Page 16 of The Captain's Pet
No, he wouldn’t think of the boy in the next room, not while his mate stood before him. It was disrespectful to her, even though taking his pleasure with another male of any species had nothing to do with his love and devotion to her. It was something males did with their mate’s tacit approval. Even if he one day formed a lifetime bond with another male, his love for his matewouldn’t waver, nor would such a thing give her a moment’s thought. Marielle might even be interested to hear about the human. Perhaps they would speak of it when he returned home. Not now.
She broke the silence first. “You look well, my mate.”
“I am. There’s not much I can get into up here on a battlecruiser.”
“The humans give you no trouble?”
An image of Wid punching him popped up unbidden despite his intent to the contrary. “Nothing of any consequence.”
“I am glad, although I’d be happier if the annoying creatures would simply leave the area.” Her chest heaved and Kell’s vision locked on the swell of her breasts. They were much larger than usual as she nursed her youngest. “I gave a speech recently at the council meeting advising that we give them the useless planet if they want it so much. It is of no particular value to us.”
It took a second for her words to register with him. “You did? What was the response?” He’d known his mate felt this way about the disputed territory, yet hadn’t realized she felt strongly enough to speak out.
“It was voted down, naturally. Some females think any capitulation shows weakness. But there were some strong voices in support. I intend to meet with others and see if we can change minds slowly and quietly.”
Kell tried not to be too optimistic. The best way to handle a long deployment was to remain resigned to it being long. Still. “I have faith in your powers of persuasion, my love.”
She gave him a wan smile. “I am more selfish than anything else. I want you home.”
“I want to be home with you and the children too. How are they?”
“See for yourself.”
With a subtle wave of her hand, the children crowded around her. The oldest, Amala, handed the baby over to her mother. The infant of his memory from their last communication was now old enough to clasp fistfuls of Marielle’s robe and she stared back at him with intelligent eyes. He laughed in delight.
“She’s grown so much. Such a beauty, and look at that expression. I bet she’s a handful.”
Marielle and all of the older children smiled and giggled. “She is all of that,” his mate confirmed. “Now, children, greet your father properly and tell him what you’ve been up to.”
They did as their mother bid, starting with Amala. Kell bowed his head to her, as she was reaching the age of maturity and deserved the respect. Her cheeks flushed when his gaze met hers once more. She was just like her mother in looks and temperament. His pride knew no bounds. It was true for each of the children. The females were studying hard and the males were training. The oldest, Ven, would head to the academy soon. He hoped he’d be home to take him there personally.
Their visit lasted a long time, and yet not long enough. When the hologram of his family finally faded from sight, he stayed on his knees for a while longer. Seeing them had done his heart good. Having to say goodbye to them again ripped it out and crushed it to dust. It couldn’t be helped, so he gave himself a few minutes to wallow before he got up. His shift would start soon enough and he needed to be sharp to run the ship.
He entered the sleep room quietly so as not to wake his pet and was surprised to see him still sitting up in bed with the robe wrapped around him. His legs were folded up so that his chin rested on his knees. He stared back at Kell wordlessly. Perhaps the boy had become so used to being fucked, he craved it now in order to settle down. No matter. Kell had no interest in anything other than sleep. He couldn’t even work up a concern over marking the human. Missing one night hardly constitutedweakness. Ignoring his pet, he began to undress. He could feel the human’s eyes on him.
“Was that your wife?”
Kell rounded on the boy, his pants half undone. “You spied on me?”
Wid stiffened and rocked back as if to put some distance between them, as well he should. The boy had been told to stay in the room or rather, told to go to sleep. It amounted to the same thing. At least it did in Kell’s mind.
“I’m sorry, Master,” the boy said in a rush. “I didn’t mean to. I heard you talking to someone and was curious. I only stayed a second.”
In the face of the boy’s obvious fear, Kell let his anger go. There was no point in being mad at the creature. He supposed he shouldn’t discourage his pet’s curiosity, either, regardless of what the motive behind it might be. The better they understood each other, the better they might get along.
Tamping down his weariness, Kell continued with undressing and answered the question. “Yes, that was her and her children. We are allotted some time for communication.”
“She’s very beautiful.”
Kell smiled. “Yes, she is.”
The human remained silent as Kell shucked down to his skin. Then in a tentative voice, asked, “They’re your children too, though, right?”
Tossing his soiled clothing into the laundry chute, Kell walked back to the bed and sat next to his pet. “I gave them to her, yes. But children belong to their mothers, always. So long as I remain her mate, she allows me access to them.”
Wid’s face went through a series of contortions, human expressions that Kell had become more used to. The boy was working out inside his head what Kell had just told him.
“Can she stop you from being her husband?” he asked, using the human term for male mate.
