Chapter Ten
The next morning, they were transported via shuttle from the orbiting space dock down to the planet’s surface. Eva’s first sight of Primaria revealed a vividly colored world as different from Earth as she could imagine. The binary suns shining a brilliant pink in the purplish Primarian sky took her breath away. Or it could be the thinner atmosphere responsible for her breathlessness, as well as the slight wooziness.
“You’ll adjust in a few days,” Kerr assured her, encircling her waist with a steadying arm as she leaned over him to peer out the window. She paid him and her equilibrium no mind, too thoroughly floored by the beauty before her. The capital city of Ariad, where Kerr lived, lay nestled in a valley surrounded by towering, snowcapped mountains. Used to brown brush and the dry, dusty drought conditions back home, Eva drank in the stunning colors of the hills in an array of brilliant green, bright yellow, and vivid pink, noting how they shimmered in the bright sunshine.
“The hills and mountainsides look fluorescent.”
“Because they are. Ever since the meteorites bombarded the planet, they absorb the sunlight during the day and glow throughout the night.”
“What lies on the other side of the mountains?”
“Mining towns and villages, and beyond them is the North Sea. To the south is more mountainous terrain, snow-covered year-round, and, at the southernmost tip, an uninhabitable snow cap. Only the northern half has temperate climates which are habitable year-round.”
“Flying over the ocean, I noticed the water was purple.”
“Of course, what other color would it be?”
Her smile faded—more proof of how different their worlds were. Quietly, she took it all in, sharing worried glances with Lana, Brenna, and Mailynn who stood beside their warriors, looking as freaked out as she felt.
Upon landing, Eva and Kerr exited first. A wave of fresh air greeted them as they walked down the ramp and stepped onto solid ground. She inhaled deeply, something she did whenever she left the staleness of a ship behind. Tipping her face up to the sky, she soaked in the warmth of the twin suns.
A tug on her hand made her realize she’d stopped walking. Kerr didn’t comment, only grinned, his buoyant mood stating how pleased he was to be home.
“It’s a short distance to town,” he told her. “Are you up for a walk?”
With a nod, she fell into step beside him as they left the landing port behind. Except for the mountains and lavender sky as a backdrop, the shuttle pads and military-style hangars weren’t anything special. Once they left the gated grounds and entered the city, she got busy, trying to take in everything at once.
The walkways and streets were immaculate and matched the gleaming buildings, made of white stone swirled through with blues, yellows, and black, like marble back home.
As they into walked along crowds of people gathered. She saw men and women, both old and young, although the youngest appeared to be adults in their mid-twenties. She didn’t see any children, which gave credence to Kerr’s stories of the dilemma his people faced. They openly stared at her when she passed.
Kerr didn’t appear to notice at first, but having so many eyes on her made Eva feel out of place, and she moved closer to his side. As she rubbed up against him, he glanced down and then around them. His fingers squeezed hers more firmly, warmth and strength in his reassuring grip.
“They are no doubt fascinated by your light hair and skin. None have seen anything like it before. It will take time for them to adjust to seeing you and the other new mates.”
As they passed a group gathered outside a storefront on the opposite side of the street, she heard a called out, “Look, Momma, the Princep has brought home a sprite!”
Eva glanced up and saw a young boy, no more than four or five, peeking out from behind his mother’s skirt—literally. It was a relief to see at least one child, but also sad, considering he was one out of so many. She waved at the boy who blushed and hid his face. Glancing from him up to Kerr, she raised a brow. “Sprite? It seems I’m going to be stuck with the nickname.”
“It suits you,” he stated while he grinned, and slid an arm around her waist.
They arrived at an intersection. As Kerr steered her right to take the turn, her steps faltered. Up ahead, at the end of what appeared to be a dead-end street stood a massive stone structure, with at least a dozen carved columns running along the front. The upper floors had row upon row of windows and terraces, lots of them. It was stunning, as well as overwhelming, especially when they arrived at the bottom of the two dozen steps and looked up.
With her first glance, she realized she’d been wrong; massive didn’t begin to describe how it.
The big hand on the small of her back, applying light pressure, started her climbing. When she noticed a set of tall, ornately carved double doors flanked by uniformed guards wearing deep red—Kerr’s color—her forward progress came to an abrupt halt. What’s more, she retreated, backing down a step.
Kerr stopped immediately and turned, being above her one step adding height to his already imposing frame. “Don’t you want to see your new home, Eva?”
Tilting her head back, way back, she took in the four stories and high, vaulted roof far above his head. “You live here?” she said in a thin, strained voice. “It’s like a…palace. Which means, if you’re not a king, you’re an emperor, but, either way, they both live in palaces, and that”—she pointed to the breathtaking edifice behind him—“is a freaking palace.”
“Eva,” he said patiently, taking a step down to her level. “I’m not a king or an emperor. This is the Maxime Princep’s residence.”
“All of it?”
“No, only one floor.”
“Only!” she squeaked.
“Your United States has a leader, right?”
“Uh-huh,” she replied vaguely, too busy gaping at what looked like a gargoyle mounted in an upper corner. She squinted, trying to see it better. When it moved, and she realized it was a person hanging over a terrace railing, staring her way—probably gaping as rudely as Eva had been to begin with—her shoulders slumped in relief. Gargoyles—seriously? Formidable stone carvings perched menacingly on the high roof would have been over-the-top even for this place.
“Sprite, are you with me?”
Her head came around. “What?”
He chuckled. “I asked where your leader resides.”
“The White House.”
He raised a brow as he glanced at the white stone façade then back at her and grinned broadly. “We have that in common at least. You should feel right at home.”
“I don’t live there. I’ve never even been to the capital. I’m at home in a tiny eight-by-ten compartment on a ship. Or crammed into an eight hundred square foot apartment in an overcrowded city.”
Chattering voices and a sing-song sound drew her gaze upward to the arched windows. Since her last glance, nearly all of them had filled with smiling, waving people. And she heard clapping and shouts.
The noise soon coalesced into an iterative sound, and she realized it was a chant of some kind.
“What are they saying?”
Kerr’s arm tightened around her waist and pulled her snug into his side. “They are welcoming their Princep’s new mate.”
What they were chanting became clear. “Prima. Prima. Prima.”
“Holy crap,” she uttered under her breath.
Kerr must have missed her mild expletive in the cacophony of noise.
“I feel like a sideshow at the carnival.”
This time, he caught what she said and bent his head to reply. “I’m unsure what a carnival is, but it is polite to respond. Wave and smile, sprite.” He did precisely that, and a cheer went up. Soon, the chant changed to acknowledge him, too.
“Princep. Prima. Princep. Prima.”
She’d never experienced anything like this before and stood frozen, unable to wave or smile or anything, not even blink.
The arm around her squeezed as Kerr offered her reassurance. “In advance of our arrival word has spread I have taken a mate. They are merely eager to get a look at you. In short time, you’ll get used to one another, but these first few weeks you can likely expect greetings like this.”
“Great,” she croaked, but it was drowned out by the cheering as he drew her up the rest of the stairs.
Once inside and shielded from the public, things didn’t get better as she’d hoped. A double line of people—at least thirty by her count—had assembled in the cavernous entryway. Despite their bright smiles of greeting, like the people outside, they were anxious to get a look at her, but, instead of direct stares, they were shooting her quick peeks and sidelong glances, which, to Eva’s way of thinking, was worse.
An older, bearded man in the long white robe of an elder moved out from behind one of the lines. “Kerr!” he called in a booming voice so loud it echoed off the high ceiling and marble floor. “Congratulations on a most bountiful hunt.”
“Uncle,” Kerr replied with a broad smile, as he strode forward to meet the man. “We have indeed been blessed by the Maker.”
The man threw his arms wide. At first, she thought he was going to embrace Kerr warmly—he seemed the type to bump chests and slap backs in the rough way men had—but he passed him by and closed in on her. She didn’t have time to think or back up or run for the hills before he swept her up in a bear hug so tight it compressed the wind out of her lungs. Not as tall as Kerr, he was still broad and robust enough to lift her right off her feet.
“Let me make known to you, Eva, my bonded mate and your new Prima.” When Kerr made the introduction, a cheer went up from the gathering. But engulfed in his uncle’s ongoing effusive hug she couldn’t see him, or turn her head his way. She couldn’t move, either, which included breathing, and was starting to get dizzy.
“Long have we awaited this day, Kerr’s mate. May your union be blessed with a male heir and a dozen daughters.” His voice rumbled in his chest and transferred to her cheek which was smooshed up against him. She tried to say something—“help” was the first word that came to mind—but it came out in a squeak.
“Your warm welcome is robbing her of breath, Uncle Aylan,” Kerr exclaimed, pulling her from the man’s exuberant embrace at last.
“Yes, yes, so sorry,” was his reply as he released her. “Wouldn’t want to crush her on the first day at her new home.”
As she gasped for air, clinging to Kerr for support, she nodded at Aylan and noticed he had gold eyes almost identical to his nephew’s. “The others, when will they arrive? I have had hundreds of requests for expedient testing.”
She frowned, not understanding what he meant.
Kerr shook his head with his gaze fixed on his uncle. “I’ll brief you and the council on our eventful trip after I get Eva settled.” He placed his hand on her back and guided her through the throng of people. They bowed and greeted him as he passed. There were also a few exclamations of “Maker be praised.” He didn’t speak to them individually, waiting until they made it through what, to her, was a receiving line then turned to address the group.
“We will have an official welcome celebration in a few days where you can meet your new prima. Until then, we must give her time to adjust to her new home.”
Nods and murmurs of understanding rippled through the crowd as Kerr ushered her down a wide corridor to a set of steps in the rear of the enormous palatial residence.
“Who were they? Family?”
“Some, yes, but most are workers here in the capital.” He started up the staircase, and she tried to keep pace, her head near to bursting with questions.
“What did your uncle mean by hundreds of requests for testing? I thought it was done on the ship.”
“The Intrepid was not equipped to complete all the testing Jaylan and his team of physics will require.” His vague response came at the same time they reached the second-floor landing. “I’ll give you the full tour later, but the basic layout is first level, public offices. Second level, common areas with the kitchens and dining hall, and some apartments for capital staff. The third floor has rooms for family and special guests. And on the top level is our residence. We have roof access where you’ll find a garden and a fully operational hothouse with a wide variety of flowers and vegetation. You’ll share it with Aylan most days. He has a fascination for gardening and a knack for getting the most fragile of seeds and sprouts to grow.”
“On Earth, it’s called having a green thumb,” she said, practically vibrating with excitement at the idea of a rooftop garden.
“Why is that?”
“Why is what?” she asked, her mind awhirl with who knew how many species of plants, trees, mosses, and fungi. Earth had 250,000 different kinds of flowering plants alone.
Kerr tugged gently on a lock of her hair. When he had her attention, he flashed his dazzlingly white smile. “Why do call it a green thumb, sprite?”
“Because most of our plants are green.”
“I see. I’m afraid your expression won’t apply on Primaria. You’ll find we have very few green plants.” He gave her a sideways glance as they reached the third-floor landing. “Will studying a whole new botanical world keep you occupied for a while?”
“Yes. Just reviewing the taxonomy will take months. I can’t wait to get started. Can we go see it now?”
“I’ll let Uncle Aylan have the pleasure tomorrow.”
Arriving on the fourth floor, the Princep’s residence according to Kerr, right away she noticed how it differed from the others. Instead of an open corridor, it had a set of fancy etched-glass doors with an old-fashioned lever. Kerr placed his hand on a flat panel on the wall. Lights flashed for a second, and she heard a soft snick—okay, maybe not so old-fashioned—before he depressed the lever and opened the door. With his warm hand riding low on her back, they entered his home.
With high-vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows—two of which were open, letting in a cool breeze—the room was awash in light and color from the mid-morning suns and the vivid mountains in the distance. Several plush couches with side tables filled the room, but not much else. It looked like a doctor’s waiting room, which was somewhat disappointing.
On the far wall, she noted another set of double doors. He led her directly to them and, this time, used voice command and a palm scanner to enter.
“Here we are,” he announced as he whisked her on through. There was a low swish as the doors closed behind them.
“What was the other room?”
“A receiving area for guests, nothing more.”
“But it’s so large.”
“Not large enough. Often, it is overcrowded, and people must stand while they wait.”
Her eyes widened. “You get so many visitors it gets to be standing room only in your waiting room?”
“Yes, on most days.” He didn’t seem anywhere near as alarmed by this as Eva was and moved them down the long hall inside, pointing out rooms as they passed.
The first was an office for his residential assistant, Janus. “His most important job is to monitor guests, or I would never have a moment alone.”
Across from the office, he pointed out the door leading to the rooftop. She stared at it, dying to take just a quick peek. The opportunity passed, though not the temptation, when he steered her farther down the hall. “You’ll get to explore all you like, tomorrow.”
Numerous shorter halls branched off the main one. One led to a kitchen and dining area, another to a central lounge and recreation room. Two other halls contained several bedrooms, and there was one which housed Kerr’s office and an adjoining meeting room.
“I rarely use it,” he explained, “since I have formal offices on the first floor, but that could change since I have a mate at home now.”
The place was enormous. The hallway turned left into another corridor, terminating at yet another set of double doors.
“This is our private suite. No one other than you or I will enter without express permission.” He waved his hand over another sensor, and the doors opened into a sumptuous bedroom. In the corner, three steps led up to a platform and a bed covered in luxurious linens with a host of pillows. Its floor-to-ceiling posts were draped with filmy curtains. To the right was a sitting area, with plush, comfortable-looking couches and wide chairs big enough for two, and more pillows. She recalled his tent was decorated similarly, and decided either his decorator, or Primarians as a whole, really liked pillows.
With her hand in his, Kerr moved to the left of the bed and slid open a door—no sensor on this one, it opened the old-fashioned way, by his hand, but disappeared into a recessed pocket in the door. Peeking around him, she saw it was an enormous walk-in closet with a multitude of shelves, mirrors, and racks. It would make three of her apartment back home.
“We’ll have to see about clothing and accessories for you, right away.”
She walked hand in hand with him to yet another door, which accessed a bathroom with a pool even bigger than the one on his ship. In the corner was a shower with glass doors. Nothing unusual there except it was twice the size she was used to. Everything was oversized, for these giant-sized men. Never considered petite in her life, it made her feel that way.
Passing through a door on the far wall, they entered another large room with more couches, a small table for six, bookshelves, and viewing screens which he announced was their private lounge.
“What’s through the other door?”
He showed her. It opened onto another short hall. “These are bedrooms for children, when they come. They’ll be close, but not right on top of us.”
She counted six! Her face warmed slightly at the thought of so many. Surely he didn’t plan on filling them all.
“You are free to change anything you like to make it comfortable. It is your home, Eva. My office, however, I like as is.”
“Your home is beautiful as is.” She glanced around, uneasy, having no idea how to go about making a change if she’d wanted to.
“You’ll settle in, soon enough.” His voice was more confident than she felt. She wandered the room as he looked on. She explored everything, touching fabrics, glancing at the bookshelves without really seeing the books, and nervously coming to a stop in front of the darkened windows.
“Why can’t we see outside?”
“Windows off,” he said. The darkly fogged glass became clear as crystal, and sunlight filled the room. His “windows on” caused them to tint slightly, decreasing the harsh glare of the morning suns, and when he murmured, “windows closed,” the glass returned to its darkened state. “Early in the morning and late afternoon, the suns’ brightness can be overwhelming without the tinting. But always, no matter what setting, we have privacy.”
She’d been through a lot in the past few days and had seen and heard things she didn’t think possible—like teleportation, brain surgery by putting on sunglasses, and having her body chemistry permanently changed through sex with an alien—but something as simple as voice-activated window tinting made something click. She felt out of place among these warriors and in this strange world because she was the alien.
“You’re frowning. Is there something you don’t like?”
“There are many things I don’t like.”
“Eva.” She could tell in one word he knew she wasn’t referring to the decor.
“What do I do here?”
“You live here.”
“Yes, but what do I do? At home, I had a job, a purpose. You are asking me to give up everything, the only home I’ve known, friends, family, my career… I had a life, Kerr. What I did was important, and my people need me. They need all of us.”
He came to her, his long strides eating up the space between them, and took her face between his hands. “This is your home now, Eva, and your purpose is being my mate.” His eyes flashed fiercely, his voice raw with conviction and passion. “Others will have to step up because your mission has ended. Your new life is here, with me. You aren’t going back, so do not ask.”
She tried to pull away, but, as usual, if he wasn’t ready to release her, she didn’t go anywhere. His thumbs stroked slowly over her cheeks, an attempt to soothe her—and perhaps himself—but it didn’t have the desired effect on either of them.
“Are you always so stubborn?”
“I prefer to call it determined, mate.”
She stiffened in his hold, the term she’d heard at least one hundred times since becoming able to understand him, grating on her nerves. Kerr’s brows gathered, and he took a deep breath, undoubtedly seeking patience.
“I know this is difficult, but it won’t always be this way.” His hands moved from her face to her shoulders and down her back. “Give it time, sprite. Once the physical bonding and transformation are complete, it will become easier.”
“How much time?”
“Each mated pair is different.”
“What if it doesn’t get easier?”
“It will, Eva.”
“How can you know?”
His arms tightened around her, pulling her closer, while his lips brushed her temple. “Because I will make it so.”
He seemed so confident, while she remained confused and scared. He said he knew it was difficult, but he didn’t have the first clue. He wasn’t the one making all the sacrifices. The one-sidedness made her angry. She was a free woman, no matter what he believed, and if she wanted to go back to the Odyssey and eventually to Earth, to the only home she’d ever known, she should be able to.
But the devil in the back of her mind challenged her thinking.
Going home meant uncertainty, hardships, and loneliness. How do you start a relationship or a family when the planet you live on is in peril? And, when the dire predictions came true, it meant pulling up stakes and moving to a new home planet—if one could be found—anyway.
Leaving also meant no more Kerr. The thought of never seeing the gorgeous, arrogant, maddening man again left her cold. Her heart skipped a beat every time he was near and stutter-stepped with each touch. No man had ever suited her so well in the physical sense. Not only the fiery passion he ignited inside her but how his bigger, stronger, harder body fit perfectly with her smaller, much softer one.
And there were other things she’d miss—his smile, the heated looks from his amazing eyes, and the way he continually touched her, and not only in a sexual way. It was how he’d take her hand in his, or rest it on her back in reassurance, and the soft brush of his fingers against her face. It was often possessive, yes, but also filled with warmth and affection.
She kept that to herself, however, along with the other mixed-up emotions swirling in her head.
It didn’t help her see more clearly when his hand slid into hair, and with gentle pressure, pulled her head back. Bending to her, his lips brushed hers when he spoke.
“I’ve dreamed of having you here, in my home and my bed. Let me welcome you properly.” He lifted her and carried her out of the lounge, through the bathing room, and into his bedroom. As he climbed the steps to his platform bed, he murmured, “Low lights on.” The recessed lights overhead dimmed to a gentle glow, while the rest of the room faded away as the miracle windows blocked out both the sunlight and the outside world.
Setting her on her feet, he stripped off her gown. Lifting her again, he lowered her to the wide bed then followed her in. His lips and hands traced lightly over her skin, and, as usual, she felt the stirring within and responded.
When she was hot and achy, her body moving restively beneath him, wanting nothing more than the exquisite feeling of him filling her and bringing her the release she had come to crave, he broke free from their kiss and raised his head.
Her eyes flew open. “What’s wrong?”
“I want you to be more than content here, Eva. If you yield to me, I’m convinced we’ll find great joy in each other and the life we share.”
She didn’t know what to say but, thankfully, didn’t need to because he claimed her fully, his mouth taking hers, his tongue plunging deep as he freed himself and sent his cock driving between her thighs, giving her what she ached for.
Her breathy sighs and his groans of pleasure mingled to become the musical backdrop for yet another impassioned joining, as together they built to a breathtaking crescendo. If only briefly, with his arms surrounding her, and his body filling hers, Eva experienced the great joy he’d foretold.
All too soon, reality intruded in the form of footsteps and voices in the hall.
Her head popped up off his shoulder, and she cast worried eyes at the door. “They won’t come in, will they?”
“No one would dare.” His lips brushed softly across her forehead. “I can’t guarantee they won’t knock and make a huge commotion if I don’t acknowledge them, however.” His arms drew her in tight against his chest then he released her and moved away. “I have duties, but you need to stay and rest. You haven’t slept well the past few nights. I’ll return when it’s time for the midday meal.”
In no time, he had dressed and once again stood over her. Although drowsy, she wasn’t past the point of appreciating the masculine beauty of the man and watched with interest as he tied his hair back with an effortless, almost unconscious motion.
Eva did a slow scan of his face and form. For all his denials he wasn’t a king, he sure had the bearing of one. She’d never bought into the old saying, “clothes make the man,” but, in his fitted red tunic trimmed in gold and the black pants molded to his powerful thighs, Kerr looked regal—and damn hot. Nothing compared to him naked though, with his long, dark hair loose around his yard-wide shoulders, his chest broad and muscular, his sculpted arms, long and sinewy, and all his smooth bronzed skin.
Despite having climaxed only minutes ago, desire reawakened within her. Eva shifted, pressing her thighs together to ease the ache stirring between them again. When she moved, even the silky sheets chafed her oversensitized skin, especially her hard nipples. She’d never responded this way before, but then she hadn’t ever been with such a man, one who spoke of transformations on a cellular level and chemical bonds. The way she felt now, on fire with unquenchable lust, she was beginning to believe every transcendent word of it.
Her eyes traced upward and saw he was engaged in a slow perusal of his own. His golden gaze raked over her body, taking in every inch, just as she had done with him. She heard a low noise arise from his throat, half-groan, half-sigh. He leaned down, his fists on the bed by her hips, his whisper-soft breath tickling her parted lips as they hovered above hers.
“I feel the pull between us just as strongly, little one. Sadly, I have duties to attend to, and we’ll have to wait.”
“Do women get the hunger, too?”
“My woman does evidently.”
She ignored his teasing and his wickedly sensual grin as the burning and tingling that were now a very familiar reminder of what they shared made its presence known.
“Kerr…”
His hand slid over her thigh and squeezed gently. “Try to sleep, Eva. I’ll be back in a few hours, sooner if I’m able.” With one last lingering kiss, he stood again. “Enjoy being without duties while you can. For all your desire to have a job and a career, as my prima, you will be in high demand and will be singing a different tune in short order, rest assured.”
Then he murmured lights off, plunging the room into darkness, and was gone, the confident click of his heels on the white marble floor echoing back to her as he strode down the hallway.