Sex, Love, and Aliens, Volume 1 (11 page)

“That has been your choice, and a wise one. A woman without mystery is a woman who doesn’t understand why the gods built her the way they did. He has asked me often how you look, and each time I refuse to tell him.” Brae’s jovial tone belied the importance of her words.

Kateri filed away that bit of information.

“Your situation isn’t ideal, not at all, but there are many different kinds of love. Sometimes it strikes like lightning, but take the word of someone older than you, the best love creeps up on us when we aren’t looking for it.”

Kateri rolled her eyes, but the quick, affectionate squeeze she gave Brae was her way to apologize. “He will be here before midday. I should dress for him.”

Brae grinned. “I washed your veils and the dress you arrived in. They were hung in the sea breeze during the heat of the afternoon yesterday. I’ve scented the fabric with a blend of flowers that are said to drive a man insane with lust. There’s a box in your room. I used the household account to order a few things for you. I hope you will not think me a presumptuous, foolish old woman.”

Kateri’s cheeks burned. Her tall, fair-haired husband appeared tired during their last communication. His task had worn on him. It bothered her how much she looked forward to his nightly comm transmissions. Ric’s blue eyes seemed to look past her veils until he saw straight into her soul. She shivered, imagining the first time he’d actually look into her eyes.

“You are wonderful. Thank you,” she muttered, because she knew the elderly caretaker meant well. “But I would rather not make him crazy.”

“He’s already intrigued. You’ll see that I’m right. Today will be the day you understand why your goddess sent Ric to your father.”

“You know I am not as spiritual as most of my race. After everything, I do not believe in the goddess,” she confessed.

“I understand, but that doesn’t mean your deity doesn’t believe in you,” Brae remarked in such a genuine tone the words moved Kateri.

“You are better than a hundred priestesses for my soul.”

Brae grinned. “There is a first for everything. Most folk would say I’m a bad influence.”

“I must be special.”

Brae grinned so widely her wrinkles stretched her sagging skin smooth, but then her expression took on a serious air. “You are very special. That’s why I’m so sure you are what my Ric needs. Now go make yourself pretty and then hide under your layers. I’ll be going to bed early tonight, and my hearing is not very good these days.”

Kateri nodded. The elderly woman didn’t bother to hide her glee over the conspiracy as she all but skipped out of the room.

The door shut, and Kateri turned and gazed at her paling reflection in the mirror. This was it. He’d unveil her, as a proper husband did, or she’d demand he let her go. Her future came down to how curious he was about what lay under her coverings.

Chapter 3

Ric’s entire body ached from sitting so long in the captain’s chair. He rubbed his lower back and stretched. He’d flown more miles in sixteen months than he had in over a decade of piloting, and “home” sounded good...except for his marital dilemma.

He ran his hand through his hair and leaned back. Every gem was sold and every name known to the new owner. He’d fulfilled his duties to Marit save one. Kateri. He’d sent her a robe for her twenty-first birthday a few weeks earlier. His far too young wife, covered in her virginal shroud, awaited him.

“Fuck,” he muttered.

Static crackled on the comm.

“Radar contact, respond,” Monte’s voice demanded.

Ric sent his ship,
Steel Dragon
’s, identifying codes.

“Acknowledged. You comin’ home, Ric? I thought that was your fuel signature. How the hell have you been, my friend?” Monte asked.

“I’m done. I’ll be in touch. I owe you a few at Haze for all the research you did. I’d still be traveling if you hadn’t set up so many meetings for me. Do I orbit or come in? It’s been a long haul.”

“Have numbers. There’s a lot of traffic today, but I’ll have the short runner take a bounce. They can orbit a rotation so I can get you down. Cleared to land, the weather is damn near perfect right now in Air Harbor, but storms are coming in soon. What’s your ETA?”

“Fifteen, fuel remaining twenty-five. Twenty angels until I hit atmosphere, so ten if you want me to drop hot.”

“Can the Dragon handle hot?”

“Without a doubt.”

“Married men like you shouldn’t take risks. Fifteen is good. I’ll have the sky traffic clear and ready.”

“Affirmative. Thanks, Monte. Radio is open and ready for your transmission.”

There was a pause, and then the comm beeped again. “It’s really great to have you back, buddy. Haze hasn’t been the same without you. I’m holding you to the drinks.”

Ric chuckled. There was a minute wide pause before the comm beeped again.

“Come on home,” Monte said.

Ric smiled grimly as he readied the craft. For better or worse, he was going to be at his wife’s side soon.

* * * *

The trip back from Air Harbor to his isolated Sea Gate Manor was long and tiring. He had to take mag train until he reached the small town of Old Wounds. The magnetic track stopped there and so did public transportation. He hired a driver for the last ten miles of his journey.

Brae’s vision kept her from piloting, so he hadn’t asked her to pick him up. The old land to air short haul runner probably wouldn’t have started anyway since the rusted, hulking machine was new when his father was still running the mines, before the fuel crystals had tapped out when he was in his teens.

He ached from the top of his head to the soles of his feet, and he hadn’t been able to bathe in five days. There was no way he wanted the girl to see him in this condition. If he’d told her he was coming in tomorrow, he would have had time to stop off in the city for a night. Gods knew he was rich enough now to afford the finest hotel after selling the gems.

Looking up at the decaying visage of his ancestral home, it was too late to change his mind. He was home. Brae came running out of the weather-beaten front door. Her wrinkled, albeit beloved, face came into view, and he dropped his bag. The elderly housekeeper ran into his arms, and he hugged her tight.

“How’s my favorite bossy lady?”

Brae crackled with laughter. “Right as the rain. How’s my favorite reckless little boy?”

“Too old for that nickname.”

Brae chuckled again and squeezed him tighter. “I’m not the only one who’s happy you’re home. Kateri is nervous, but excited. You treat her nice!”

Ric’s stomach dropped. He grimaced. “I’m going to release her from her vows. It’s done and she’s financially secure. Her father only requested fifteen percent for her, but I made sure thirty went into her account. I noticed she hasn’t spent much. Does she know how to access her money?”

“Heavens yes, I wouldn’t let her sit on funds if she needed something, but I think you’ve got the only frugal woman on Metricia. She bought a few things, but otherwise she lives like a pauper. I knew you wouldn’t mind, so I’ve used a bit of household money to see to her comfort. She’s a good girl.”

“Thank you for that. I should have…” He paused. Ric ran his hand through his messy hair. “I don’t even know what I should’ve done, but I’m glad you’ve been taking care of her. Did you have any issues with the grocery deliveries while I was gone?”

“We’ve been taking care of each other. The deliveries have been fine since you had that talk with Seama. The old house is still standing, and your wife has been faithful. I hope you have too.”

Ric ignored the hot flush that ran up his neck to warm his cheeks. He wasn’t going to have that conversation with Brae. She was like a grandmother to him.

“She’s free if she wants freedom. I would have released her sooner, but I wanted to sell the gems first so I was sure she’d be comfortable.”

“Aydric, she doesn’t want a divorce. You would break her heart.”

“Brae, she’s sweet, but surely she can’t wish to remain married to a stranger. Given her upbringing, she probably doesn’t even know she has a choice.”

Brae’s face scrunched into a wrathful scowl. “Don’t be hasty or foolish. Talk
to
her, not
at
her.” With those sassy words of wisdom his ancient housekeeper flounced back into the house.

Ric shook his head, crossed his arms over his chest, and watched the clouds above Sea Gate rolling. Monte hadn’t been wrong about the coming storm. “Happy homecoming,” he muttered. Picking up his bag, he went inside.

The interior was impeccable. Someone had even painted the walls and repaired the area in the floor where it had rotted. He meant to fix it, but never seemed to have the time. The pictures of his ancestors hung straight and dusted. Great-great-great-grandfather didn’t have the cobwebs obscuring his frighteningly unpleasant face anymore. Ric paused to study the sour scowl on the founder of Sea Gate Mine’s face.

It was rumored his only son wasn’t his because Ric’s great-great-great-grandmother had a thing for young miners. Thank the gods. He wouldn’t have wanted to look like that man. His fearful young bride would be even more terrified.
Dear gods. Kateri...what am I going to do with her?

He could see she’d been busy slaving away making his home livable. She deserved better than someone like him.
What business do I have trying to be a husband? I’m not even able to take care of an old house. How can I make a woman who lost everything happy?

He rubbed the stubble on his face. At least he should be presentable when he offered her an amicable divorce. He shrugged his bag higher up on his shoulder as he kept walking through the homier house. Strangely, he actually felt at home there, and that hadn’t happened since he’d been a boy.

Ric’s tormented body protested as he climbed the flight of twisting stairs to the third floor. The only thing on this level was the master bedroom, bath, and a long abandoned nursery. Fragrant herbs and flora scented the air, and the moment he opened the bedroom door the grandeur of the room struck him. He’d never seen it looking this good. White drapes snapped in the sea breeze from the open doors that led out onto the balcony. More white fabric covered the bed and twirled around the dark, thick posts. Everything was fresh and welcoming.

Then he remembered he’d told her to use this room. Their room. If this marriage was real they’d sleep there together tonight, just like a couple would have in the days when his hideous great-great-great-grandfather brought his young bride to the manor. Arrows of something he was afraid to name stabbed into his stomach and emotion rose up to clog his throat.

In his mind’s eye, he could see himself peeling away her layers of virginal scarves until she was naked and under him. His shallow breath was the only sound in the room as he gazed in fanciful wonder at the bed. Ric shook his head as if he could dispel the image from his mind and slipped off his shoes before removing the shirt and pants he wore. Allowing the dirty garments to lie where they fell, he walked into the adjoining bathroom.

He didn’t see a bunch of feminine items, but he noticed someone had managed to make the grimy, molding porcelain gleam like new. With a groan, he stretched his back and plucked a towel from the rack before opening the drawer where he kept his razor. His items were undisturbed, and another wave of gratitude for the woman who’d been living in his house crashed into him.

He made precise work of shaving before getting into the shower. Minutes later, Ric stood wet and naked in the bathroom. He dripped water as he rubbed the towel into his hair. It was time for a cut, but right now, he just wanted the shaggy locks to be dry. He was still damp when he carelessly dropped the towel into the puddle he’d left on the mosaic-tiled floor.

When he stepped into the bedroom, no one was there, but his clothing was gone and his shoes sat neatly next to the door. Scowling, he went to the closet, expecting to have a hard time finding his clothing, but instead stared in disbelief. His shirts were just as he’d left them except for the fact they had been moved down the rack to allow room for three garments. Kateri had lived in this house for a year. Irritation left him feeling off-kilter. He didn’t know why it felt like this was his mistake. He wasn’t in charge of what she wore.

He picked up the first garment. It was a lovely, very Metrician dress and looked new. The next garment was a two-piece pants and top combination. The top affixed to the sides of the pants with silver rings and this style would bare midriff. The clothing was very stylishly Metrician. His scowl deepened. The idea of his veiled, virginal wife wearing this into Old Wounds or one of the other small towns near the manor bothered him. He could tell this was more worn-looking than the dress. The third item was a traditional Daroo dress, and he realized it was what she normally wore.

Every time they’d talked on the comm, she’d been wearing the same thing. He’d never taken the time to notice. Guilt flared inside of him. He should have questioned Brae in private about her welfare, or at the very least noticed what she wore. He’d spent so much of those conversations trying to picture what she looked like under the shroud that he hadn’t given her clothing a moment’s consideration.

“Fuck,” he muttered as he put her things back where they’d hung and reached for his newest, most stylish shirt. He closed the closet and went to the dresser. The silly trinkets he’d sent her stood lined up in a row across the top, mocking him. He should have sent her clothing instead of cultural junk. In the old days, Metrician men took their role as protector very seriously.

He remembered thinking how barbaric those men had been when his grandfather told him stories about the first settlers. It was little wonder his people had given up on the practice of marriage as their society spiraled into the chaos of self-worship. Thinking of another’s welfare was unnatural to him and realizing his fault vexed him. If she were a ship, he’d know what to do to care for her. Resisting the urge to swipe at the knickknacks to knock them away, he opened the top drawer.

Ric finished dressing and ran his comb quickly through his hair before leaving the room. He’d sleep in one of the guest rooms tonight. Hopefully, his bride had been as fastidious with them as she was the rest of the house.