Theron Destiny (Brides of Theron) (8 page)

“Do you see anything else that you want Avery? I think I have everything on your list.”

She looked around the screen that showed her living room to see if there was anything else she wanted, “Over there on the rocking chair is a quilt, its blue and pink. Do you see it?”

Zeb scanned the room for this thing called a quilt but wasn’t sure what it was. “Would you please tell me what a quilt is?”

She couldn’t help but smile, she told him, “It’s on the chair next to the sofa by the big window. It’s blue and pink and has printed flowers all over it. No, the other way. It’s right there in front of you.”

He picked up the thing that he assumed was her quilt and questioned her again, “This thing?”

A sharply snapped “yes” was her only reply to his sarcasm.

“Anything else you want?” Zeb waited for her to reply.

Now it was time to tell him of the other item she wanted from her apartment and it gave her a moment of happiness to think of his reaction. “Oh Zeb, there is one more thing that you need to get for me.”

“Sure where is it?” He glanced around the room to try and figure out what it might be that she wanted.

“It should be in the kitchen, in the window.” She struggled to keep in the giggle that wanted to escape but didn’t want to spoil the moment.

Zeb walked into the kitchen and headed to the only window that was in the room. The curtains were over the window so he grabbed hold of the edge of the curtain and pulled it back. “What in the Gods name is that thing?” Zeb’s eyes almost bulged out of his head at the sight that confronted him behind the curtain. A creature he had never laid eyes on before now stood on all four legs with back arched and teeth showing. It was making a loud hissing noise in between low growls.

“That’s my cat, Books. He’s really a sweetheart once he gets to know you.” She could no longer hold in the giggle that had threatened to erupt after telling him she wanted another item. “You’re going to have to put him in the carrier that’s on top of the cabinet, its red.”

“This isn’t funny. That thing looks like it wants to rip my throat out.” He was looking straight into the camera and the look on his face made Avery laugh even harder. She had to take a deep breath before she was able to control her laughter and answer him, “I want my cat. You agreed to get everything I wanted. Now get my cat. Take down the carrier and open the door. Then take your hand slowly and grab Books behind his neck. The scruff is the loose skin on the back of a cat’s neck that you can grab and pick them up with without hurting them.”

Zeb gave the animal a last glance then went and retrieved the red case she had told him to put the thing in. Sitting it on the table by the window, he approached the hissing thing again and contemplated how in the hell he was going to grab it. Luck would have it though, as another feathered animal landed on the outside of the window and drew the attention of his new friend. As quickly and quietly as he could, he reached for the skin behind the thing’s neck and picked it up. It started hissing and thrashing around in his hand so he had to try and catch the rear legs so that it wouldn’t hurt itself while he put it into the carrier.

Both Avery and Brylon were laughing at the scene unfolding before them when the door to the transportation room slid open and in walked Lars.

Lars stood at the door with a smirk on his face, “Well, well, well, what do we have here? Having a little get together in here are we? Shall I join in on the fun?”

Avery’s face paled when she saw Lars approaching them. She took a step behind Brylon so that she had someone else between her and Lars.

“What do you want Lars?” Brylon stopped laughing and killed the visual screen so that Lars would not see Zeb.

Lars continued to edge closer to them, “I would like to join in the party. What’s that saying? The more the merrier?”  Directing his gaze to the ship’s engineer he mocked, “You going to share Brylon? You know I didn’t get what I wanted at the auction but it looks as if you got something extra besides your little earth female.”

Avery continued to back up as Lars continued to come closer. Her heart was pounding and she had started to sweat cold. The man had nothing but evil written all over his face. His one remaining eye kept returning to her as he slowly made his way over to the control panel.

Brylon knew how dangerous Lars was and would go to any lengths to protect his best friend’s woman. He knew his best hope was to bring Zeb back.  Then when the coast was clear, he could bring up Avery’s belongings. Zeb would be able to handle Lars far better than he would be able to. If Lars feared anyone on the ship it was Zeb.

Lars was too busy watching Avery and didn’t see Zeb appear just feet away from him until Zeb put his hand on his shoulder, “You just might want to leave MY female alone.”

Lars whipped around and was shocked to see that Zeb was now in the room with them. His opportunity to get the female was gone for the moment.

“Commander, I believe your female here isn’t satisfied with her current arrangement with you since I caught her hanging all over Brylon there just a moment ago. Maybe she would like to come and stay with me for a while?”

Outraged at Lars accusation, Avery started forward but was stopped when Brylon grabbed her hand, “I was doing no such thing, you lair.”

“Lars, I would advise you to leave right now before I do something I will regret.” Zeb was now face to face with his subordinate.

“Touchy aren’t we, Commander? I was just offering my services to the earthling.”

“She is not in need of your services now or ever.” Zeb was getting angrier by the second and he was struggling to contain it. He needed to get him to leave before he got himself into trouble.  Besides, what good would he be to Avery if he summoned to the council and charged for misconduct?

Making a dramatic leave, Lars stood at attention and saluted his commander then as he left the room he said, “See you around earthling.” The door closed behind him.

Avery sank to the floor like a ragdoll. Relief coursed through her veins as the fear left her. Taking deep breaths to stop her hands from shaking, she felt rather than saw Zeb squatting before her.

“It’s ok little one. He is gone. For as long as I live, I will never let him hurt you. I promise that to you.” He lifted her face with his hand so that she would look at his face as he spoke to her. Her eyes that were normally brown with green in them were now completely dark brown. The fear in her eyes made his heart melt. He wanted nothing more at that moment then to sweep her up in his arms and carry her back to their quarters and make her his forever.

Her lips parted in a small sigh. He wanted to taste those lips and see if they were as sweet as they looked. Their faces were only inches apart. Deciding in a split second, he leaned forward and placed his lips on hers ever so softly. She didn’t pull away immediately but rather lingered there to let him kiss her.

Gods her lips were so soft, he thought to himself. Her taste was even better than he could have ever imagined. Her lips were damp from her running her tongue over them and had a lingering taste of the leppa juice she had enjoyed that morning.

He pulled back before going any further. He didn’t want to frighten her any more than she already was, so he ended the kiss reluctantly though his body screamed for more.

She watched him rise and hold out his hand, offering to help her up off the floor. She sucked in her lower lip where the taste him was still hovering and shyly put her much smaller hand into his much larger one.

Once on her feet again, Zeb turned to Brylon, “Get her stuff up here so that we can get the hell out of here.”

“I’m already on it. It should be here right about, now.” Everything that she had asked for was now sitting on the electron pad. A low meow was coming from the middle of the pile.

Avery regained her composure and darted to the pile that was meowing, “Books, it’s ok. I am right here.” Grabbing hold of the carriers handle, she lifted her cat up so that he was eye level with her. “Hey, Books.”

Zeb and Brylon came over to where she was standing holding the animal. Brylon leaned in for a closer look and was greeted with a sharp hiss and quick swipe of a paw. “Nice little animal thing. What did you call it again?” Brylon looked back and forth between the carrier and Avery.

“Books is a cat, a feline.” She replied while sticking her finger inside the cage and petting her beloved cat.

“We can discuss Books later. Let’s get this stuff back to my quarters before Lars decides to come back for a second look.” They had brought a cart with them to load Avery’s belongings on since they knew they weren’t going to be able to carry all of it.

After the cart was loaded, they luckily made their way back without running into anyone else along the way. The cart was rolled into the middle of their living room and left for Avery to tend to.

Avery had carried Books back and was now in the process of trying to get him out of the cage. “Come on Books, it’s ok. No one is going to hurt you. Please come out.” She was talking softly to the cat with the hopes of luring him out of the cage.

“Why don’t you just sit the cage on the floor and leave the door open. Books will come out when he feels comfortable.” Zeb suggested as he walked past her and into the kitchen. “Thanks, Brylon for helping me. I owe you big for this one.” He slapped his friend of many years on the back in appreciation.

“Anytime. Now, I got to get back. Someone just might be missing me by now.” He slapped his friend’s back in a return gesture and headed for the door. Calling back, “I hope we were able to make you a little bit more comfortable here Avery. See you later.”

And with that they were alone again. She wasn’t sure what to do next. Should she start going through her stuff or wait until she was alone.

“You can put your stuff wherever you would like. This is your home now too. Feel free to do whatever you want.”

Geez, she hated being so unsure of everything. It was the same feelings she had when she has lost her parents, having to move to her aunts’ house and change schools. It was the same feeling of not belonging anywhere anymore, all alone.

Zeb saw the hesitation written all over her face. How in the world was he ever going to get her to trust him? “I tossed in a few other things that I saw while I was in your home that I thought maybe you might have wanted.”

She looked back over to where her things were and mumbled a quick “Thanks”.

“How about I fix us something to eat. Are you hungry?”

“Sure, but just don’t give me anymore of that nasty stuff.” She softly said back.

About fifteen minutes later Zeb carried into the living area a tray that contained a little variety of foods. He sat it down on the floor and threw some over-stuffed pillows onto the floor. “Dinner is served. Come have a seat.”

Rubbing her hands down her pants, she moved over to where Zeb was sitting on the floor but made sure she stayed far enough away so that she felt comfortable.

“What is all this? I know what that is, but I don’t remember the name.” She pointed to the bhakta.

He gave a smile, “That’s bhakta. Here try this. I think you will like it.” He handed her a piece of round light blue larma.

She put it into her mouth and smiled. “It tastes like cheese.”

“I take it that you like it?”

She reached for another piece, “Yes, it has a good flavor. What is it made from? Or do I really want to really know?”

He couldn’t help but chuckle, “It’s made from the Ona. An Ona is an animal similar to your cow. We take the milk the ona offers and mix it with different spices and flavors. It is mixed for several days until it is hardened then it is chilled and served cold.”

“I like it.” She reached for another piece and for two pieces of the bhakta and made a cheese sandwich.  While she was munching on her cheese sandwich Zeb watched her.

“Would you like some leppa juice? I know you like that.” Pouring her a glass of the green juice, he hoped that he would be able to get another taste of her lips. She brought the glass to her lips and took a long swallow. As she lowered the glass she unconsciously licked her lip slowly, causing a certain part of his anatomy to jump. Gods how he wanted to kiss those lips again and again. It was not only her lips he wanted to kiss but he wanted to be able to explore the rest of her.

She caught him staring at her and took another bit of her sandwich to distract herself. After swallowing, she asked, “What are those little pink things?”

He looked to see what she was inquiring about and picked one up and offered it to her, “This is a the fruit of the Yazo tree. Its skin of this fruit has a sour taste but the inside has a sweet taste.”

She popped the small fruit into her mouth and was immediately aware of a sour taste in her mouth. As she bit into the fruit, a sweet flavor burst in her mouth, “Oh, that’s different. At first it has the sour taste you said it would but, the sweet flavor is just magnificent. It tastes like semi-sweet chocolate chips. I could get addicted to these very quickly.” She grabbed a handful more and started to pop them into her mouth one at a time.

He eyed her as she filled her mouth over and over again with yazo fruit, glad that he was able to give her something from his world that she was going to be able to enjoy. She relaxed a bit by leaning back against the sofa rubbing her stomach, “I think I have had enough. I could make myself sick on those yazo fruits. I hope you have a good supply of them.” She gave him a crooked half smile that made his heart skip a beat.

Why was she having such an effect on him? He hardly knew her, but he desired to know all of her. Something inside his head was telling him to push forward and find out more about her and other things she likes. But, should he push her more tonight? She had only been with him one night so far and it hadn’t been a good one.

Getting up and clearing away the empty tray he asked, “Would you like me to carry anything into the bedroom for you? I can show you where you can put your clothes.” He stood next to the cart and waited for her to answer. She walked over to where he was and stopped in front of him, looking up at him.