Page 51 of The Omega's Unexpected Bounty
Despite that, we snuck out and disobeyed not only his father but his king. I panted hard, and he lowered himself until we were eye to eye. I bit his lip once and then kissed it softly, then whispered in his ear while the barge left the shore. “We broke the law,” I said. “We’recriminals. How’s it feel to come over to my side?”
I reached down and found what I already knew was there. A hard cock pressed out against his kilt. “You like this!” He said nothing but his throb against me told me he agreed. “Think you can stay hard until we get to where we’re going?”
“Absolutely,” he said.
***
Chapter Twenty-Eight
CAAN
It didn’t take long for the barge to make its way to another island. It wasn’t the same one we visited during our first days. This had flat grass away from the beach and full non-tropical trees that seemed vaguely familiar. He sat me down on the white, fine sand. Ahead I saw it gradually turn into dark dirt and grass. “Are you okay to walk?”
I nodded with a smile. I wasn’t as delicate as Graden believed, but it was a sweet concern. I would’ve given it more thought if something vague wasn’t calling my attention. I sniffed the air and smelled honey and something else. “That’s pine I smell.”
He coughed. “Maybe we should hurry. It’s a short walk.”
We walked over planks of wood, and he crossed a small river with tall grass and orange reeds on both sides. We passed from under a low hanging tree, and my mouth flew open at the familiar brown-yellow wood cabin with a grey stone chimney on the left side.
But how?
My gaze went to the railing that surrounded the entire building and the giant picture windows. I liked having lots of sunshine, and I could see if somebody was coming. Without asking Graden’s hand went to my side, and I took the help that was offered and leaned into him. My eyebrows pinched together, and I blinked rapidly at the white flowers under the railing I remembered.
“It’s–?”
“Your cabin? Well, you own it, but it’s not the one from New Texas.”
“It looks like it,” I whispered.Exactly like it.
“I hope so! It was my intention.”
I already knew the answer, but I said it anyway. “You re-created it?”
“I almost transported your other one here, but I wasn’t sure–”
“–if that would have been okay.” Me, the man that rarely cried in another life, stifled a sniffle. Either would have been fine, and I told him as much.
Muscle memory took me over the green lawn and up the brown steps. My fingers danced over the railing as I had done a thousand times and yet didn’t. Even the porch chairs I remembered were there as if I’d rocked there before. The door opened, and I mouthed a wow as I heard the same familiar squeak.
A voice I barely recognized as my own drew out while I looked at the log walls, stone fireplace and the same view of the thick green forest through the windows.
“It’s the same.”
“Well, there are differences. It’s over five-hundred light years away from New Texas.” He pointed to the thick oak bed. “It was originally up in the loft.” He smiled down and his eyes misted. “How do you all say?” His voice changed until it was a perfect thick New Texas accent. “Reckon you might appreciate not having to climb the stairs.”
I threw my hands around him and squeezed him tight. I didn’t thank him and not because I didn’t want to. All I could do was hold on and feel the burning sting in my throat while I thought about how much effort, time, and credits this had to cost. I couldn’t see my eyes, but I’m sure they were bloodshot. “I want you to have something of your home here. A getaway where we can be together.”
I was finally able to say it although my voice cracked. “Thank you, Graden. T-Thank you.”
“Ready for another surprise?”
I shook my head and whispered. “I don’t know if I can take anymore.”
He shrugged his shoulders as if it didn’t matter and led me into the kitchen.
We weren’t numbingly slow, but I couldn’t go as fast as him. I didn’t ‘waddle’ yet, but I knew the day would come soon.Well, let’s hope I never need to go anywhere quickly.Like the rest of the cabin – and the original – the kitchen area was wood with a few Volardi touches. White crystals lit up the area as we walked in. There was the crystal refrigeration unit next to the sink. Conveniences were rare back in New Texas’ early days but notnow. The Volardi and Nate’s people wanted it to be primitive like Earth’s old West. It was good for a while until Humans, and Volardi alike discovered they enjoyed a cold beer, lights, and warm beds. It wasn’t ‘Galactic Modern’ but enough to make life less miserable. He opened the clear refrigerator and took out a plate with orange cheese, cut deli meat, apples and my nose wrinkled at the black bars of chocolate. To the side was a container with scoops of strawberry ice cream.Wow.
I could’ve gotten the food here, but I never thought about asking for it. It seemed too ‘soft’ or demanding even if I knew Graden would do it.
