Chapter Twenty-One
This was it. Today was the day that their baby girl was ready to enter into the planet Pra’kir. The first child born of a human and Pra’kirean. The occasion was pretty monumental in the planet’s eyes, and Xan knew that if anyone on Earth knew about it, they would make history across the universe.
He’d kept the news agencies and their reporters at bay, wanting to keep their privacy for as long as possible, especially on the day of Tegan’s birth.
He and the nurses and technicians had all agreed that she’d been in gestation long enough. Her lungs and heart were healthy and there was no need to keep her in the mechanical uterus any longer.
Blythe was nervous, her eyes widened and her throat struggled to swallow.
“You’ll be fine. You’re more than ready, and you have me, Ganza, and all the nurses available—she’ll have the best care available on this planet. It’s nerves, pet. And I’ll let you in on a secret. Ready?”
She nodded, those green eyes swimming in tears.
“I’m nervous too.”
Adorably, she shook her head, not believing it to be true.
Bless her heart.
“Yes. I’m worried about caring for a human and her beautiful daughter. These two gorgeous girls of mine are under my supervision and care. I have moments when I wonder if I’ll do the right thing by you two. What if I do things the wrong way or endanger you? I worry that I may not understand or miss something because of our culture and different DNA. It’s a huge responsibility. But I have to trust that my wisdom, education, and common sense will guide me. Will I make mistakes? Oh sure. More than likely. But our love will help us; we’ll do this together. And that beautiful little bundle downstairs is going to be in our arms today. And we’ll do things that upset her and make her angry and sad with us countless times over the course of her life. But if she knows we love her, I mean really, really feels our love and acceptance, she’ll forgive us for any mistakes we’ve done.”
He stroked his hand down the side of her face, reveling once again in how silky smooth her creamy white skin was; he swore he’d never get used to it. His girl was so delicate and fragile, and yet so stubborn and independent. He loved her for those characteristics and wouldn’t want her to change…well, not too much at least.
“We’ll be fine, Blythe. Your sweet little girl has been holding your finger and staring at you for months. Her pulse races when she hears our voices, but yours in particular. And you know what else? You get to feed her today. And it’ll make her love you all that much more. The bond you’ll have with her will make all these months of waiting worth every bit of patience it took, sweet girl.”
“You’re right. I know you are. We’ll muddle our way through it like everyone else, I guess. She’ll roll her eyes at your long stories, and we’ll get Billex to take her and I to get our nails painted.” She giggled at the thought.
“I’ll have her trained better than her mother. Besides, my stories aren’t long and they’re so interesting even a child would like them.”
She opened her mouth to respond.
He wagged his finger at her. “Watch it!”
She swallowed her sarcasm and just laughed. “Come on. I’m ready. Let’s get Tegan.”
* * *
She watched Xan take her from the uterus, gently cleaning her while the nurses weighed and measured, and then with those large hands that she loved so much, he cocooned her in a fluffy pink blanket, gently kissing her on the forehead.
The process was so much easier—for everyone—this way. There was no crying on Tegan’s behalf. She came out calm, eyes open, and even looking around the room. The setting was calm and easy, so much different than a natural birth on Earth.
Xan stood staring at his girl, kissing her forehead and whispering to her. It made Blythe tear up; it was beyond beautiful. She thought she’d be jealous, wanting to hold her immediately and not wanting to share her—even with Xan, but she could have stood there watching him with their baby all day.
The huge, hulking alien was beaming. He slowly walked her way, the little bundle of pink curled up into his elbow. He stood in front of Blythe and handed her over, Tegan fitting perfectly in the length of his hand.
The delicate, beautiful baby stared up at Blythe, and she kept thinking, “She’s mine. All mine. I don’t have to give her back to her mother. I’m her mother. I’m her mother! How did I become a mother?”
Just like she’d done for weeks, Blythe put her pinkie finger near Tegan’s hand and watched her clench it tightly, those itty bitty knuckles turning white with her firm grip. She swayed with her baby, marveling at how perfect every feature of her body was—the minuscule nail beds, the fine little creases on the palms of her hands and soles of her feet. She studied every part of her, almost cataloging every feature and taking note of every detail. She turned to look at those beautiful blue eyes and long black curls only to find her infant frowning at her. Deep in thought and consternation, her little eyebrows furrowed, deep creases between them.
Blythe looked up at Xan. “She’s frowning just like you do at me. That’s a Xan look.”
“That’s Master to you, I might add. And I do not look at you that way.” And unbeknownst to him, obviously, he was looking at her the same exact way…now.
“Uhm. Yes, you do. And you’re looking at me like that right now.”
He could be so maddeningly funny. The creases deepened and he continued in the same vein. “No, I’m not. That look? That’s what my father looks like, not me.”
“Oh…is that…oh, okay.” She figured she’d let it drop; there was no need to go further with this.
But she shook her head at her daughter. What in the world could she be thinking of that would make her furrow her eyebrows like that? Was it deep concentration?
Blythe put that memory away—her first one for Tegan, one she’d remember for a lifetime. A memory she’d remind her daughter of countless times, she had no doubt.
Her mother had called them Mother’s Treasures. Mothers cherish the little things for every child—a look, a saying, an antic, or something sweet they said or did. They put them away in their minds…and their hearts. Treasuring all of them. And on days when they’re lonely or miss the small children they used to be, mothers pulled out the memories they hold dear, remembering the exact day, the smells, and every intricate detail.
Taking her forefinger, she lightly rubbed between her daughter’s eyebrows, smoothing out the furrow, watching the little one close her eyelids, slowly the blink magically made the expression fade, quickly replacing it with one of pure awe. Her little mouth formed a perfect “O” and wide-eyed, her head moved, taking in every aspect of Blythe’s features. With that little mouth open, she cooed and both Blythe and Xan exchanged looks as both of them teared up.
“Why don’t you feed her? You’ve worked so hard for this.” Xan plumped her breast, making it ready for their baby. “Just like we’ve practiced; you can do this.”
She squeezed her nipple and areola, doing her best to flatten it, but there was a whole hell of a difference between putting it into Xan’s large mouth and this itty bitty mouth that was the size of a dime.
“It won’t fit. Oh God.” She could feel the panic rising. What if she couldn’t do this?
“Breathe. Breathe. She’ll feel your panic. She’s made to do this; it won’t take any work, girl; you’ll see.” He gently kissed each of Blythe’s eyelids. “You got this, girl. Try again.”
She rubbed her hardened nipple and dribbled just a drop of milk on Tegan’s mouth. The little girl instantly perked up, opening her mouth wide, her head thrashing from side to side, seeking the hard nipple. Blythe pressed it into her baby’s mouth, and she tightly pulled on the tip, elongating the breast and sucking it into her mouth.
Shockingly, the strength with which she sucked was almost painful. Even Xan didn’t suck as hard as Tegan did.
“Ow. Ow. Holy shit, she’s sucking so damn hard.”
“That’s my girl.” He beamed proudly.
Blythe blinked at him. Then blinked again. “You’re actually happy about that?”
“Sure. It means our daughter is a good eater.”
Well, that made sense. At least he wasn’t happy that she was in pain. Christ, this was going to take some adjustment. It hurt.
After suckling for only a couple minutes, Tegan closed her eyes, the rate of sucking slowing dramatically. Once she finally fell into a deep slumber, her little mouth opened, warm milk dribbling down Blythe’s belly. Blythe eased her breast away, and Tegan closed her mouth, her lips pursed tightly, the inner lips pale with the milk with just a drop trickling from the corner.
Xan picked up her little hand to kiss it, and he chuckled. “Her arm is so limp. Watch.” He let it go just a bit above her body and it fell with limp weight.
She’d done it. Her new baby was quietly rested in her arms, happy to be there, and had breast-fed until she contentedly fell asleep. Just the way it was supposed to happen.
Blythe wrapped her baby tightly in the blanket, wanting to be sure that she felt secure and safe. The two of them stared at their creation, enthralled and captivated.
What had happened to the angry, sullen woman who hated Pra’kir? What had become of the stern, unyielding Master of the Breckett Household?
Blythe supposed they were both still there, and neither of them would ever lose those traits, but the addition of a delicate, fragile baby into their lives had changed them—for good.
Already.
They’d be more cautious and staid in their actions and words. Circumspect and prudent would probably be the words that would describe them, if she were to guess.
Blythe would never tire of being Xan’s pet and knew that he’d always be her Master and owner. And with the help of staff and family, they’d have more than enough time to maintain their dynamic.
She had the love of a good man. He was strong, intelligent, and protective. But above all of that, he was loyal and loving. Their needs and desires were placed above his at all times. And she had a beautiful baby girl.
She also had all her friends, and they were going to be getting together regularly, sharing their lives, loves, and families with each other. She missed Earth—they all did. But none of them wanted to go back. Their lives were here on Pra’kir.
Who knew what the future held, what escapades and tragedies awaited them? Whatever was in the cards for their future, they all had the love of a good man and faithful friends to help them get through. And maybe some fun, mischievous rendezvous were being planned in the not too distant future.
What the men don’t know won’t hurt them. Right?
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