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  “And by that, you mean that you have jerked off a few times into a cup?”

  “Yes, and donated tissue samples as well. If they wished, they could make a complete copy of me, and for all I know, I am a copy of some ancient donator, my template fired up for this particular generation.”

  “That is an interesting thought. Can you look it up?”

  “No. The genetic records are sealed going past three generations.”

  Mila knew a challenge when she heard one. “I will keep that in mind.”

  He lifted one of her hands and pressed it between both of his. “So, do you know what you want as your heir? Do you wish for a girl just like yourself, or do you want it untampered with?”

  “I don’t know. I am guessing that they are going to follow protocol and make a copy of me. The little girl of my choice would be a natural evolution of her own genetics.”

  “That might not be possible.”

  She shrugged. “As long as she is healthy, I don’t care. So, according to the records, I don’t have to carry her to term, so I will love whatever comes out of the canister.”

  “Would you want to raise it or leave it in the crèche?”

  “My clone, my rules. I will raise my own clone.” She snickered. “If I said that back home, they would have me committed.”

  “Why?”

  “We don’t clone. We use natural development for the most part. There are a few genetic alterations if there is a disease or defect identified, but someone brings the baby into the world gestated in a human womb.”

  “Interesting. How technologically advanced is your world?”

  “Well, we went from agrarian to industrial revolution three to four hundred years ago. So by your standards, we are not very advanced.”

  “So, your folks are vulnerable to attack?”

  Mila eased out of his arms and glared at him. “Are you creating a plan?”

  “No. Nothing of the sort. I am merely wondering why you haven’t been conquered.”

  “We are in an out-of-the-way system. Most species go straight past us. Don’t worry. The Alliance has us covered. We are a registered protectorate.”

  He grinned. “That would not even slow us down.”

  “Listen to me, Elder Hrakin, if your species sets one foot on Earth with hostility, I will make your life a living hell.”

  “I am joking, Mila. Calm down.”

  Her hands were tingling wildly, and she wanted to crush his smug face. Unfortunately, he was holding her hands in his and stopping her easily.

  “How are you doing that?”

  “You are not the only one with the adaptation.”

  She tried to fight her way free, and the water splashed around them.

  Hrakin sighed and stood up, taking her with him as she squirmed to get free. Her hands didn’t crush his, and she was almost disappointed.

  He finally pinned her arms behind her back. “You have wrecked your relaxation.”

  She was plastered against him, and he was genuinely upset.

  “I was just playing, and it got out of hand. Sorry.” She sighed. Her nipples scraped his chest, and she shivered. Oddly enough, she wasn’t cold.

  “So, you could just have held my hands out of the way while you were with me earlier?”

  He shrugged, “Probably, but I would not have been able to taste you.”

  He leaned forward. “I intend no harm toward your home world or any of its inhabitants. I will confirm that our people will not make a move against yours when I return to the council.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “You are sure?”

  “I am sure. We are not sure that your folks are compatible with ours. The five found Brides were an anomaly. All can be traced back to the original crash.”

  It was an odd conversation to be having with him while they were both soaked and naked.

  She shivered, but this time, it was with cold. “Can we return to the tub? I feel relaxation coming on.”

  He grinned and stepped back into the tub, turning her back to his front and easing them back into the water.

  She sighed and snuggled back against him. Mila rested her head on his shoulder, and she relaxed in his embrace. His erection wasn’t a threat or a promise; it simply was something between them. He might not appreciate her sentiment, but she liked the lack of aggression in this particular situation.

  With protection, comfort and safety in her mind, she let herself doze off.

  * * * *

  Hrakin looked down at the woman sleeping so trustingly in his arms, and he mentally let out a sigh of relief. The Lrrko council had been speaking about requesting the genetic patterns of some Terrans who were not on the Bride list.

  The Terran genome was malleable enough for the Lrrko to craft a new generation of altered assassins. It wouldn’t be the same as the original species, but it could be a sub-race to shore up their numbers.

  He wasn’t going to mention that to his sleeping companion. As far as she was concerned, the Lrrko had no interest in the Terrans beyond the Brides.

  As the water cooled, he stood and carried her to the heat lamp where the light dried them both with slow warmth.

  He carefully moved the chains and cuffs aside, tucking his light burden into bed.

  Hrakin walked to his office, and he checked his messages.

  Elder Lynni wanted to know about Mila and how she was adapting. Hrakin was going to skip that one for a few days.

  Medic Alveck had the complete genetic workup as well as diet recommendations that were on Hrakin’s data pad. An estimate of her cycle was attached.

  Well, with nothing else to worry about, he returned to the bedroom and climbed into bed next to Mila.

  He smiled when she turned toward him and sought out his warmth. She was close to burrowing into him when he put an arm around her and held her tight. She sighed and snuffled lightly as she got comfortable.

  Hrakin was surprisingly content. He hadn’t intended to show Mila that they had the same adaptation. He supposed it was better that they both knew what they were now. He could more easily demonstrate what was needed to learn and how to control the grip. Tomorrow would be all about learning how to use differing levels of tension in her grip.

  In her sleep, she pressed her lips to his chest, and her breath was hot on his skin.

  He closed his eyes and stifled his groan as the hand that she had tucked against his ribs started to move. The gentle caress was slow and awkward, not the practiced touch of a courtesan. It was ten times more arousing.

  Her head moved, and her lips shifted across his skin, leaving a trail of heat that he couldn’t do anything about.

  Her hands and lips continued a slow torture for several minutes before he heard it. There was a soft giggle.

  He looked down at her, and he saw that her eyes were open, her lids heavy. There was no doubt as to what she thought she was doing. She was turning the tables on familiarity.

  Chapter Eight

  Mila didn’t say anything. She continued licking him and moving against him,

  When she pushed him back, he went willingly, and she shoved the bedding off him so she could look at his skin in the moonlight streaming through the window.

  She kept her fingers flat or in light claws as she touched him. When she found a spot that made him jump, she kissed it and stroked it with her tongue.

  The size of his erection was tricky, but using her mouth was safer than her hands.

  He flexed his hands and groaned when she drew him into her mouth, tasting the musky salt of him with slow motions of her head. She drew back and touched herself, spreading her folds and stroking her sex.

  Hrakin didn’t say anything, but his hand replaced hers between her thighs.

  She inhaled sharply when he slid two fingers into her, and it took all of her determination not to slam her fists into the bedding.

  That was what she had been looking for. There was nothing like the feel of living flesh moving inside her.

  Mila strad
dled him and pulled his hand away, lining him up and slowly lowering herself onto him.

  The heat and thickness of his cock caused her breath to rush out of her lungs. Slow motions of her rising and falling brought him into her completely.

  She wanted to clutch at him, wanted to hold him, but she leaned forward, braced her fists on either side of him and slowly began to ride him.

  The devastating inner stroking brought her close to release in only a few minutes. Her body tightened around his, and she moved her hips under superhuman effort. Her instincts were telling her to remain still, but she could feel her release was just a few strokes away.

  Hrakin touched her fists and took them into his hands. He slowly opened her grip and wove his fingers with hers.

  She sat up, and it forced him deeper. A gasp, a groan and a few more plunges had her on the edge of release.

  Mila sank onto him, and he raised his hands, using the angle to force her down further. The deep impact caused a gasp, a tremor and then a cascade of energy ran through her, emerging in deep, ragged cries.

  The low groan from Hrakin preceded his gripping her hands to keep her from escaping, and he flipped them over so that she was on her back. He began a slow regimen of deep strokes of his hips that took him to her core.

  She gasped and another wave of spasms gripped her, stroking him with every focused undulation of his hips.

  He shuddered and a low grunt followed by a groan escaped from his lips.

  Mila stared up at him and watched his expression go from nearly cruel intensity to relaxed bliss.

  He pinned her hands up next to her head and kissed her deeply. “Thank you for starting that.”

  Mila grinned. “It was now or later. I picked now.”

  He slowly unlatched their hands, and he moved off her, spooning her against him.

  It wasn’t the good night’s sleep she had anticipated, but it was a lot more useful at relaxing her than the bath had been. With his heart beating against her back, she let the sound carry her into rest.

  “Gloves on.” Hrakin smiled at her as he put on his own pair.

  “Yes, Elder.”

  He sighed. “That is a very annoying habit you seem to have picked up.”

  Mila smirked and tugged her gloves on. She was trying his patience. To know a man you needed was to know where his limits were. His limits for being seduced were well within her grasp. She wanted to test his temper.

  She was wearing her new outfit, including boots. The gloves were snug and made of the same sturdy fabric as her long-sleeved shirt.

  “There we are, Elder. All ready to romp up a hill.”

  Breakfast had been a few hours ago, and she had rifled through the Lrrko data systems looking for images of Hrakin’s genetic ancestors. She had nearly gotten to the initial progenitor when Hrakin had gotten a call.

  Her data pad had been plucked from her hands and locked in a safe. He hadn’t paddled her butt, but he had given her a lecture on Lrrko data protocol that was rather scathing. She didn’t like to be lectured to and was using the word Elder to get under his skin.

  It was childish and petty, but today, it was up her alley.

  He wasn’t growling at her, but it was a near thing.

  He slipped on a backpack and stalked to one end of the property. What she thought was a solid wall of rock had a dark passageway that snaked through for half a kilometre before it emerged in the daylight and jagged, natural meeting of mountains was in front of them.

  “Come along, Mila. Try and keep up. Don’t worry if you fall. I have a med kit with us.”

  She made a face at his back as he headed up the seventy-five-degree slope. She winced at the idea that this was the starter level.

  Her body tingled, and she followed him. They climbed upward for metres and metres. She slipped, caught herself, crushed some rock and finally caught on. The light touch, even when she was gasping for air, was the key. She had a tremendous amount of strength, but she only needed to use it to keep her grip rigid. It was a lesson that she found incredibly useful.

  Fatigue was riding her. She pulled herself up, foot by foot, metre by metre and step by step.

  She staggered and fell to one knee. She heard Hrakin curse, and he turned back to her, lifting her in his arms.

  “We are almost there, Mila.”

  She gasped and nodded. “Then, put me down, and I will walk there.”

  “You are falling.”

  “Then, walk at my side and keep an eye out for me. Help me, don’t do it for me.”

  He set her on her feet, and she stabilized before continuing the climb. It was only another fifty feet before she staggered onto the plateau.

  Looking around, she gasped. “Oh, wow. Definitely worth the climb.”

  He laughed. “I am glad you think so. We are going to walk this path every day until it is second nature to you. The walk will strengthen you, build your control and help your stamina.”

  As he spoke to her, he removed his pack, flicked out a cloth and laid it on the flat expanse of stone. He urged her to sit with him, and when she was settled, he pulled out bottles of water and boxes filled with snacks.

  She stripped off her gloves and flexed her hands.

  “How are you feeling?”

  Mila laughed. “I am going to be sore in the morning. Is this part of combat training?”

  “In a way. Many concentrate on combat skills, but my training focused on building up the stamina and strength before the fighting skills start. If you can run away from an attack, you have a far better chance at surviving than if you remain and reinforcements can be called.”

  “It makes sense to me. I am confident that I will be sore in the morning, though.”

  “I will give you a rubdown tonight. It will help with the pain in your limbs.”

  “Oh good.”

  He smiled, and the smile was evil. “You will need any relief you can get. You are doing this again in the morning.”

  She paused with the water bottle near her lips. “You are joking.”

  “Nope. It is a better use of your time than hacking into secure files.”

  “But, I like hacking into the files. It is a new skill for me.” She gave him a sincere look.

  “Don’t batt your eyes at me. There is no reason for you to be running around our history.”

  She waved that off. “Of course there is. I am curious as to what brought your progenitor to the attention of the scientists.”

  “Curiosity is not a reason to breech our protocols.”

  She shrugged. “It seemed like a good reason to me. I was promised that I could pursue information and learning.”

  He wrinkled his nose. “We did not know you meant our systems.”

  Mila stared at him. “You were the one who authorized it?”

  “The Elder council did.”

  She snorted. “Well, when I wanted to look into all information, I meant all information. The idea was that I could educate myself as much as I wished.”

  He groaned and massaged his neck. “Why do you want to rifle through our history?”

  Mila opened the container of nuts and seeds, and she took a few. “Because I love to read. I love moving through the data. It makes me happy.”

  He groaned again and looked at her with narrowed eyes. “When you access our historical documents, make sure I am in the room. Yes. You were authorized to do it, and if it makes you happy, you are welcome to it.”

  She munched and reached over to pat his shoulder. “Don’t look so upset. I am not a gossip. Once I read the data, I have no interest in it. I just want to know it.”

  He nodded, and they looked at the vista stretched out before them. She moved the food and scooted next to him.

  She leaned her head against him and smiled. “It is a lovely view.”

  “Only because you are with me.” He shifted his position and kissed her.

  It was a romantic picnic. Too bad they never made it to the food.

  Epilogue

&nbs
p; It was decanting day, and Mila was meeting her heir. She had spent four hours of every day reading to the little one as she grew in the tank.

  The other Brides all had their own gestation rooms and their own heirs to chat to.

  Alveck and the council were here for the decanting. Hrakin’s hands were clenching and releasing with nerves. The other Elders were staying far away from him.

  Lynni had her own heir in a harness against her chest. Tiny Yma was asleep during the tense moment with her pudgy fist against her rosebud lips. Leko had his heir in his own harness, and Keela looked even smaller on him. His tiny daughter looked around with wide eyes, but she was quiet.

  Alveck checked everything and nodded to Mila. “Ready.”

  Mila took the few steps up to the top of the tank, and she decanted her daughter, every slippery inch of her. Alveck stood by with a towel, and the moment that Niika was out of her mother’s arms, she screamed.

  Alveck nearly dropped her. Hrakin stepped in and touched his daughter, easing her into the infant scanner. She went quiet the moment that he touched her.

  Alveck ran the scans, and she didn’t cry on the equipment. The moment that he touched her, she screamed again. It was definitely an angry scream. She turned the same scarlet that Lynni sported.

  Hrakin smiled and lifted her in the towel, handing her to Mila. “It seems your daughter has your temperament.”

  Mila made a face and stroked the perfect and downy cheek. “Shut up, Elder.”

  He sighed and Lynni snickered.

  Niika’s little hands waved around, and Mila slipped her finger into her daughter’s grip. “Wow. You are impressive, little girl.”

  Niika squealed. Yma and Keela shrieked.

  Lynni and Leko went into damage control with their little ones, and the Elders looked at Niika as if she was possessed.

  Mila rocked her daughter and chuckled at the chaos she created. “We have a little disrupter in our midst.”