Cathian Read online

  Cathian grinned. “Romantic?”

  “Very. Thank you.” She blinked back tears. “This was to celebrate my pregnancy though, wasn’t it? I’m so sorry.”

  “I called York while you were being operated on to bring us food. Don’t apologize again for that, Nara. Never. The more I think of it, I’m glad we get to wait three years. Babies are a wonderful thing, but they put a strain on romance and bonding. Especially since there would be at least two to five of them. Caring for that many infants would tire us out.” He smiled. “Now we can concentrate on each other. Not a bad thing.”

  She nodded. “I agree.”

  He took her hand and led her to the bed. She went to sit but he suddenly pulled her close, staring into her eyes. “Before we dig in, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”

  “Okay.”

  He took a deep breath and lowered his head, his face inches from hers. “I’d like to life-lock to you. Would you agree to that?”

  “Yes!” She didn’t even have to think about it.

  He smiled wide and hugged her. “Good.”

  “What do we need to do?”

  “It’s what you would consider a medical procedure.”

  “Okay.”

  He waited.

  She just stared back at him. Finally, he frowned.

  “Aren’t you going to ask what kind? What is involved?”

  “I don’t care. I’m willing to do it. It doesn’t matter.”

  He smiled again. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  “Male Tryleskians have a secondary small heart in our chests. When we life-lock to a female, it is implanted in her chest. It links us by scent. The android feels it would be safe for humans. It’s never been done before.” He lifted his hand, curving his finger to his thumb, demonstrating a small round shape the size of a small coin. “It’s about this size.”

  She let that information settle. “Okay.”

  “That doesn’t frighten you?”

  “No. I was willing to have your litters. What’s a tiny piece of you inside my body?” She smiled. “I like that. I’ll be the keeper of your other heart. That’s romantic.”

  He chuckled. “Humans are strange but I’m grateful.”

  “You should have asked me while we were with the medical android. Can he do it for us now?”

  “Tomorrow. Now, we eat and celebrate. We are to be life-locked. I’m glad you came into my life, Nara.”

  “Me too.” She already couldn’t imagine life without him.

  Chapter Ten

  Nara took a seat on the bridge, mindful of Dovis watching her. He wasn’t her biggest fan but they had a sort of truce going since Cathian was someone they both loved.

  She reached up and touched her chest. The spot where Cathian’s secondary heart had been transplanted was warmer to the touch than the skin around it, as if it were a mini radiator.

  Two weeks had passed since they’d done the surgery. He’d worried about there being a chance of rejection, since they were two different races. It hadn’t happened though.

  The android had told her privately that it wasn’t technically a heart but Tryleskians preferred that term. It was more like a small organ that produced a chemical to make her smell exactly like the male the female had received it from. Dobs—what she’d named the android—had tested her many times. It was working correctly. Her body produced the scent that assured Cathian she belonged to him, thus locking them together. She was the only woman he’d want and be drawn to. She’d effectively become an extension of Cathian.

  She checked her messages again, hoping this time there would be a response.

  One showed—and her heart pounded as she tapped on the video message.

  Belinda’s face came into view, and she smiled. “Hey! We got your message. Derrick is with me.”

  He leaned into view and gave her a goofy grin. “You fell in love with the dick that bought you, huh? Not surprised. That happens when you never get laid.”

  Belinda elbowed him hard in the gut and he jerked away, out of sight. “Ignore him. We’re happy for you. Really. And no worries. When I got to the shuttle, Derrick was already there with the part. He even installed it without bitching and moaning. We’re at Rogerville right now. We came hoping to find you, since we had to fly out of the storage yard. We didn’t want to get caught stealing the shuttle; they’ve increased patrols. Imagine our surprise when we had a message waiting here from you.”

  Derrick leaned back into view. “I can’t believe you’re giving us your baby. That’s so cool of you.”

  Belinda nodded. “Fifty-fifty owners. Thank you, Nara.” She teared up. “You know if it doesn’t work out with your guy, though, that you’re always our captain. We’ll give it back.”

  “Hey!” Derrick scowled. “We’ll give her a third. I’ve never owned a shuttle before. Don’t be giving it all away when we just found out we have one.”

  Belinda rolled her eyes. “I’m stuck with him forever now. Couldn’t you have made me owner and kept him my mechanic? That way I could fire him when he’s annoying me to death.”

  “She loves me.”

  Belinda elbowed him again. “You wish. I put up with you because you’re good at fixing shit. And Nara felt sorry for you, bonehead. Maybe she just thinks you’ll get repairs done if you’re half owner, instead of thinking with your dick.”

  Derrick hesitated. “Fair enough. And true.”

  Nara grinned.

  Belinda lifted a hand and blew her a kiss. “We got a job hauling mining equipment to Cornel Moon. We leave in two hours. It’s good money, and no one should want to shoot us for it.”

  “Besides the people we got away from. Some scary woman with bone jewelry bought me.” He shuddered. “I told her I was shy and needed some alone time before she could ride my dick. I fled and stole a transport. She might be looking for me, so I don’t want to stay in one place for long.” He pointed at Belinda. “Her blue guy might be looking for her too, but of course she did him first before getting away. He might be in a mellower mood.”

  Belinda rolled her eyes. “As if anyone would want you enough to go to extreme lengths to try to find you. Bone-alien lady is probably relieved. She probably saw your little dick and had buyer’s remorse.”

  “It’s hardly little. Want me to show you?”

  “No!”

  Derrick looked bummed and stared at the screen, mouthing she does want it. “Sorry we couldn’t wait around to talk to you for real, Nara,” Derrick said aloud. “We need the money from this job. But leave us messages and we should be at a port soon. Thank you for the shuttle.”

  “Yeah. Thank you, Nara. Be happy.” Belinda ended the message.

  “Your friends are strange.”

  She turned her head, staring at Dovis. “I know.”

  “You gave them your shuttle? Why? You could have sold it.”

  “Trading is what they do for a living. They’d have had to find new jobs, and trust me, it’s best if they stick together. Humans aren’t well liked by some races. I know those two will watch out for each other.”

  “The female wasn’t full human.”

  “And she gets a lot of shit for it. Not from Derrick, though. I think he’s secretly in love with her. He’s always flirting. Now they can stay together.”

  “You could have earned a lot of money for the sale.”

  “Money doesn’t matter. Knowing the two of them have a secure future does.”

  Dovis stared at her and finally nodded. “You are a good person.”

  She stood up. “Thanks, Dovis. I’m going to hunt down Cathian.”

  “He’s exercising.”

  She left the bridge and found the gym. The sight of Cathian hanging from bars on the ceiling and doing pull-ups instantly made her girl parts warm. He was beautiful and she loved seeing all those muscles bulging and flexing with every move.

  He saw her and dropped to the floor. A big grin spread across his lips. “My Nara.�€