Joe and I load the gifts onto what Noelle called a cable car, that is part of a pair. One ascends the mountain while the other descends, a unique counterbalancing system that reminds me of a ride on Karthika, a planet that is as dysfunctional as this one is war-ravaged. At least the humans here demonstrate a resilience and determination to survive, unlike many worlds conquered by the Coalition.
Noelle drives her elbow into my ribs. “Stop daydreaming, Santa. We’ve got work to do.”
“Would it not be more efficient to drive the land-vehicle up the mountain?”
“It would, if we still had roads up there. The Incline’s one of the few ways up Mount Washington since the Coalition destroyed McArdle Roadway and all the roads on the other side. You can still get there on foot through the Wabash Tunnel, but that’s risky with huge chunks of tunnel and mountain falling down without warning.”
With a nod, I load the last of the gifts onto the cable car and hop on behind Noelle while Joe drives off. “This conveyance is slow. We should have used my ship.”
“Santa doesn’t use a ship. Besides, no need to fool with what works.”
“No need to fool with what works,Warrior. Isn’t that what you wish to say? I see it in your face every time you address me. I’m more than a warrior. I have sisters and brothers back on Zyan. It is for them, and all of Zyan, I fight, not just Earth’s innocents. When the Grud attacked my world, they destroyed entire villages, including my own. My family survived, but all those we knew, neighbors, teachers, friends, did not.”
“How was your family so lucky?”
“They had traveled south to celebrate the birth of my sister’s first youngling. I was on maneuvers. When I heard the news of what happened to my village… I don’t recall those first few hours. I couldn’t process it. Even when I received word that my family was safe, the shock remained. Everything and everyone I had known from Karriv was gone. It shifts reality, makes a warrior more driven to protect, determined to never let the Grud and their allies consume another world.”
“I never knew that about Zyan. It’s hard to think about other worlds when your own is a mess.”
“Earth will recover, as Zyan did. But driving your elbow into my ribs will not accomplish this.”
“I didn’t hit you that hard. If you were really Santa, you wouldn’t feel it, not with all the extra padding. You, Warrior, have nothing but muscle.”
“You can call me Nikkov here. There are no children nearby.”
“I’m sorry for your family, and your village. I guess in some ways we were lucky here. The Coalition targeted the mills, so we couldn’t produce steel, but this city is so much more than whatwe used to produce. It’s all about the people.” Noelle stares out the glass windows, at the rivers below.
“The view is lovely.”
She whirls around and scowls. “You better be talking about the city and not me.”
I had been, mostly because taking a pleasure mate would risk my mission. And I do not wish any harm to come to Noelle.
“This area is rather peaceful with its blue rivers that feed the wildflowers and odd birds that walk along the shore. They exist and flourish despite the twisted and burned structures that litter the area. Remnants of the Coalition, I presume.”
“You are correct. And those odd birds are ducks.” She smiles at that, as if she’s recalling a fond memory. A moment later, her hand slides to the pocket of her coat, then quickly folds over her chest. She’s hiding something from me, I see it in her expression.
“I’m highly attracted to you, female,” I say outright because… Vekk, I’m not sure why, only that I have this need to be honest with her.
She drives her elbow into my ribs again.
I shift my torso, protecting my balls, a place females tend to target. Apparently, honesty is not always the best approach. “Why do you keep striking me?”
“You’re making my life difficult.”
“I repaired the toys.”
“Yes, and I appreciate that. It’s just…” She pushes past me, her hand going to that pocket again. “This job is important to me. I don’t want to mess it up. Do you understand?”
I do, actually. The female cares about her people and doesn’t see the ongoing threat to her planet. Perhaps that is for the best.
I slam both hands shoulder high against the back of the cable car, trapping her. “Your project should continue as you planned. I will observe and find those I seek without disrupting your work. I’ve already vowed this. To doubt me is to insult me, as Iam a zyanthan warrior and we do not make promises we cannot keep.”
Lips as soft as circanni petals brush against mine, pulling me into a swirl of ecstasy and confusion. This female does not hate me, and from the press against my trou, I’m positive more than my pleasure cock has hardened. A zyanthan’s mating cock only rises for his sholani, his heartmate. Vekk me, my mating cock is as hard as a rock… for Noelle.
CHAPTER SIX
NOELLE
