Chapter 11
I was the sort of satisfied sore that only happened after having good sex—though it had been long enough that I wondered if I might need to invest in some muscle cream once the rush passed.
Parts of my body that usually worked without complaint were sending objections regarding the hours of fucking that Eashai and I had enjoyed during the previous afternoon and night.
The mating rush was incredible, but younger men were probably better suited for it.
Part of me wanted to make my daydream of kissing Eashai in the morning light a reality, but we’d been at it all night, and I woke up really needing to take a piss.
I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake him, and padded to the bathroom. Once I’d relieved myself and washed my hands, I took a minute to examine myself in the mirror.
I was the same, but different. It wasn’t a change I could put into words, but I knew on some level that I was fundamentally a different man than I’d been the day before.
I was also covered in hickeys and small love bites. At some point, both of us had been unable to contain that possessive streak and had thoroughly marked each other.
I splashed some water on my face to rinse away the dried sweat and toweled off my hands. I had started back toward the bed when I heard a soft knock on the door.
I walked over and opened it, only to find nobody there. However, a small bag had been placed in front of it.
Remembering that I was still fully nude, I only stuck my head out into the hall, where I saw a uniformed soldier turning a corner.
I glanced down at the bag and picked it up. I carried it in and set it on the small desk, then opened it.
There was a note on top. I pulled it out to see a short scrawled message:
Some essentials from somebody else who has been through the rush.
The note wasn’t signed, but I had the feeling that if I asked around, I’d be able to find who left it.
I peeked into the bag again and chuckled. Inside were several sports and energy drinks, granola bars, ‘cleaning supplies,’… and a decent-sized bottle of lube.
“Gene?” Eashai asked, voice thick with sleep as he looked at me from the bed.
I snagged the lube. “Somebody left us a gift.”
“Hmm?”
I held up the bottle. “Just what we needed so you can be inside me.”
He smiled. “I am looking forward to being with you like that. But… right now I wish to have some quiet time before the rush gets strong again.”
I set down the bottle and strode back to the bed. Cuddles and kisses with my new mate?
That was a perfect way to start the day.
∞∞∞
A golf cart drove us past the construction zone—the work seemingly endless as buildings were either being renovated or torn down and rebuilt.
Then the driver turned onto a small side road.
We passed lines of townhouses, and I could make out what looked to be the start of some apartment buildings.
There was a brief stretch of trees, then he stopped at a gate outside a building that I couldn’t decide was supposed to be offices or some sort of apartments.
Eashai thanked the driver as we stepped off, then the soldier drove off again.
“He can’t go up to the building?” I asked as my mate used some sort of ID to open the gate.
“No,” Eashai stated. “This building is restricted to Lalyllte and those who have been approved. Not even the general is allowed here unless escorted.”
“So a base within a base?”
He turned and grinned. “Yes.”
Eashai tangled our hands together as we walked, and I leaned against him. The mating rush had ended the prior afternoon—after nearly two full days—but the urge to be in constant contact with him hadn’t subsided yet.
A bored-looking man with mint-green skin waved us past as Eashai opened the door. Thinking about it, he was the first Lalyllte guard that I had seen.
“That’s all?” I asked. “He doesn’t need to check my credentials or anything?”
Eashai laughed. “He was likely expecting us. I would assume that another of us would have informed our administration here of our mating as soon as I declared a code rabbit.”
“About that,” I asked. “Code rabbit?”
He chuckled. “It was a human idea. We knew there would be accidental matings, and, as expected, it did not take long. After the first, the human man was recounting the experience to several others, and he said…” he paused to think, “he said that he and his new mate ‘fucked like rabbits.’ Somebody joked that they needed a ‘code rabbit’ to signal a match occurring, and it stuck.”
I burst into laughter. “That… sounds very human.”
“It is a convenient way of informing others as to what is happening without being overly detailed.”
We started up some steps as he led me through the building.
“I must stop in my room for something before we go to the communication room.”
“This is where your room is?” I asked.
“Yes. Did you not question why we always went to yours for television?”
I chuckled. “I just assumed mine was closer.”
“That is also true. But this is our official building. Of course, Lalyllte men will room elsewhere when volunteers are brought here, but this is where members of the delegation are housed, along with communication and other equipment vital to our mission.”
“Equipment…” I sighed. “You mean technology?”
He paused, and we glanced at each other. “That is correct.”
I nodded and we started walking again. “I understand now. You still need things we’re not ready for. So you have to restrict access.”
He squeezed my hand. “It is a necessary precaution.”
We stopped for him to open a door, and behind it was a room not too dissimilar to my own. There was a bed, desk, tiny recreation area, and what looked like a private bathroom.
“Have a seat,” he started. “I must…” he paused to rub his stubble. “This must go.”
I chuckled and pulled him in for a kiss. “What if I say I like you slightly scruffy?”
He smiled against my lips. “You may like it. I do not. However, I do appreciate it on you.”
I hummed. “Fair enough.”
He kissed me again, then released me as he went into the bathroom.
I sat on one of the chairs, but my eyes kept drifting to the bed.
The urge to have sex was still strong. Did his bed have those special sheets he’d mentioned?
It would be nice to make him come over and over, and not have to worry about a wet spot.
Eashai reappeared a moment later, clean-shaven and looking much more comfortable with his appearance. He strode over and kissed me again.
“Think we have time for a quickie?” I teased.
He let out a long sigh. “Our call is soon.” Then there was a twinkle in his eye. “After, however… we will not need to be quick.”
I grinned. I was sore, and I had to imagine he was as well, but just the thought of more sex had my cock perking up.
Then I remembered why we were there. “Hey, E?”
“Yes, Gene?”
“Tolai and Veeshen. They won’t be upset, right?”
He blinked. “What would they have to be upset about?”
I licked my lips. “It’s just… here on Earth…
” I paused to let out a long breath. “Tolai is older than me. Here on Earth, that’s practically a scandal.
Families get into huge fights because a parent marries somebody so much younger.
I mean, I don’t know how the Lalyllte handle all the complicated family stuff, but a step-parent being younger than the child is usually frowned upon. ”
He smiled, knelt, and took my hands in his. “Do you remember that night on Lyll when we visited with them, and Tolai and I left to change Naduq into his sleeping clothes?”
I nodded. “Yes.”
“While we were changing Naduq, Tolai expressed disappointment that we had not mated. He believed then that you would be a good mate for me.”
“Really?” I sniffled.
He smiled and nodded. “I expect them to be overjoyed at the news, not upset.”
“I can’t wait to see them again.”
“We leave for Lyll the day after tomorrow, if that is acceptable to you.”
I grinned. “How did you get us going so soon?”
He chuckled. “I was already scheduled for one of my regular trips. Bringing you as my mate, especially so soon after the rush, was expected.”
I scrunched my nose. “You mean you’ll have to work?”
He burst into laughter. “Yes, my love. Though in my brief communication updating my status, I did indicate that it would only be minimal since our mating was so recent.”
I let out a dramatic sigh. “I guess that’s ok. I get to visit the lab again, right?”
He grinned. “I will have to inquire, but I do not expect it to be a problem.”
He stood, then leaned in to kiss me again. “It is time for our call.”
I stood and followed him back into the hall. “Did you get what you needed?”
He nodded and showed me what looked like several marbles in his hand. “I did.”
“What are those?” I asked, wondering what hidden tech was in them.
“I believe you call them marbles,” he replied. “Have you not seen them before?”
I gaped at him, then burst into laughter. “I played with them as a kid, but why do you have them?”
“Oh!” he laughed. “Veeshen teaches an introductory physics class for children. I was discussing our pool games with him, and he was intrigued. Children often learn by doing, but we agreed that the sticks and the balls might require too much coordination for the ages he works with. I was discussing it with somebody else in the lab, and they mentioned marbles. He explained the rules and offered to bring me some.”
I chuckled. “I guess we’re playing marbles when we’re on Lyll. But you don’t have a similar game there?”
He considered the question as we walked down the stairs. “We might have, but if so, those games fell out of favor long ago. However, from what I have learned, they seem to be a very intuitive way of introducing the basic concepts of force and momentum.”
I laughed. “And I was always focused on getting the prettiest ones.”
“I do not understand,” he replied as we stopped at another door.
“We played for keeps on my playground. I wasn’t the best, but I had a decent collection because of that.”