Page 15 of Purring, Presents, and Parties

“Yes, that’s much more reasonable,” he agreed, then realized what he’d agreed to and sounded a rumble of affection for his clever human. “Did you just trick me into a trip to the top of the Ancestors’ Belt?”

“Only because you love me.” She cupped his face with both her hands. Her palms rested on his scent glands, making pleasure zing down his spine. “When do we leave?”

“Let me see about making arrangements,” he murmured, giving up on talking her out of the trip. He could always hope she’d turn back early when faced with the daunting walk between lift-carriage pads.

Aubrey

Aubrey looked at the fluorescent spectra data flowing onto the display as the little machine on the table behind her hummed. Inside the reinforced and shielded box, one of her rock samples was being bombarded with ionizing radiation. If she could see it, the colors being produced would probably be pretty.

All the information displayed told her what she’d already guessed, the sample was tektite with zircon inclusions.

“I know what that smile means,” Tarrian said as he came up behind her and nuzzled her cheek.

“What do you think it means?” she asked without turning her head.

“It means that the display is revealing data you already surmised,” he answered, sounding a loving rumble. It had taken her months, but she was starting to discern the more subtle differences between similar rumbles. Soothing rumbles were like the purring of an Old Earth cat, while loving rumbles were slower, lower, and had a distinct tone change every few seconds.

She loved that Tarrian never took offense at her passion. She might not be an astro-geologist anymore, but she could never give up her first love—rocks!

Not that she didn’t love Tarrian too. He was one of the best things to ever happen to her, especially considering they met during the worst time of her life. The humans on the mining colony hadn’t received supplies for a year. They’d all been starving, clothing nothing but layers of rags and blankets, and they were forced to all gather in the one room they could keep from dipping below freezing.

And yet she’d been even worse. By the time Tarrian and the rest of his Advance Squad found them, she’d run out of her medication and was suffering anxiety attacks and emotional meltdowns on an almost daily basis. At her first sight of the Talin warriors, she’d been sure they were all about to be killed and eaten.

As anyone in her condition would, she’d had a proper mental breakdown. She’d screamed and sobbed, making Tarrian and the other Talins think she was dying. Desperate to save her life, Tarrian picked her up and tried to carry her to the medical suite on his ship. She’d refused to let go of Ari, so the two of them were hauled off to what she was sure was their doom!

When she woke up later in the ship’s medical suite, she’d felt the familiar calm that came with a properly medicated brain. Sweet, sweet relief!

That was when she started falling in love with Tarrian.

At first the humans and Talins couldn’t communicate, but throughout that difficult period, Tarrian stayed close to her. He worked hard to keep her calm and comfortable while all of them tried to figure each other out.

She’d happily live her life pretending to be a pet as long as she got to do it with Tarrian at her side.

“I’ve communicated with the monastery,” Tarrian told her, his loving rumble still going strong. “We have a spot reserved for the rotation after next.”

Letting out a squeal of delight, Aubrey turned in place and threw her arms around Tarrian’s neck. “This is the best Christmas gift ever!”

“Christmas?” he asked as he wrapped his arms around her body and hugged her close to his.

“It’s a holiday a lot of people celebrated back on Old Earth,” Aubrey explained. “One of the traditions was to give gifts to the people you loved.”

“I’ll make a note of the date and make sure to give you another gift next year,” he announced with a sharp, decisive rattle.

“You don’t have to do that,” she assured him, secretly delighted by his words. “This year’s gift is enough. Besides, I don’t have anything to give you.”

Tarrian angled his head and started rubbing his cheek against the top of her head. Bonding oil from his scent glands soaked into her hair, making his peppermint scent fill the air. The smell never failed to make her feel calm and centered. It was like walking into a home and smelling someone baking your favorite food. It was the scent of love and security.

“You’ve already given me the best gift I could ever receive,” he murmured as she melted into his arms. “Your love.”

Chapter 7

Ari

“She’s getting bigger every day,” Daniella said, shifting little six-month-old Allie from one knee to the other. The baby burbled with laughter and kicked her legs, as if making the jump herself. “She might end up taller than me or Christos!”

Sitting on a puff opposite Daniella, Ari watched Allie and wondered what was wrong with her that she wasn’t affected at all by the adorableness of the baby.

“Ari?” Christos said, finally making her look up from little Allie. “Are you feeling okay?”

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