Epilogue
As they strode through the outdoor market, Kerr’s hand resting low on her back felt familiar and comforting. Extremely tactile, as Primarian males invariably were, he almost always had contact with her, whether stroking her cheek while they talked, or a long arm curled around her waist, and often with his palm resting on her thigh beneath the table at dinner. Or he simply held her hand, and he didn’t care who saw. Mostly, his affection drew indulgent looks from his warriors and happy smiles from the women.
Eva didn’t mind in the least and had grown to expect it over the last three months, so much so she missed it when they were apart. They’d never again risked parting long enough for either of them to become sick, however. From experience, they found eight hours caused a headache, twice as long brought on nausea and a low-grade fever, so they didn’t push beyond those perimeters. And always, when they came back together, the first stop was their bed, or the bathing pool, or the back of the sturdy couch in their private lounge, or a host of other places, including the contraption in the corner of their bedroom. There were over two dozen positions they’d explored with the mate’s helper. Number twelve was her favorite. With her hips raised to the perfect height, he could—
“What are you thinking about, sprite?”
Jerked out of her wayward thoughts, she was plunked back down in the middle of the crowded center aisle of the market. With his lips tilted up and his eyes snapping with gleaming golden light, Kerr’s expression as he observed her was a mix of amusement and avid interest.
“Um…” Her face heated to the temperature of a supernova.
“That’s what I thought.” He chuckled as he moved her aside, out of the path of two men carrying a heavy chest for an excitedly chattering buyer. In her ear, he whispered low, “Not the most appropriate place to be thinking about what we did in the bathing pool last night, or was it number ten, this time?”
“Number twelve,” Eva blurted out, though after she did, she stifled a groan not quite believing she’d said it aloud.
He laughed unreservedly this time, drawing stares and smiles from the people around them. Pulling her closer, he brushed his lips across her temple. “We’ll do number twelve tonight, although number four brings back very nice memories.
The inverted sixty-nine with her firmly bound and clamped.
“Maybe we could do both,” she suggested.
“My thoughts exactly, anisa meo.” His grin faded somewhat as he shifted her in front of him and, using the fullness of her skirt as a screen, adjusted his snug pants in front. “Enough of this talk. I’ve got a meeting, and you must see Jarlan. Later, we can go through the whole range of positions if you’d like.”
“I’d die from—” She caught herself short of saying orgasm overdose as she looked around at the people nearby. “Uh, from exhaustion before we got to twenty. So, let’s take them in small increments.”
“I rather like the idea of orgasm overload. Prepare to be worn out tonight, mate.” Kerr never cared if someone overheard his intentions to pleasure his mate and, as usual, didn’t modulate is voice even slightly. His excuse, “We’re fated mates; it’s expected we can’t keep our hands off one another.”
He moved them down the row when the furniture movers were out of the way.
“What are you seeing Jarlan about, by the way? You don’t act like you’re feeling unwell?”
“I feel fine. I’m seeing him about a new herb I developed to help the pregnant mates with their morning sickness. It’s called peppermint on Earth and can be steeped into a tea. Currently, it’s only used here as an aromatic, which is a waste. As an extract, it can be used to make wonderful hard candy, too.”
“Who knew my prima was going to be our next best herbalist and home-remedy healer,” he teased. “You’ll put Jarlan out of business.”
“I very much doubt it.”
The hand at her waist gave her an affectionate squeeze, and his tone was serious when he said, “If I don’t say it enough, Eva, I’m very proud of you.”
That he thought highly of her talent warmed her. “I might give Jarlan a run for his money when Lana returns with everything on the list I gave her. She’ll need a whole stateroom on the Dauntless for my seeds and saplings.” She bit her lip. “I hope they survive the trip.”
Kerr gave her a wry smile. “I’m sure Rothke will make arrangements to preserve them.”
She angled her head up at him. “How are Trask and Lana doing? Any news?”
“I had communication with him a few days ago. He didn’t say much, but inferred things are strained between them.”
“It makes me sad, Kerr. I’d like for our friends to find the happiness we have.”
He used the backs of two fingers to stroke her cheek softly. “I don’t like to see you frown so, sprite. Lana and Trask are bonded mates; whatever is wrong between them, they’ll work it out.”
“Maybe they can do so on the return trip from Earth.”
“We can hope, though two months in space can be an eternity when you’re fighting and don’t have any place to escape to. Good thing it’s a short trip.”
“It took us three years, Kerr. Of course, we had stops along the way, but still, I can’t believe your ships travel so fast.”
“Uladite is an amazing element.” Taking her hand, he started them walking again. Vendors called her name and tried to get her to stop at their booths, but with her thoughts on her friends, she didn’t feel much like it anymore.
“You know, I’ve wondered why Trask didn’t go with her to begin with. I never understood taking a second ship.”
“She wasn’t supposed to be on board, Eva. You have a term on Earth for it called stowing away. Trask took the smaller ship to bring her back, but they didn’t have a chance of overtaking them and now are assisting with the Earth mission.”
“You never told me!”
“Trask doesn’t want it getting out that his mate ran away, so we have this story of the liaison. Although from what Rothke tells me, she is a perfect go-between.”
“Hmm, maybe she should use those skills to communicate with him. I think she really loves him.”
“And he is not willing to give her up.” He brushed a stray lock of hair from her cheek and smiled. “Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?”
A heaviness centered in her chest. She didn’t wish the heartache she and Kerr had gone through on her worst enemy, let alone Lana, or the general who, through his loyalty to her mate and by extension to her, held a special place in her heart.
Eva sighed. “I hope for both their sakes they can figure it out.”
“Me, too. Now, enough of our friends’ misfortune. We only have half a time-cycle before we need to return. What holds your interest?”
“I need more clay pots and a new hand trowel.”
He grinned. “Why am I not surprised? But as Neela insists, a shopping spree is for wants, not needs. Don’t you want to spend my credits on something extravagant?”
She pursed her lips while she thought for a moment then turned them up into a mischievous smile. “You know…I have a closet full of clothes and more shoes and scarves than I could ever wear. There is one thing, though.”
“Name it.”
“Panties. There’s a booth with slinky fabric over there which would be perfect.”
“Except that.”
“But Kerr…”
“Nope.”
With a little huff of frustration, she explained lingerie to her mate yet again. “You aren’t grasping the concept of skimpy lace and satin. It enhances and reveals more than it conceals. You’re really missing out, you know.”
“Skimpy, you say?” He tugged her hand and made a beeline to a booth up ahead stacked high with just the kind of fabric for making lingerie.
“What’s your favorite color?” she asked as she perused the options.
“Skin color.”
She stifled a laugh as she whirled on him, shaking her head. Then she leaned in, placing her hand on his chest as she came up on her toes. Near his ear, she whispered, “Think how black lace will look against my fair skin. You can undress me, unwrapping the prize inside like a present. And there is this one, particularly interesting type of panty called a thong. It has a thin strip that wedges in between the cheeks, exposing the backside in its entirety. I assumed this would be something you’d like.”
“Why wear anything at all?”
She rolled her eyes. “You are such an alien!”
“Beg to differ, sprite. Around here, the alien title falls to you.”
“How about I wear it because it’s sexy and fun, and you can take it off with your teeth? Or rip it apart and ravish me. Whichever you prefer.”
A lustful look flashed in his eyes. “Purple, red, and black.”
She grinned.
Point, Eva.
Someone called Kerr’s name. He glanced around, his great height aiding him in scanning the crowd. Finally spotting who’d summoned him, he lifted his chin in acknowledgment. “That’s Vardax. I need to have a word with him. Make your purchases; I’ll return shortly to escort you home.” He took a step away at her nod then stopped and turned to her once more. “Instead of black lace, get green.” He met her gaze. “You know the color I like.”
She flushed as he strode away, the tingling sensation between her legs making it her turn to shift uncomfortably.
Eva ran her fingers over the luxurious fabrics. The merchant, who was dealing with another customer, gave her a small bow. “My mate or I will be with you momentarily, Prima,” he promised.
“Take your time, sir.” She continued her browsing spying a bolt in the exact shade she needed.
“You!”
Her head came up at the hissed word, and it was all she could do to keep from cringing at the hate-filled eyes staring back at her.
“Zalina,” Eva said coolly.
“You dare come to my booth! I wouldn’t allow you to buy the dirt off the floor.”
“I can see a public flogging before the entire town did nothing for your demeanor.” Her eyes shifted to the merchant, Zalina’s mate. Several years older than the beautiful brown-haired shrew, he wasn’t hard to look at.
And wasn’t it just too bad? Though she knew it was spiteful, she wanted him to be the troll Zalina deserved.
But like all Primarians, he was big, surpassing Kerr in height and build, and most of the other warriors she had seen. It amazed her this man was a merchant. He had a huge barrel-chest with enormous bulging biceps and muscular thighs all testing the seams of his snug clothing as he moved.
Not that Zalina appreciated how fortunate she’d been to be paired with him. Rumor had it she felt a match with a lowly cloth merchant was beneath her, and the fit she’d pitched had set Ariad abuzz. About the same time, her father was ejected from the elder council, which meant she was having a really bad week.
Suppressing a smile, she eyed the fuming woman and shrugged. “If you’d rather turn away my credits…”
“You mean Kerr’s credits.”
“Yes, but he is very generous and urges me to spend as I like.” She looked again at the big man, who remained busy with another customer. “What is your mate’s name? Someone said Yak, or was it Dak? Maybe we should ask him how he feels about you turning away the Prima’s business.” She paused, enjoying the way the woman’s face turned red.
Fuming, she folded her arms over her chest. Clearly, it galled Zalina to have to serve the alien who held the position she coveted for herself. “His name is Nayak, and there is no need to call him. What do you want?”
Secretly smiling inside, Eva took her time before deciding. “I’ll take the green and the scarlet, and some of the lace to match.”
In a snit, Zalina snatched up the bolts and a measuring tape. As she unrolled the fine fabric, she eyed Eva’s form with a sneer. “I’ll double the standard dress length; you appear to need it. Perhaps skipping trips to the bakery might help.”
Eva gasped. She had curves, which Kerr liked, but she wasn’t at all overweight. “Are you calling me fat?”
“If the name fits…”
“Zalina! You dare insult the prima?”
She spun and faced a very angry, red-faced Nayak. His huge hand curled around his mate’s arm as he turned to Eva and respectfully bowed. “I am appalled at her lack of manners, Prima. She knows better.”
She inclined her head in acceptance, although Zalina had earned the brunt of his anger.
“Apologize,” he growled in his mate’s ear. “Now.”
“I won’t.”
“You will, or I will bend you over the table right here and paddle your belligerent behind with the measuring stick.”
“I will not tell her I’m sorry, not ever! I hate her! She ruined my life!”
“So be it.” He bowed to Eva once again. “Excuse me, but this cannot wait.”
“By all means,” she said automatically, unsure what else to do. It wasn’t her place to interfere, and lord knew the woman had coming whatever he might dish out.
“Wait!” Zalina squealed as the huge male easily put her into position. “No, Nayak, not here!”
“If you can be insulting and defiant here, you can take your punishment here as well.” He flipped her skirt onto her back, and took up a thin yardstick, bringing it down with a solid thwack across the bare behind.
“Ouch!” she squealed.
Despite the din of the crowd, several heads turned their way.
Silly woman. Does she want an audience?
But Eva said nothing, watching as Nayak efficiently spanked and lectured simultaneously, much like Kerr. She figured mate-spanking classes were mandatory for all males in this world.
“You have no sense of decorum. But, by the Maker, you will learn some.”
A hum of appreciation rippled through the gathering behind her as he smacked the makeshift paddle repeatedly against her butt.
“Ow! I’m sorry. I’ll apologize.”
“Yes, you will. And will do so with a bright red and very sorry behind.”
His arm rose and fell unabated until she lay quiet beneath his restraining hand. By Eva’s count, it took no more than a dozen solid smacks. Unsympathetic to the woman who had practically torn her and Kerr apart in the worst possible way, she silently wished he had given her two dozen more. But Nayak either packed a punch with a paddle or knew his mate well, because her attitude had distinctly changed. The big man seemed satisfied as he bent over her back, whispering in her ear while he rubbed her bare bottom.
Whatever he said, she shook her head as she sniffled. He stood and stepped back, revealing the entirety of her bright ass cheeks in their full glory. Before he lowered her hem and covered her, Eva saw something else in the sea of bright-crimson skin. On one round cheek, there was a distinctive marking.
It meant Zalina and Nayak were like she and Kerr—fated mates. She stood there, completely amazed by the unlikely pairing. Never in a million years would she have put those two Primarians together.
“Prima.” She jumped at the deep booming voice. Lost in thought, she hadn’t seen him move, but the huge man now stood before her. “My mate has something to say.”
Her eyes slid down to where Zalina waited on her knees, head bowed.
Immediately uncomfortable, Eva stepped back and ran into something hard and inflexible.
“What is going on here?” Kerr asked, his voice dripping with authority.
“Princep,” Nayak said stiffly. “My sincere regrets. Zalina has a sharp tongue and has insulted the prima. She was about to beg her forgiveness.”
“Please accept my apologies for speaking so rudely.” It didn’t appear she planned anymore until her mate’s hand settled on the top of her head and he cleared his throat. Only then did she add, “It won’t happen again.”
Nayak glanced at Kerr, who she assumed had indicated his acceptance from the way he shifted slightly behind her. Next, the huge merchant looked down at her. Well over seven feet, he bowed yet again, which was beginning to make her uncomfortable. When he did it this time, his face came close, too close as he said, “My heartfelt apologies again, Kerr’s mate.”
It was all Eva could do not to recoil as a strong waft of onion swept over her face. Biting the inside of her cheek to keep from grimacing, she nodded in return. Then she used a phrase Kerr had before, hoping to end this, “All is forgiven, and we move on.”
“Thank you,” he murmured, casting a narrow-eyed gaze at his tearful mate.
“We must go, Nayak,” Kerr said as he steered her way. “I have urgent business.”
The distance of two booths was all she could manage before she started to giggle, by four she was laughing aloud, drawing attention.
“Eva, I never knew you were so bloodthirsty. Although, in her case, it is well justified.”
“Kerr,” Eva said in a hushed voice. “His breath, it was bad. And when he spanked her bare behind as if they weren’t in a crowded market, I noticed she carried his mark. That means maes eternium.”
“It does, but what of it?”
“Bad breath forever. I can’t imagine a more fitting punishment for her crimes.”
“Anisa meo, I believe I said I would keep your recommendations in mind.”
She stopped mid-stride, requiring the people following to skirt around her fast or slamming into her. “But you couldn’t have,” Eva exclaimed. “I saw his marking on her. They’re fated. How could you have a hand in it?”
“We have an adage on Primaria, what goes around, comes around.”
She gaped at him. “You’re kidding. We have the same expression on Earth.”
“You don’t say.” His deadpan expression gave nothing away, but his lip twitch did.
“You’re teasing!”
“Yes, I am,” he chuckled, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders while starting them walking again.
After a few more booths, she giggled again. “Maybe I should send him a peppermint plant.”
His gleaming gaze met hers. “It’s a kindness she doesn’t deserve.”
“You’re right. But I feel sorry for him, stuck with her, forever!”
“Nayak, despite his love of onions, which is legendary, is a good man. But he is strict. Mated to him, she won’t cause either of us any more trouble.”
“I guess we have the Maker to thank for that,” she said, beaming at him. “And for mating me with you.”
“I say the same prayer of thanks every day, sprite.” He stopped right there in the middle of the bustle of market day, wrapped her up in a tight embrace, and kissed her.
And his breath, as always, was sweet.
***
The late afternoon sunshine was warm on her face as she lay in the thick grass. She knew she should have already gotten up and dressed for their upcoming dinner with Valkerr, or found Janus to go over the last-minute details of a charity auction she was holding to raise money for several of the village schools.
She had toured them and found they were sound academically but had no arts programs, no outdoor play areas, and no gardens! Kerr had heard an earful about it when she returned and had put her in touch with the artisan who had designed the rooftop garden. They put together several playground designs, and, after she squeezed enough credits out of Kerr’s wealthy family and friends with the auction, she planned to have one built at each school. It was only one of the many pots she had her fingers in.
Kerr had been right—charitable works and demands from the people occupied much of her day while he was gone. The rest she spent in the hothouse at Jarlan’s prompting. To date, she’d found several alternative treatments impressive enough with symptom relief in small trials for the healer to order a mass planting.
Closing her eyes, she angled her face toward the twin suns, drinking in the relaxing heat and letting the drowsiness overtake her as she enjoyed a rare afternoon nap.
Something tickling her nose made her stir. She swatted at it then refocused on sleep. It came back again a few moments later. With a nose twitch, she turned her head, but even then, it didn’t stop. Frustrated at having her sleep interrupted, she opened her eyes to identify the pest.
It was Kerr. His smiling face hovered above her, as did his hand which held the tickling culprit—a blue daisy.
“When I called your name and you didn’t wake, I improvised and used other measures.” He trailed the fragrant flower lightly down her nose and across her cheek. “Your nose is pink. How long have you been up here?”
She looked over his shoulder. The twin pink suns had gone down, and the sky had turned a deep purple with a few stars already twinkling on the horizon. “A while, apparently, but it felt so good to lounge in the sunshine, and the garden was peaceful and quiet. I guess it slipped away from me.” She looked at him with eagerness. “How was your meeting?”
“Very interesting. Your president is an intelligent man. He and two other countries have agreed to meetings with our ambassadors. It is a promising start.”
“That probably means things have deteriorated more.”
“Yes, the situation is grim and leaves them few options. We are hailed as heroes by some, and invaders by others—which isn’t unexpected. The next few weeks will be crucial in negotiations. Hopefully, we can get more than three on board, but some are very suspicious, opposed to the very idea of outside help.”
“And if you can’t?”
“Then the future is grim for them, sadly.”
They fell silent, each lost in thought.
“Enough bad news. Your trip to Jarlan was productive?”
She grinned. “Very much so, and quite informative.”
“How so?”
“He and some of your top engineers have accessed the Odyssey’s files and, by extension, Earth’s medical data banks, and have found everything they need to know about human females and childbirth.”
“This happened two months ago.”
“Yes, but they have developed some new tests. One is for pregnancy. Just like on Earth, a woman can pee on a stick and voila, she knows in only a few minutes if she is expecting.”
“It’s good news, although waiting a day wasn’t extreme.”
“If you’re worried you’re pregnant, a day is an eternity. But if you’d rather be old school, we can come back here tomorrow, same time, same place, for me to tell you my results.”
He ignored her baiting and focused on one fact. “You took a pregnancy test?”
“Yes. A brand-new pee-on-the-stick kind. I also did the old one as part of a comparison test group for accuracy.”
His face fell. “You’re only helping with his research? Or is it possible you are breeding?”
She wrinkled her nose. “I hate that word. Can’t you call it something else? Something less clinical? Expecting is nice.”
“Eva,” he said sternly. “I’m not finding this roundabout discussion amusing.”
She giggled, beside herself with happiness. “I’m sorry, Kerr. I shouldn’t tease you about becoming a daddy.”
He caught her face between his hands and demanded, “Look me in the eye and be serious, mate. Are you carrying my child?”
Tears misted in her eyes as she met his gorgeous golden gaze, seeing the hope and love she had for him, reflected back. “Yes, Kerr, I’m going to have your baby. Isn’t it wonderful?”
He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against hers. “I thought this day would never come,” he whispered. “Thank the Maker.” He raised his head only enough to ask, “When, sprite?”
“In about six months, you’ll be welcoming your firstborn.” She’d barely finished when he gathered her in his arms and rolled her on top of him. One hand slipped to the back of her neck as the other moved low to splay wide across her bottom, then he drew her head down for a deep, heady kiss.
“Silly question, but are you happy?” she asked when he let her up for air.
“Ecstatic.”
“Me, too, and if you meet me here tomorrow, same place, same time, I’ll tell you if it’s a boy or a girl. Jarlan figured out a pee test for that, too, but it does take twenty-four hours.”
“Boy, girl, one of each, same-gender twins, I don’t care. As long as we have a healthy child.” His eyes were liquid gold as he stared up at her.
Her smile faded as she repeated, “Twins!”
He laughed, successfully disarming her with the joyful sound. “I love you, Eva. You—and the baby—make me very happy.”
Taking his face in her hands, she lowered her head and touched her lips gently to his. “I love you, too, mate. And will love our son with all my heart.”
“A son,” he whispered.
“And an heir for Primaria.”
“First and foremost, he will be our son, a part of both you and me.”
“Kerr,” she sighed, tears of joy wetting her eyes.
He rolled her again, carefully, so not to squish her as he took the dominant position—like most times. She never minded and didn’t today when he stripped her bare, right there in the garden, and loved her breathless.