ROMANCE: MENAGE ROMANCE: Tapped and Taken by Two (Pregnancy Sports MMA UFC Fighter Romance) (Alpha Male Romance) (50 page)

“Wallowing in despair for the sake of it doesn’t really appeal to me,” she said.

“I’m glad. That sounds incredibly unproductive. Not to mention stressful.”

Larisa shrugged. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately. It’s more beneficial to adapt.”

Kallos’ smile spread wide. “You have no idea how pleased I am to hear that. I was worried about you, truly.”

“Worried?”

“Well, of course. I mean…” Kallos returned his gaze to the eels. “Perhaps it feels fast to you, but I do feel something for you. I don’t want you unhappy.” He paused, waiting for a response.

“Sorry—I’ve gone off track,” he said, shaking his head. “The real reason I called you here was to inform you that—upon the positive results of your adjustment assessments—we will be leaving on a short trip in a couple of days.”

“A trip?”

“To Geranum,” he said, stepping towards her. “It’s a stunning mountain range on the southern continent of J’ghari—I can show you on a map later.”

“Is this trip just for fun? Vacation?” Her dark eyes looked him over suspiciously.

“Yes, and no. Allow me to explain. Come, let’s sit.” Kallos gestured her to follow him over to the crescent-shaped bench.

He sat and patted the space next to him. She joined him, but with enough space between them for another person.

“Geranum is home to syimondium gems, which are used to modify engagement collars to symbolize marriage,” he said after a moment of gathering his thoughts. “Most people order these gems from dealers who make special trips to the caverns, or from mining companies located in the eastern region of the mountains. It is royal tradition, however, that the couple make a trip to the caverns and select the gems themselves.”

Kallos gave Larisa time to digest his words, then added, “The caverns are stunning—I would show you holos of them later, but I feel that would dampen your experience. I think surprise would be best.”

“Just because I’m allowing myself to be okay with having this as my home for now doesn’t mean that I’m ready to marry you.” Larisa said this fingering her collar.

“But you put on the collar, you have no idea what will happen if we are not married.”

“But I just ca-”

“No you must listen to me. You have no choice right now. There are people out there who do not like that I have chosen to marry someone not from this planet. You are safe because you are protected by me.”

“I’m in danger?”

“If I do not marry you then I must marry someone else as soon as possible. I want to marry you, but will choose a lesser bride if I must for the good of my people.”

“Well I don’t care, just do that then. It’s not my problem.”

“It is your problem Larisa. If you are not my bride then why are you here? I feel a draw to you and cannot have that around threatening my link with my bride.

“Your link?”

“There will be time soon to discuss that. What you need to know though is that what can I do with you if I can’t have you for my wife. I will need to send you away, but I have no where to send you where you will be safe. Not everyone likes having a primitive culture like yours meshing with our planet. Halpa is a paradise, but if you are not careful it can be dangerous.”

Larisa saw the hopelessness in all of this. What else could she do? Larisa stared at the water and felt as trapped as the eels swimming around in it. “So, is this trip like a honeymoon?” Larisa said.

“No, no, not really.” Kallos’ face and voice now had a sombre tone to it knowing that Larisa was unwillingly going to go through with this. “Some make it similar to what you call a honeymoon as I understand it. The trip is intended to be short, but the caverns are said to be very romantic and… stimulating. I believe my father and mother spent extra time there before returning.”

“I see,” she said, but her tone lacked the enthusiasm he was hoping for. “How long will we be gone for?”

“Unfortunately, we won’t have the time that my father and mother had,” Kallos said with a slight frown. “It will be a day trip, unless we have an exceedingly difficult time finding our gem. I figured you’d be more comfortable spending the night in the palace than on the ship we’ll be taking, so the plan is to leave early in the morning and return late at night.”

“That doesn’t sound so horrible,” Larisa said.

“Really?” Kallos blinked at her.

She looked away, blushing. “I mean, I’ve never really traveled much before. Aside from a handful of neighboring states. I’ve always wanted to travel to Oregon to see their caves…”

“Oregon?”

“A western state,” she clarified. “The caves there are very popular tourist destinations. I might not look it, but I enjoy climbing over and around things. I like nature, just haven’t had much opportunity to explore it, I guess?”

“Halpa is a beautiful planet,” Kallos said. “I’d very much like to show you it.”

He slid closer to to her, reaching his hand to settle atop hers.

“I dream of taking you far beyond Geranum,” he said, rubbing his thumb over her hand. “There are famous red-sand beaches to the east, and a sea so dense with salt you can nearly walk across it.”

Kallos took her chin in his free hand, tilting her gaze up from staring into the stone bench to meeting his eyes. Her cheeks were flushed and her full lips slightly parted. He took a strand of her hair in his fingers.  

“You are more than I could have ever dreamed,” he whispered, his lips brushing against her ear.

His hand traveled up her arm to rest on her neck. He squeezed gently as his lips grazed along her cheek to her lips. He kissed her.

She leaned back, and Kallos kissed her again. Slow, soft kisses that sent his heart beating. The flavor of her drove him wild for more. He wanted to taste her tongue with his, but he restrained himself. Instead, he bid his time and ran his fingers over the sides of her body, the curves and substance of her form sending the blood rushing through his body. He plucked her hand from the bench and pressed it against his chest—

He pulled back, dropping her hand.

“I—I’m sorry,” he said, a lump forming in his throat at the look on Larisa’s face.

She looked at him, face red. She pulled an arm tight across her large chest that rose and fell heavily.

“For a moment I thought that you—” he shook his head and ran a hand down his face.

“I…” Larisa tugged on a strand of her hair.

“No,” Kallos said, his chest tightening. “I can feel your hesitation. I will not force myself on you. I appreciate you choosing to marry me. It is the first step toward loving me.”

He stood and offered a hand to her.

“You don’t have to say anything,” he said. “Come, I’ll walk you back to your chambers. If you’ll allow me.”

“Thank you,” Larisa said quietly, expression blank.

She nodded meekly and took his hand. There was a glimmer in her eyes as she did so, but Kallos couldn’t tell what it signified, but he knew that this was only a small step. They would not be truly married until they had been linked, and Kallos had not idea how to broach the topic with her.

~

Larisa returned to her chambers following a solid hour and a half of exercise under one of Trella’s fitness experts. Sitting in her chambers all day, or walking the palace grounds was becoming dull. She felt restless and eager to get back into her routine of some degree of physical activity. That, and Kallos’ brief exploration of her body made her feel the need to get some energy out. She had no idea where it came from, but there was definitely a jolt of chemistry when she felt her hand touch her side. Not to mention the moment their lips touched.

She wondered what the Halpasen ideal of beauty was, and whether Kallos’ sweet words were reflections of his true feelings, or simply words chosen to lower her guard. Regardless, washing her body from a fresh sheen of sweat was refreshing, and she felt invigorated for the first time in a while.

After changing into fresh clothes, she sat on the edge of her bed and gulped down a glass of water. The water here on Halpa was different than what she had had on earth. The only way to explain it was that earth water tasted metallic, while this water tasted pure. It was refreshing, but there was no taste to it at all minus the flower petals they people here seemed to be fond of floating in the crystal pitchers they usually served it out of. From the nightside table, the bracelet she had been given a few days earlier beeped and flashed a pale green light. Most Halpasen wore it all the time, but she still couldn’t bring herself to do it. The collar was enough jewelry for her at the moment. She sighed at it, having hoped to relax in quiet. She crawled across the bed and activated it.

“Yes?”

“Larisa, it’s Kallos,” came a voice from the device. “Are you in your chambers at the moment?”

“Yes, I am.”

“I have something for you, and would like to swing by. Is now suitable?”

Larisa massaged her shoulder.

“Yeah, now is fine,” she said.

“Pleased to hear it. I’ll be by shortly.”

The communication went dead and Larisa threw herself back on the bed. She scratched at the collar she wore around her neck. Although she was growing accustomed to it, it still made her itch at times.

She stared up into the ceiling, wondering what Kallos had for her. She bit her lip and twirled some hair around her finger. She suddenly wondered if he had become cross with her, and his gift was actually some alien form of punishment.

A beep came from the door and Larisa hauled herself upright. She rearranged her hair and did a quick groom of her eyebrows before opening the door.

Kallos stood in the doorway, wearing a charming smile and a top that cut deep into his chest. His green eyes were like emeralds embedded in gold. Larisa blushed.

“Larisa,” Kallos said. “Must you always carry such a glow?”

“A glow?”

“Never mind. It’s a Halpasen expression. But here—” he shook the leash in his hand, drawing Larisa’s attention down to the tawny animal sitting patiently at his side, tail swishing across the floor. “I’ve brought you a new companion.”

The animal cocked its head at Larisa, its long, rabbit-like ears twitched and its furry muzzle dropped open in a panting smile, revealing a collection of sharp canines. Her first instinct was to pet it, but even though it looked like a puppy and just barely met Kallos’ knee, she hesitated.

“He has undergone basic training,” Kallos said, crouching down to pet its head. “He won’t bite you.”

“I’m trusting you,” Larisa said, couching in front of it. It nudged her open hand with a wet nose. “Those teeth look vile.”

“They can be, but don’t worry about it. Currolens are an extremely loyal breed. It’d almost sooner gnaw its own paw off than snap at its owner.”

“What’s his name?” Larisa scratched it behind the ears, then under its jaw. It licked at her hand, drawing a chuckle from her.

“Neiro,” he said, rubbing its back. “But you can rename him. He’s yours now.”

“Mine?”

Kallos laughed. “Well, yes. I did say I had something for you.” He looked past her shoulder into her chambers. “Can we come in? I can teach you the commands he knows.”

“Yes, of course,” Larisa said, taking the leash from Kallos. “Come, Neiro. Let’s go inside for a bit.”

Kallos briefed Larisa on the various commands she could use with the Currolen, as well as basic caretaker instructions. After playing with it for a while, Larisa and Kallos simply sat on the edge of her bed, watching the animal plod around the room.

“Thank you, Kallos,” Larisa said. “He’s absolutely perfect. He’s so cute!”

“I’m glad you like him,” Kallos said.

“He reminds me a little of the dog I had as a kid.”

“You had a pet?”

Larisa smiled at the memory. “A golden retriever name Sallie. She got sick though, and died young.”

“I’m sorry to hear that…”

“It was a long time ago,” Larisa said. “She lived a happy life.”

“Currolens have a fair lifespan—about fifteen—wait. Actually, I’m not sure how it would translate into Earth years. But they’re quite resilient, and usually die from old age.”

“That’s good to know.”

A silence grew between them, punctuated only by random sniffing sounds from Neiro.

“You know, Larisa,” Kallos said slowly.

She turned to him, and could tell that he was incredibly nervous.

“I… understand if you don’t feel a strong connection with me. But I want you too. I want to get to know you, and I want you to get to know me. I understand your human ways are similar to ours in this manner. So I realize this is not going to be easy. We must… forge a link though. You and I. Prior to our marriage.” He sighed. “I am under great pressure by the court.”

Larisa swallowed, her heart constricting. “So… you must consummate marriage before the ceremony.”

“Precisely. The sooner a bond between partners is formed, the sooner it can foster the-”

The look on Larisa’s face made Kallos stop talking and silence returned. Neiro came up and nuzzled Kallos’ leg. Larisa knew where this was going, and she doubted she could dodge it much longer. The look in his eyes conveyed that much.