Alien Refuge (52 page)

Rivek motioned to the nearby tables. Iris thought they should be groaning under the weight nearly overflowing their surfaces. “Please, everyone enjoy the drink and food as we celebrate our union. Join us in honoring the happiest day of our lives.”

The three men turned to Iris, each taking his turn to deliver toe-curling kisses. The guests, who had waited for this moment before accepting the invitation to eat and drink, cheered each passionate display. Iris blushed at the laughing shouts of approval.

When they’d finished embarrassing her, Jol looked her over with a look of pride. “You look so beautiful, my Matara. I can hardly believe you made the dress yourself. I’m glad you refused to let us buy you one now.”

Ospar ran his fingers over the seam where the lace sleeve joined with the satiny shoulder strap. The light blush fabric made Iris’ still winter-pale skin glow. With real appreciation, Ospar said, “This garment is worthy of Joshadan seamstresses. Where is my aide? I want stills and a vid of how you look today to keep forever.”

Iris narrowed her eyes at him. “As long as you’re not actually looking for Dinoz so you can conduct business, Ospar. You promised.”

He gave her a shocked look, as if her controlling mate would never try to run the colony on his official clanning day. “I am yours in totality today and for all of the honeymoon.”

Rivek’s face brightened at the mention of the honeymoon. Iris often teased him that the real reason he wanted to clan her was to spend two weeks by a seashore, which was the location of their coming vacation.

The Imdiko didn’t attempt to hide his anticipation. “How nice that Councilman Maf offered us the use of his fine retreat on the moon of Lobam for a clanning present. Especially after the lobbying he’s done in the effort to shut Haven Colony down.”

Ospar shrugged. “He has made it clear his actions are only political, not personal.”

Jol gave the Dramok a suspicious look. “You’ve never been one to forgive such a slight before, even the impersonal ones.”

The clan leader sighed. “Haven has enough enemies. I don’t need to deepen any hostilities, especially with a councilman as powerful as Maf is. Besides, I have my own friends in high places, and his retreat is a beautiful place to take our Matara and son.”

The Nobek continued to frown. “I hope Maf doesn’t think this will make us beholden to him in any way.”

Ospar waved him off. “He doesn’t. Look on the bright side for once, you suspicious Nobek. If Maf can accept a clan taking on an Earther Matara to the point of offering his property for their honeymoon, then perhaps he can be convinced Haven is worth keeping.”

Iris snorted. “So in a way, you are conducting political business. Shame on you.” She grinned to show she was only teasing.

Ospar gave her another ground-shaking kiss. “You will have my undivided attention for the next two weeks. I swear it, and Jol can beat me if I behave otherwise.”

Jol rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “In that case, I will be on my guard for any lapse.”

“I’m sure you will.”

The clanmembers shared a laugh. Then they joined in the celebration where many toasts were made to their good fortune, long lives filled with happiness, and a call for many children.

To the last, Rivek promised, “We’ll get right to work on that.” Loud cheers greeted his words, making Iris hide her face in embarrassment once again.

Thomas was eventually wrangled back to the area to have a meal. His minders drew him over by telling him it was time to go to the train’s dining car. After that, they made many promises of cake on the condition he eat healthier fare first. The bribe, plus Imdiko Utber’s cooking abilities, got a decent amount of vegetables into the picky boy’s stomach. There were no meltdowns due to the deft handling, and he was rewarded with a huge hunk of strawberry marbled wedding cake, which he ate with great enjoyment.

Iris thought the mix of Kalquorian clanning and Earther wedding traditions was a great success. The Kalquorians seemed to like the cake almost as much as Thomas. Many told her that if they were fortunate enough to clan Earther Mataras, they would also be taking honeymoons to celebrate. The half dozen Earther women in attendance oohed and aahed over the elaborate bracelet Rivek had designed for Iris to wear in lieu of a wedding band. It sparkled with a swirling pattern of blue, green, and red gemstones.

The only glitch of the entire party was more a joke than an actual problem. Iris had baked three apple pies as wedding presents, one for each of her clanmates. Other Kalquorians clamored for a taste. Ospar, Rivek, and especially Jol seemed unwilling to share at first, but then gave in with grudging politeness when they were reminded Iris could bake more.

“So this is why you clanned her!” someone called out, smacking his lips with enthusiasm.

“I’d clan her just for this myself,” another man declared. “Does Matara Iris have a sister?”

The day was filled with much joy and, Iris decided later, too much drinking in her case. When she started feeling a little loopy, she quietly withdrew to watch the merriment and gather her senses. She saw how Thomas was kept entertained by the aspiring priests who would accompany the clan on their honeymoon, keeping the boy’s routine in place for the most part and allowing the adults some alone time. She watched Ospar speaking with his new aide Dinoz and Anders Grisweld, the new Earther governor. Iris chuckled and shook her head. Ospar just couldn’t help himself when it came to colony business. It helped that Anders, who along with his father Ted had been cleared of all conspiracy charges, was so much easier for Ospar to work with than George Hoover had been.

“He compromises,” Ospar sighed with obvious joy after his first meeting following Anders’ election. “I would have been content with just half the complaints from before. But this Grisweld actually wants to see us work together to make Haven as productive as possible. Can you imagine? I can stop being an asshole dictator and let an Earther have his say in running an Earther colony.”

Rivek, in his usual wintry ensemble of robes, stood with the remaining members of Clan Amgar. Iris watched them talk and laugh, Nobek Groteg and Imdiko Utber standing close enough to Sara Jones to keep their bodies in contact. Despite their smiles, she detected a sense of sadness among the trio as the Earther Matara clutched her infant son tight. Groteg kept a careful eye on their little girl and boy, who were trying to coax Thomas into a game of tag with the aspirants’ encouragement. Thomas vacillated between crouching and hiding his face from the other two children and running from them. He squealed nervous but delighted laughter as they chased after him.

Try as she might, Iris couldn’t see Jol anywhere among the merrymakers. She worried about that. He’d been grim these last two months as he headed the investigation into discovering the extent of the rebellion’s foothold on Haven. So far, he hadn’t come up with anymore suspects than the seven Nobeks killed during the rescue attempt. He’d had more luck getting the names of E.I.K. members from Hoover, Blaine Middleton, and others, along with confessions. All those involved in the fire that had taken Dramok Amgar’s life had been taken to Kalquor to stand trial.

Overall, things had settled down on the colony. A few people accused Ospar of hiding the true events that had resulted in so many arrests and Conrad Slade’s death, though the entire story had been released. Most Earthers on Haven were still reluctant to mix too much with their Kalquorian hosts. However, no crosses were being burned on people’s front lawns anymore, and several single women, some of whom who had come to today’s ceremony, had befriended Iris. They were women actively interested in joining clans. They had no shortage of interest from the men stationed on the colony, though Iris thought most would go to Kalquor and sign up for the lottery there. The home world was much friendlier to mixed clans than still-divided Haven.

Iris’ concerns about her Nobek ended as his voice came from behind her. “To think this all started because a snow blower broke down.”

Iris turned to him, smiling at her beloved clanmate. Jol looked stunning even though his outfit consisted of nothing more than a simple white shirt and well-cut trousers that molded gorgeously to his defined thighs. His black ankle-high boots were polished to a mirror sheen.

Iris heard the tremble in her voice. “It’s hard to believe from such a small event, all this has come to pass.”

Jol grinned and held out his hand for her to take, which she did. He tugged her from the celebration area to walk the trimmed path among the tall hedges behind the temple. They ended up in the meditation area, a square of grass deep within the hedges.

Jol pulled her close, holding her in the comforting shelter of his body. His smile turned a little sad as he stroked her back. “I am glad we have ended up as we are, though I would have had the passage less painful for you.”

Iris reached up to lock her hands behind his neck. “As Rivek might teach, the trials have helped me appreciate the reward so much more. Though I would beg destiny to let those trials stand as all I need to appreciate the rest of my life?”

Jol chuckled and kissed her brow. “I will join you in that sentiment. I never want to feel fear as I did for you and Thomas when Slade tried to take you away from me.”

He kissed her deeply then, his tongue and lips making Iris respond as they always did. All it took was the merest touch from any of the men in her clan to make her insides melt with want. Her tongue stroked his with as the same fierce need he demonstrated.

Jol slid the top of her dress down until her breasts were exposed. Iris struggled half-heartedly against the demand of his hands. “What if someone sees?”

“Then they will know my good fortune.” The Nobek grinned with unapologetic lust. “Let them see what I warm my body with each and every night. Then they may cry because they’ll know that unlike apple pie, you are not for the sharing.”

Iris burst out with giggles at his ludicrous statement. While she laughed, Jol bent down to eagerly mouth her naked breasts.

Suddenly all humor was gone, replaced by heat and ardor. Iris couldn’t think past the rough tongue laving her tightening nipples or the mouth ruthlessly sucking her flesh. All thoughts of being seen by someone else fled her mind. There was only the delicious sensation of Jol suckling.

He lowered her to the softly scented ground, still devouring her breasts. Iris clutched the back of his head, encouraging his decadent feasting. When his hands slid up her thighs, pushing the hem of the dress up to her hips, she spread her legs to encourage him. Jol didn’t stop until the skirt rumpled at her waist.

He sat up, kneeling between her thighs. He looked down at her, so big and strong that Iris felt weakness soften her whole body. Jol’s look was one of utter command. He gripped the waistband of her lacy panties in his fist and pulled steadily, ripping the fabric off.

Iris lay beneath his gaze, breasts and sex bared to him. She couldn’t move under that feral stare, vulnerable as it made her feel. Her body was as incapable of motion as if it had been bound tight.

“My Matara,” Jol breathed, his eyes dark with lust. “You do know you are mine, don’t you?”

Iris’ body had begun the fine trembling it always did when she was faced with the dominating power of one of the men. “Yes, my Nobek.”

“And this body is mine to do with as I wish?”

Honey ran from her parted pussy lips, betraying how much she enjoyed being at Jol’s mercy. “Yes, my Nobek.”

He opened the crotch seam of his pants. Thick, glistening cocks slipped out, swollen with passion. Eager to fill her, to fuck her, to spill his seed into her womb.

“Lie still and accept my body with yours. You have nothing to do but submit.”

Iris’ lips moved, mouthing rather than speaking. The demand in Jol’s expression and tone had stolen her voice. “Yes, my Nobek.”

Jol took his cocks in one hand and leaned over her, bracing himself on the other hand next to her head. His hips lowered, moving down to make her take him into her body.

Hot, slick, velvet-skinned iron pushed at Iris’ openings. She lay open for Jol’s invasion, surrendering herself for his pleasure. He watched her face with heavy-lidded eyes as his cocks forged inside, parting the folds of her passages with steady demand. She moaned as he grew thicker, filling her with himself. Friction heated the cluster of nerves in her pussy. The tight ring of sphincter muscles stretched with aching delight. Shards of thrilling rapture drove deep into her belly as he made contact with her cervix. Last, heavy bliss billowed through her as his groin pressed tight to her clit and ground in slow circles.

Jol lowered himself so that her breasts flattened against the hard plains of his chest. His veined forearms framed her head, and he gazed into her eyes as if he would learn the secrets of her soul.