“No,” A-rec replied.
“Okay, good. Because I am so not your Mate.”
Stephenie rolled her eyes, but raced forward to embrace her best friend.
“This is actually crazy,” Darcy said in Stephenie’s ear.
“I know,” Stephenie replied.
Chapter 14
FORTY EIGHT HOURS LATER
Stephenie cuddled down against Ee-rah’s chest, her leg thrown over his hip. They had been here in bed for the better part of two days; cuddling, making love… Stephenie was even showing Ee-rah how to kiss properly. This had easily become Stephenie’s happy place. And the best part? She never had to worry about taking a psychology exam ever again.
There was a banging on the door to their room, interrupting their peaceful solitude.
“Ugh,” Stephenie groaned, hiding her face in the soft fur that covered Ee-rah’s chest. “They’re at it again. This is hell.” She was so over Darcy right now. Not that she didn’t love the fact that her best friend had decided to stay here with her…but dang. She was starting to really get on Stephenie’s nerves when it came to this situation with A-rec.
“I do not know what this ‘hell’ is…But I am assuming it is not a good thing.” Ee-rah replied, his voice just as peppered with annoyance as Stephenie’s.
“How do they expect anyone to believe they’re Mates if they won’t stop fighting?” Stephenie grumbled. “Do they really think they’re fooling anyone?”
“Some mates do nothing but argue, fight, and fuck.” Ee-rah replied, reaching around to squeeze Stephenie’s ass teasingly. “I don’t think anyone is none the wiser, my mate. And even if theyare, I doubt they will insist we turn our ship around and return a lone human. The price of fuel alone would not be worth the trip for a single creature.”
“Well, that’s harsh,” Stephenie said as she pushed herself up to plant a soft kiss on Ee-rah’s lips.
The banging at the door continued, and Stephenie sighed. “I’ll get it,” she said. She stood up and wrapped the blanket around herself for some form of modesty, as little as it was.
“Darcy,” she said as she scanned her handprint on the computer pad to open the door. “I swear to God, Darcy, if you and A-rec don’t stop fighting, I’m going to kick both of your asses-” Her threat came to a standstill when she saw it wasn’t Darcy who had come to complain about A-rec…but A-rec standing in front of the door, panting slightly.
“Ee-rah,” he said, quickly averting his eyes from Stephenie’s lack of dress. “You are needed. Now. And bring your mate.”
“What’s going on?” Stephenie turned to face Ee-rah, who was now out of bed and pulling on his loincloth. He did not have the same issue with nakedness as Stephenie.
“You will see soon enough,” A-rec said. “Please get dressed. I will wait for you.” He reached up and touched his palm to the outside computer pad and closed the door before Stephenie could ask any more questions.
Stephenie rushed to get dressed. She had abandoned her human clothes and settled for the Toxhocan dress that had been provided for her and Darcy. Thankfully, they had a few from the previous stop at their home planet. It was big and barely fit her, but it was already beginning to feel more familiar than her old clothes from Earth.
Once they were dressed, they opened the door and saw that A-rec was still waiting for them, just as he had promised.
He didn’t bother with another greeting. Instead, he started heading down the chrome hallway, expecting them to follow.
Stephenie had to practically run to keep up with the two Toxhocan. “Is everything okay?” She asked as they hurried along. “Is something wrong with Darcy?” That was her biggest fear right now.
“My mate is fine,” A-rec grumbled, not sounding too happy about that. “She is waiting for us.”
“She’s not actually your mate,” Stephenie reminded him. “And the fact that you want to continue pretending, even when no one else is around, is what’s pissing her off so much. You’re being too much. You need to back up and let her breathe a little.”
“That is of little importance right now.” A-rec snapped down at her.
“God, A-rec. You’re in a mood this morning.” Not that Stephenie knew it was morning. Being in space on a ship kind of messes up your days. They went by hours here- like military time- and she was still trying it figure it all out.
A-rec slowed down as they came upon a scene of chaos.
All the other Toxhocan (Stephenie had not remembered their names, but could recognize a few by their various colors) were gathered around. Darcy stood with them, a small human among monsters.
“What’s going on?” Stephenie asked her friend, hoping she would be more helpful than the grumpy alien that had led her and Ee-rah here.
