In His Alien Hands (9 page)

The shorts she wore matched his, gray in color and form-fitting. She had the most wonderful ass. Arax squeezed each ass cheek as he lowered the garment. She gazed up at him and trailed her fingers down his jaw. Arax caught her hand. He studied her digits and wiggled her little finger.

“I never realized I might be jealous of a hand. In the water the fusion of fingers aids with my motion. I can use my hands as rudders and turn at lightning speed. But you can raise your fingers to my lips. Which means you can place a finger over my lips five separate times if you chose to do so—shutting me up more often than I can quiet you.”

Meadow laughed, and he smiled. He liked it when she laughed. Everyone within earshot smiled; she was that enchanting. There had been so little laughter among his people before she came. Now even some of the stodgy council could be seen giggling mindlessly from a corner occasionally. Meadow had made an impact. Arax’s heart filled with pride and tenderness.

Never before had he loved a female, and now he was certain he loved two. He was unwilling to give up either. Already there were mating offers for Neola to consider once she grew older. Something told Arax Meadow would have nothing to do with an arranged marriage for her daughter. Arax was inclined to agree. Neola would be his for as long as he was able to keep her. Yes, one day she should mate but not for any reason other than love. Arax’s happiness was something his child deserved with a male.

“I like the sound of your voice,” Meadow said.

No one had ever told Arax that. In fact, many told him he was irritating. He plucked a purple flower and slid it behind her ear. He placed his palm against her throat and felt her pulse. There were no gills and she didn’t shy away. A female on his planet would take the gesture to be threatening. But there were no gills to cover, her throat was smooth as silk. He liked that.

“Do you think I look weird?” she asked.

“You look different until my cock tastes your insides and you become so breathtaking I’m mindless.”

“So as long as your dick is in a dark hole and sightless I’m easy on the eyes,” she drawled.

It was Arax’s turn to laugh. He gripped her wrists in one hand and dragged her arms over her head.

“I could take your image apart piece by piece and study our differences. I like the fact you have no gills. Surrounded in water I know you might be fearful but it means you will come to me.”

He placed his free hand over her mouth when he knew she was about to rage at his arrogance.

“Let me finish. A female on my planet can be so coy. She hides on land or sulks in water. It’s nice to be needed. You don’t care if I’m leader. Many females wanted me to further their own means. You don’t even realize how important you are to me and my people. Well, your people now too. There is nothing smug about you. You are kind to a fault.

“Your fascination with absolutely everything is cute in an annoying way. Even the way you guzzle water or sweet drinks. Wide-eyed enjoyment radiates through you. All can see you appreciate everything—food, a kind word. You are so rare of a find. Leave it to me to pull a jewel from wreckage. I’m talented like that.”

She yanked, pulling an arm free, and gripped his hand to tug it from her mouth. Her eyes narrowed. “You don’t say.”

“I think I’m learning to love you.”

“That’s kind of an odd thing to say.”

“Why?”

“People mostly fall in love. They don’t learn love,” Meadow said.

“I think some learn love. I learned hurt and anger. The emotion may be inside but it needs to be triggered to learn it.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

“Can you learn to love me?” he asked.

“I know love. I know the emotion. Yes, it’s easy to love you, at least the things you do that don’t drive me nuts.”

Arax slid a hand down her thigh to spread her legs. He settled between them. Watching her, he pushed the tip of his cock within her. He waited. Meadow watched him with a bemused expression. He knew she wasn’t a virgin the first time they’d joined, but she was naïve. He pulled from her and sucked her throat. She lay unmoving beneath him.

Arax lifted his head to gaze at her. “You are allowed to touch me,” he said cockily and grinned when a red hue crept over her face.

“Are you giving me permission?”

“I guess I need to.”

She squirmed. “You’re making fun of me.”

“Inexperience is sweet for a while, then I just wonder if you don’t like to touch me. Or do I repulse you?”

“I like your skin. I like the gray, in the sunlight you’re silver. The spirals are a fingerprint. I’ve seen some of your warriors and their markings aren’t the same. Yours have a deeper, intricate design making you stand out. I love that about you, my mate, my daughter’s father.”

“I was born to lead. My son or daughter of my flesh will carry the same markings.”

“What if your child has a human mother?”

“All the better.” He gazed at her throat and blurted, “I knew a human female once. We talked little, but I was privy to a mating between her and her warrior. She took his manhood in her mouth. Our females can’t do that. The gills on their throats wouldn’t accommodate for disturbing reasons, so I never entertained the idea.”

“Let me guess, you are entertaining the idea now.”

“Well, yeah.”

Meadow pushed him onto his back, smiling. Arax blinked when she lowered. He couldn’t believe asking was all it took. His mate was incredible. Full red lips opened and slid over his cock, making him shudder. The sensation was fluid, easy, warm and moist. If a cock could sigh in contentment, his would.

Back and forth her little ass rocked as she took him deeper. He gasped, and she shifted when her teeth grazed him. His chest tightened as he fisted his hands. Her fingers playfully squeezed his balls. She lifted her leg to straddle his face. Her women’s folds were exposed to his eyes. Tasting a female was something he’d done. He wondered if a human would be as sweet. Lifting her ass higher, he delved his tongue to find out. He groaned. Nectar would be jealous.

Meadow’s entire body quivered. Using his fingers, he plunged and retreated, opening her further for his invasion. Her petals were more beautiful than his favorite flower. Her slick heat rolled across his tongue as he lapped at her.

Pulling back, he smacked her ass, and she cried out. When she released him he spun them to land her on her back and plunged into her mouth again. Deeper he went, wanting to test her depth. She took more than half and he knew he was in her throat. There was no fear of causing her any harm since she didn’t have gills.

When he took his fill of her wet clit he turned them and plunged his engorged, throbbing cock deep within her. She cried out and clutched at him. A pond nearby obeyed his silent command and rose high to crash down on them. He bathed her face in tiny bubbles. The relief from the blazing sun was immediate. They were drenched. Within his thoughts he formed waves and they rode across the small hill to the base of the waterfall.

“Arax?”

“The waterfall is a beautiful place to make love.”

Their bodies glided along the meadow as he thrust and retreated within her. Meadow gazed at everything, mouth wide in surprise. He had a lot of surprises for his mate. The waterfall crashed onto his back, but he was expecting the deluge. Meadow hid beneath him. Now underwater he pushed her up against the fall walls, never ceasing his motion. Her head rested against his chest. Her hands pulled at his back, wanting him closer. Her gaze was so trusting his heart melted. Arax tingled in delight. Yes, he did love his little mate; what’s more, he could see she was open to loving him too. Arax’s world was filled with wonder, overflowing like the waterfall.

This was Arax’s favorite place to think. It was now a favorite for a better reason.

* * * *

“Look, she’s walking,” Meadow squealed.

They watched as Neola toddled, stopped, lost her balance, and plopped onto her bum. For a second she screwed her features into a mess and Meadow thought hysterics would follow. Arax clapped his hands, startling the child.

“Good try, Neola. Hurray for you.”

Seeing a huge grin on Arax’s face, the baby reconsidered and smiled. She bent at the knee, planted her hands, and tried to stand. She did. This time she made her way to Arax who sat with his arms wide. Neola crawled into his lap and put two fingers in her mouth.

“She’s lucky you found her. I think maybe she’s lucky your healing chamber changed her into a baby.”

Arax gazed at Meadow. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For saying that. Your words mean everything to me. I was going to tell you something but have been so busy with Crash and my people. You, Neola, and I spend so little time together I didn’t want anything negative to spoil it.”

“Tell me what?”

“Our healer is privy to memories through our healing machine. It helps him explain to someone who was injured what happened, and why and how to avoid a reoccurrence. It also makes it impossible for an accident or non-accident to be lied about, to claim a falsehood. In your culture if an accident is suspect to questioning there may not be enough proof to substantiate a claim of wrongdoing. A parent or person can lie about an injury. We have no such trouble. In the end, the truth will be known. Our little Neola had a sad life. She was beaten by both her stepfather and mother. Later in life others injured her. Our healer showed me injury after injury until I had to walk away. Only to you will I admit ever allowing so many tears to fall. Thank you for never being judgmental. He, the healer, saw everything, all the abuse.

“This little wonder of ours was treated with so much injustice. If only there had been some joy, but Neola never saw it. When the Earth succumbed to destruction she knew a form of pain every day, an injury every day. She did meet with other females who never harmed her, and they tried to treat her decently, but the damage wasn’t just done, it became everything, consuming every fiber of her being. No laughter lingered in her heart, no happiness, no hope. I think she was already gone from her body before I placed her in the healing chamber. Or even before she came to our planet. You can be living in death, and that’s not really an existence at all.”

Arax cuddled the baby to his chest. He stroked his hand down her fine hair. The worry that played on his features told Meadow much more than his words. Though his admission he cried over her memories made the child’s pain in her former life that much clearer. Arax was a proud warrior, and his disclosure was endearing—he trusted her. He didn’t seem sorry for Neola anymore. The baby wasn’t a woman in need of his pity. He was protective, eager to keep her safe, as he should. After all, he was her father. Neola fell asleep in his arms, and he rocked her.

“She is loved, Arax. You did that for her. For me.”

“She makes me humble. Someone so needing protection comes to me. Her smiles are treats. I never thought a child would be more than someone who only takes. I suppose people can’t all be me, someone who takes. I am hopeful I am changing.”

Meadow curled up next to him. “I’m certain your parents adored you. We do. And you didn’t change, you grew emotionally. That takes courage. You are the most amazing warrior. Take us to see the dolphins play please.”

They sat by the ocean. Arax expanded to secure Neola so close she was almost inside his chest. Meadow loved he could do that, engulf his babe in safety. The wonders of the water world rushed past until dolphins danced across the surface. Neola woke and chortled. Meadow caressed her cheek. There would never be a Bertha, she was gone. Only Neola existed, daughter to the leader of the water warriors.

Hell would have no fury like Arax’s wrath if any damage came to her. He had seen her horrors. She thought she understood now why he watched her as she slept. His intense gaze often told her he wanted more for his child. Perhaps he would realize in time he had already given everything to her. He had given her parents who adored her more than life. He also gave her something more, he treated her mother with kindness and respect. Neola would demand no less of her own mate when the time came.

Arax had known Bertha’s anguish, her struggles and why she gave up on humans. From his determined posture, from the way he allowed water beings only so close before sending them to scurry away, Meadow knew their Neola would be adored forever. She already was. Bertha was gone.

Chapter 7

Three weeks of bliss slipped by while Arax and Crash worked together. Not well, but together. Meadow could see the two lost in conversation in the great hall. Their arms and hands spoke volumes though their tones were subdued. She knew they tried not to fight.

When a member of council walked by and tweaked Neola’s nose then winked at her, Meadow was filled with happiness. The council was in agreement that Arax’s newfound maturity was because of Meadow. They couldn’t be happier to have a human for their leader’s mate as long as he put his petty ignorance behind him. Arax was becoming a great leader. Meadow was proud of him.

“Why don’t we let your daddy and Crash talk in privacy?” Meadow said, jiggling Neola.

“Mama,” was her response.

Smiling, she decided to take her for a walk. Land on Arax’s planet was a smorgasbord for the eyes. Neola laughed and waved her hands. The trails around the outskirts of the village were well-walked and after numerous greetings by males and females, Meadow wanted some alone time with her daughter. They stopped near the waterfall. There was no way around the falls and no way through unless she was with Arax. She wondered if she should go back and ask Arax to take them through so she could play with the baby on the sand. There was an array of toys gathered for the child’s amusement near the ocean. Arax was indeed the doting father.

“Do you need help?”

Meadow spun and saw the healer moving their way. She smiled. He was known only as Healer. Neola adored him. Her little arms reached for him.

“I wanted some quiet time with Neola. Arax is busy with Crash and the council.”

“I was headed out. I bet Neola would love to build some sandcastles.”

The healer soon had both of them pressed to his chest and he slipped through the pounding deluge without any fuss. He gave Neola back and tweaked her tiny nose.