The windows were blacked out in the helicopter so none of the passengers could see how they got to the Alliance Starbase. It was only accessible by air and the location classified. Bot-trams transferred everyone’s luggage to the space shuttle while the passengers were lead there and seated in the passenger section.
When Skye had returned to the office after loading her luggage on the shuttle Thanden came out to the waiting room to speak to them after the young woman had left.
“If you read our terms of service, you all know that you are free to cancel your contract with us at any time. However, there are no refunds. You have thirty days to cancel your mating contract once you arrive at your destination. If you cancel the contract, you are responsible for your travel expenses back to Earth. If your mate cancels the contract, he or she is responsible for your travel expenses,” he said. “Any questions.”
That little speech gave Skye pause. She didn’t remember reading about the thirty-day cancellation policy. She had no intention of canceling, but Rader could change his mind. Skye didn’t want to think about it. The idea that Rader could and might reject her was painful to think about. Already, she had a crush on him and felt sure she could fall in love with him. How is it she missed that clause?
It didn’t matter. Skye had already passed the point of no return. She’d sold her house and donated or gave away all her possessions. She knew what she had to do. She would make sure he wouldn’t change his mind. As far as she was concerned the agreement she made was as binding as marriage.
She was already fantasizing about the first time they would make love. She couldn’t quite figure out why a man that attractive would need to use a matchmaking service. But if he was as devoted to his career as she had been to her business, he might not have the time or opportunity to seek out potential mates.
The woman who ran out of the service office probably didn’t learn about the cancellation policy until just before she ran out. She probably had visions of rejection after she got to whatever planet she was going to and then find herself with no way home.
Skye could only speculate on that young woman’s motivation to change her mind. Skye felt sure she was going to love Rader. Their exchanges had continued every day since she had accepted his proposal. In each on he told her he was eager for her arrival so they could get acquainted in person.
He didn’t seem like a man who was going to change his mind. He was paying the considerable cost of her trip to his world.
Skye believed in him. The alternative was unthinkable.
The launch was a bit uncomfortable as the shuttle reached escape velocity to connect with the Be`Kal Zephyr, the passenger freighter what would take them to the various worlds where their mates lived. They docked with the with the starship and the passengers transferred to the ship.
A lovely young woman was at the entrance to the starship her name was Jenna Be`Kal the Captain’s wife. Skye was amused as she acted almost like the cruise director on that old Love Boat show reruns she used to watch on classic TV.
In a way, the starship was kind of like a love boat. The Be`Kal’s contracted with the Narovian Interstellar Matchmaking Service to transport people mated through their service to meet their genetically matched mate in sectors surrounding Earth. Once everyone was aboard, they were shown to their cabins.
There were five women and three men, and there were four double cabins and two singles for a total of ten passenger spots. The men and women drew lots for the singles since their mates had all paid the same fares.
Skye was lucky to get a single cabin, not that she really minded whether she had to share. All of the other women seemed nice. But she was glad for the privacy when she was talking with Rader almost every day.
“It seems real that we are going to be together, now that I am actually traveling to another star system,” Skye told him. “I can hardly believe I’m in space. The captain and his wife and the crew are all really nice people. They even had special adapters installed in the cabins so we can charge our phones and tablets.”
“Does your new com-tablet work okay?” Rader asked. It was part of the package he’d paid for.
“Oh yes, it works just fine, but I can’t figure out how to transfer my books to it. The com operator here doesn’t know either. Apparently, they aren’t compatible,” she explained. “But my language chip is working after only four days. I can understand everything you’re saying.”
Rader smiled, “And I understand you as well. I will look at your tablet once you are here, I may be able to translate it into your new tablet.”
“That would be great! My whole collection of books is on that tablet.”
“Tablets on a tablet?” His brows.
“Stories and information,” she said. “They are writings that used to be printed on pages and bound together. Now the writings are translated into data and stored on tablets. My whole collection is now on my tablet.”
“It is important to you,” Rader said.
“If it can’t be transferred perhaps we can find a way to recharge it,” Skye said. “In the meantime, I will read as much as possible.”
“You will arrive in time for the warm season. I will take time off to spend with you and show you our world,” he said staring into the screen, caressing her with his eyes. “I am so happy you are coming to be my mate.”
“I want you to be happy, Rader. I want us to be happy together,” she said. “Ever since that day of the attack, I felt like there should be more to life than eat sleep and work. Everything I worked for the last five years to build was just gone in two minutes.”
“But you are alive.”
“Yes, and after the shock of it wore off, I realized none of it mattered. I still had the chance to find someone to love and make a family with.”
“Then I saw that ad for the matchmaking service and I realized it could still happen. So here I am, coming to make a life with you. I’m happy, scared, and excited all at the same time.”
“You have nothing to fear from me, sweet one. I will never harm you.”
Skye looked to the side for a moment. She still worried about the cancellation clause in their mating contract. Without looking directly at him, she said, “before we left, they reminded us of the thirty-day cancellation clause in our mating contract. …That if you aren’t happy with me, you can terminate our mating contract.”
“No, Skye. I know you are the one female for me. I knew as soon as I saw you that I wanted you and only you.”
Skye looked into his eyes immediately and knew he honestly believed that. In that split second, she could imagine herself writhing beneath him with his weight pressing down on her as he filled her with his cock. The thought seemed to go straight to her core, and she caught her breath.
Rader’s eyes narrowed. “What were you thinking just then?”
She knew she was blushing as she found it hard to hold his gaze. She blinked a couple times and decided it was best, to be honest. They were both adults.
“About mating with you…”
“And does that thought please you?” he asked hopefully.
Skye laughed softly. “It does. I’m very much attracted to you.”
“The attraction is mutual because we are genetic complements. You are beautiful to me.”
“And you are to me,” she told him.
“Skye, you are mine, and when I claim you, you will know that beyond all doubt. Our bond will only grow stronger once we are together.”
“I believe you,” she said softly. “That’s how I feel about you, too.” I’m going to love you.