Nine
She had no idea how long she’d slept, but Pace snored lightly above her, although he’d fallen off to the side between her and the wall. She was comfortable, sharing his small space and his luscious body heat, but as luck would have it, she had to pee…and clean up.
Slowly, she slipped out from under him. His only sign of being disturbed was a small snort. She tiptoed from his sleeping chamber―which only had one door―in search of the facilities. After a fruitless few slices, she decided to ask the ship.
“Calamity?” she queried.
“Answering, but just barely, you heliotropic hell-spawn.”
“Thank you for your consideration.” Lola bit her tongue over the slur. She knew better than to piss off the id-female craft. “I am in need of a place to urinate. Can you direct me, please?”
Was that grumbling she heard?
“Programmed into my protocol is a directive to make sure no one aboard is uncomfortable. What is the state of your bladder?”
“Full and ready to overflow,” Lola returned, thanking Lords for fixed directives.
“Fine. Down the hall to the end, take a right. It’s the third door on the right.”
“Right-O. And my awash kidneys thank you.”
She hotfooted it to the door in question, effecting a shift for expediency on the way, and once inside, relieved herself immediately. While squeezing out the last drops over the toilet, Lola made a mental note to ask Pace why the elimination closet was so far from his bunk. If they actually became a unit, she’d want it closer.
Heaving a sigh of relief, she shifted back and strode into the hallway. Perhaps it was time to explore. Despite the number of doors, which had confused her attempt to find the EC, it wasn’t a particularly large ship. She intuited her way to the command center.
Walking up the last half a dozen steps, she came to a spacious upper deck where windows gave an approximately two hundred degree view of outside. A pair of extremely comfortable looking chairs were positioned in front of a massive control panel, which boggled Lola’s mind. She was great with mechanicals, not so much with electronics. Maybe Calamity would enjoy talking about herself and Lola could score some points with the keeper of the ship.
“Calamity, can you familiarize me with some of what I’m seeing? I’m pretty hopeless with this kind of stuff.” She waved a hand at the array.
“Not on your life, you meddlesome magenta. Pace has set that as a no-no. Nobody fondles my junk except him.”
Lola got the gist of that smug reply and smothered a giggle. Touchy much, Miss Calamity? She’d try another way to ingratiate herself.
“You’re certainly complicated from my point of view. It must have taken a long time to bring you online. But I’m sure it was a labor of love for Pace from start to finish.”
“Yes, he worked tirelessly on me…with a little help in the financial department from his old hag of a mother.”
Ah, so there was no love lost between Calamity and Mrs. Ruffalo. Wasn’t that interesting?
“Speaking of the meddlesome matriarch, she’s been calling off and on for the past half-hour. Pace shut down his q-phone and I’ve been monitoring. So…”
If Lola were any judge, Calamity’s voice had turned sly. Could a computer do that? And what was Clam up to?
“I don’t suppose you’d like to take the call? I’d be happy to connect you.”
Lola had to admit, she was curious. During their chats, Pace had admitted his mother could be a bit overbearing, but also had a strong yearning for grandchildren. Okay. She’d strike while the crusher was engaged.
“Sure. Put me through.” She paused. “Uh, will it be vid-accompanied or just audio?”
“Which do you prefer?” Calamity questioned sassily.
It might be best to ease Pace’s mother into getting to know her without the distraction of skin color. “I think audio only will be fine for now.” She sank into one of the chairs.
“Initiating connection,” the ship informed.
Oh Lords. What had she done? Was she truly ready for this? She didn’t have too much time for doubts as the crisp voice of Mrs. Ruffalo sounded through an overhead speaker.
“Pace? You’ve been ignoring me, which I find extremely vexing. Tell me you’ve met this alien and, having come to your senses, are on your way home.”
“Actually, Mrs. Ruffalo, Pace is the alien, and he’s sleeping at the moment. Calamity thought I might be able to help you.”
“That bitch of a tin can? She’s good for nothing except stirring up trouble. I’m sure she arranged for us to speak so we’d end up despising each other.”
There was a lot to process in the woman’s opening salvo, and Lola took a deep breath before coming to a strategy and answering. “I’ve actually found Calamity to be quite lovely and genuine.” After all, Pace had programmed her, so how terrible could she be? “We’re getting along just fine. I understand she’s been a huge part of Pace’s life, responsible for getting him out of a lot of tight scrapes and even saving his skin a time or two, so I admire her greatly.”
Pace had told Lola a few stories that corroborated those assertions, and Lola really did have only the highest regard for the ship.
“And I told her I’d thoroughly enjoy talking to you. Anyone who’s raised a son as sensitive and kind as Pace already has my greatest respect.”
Had she laid it on too thick?
“Well… He is a good boy, most of the time.”
Yes! Mrs. Ruffalo hadn’t noticed the obvious kiss-rompidness.
“Since I raised him by myself, I can take most of the credit for the boy’s good habits.”
Thirty-one rounds was hardly a boy, as Lola had very much discovered earlier, but a mother was allowed some leeway.
“He’s been extremely gallant, showing me the ways of humans.” Like how well they fuck, lick and suck. Her libido ramped up again just thinking of him. She cleared her throat. “And he speaks very highly of you, using the most affectionate of terms.”
“That’s good to know,” the woman preened. “But I wasn’t happy with his decision to go off-planet looking for a wife.” Her voice hardened again. “I’ve introduced him to any number of appropriate females right here at home, yet he chose to ignore my suggestions.”
This was tricky ground. Lola needed to tread lightly. “Which shows you’ve raised a strong man, comfortable enough to make his own decisions. It sounds to me like he’s trying to find a way to honor your wishes, that he finds a wife without compromising his free will. Who wouldn’t be proud of a son who could straddle that line so deftly?” Lola held her breath. How would the woman react?
There was a significant pause. “I never looked at it like that,” she finally admitted. “I suppose that’s always been part of Pace’s charm. Making those around him happy.”
“Just so. Now it’s time he makes himself happy. And if that includes me being in his life, I’m pleased to be a part of it.”
“That’s right, Mother. And she does make me happy.”
Lola jumped in her seat and spun around, seeing Pace standing behind her.
“Well, there you are, dear,” his mother crooned. “I was just getting to know…”
“Lola,” Calamity supplied.
Lola looked at Pace, eyebrows raised. He shrugged, clearly as surprised as she at the ship’s interjection.
“Uh, yes. Lola,” Mrs. Ruffalo agreed. “Although I hadn’t gotten around to asking her if she wanted children. That’s very important you know.”
Lola gave Pace an impish smile. She could easily answer that question, although they had not discussed it. “Yes, of course I want children,” she readily agreed. “I’d like at least two boys who resemble their father…” She hadn’t realized how much the thought of two dark-haired, green-eyed boys had already lodged in her heart, “and perhaps a girl or two who might take after me.”
“Oh! Four children,” Mrs. Ruffalo expounded. “That’s very ambitious, and a welcome number. Now, I don’t suppose…” She hesitated, obviously choosing her words judiciously. “Would these grandchildren have, say, tails or a different number of heads than humans?”
Lola rolled her eyes, and Pace grinned. He was letting her know it was her call whether or not to fill his mother in on their differences. She chose to go for it. “We’re the same in almost all regards except for skin color,” she told her, omitting the shifter thing, which she still had to reveal to Pace.
“Well, I’ve never been prejudice,” his mother stated proudly. “If you’re black, I have no problem with that.”
Lola saw Pace’s shoulders shake, holding back his laughter.
“I’m, uh, actually not black, Mrs. Ruffalo. I’m lavender.”
“L…L…Lavender?” Her voice rose an octave and actually squeaked.
“That’s right, Mom. Lavender. Lilac, plum, mauve. Purple.”
Dead silence met Pace’s list of synonyms.
“Did you hear me, Mother? She’s a lovely shade of periwinkle, with platinum hair and peach-colored lips.”
Lola elbowed him in the ribs. Now he was just rubbing it in.
“Th… Then I’m sure she’ll start a whole new fashion trend here on earth,” his mother finally emoted. “Women will flock to the salons to have their skin dyed and their hair bleached. I believe I’ll find her looks quite refreshing.”
Pace bent to whisper into Lola’s ear. “That’s enough for now. We’ll end on a high note.” He raised his voice. “Thank you, Mother. I’m scheduled to meet the elders of her planet tomorrow. After which we’ll make plans to come see you.”
Lola worried her bottom lip. If he still wanted her after she revealed the secret she hid.
“So we’ll talk to you later. Bye for now.” He clicked the ship’s conversalist off before his mother could respond.
“That went better than I expected,” Pace announced, placing his hand on her shoulder and rubbing it affectionately. “Calamity?” The tone of his voice had changed to harsh and unrelenting.
“Yes, my as-yet-unknowingly-ecstatic boss? What can I do for you?”
“You can lose the submissive act. You deliberately tried to set up Lola to fail with my mother, and that behavior is unacceptable.”
Lola intervened. “Now, Pace. Calamity was just protecting her territory. It’s only been the two of you for—”
Pace cut her off. “That’s no excuse. She knows I came here to look for a wife.” His voice softened as he slowly turned her around to look at him, grasping her chin and raising her to her feet. “She just wasn’t prepared for me to like someone as much as I like you.”
“You…like me?” Lola questioned tenuously.
“What do you think?” he returned, lowering his head to brush her lips with his. The gentle care behind the gesture was not lost on Lola. Whereas their previous interactions had all been aggressive clashes, this wave of tenderness threatened to burst her heart.
“I think I…like you, too.” Lola closed her eyes against the pain suddenly swelling up inside her chest. “Like” was too mild a word for what she felt. What would happen if Pace couldn’t accept all of who she was? She’d never be the same again. That was certain.
“Well, I’m glad we’ve gotten that out of the way,” Pace teased.
“Me, too,” Calamity’s voice chimed in. “Because it was really sappy. But I might as well add my two cents. You were kind enough to defend my nature to Queen Nasty Pants, Lola, so…” If a computer could take a breath, Calamity took one before she continued. “Pardon me for being a prime bitch, my purple princess. I’ve decided I like you, too.”
Lola broke out in a huge smile, and Pace laughed. “Then we both have exceedingly good taste. And now…” He held out his hand. “Let’s head back to our hotel and see if we can get to know each other even better.”
Lola shivered at the lascivious look in Pace’s eyes. She prayed it would still be there a kelsug from now.
Giving herself a reprieve, she had them take the long way back, sampling foods and ogling goods from other planets along the way. Pace bought her purple garnet barrettes for her hair, and she bought him a new belt buckle that she could unclasp, hoping it would make him fondly remember their time on the planet. “Mall buster”, it read. Pace laughed, enjoying the sentiment.
By the time they boarded the hotel elevator, Pace clearly couldn’t keep his hands off her, whereas she struggled to keep herself calm and her body from shaking. It didn’t take him long to figure out something was wrong.
He led her into their room. “Okay. Spill it. What could possibly be so awful?”
She sighed and sat on the bed, patting the spot next to her. “Sit down, Pace. It’s time we got serious.”
He took the place beside her, thighs touching, one arm around her shoulders, and turned his face to hers. “Lola, I thought that’s what we’ve been doing. At least between the teasing. What I said about liking you earlier? I meant it in a way that hinted it could easily turn to love. I understand we’ve known each other less than a day, but I think Gerri got it right. When you told my mother about those kids you wanted, I pictured them looking just like me and you. I thought you were beginning to feel the same way.”
Pace quieted. It was now or never.
“I do feel the same way,” she started, then decided on complete honesty. “Actually…I’ve already fallen in love with you.”
A huge smile lit up his face.
“But, Pace.” She put her hand on his muscled thigh and rubbed up and down, almost unconsciously. “It might not all be good.”
His smile slowly fell. “What do you mean?”
“There’s something that differentiates my planet from yours, my people from yours, and it’s not a small thing.”
“Okay. Tell me.” He clearly tried to maintain a calm demeanor, but his brows, growing closer together, gave lie to that placidity.
How could she start this without scaring the gerbshit out of him? She tried on a few word combinations. “I, um… What would you think…?” No. “How would you feel about…?” Not right. Okay. I have it. “What if I introduced a man into our relationship?”
Pace grew rigid before bolting violently to his feet.
She hadn’t been expecting such immediate anger.
“This is a joke, right?” he growled. “Gerri told you to say that. It’s a test.” He glared at her, eyes blazing.
She spluttered to answer, but he kept raging.
“Or… Oh, my god. You Hudroxenes do the two males, one female thing. That’s it, right?” He grabbed his head, as if in pain. “I can’t believe this.” His face contorted as he bent and grabbed his pack from the floor, flinging it across his back and standing tall. His voice was quiet and lethal. “I told Gerri I wanted a monogamous relationship, to start a normal family. And, lady, although some people on my planet do the threesome thing, it’s not acceptable to me. It’s not what I signed up for.” He stomped to the door, turning briefly on his way out. “I’ll make the delivery from our government to Gemma-Hydrox first thing tomorrow morning, then I’m out of there.” His tone was cold. “Have a nice life.” He slammed the door behind him.
Lola sat on the bed, stunned. She looked at where he’d been sitting, then brought her gaze to the closed door.
What the hockstad just happened?