10. Kaelus #2
“Yes,” Varell said mildly. “But I asked your wife what she requires for comfort. The question was meant for her—not you.”
Clair shifted slightly on Kaelus’s lap and his erection became considerably worse. He stifled a moan. Whatever accommodations they were given, he would need to visit the fresher to relieve this ache as soon as they got there!
“I’m not picky,” Clair said. “Somewhere close to the laboratories would be great. And maybe somewhere with a view of all those beautiful trees.”
Varell nodded and entered something on his data tablet.
Kaelus said nothing. At this point he was just trying to endure having his curvy coworker perched directly on his aching shaft. Couldn’t she feel how hard he was? If so, she certainly wasn’t helping anything by shifting her soft little ass all over the place.
Just when he was thinking of making an excuse to get up and go to the fresher right away—except how in the Seven Hells could he do that without everyone seeing what a state he was in?—an attendant entered carrying a tray of drinks and small plates of food.
Kaelus immediately reached for a glass. His throat was dry—maybe taking a drink would help him forget about his aching shaft.
But once again, Varell stared at him in obvious disapproval.
Kaelus froze. What rule had he broken this time?
Slowly, he put the glass back.
Clair turned her head to look at him.
“Not thirsty after all?”
He shook his head, then picked up another glass and handed it to her.
“Here—you drink first.”
Varell continued staring. What the fuck did the male want of him?
“What now?” Kaelus demanded, barely able to keep the irritation out of his voice.
“You have not tasted it,” Maera said gently.
Kaelus frowned.
“Why would I taste my mate’s drink?”
“To be certain it is pleasing to her, of course,” Varell said as though such a thing should be obvious.
Clair smiled brightly.
“Oh, yes, my sweet husband. You wouldn’t want me drinking something unpleasant.”
Kaelus gave her a dark look.
“No, of course not, darling wife,” he growled. Then he took the glass, sampled the sweet, slightly floral liquid, and handed it back. “It is acceptable.”
Clair took a sip.
“Why, it’s more than acceptable—it’s delicious! Thank you, my devoted husband,” she said, rubbing her cheek against his affectionately.
Kaelus felt his face heat. Goddess damn it, this was a ridiculous display! And the worst thing was, he didn’t hate it.
Oh, he hated the embarrassment of getting an erection or “hard-on” as the humans said when she was so close to him.
But he loved the feeling of her in his lap…
her warm, feminine scent…her soft skin against his.
Part of him wished it could never end…but he knew it had to.
Such pleasures were not meant for Hybrids like him.
He could never Bond her to him, so such closeness was a kind of sweet torture.
“I am glad you find it acceptable…Lissa’ra,” he told her.
Varell’s expression sharpened.
“What did you call her?”
Kaelus hesitated.
“Lissa’ra,” he repeated.
Maera smiled.
“Is that a Kindred word?”
He nodded.
“Yes, it is.”
“And what does it mean?” Varell asked, looking interested.
Kaelus wished Clair had not insisted they choose a mating name.
“Little precious one,” he growled.
Maera’s expression softened.
“How lovely. Now that is a proper name for your goddess—much better than simply ‘wife.’”
“It is better, isn’t it?”
Clair looked up at Kaelus. Her brown eyes were warm and inviting and her lips looked extremely soft and kissable.
Kaelus looked hastily away.
The interview continued but unfortunately, things didn’t improve much.
Clair reached for a plate of food and Varell cleared his throat.
Quickly, Kaelus snatched the plate first.
“Apparently I am meant to serve you,” he said. “As you are my goddess.”
Clair leaned back against him with a lazy smile on her full lips.
“Well, don’t let me stop you, big boy,” she murmured. “I don’t mind getting princess treatment. Or in this case, goddess treatment.”
She was really enjoying this far too much, Kaelus thought grimly. He selected several items and placed them on the plate. Then he handed it to her.
Varell cleared his throat again.
Kaelus closed his eyes briefly in frustration. What rule had he broken now?
“What?” he asked, looking at the other male.
Varell looked puzzled.
“Why did you not feed her the first bite?”
Kaelus sighed.
“I did not know I was required to.”
“A husband always feeds the choicest tidbit to his goddess to start the meal,” Maera told him gently. “This shows your reverence for her and your commitment to always provide for her.”
“Fine.”
Kaelus chose an item from the plate and looked at Clair.
Her warm brown eyes were crinkled at the corners—it was clear she was trying extremely hard not to laugh.
“Here you are, Lissa’ra,” he murmured and pressed the food—which appeared to be some kind of cake with a rich blue frosting—between her lips.
“Mmm!” Clair sucked the last of the frosting from his fingertips—which made his cock surge again. “Thank you, honey bun,” she said, smiling at him.
Varell nodded approvingly.
“Very good—that is how it should be,” he remarked and then fed a bite from his own plate to Maera, who smiled appreciatively as she took it.
While all this was going on, Sendar, who was standing in the corner, watched everything with an expression Kaelus did not like.
“Excuse me,” he said, glaring at the copper-haired male. “But I cannot help noticing that you don’t seem to have a ‘goddess’ of your own. Where is your mate?”
At once a hush fell over the room.
“Ah, my poor Galandra.” Sendar shook his head mournfully. “Alas, she died in a terrible accident. I have not been able to summon the heart to offer myself to another goddess since.”
“Oh, how awful for you!” Clair said at once. “We’re so sorry for your loss!”
“Thank you.” Sendar shook his head and swiped at his metallic eyes. “Forgive me—thinking of her makes me quite emotional.”
“Of course it does,” Varell said sympathetically.
But Kaelus didn’t trust the other male’s tears.
There was something fake about his expression—it was as though his grief didn’t quite reach his watery eyes.
Of course, he couldn’t say anything about it though—he already looked like an ass for asking about the other male’s dead wife.
Still, he felt like something was going on.
They finished eating—thank goodness, Clair was allowed to feed herself after the first bite—and at last Varell wiped his lips and set down his data tablet.
“Very well, after sharing a meal and conversation, I believe I have gotten to know the two of you enough.”
Kaelus felt a surge of relief.
“Good. Then we would like to begin examining the Blood Archive immediately,” he said.
Varell’s face became serious.
“I am afraid that will not be possible.”
Clair sat straighter.
“Why not? You heard us tell you what awful things are going on with the Savage Syndrome.”
“Indeed I did—and I am very sympathetic. We both are, aren’t we, my dear?” he said to his wife and Maera nodded seriously.
“Oh yes, extremely sympathetic,” she murmured.
“Thank you,” Kaelus said shortly. “Then what is the problem?”
Varell folded his hands.
“Unfortunately, I have grave reservations about your mating.”
Kaelus stiffened.
“What? But our relationship is not relevant to our scientific qualifications,” he protested.
Varell frowned.
“On Titus Four, it is entirely relevant.”
“We came here to save lives!” Clair exclaimed.
“And I wish you to succeed,” Varell said. “But the Blood Archive is not merely a scientific resource. It contains the biological history of our people. Blood. Tissue. Genetic records. Family lines. Viral histories. Mating records. It is sacred.”
Kaelus felt Clair tense in his arms but she said nothing this time. To be honest, he was feeling tense himself. How could they go back to Commander Sylvan and tell him they had failed their mission because they weren’t good enough at pretending to be mated?
Varell continued.
“I do not believe you are cruel to your wife, exactly, Doctor Kaelus,” he said.
“Cruel?” Kaelus exclaimed. “I would never be cruel to a woman—especially not my wife! I am a Kindred—we revere women!”
“Kaelus,” Clair murmured. “Take it easy, sweetheart.”
“That is very reassuring,” Varell said calmly. “But if you would allow me to continue—I believe that you care deeply for your wife. But I do not believe you understand how to honor her.”