s wonderful.” She looked thoughtfully at all the gaily colored boats bobbing in the harbor. “What’s the second reason?”

He laughed and used his tail to tug her closer. “The Tillichi are also very practical. Using the old ways ensures that there are limits to how much hivik is collected in a spawning season, thus making sure that the species continues to flourish—and that the profit remains high.”

Latiri echoed his laugh. “I’ve always admired a good businessman.”

He saw her expression change and tightened his grip as they continued down the wharf.

“Another memory?”

“Not exactly. One of those things that feels true, but I’m not sure why.” She gave a frustrated sigh. “Every time I think I’m fine with not knowing, I get these weird little flashes and then I’m frustrated because they only raise more questions.”

“I believe that more will come.” And he dreaded it, for her sake.

“I suppose you’re right.” She shrugged and smiled up at him. “Maybe I was some kind of trader too?”

He suspected she was joking, but when he thought back to their conversations on the ship, she had displayed a surprising amount of knowledge about business.

“Perhaps so.”

“Really? I suppose it’s possible. Although I’m quite sure it wasn’t related to hivik,” she added as they approached Restr’s ship.

“I suspect not,” he agreed, and led her on board to where Pietr was waiting for them.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Wendy smiled as the wind caught the big square sail and the boat bounded out of the harbor. This all felt familiar to her, but in a distant way. She was sure that she had sailed before, but she suspected it had been a very long time ago. But despite the amount of time that must have passed, she was quite sure she loved being out on the water. Taranov stood behind her at the railing, his arms wrapped around her as they moved away from the port. A number of smaller islands speckled the waters and she gave them a curious look.

“Are all these islands uninhabited?”

“Most of them are.” There was a note of sadness in his voice. “From what I understand, there used to be more homes out here, but most of the inhabitants have moved to the town. Since the Red Death people seem to prefer being around other people, even on a planet like this that was not so badly affected.”

“You can still be lonely, even when you’re surrounded by people.” The words came out of nowhere, but she felt the truth of them.

“Are you referring to yourself?” he asked softly.

“I don’t know. It just seems like if there had been someone important in my life, I would have had some memory of them by now.” She gave him a rueful smile. “So far all I remember is my assistant and the fact that my parents weren’t around.”

He looked over her head and out across the water, his eyes distant.

“Sometimes I think that might be better. I had a family—a mother and father, and a younger brother. I had aunts and uncles and cousins. I remember them but they are all gone now.”

She turned and put her arms around his waist, hugging him as tightly as she could.

“If you’d like to tell me about them one day, I’d like to hear about them. That way you wouldn’t be the only person who remembers them. But only if it feels right.”

“I think I might like that. Now that I am happy in the present, perhaps I am ready to remember the happy times from the past again.”

“No one ever talks about the past, do they?” she asked, remembering the lack of questions at breakfast.

He shook his head. “I was thinking about that earlier. I think it is because we are afraid to ask, afraid to bring pain. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a mate who will listen.”

“None of your crew are married, are they? I mean, mated?”

Sorrow crossed his face.

“I am afraid not. The Red Death was especially deadly to females. Many males have lost their chance of happiness. They will never know the joy I have found.”

Lost. The word echoed in her head. Lost males. Why did that sound so familiar?

But then a shout came from the front of the boat and his face lightened.

“But now is not the time to think about the past, good or bad,” he said firmly. “It is time to enjoy your first spawning. Look.”

They had sailed around one of the small islands and ahead of them, a whole section of the sea frothed and bubbled. It wasn’t until they were closer that she realized hundreds—no, thousands—of fish were disturbing the surface of the water, rising and falling in a complicated pattern that looked almost like a dance. The sunlight flashed off gold and silver specks in the water, and a ring of golden froth began to surround the dancing fish.

Pietr rushed by, carrying a bucket. “It’s time, it’s time!”

“Where is he going?” she asked, smiling at the boy’s enthusiasm.

“To collect the hivik, of course. Come and see.”

The boat had anchored just outside the swarm of fish, and he took her to the back of the boat where the males were working. They were dropping buckets into the ring of golden froth and hauling them back up filled with water and small golden bubbles. The contents of the buckets were then poured through a fine grate and into the hold below. Anything that didn’t fit through the grate was swept back into the ocean.

The sailors worked quickly and cheerfully, and Pietr joined them, using his own smaller bucket to pull up more of the catch.

After what seemed like only a few minutes, the water suddenly stilled. Whatever had driven the fish into their frenzy had ended, and only a small amount of gold froth remained on the surface to show that it had happened at all.

“What happened?”

Taranov shrugged. “No one knows. They do not know what triggers the spawning or what causes it to end. Many of the captains claim to know where it will occur every year, but I suspect that there is an element of luck involved.”

“And that was it?”

He laughed. “Not at all. Now Restr will look for the next spawning. Wait here a minute.”

He left her long enough to retrieve one of the last buckets that had been pulled out of the ocean and brought it back to show her.

The first thing he pulled out was a fish.

“What’s that?”

“This is a csiga. They are the source of the hivik.”

He held it out for her to look at, and she realized that the csiga wasn’t exactly like a fish after all. It was about the size of her hand, with two protruding eyes at the front of its body and a third on its back. Two small fins emerged from beneath the eyes at the front, but the rest of its body was covered with short snake-like appendages that wiggled in a disturbing manner. The only thing she could find attractive about it was the coloring—a deep blue fading into teal, speckled with gold and silver spots.

“Do you eat them?” she asked doubtfully.

He laughed and shuddered. “Absolutely not. Only the spawn are edible, and only for the first month of their existence.”

He tossed the csiga overboard and put his hand in the bucket again. This time, he handed her one of the small golden bubbles, perhaps the size of a dime. The gold was slightly translucent, and she could see a curled tube inside.

“This is hivik. Do you want to try it?”

“What’s it like?”

“Salty. Cool—if cool is a taste. It… pops in your mouth.”

His description intrigued her, and she shrugged. “I suppose I should try it.”

The first taste was exactly as he described, but then the small globe popped and she felt the tube on her tongue. It felt disturbingly like a worm, but she forced herself to swallow it.

“That’s… nice,” she managed.

“I suspect you are being polite rather than truthful. As I said, it is an acquired taste.”

“I’m not sure it’s one I want to acquire.” Her stomach definitely didn’t feel happy.

“Come below. I will ask the cook to make some tea for you.”

She followed him readily enough, but the warm air wafting up from below, redolent with the smell of frying fish made her draw back quickly.

“On second thoughts, I’d rather stay on deck.”

The sickness soon passed, and they found three more spawnings before the sun reached its zenith and the hold was full. She had enjoyed the trip, but she was more than eager to return to land and to her daughter. She trusted Curall, but he wasn’t a young man and she suspected it had been a while since he had cared for a baby.

They hurried back to the house, only to find Kivi encased in a bright pink sling on Curall’s chest. He had positioned her so that she faced outwards and she kicked her legs and squealed when they appeared.

“Guess she missed her mama,” Curall grumbled as he unwrapped Kivi and handed her over.

Mama. The word struck her like a bolt of lightning. She knew that she’d given up on being a mother a long time ago, her divorce the final death knell of that hope. My divorce. Her legs shook, and she had to sit down, hugging Kivi against her chest.

“Latiri, what’s wrong?”

Taranov kneeled at her side, his tail wrapping around her waist. She managed to give him a shaky smile.

“Another memory.”

“A bad one?”

“Not exactly. Just… unexpected.” Slighton and Nibra erupted into the kitchen, arguing loudly about the price of ale, and she shook her head. “I’ll tell you later.”

Restr had given Pietr a bucket of hivik to bring back and the rest of the crew devoured them enthusiastically as she shuddered and looked away. Despite that, she smiled at the happiness on the boy’s face as the males praised him for the contribution.

They were still sitting around the table after the meal when one of the local boys hurried into the kitchen. He whispered something to Curall. She saw Curall shoot a look at her, and her heart started to pound, even though Curall’s face remained expressionless. He flipped the boy a coin, then came to join them.

“Patrol officer is here. Name of Mordova. He wants to see the mistress.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Wendy’s heart started to pound, and she felt Taranov tense. It appeared as if his prediction that the Patrol would insist on following up was correct.

“Then I guess we’d better go and talk to him,” she said, proud that her voice didn’t shake.

It did break when she told Kivi goodbye and handed her back to Curall. Would she ever see the baby again?

“I’ll take good care of her until you get back,” Curall promised, and she managed a nod.

Taranov kept her locked against his side as they headed back to the spaceport.

“We could run,” he suddenly growled. “Go back and get Kivi and take off.”

She was almost tempted, but…

“A life on the run is no life for a baby,” she said softly. “And you told me you thought he was a decent male.”

He muttered a curse under his breath, but he didn’t suggest fleeing again.

The Patrol officer was waiting for them. He was a big bear-like male with shaggy dark fur. He gave her what she assumed was intended to be a friendly grin, although it showed an alarming number of teeth.

“Thank you for meeting with me,” he said jovially. “I just have a few questions. I doubt this will take long.”

Mordova refused to let Taranov accompany her, and she followed him alone into his temporary office, her heart beating wildly.

“Taranov told me that you are his mate,” he said thoughtfully as he sat down behind a big desk. “Please take a seat.”

“Yes,” she said. Taranov had told her that the officer could detect lies, and it would be best to keep her answers short and simple.

“I see.” He studied her over steepled fingers. “You are human, are you not?”

“Yes, I am.”

“I assume you know that you are not the first human to be abducted.”

“I suspected,” she said.

“Did you know that we will return humans to your planet? To Earth?”

Her heart was thudding against her ribs so hard she felt sick, but she only shook her head mutely.

“It is a one-time offer. Your memory would be wiped of everything that has occurred.”

His comment actually surprised a rueful smile out of her.

“I really can’t remember anything that happened.”

His gaze sharpened. “Anything that happened before when?”

Damn. She walked right into that one.

“Before waking up on the ship,” she said truthfully.

He raised an eyebrow, but to her surprise he didn’t pursue it and returned to his previous question.

“Would you want to return to Earth?”

She forced herself to think about it. Her memories were still so scattered, but everything indicated that she had been a rich and probably powerful woman. But the main things she remembered were material things—a high-powered job, a beautifully decorated apartment, an expensive wardrobe. She had yet to remember anyone special in her life. Had they even existed?

Here, she had Taranov and… Kivi.

“What about the baby?” she whispered.

Captain Mordova hesitated. “We do not generally return children, simply because we have no way of knowing where they belong. But I suppose if you were to take responsibility…”

Of course she would take responsibility for Kivi, but how could she take the baby away from Taranov? For that matter, how could she leave him? He had so rapidly become such an important part of her life, and somehow she couldn’t imagine it without him.

What a fool I am, she thought, and tears sprang to her eyes. Of course she couldn’t leave him. I love him. She loved him and she loved Kivi and she loved her new life, despite the terrifying circumstances which had brought her here.

“I’m not leaving,” she said firmly, and Captain Mordova smiled.

“Somehow, I expected that that would be your response.” He looked down at the desk and tapped his claws thoughtfully on the surface. “That does, however, leave the incident with Lord Gazdok to be discussed.”

“I honestly don’t remember much. I know that he bought me from a Vedeckian trader. And I think he bought Kivi too. But I think they gave me something, something to make me more… accommodating.”

“From the scene on his yacht, it did not appear to succeed.”

This time, she recognized the subtle trap, the tacit assumption that she had been the other person on the yacht, but she decided to answer him anyway.

“I believe that if I was attacked, I would have defended myself.”

A smile curved the corners of his mouth.

“As I expect any female would do. And although there was a fatality involved, it appears to have been accidental.” He made a note on the tablet in front of him, and stood. “I am marking this investigation as closed.”

A huge wave of relief swept over her and she gave him a grateful smile.

“Thank you. I’m glad that’s behind us.”

“Yes,” he said thoughtfully as he escorted her to the door.

As soon as the door opened, an obviously pacing Taranov rushed to her side, his tail wrapping possessively around her waist.

“Are you all right?”

“You act as if I have been torturing her,” Mordova said dryly.

“Everything’s fine,” she assured him. “Captain Mordova was telling me that he’s closing the investigation.”

“Thank Granthar.”

“We should go home and celebrate.”

Captain Mordova hesitated. “There is one thing I should tell you. Lord Gazdok’s family is very rich, very powerful. Although I am marking this as an accidental death and closing the official investigation, they may not be satisfied. They may decide to pursue it on their own.”

Taranov nodded. “Thank you for the warning. I doubt they would be interested in a minor trader on a planet like Tillich Two, but we will keep watch. Would you like to join us for dinner?”

“I suppose now that the investigation is closed, that would be acceptable.” He grinned at Taranov. “As long as hivik is not on the menu.”

She laughed and shuddered. “Don’t worry. I find it just as disgusting.”

The dinner with Captain Mordova turned out to be a success. They ate in the garden, small colored lights highlighting the lush greenery and the scent of flowers heavy in the air.

Curall started off glaring at Mordova while Slighton was more than normally sarcastic, but in the end the Patrol officer’s casual charm won them all over—even Kivi. When he asked to hold the baby, she reluctantly handed her over. Kivi stared up at him with wide eyes, then broke into her toothless grin.

“I think she likes you,” she murmured.

“And intends to keep me,” he said, wincing as the baby grabbed a handful of his fur.

She needs a teddy bear, she thought with a smile, looking at the bear-like alien. She’d had a bear once, a scruffy little thing that she’d been forced to leave behind when she was sent off to her first boarding school.

Damn. Didn’t she have any happy memories?

But then Kivi chortled and reached for her and she decided it didn’t matter. She would make sure that Kivi had plenty of them.

The males started to discuss possible piracy along their chosen route. Under other circumstances, she would have been interested, but it had been an exhausting night and a long day. She picked up a sleepy Kivi and made her excuses.

“I will accompany you,” Taranov said at once, but she shook her head.

“I’m fine. It sounds like this is something you need to know about. Don’t hurry on my account.”

She brushed a kiss across his lips and headed for the stairs.

“You are a lucky male,” she heard Mordova say as she left.

“I am indeed.”

And I’m a very lucky woman.

She settled Kivi in the new bassinet that Curall had produced, and the baby immediately fell asleep. Despite her own exhaustion, sleep did not come as easily. The memory of her divorce had triggered more memories of her previous life, although they were far from intact. She was still piecing them together when Taranov came to bed.

“You are not sleeping?” he asked softly as he climbed into bed and pulled her against his side.

“No, just laying here thinking.”

“About what?”

“Do you remember what I said earlier? That I’d had another memory?”

“Yes.”

She wasn’t quite sure how he would react, but while she’d been waiting for him she’d decided he had a right to know. She took a deep breath.

“I was married, briefly,” she blurted out. “It was a mistake, but it happened.”

He looked horrified. “Humans do not mate for life?”

“Some people do. In my case, I married because it was expected that a person in my position would have a husband. And he married me because he thought he would get a free ride,” she added dryly.

“A free ride? He wanted you to take him somewhere?”

“To the bank,” she muttered, then shook her head. “I mean he expected me to… reward him financially for marrying me. He was a junior partner, and I think he realized he was never going to be anything more.”

He looked even more appalled. “It is a male’s privilege to care for his mate.”

“It doesn’t seem to work that way for some human males. And I didn’t need him to look after me—I just hoped it would be more of a partnership.”

It had taken her less than six months to realize it was never going to happen. Even when he was conveniently fired from his job, she hadn’t given up hope. One of her most successful acquaintances had a husband who stayed home and took care of the details of their life. But Charlie had no such intention. He stayed up late, slept even later, ordered take out for himself and left a mess, and then wanted to go out when all she wanted was a hot bath and a glass of wine.

She was almost glad she’d found out he was cheating—it was the perfect excuse to divorce him and despite the hefty settlement she’d had to pay, having her space to herself again was worth the price. Had that been the last time she’d ever really let anyone get close to her, she wondered, remembering that solitary trip to the beach. Maybe he had damaged more than just her bank account.

“I am having difficulty with this knowledge,” Taranov said, drawing her back to the present.

“I didn’t care for him the way I care for you,” she said quickly. “We were never mates.”

“And you will not leave me?”

“No, Taranov.” She hesitated. “Captain Mordova told me that I could—that the Patrol would take me back to Earth and erase my memory of everything that had happened.”

He could have been a stone statue lying there watching her. She wasn’t even sure that he was breathing.

“What did you tell him?” he asked slowly, carefully, the words sounding as if they were dragged out of him.

“I told him no, of course.” Fighting back the sudden urge to cry, she put her hand on his face. “You’re my mate, Taranov. I love you.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Thank Granthar. Happiness filled Taranov as his mate spoke the words he had so longed to hear.

“I love you too, Latiri.”

“Then that works out perfectly.”

She smiled at him, but there was still a touch of sadness on her face.

“You do not regret passing up the opportunity to return to Earth?” he forced himself to ask.

“I really don’t. It’s just that… I don’t think anyone will miss me.” She tried to smile at him, but he could see her mouth tremble. “I’m still missing a lot of the details, but I don’t think I was very happy.”

“I was not happy without you. I had found a measure of peace, but I knew there was something missing. Something I never thought to have.”

“Is that why you never really made this your home?”

He followed her gaze around to the bare walls of his room, seeing it through her eyes.

“I did not have a home. Until now.”

“I don’t think I did either. I had more possessions, but it wasn’t a home.”

“And now we can build one together.”

The last trace of sadness vanished from her expression.

“I like that idea.” She glanced over at the sleeping baby, then rose to her feet and held out her hand to him. “Come with me.”

He would follow her anywhere, but Kivi…

“Just out onto the terrace,” she said softly. “We’ll still be able to hear her if she cries.”

He nodded and followed her as she led him to the wall at the edge of the terrace. The terrace was set back far enough that they couldn’t see the street below, only the ocean stretching out into the distance, the surface sparkling in the light of the two moons low on the horizon.

“In one of my dreams—one of my memories—I was by the water. I was alone and I thought I’d always be alone. Now I can look out at the water and know that I’m not alone anymore.”

“You will never be alone,” he promised.

“Then make love to me, Taranov. Right here.”

She lifted her gown over her head, leaving her bare and naked in the moonlight.

“I cannot decide if you are more beautiful in the light of the sun, or here, under the moons.”

“Maybe I should get naked more often,” she said innocently. “Just to help you decide.”

“I find that an acceptable proposal.”

She laughed and reached for him.

“But I think now is the time for touching, not looking.”

Another acceptable proposal. He took her in his arms and kissed her, relishing the taste of her, the feel of her silky tongue against his. Even though his body reacted as urgently as ever, he didn’t hurry—there was no need to hurry. She loved him and she had promised never to leave him. He could spend an eternity enjoying her mouth, ages worshiping her breasts, eons exploring the hidden delights between her legs—and he did his best to make it so.

She was far less patient, urging him on with increasing need, as his cock grew thicker and more demanding. He started to lift her into his arms, then remembered what she’d said. He turned her body so that she was leaning against the wall and looking out over the sea. The moonlight gleamed on the gentle slope of her back and glistened in the shadowy space between her legs.

“You are by the water,” he murmured, letting his tail slide through her damp folds.

“Yes.”

“And you are not alone.”

He probed at her entrance with his tail, finding her wet and ready, then found the delicate rosebud between her buttocks.

“No. Oh, God,” she whispered as he slipped inside the tight little ring, a shiver skating across her skin.

“Never alone.”

He lifted her hips, positioning her over his throbbing cock, then thrust inside with one long hard push. She climaxed immediately, her channel tightening around his cock and her ass around his tail almost to the point of pain, but he held his position, bending down to kiss her neck and tell her how beautiful, how perfect she was. When her shudders finally stopped, he tightened his grasp on her hips and began to drive into her in long slow thrusts, making sure his nubs stroked every inch of her channel.

She climaxed again, and then once more before he finally increased his pace, before his knot expanded and he exploded in a rush of heat that left him weak and dizzy with pleasure.

He managed to take the few steps to a nearby bench, each one sending another jolt of excitement through their joined bodies, and collapsed with her in his lap, their bodies locked together. Her head fell back against his shoulder and she put her hands on his arms where they were wrapped around her waist.

“Wow,” she whispered. “That was amazing.”

“It was indeed. I said you were my miracle, Latiri.”

She laughed and her channel tightened around his embedded shaft.

“I definitely think that goes both ways.”

He bent his head and kissed her, and then they sat together on the terrace, listening to the sound of the sea. She was half-asleep by the time his knot subsided, but she murmured a sleepy protest when he finally slipped free.

“Tonight, we sleep, my love.”

He rose with her in his arms and carried her back inside to bed.

“Not that sleepy,” she mumbled, but her breathing deepened almost as soon as she finished talking.

She needed her rest, he decided. If Kivi awakened during the night he would not try not to disturb her.

Fortunately, Kivi slept through the night again, waking just as the sun was rising. He got to her before she could awaken Latiri and carried her out onto the terrace with a bottle. She drank a little, but she was more interested in the flowers and the birds overhead and the noises from the street below. Her small face was alight with curiosity, a complete change from the terrified baby he’d found on the ship.

He walked around the terrace with her, talking to her about the plants and the birds and his plans for the day. She babbled back as if she understood every word.

“There you are.”

Latiri came to join them, wearing one of his old shirts. Her face was still flushed from sleep and her hair in a wild tangle. He would have sworn that he was completely depleted after the previous night, but just the sight of her was enough to make his cock respond. He stiffened even more when she reached up and kissed him, smelling deliciously of sleep and rumpled sheets.

“I had hoped to let you sleep.”

She yawned and stretched, the shirt tightening provocatively over her breasts. Perhaps he could lull Kivi back to sleep, or take her down to Curall in the kitchen…

“Didn’t you say you were going out on the boat today?” she asked, interrupting that promising chain of thought.

“Yes, but it is not important. I have a better suggestion.”

“It sounded important.” She laughed and kissed him again. “You can’t just lounge around in bed with me all day because we’re mates.”

“And because you love me.”

“And because I love you,” she agreed. “But the world keeps turning and there’s work to be done.”

“I suppose you’re right. Would you like to come?”

She hesitated, then shook her head. “Not today. I think I’ll stay home with the munchkin. Maybe spend some more time on that program to help me learn to read and write again.”

“Very well. I will make it a short trip and be home by noon. Or perhaps earlier.”

“Don’t rush poor Captain Restr,” she laughed as she reached for Kivi. “We’ll be here when you get back.”

He promised to be patient, but as soon as they left the harbor, he found himself regretting it. He should have stayed home with his mate and his child. The collection was equally successful today, the hold full after only three spawnings, but he grew increasingly uneasy as the morning wore on. He had intended to visit the processing plant and check the refrigeration equipment, but as soon as the ship docked he headed for home.

She’ll be there, he told himself, trying not to run.

But when he finally entered the house, he found a bleeding Curall, a screaming baby, and no sign of Latiri.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“The lack of security in this place is really quite appalling.”

The sardonic voice interrupted Wendy’s concentration. She had played with Kivi until the baby fell asleep, and then she’d decided to spend some time on the language program. She’d chosen Taranov’s office in which to work. It was a pleasant place to study, the big windows flooding the room with sunlight and the constant bustle of activity a soothing backdrop—although she couldn’t help an occasional peek out at the harbor, looking for any sign that Restr’s boat had returned. Kivi slept peacefully in her bassinet on the window seat.

It took a moment for the words to penetrate, but then she looked up and saw a big blue male standing in the door to the office. The blue skin, the small dark horns…

“Gazdok,” she whispered. Her lips felt numb.

Even before he shook his head and moved towards her, she realized that it wasn’t the male who had bought her. The resemblance was unmistakable, but this male was older, his hair and horns unadorned.

“That’s hardly likely unless you believe in ghosts. And I do not.” His voice hardened. “I am Lord Razem.”

“What do you want?”

He moved casually towards the window, so casually that she didn’t realize his destination until he was standing over Kivi’s bassinet.

“I have come to retrieve my brother’s purchases.”

“No! No, you can’t have her.”

She rushed over to him, but she was too late. He lifted Kivi into the air, holding her by the back of her outfit. The baby’s eyes opened, wide and startled, but she didn’t make a sound.

“She appears very fragile,” he said disdainfully.

“She is! Please don’t hurt her.”

He tilted his head as if considering the idea, then shrugged.

“Unlike my brother, I already have a son. He is not entirely satisfactory, but he is Kek and that counts for something. I might be willing to overlook the child, on one condition.”

“Anything.”

Kivi’s mouth was starting to quiver, and Wendy prayed that she wouldn’t start crying, afraid of what Lord Razem would do to her.

“You will come with me right now. Without protest,” he ordered.

“Why?”

He lifted Kivi higher, holding her gown suspended between his finger and thumb.

“Because my brother took a very large sum from our family account in order to purchase you and I intend to get my money’s worth. Now no more questions or I will find out for myself how fragile a human child can be.”

Afraid to open her mouth, she nodded.

“Good. Now wait for me by the door.”

Her knees were shaking so hard she could barely walk, but she managed to make it to the door, watching him the entire time. As soon as she reached it, he returned Kivi to her bassinet, not gently, but not roughly either, and she sagged with relief.

“And before you get any ideas about rebelling,” he added, “I assure you I can cross this room much faster than you can.”

Long, cold fingers closed over her arm as he marched her through the door and down the stairs. The house was unusually quiet, even the noise from the harbor seeming muted and far away. Where was Curall? No sounds came from the kitchen as they passed it, but maybe if she screamed…

Razem’s hand tightened painfully around her arm.

“If you think the cook can come to your assistance, you are quite wrong.” He laughed. “The foolish old male tried to stop me.”

“What did you do to him?” she hissed.

He slapped her, no more than a casual blow, but the pain zinged across her face.

“I said no questions. Perhaps I should bring the child after all—to ensure your compliance.”

She shook her head frantically, and he gave her a cold smile.

“Then behave.”

He stopped inside the front hall to retrieve a cloak, covering her with it without ever letting go of her arm.

“Now keep your head down, or I will make sure the child suffers before she dies.”

She obeyed, keeping her eyes on the ground while she tried desperately to think of a solution. He walked her quickly down the street and into the marketplace, every step away from the house adding to her panic. Even if she could get away from him, she didn’t think she could make it back to the house before he did. The market was filled with vendors, not warriors. If she shouted for help, some innocent person might be hurt—or worse.

Taranov will come for me. But even though she was sure he would, how long would it be before he realized that she had been taken. And how would he know where to start looking?

From the smell of smoked fish, they were approaching the alley where Pietr liked to lurk during the day. They were also getting close to the spaceport, and her heart started to pound even harder. Moving as surreptitiously as possible, she reached up and carefully untied the ribbon circling her waist. It was the one Pietr had given her, and she almost hesitated.

I will remember, she swore, let the ribbon flutter free, praying that Razem hadn’t noticed.

A moment later, she heard Pietr’s voice.

“Hey, mister.”

No! she screamed silently. Don’t confront him.

Razem seemed to ignore him, but the third time the boy called, he came to a halt and whirled around.

“What is it?”

“You dropped something.”

“Dropped what?” Razem asked suspiciously.

Please don’t let him remember what I was wearing.

“This hat.” She could hear the cajoling note in the boy’s voice. “I thought there might be a finder’s fee.”

“That is not my hat. I would never wear such a thing. And even if it was my hat, I would never pay an urchin for retrieving what he no doubt stole.”

“But, mister—”

She had a brief glimpse of bare, dirty feet as Pietr tried to step in front of them, then cringed at the sound of a blow.

“Out of my way, or there will be worse to follow.”

Razem marched her off again, too quickly for her to see what had happened to Pietr. She prayed he wasn’t hurt. Had he recognized the ribbon? Or had he just been playing one of his con games?

She was still trying to come up with another plan when Razem hauled her up a ramp and into a ship. From her brief flashes of memory, it appeared to be a much smaller ship than his brother’s and much more restrained, but from the sleek lines she suspected it might be equally expensive.

He pushed her into a chair, tied her hands painfully behind her back, and sat down at the controls. A few minutes later, the ship began to ascend, the planet shrinking below them in an appalling reversal of her arrival with Taranov.

Tears threatened, but she refused to give into them.

I learned a long time ago not to reveal my feelings. Another flash of knowledge, but at least this one reminded her that she could be strong.

“How did you find me?” she asked, proud of how calm her voice sounded.

“The Patrol officer, of course. I’ve been monitoring his investigation from the beginning—and I couldn’t think of any other reason for him to come to such a primitive little planet.”

She found herself wanting to defend Tillich Two from his mockery, but she kept her mouth shut.

“As for your actual location.” He shrugged. “Humans are rare enough to be noticeable, especially females.” He gave her an assessing look. “Which should increase your value.”

The memory of being suspended for a buyer’s appraisal flashed through her mind, but she managed not to shudder. Razem seemed almost disappointed at her lack of reaction, but he turned back to the controls without any additional comments.

“There,” he said a few minutes later. “I have plotted our destination. I think it’s time for a celebration.”

Celebration. The word echoed in her head. That was where this had all begun. The small cabin seemed to dim as the memory swept over her.

It had been almost two years after her divorce. There had been a few times when she almost regretted it—when she came home late to an empty apartment or when she read something amusing and had no one to share it with—but on the whole the episode slipped behind her with surprisingly little impact. Until the company Christmas celebration.

They had invited all of the brokerage’s major clients, including Tom Rafferty. She liked the older man, but when she went over to greet him, he shot her a frown from under bushy eyebrows.

“I hope this won’t be awkward.”

“Awkward? I’m not sure I understand.”

He nodded at the door just as his daughter Ruth entered, accompanied by Charlie. Wendy had always thought that Ruth was a pretty girl, but she was glowing now, obviously pregnant, with Charlie bending solicitously over her.

“Can’t say I was thrilled when she wanted to marry him,” Tom muttered. “But I agreed to give him a chance and he surprised me. Works hard and takes good care of her.”

Neither of which he ever managed with me, she thought as she stared at the couple. A cynical person would assume that he had just moved from her to another wealthy woman, a much younger woman, but she suspected it was more than that. The way he touched Ruth, the way he looked at her—he had never treated her that way, and somehow she believed that he was sincere.

“I’m glad that he’s made her happy,” she said, pleased by how calm she sounded.

“Hmph. I’m still on my guard, but I must admit I think it’s going to work out.” Tom shot her another look. “You deserve a man who treats you that way.”

She managed to laugh. “Oh, I think I’m better off with my independence.”

The rest of the party passed in a blur. She nodded politely at Charlie and Ruth, but didn’t go as far as making conversation with them. As soon as she could excuse herself, she slipped away. She had refused the offer of a company car, deciding to walk and sort out her feelings. She was jealous, she realized. Oh, not of Charlie, but of Ruth and the new life growing inside her. That was what she had been missing as she stood alone on the winter beach—the prospect of a family.

Was it too late, she wondered as she walked down the empty street. It was a cold night, with a hint of snow in the air. The streets were unusually deserted, but this was a safe part of the city and she was too busy turning over the events of the evening to pay more than her normal attention to her surroundings.

Until a man in a dark suit crossed the road from the park. Even then, she wasn’t overly concerned, merely making sure to give him a wide berth. But he was suddenly right in front of her. She caught a glimpse of flat white skin and red eyes just before a burning pain shot through her neck and she collapsed.

She had woken in a small white cell on a ship—a spaceship. The white-skinned aliens—the Vedeckians—were in control, but they never bothered to speak to her despite her demand for answers. She suspected that there were other women on board, but until the day they stripped off her clothes and strung her up to be inspected, she had never seen anyone else.

And then Lord Gazdok had purchased her. She remembered being forced into a sheer pale blue gown after being shocked for her refusal, and she remembered another injection. It hadn’t been as painful as the one which had implanted the translator, and she immediately started to feel as if she was floating in a pink cloud.

She remembered very little of what came next—flashes of a ship, of obeying orders to sit, to stand, to wait. The next clear memory she had was of Lord Gazdok standing in front of her, naked, as he ordered her to suck his cock. Something inside her had rebelled, breaking through the pink fog.

“No.”

He looked more surprised than angry.

“You will obey my orders. Now kneel before me.”

She took a half-step towards him before her will reasserted itself.

“No,” she repeated.

“Fucking Vedeckians. Their obedience formula was obviously a waste of money.” His eyes brightened. “But perhaps it’s just as well. I’ve always rather enjoyed training a female to behave.”

He reached out and grabbed her arms. What happened after that was still foggy. She remembered fighting, scratching at him and trying to get away. It had been obvious that he was far stronger, but he actually seemed to enjoy letting her struggle, at least for a while. Then he’d grown tired of the fight. He grabbed her again and threw her onto the bed.

As she fought to get away, she slipped off the bed, taking the coverings with her. He’d come after her, but as he did he slipped on the silky fabric and fell against the bed frame. He collapsed to the floor, his hand still clutching her leg, his sightless eyes staring at her while blue blood pooled beneath his head. She remembered the feeling of horror, remembered screaming, and then the comforting pink haze wrapped around her. The next thing she remembered was waking up on Taranov’s ship.

The memory clicked into place, followed by all the others she had forgotten. The ship spun around her, and when it finally settled, she looked up to find Lord Razem watching her.

“You remember, don’t you?”

She didn’t bother trying to lie.

“Yes.”

“What happened?”

“He tried to rape me. I fought back and he slipped and fell. He hit his head on the bed frame.”

Razem looked more disgusted than angry. “Idiot.”

“You won’t get an argument from me,” she muttered.

To her surprise, he actually laughed.

“You were obviously wasted on Gazdok. He could never appreciate a quick wit.” His eyes traveled over her again, considerably more intrigued this time. “Although his physical tastes were more refined.”

“So now you’re going to try and rape me?”

She tried to sound threatening, but she suspected she was not successful

“It’s an interesting question. My original intention was to sell you, but I’m beginning to see the benefit of keeping you around. My mate is rather… uninterested in such activities.”

“What a shame for you,” she said sarcastically, and he laughed again.

“Aren’t you going to try and convince me to keep you? I assure you it would be far more pleasant than the alternative.”

“I have no intention of doing any such thing.”

“Oh, I think I can change your mind.”

He stood up and started unfastening his robe.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Taranov hurried to Kivi first, frantically checking her small body for injuries. He didn’t find any signs of damage, and the baby calmed quickly once she was in his arms. He carried her to the kitchen, finding Curall back on his feet and scowling into the mirror as he washed away the blood.

“Fucking bastard.” His eyes met Taranov’s in the mirror, guilt stamped on his face. “I’m sorry. He snuck up on me.”

“Who did? Who took her?” He was convinced she hadn’t abandoned him and the baby voluntarily.

Curall shook his head. “Never seen him before. Blue skin, horns. A Kek, I think. Walked in like he owned the place.”

Fuck. It had to be a member of Lord Gazdok’s family. Mordova had tried to warn him, and he had thought the Patrol officer was overreacting.

In some ways the fact that they had taken her was almost a relief—it meant she was alive. If they had intended to kill for revenge, they would not have bothered to steal her. Now he just had to find her before they hurt her. But where had they taken her? And how was he going to find her?

He had to go after her, but he also had to protect Kivi, still hiccupping occasionally in his arms. He didn’t want to leave her, but could he risk taking her?

As he tried to decide, the door slammed open and Pietr raced over him, thrusting a scrap of pink in his face.

“He took her! He took the mistress and she used this to let me know. And now she won’t remember.”

Tears washed clean streaks down the boy’s dirty face.

“She will remember.” I hope. “Where did you see her?”

“In the market, with a big blue male. He took her to his ship. I tried to go after her, but I couldn’t find a way onto the ship in time.”

“You did the right thing,” he said automatically. “Latiri would never forgive herself if anything happened to you.”

“I did get the registration number,” the boy added.

The odds were that it was fake, but at least it was someplace to start.

“Curall, contact the spaceport,” he ordered. “See if that ship filed a flight plan.” It too was unlikely to be accurate, but he would take anything he could get. “Then start trying to contact Captain Mordova. He cannot have gone far.”

He started for the door as he spoke.

“Wait a minute,” Curall said. “Leave Kivi with me. It’s too dangerous to take her. I know I failed you this time,” he added softly. “I won’t do it again.”

The door flew open a second time, and Toolit and Slighton rushed in.

“I contacted them as soon as I realized what must have happened,” Curall said. “Nibra is on his way to the ship.”

“Good.” He took a deep breath, then handed Kivi over to Curall. “I know you will take care of her.”

He pulled Toolit to one side. “Lock down the house. If anyone other than me or Wendy tries to enter, kill them.”

Toolit nodded grimly, all trace of gentleness gone. “I will protect them.”

“I know you will. Slighton, check with your contacts. Find out if anyone saw or heard anything that might suggest what that bastard has planned.”

“What about me?” Pietr asked. “I want to help.”

“You already did.” Time was passing far too quickly, but he paused long enough to kneel down next to the boy. “I need you to stay here and keep Kivi happy. Can you do that?”

Pietr gulped and nodded, then thrust out the pink ribbon still clasped in his dirty fist. “Take this. In case she needs it when you find her.”

He didn’t argue. He gave the boy a quick hug, and then he and Slighton set off at a run. Slighton split off once they reached the market while Taranov headed straight to his ship. Nibra was in the pilot’s chair, the engines already running.

As soon as Taranov sat down, Nibra took off.

“Curall sent a message,” he said as they roared into the sky. “The Kek bastard filed a flight plan—back to Kek.”

Was it a trick? Somehow, he didn’t think so. The fucking arrogant bastard thought he was untouchable. He was about to find out differently.

“Do we take the direct route?” Nibra asked.

“Yes. He does not seem to be making any attempt to hide his movements. But set the proximity alarm to the widest possible range to check for deviations.”

Nibra nodded grimly.

When the alarm sounded a short time later, Taranov’s heart skipped a beat. Had they caught up with her already?

“Patrol vessel,” Nibra said. “Should I hail it?”

“Yes. We may need the help.”

To his relief, Mordova answered.

“I received the message,” the officer said grimly. “Do you know who took her?”

“Not specifically, but we know that at least one Kek is involved. This is the ship’s registration number.”

He sent the information to Mordova, and a moment later the officer swore.

“Lord Razem. He’s Gazdok’s brother—and a member of the Ruling Council.”

“That does not mean he can steal my mate.”

“No, it doesn’t—but I suspect he already has some semi-plausible story planned in case he is stopped. Perhaps that Wendy is his brother’s mate and he is rescuing her from a life of poverty.”

“But none of that is true.”

Mordova sighed, sounding tired.

“Of course not. But not all races are as honorable as the Cire. And the Council is very influential. He would not have a hard time finding others to support his story.”

Taranov’s hands clenched so tightly on the arms of his chair that he heard the metal creak. He would never allow Razem to take his female, even if he had to fight him all the way to the Council itself.

“Our best option is to stop him before he reaches one of the inner systems,” Mordova continued. “Did he file a flight plan?”

“Yes, straight back to Kek.”

Mordova swore again. “Maybe his arrogance will prove useful after all. You take the right side of the route, and I’ll take the left. We should be able to cover most of it between us.”

“Thank you,” he said sincerely.

“It’s my job,” Mordova said sternly, then sighed. “And it is quite obvious that the two of you belong together. There are so few chances at happiness these days, they need to be preserved when they are found.”

He closed the link without saying anything else, and both ships raced through the darkness.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Wendy huddled in the darkness, trying to calm her rapid breathing. When she’d suggested to Razem that they play a game, it had been a desperate attempt at a distraction. To her surprise, he’d found the idea amusing.

“I do enjoy a good game,” he said thoughtfully, his robe open across his chest. “Can you make it a good one, female?”

“I don’t know. I suppose it depends on if you’re up for the challenge.” She did her best to sound provocative but not too encouraging.

“And what challenge did you have in mind?”

“A very simple one. I hide, and you try to find me.”

“I believe I already won that game,” he said dryly.

“But you had help. Here on the ship, it’s just the two of us.”

“Hmm. You realize that a chase always creates an appetite. I might not be as… controlled under the circumstances.”

The threat was quite clear, but she gave him an icy look.

“Assuming you find me.”

“You do remember that it’s my ship?”

“Then you shouldn’t be afraid to play.”

She caught a flash of anger in his eyes, but he masked it quickly, bending down to cut her free.

“You may have a minute, perhaps two, to start running.”

She fully expected him to cheat, but she didn’t stop to argue. She ran.

She’d immediately headed to the lowest level of the ship, trying to put as much distance between them as possible, but then she’d decided that it was the first place he’d look. She considered his cabin, hoping he would leave it to last, but she hated the idea of being trapped in his room. In the end, she’d opted for the crew area. Hopefully, his arrogance meant that he’d never been particularly concerned about his crew’s living arrangements.

The first crew cabin had been tiny, with built-in furniture and nowhere to hide, but the second was slightly larger and she’d managed to wedge herself into the storage area beneath the bunk. She’d just shut the door behind her when he spoke, sounding as if he was in the same room as her.

“Are you ready, female? I’m coming for you.”

It took a moment before her heart stopped pounding long enough to recognize that he’d activated the ship’s speaker system. He continued to taunt her as he conducted the search, but as time wore on, she could hear the frustration in his voice. He was undoubtedly annoyed, and her hand clenched on the small metal statue that was the only weapon she’d been able to grab on her desperate flight.

Maybe this was a mistake, she thought, as she heard him snarl. But he hadn’t found her yet, and the longer it took, the more likely it was that Taranov would find her.

She was just beginning to wonder how long she could stay hidden away without food and water when she heard footsteps in the corridor outside the crew quarters. He entered the first cabin and swore, but she heard him open every piece of furniture.

Damn. All she could do was pray he didn’t notice the recessed storage beneath the bunk.

The door to her cabin slammed open, and her heart pounded so hard she was sure he could hear it. She did her best to keep her breathing slow and shallow, as indetectable as possible. She could hear him muttering as he searched and what sounded like a mattress hitting the wall, but then his steps headed back to the door. She held her breath, waiting for the sound of the door closing, but then the footsteps came back across the small cabin.

Thump, thump.

The door to her hiding place slid open, and he gave her a triumphant grin.

“There you are. And now it’s time for my reward.”

He reached for her, but she wiggled towards him, keeping the statue hidden behind her.

“That was quite a chase. I’m rather impressed.”

Now that he’d found her, he seemed to have regained his usual composure, but she could see the lingering annoyance in his eyes. He glanced over at the mattress hanging off the bunk and gave her a predatory grin.

“How convenient. I don’t even have to wait to collect my prize.”

He turned to shove the mattress back into place, and she swung the statue at his head with all her might. Unfortunately, he was as fast as he’d said and dodged quickly enough that she only managed a glancing blow. It bled profusely, but she could tell that it was far from fatal.

“You are going to pay for that.”

His smooth arrogance had disappeared, replaced by snarling rage, but she didn’t care. At least she’d managed to leave a mark on him.

He grabbed the neck of her gown and she heard it rip as he hauled her towards him. But she also heard something else—the blare of a proximity alarm, immediately followed by a demand for identification. She recognized Mordova’s voice, and her knees threatened to give way with relief.

Razem snarled again, then gave her an evil smile. “I’m so glad you suggested this game. Time to hide again.”

Before she could move, he ripped several strips off her gown. He used one to cover her mouth, then tied her wrists and ankles together before thrusting her back into the storage compartment.

No! She tried to fight her way free, but with the size of the space and the way he’d tied her, she didn’t have the leverage. Tears trickled down her cheeks, but she kept trying to loosen her bonds enough to move.

“I am Lord Razem.”

His voice startled her, sounding as if he was still in the cabin, but then she realized he had left the communication system running.

“This is Captain Mordova of the Confederated Planets Patrol. I will be boarding your ship, with an… aide.”

An aide? Could it be Taranov?

“If you must,” Razem replied, sounding more bored than concerned.

A very short time later, Mordova spoke again.

“Where is she?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“He is talking about my mate!” Taranov roared.

More tears escaped, but they were happy tears this time. Thank God he’s here.

“What did you do with her, you bastard?”

“It’s hardly my fault if you can’t keep control of your female,” Razem said provocatively.

Mordova sighed. “Lord Razem, you should know that the scan revealed the presence of another individual on board your ship.”

“Indeed? Perhaps you have a malfunctioning machine. But you are welcome to search.” Razem’s voice dripped oily satisfaction, but Mordova didn’t hesitate.

“Thank you for your permission. Captain Taranov, please start on the bottom level. I will begin at the top.”

The wait seemed interminable, far longer than when Razem was searching for her. She heard footsteps in the corridor again and she tried to move, tried to make some kind of sound, but all she could manage was the faintest scrape. The door opened, and she knew Taranov was there—she just knew it.

Please find me.

He advanced into the room, and she did her best to make another noise, but it was hard to hear anything over the pulse thrumming in her ears. She heard him take a step away, and her heart almost broke, but then he was back and the panel was sliding open and she was back in his arms at last.

“Did he hurt you? Are you all right?” he demanded as he quickly stripped away her bindings.

“I’m fine now that you’re here. Is Kivi all right?”

“She is just fine. Curall, Toolit, and Pietr are guarding her.”

“Thank God.” Tears threatened, but she suspected that if she gave in to them she would be crying for a very long time. She managed a shaky smile instead. “How did you get here so quickly?”

“Because of Pietr. He followed you from the marketplace after you alerted him, and he managed to get the registration number for this ship.” His arms and tail were wrapped so tightly around her she could barely breathe, but she had no intention of complaining.

“I knew you’d come,” she whispered.

“I would have done whatever it took to find you, but Razem’s arrogance actually helped. He even told the spaceport where he was going.”

“That really doesn’t surprise me.”

“Or me. But now he will have to pay,” he said grimly, rising with her in his arms and heading back to the bridge.

Mordova was already there, along with Razem, who was sprawled carelessly in the pilot’s seat.

“Ah. I see you found your wandering mate.”

“She didn’t wander—you took her.”

Taranov was snarling again as he gently put her down and took one step towards Razem. Mordova stepped between them.

“This is where I take over. Lord Razem, you are under arrest for kidnapping, assault, and child endangerment.”

Razem sneered at him. “You think you’re going to prosecute me? Don’t be ridiculous. I have contacts at the very highest levels of the Patrol.”

She saw Taranov and Mordova exchange a grim look, and her heart sank. Was Razem right? Would he get away with taking her? And if he did, what would prevent him from trying again to take her—or even worse, Kivi?

Her hands started to shake, and Mordova took her arm, deliberately turning his back on Taranov and Razem. A second later, a loud crack echoed through the room, and then Mordova glanced over his shoulder.

“Oh, dear. It appears that Lord Razem broke his neck falling down the stairs. What a shame.”

She choked, then started to laugh. The laughter turned to tears and then Taranov was there, pulling her into his arms, and everything was right again.

Mordova patiently waited for her to stop crying before asking her a few questions. There was very little to tell, and he seemed to know most of it already. He made a few notes, waved off Taranov’s thanks, and headed back to his ship.

“I’ll arrange to have the ship towed, but I believe this will be the end of the matter,” he said reassuringly before he left. “The rest of the family is wealthy, but no one else has any significant political clout. I think they will go along with the official explanation, even if it’s just to save face. I will let you know if I hear any rumors to the contrary.”

“And I will be more alert next time,” Taranov promised. He still had his arm and tail wrapped around her and showed no sign of ever letting her go again.

“I will. But I hope that my next visit will be purely social.”

“You will always be welcome,” Taranov assured him. “I’ll keep the hivik ready.”

Mordova groaned, laughed, and left, and then Taranov took her back to his ship. Nibra gave her a warm smile and asked if she was all right, but Taranov didn’t give her a chance to respond.

“Set a course back home,” he ordered. “Contact Curall as soon as we’re within range.”

He didn’t wait for an assent before practically dragging her to their cabin. As soon as the door closed behind them, he started tearing off her clothes, kissing her frantically the entire time. He lifted her against the wall as he reached down and freed his erection, then drove into her in one overwhelming stroke.

It wasn’t sweet, it wasn’t romantic, and it was almost too much for her unprepared body to handle—and it was exactly what she needed. She wrapped her legs around him and urged him on, dimly aware that they were hitting the wall hard enough to be heard but not even remotely concerned.

He thrust harder, his strokes wild and uncontrolled, his face buried in her neck. She heard him growl, felt his knot start to expand, and then he bit her neck, the sharp sting throwing her into a sudden explosive climax as he shuddered and pulsed endlessly inside her.

His knees seemed to give out and he slid down the wall, their bodies still locked together, and she sighed in contentment.

The knowledge of what he’d done finally penetrated Taranov’s blissful haze. He had reverted to one of his primitive ancestors, and he should have been filled with guilt. Instead, satisfaction filled him. His mate, marked for all to see.

But his civilized side finally reasserted itself and he licked apologetically at the bite mark.

“I am sorry about that.”

“I don’t mind. But why did you do it?”

“Instinct, I think. It is how a Cire used to mark his mate, back before we had mating ceremonies.” Which of course they had not had, he realized guiltily. “Would you like a ceremony?”

She looked up at him and smiled. “I think that’s what we had on the roof. Just you and me and the sea as our witness.”

“I like that. We have not had the most traditional courtship—why should our mating be traditional?”

“Exactly.”

She wiggled against him, and gave a little sigh.

“Was I too rough?” he asked immediately.

“Not in the least.” Her channel tightened around his embedded cock, and he shuddered. “It was perfect.”

“I was so terrified that I would not find you.”

“But you did,” she said firmly. “That’s all that matters. How long until we’re back on Tillich Two?”

“An hour perhaps. No longer. Why?”

“Because I want to take advantage of every moment,” she whispered and kissed him.

The rest of his crew—of his family—was waiting for them at the spaceport when they landed. Latiri grabbed Pietr first, hugging him so tightly that the boy protested, but he couldn’t keep the huge grin off his face. Curall was next, and she sobbed over his wound. The old male scowled and tried to apologize, but she refused to listen. Then came Toolit and Slighton, the big male blushing and the medic responding a little too enthusiastically for Taranov’s liking. He glared at his friend as he tugged his mate back against his side and placed Kivi in her arms.

“Save your kisses for our daughter,” he told her.

“She deserves lots of them, don’t you, munchkin?”

She covered the baby’s face with kisses and Kivi gurgled happily.

They headed home and Curall insisted on preparing a huge meal, waving off his injury. They talked and ate and celebrated but through it all, he kept his eyes on his mate. When the light began to fade and Kivi started to yawn, he used it as an excuse to whisk them away to their room.

Latiri brought the baby into bed with them, unwilling to put her back in her bassinet just yet. He understood—he didn’t want her out of their sight either.

“I was so afraid he was going to hurt her,” she whispered, watching Kivi sleep.

“He did not. You protected her.”

“Do you think she’ll remember it?”

“I do not think so. But we will make sure she has so many happy memories that it will not matter.”

“Are all the bad memories behind us now, Taranov?”

“Yes,” he said firmly.

She smiled at him, so beautiful in the lamplight that his heart ached.

“I love you,”

“I love you too, Latiri. Now sleep.”

Her eyes drifted shut, but he was not yet ready to sleep, still thinking back over the events of the day. He wondered if he would eventually regret what he had done. He’d always thought that doing his duty meant obeying the rules, but Razem had deserved his fate and he doubted he would ever feel remorse. And if he did, an uneasy conscience was a small price to pay for the safety of his mate and his child.

His tail curved over the baby and wrapped around Latiri’s waist, just as it had done the day he found them. He had thought it was an impossible dream, but his dream had come true. Now they were truly his family.

EPILOGUE

Eighteen months later…

“Mama! Mama!” Kivi called as she came racing into the office that Wendy now shared with Taranov. “Guess what?”

She looked up and smiled as her daughter came flying towards her. Kivi had been late to walk, but once she started she never slowed down. Taranov appeared at the door a second later, giving her an apologetic look.

“She wanted to see you.”

“I can see that,” she laughed as Kivi climbed up and landed on her lap with a solid little bounce. “I was through with the calculations anyway.”

“You work too hard,” he said, frowning, and she barely managed to refrain from rolling her eyes. It was a familiar argument. He was appalled that in her previous life she had frequently worked twelve-hour days. Now he seemed to think that even four hours was too much, even though she had taken over the business side of their small company.

It had been a successful transition. Her background had proven surprisingly relevant, and they were more successful than ever. She suspected that he hadn’t been part of her life, she would have slipped back into her old habits, working constantly and chasing after more growth and larger profits. His desire for her to work less was a pleasant reminder of how much fuller her life was now.

“Mama,” Kivi said again, tugging impatiently on her shirt.

“Yes, munchkin? What did you want to tell me?”

“I gots another tooth.”

Kivi opened her mouth wide to show Wendy the small back tooth. She dutifully admired it, but she couldn’t help feeling a little sad as well. Her baby was growing up so quickly. She looked up at Taranov and suspected he was thinking the same thing. She couldn’t wait until this evening.

“Hey, Mom,” Pietr said, strolling through the open door.

How she loved to hear him call her that. It had taken a long time to convince him to move in with them permanently. He’d been reluctant to give up his freedom, but he was adjusting to family life.

“What can I do for you, Pietr?” she asked, as Kivi squealed, climbed down off her lap and raced over to throw her arms around Pietr’s legs. Kivi loved her big brother.

He smiled down at the little girl and picked her up.

“It’s a nice day. I was wondering if the Dancer was free.”

He was referring to the small boat that Taranov had surprised her with for their one-year anniversary, knowing how much she enjoyed being out on the water.

“I expect so,” she said, smiling at him. “Did you want to take it out with your friends?”

His eyes lit up, but he shook his head. “That would be great sometime, but not today. I was thinking we should take it over to our island for a picnic. Just the family.”

Her throat threatened to close. He said the word so casually, but it meant so much to her. She looked over at Taranov and saw him smiling down at the boy, a big hand grasping his shoulder.

“I think that’s a wonderful idea.” Her voice sounded remarkably calm. “Why don’t you go and ask Curall if he would please help you put together a picnic basket?”

Pietr grinned at her and hurried off, still carrying Kivi, while Taranov shook his head.

“I suspect I had better go and supervise or we will end up with nothing but sweets. You know Curall is putty in their hands.”

“I know. Just give me five minutes to finish up here and I’ll come and join you.”

He kissed her and hurried off as she entered the final figures on the screen, and shut down the program with an affectionate look around the room. Her office in New York had been far larger, far grander, but she much preferred this space with the wide windows overlooking the street and the sea, the shelves that were now cluttered with everything from books to Pietr’s treasures to Kivi’s art projects, and the knowledge that her family was close by.

As she headed down to the kitchen, she could hear the construction noises coming from the former storage area. As the company had grown, they had purchased another building with storage and attached living quarters and Nibra had decided to live there. Since he’d assumed Taranov’s previous position as captain, it seemed only fair.

Wendy and Kivi had accompanied the crew on their first trading voyage after defeating Lord Razem, but she’d enjoyed it far less than she expected. The other planets were interesting, but she felt out of place and the sight of a Kek had given her a panic attack. Once they returned, she’d told Taranov she’d rather not go on the next trip. He hadn’t blinked an eye.

“Then I shall not go either.”

“You don’t have to stay here. We’ll be fine.”

“But I will not be, not without you.”

She gave him a worried look. “You said you got restless remaining in one place too long. I don’t want you to be unhappy.”

“Unhappy? When I am here with you and Kivi?” He gently touched her cheek. “I was restless because I did not have a home. I have one now.”

She let him convince her, but it wasn’t until they watched the ship depart on the next mission and she saw no trace of remorse on his face that she truly believed him. Her restless mate was home at last.

Even though Nibra had moved to the new quarters, it often seemed as if he hadn’t left at all. He still joined them for meals most nights. Slighton also seemed perfectly happy in his quarters on the second floor. The conversion of the former storage area was for Toolit. After a year-long courtship and a lot of encouragement from both Wendy and Taranov, Toolit had finally found a mate. The young couple would be moving into the new quarters. And she couldn’t wait.

Our family is growing, she thought, and smiled.

As Pietr had said, it was a beautiful day, and the boat skipped merrily across the water to the small island Taranov had purchased. A curve of pink sand beach was backed by lush plantings, and a small crystalline pool, perfect for swimming, nestled in the center of the island.

The children demanded food as soon as they arrived, but she didn’t manage to eat very much. Taranov frowned at her.

“What is wrong, Latiri? You have not been eating properly.”

“My stomach has been a little upset,” she said truthfully.

“Is that why you went to see Slighton this morning?” Pietr piped up.

A panicked expression crossed Taranov’s face.

“You went to see the medic? Why?”

This is not exactly the moment she had planned for this discussion. She made a face at Pietr, and he grinned, raising his hands innocently.

“Don’t blame me. I’m just the messenger.” He bent down and scooped up Kivi. “Come on, munchkin. Let’s go for a walk and let Mom and Dad talk.”

“But not for too long,” he called back over his shoulder as they headed for the beach. “So don’t get carried away.”

Taranov pulled her into his arms, his tail wrapping around her waist in the familiar position.

“What is going on, Latiri? Why did you go see Slighton?”

“Because my stomach seemed to be unhappy all the time. I didn’t feel like eating.”

“I know,” he said sternly. “But every time I asked you if something was wrong, you assured me that you were fine.”

“I know I did.” She gave his tail a soothing pat. “But then I began to think perhaps I’d better check.”

“Check what?” His face turned pale. “Please tell me that you are not sick, Latiri. I cannot face the thought—”

“I’m not sick,” she said quickly. “I’m pregnant.”

His body went rigid, but she waited patiently. Even though she’d been filled with excitement ever since she’d found out, she had intended to wait until they were alone tonight to tell him. She knew it would be a shock. Although her first medical scan hadn’t found any issues, as the months passed without any sign of a child—despite their frequent and enthusiastic mating—they assumed that it would never happen. Apparently, they had been wrong.

“Pregnant?” he whispered, his hand hovering uncertainly over her stomach.

“Yes.”

He lowered his hand until he was gently touching her skin.

“A baby.”

“Yes. Our baby.”

“A baby who will never be in an incubator.”

A tear slid down her cheek as she leaned forward and put her hands on his face, looking directly into his eyes.

“Our baby will never be an incubator. He will be loved and surrounded by family from the moment he is born.”

She saw the exact second when he finally let himself believe. A wide grin spread across his face before he kissed her, so passionately that she found herself writhing against him. His tail slid up under her gown, and he growled approvingly when he found her wet and ready.

“The children won’t be gone very long,” she reminded him breathlessly, then moaned as his tail flicked back and forth across her swollen clit.

“Long enough,” he promised and proceeded to prove it, making love to her with such heated intensity that she was still breathless and dazed when Pietr and Kivi returned.

“Tonight, I will take my time,” he whispered as he went to greet the children.

She could hardly wait.

Six months later…

“So beautiful,” Taranov murmured.

He stroked his finger down the soft skin of his daughter’s cheek, and her tail came up to cling to him. Her skin was a pale, smooth green, but she had Latiri’s eyes and a tiny tuft of dark hair.

“She’s perfect,” his mate agreed.

Her face was pale, still exhausted from the long labor, but she had never looked more beautiful.

“And so are you.”

She gave him a rueful smile. “I don’t feel very perfect right now, but it was worth it.”

Slighton had left the room after the birth to give them time together, but now he poked his head around the doorframe.

“Are you ready for company? You have some very eager visitors.”

Taranov hesitated, but his mate nodded immediately.

“Are you sure you have recovered enough?” he asked.

“I’m fine. Just tired. I want to see the rest of our family.”

She’d barely finished speaking when Kivi came flying into the room. He caught her, lifting her into his arms before she landed on the bed.

“Is that my sister?” she asked, her eyes wide.

“Yes, munchkin.” Latiri adjusted the baby so Kivi could see her face. “What do you think?”

His daughter screwed up her face. “She’s kinda small to play with.”

“You were small once,” he said gravely. “But you grew. She will too, and soon she will be big enough to play with you.”

“Congratulations,” Pietr said, his voice stiff, and Latiri held out her hand to him.

“Come and meet your new sister, Pietr. She will need you to look after her as well as you look after Kivi.”

Even though they had done their best to reassure him, they both knew Pietr was worried that the new baby meant he would no longer be part of their family. But when the boy bent down and gently touched the baby’s cheek, her tail came up to circle his finger. He stared at it for moment, and then a broad smile covered his face.

“I will take care of her,” he promised, his shoulders straightening.

Latiri’s eyes were bright with tears, but her smile was even brighter.

“What’s her name?” Kivi demanded.

“We thought, perhaps, Lissanne. If that’s all right with you, Pietr?” his mate asked softly. Pietr’s mother’s name had been Lissanne.

“I… I think she would have liked that,” Pietr said, his voice shaking.

Taranov put a comforting hand on his son’s shoulder as the door opened again. Curall was next, rapidly followed by the rest of the crew. He handed Kivi to Pietr and took a step back as the others surrounded the bed. Nibra admired the baby, then came to his side.

“There’s a surprise for you downstairs, Captain.”

“Can it wait?”

“Yes, but it seems appropriate today. It won’t take long.”

He glanced over at the bed where Curall was fussing over Latiri and nodded. He followed Nibra downstairs and into his office. It took him longer than it should have done to recognize the male standing by the window.

“Jedrar?”

His former captain grinned, more relaxed than Taranov had ever seen him. “I heard you had settled here, and I decided it was time for a visit. I would like you to meet my mate, Constana.”

Jedrar beamed with pride as his mate came to his side. She was an attractive female with a calm demeanor, and she gave him a friendly smile.

“And my son, Jera,” Jedrar added.

A small head peered around Constana’s skirts, regarding Taranov suspiciously.

“I am very pleased to meet you both.” He hesitated. “I would introduce you to my mate—”

“Not on her birthing day,” Constana said firmly. “But perhaps later this week?”

“We would be delighted.”

“Good. Now, I promised this little one we could look at the boats. I’ll meet you there, Jedrar.”

Constana smiled at both of them, then whisked her son out of the room. Taranov turned to look at his friend.

“You have a fine family. I am pleased that your mate forgave you.”

Jedrar nodded. “Eventually. When I refused to give up.”

“And now you have a son.”

“Yes.” His friend hesitated. “We did not forget—but we wanted to build a new future together.”

“I understand. I do not believe the happiness we have today dishonors those we have lost.”

Jedrar studied his face. “I do not need to ask if you are happy.”

He laughed. “You do not. I am happier than I ever dreamed possible. I owe it all to you, my friend. You gave me the chance to escape the past and find a new life.”

“I think we’ve both finally escaped the past.”

They made arrangements to meet later in the week, and then Jedrar went to join his mate and child. Taranov stared thoughtfully after the other male. How much things had changed for both of them.

He had been little more than an empty shell when he approached Jedrar about leaving Cire. He suspected Jedrar had been equally hollow. But now?

“Now we have everything,” he said into the quiet room, and then he smiled and went to join his family.

AUTHOR’S NOTE

Thank you for reading A Gift for the Alien Warrior!

I love being back in this world with of honorable (and sexy!) Cire warriors, smart, older heroines, and the belief that family is based on love, not biology.

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 these books!

When Bex McLynn and I first brainstormed the idea for this series three years ago, we had no idea that it would resonate with so many of you - and we are so incredibly grateful that it did! Thank you!

As always, I also have to give a special thanks to my beta team – Janet S, Nancy V, and Kitty S. Your thoughts and comments are incredibly helpful!

Look for more Treasured this fall! In the meantime, the Alien Abduction series is returning with Olivia and the Orc!

The fierce green alien is the only one who can keep Olivia safe as she searches for her friends. He can’t speak a word of her language, but there are other ways to communicate…

Click here to order Olivia and the Orc!

* * *

For all the latest updates, teasers, and recommendations,

Sign up for my newsletter!

OTHER TITLES

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

The Alien Invasion Series

Alien Selection

Alien Conquest

Alien Prisoner

Alien Breeder

Alien Alliance

Alien Hope

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

Exposed to the Elements

The Naked Alien

The Bare Essentials

A Nude Attitude

The Buff Beast

The Strip Down

Folsom Planet Blues

Alien Most Wanted: Caged Beast

Alien Most Wanted: Prison Mate

Alien Most Wanted: Mastermind

Alien Most Wanted: Unchained

Horned Holidays

Krampus and the Crone

A Gift for Nicholas

Anthologies

Claimed Among the Stars

Treasured by the Alien

with Bex McLynn

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

Cosmic Fairy Tales

The Ugly Dukeling by Bex McLynn

Jackie and the Giant by Honey Phillips

* * *

Books by Bex McLynn

Standalone Books

Rein: A Tidefall Novel

The Ladyships Series

Sarda

Thanemonger

Bane

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