Command Control Read online

  Maya squeezed Heron. “Your dad has time off, and he wants to spend it with you, not with a freaky alien lady.”

  Heron’s eyes got watery. “You don’t want to come?”

  She looked to Huron for help, but he was smiling at her.

  “How about this, Heron, why don’t we have lunch, and if I am not super boring and you have really good manners, we will go for pie, and after that, I am sure you will be tired of my company.”

  Heron smiled slowly. “And if I am not bored and I want you to play?”

  Huron murmured, “Heron. Don’t pester her. Not everyone finds you fascinating.”

  “I find you fascinating, but I work a lot, and I haven’t seen much of Relita yet.”

  Huron sat, and the server came over. He made his order and one for Heron. Maya’s food arrived, and she tried to figure out what she had ordered.

  Heron looked and said, “Why aren’t you eating?”

  Maya whispered, “I am not sure what I am looking at.”

  Huron chuckled. “Would you like some help?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Can you just point and help me figure out which is which?”

  Heron confidently pointed out the rolls; Huron helped her with the other selections and the equivalent to a chicken salad. Heron made a face at that one.

  She took a bit on her fork and tasted it, and then, she explained to Heron, “It is a little bit salty, a little bit sweet, a little bit creamy, and a bit like shredded meat.”

  He listened to her description and looked at it with confusion. “Can I try some?”

  She put a tiny bit on a spoon and held it for him. He took a bite and made a face. She smiled and held a napkin to his lips. “You can spit it out. You don’t have to like everything.”

  He spit it out, and she gave him the roll that he liked. “Well done, Heron. Trying new things is what life is all about.”

  Huron’s food came, and Heron’s with it.

  Huron asked, “So, how is it that you came to Heron’s aid when he was outside?”

  “Well, I heard him crying, and it was a genuinely upset kind of crying.”

  Heron blinked. “You heard me?”

  Huron looked at her for clarity. “You heard him?”

  “Um. Yes. I am guessing that there is something specific about the way he cries.”

  Huron shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. Come over here for lunch, little man.”

  Heron was passed from one adult to the next, and Maya was able to eat her lunch. She only spit out one thing, and it made Heron laugh when she neatly folded the napkin down.

  “So, Maya, if you are working here, why did you choose this as a spot for a day off? There are far more cultural items available nearby.”

  She rubbed the back of her neck. “Ah. Well, I have been having an issue with the locals.”

  He frowned. “Have they been insulting to you?”

  His golden face with its thick black lines was terrifyingly protective.

  She cleared her throat. “No, the opposite. Everyone has been very friendly. Extremely friendly.”

  Huron chuckled and nodded. “Ah. Well, Relitans are a friendly people.”

  “So I have found out. Mind you, I haven’t met any of the women.”

  Heron smiled. “They are protected.”

  Maya played dumb. “Like the guardians protected?”

  Heron perked up, looked at his dad, and then calmed down.

  Huron snorted. “No. They collect harems of men who do their bidding for a chance at carrying on their genes.”

  Heron smiled. “I am a clone.”

  Maya blinked and then grinned. “I am a composite.”

  Huron jolted.

  Heron frowned. “What’s a composite?”

  “Well, I started out as me, but I got hurt, so when they fixed me, they put in part of a species that doesn’t get hurt as easily. So, now I am both.”

  Heron grinned. “You are special. Just like me.”

  “Yup. Just like you.” She lifted her fruit juice, and they toasted each other. Huron was still stuck staring.

  She got a little nervous. “Um, is something wrong?”

  He cleared his throat. “What did they blend you with?”

  She sat back and cocked her head. The suns were sending beams through the pergola, and all three suns touched her skin. “Take a wild guess.”

  His eyes widened when she turned her face to the sun, and the light highlighted the UV markings. When she returned to her meal, he started chuckling. “So, on a world covered with Relitans, you chose the one place where they were in the least concentration because they were in the least concentration.”

  “Yeah. That’s it. I am not quite comfortable with the attention I have been getting. It doesn’t happen this way where I am from.”

  He smiled. “I did wonder why I was smelling a queen nearby.”

  “Ah, the miniscule amount of clothing helps to dissipate the pheromones, as does swimming in the ocean. The salt works nicely on the pores of my skin.”

  He looked her over, and he nodded. “I can see that it works, but the longer we sit with you, the stronger the scent gets.”

  Heron nodded. “I followed her scent, and that is how I got lost.”

  Maya blinked. “Because I left the beach. Oh.”

  Heron was eating with his food in both hands and grinning. “But now I know that I found you again. Dad says it is important to keep working on things.”

  She nodded, and Huron smiled.

  “So, Maya, how long have you been here?”

  She shrugged. “Less than two months. Maybe more. Time moves strangely when you are in a secure facility.”

  “Ah, so that is why you are easing into life here.”

  “Yes. I have two more days after today, and then, I am locked down for another three weeks, and the whole time, I am still on call.” She almost covered her mouth, but she finished her lunch instead.

  She drank her juice and ordered a third.

  It was delivered in under two minutes.

  Huron asked, “Are you going to be okay to walk after all that?”

  “After three non-alcoholic fruit juices? I should be fine.”

  “You aren’t drinking intoxicants on your day off?”

  She shook her head. “I am on call. I can’t risk being impaired.”

  “What is your area of expertise?”

  “Communications.” She smiled, “And the rest is classified. What do you do for a living?”

  He grinned. “I am in planetary security, and the rest is classified.”

  She finally asked, “So, why are you two here? There have to be better beaches on the less touristy parts of the coastline.”

  He smiled. “I was given a suggestion to be here by an old friend. I asked Heron, and he agreed.”

  “Why would your friend suggest here?” She frowned. She had no idea if there was a contact that they had in common.

  Salya came in with her wrap around her hips, and she looked over at Maya, gave her a thumbs-up, and left again.

  Maya looked at Salya and wanted to yell that it wasn’t what she thought.

  Her face was hot when she looked back at her lunch companions. She drank her third juice.

  “A friend of yours?” Huron smiled.

  “Yup. Co-worker. We came here together, and she obviously thinks that something is going on that isn’t actually... Can I just run away now? Is that appropriate?”

  Heron stared. “You changed colour, and your marks came out again. Can you do it on purpose?”

  “I don’t know. It’s new.”

  He nodded in understanding.

  Huron smiled. “Your co-workers are in favour of you... socializing?”

  “Yup. Very much so.”

  “In that case, perhaps we should go for a walk to get those pies once lunch is done.”

  Heron stuffed his food in with both hands, and Hu
ron was a moment ahead of him.

  Maya looked at them sitting there with crumbs on her cheeks, and she mentally sighed. Boys.

  Chapter Six

  The pies were good, but then, Heron hauled her to some of the games, and she was nagged into one of the cycle rounds.

  Huron went to get tickets, but he grimaced. “Heron can’t ride alone, but I can’t ride with him. Weight restrictions on the cycles.”

  “I can take him if he will ride with me.”

  Heron grinned.

  The cost of the ticket included a webbed suit that was good for a single impact. She put on the suit over her swimwear, and most of her was still showing. She shrugged. It was risqué by her standards but fully clothed by Relitan standards.

  Heron was in his little webbed suit, and Huron was in the suit that barely stretched to cover his shoulders. He stared at her, and she picked a helmet for her and one for Heron.

  They stood in the briefing cluster, and she listened to the rules and the fact that there was a prize. She lifted Heron. “Do you want to win the prize?”

  He grinned. “Yeah. My dad always wins, though.”

  “Oh. We will see about that.”

  She did a safety check on the cycle, verified that the speed restrictor was in place, and then, she settled Heron in front of her. He could see what they were doing and where they were going. There were handles there for him, and a safety strap was wrapped to hold them together.

  She fired up the cycle and got into the starting position. She glanced at Huron and nodded before focusing on the track, using her talent to tap into the cameras for the best view of the route. She whispered instructions to Heron, and he nodded. He hung onto the rings, and when they got the signal, they shot forward with the pack.

  A few of the drivers didn’t know what they were doing, and she went past them. Then, she passed the ones who were trying to predict the track. There were two routes to the final loops, and she took the one that climbed. They accelerated to the top and shot over the lower track, landing on the far side of a gap and coasting downward with increasing speed. The gravity provided the speed, and they were in front when they came around the final curve and crossed the finish line.

  Lights flashed, and there was honking. But Heron was cheering and laughing madly. She pulled off her helmet, and Heron pulled off his. The attendant took the cycle while Maya returned the helmets to the stand.

  Huron got his helmet off, and he came over, hugging them both. Relitans were very touchy-feely, but it was the picture that was taken of them that caught her by surprise.

  She bit her lip and looked at Huron. “That could be bad, right?”

  “It depends on your workplace. Most don’t mind a woman with a guardian.”

  She grimaced and rubbed the back of her neck. “Yeah, I think my workplace is going to be a bit strict on that.”

  She stripped off the webbing on her way back to the change room and came back with her silky wrap covering her from her neckline to midthigh.

  “Miss. You almost forgot your prize.” The attendant ran up to her.

  She looked at the bracelet for unlimited entrance to the games for an entire year. “Oh, this can’t be right.”

  He grinned. “It’s right. You broke all standing records, Miss. Congratulations.”

  “I will give it to the boy.”

  He grinned. “He got his own, Miss.”

  She smiled graciously. “Good. Thank you.”

  She went to find Huron and Heron. Heron had the band on his wrist, and she went to give hers to Huron. Two high caste males got between her and her target.

  “Ah, dear queen, please consider us as your first acolytes.” They sandwiched her between them and started to slowly gyrate against her. She pushed at them and managed to get it so that her back wasn’t against them when it bumped into something else.

  Her suitors paled and backed away. She swallowed. “Did I just bump into something really scary?”

  She turned her head and saw Huron. “Oh, thank goodness.”

  He was humming with fury, and she looked at Heron, who was also bristling with hostility. She was going to speak, but he looked down at her with disgust and rage in his eyes. Right. She pressed the bracelet into his hand and walked out of the game area. She headed back to the hotel, and she ignored any and all stripey males who caught her scent.

  She went to her hotel, and she locked herself in her room. Until she got a handle on this, she didn’t want to run around and set people off.

  An hour later, she was sitting with her arms around her knees and watching the light on the waves when she heard knocking at her door.

  She got up and walked toward it. “Hello?”

  “Maya, I need to talk.”

  “It’s fine. I will just stay out of your way, and I won’t cause any more issues. Say good night to Heron for me, please.”

  There was a heavy sigh. “Maya?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Stand away from the door.”

  It was all the warning she got before Thud lived up to his name. The door simply fell down. He walked into her room calmly, and she looked behind him. “Where is Heron?”

  “A co-worker of mine is giving him a surfing lesson.” He turned and lifted the door back into place.

  With the intent look in his eyes, she was pinned in place. “So, what is on your mind?”

  “You. What are you wearing?”

  She looked down. “It is my work suit. I am working.”

  He looked around the room and stepped in close. “I want you.”

  She paused. “What do I say to that? I have been getting that sentiment a lot lately.”

  He smiled. “I want you for your kindness to my child, your patience with him, your physical skills on the cycle, and I really want your body under me.”

  She swallowed. “Is this related to me being a queen?”

  He grinned. “It is part of it, but the majority is all you.”

  He was slowly stalking her around the room. He casually closed the balcony door as they passed.

  He pinned her to the wall next to the bed. She murmured, “Are you high caste enough that fucking me won’t cause you a problem?”

  He grinned. “Yeah.”

  “Good.” She peeled her suit open and off her arms. She reached up and pulled his head down to her. She kissed him slowly, and he leaned into it, moving his lips against hers.

  She pulled her head back. “If you don’t want to, that’s fine too; we can just cuddle.”

  He narrowed his eyes and growled, lifting her up and peeling her suit off in one move. It dangled from her left foot before it dropped to the floor.

  His white wrap shirt and blue trousers were simply shoved aside as he pressed against her and his cock slipped back and forth in her folds. When he found the entrance, he rocked in.

  She gasped, and he cupped her butt, lifting and dropping her against him. He felt huge, but he was huge. He was able to stand with his feet spread as he pounded into her and dropped her onto him.

  Maya closed her eyes and focused on the amazing feel of him inside her. It wasn’t just his size, though that was fun; it was the mix of her sweat and his that was pulling her down the rabbit hole.

  She was almost cumming when he paused, and he murmured, “Look at me.”

  She looked down at him and shivered as the intensity in his eyes multiplied while he lowered her, raised her, and did it again.

  She started to shiver on the fourth intense thrust, and by the fifth, she was convulsing around him, her body squeezing at his.

  He groaned and pressed his lips to hers as he shouted. She literally felt the spasm he had as his cock bucked and flexed inside her.

  She took the sound and felt a twinge deep inside. Whatever he had just done involved the extra organ that she had grown with the alteration to Relitan physiology.

  He shuddered against her. “Are you well?”

  She fou
ght her rising lust. “Yes. Very. Are you? That sounded painful.”

  He chuckled and lifted his head. “That experience was once in a lifetime, and I am glad it was you.”

  She blinked and then caught on. “Oh. Ah, I think I have figured it out. Wait. Nope. I am still an idiot.”

  He smiled. “I will give you the name and number of a Relitan doctor to explain it to you.”

  “I think I have met one. He was a little frisky as well.”

  They were having this conversation while she was still impaled on him, and he was still rigid.

  She locked her legs behind his back and undulated against him. He looked surprised. “You wish to continue?”

  She sighed and moved on him. “I do. I am guessing it isn’t common, but after the initial shock, this feels really good.”

  He pivoted and leaned down so that she was on the bed and he was supporting his weight over her. She continued to flex her hips, rocking herself against him until she shuddered and gasped, digging her nails into his shoulders.

  He growled and thrust into her, rocking his body along hers. They struggled together for five minutes, and when she let out a long moan, he grunted and shoved against her.

  He kissed her, and he said, “I have to get back to Heron. He thinks you are mad at me.”

  “I sort of was. I don’t like misplaced anger, and you had a lot that wasn’t properly directed.” She stroked the designs on his cheeks. He withdrew from her, and the rush of fluid had her sitting up. “Dang.”

  She got up and headed to the lav. The fluid wasn’t what she was expecting. There was a golden and translucent substance, and it wasn’t honey. She cleaned up as best she could, but she was still leaking when she got her bodysuit and got dressed. Huron had tidied up in the bar sink as men had done since bar sinks were invented.

  “I am definitely going to have to do more research because what I have seen did not explain much of that.”

  He grinned. “I can explain a bit. The sperm packet that I deposited is loaded with pheromones. You can have sex with others, but my scent takes priority. The discharge in lieu of semen is to stop other males from getting their own sperm packets inside. If I have had sex with you before them on the same day, it will flush out their offering. The packet will work with your systems, and the next time an egg is released, it will be fertilized.”