T’raat
Leigh’s love for others, her acceptance of all beings, brought on an arousal that I could not deny. It took every ounce of restraint I had not to ravage her in the galley in front of H’rran and her aunt.
It was only after mytyr’ilwas well and fully sated that I finally allowed my own release. The sight of my purple-huedbrrtdripping down her smooth thighs excited me.
I knew we should have been more cautious. I should have used one of the manyzi’inavailable in the med bay.
After we finished, I retrieved a damp cloth from the lavatory and wiped Leigh clean of my excess. Her lithe body jerked and spasmed when I ran the cloth over herkash, and I stroked her skin gently to ease her. I worried that I had done damage, but she reassured me that I had merely overstimulated her.
My love was so spent that she fell asleep shortly after I changed the sheets and laid her back down in their soft embrace.
Once I was certain that Leigh would not wake in my absence, I slipped out of our quarters and trotted down the corridors in search of Director Ann. I had to speak with her, and time was of the essence.
I found Ann in the cockpit with H’rran and a severely bandaged X’nit. I had not noticed the extent of his injuries when we rescued him. From the looks of it, he was quite fortunate to be standing. A quick glance at the navigation controls confirmed my suspicions: Ann had ordered H’rran to redirect our trajectory back to Earth.
She planned on rescuing the Earthbound Xalanites.
I did not disagree with this plan. In fact, it was my hope to aid her in this endeavor. One thing had to be done before we could undertake this mission, though, and that was what brought me to Ann.
Since all in the room could speak Xalanite, I did not bother with translating.
“Director Ann, I must have words.”
She turned from the display that held her attention with one eyebrow raised.“Yes?”
I cleared my throat before I began.“I realize that we must save the Xalanites on Earth, but I have a request before we do. It is a request I believe you will grant, but it must be done prior to the mission.”
“Go on.”
“We must return Leigh to the safety of Harrison’s farm.”
Ann’s eyes widened as first shock, then understanding crossed her features.“You do not believe we will be successful?”
I shook my head.“It is not that. I fear that Leigh may come to harm if she joins us. It would only add perhaps one time unit to our journey to do this, and I think that is a worthy delay.”
The director rubbed her chin in thought as she contemplated my request.“She won’t wish to leave you. She may resist.”
“That is why we must do this now, while she sleeps.”
To my surprise, H’rran reacted quite violently to my suggestion. She slammed a fist down on the console and leapt to her feet.“You cannot do that! As yourtyr’il, it is her right to be at your side if she chooses. You cannot take that choice from her.”
Most Xalanites would not share H’rran’s opinion on Leigh’s supposed rights. I knew my friend spoke from a place of love and affection for my mate, but I could not let her anger cloud my judgment. I had to keep Leigh safe.
Nothing else, not even the success of the mission, mattered.
“She is not a warrior, H’rran. She is a farmer. A gatherer. If she joins us, she will be killed.”
Tears welled in H’rran’s eyes.“She has a warrior’s spirit. Is that not enough?”
“No, it is not.”
“But—”
My voice rose to a roar as I cut off her protest.“I will not risk my child!”
Silence fell on the cockpit. X’nit’s jaw dropped, and Ann closed her eyes. “You didn’t use thezi’in,” she said, switching back to her native tongue.
“Not every time,” I replied in English. “But it is too late to bother with regrets now. Now, we must get Leigh to Harrison’s farm. To safety. Anything else is secondary.” I crossed my arms over my chest in an attempt to appear more commanding.
