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  “What is yours?”

  He grinned and put a hand on her breast, vibrating it rapidly. “Quake is my code name.”

  She blinked and heat flared in her bloodstream again. “So, you are... you can... ohhh.” She closed her eyes as the need she had felt was finally dormant, woke again.

  “Do not worry about it. It will wake and roar, driving you to acts you would never imagine. When it subsides, you with be embarrassed to think about what you have done, but it is part of you, part of us.”

  She licked her lips slowly. “How long will this last?”

  “Two more active days, unless you get pregnant. In that case, it will cease suddenly.”

  She jerked her head to stare at him and squeaked. “Pregnant?”

  “That is what your body demands. It is the Nyal survival instinct.”

  “If there is an alarm, don’t you have to go?”

  He sighed and stopped moving his vibrating hand over her body. “No. I am on leave until your heat is over. It is a serious matter, and our kind treats it as such.”

  She shifted and squirmed a little. “I think I need a bathroom.”

  Quake nodded and gestured toward a flat panel on the wall. “Press at waist level and the door will open. If you need help working out anything, call me.”

  She was relieved that he was going to let her figure out the lavatory on her own. If she were confused, she would just muddle through.

  Getting out of his embrace was awkward, and getting her legs together enough to walk was even worse, but she stood slowly and walked with careful steps to the panel he had pointed out. The door whisked open at her touch, and to her relief, it closed behind her.

  The toilet equivalent was easy enough to manage. Even the flushing mechanism was just a lit cube on the wall. A slight touch and it did its job.

  Her shower took a bit of fiddling. Finding the hot water was a joy, and she took her sore body into the shower, letting the water pound and relax her aches and pains. There were surprisingly few of them.

  She smoothed her hand up her thighs, removing the cum that had eased out of her over time. Pregnant. So, this wasn’t going to stop until she was pregnant.

  Being a mom had not really been looming large in her thoughts. She was setting up her career and moving her way up the corporate ladder, one bland office at a time.

  Every job she had taken had left her working through prejudice and low expectations. She had attacked her master plan and worked her way up, inch by inch. It wasn’t the trajectory of someone with a more standard appearance, and since she couldn’t win being a black woman in the world of high finance, she was herself. She dyed her hair purple and wore clothing that flattered her skin tones, even if they weren’t the subdued blues and greys of the investment bank.

  Now, she was in a world where she didn’t stand out, and she had to start all over again.

  When Quake had ceased to attend to her situation, she would be on her own again. She got the feeling that he wouldn’t push the issue once the duty had been done. She was—apparently—technically his wife, but she had no idea what that meant out here.

  She finished her shower and looked around for a towel. She was out of luck. A few knobs and levers later, she was blasted with warm air from all angles.

  Anna wished for a towel as she stepped out of the lavatory.

  Small robots were making the bed with precise movements. A desk had emerged from somewhere, and Quake was sitting at it and watching some kind of video stream.

  A slight bump into her legs got her attention, and a bot held its arms up, whistling softly as it offered her a fold of fabric.

  “Thank you.” She took the rich pink fabric and opened it. It was a wide, open robe with thick gold embroidery along the open edges. There were no sashes or closures. The robe was designed to be open.

  It was better than nothing, so she slipped it on and walked up next to Quake to see what he was watching.

  The video was obviously being worn as a body cam. The owner of the camera was fighting with other men, his arms outstretched and a weird blur around one of his fists. When he struck an opponent, the shaking transferred and the man on the ground clutched his ears.

  Quake didn’t look up. “That is Reverb. He is my second in command. Also, my little brother. On his left is Titan and on his right is Nimbus.”

  A coiling of vapour ran along the ground and engulfed several of the attackers.

  “Where is this taking place?”

  “The spaceport. They were attempting to remove a citizen without proper clearance. We were called immediately.”

  “So, you have to charge out to beat them up?” She leaned on his shoulder as she watched.

  “They are talented. They were in search of a young woman and a few young men who had been in distance correspondence with one of their members. It was a baiting situation.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “They were being taken as slaves. If they had managed to lift off, there would have been no getting them back. They would have disappeared without any trace.” Quake ran a hand over his face. “They are lucky that they were found out. The children of Hemcorl are in high demand the moment that their talents are found out.”

  “In demand?”

  “Of course. Many species can’t develop psychic or physiological talents. Having talented breeding stock could give a population a leg up as far as becoming a power in the sector. There are species that will simply not develop them because they are not ready.”

  “What about my species?”

  “You have latent powers. From reports, your world is ready to make herself known by taking an Avatar. It is the world that wakes the talents. Every person on your world has the seeds of talent inside them; it is just a matter of how fast it rises or if it remains dormant for another generation.”

  He turned in his chair while the video showed the mop-up of the men who were lying on the ground with the young teens sobbing to the far edge of the screen.

  Quake smiled. “You look refreshed.”

  She looked down at his erection, and her mouth watered. “You could say that.”

  She trailed her hand down his chest and knelt in front of him, taking him into her mouth for a few soft, wet sucks. Musky and salty, she continued until his hands gripped her shoulders and he lifted her to straddle him in his chair.

  She shifted her hips until he was pressed against her and rocked her body forward, drawing him inside. Anna shuddered as the feeling of being a lock finding her key rippled through her. She held onto his shoulders and closed her eyes as she rode him.

  He wrapped a hand around the back of her neck, and he squeezed. “Look at me, Anna.”

  She opened her eyes and continued to rise and fall with him sliding inside her. His eyes were blazing red, and he smiled at her as she moved faster on him. His chest flexed, shoulders tensed, and he moved his hand between them, vibrating his hand against her clit as he threw her into an orgasm that was painfully sharp.

  Anna’s breath caught in her lungs, and she held on for dear life, digging her nails into his skin.

  He hissed and pulled her down to him, pumping upward as far as his position would allow. He groaned, and his hand on her hip flexed hard while he shuddered.

  Her head spun, and she pressed her forehead to his. She was extremely dizzy.

  Her body went limp, and Quake gathered her to him and got to his feet, carrying her to the bed. He settled her against the pillows.

  “What is happening?” She tried to sit up, but she fell back.

  He chuckled, stroking her cheek. “Another basic need. You are hungry. Stay here. I will send the bots up.”

  She nodded, and he left the bedroom. She grimaced at the soreness and stickiness between her thighs and got to her feet, wobbling and swaying to the lav. She showered and dressed again before returning to the bed.

  The robe flared, and she tucked it around her as she settled. A bot came in through a small door, carrying a tray that sm
elled delightful.

  Anna looked over the selections on the tray and reached for some fruit, noting how her hand was shaking.

  She sat and ate the hot-pink citrus and relaxed as it felt like the juice was running into her veins. She felt stronger after a few mouthfuls and was able to lean forward and make a few more selections from the tray.

  Quake entered, wearing a black robe with silver embroidery. “Oh good. I was afraid that you had fainted.”

  Anna glared at him. “I am not a fainter.”

  He chuckled and sat next to her on the bed. “You seem in higher spirits.”

  She snorted. “The fire is out, for now.”

  Quake sighed. “A pity. I was just getting used to being a sex toy.”

  She held her hand up in front of her mouth as she cackled with laughter at his woebegone face.

  He grinned, and there was relief in the set of his shoulders. It was strange to start with sex and then get to know your partner. Anna was a bit relieved to find out that part of him felt the same.

  She offered him one of the citrus slices, and he took it from her fingers with his mouth. She laughed and made a mental note to hand feed him all the food that she didn’t like.

  Chapter Five

  With a full belly and calm nerves, Anna took a nap. When she woke, she was alone in her room again and the sun was setting.

  Her body seemed to have settled. She felt warm but not on fire and that was a definite improvement.

  She wrapped her robe around her and held it closed as she walked out onto the balcony.

  The Guardians were back. They were standing together, and Quake was with them, wearing the tight bodysuit she had seen when she had first met him.

  One of the men tapped Quake on the shoulder, and Quake turned to face her. He bowed low, and she bobbed a quick curtsey. She could see the change in his body language as he laughed. She stared out to sea.

  She didn’t know how long she had been looking at the water, but a feminine voice got her attention.

  “Excuse me, but I need to do some scans on you.”

  Anna jumped but slowly made her way back into the room, clutching the robe together tightly. “Hello, I am Anna.”

  The woman had dark skin and rich red hair that formed a wild halo around her head before cascading down her back. “I am Yem-lal Aricor. You may address me as Lady Aricor.”

  Well, that was a bit of a slap in the face. “Of course.”

  Anna avoided the use of the title by not addressing her. It was mean-spirited but a bit of fun.

  “So, you don’t know about protocol or anything off your own world.” Lady Aricor set up a tray, which was perched on the head of one of the bots.

  “No. I was given languages and dumped in a stasis tube. When I woke, I was here. There wasn’t a lot of time for training, apparently.” She grimaced.

  “Sit on the bed. I will do the scans.” The lady was slightly less surly. It had to have been something that Anna said.

  Anna sat down, and the lady ran the scanners over her from head to toe.

  Lady Aricor smiled. “Lay back, please.”

  Anna exhaled and lay back. Lady Aricor was decorous as she draped a fold of the robe over Anna’s hips before scanning her belly.

  A smile brightened her features in moments. “It is early days yet, but you are about to make me a grandmother. You may call me Yem-lal.”

  Anna stared at her. “You are Quake’s mother?”

  “Yes, though I gave him the name Dey-lal when he was born.” She smiled and shook her head ruefully, helping Anna to sit up.

  Anna clued into what Yem-lal had said. “I am pregnant?”

  “It seems my son is as efficient at this as he is at everything else.”

  Anna felt heat spike her cheeks. “That explains why he left.”

  “He left so that I could have a moment with you and run the scans without triggering your heat again. From personal experience, men are not the best ones to administer any tests. My husband set off my heat more than once after I was already with child. It freaked him right out.” Yem-lal looked Anna over. “Well, it seems that you need a new wardrobe.”

  “Any wardrobe would be fine.” Anna smiled weakly.

  “Well, my son has made you a wealthy woman, so tomorrow, we will go shopping. You will need a regular wardrobe for a few months and then maternity clothing as you bloom.”

  Anna’s brows snapped together. “Wealthy?”

  “Yes, he put the bride price into a trust for you to access as needed. Most husbands would not be so thoughtful.” Yem-lal smiled and gave her an innocent look.

  “I am still adapting to the fact that I am married just because someone says I am. Back home, mutual consent was required.”

  Yem-lal grinned. “Welcome to the life of the nobility. You are now Lady Anna Aricor. You will become the Lady Aricor when I pass on.”

  “Is it possible for me to borrow some clothing until tomorrow? I am feeling a bit exposed here.” Anna gestured to the robe.

  “I will bring you something tomorrow before we head out. For tonight, rest, recover and I will load a data pad with some information bursts. Your base species seems to take well to getting ocular information.”

  “Humans are nice and adaptable. It is why the Alliance came knocking to begin with. I am guessing that my ancestor crashed or something a few centuries ago.”

  “Four hundred and ninety-six years ago. Lord Arakka Suun, second cousin to the emperor. He was discharged from the Imperial court after killing another lord in an honour duel. I am guessing that he found a mate and that is how you came to be here. Generations later, you made your way home.”

  Anna looked to the open doors, looking out onto the alien landscape. “I wish my parents could see this.”

  “Are they dead?” Yem-lal frowned. “It doesn’t say that in your file.”

  “No. They are on Earth. They sent me here so that I wouldn’t end up gang-raped on my way to work.”

  “If you settle in well, there is no reason that you cannot bring your parents out here to Hemcorl. You have the funds to set them up in a nice home near the city.”

  Anna looked at her mother-in-law with astonishment. “I can bring them here? I can ask them to come to me?”

  “Well, they can’t live at the base. That is a security violation, but they can live in one of the nearby cities, and you can be taught to fly a skimmer or riot runner.”

  “What are you telling my wife, Mother?”

  Yem-lal smiled and didn’t even look away from Anna. “We are having a nice conversation about the possibilities of Anna’s future before my grandchild arrives.”

  Both women jerked their heads to watch as Quake lost his footing and crashed into the desk.

  Yem-lal smiled and packed up the med kit. The bot whirred out the door carrying his burden, and she followed with a swing in her step, whistling as she walked.

  Anna clutched the robe closed and got up, walking toward him. “Are you all right?”

  He still had a dazed expression on his features. “Did she just say...”

  “She did. It freaked me out, too. Don’t worry. We have some time to adjust to the idea.” She patted his shoulder.

  “I didn’t think... I mean, I knew but...” He stared at her abdomen like it was a time bomb.

  “Apparently, you are as good at this as you are at everything else, according to your mother.”

  He reached out and took her hand. “Your mother by marriage.”

  She chuckled and squeezed his fingers. “So she tells me. She is taking me shopping tomorrow. Apparently, I need a wardrobe for the impending blossoming.”

  He groaned. “She does have an interesting turn of phrase.”

  “Come on, on your feet.”

  He tried but dropped again. “I am just going to sit here for a moment.”

  She shrugged and headed to the balcony. Knowing that there were strange men downstairs and that her robe didn’t close made it an easy decision to stay in
her room and stare out at the water and hillsides surrounding wherever she was.

  The base was a very amorphous idea right now. All she had seen was one room and the world below. The air didn’t taste like anything she had experienced before. There were spices in the air that she didn’t know, couldn’t imagine. She felt charged with energy. She wanted to run; she wanted to explore. Dear lord, I want a nap.

  She laughed at herself and turned, the robe floating open and catching the breeze as she walked back into the large quarters at what seemed to be the top of the base.

  Quake was sitting at the edge of the bed with his head in his hands and elbows on knees.

  Anna walked over to him and ran her hand through his hair. “Recovered from the idea of fatherhood yet?”

  He looked up, and a grin spread over his face. “Yes.”

  Quake snagged her and pulled her onto his lap. He kissed her wildly, and she responded with her hands holding his head tightly.

  She clutched at him as he turned and pressed her to the bed, moving down her body with soft nips and long twists of his tongue.

  Anna let him do all the work. When he parted her thighs and stroked through her folds with his tongue, she found that his hand wasn’t the only thing he could vibrate.

  She gave him the sounds of every ripple, every pang of pleasure that she felt until she bucked against his mouth and screamed.

  Anna slowly drifted on a cloud of relaxation and enjoyment as he curled them together on the bed, with his hand protectively over her belly.

  “How long have I been here?”

  He chuckled. “This is the second day. I look forward to spending the quiet times with you.”

  She sighed and snuggled against his fabric-covered body. “Does that mean no sex?”

  He squeezed her. “Definitely not, but it does mean that there can be nights where we just hold each other as well.”

  “Good. I will remember that if and when morning sickness kicks in.”

  “You will get ill?”

  She laughed. “It is possible. A child is a parasite growing to term. It is a good parasite, but it takes a toll on the host. That would be me. My body might register a protest. My mom said that her ten months with me was the roughest in her life. Nearly turned her white.”