Page 65 of Keeping Freya
We walk through the ship, leaving the cats in Command, where they immediately fall asleep on the soft couch. Lauren tells me all about how she met D’Var. Apparently, he rescued her from the Alien equivalent of the Red Light district,where she was living out her life as a space whore, because some psychotic guy wanted to break her.
She tells me how the Sternotheri stole her from their ship and D’Var saved her from their clutches like an avenging angel. D’Var killed him for her, but she confides in me that she would have been just happy enough if he had stayed with her.
“He left you?”
She nods. “Only for a little while, but it almost broke me, broke us, because the bond was still new and it hurt so, so much. I was lucky T’Rak was there to watch over me and to help me through it.”
“T’Rak?” I give her a disbelieving look. My big guy?
“Uhhuh, him and Kepti, D’Var’s mom.”
“He has a mom?!”
She laughs. “What did you think? That they came from eggs?” It’s my turn to laugh now.
“The Arracate have children, boys only. Once they go out there to protect the people and do the work of the stars, they connect with other species and find their fated mate. Their Zarra. You do know what that is, right?” she continues as we circle back to the Cargo Bay again.
“Yes, I know, but I’m ashamed to say that’s about it. I wasn’t really in the right space of mind.” I stop to grab her arm. “I’m sorry, Lauren, I wasn’t very nice to you or to Mara, and I feel ashamed now. It’s just…”
“I get it,” she interrupts me. “We all have our burdens to carry, and there isn’t a single human soul here in outer space that hasn’t suffered. I hope you feel better now.”
“I do.” I smile. “T’Rak really helped me. He’s kind of great, actually.”
“Yay! Does that mean you’ve changed your mind and that you’ll stay? I would love to see that big guy happy.”
Silence falls, how can I tell her I won’t…
Mara chooses that moment to enter the Cargo Bay.
We both look up, and she stops in her tracks. “Am I interrupting something?”
Lauren starts, but I stop her with a shake of my head. “It’s okay, Lauren was asking if I changed my mind and was staying, but I’m not. I’m sorry. I want to go home. Earth is safe. Earth is where my people are.”
Mara walks closer and grabs my hand. “We will always respect your choice, but please realize we are light years from home. Even if you make it, it will take years and years, and there’s no telling how long you’ve been gone in cryosleep and how long it takes to get back.”
My stubbornness takes over. “It will be fine, I will be fine.”
They exchange a look before Mara clears her throat. “Anybody up for a cup of tea?”
We spend the rest of the morning in the mess hall chatting and drinking tea. Lauren and Mara tell me all about life on the Ring, the place they call home, and Mara chats about her new role as Queen once they return.
Before we know it, it’s time for lunch, and the men join us. The girls are greeting with enthusiastic hugs and kisses, and for one awkward moment, T’Rak and I just stare at each other. Then he grins and uses his tail to pull me against him, before he kisses me deeply. Someone starts hooting, probably D’Var, and I blush when T’Rak takes a seat, pulling me with him.
Lunch is amiable, and I soak up the dynamic. D’Var is loud, and Lauren puts him in his place every time. Mara is sweet and balanced, and O’Rec is obviously very much in love with her. Their open display of affection is infectious, and I lean into T’Rak, who keeps a calm demeanor while his tail creeps up my leg under the table.
I try to scold him, but keeping a low profile in this company is hard. O’Rec tells me how he altered the doors toaccommodate the cats and talks about the garden where they can freely roam on the Ring. I hum and nod, but I can’t focus.
“Freya?” Mara calls out. “Are you alright?”
“Huh?” I turn my head, and apparently, she asked me a question. I blush and they laugh, which T’Rak takes as his cue to take me away to his room. I protest when he lifts me over his shoulder, but it’s a weak substitute, and when his tail starts to tease my inner thigh, I stop protesting.
He throws me on the bed, and with a yelp, I scoot back. He watches me with lust in his eyes. “I can smell your arousal, Fr’Ya, it is making me crazy.”
“Well, why don’t you come closer and do something about it?” My tone is sassy, and I cannot believe how far I’ve come from someone who never wanted to be touched again.
“Why do I want you so much?” I wonder out loud as I pull my shirt over my head.”
“Must be the bond,” he says absentmindedly, distracted by my naked breasts. T’Rak sheds his leather pants and harness and crawls up to me, pausing for a minute. “Do you not want this?”
