15. Jane
Chapter Fifteen
JANE
The week flies by, and Asher and I never leave our house. We lounge in our private courtyard and christen every possible surface we can. I marvel that I’d worried about what we would do when his mother told me we would have a week alone together. Ha!
Though I blush to think of just how much time we spent in pure carnal pleasure, I’m amazed at how easy it is to be with him. We tell each other everything. I tell him all about my life on Earth, about losing my parents, about the betrayal, and about how I had no one left there. He tells me all about his life. Although the environment here is much better, it’s not perfect. There are skirmishes between the cowboy leagues on this planet and the tragedy of the storm that led to so many women dying. I learn about the plants and animals here and more about my role.
I will be queen someday, but he assures me that won’t be soon since his parents are healthy. We talk about my job running the matchmaking service. As the week comes to an end, my feelings are bittersweet.
One morning, after he has yet again teased me to an intense climax and come inside me, I roll my head to the side, looking at him. He is ridiculously handsome with sharp, angled cheekbones and his perfect mouth, his eyes so startlingly blue as they meet mine. I’ve grown accustomed to the shimmery scaled surface of his skin.
“When will I know if I’m pregnant?” I ask.
Asher rolls onto his side, sliding his palm over my belly. His touch is possessive and soothing at once. “In a month. I believe you are,” he says.
Helena schedules a meeting with me two days after Asher and I finish our honeymoon. I leave our home that morning after a hot encounter in the shower and a lingering kiss from Asher to walk to the main center of town. After our week together, Asher took me on a town tour.
I don’t know what I expected, but this planet is more advanced than Earth. This town is modern. Many people walk, but some ride these things that are sort of like bicycles but much faster. They levitate.
Asher has told me I have one available, but I enjoy walking so far. The people and aliens I encounter here are friendly and welcoming. I’m savoring the warm weather and the clean air. I pass by the market area of town, which is bustling with fresh produce stands.
I’m spoiled with our courtyard because we have fruits and vegetables right there. Asher tells me I don’t have to worry about shopping, that we are supplied by his assistants, but I tell him I want to shop because it’s something I’ve never gotten to do. We’ve had several ventures into the market to peruse items.
I walk into the offices, passing through a large gateway into a lovely, lush garden and approaching another modern building. Asher assures me that it’s nothing fancy for them. Even in the green zones on Earth, there was nothing this fancy. Some buildings had once been nice, but they were mostly run-down now.
The door is held open for me by two people waiting outside. The queen is passing by in the main area. She’s looking at something on a computer tablet. She glances up, pausing to smile at me. “Jane, good morning,” she says.
I’m still nervous around her. She’s so serene and beautiful and carries her authority with a comfortable warmth. “Hello, Alisha,” I say.
“I understand Helena is meeting with you today?” she prompts with a lilt of a question in her voice.
I nod. “She wants to discuss the matchmaking service.”
“We are looking forward to your plans.”
No pressure. None at all. A freaking queen of another planet who happens to be my mother-in-law thinks I can handle this. Sure, sure.
Hopefully oblivious to my train of thought, she gestures for me to follow her. “Come with me for a moment.”
I follow her, feeling so not very royal. We walk down a hallway and through a doorway into what must be Helena’s office. A table sits to one side, and lush plants hang in the corner.
Helena stands quickly and curtsies. “My queen,” she says.
Seriously.
Asher’s mother angles her head to the side. “You needn’t stand on ceremony, Helena.”
Helena shrugs and winks. “It’s fun.” Her expression shifts to all business as she rubs her palms together. “Let’s check in about the planning.”
Alisha stays quiet as Helena gets started. As Helena and I dive into the details, I realize this matchmaking service isn’t simply about romance. It’s not that I didn’t grasp that when Asher explained how many women had perished in the storm that struck their planet, but I hadn’t contemplated what that would mean for families and the survival of their species.
“There are far more men here now,” Helena says. “This is a planetary problem for us.”
“How many women are we talking?” I finally ask
Helena clasps her hands in front of her. “As many as are willing to come to our planet. We’d like to start with fifty for the leadership and then go from there after that.”
“Fifty?” I squeak.
If she notices my surprise, Helena doesn’t address it. She nods, her tone calm as she continues. “We’re starting with the leadership and then on from there. Not everyone will experience infinity pulse like you and Asher. For some, it will be a practical choice.”
“But it’s been two years,” Asher’s mother interjects. “Our birthrate has dropped dramatically. It’s not just that so many died in the storm. We also have to deal with the opposition leadership from Silver.” I’m grateful Asher has given me a mini-geography lesson because I recall that’s the other big city on this planet. “We are planning to meet with them and hopefully get them to understand how important this is for them and for our planet to stay strong.”
They both look toward me expectantly. I take a breath. “So this is a big deal, and I have to find plenty of women to travel here. I understand and know we can do this,” I say quickly. “Life on Earth is plain shitty for women. There’s frequent violence, and we’ve lost so many rights. Ever since the environment got so bad, people are desperate.”
“We understand,” Alisha says. “We have a lot to offer here. Humans have traveled here for centuries because of our planet’s similarity to Earth. I’m going to leave the logistics up to you and Helena. She will help you with the travel and so on, but you are our main leader on Earth for this mission, and you are our princess.” I still can’t even wrap my brain around that detail.
A buzzing sound happens, and Helena glances down at the tablet on the table. “I need to deal with the issue with the fountain. I’ll be right back.”
She hurries out. Alisha studies me for a moment, and I try not to get too anxious as I twist my hands together under the table. “You are pregnant. I have no doubt,” she announces.
“You think so?” I squeak.
She nods. “How do you feel, and when is your cycle due?”
“I feel fine. My cycle is due in two weeks. We couldn’t have known it, but the timing was very good for, um, well…” My cheeks get hot. “Our wedding.”
Asher’s mother nods along.
“What leads you to think I’m pregnant?”
“It’s more of a feeling.”
I place my hand over my belly, and it feels flat. “I won’t know until I’m showing.”
“You’ll know sooner. Fertility is powerful for women from Earth here. We discovered that when travel among planets began happening.”
“I want to be pregnant. I know it’s important.”
“It is, of course, but more than anything, I’m happy Asher found you. You are meant to be his princess.”
The mere thought of Asher creates a sense of warmth in my chest around my heart. If you had told me I was going to move to another planet and fall in love with a space cowboy two weeks ago, I would’ve laughed so hard it hurt. Now, I can’t imagine my life without Asher.
Alisha is called away just as Helena returns to her office. Helena and I continue planning and craft a new ad. She wants to do the royalty-in-space thing again. “How many princesses can there be?” I ask.
“Oh, just one. But we can focus on marrying into the leadership of the royal family. I’ve seen the news on Earth. Those old celebrity magazines are filled with news about the royals.”
I ponder this, realizing that I probably wouldn’t have clicked on the ad if it hadn’t mentioned royalty. “Makes sense,” I finally say. “How often will I be going to Earth?”
“We’ll have to see how it goes. We’re going to bring women here. The only reason Asher was there was because we had to start with him. He needed a mate, and he found you.”
Again, warmth curls around my heart. “I feel so lucky,” I say.
Helena studies me for a minute. “Asher is a good man. I knew the minute you walked in that you were the princess for him. I suppose with the situation on Earth that you do feel lucky. But you have a big responsibility now. It’s important. I hope you’re up for the challenge.”
Anxiety churns inside, but I manage to nod. “I am. Maybe I’ve never done anything like this, but I’m ready.”
Helena and I create several ads to spread far and wide on Earth. There are only a few online channels available. We review travel plans. She assures me I will never be going to Earth alone, that we’ll always be on a ship. Once we get this coordinated and organized, it may even be possible for me to stay here and meet women as they arrive on this end.
We’re just finishing up when there’s a light knock on her door. “Yes?” she calls out.
Before the door even opens, I sense that it’s Asher. This vibration happens when he’s nearby, and I can’t ignore it.
He steps into the room. Electricity sizzles through me with that now familiar heat spinning like fire in my veins.
His eyes meet mine. “I heard you were here and thought I’d stop by. Walk with me. I want to show you something if you’re done here.”
Helena stands and smiles at us. “She’s all yours. We have a plan, and we’re going to start next week. Are you going to come with us on the trips to Earth?” she asks.
“Whenever I can.” He glances back at me. “Do not worry. It’s completely safe. You will always go on our fastest ship.”
“Okay,” I say, feeling a little breathless. He has the craziest effect on me.
We depart, and Asher’s hand clasps mine as we leave. He has told me that we will have protection throughout my pregnancy. Like his mother, he’s convinced I’m already pregnant. He tells me so every night. Merely thinking about it makes me wet.
“What do you want to show me?” I ask, trying to stay focused.
He smiles down at me. I’m aware of the guards trailing us. I’m still getting accustomed to them constantly being nearby now that we’re out of the protected realm of our home.
“Just a pretty walk,” he says. “It’s a favorite place of mine, and I want to share it with you.”
We walk through the archway that leads out of the main government offices. A few moments later, we’re in one of those hovering vehicles that zips us across the landscape and drops us off beside a shimmering lake.
“This is Lapis Loch. You showed it to me just the other day,” I say.
He nods as he falls into step beside me. “I did, but I want to show you my favorite place.”
He leads me through some silvery-blue trees down a path lined with stones. Everything feels hushed and quiet here. He turns down another path, and the guards fall back. He says to me, “This area is under protection.”
He has explained to me before that there are areas that have special protection powers because they’re important to his people.
We keep walking, and I try to stay focused. This ridiculous thing happens when I’m alone with Asher. I become wildly turned on. It’s almost embarrassing. Here he is, trying to show me something important to him, and my panties are wet. I silently laugh to myself. To think that before I met Asher, I would’ve rolled my eyes so hard they almost fell out of my head if someone had told me that I would want any man this much.
He keeps leading me through the trees until the path turns again, and the view opens up. I realize we’re on the opposite side of the lake now. I can see the town on the other side of the lake, rising up into the misty blue mountains. My breath catches in my throat.
“Oh, it’s beautiful, Asher,” I breathe.
He smiles down at me as I turn to look up at him. “It is.”
There’s a small bench here, and he catches my hand in his, tugging me with him as he sits down.
“Come closer,” he says, bringing me between his knees. Our gazes are almost level. He’s so tall, and I’ve come to love that I always feel sheltered and protected with him.
“How are you adjusting?” he asks, his thumb brushing along the side of my wrist, the touch utterly distracting as if licks of fire emanate from it.
“I love it here,” I say fervently.
“Good.”
He leans forward just slightly and slides his other hand around my waist, coaxing me forward. Seconds later, we’re kissing, and I let myself tumble into it. Kissing him is always so very good. His tongue glides against mine, his mouth commanding and devouring at once.
Before I know it, I’m making these little whimpers in my throat and arching against him, almost frantic to get closer.
Asher murmurs, “Easy, love,” against my lips.
But I’m too frantic. I need him. I need him inside me. We fumble, and I free him from his laced breeches and straddle him as he tugs my skirt up around my hips. His fingers tease into my dripping wet pussy.
“Oh, sweetheart. All for me,” he growls.
I bite my lip and rock my hips over the hard ridge of his arousal. I rise up as he positions his cock at my entrance.
On the heels of a shuddering breath, I sink down over him. He controls my descent as I sheathe him.
This, just this , is exactly where I belong. Joined with the only man who is meant to be mine.
“Look at me,” he rasps.
I open my eyes to find his gaze waiting. He rocks his hips, slowly nudging deeply each time. The friction from where we’re joined sends piercing jolts of pleasure through me. I’m chasing my release, near desperate for it. Just when I think I can hardly bear it anymore, he reaches between us, and his fingers tease over my swollen clit. Pleasure crashes over me and through me. I’m shaking from the force of it.
I hear myself crying his name. He grips my hips tightly, thrusting upward, and I feel the heat of his release filling me.
We shudder together as I curl against him. He wraps his arms around me, holding me close.
My heartbeat echoes with the rhythm of his.