Mama and the Alien Warrior Page 4

  “Molly, do you want the translator?”

  “Is that what he asked?” Her voice was a thin whisper.

  “Yes, but it’s your decision.”

  “I’d like to be able to talk to him,” she said shyly.

  Abby had a sudden impulse to shake the girl and tell her to stop living in a fantasyland. Her salvation wasn’t dependent on a man any more than Abby’s had been. Instead, she bit back her feelings with a sigh. The translator was probably a good idea under the circumstances. The medic had joined them and she gave him a reluctant nod. While Molly clung to the young alien and his tail clung to her, Mekoi performed the injection.

  “How will I know if it worked?” Molly asked.

  “Can you understand me?” he asked.

  “Oh yes,” she breathed.

  “I’m Ribel,” he said solemnly. “What is your name?”

  “I’m Molly.”

  “That’s a beautiful name.”

  The two of them gazed into each other’s eyes with too much intensity for Abby’s liking. Hrebec’s tail brushed against her hip again, and she gave it an impatient yank. When he turned a startled look in her direction, she jerked her head at the young couple. It was his crew. He needed to put a stop to all the lovey-dovey mush before it got out of hand.

  “Ensign Ribel, it is time to return to the ship. Please ensure that the Vedeckians are prepared for transport.”

  “But, sir. I thought that—”

  “Now, Ensign Ribel.”

  “Yes, sir.” The despondent look on his face as he unwrapped his tail from around Molly’s wrist made Abby wonder just how old he was. Molly watched him with a trembling lip as he gently let her go.

  “I’ll see you,” he promised quickly. He shot a nervous glance at Hrebec before heading to the door.

  Hrebec watched his young officer depart and cursed under his breath. So much for containing his enthusiasm. They hadn’t even been on this accursed ship for half an hour and Ribel already displayed signs of mating fever. Although it was… interesting that Ribel’s tail had become involved. That was usually reserved for a true mate. First Mekoi then Ribel had displayed signs of possessiveness. Even his own tail kept seeking out Abigail, and he couldn’t help but remember the feel of her small, soft fingers on the sensitive skin. He looked down to find it heading for her again, but he forced it under control.

  “Are you ready to depart?” he asked.

  “Not like we got anything to carry, boss,” one of the girls said. TeShawna, that was her name. A tall, sturdy girl with warm brown skin and a short cap of tight dark curls, she was obviously the most outspoken. And yet she directed an unexpectedly shy glance at Mekoi, who was watching her discreetly. Hrebec shook his head. Mekoi had worked with him in the doomed labs. He had never thought the quiet medic would be any more capable of moving past that experience than he was.

  “I’s tired, Mama.” The young child yawned and leaned against Abigail, who once again cradled the Cire infant.

  “Just a little longer, sweetie. Then we can go back to bed.” She turned to him, and he felt an unexpected pulse in his loins as their eyes met. “Do you have room for all of us?”

  The ship was somewhat understaffed; a full complement hadn’t chosen to accompany him on his self-imposed exile. If the men doubled up, there should be room. He would give Abigail and her children his rooms since they were the largest. He chose to ignore the fact that the thought of her in his quarters was immensely satisfying.

  “Yes. My men can share.”

  “Hmm. The girls might want to share as well.” She cast a discreet glance at the young girl who fascinated Ribel, and he understood her concern.

  “That may be for the best,” he agreed.

  “And unless you want to take the cribs with us, we’ll need supplies for the babies—diapers if nothing else.”

  “Diapers?”

  Her cheeks turned a rather fascinating shade of pink, but she spoke evenly. “To cover their bottoms. For when they, um, urinate.”

  “Oh, of course.” The ship was not supplied with anything of the kind. “Mekoi?”

  “We have absorbent bandages. Those should work.” Mekoi hesitated. “The temperature on the Defiance is cooler. The infants should be covered. The mothers as well.” Hrebec saw him take a discreet glance at TeShawna’s long, bare legs and he realized that all of the females were scantily attired. With the exception of Abigail, he thought with a twinge of regret. Long pants covered her legs and her upper body was swathed in some type of furry substance. The small female was also covered in fuzzy pink. But the Cire infant was unprotected.

  He paused, then stripped off his uniform top and handed it to Abigail. “Wrap her in this.”

  Her eyes widened as she took in his bare chest and she licked her lips. The sight of her small pink tongue caused an immediate reaction in his cock, which he sternly ignored.

  “Um, okay.” She took the white shirt dubiously. “She might get it messy.”

  “That is not an issue.”

  A slight movement caught his eye. He turned his head and bit back a groan. Every one of his crew members had also stripped off their uniform tops. Mekoi was already approaching TeShawna. “Please accept this. For your child.”

  The look she gave him was halfway between suspicion and shyness, but she eventually nodded and took the garment. “I don’t want her getting cold.”

  Each of his men approached the females and the infants were quickly swaddled. Only the smallest, Molly, refused a shirt, but she wasn’t carrying a child.

  Jedan assisted one of the other females who was carrying two babies. He hovered, his tail twitching. “Would you permit me to carry one of the infants? I do not wish you to be burdened.”

  This female had pale skin covered with speckles and it flushed pink at the request. She bit her lip and looked at Abigail.

  “Promise me that he won’t hurt the baby and he’ll return her as soon as we get to your ship?” Abigail demanded quietly.

  “I promise.”

  “It’s okay, Elaina,” she told the girl. “Just show him how to support her head.” With a little fumbling, the move was accomplished, but he could see Jedan’s tail already curling around the infant. The situation was rapidly getting out of control. He needed to get these distracting females back to the Defiance and safely stowed away.

  “Mama, I’s tired.” The small voice drew his attention to the young child, now leaning heavily against Abigail’s legs.

  “I know, baby. Not much longer.”

  “Carry me.”

  Abigail looked at the Cire infant, then at her daughter. Before she could speak, he intervened.

  “Would you permit me to carry you, little one? With your mother’s permission, of course.”

  Abigail glared at him, but he knew she wouldn’t refuse permission. How could she, when she had just told one of the young females that it was acceptable? Instead, she turned to her daughter. “Do you want Hrebec to carry you, Lucie?”

  The child looked up at him gravely, then raised her arms in a trusting gesture that caused an unexpected ache in his chest. He reached down and carefully picked her up, her slight body almost unbelievably fragile.

  “You’s all bumpy,” she said, running a curious finger across his lamella.

  “Yes, I am,” he agreed.

  She tucked her head into his neck and closed her eyes. Her golden hair, soft and fragrant, brushed along his jaw. He tore his eyes away from her small figure and found Abigail watching him, an unreadable expression on his face.

  “Let us depart,” he said before turning to lead the way.

  Chapter Seven

  Abby hurried to follow Hrebec, determined not to let him out of her sight for a second. Despite her overall lack of faith in the male gender, she found herself inexplicably trusting the big alien. That did not mean, however, that she’d let him get more than an inch away from her while he carried Lucie. The sight of her daughter’s small blonde head, snuggled into that mas
sive green chest, tugged at her heart. She had no problems raising Lucie as a single mother, but she couldn’t help wondering sometimes if her daughter was missing out.

  Lucie hadn’t started asking questions about her daddy yet, but Abby knew it was only a matter of time. Since her father was a worthless drug dealer, currently serving an extended prison sentence, she wasn’t eager to have that conversation. Especially since she blamed him for her sister’s addiction, as well as her pointless death.

  Pushing the unwelcome memories aside, she concentrated on Hrebec. His heavily muscled back was just as spectacular as his front. When he’d whipped off his shirt, she’d felt a sudden, unexpected urge to touch all of those big, hard muscles. Without his shirt, she could see he had an intriguing raised texture covering his skin in a pattern of small dots. What would that feel like against her own skin, she wondered, and immediately tried to dismiss the thought.

  His tight uniform pants showcased strong, muscular legs and a very impressive ass, but his tail fascinated her the most. It emerged just above the low waistband of his pants, wider at the base, then narrowing gradually until it wasn’t more than two fingers wide at the tip. It too had a raised texture, and she had a sudden and very dirty thought.

  As if aware of her thoughts, his tail rose and flicked in her direction, brushing against her wrist before dropping back behind him. From the sudden tension in his shoulders, she suspected Hrebec was aware of the movement.

  The corridor emerged into a larger open space stacked with containers. On one side, two of Hrebec’s men stacked three white boxes that bore a disturbing resemblance to coffins.

  Without thinking, she grabbed his arm. “What are those?”

  Hrebec paused to let her come up beside him. “Some of the Vedeckians decided to object to our boarding.”

  “Oh.” She swallowed hard. “What about the rest of them?”

  “They are already in the brig on board the Defiance.”

  “There was one—Kwaret—who wasn’t as bad as the others. Do you know if he is alive?”

  “You care for this male?” He frowned and his tail swished.

  “No, of course not. But he did try to help us.” The forbidding face showed no signs of relenting. “He was the one who made it possible for me to feed Tiana. And he may know where she came from.”

  “I will question him.”

  His words didn’t reassure her at all.

  “Listen, if it weren’t for him, there’s a good chance that Tiana would be dead, and possibly the rest of our children. Just keep that in mind.”

  “Very well,” he said reluctantly.

  They stopped in front of a closed hatch. Through a glass porthole, she could see a tube with another hatch at the end.

  “Do you have any experience with zero gravity?” he asked.

  “Do I look like an astronaut?” At his puzzled look, she sighed and shook her head. “No.”

  “Will you permit me to assist you?”

  Not at all sure it was a good idea, she nodded slowly. “Yes.”

  “I am honored. Hold on to the infant.”

  He opened the door and, with a deft move, lifted her against his chest on the opposite side from Lucie. He was so big and warm that she felt safe and protected in his arms. A subtle citrus scent surrounded her and she suddenly wished she wasn’t wearing her sweater so that she could get closer to him. He pushed through the hatch and her head spun as gravity disappeared. Still keeping her and Lucie tucked against his chest, he moved them through the tube with a few quick flicks of his tail. They were through the second hatch within seconds, and he set her down in front of him. Before she could step back, his tail reached out, wrapping around her waist and pressing her against his body. She was acutely conscious of a very hard ridge against her stomach.

  Hrebec released her immediately and she stepped back, her cheeks flaming. Don’t look, don’t look. But it was impossible to resist and her gaze dropped to his very obvious—and very large—erection. Her eyes flashed to his face and he looked as embarrassed as she felt.

  “I apologize,” he said stiffly.

  “Just try to keep that thing under control,” she said, even though her nipples had tightened into hard points and there was an aching awareness between her legs she hadn’t felt in a long time. Of all times for her suppressed sexuality to emerge, it had to be with a massive green alien…

  The others followed them through the tunnel and she welcomed the distraction. Mekoi, of course, assisted TeShawna and Vanessa, and both of them emerged with flushed faces. The rest came through quickly, except for Molly, who she could hear asking about Ribel. Abby came close to handing Tiana over to TeShawna and going back to fetch the foolish girl herself when she emerged from the tunnel. Only the sight of Molly’s woebegone face made her bite her tongue.

  “If you will follow me,” Mekoi said, “I will see about providing the suitable equipment for the infants.”

  “Equipment, huh?” TeShawna raised an eyebrow and ran an entirely too suggestive look down Mekoi’s body as his tail lashed.

  Abby prayed she hadn’t been as blatant when checking out Hrebec.

  “Let’s go, girls,” she said firmly.

  TeShawna winked at her, but they all obediently turned to follow Mekoi. Before she could join them, Hrebec’s tail touched her arm very briefly. When she frowned at him, he nodded at Lucie.

  “Abigail Wentworth, the little one is asleep. Would you care to put her to bed first?”

  She hesitated, watching after the girls as they disappeared down a long grey corridor then looking back at her daughter, who was lying limp against Hrebec’s massive shoulder.

  “I suppose that makes sense. Lead on, Macduff.”

  “My name is Hrebec.”

  “It’s a quote from—never mind. Lead on, Hrebec.”

  Instead of following the girls, he turned to the right and took her up a small flight of stairs. They opened onto a small landing. To one side, she could see what looked like a meeting room. Two doors lined the other side.

  “Lieutenant Jedan and I are the only ones who have cabins up here. She will not be disturbed,” he said as he approached one of the doors.

  “Wait a minute. Your cabin?”

  “It is the largest one. I thought it would be best since you have two children.”

  Before she could protest, he opened the door panel into what looked like an office. Like the rest of the ship, the room had grey metal walls and flooring, but the furnishings gave it a more personal feeling. A gorgeous wooden desk, polished wood gleaming in the dim light, dominated one side of the room, with an array of cabinets behind it. On the other wall was a small couch and a set of shelves with an assortment of colorful objects.

  Hrebec opened a door panel at the rear of the room to reveal a surprisingly large bedroom. Of course, it needed to be large in order to accommodate the massive bed. She had a sudden vision of Hrebec’s big body sprawled across that enormous mattress and felt a return of that disturbing attraction. She could feel her cheeks heating but fortunately, Hrebec was preoccupied with laying Lucie in the center of the bed, and covering her with a blanket.

  Her daughter looked so small, lying in the center of the big bed. She didn’t want to leave her alone, but she needed to check on the other girls and the shirt wrapped around Tiana felt suspiciously damp.

  “Do you have a monitor?” she asked. “So I can hear if she wakes up?”

  He rubbed the back of his neck, looking thoughtful, and then disappeared back into the office, returning with two bracelet-like devices. He placed one next to the bed. “These are communicators. I have set this one to transmit so you will be able to hear through the other one if she calls out.”

  “Thank you.” She tried to put the device around her wrist but couldn’t figure out how to fasten it. Hrebec took over, his big fingers warm and a little rough against her skin.

  “Your wrists are so delicate and small,” he said softly, and she was suddenly acutely aware of how close th
ey were standing, his subtle citrusy scent washing over her again. His tail came up to circle her other wrist, just as he stepped back. With an oddly resigned look, he flicked it away and gestured to the door. “Come, Abigail Wentworth. Let us take care of the small one.”

  As Abby turned to follow him, she abruptly realized just how nice it felt to have someone helping her with her daughters.

  Chapter Eight

  Hrebec led the way to the medical bay, trying his best to keep his wayward tail under control. His thoughts were just as unruly, disrupting his usual weary resignation. While he would admit that he was certainly attracted to this human, with her fierceness and her determination, the fact that his tail was acting as if she were a potential mate was exceptionally disturbing. He had to remind himself that they were going to return the women to their planet, just as he had promised. Ignoring the surprising ache that caused in his chest, he led the way towards the sick bay.

  A group of his men blocked the doorway, all peering in eagerly at the human females. “Gentlemen, return to your duties. Now.”

  Obviously reluctant, they obeyed. When he and Abigail finally entered the room, he sighed when he saw Ribel at the other end, once more in close contact with the young pregnant female. The girl didn’t look much stronger than she had earlier so he decided to let Ribel remain. Jedan was there as well, still holding the infant with the bright red hair.

  The girls had gathered around a central table to listen to Mekoi explain the absorbent bandages. He unwrapped the uniform shirt from around one of the infants. Unfortunately, he had chosen the male child, and as soon as the shirt was removed, the child urinated in a great arc that hit Mekoi directly in the face. There was a moment of shocked silence, and then everyone erupted in laughter.