Chapter Seven

 

Alice opened the door. Nervous, she found herself unable to stand still. Instead, she danced from side to side. She’d been this way all day. Was this how people normally felt on their first date? She’d gone on a few dates with Frederick, but they’d known each other since they were children and their ‘dates’ had always been well-supervised, usually with her mother accompanying them.

This was in a whole different league. Jaxan was, well, he was so far removed from Frederick it wasn’t funny. She’d always thought Frederick attractive with his brown eyes, pale skin, and blond hair. But in comparison to Jaxan, Frederick was a boy. A soft, spoiled, boy.

And Jaxan was all man. Possibly more man than she could handle. She stared up at him as he stood in the doorway. His body blocked most of the sunlight. Dark pants hugged his muscular legs, and he wore a vest that left his arms free. There were small lines at the corners of his eyes that she hadn’t noticed before. She wondered how old he was.

His blue-green eyes gazed down at her, devouring her, watching her as though it had been days since he’d seen her last rather than just hours. She’d been on Zerconia for two days, but it felt like home. The people were friendly, well, mostly. This place was like a dream. It was a little overwhelming. This was her home now.

“Alice? Alice, are you well?”

Oh, sugar. How long had she been staring at him without saying anything?

“Hi.”

Good one, Alice. Way to smooth things over.

He studied her, the heat in his gaze morphing to concern.

She wanted the heat back. She didn’t want pity or worry.

“Sorry, I was, um, well, I hope I’m dressed okay. I didn’t know what we were doing so I wasn’t sure what to wear. If I’m not dressed appropriately, I can go back and put something else on. Of course, Rich is through there, and he’s kind of on edge, so we probably don’t want to stick around for long. You look nice by the way.”

He stared at her silently.

Shoot. She was talking too much.

“Sorry.” She paused. “I keep saying sorry a lot, don’t I? I just seem to—”

“Alice,” he interrupted. Thank God. She’d been afraid they’d stand here all night with her just rambling on and on. “You look beautiful.”

“Beautiful?” She glanced down at herself. She was wearing a plain blue dress. It had capped sleeves, a high neck and fell to mid-calf. This was about as revealing as her clothing got. Not sexy at all. “I don’t think anyone has ever called me beautiful.”

“Then their eyesight was poor. Because you are the most beautiful creature in the universe.”

“Are you two going or what? ‘Cause if I have to listen to any more of this, I’m going to vomit.”

Alice turned to glare at Rich. “Then don’t listen in.”

“Sorry, he got away from his leash.” Annabel appeared behind Rich and tugged him back. “Come on, Rufus. Back to your kennel.”

Rich gave Jaxan one last glower before Annabel pulled him back into the living area of Macon’s house. She was grateful that Macon and Annabel had given her a place to stay, but she couldn’t remain here forever.

“We should go while the going is good.”

“Do I need to know what Annabel meant by Rufus and kennel?”

“Nope.” She shook her head and walked out through the door. Jaxan leaned down and picked up what looked like a pile of dead weeds. Clumps of dirt fell to the ground. He held them out to her.

“Thanks,” she said hesitantly, taking them. They filled her arms, and she had to bite back a sneeze. Gross, they smelled like dirty socks. Was this some sort of Zerconian courtship ritual? Was she supposed to do something with the weeds or give him some in return?

“You like them?”

“Sure. I’ll just, um…”

“I will wait while you take them inside.”

Nodding, she went back inside, hurriedly placing the ugly, stinky weeds in her bedroom. She’d figure out what to do with them later. When she walked back outside, she felt a little breathless. A mix of excitement and nerves.

“So what are we doing?” She walked beside him, grateful she hadn’t worn her high heels, keeping up with him in flat shoes was difficult enough. “Not that I mind. It’s nice just to be able to walk out in the open like this, without worrying about pollution or without anyone watching. Well, not much anyway.” She waved over at two Zerconian females, but they turned away without acknowledging her. That was rude.

“I understand that Earth is heavily polluted.”

“Yeah,” she said sadly. “It’s gotten really bad in the last few years. It’s worst during the colder months and in the cities. It’s not so bad where I came from. We had to remain indoors in the middle of the day, so we did most of our laboring in the early hours of the morning, then prayers of reflection in the evening.”

“Laboring?”

“I worked in the fields, growing crops. Sometimes I helped out in the milking sheds. I didn’t like that as much, though. I like being outside.”

“Females did this work alongside the males?” He appeared shocked.

She snorted. “Our women did all of the work. The men had more important duties. Mostly, I think they sat around and ate, devising new ways to punish us for everything that was wrong in their lives.”

He stopped and turned to her. “The males sat while females did all the work? What sort of place is this?”

“Hell.” Immediately she stiffened, glancing around in case someone heard her. Her heartbeat slowed as she reminded herself she wasn’t under her father’s rule anymore. This was going to take some getting used to.

“Alice? Are you frightened of something?” Jaxan had stiffened beside her, he studied their surroundings as though expecting an attack.

“No. Just old habits die hard. If my father had heard me talk like that, he’d have washed my mouth out with soap.”

He frowned and she figured she’d better change the topic. “Sorry, I’m talking too much about myself. Where are we going?”

“I thought we would go to the Joyadan food establishment. I understand the food they prepare is similar to what you had on Earth.”

A sliver of disappointment went through her, but she smiled up at him. “That sounds nice.”

He frowned, studying her. “Your face does not match your words.”

Drat, she wished she had a better poker face. Her inability to lie could be a real curse.

“Sorry, it does sound nice, and I don’t want to sound ungrateful. It’s just I’ve eaten Earth food all my life. I kind of want to try something different. I’d love to try your food.”

He was silent. Oh dear, she’d insulted him. Here he’d planned a lovely dinner, and she’d gone and ruined everything.

Idiot, Alice.

“Tomorrow, I shall have some Zerconian platters prepared, and we shall dine under the stars. Would that be acceptable?”

“That sounds lovely. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound ungrateful.”

“You did not. I like that you tell me what you need.”

“You do?”

“Yes. It means that I have more of a chance to please you and that might lead to you wishing for this mating rather than fearing it.”

She grabbed his wrist, and a zing of heat filled her. “I don’t fear you, Jaxan.”

“I am much larger than you. And you have been through a traumatic experience. You do not trust that I will not harm you.”

Actually, she wasn’t worried about him harming her. There was something very calm and almost sweet about Jaxan.

“I know you won’t harm me. This isn’t about being afraid. Well, not of you hurting me physically, although you could easily do that. It’s more of an emotional fear. My father arranged for me to marry this man, well, boy. And I was pleased, I thought this boy was a good person. I thought he liked me. I thought we could be happy together.”

“What happened?”

“He decided he wanted someone else. He told me that being with me would be like being with his sister. Icky and weird. That’s what I was to him. Icky and weird.” The words still hurt.

“I do not view you as a sister.”

She smiled. “That’s good to know. I guess I’m just a little unsure now. I don’t want to make a mistake. Now I get to make my own decisions. All my life, my father dictated what I should wear, eat, say. I guess I feel a little lost.”

“Alice, mating is forever. It is not like your human equivalent. There is no equivalent from what I know of your culture. We do not betray our mates. We do not join with another. We cannot. We do not let our mates work while we rest. Our mates come first. They are cherished. They are protected.”

It sounded too good to be true, and yet the human mates seemed so happy. And from what she’d seen of Macon and Annabel’s relationship, he cherished her. Even if he was a bit gruff and abrupt.

Getting on the Mariana was the best decision she’d ever made. Guilt filled her as she thought of Maisy and the other women who’d disappeared with the crew. Was it wrong of her to feel so happy when she had no idea where her friend was and if she was all right?

“I will not tell you what to wear or eat unless you are endangering your health. Our cultures are different, and there will be things we may both have to learn to compromise on. Zerconians are not very demonstrative in public, for instance, but many of our mated males have learned that human females need the comfort of touch. We are very protective of our mates. I wish to always give you what you need. I will never turn away from you. I will never choose another. Such a thought is abhorrent to me.”

“Wow. Okay.” The sincerity in his voice was impossible to ignore.

Her stomach let out a loud grumble. She slammed her hand down, blushing wildly. “Sorry.”

“You are hungry, and I have kept you out here talking.”

“Actually, I think I did most of the talking. And I’m almost always hungry. My mother used to lock the pantry so I wouldn’t eat all the food.”

“She restricted your food intake?” He sounded appalled.

She shrugged. “I do eat a lot. I know it doesn’t look like it. But no matter how hard I try to gain weight, it never happens. People seem to envy me for that, but they don’t have a constantly rumbling stomach and the figure of a pre-pubescent boy.”

“Your food will never be restricted here.”

“You might change your mind on this mating thing once you see how much I eat.” She half-laughed.

“I would go hungry before you did.”

“Wow.” She fanned herself. “This got intense fast. Shall we go eat?”

“This way.” He rested his hand on the small of her back, guiding her. She liked the feel of him touching her. He didn’t lower his hand to cop a feel, his touch felt possessive but also protective. It was comforting. “You speak Zerconian well.”

“Thanks. I seem to have a knack for languages.”

They entered the restaurant, and the server guided them to a table in the courtyard. She immediately spotted Sophie and Saffron at a table and waved at them.

“Would you mind if I said hi? I haven’t seen them since we arrived.” Which wasn’t that long ago, but she felt a bond with the other women after what they’d been through together.

“Of course.” He immediately guided her over to the other table, walking with her rather than taking a seat at their table and waiting.

“Hey, guys. Everything okay? Are you settled in?” she asked quickly.

Saffron looked Jaxan up and down, while Sophie shrank back slightly. “Yeah, we’ve got some good digs. The only downside is we have to share our place with Maria and Angela.” Saffron rolled her eyes. “That’s why we came out tonight. There’s only so many tears and self-pity I can take before I explode.”

“They did go through a traumatic experience.”

Saffron snorted and glanced over at Sophie. “They don’t know the meaning of the word.”

Alice bit at her lip worriedly. She didn’t know what had happened to the sisters, but she worried that whatever it was had scarred them both badly.

“So, you two are on a date, huh? These guys move fast.” Saffron gave Jaxan a wary look. “You sure you trust him?”

That was a loaded question. “I feel safe with him.”

Saffron grunted. “Just make sure you keep yourself safe.”

“I think we’ll go eat. I’ll see you guys later. Oh, my cousin, Annabel is thinking of holding some self-defense classes for women. Do you two want to go?”

Saffron and Sophie stared at each other. Then Sophie shrugged.

“We’ll think about it,” Saffron told them.

Alice nodded. They moved to their table, and Jaxan held out her chair. “Thanks.” She smiled up at him.

He sat, then looked over at the other women briefly. “Something bad has happened to them.”

“Yes, I think so too. I doubt either one of them will talk about it, though.”

“The blonde female is terrified. And the dark-haired one is frightened too.”

“Saffron? Do you think so?”

“Yes, she just hides it better.”

He could be right. “I hope they come to the classes. It might help.” She noticed the frown on his face. “You don’t like the idea?”

“Of Annabel teaching self-defense to females?”

She nodded, her stomach tense.

“I believe the classes are a good idea. While I would hope you would never have a need to use those sort of skills, I would feel better knowing you were able to defend yourself. I cannot be with you all the time, and I do not believe you would be accepting of a minder?”

“What’s that?”

“A minder accompanies a female outside of their home. To protect and guide them. It was common practice before we discovered we could mate with human females. I understand it is not an Earther custom.”

“No, it’s not common. Although where I came from, women were watched.”

“You were?”

“Yes, remember when I said how nice it was to be able to walk around with you without anyone watching? From the time I was twelve, I wasn’t allowed to be alone with a male who wasn’t family. When my father decided I would marry Frederick, we were permitted to go on walks together, but my mother always walked three steps behind us. We were never alone. It was smothering. I couldn’t do that again. It’s what I left, it’s my past, not my future.”

He reached over and clasped her hand, holding it still. She hadn’t realized she’d been tapping her fingers against the table in agitation. “Then you will not have a minder.”

She smiled at him, the tightness in her chest easing.

“Rich told us that your father had arranged a husband for you. That is why you decided to come here?”

Their starters arrived. Deep fried rice balls. Yum. “Part of the reason. I’ve wanted to leave for a while, I was just too much of a coward.”

“You? A coward? I find that doubtful.”

She snorted. “Well, I am.”

“You were extremely brave when you risked your own life to help save the other women.” He frowned. “You will not do that again.”

She lifted her chin. “Oh, won’t I?”

He studied her. “I have angered you.”

“I don’t like being told what to do.” She sighed. “All my life people have been ordering me around. And Rich is almost as bad. He does it because he loves me and wants to protect me, which is why I put up with him.”

“I wish to protect you also. I do not want you placing yourself in harm’s way.”

“So you think I should have just sat back and done nothing? I did what was needed, and truthfully, I was terrified the entire time.”

He rubbed his chin. “Human females are difficult to understand. Our females are grateful for our protection and care.”

“It’s not that we don’t like being cared for or protected. But being ordered around isn’t the best way to communicate with us.”

“Ah, I see.” He seemed to be thinking that through. “It is not our protection you object to, but the way we word it? This will take some thinking about.”

She hid her smile by taking a drink of water.

“You’ll get used to us.”

“I certainly hope so.” There was a slight hint of bewilderment to his tone.

“After his first attempt at arranging a marriage for me failed, my father decided to marry me off to a man three times my age.”

“Oh? And that was objectionable?”

She gaped at him as their main meals appeared. Some sort of pan-seared steak, but she guessed it wasn’t from a cow.

“Of course it was. I didn’t want to be mated to someone old enough to be my father.”

“How old are you?” he asked.

“Twenty-three, you?”

“I am eighty-nine.”

She gaped at him. “W-what? You can’t be. You look so young.”

“We age differently than humans.”

“I’ll say.” She peered at him but didn’t see anything that might indicate that he was that much older than she was. “How long do you guys live for?”

“If we find our mates, we can live for hundreds of years.”

If we find our mates. There was a wealth of sadness in those words.

“So you’re going to live a lot longer than me. I’ll grow old and gray, and you’ll still look like a young man. That’s going to be weird.”

“Our healers believe that mating slows down the human ageing process.”

“What? Seriously?”

“Yes, but this is very secret. We do not wish for this to become common knowledge.”

“No, understandable.” She could imagine all the people who would wish to mate with a Zerconian just to see if they could prolong their lifespan.

After dinner, he walked her back to Macon and Annabel’s house. “Umm, on earth sometimes men and women who are dating hold hands.”

“This is customary?” he asked.

She shrugged, not wanting to seem desperate. “Not always, just if you want to. I know you guys said you’re not big on being touchy-feely, so I get it if—”

He reached out and clasped hold of her hand in his. He turned her hand over, rubbing his finger over a callus. She attempted to tug her hand back, thinking he found them rough and ugly, but he squeezed her hand gently and continued to lead her towards Macon and Annabel’s house. Just as well he was with her because she could have sworn their house was in the opposite direction.

“Who do I talk to about moving into the human compound?”

“You do not like living here?”

“It’s not that I don’t like it, I just feel like I’m cramping their style.”

“Cramping their style?”

“Yeah, well, Macon and Annabel are newly mated. They need some privacy.”

“For what?”

“Please tell me I don’t have to spell it out.”

“Oh, you mean that they wish privacy to join. They can gain privacy for joining in their room.”

“Yes, but…you know, never mind. I will figure it out. Thanks for a lovely night.”

“I shall see you tomorrow night?”

“I’m looking forward to it.” Was he going to kiss her? Should she try to kiss him? What was the protocol…oh God, she moaned as he drew her against him. Leaning down, he took her mouth with his. He licked his tongue along her lips. She opened her mouth, allowing him entrance. Suddenly, he pulled her up, his hands tight around her waist. Her feet dangled in the air. She marvelled at his strength. All thought fled as he deepened the kiss. She placed her arms around his neck and held on for dear life as her head spun.

When he drew back, she felt dazed, her limbs heavy with arousal. Her folds were slick, and she pressed her legs together as her clit throbbed.

“That was…wow.”

“Wow is good?”

“Wow is so good. I’ve never been kissed like that before.” Frederick had given her a couple of chaste kisses on the cheek. Nothing like this.

This had been fireworks going off through her bloodstream.

“Good,” he said with a great deal of masculine satisfaction. “I shall be here tomorrow night.”

She was looking forward to it.