CHAPTER 5
Elaine stood outside the door to the captain’s quarters, unsure what to do when it snicked quietly open. Standing there, staring at the open doorway was not appropriate. It didn’t take a genius to work that much out. If the door opened upon approach, then logic told her to walk through it.
She took a moment to smooth down the soft purple fabric of her long dress. Jalona had suggested she wear it because it was a considered a feminine color by the Candorians. Unlike the diplomatic robes worn earlier, this gown hugged her curves. It left her feeling less filled out than she normally did. Elaine was all too aware that her appearance had taken a nosedive. With food being scarce and mostly dehydrated, they’d all lost weight. Though her long red hair now shown with luster, it was more because of the products Jalona had insisted upon using on her.
Since she wasn’t here to make friends, she plucked up her courage and stepped through the door. Her eyes strayed around the room. His space was nothing short of opulent. Large pieces of furniture intentionally positioned to create a spacious reception area on one side and a nice dining area on the other. A huge pool of water claimed the entire center of the room. Her eyes landed on a large male, safely ensconced in one corner. Both of his muscular arms were spread in opposite directions along the top.
He was breathtaking. Though he had the traditional fin on the top of his head like all Candorians. His large dark eyes had two sets of eye lids, which blinked in opposite directions. A bold tribal tattoo crawled down one arm, beginning near his shoulder. His skin was light grey with some molted spots of teal in places. As odd as it sounded in her own mind, the spots spilling down the fin on the top of his head were somehow masculine. He was perhaps the strangest creature she’d ever seen. Elaine didn’t know quite what to make of him.
“Captain Koal? I’m sorry to bother you but I was told you wanted to see me.”
Gesturing slightly with one hand, he motioned to the other side of the water. “My water is your water.”
Elaine didn’t much care for the look of his water. It was a dark smoky color mixed with streaks of lighter grey and silver. It rippled languorously each time his body moved. Could water have masculine traits? It was like water on steroids. Sweet Jesus, objecting was clearly considered rude but she wasn’t keen on touching the stuff.
“Actually, I just got out of the water.”
His head tipped slightly to one side as his eyes stared into hers. A moment of silence spun out between them and Elaine caved.
“Maybe I can just sit with my feet in the water. That would be refreshing enough for me.
He flipped his head sideways once in dominant display of approval.
Toeing off her comfortable slippers, she crept forward. The steps at one end communicated it was much deeper than the one in her quarters.
Walking down the steps, she sat on the edge of the top one, which was dry. She could feel the water swirling around her legs in a gentle caress. It was cooler than the pool in her quarters but not so cold as to be uncomfortable. The longer she sat, the more she enjoyed it.
He never took his eyes off her and she shifted anxiously in her seat. Feeling uncomfortable, she forced herself to speak. “Your sister told me to come to you. She said you wanted me… I mean wanted to talk to me.”
When he didn’t respond, she continued nervously. “If you’re concerned about me turning my kids loose on your ship without supervision, there is no need to worry. I always keep them with me and make arrangements for them if I have to leave them. Like now, your sister is watching them. I promise, we won’t be any trouble.”
His expression softened. “You came to tell me you are a good mother to your young?”
“Well, not exactly. I’m a good mother, but I came to assure you I wouldn’t allow them to make any mischief on your ship.”
Without taking his eyes off her, he tore something from around his neck. It was a small clear bottle on a strip of rawhide. It looked like the bottom had been dripped in some type of metal. In fact, it looked old. He unscrewed the top and filled it with the strange water from his pool.
“My water is your water.”
The way he articulated the words was formal and his movements were vaguely ritualistic. She watched him with frank admiration and a little bit of fascination.
He screwed the tiny lid back on and tossed the bottle to her.
She scrambled to catch it before it shattered on the floor. Holding it in her hand, she turned it over. When she did, the strange water moved almost like a lava lamp. Shaking her head, she clasped it reverently between both hands. When she peered up at him, she found that he’d sat up slightly as if anticipating something. His gaze was so intent, it startled her. Edging back slightly, she couldn’t figure out her own feelings at the moment.
“Do not fear me. With my water, nothing can harm you.” When she still looked confused, he made a motion for drinking.
Understanding lit her face, as she realized the water’s pleasant effect on her legs. It was actually more than pleasant. “It has medicinal properties? Thanks a lot. My little ones and I appreciate your generosity.”
“You and they are welcome to visit with me anytime you please.”
Slipping backwards, she pulled her legs from the pool only reluctantly. Though her initial response had been one of revulsion, she had to admit that his water left her feeling more invigorated than she’d ever felt before.
“Thanks for the refreshing. I feel like a million bucks… er… credits. I mean thanks for sharing your water. I don’t know what is in the water but it feels really amazing.” Realizing she was babbling like a school girl, Elaine snapped her mouth shut.
A slight smile curved the corners of his mouth and he did the super masculine single head flip again. Sitting back with satisfaction, he gestured at the bottle in her hand. “Keep it with you always, little mother.”
Draping the string over her head, she murmured respectfully. “Very good advice. I should be getting back to my daughters. Thanks again.”
Grabbing her slippers, she made a mad dash for the door. A strange sound rang in her ears as she left his quarters. It sounded a little like the noise the ambassador made when he found something funny. Only the captain’s laugh was deep and punctuated by a happy splash. She imagined his totally ripped body cutting through the weird water and shockingly enough, it left her feeling strangely aroused. She couldn’t decide if that little fact creeped her out or not.
Bursting into her quarters, she found that Jalona and Kredor were waiting. The woman’s face lit up.
“How did your visit with my brother go?”
“Just peachy. He somehow scared the crap outta me even though he didn’t have much to say.”
“He must have spoken to you.”
“Well, he stared at me a lot with those dark soulful eyes and invited me to share his water. Then…”
“Did you?”
“Did I what?”
“Did you or did not share my brother’s water?”
“I did. I didn’t want to because, let’s face it, his water looks creepy. But I was afraid of offending him, so I just put my legs in the pool. I’m glad that I did because his water is fantastic. I honestly felt like dying and being reborn.”
The ambassador smoothed down the front of his robe. “It could not have been that life altering.”
Grasping her hand around the small bottle hanging from her neck, she shook her head. “It really was, but I digress. He pretty much didn’t say much besides my water is your water and then he gave me this. He said it will heal me and girls if we get sick. Is that remotely possible?”
They both stared at her for a long hard moment.
“Did I do something wrong? The man was a little scary but nice. I don’t think I made him mad.”
Kredor opened his mouth but his mate stopped him. For some reason, Elaine could tell she was forcing her head not to flip in the gesture she’d come to associate with happiness. Kredor was simply irritated.
“You should go. I will speak to her of the things women should know about our kind. I will come to you soon.”
Once the door closed behind her mate, Jalona flipped her fin a couple of times as she pulled Elaine over to a settee. “So, what did you really think of my brother?”
“He seems like a warrior of some type rather than a trader. He’s kind of intimidating, though I’m certain he doesn’t mean to be.”
“He’s had the responsibility of our people on his back for a hundred solars.”
“He can’t be hundred years old. He’s too…”
Flipping her fin again, Jalona smirked. “Too attractive? We live to be over a thousand years old. He’s young by our standards.”
“He’s a hottie, I’ll give him that.”
“Many women have presented themselves to him.”
“I’ll bet they have. Does he have a new girlfriend every week?”
“It is not the way of our kind.”
“Well, he’s young yet. Perhaps if he has a type, we can scour the other freighters to find him one.” She made little quotation marks with her fingers, then felt silly because Jalona wouldn’t know what that meant.
“What did you say to him?”
“Well, when he didn’t talk, I just kind of babbled. I assured him that I would not let the girls run all over his ship unsupervised. I made sure he knew that I keep them under close supervision at all times. I made it clear we won’t be a problem.”
“You bragged about being a good mother? That’s brazen.”
“He mentioned that as well. I wasn’t trying to brag. I just wanted him to know we weren’t going to make trouble for him.”
“After that, he gave you his water?”
“Yes. I think he’s worried that we might get sick or something. It was considerate. You know I thought for a moment I could see it glow, but it must have been my imagination.”
“You are innocent of our ways. My brother is sought after because of his position. Hundreds of our women have approached him for mating. They present at his quarters, dressed nicely, and try to convince him that they would make a good mother for his young. You alone have managed to convince him.”
Shock tore through her. “I what?”
“The bottle you wear around your neck is a promise token. It was once worn by my mother. My father gave it to her after she captured his attention and convinced him she would be an outstanding mother for his young. You had the advantage over Candorian females in that you have already borne three daughters. You have proven your fertility as well as your mothering skills. No male would doubt your abilities.”
Elaine quietly acknowledged something few people knew. “I am not Selene’s biological mother. I married her father when she was the age of my youngest. I raised her as my own and loved her as my own, but I was not the woman who gave birth to her.”
“Few other species would be so altruistic. Taking a child, not your own into your heart is very Candorian.”
“It doesn’t matter. I can’t be mated to your brother. I must go to Selene. She needs me. The girls ask after her. We can’t be separated.”
“If it is meant to be, the gods will make it so. You have nothing to do but enjoy the voyage and my brother’s fine company.”
“I should give him back his water.”
“It is a grave insult to be dismissed without proper consideration. If you continue to spend time with him, get to know him, and then elect to leave him, it will hurt less than knowing you did not think him worthy of your consideration.”
“On my world, that is called leading a man on.”
“I do not think so. If my brother had sensed no interest on you, he would not have offered to share his water.”
Rolling her eyes, Elaine stated flippantly. “The man is insanely attractive. He probably senses interest on every woman he passes.”
Flipping her head back and forth, Jalona made the laughing noise. Smiling, Elaine thought how great it was that they could share a laugh though they were from entirely different worlds. “If it weren’t for needing to keep what’s left of my family together, I’d definitely give your brother a test drive.”
“Is that human speak for testing sexual compatibility? You are permitted to do this as much as you like during the courting phase. It is expected.”
Elaine felt her face getting hot. “We don’t even know if we’re compatible that way.”
Leaning forward, the woman smirked. “I notice you did not deny wanting him.”
“Intent on catching me out, aren’t you?”
“I have a feeling about you. I can see you with my brother. He needs a good female and you need a strong protector for your young. It would be a good match.”
“You’ve got it all planned out in that pretty little head of yours, don’t you?”
Ignoring her question, Jalona continued pressing her point. “My brother craves the attention of a female. Every male needs a kind touch. I hope that while you are here, you will at least give him that. If you turn out to be his one and refuse to stay, it may be only such experience he ever gets. Give him enough of your love to last a lifetime.”
“I doubt that I’m anyone’s anything, much less his one. I have two children and Selene to worry over. I don’t have time to think about myself right now. God knows, otherwise I’d love to spend every waking moment with him.”
Grasping her hands, Jalona stated sincerely. “I pray that you enjoy the time the gods have given you. Perhaps it is your only chance for love as well. Would you go the rest of your life wondering what it would have been like to enjoy all that he offers? You both deserve more than a lifetime of regrets.”