"It's your life, Ivy," he says, unmoving. He almost looks like a talking statue with a perfect physique.

"I know, but I just don't know what's possible. All of this is so new."

Sem closes the distance between us the door to the corridor closes behind him. His large grey hand hovers over my head like he’s afraid to touch me.

"Touch me."

"You're sure?"

"Yes, I need you," I tell him, and my voice breaks, overrun with emotions for everything that's happened in the past few days.

Sem immediately holds me to him so tightly that I feel protected, and with that feeling, I break down and begin to sob. He strokes my hair and tries to soothe me with 'Z' sounds.

"Did you want me as a pet?"

"No. Under no circumstances. Goddesses, what did Caroline tell you?"

I start crying in earnest then. "She she…" I try to take a deep breath. "She wanted to explain what those other aliens wanted with me and the history of Alliance men and human women. I'm glad she told me, but it's uncomfortable. All of this… is uncomfortable."

"Ivy," he holds me against his hard, naked body, and my body betrays me, wanting more than just comforting with words. "I want you as my wife. I always have and always will. Never a pet. We will never go to the Empire, and nothing bad will ever happen to you if I can help it."

"Okay."

A minute of silence passes. Then he asks hesitantly, "Are you agreeing to marry me in a public ceremony?"

"On one condition."

"Anything."

"You help me track down the eggs stolen from me. Something is nagging at me that I have to find them. As ludicrous as it sounds because both the doctor and Caroline said they probably wouldn't have survived, I need to know."

"I will help you on one condition of my own."

I'm nervous now. "What?"

"That you become the teacher for the children here on the base."

"I can't do that."

"Why not? There are two children here that would benefit greatly from a real human teacher. And there will be more children, hopefully, some of our children to come."

"But I'm not qualified to teach aliens…."

"You are since there's no one else, and the children will all be half-human. They will need to know more about humanity than the Empire's history anyway."

I consider this. It's a tempting offer in some ways, and it would give me purpose, more than just being Sem's wife roaming around this base when I have to be here. "But if we marry, we can live both here and at our real home?"

"Yes," he murmurs in my ear, sending shivers up and down my body. "I'll arrange it with Commander Fox. The children won’t always need to be in class."

"Okay. I agree," I say, then begin to yawn as he continues to hold me and stroke my hair. It feels so good.

"Let me help you into bed now," he says gently, and I allow him to guide me into the bedroom and into the silky black sheets. I reach up for him in a very familiar way, but he pulls back a little. Our eyes meet. His grey eyes are dark with desire.

"Ivy, it's better for our marriage ceremony if we wait. I must go. Sleep well."

"Goodnight," I say disappointedly as I watch him walk out of the room, his muscular backside giving a perfect view of muscles in motion. When he's long gone, I close my eyes and wonder, Will I really marry an alien tomorrow?

Thirty-Seven