Chapter Seven #2
She slid her hands over him, pulled his head to hers, and wrapped her legs around his.
They moved together, and time got blurry.
Cloudy felt the sweat coating her, and they slipped and slid.
She came again and again, and when she let him know she wanted to get on top, she rode him slowly, and at the edge, he sat up and bit her shoulder.
He held on, and she shivered and twitched around him.
He let her go and licked the wounds. He chuckled. “Hello, consort.”
She sighed and slowly collapsed against him. She felt a rush of heat inside her and lay on him as he stroked her slippery back.
Cloudy sighed and muttered, “What do you call that?”
“An excellent start. Did you want to eat?”
“First, you stop pumping inside me, then a shower, then a snack.”
He grinned. “But it is so much fun to start the process of your adaptation.”
“Yes, I am sure it’s fascinating, but you don’t have testicles. Where were you keeping all of that?”
He stroked her cheek. “It is being created as the nanites signal for more.”
“Oh. Delightful.”
“I can control it, but I wanted to rush your transformation.” He chuckled. “So you can shoot those beams out of your eyes?”
“Oh, yeah. But eyes move a lot. If you hear a noise, your focus blows up.” She pulled her knees up, but he kept a hand on her lower back.
Hazor smiled. “My mother really likes you.”
She looked at him and drummed her fingers against his chest. “Keep your mother out of our bed. It’s just creepy.”
He paused and then laughed. “Fair enough. As long as I am in your bed, I am extremely pleased.”
She finally felt an easing of the pressure he was causing. She exhaled in relief. “So that’s a one-and-done thing?”
He chuckled and moved his fingers between them, rubbing her belly below her navel. “Maybe a two- or three-thing. It depends on how much the nanites have to fix.”
She laughed. “Oh, great. I am a project.”
“Yes, but you will have a strong immune system, your cells will be kept in a constant state of repair, and your gills are being swapped out for the Vecchin membrane.”
“Aw, damn it. I just got the hang of them. And they were expensive.”
He chuckled. “This will be the full-body membrane that appears on contact. You are a strong swimmer?”
“Yup.”
“Good. So am I.” He smiled and ran his hands over her butt and thighs. “Every part of you is delightful.”
“You are still surprisingly stiff.”
He laughed. “It is a constant state around you. My suit has been getting a workout on the containment front.”
“Yeah, I can see that containing your front would be an issue. A difficulty I have experienced myself, very recently.”
He grinned. “I read the manual on humans for this purpose. There are many other items I want to revisit.”
She sat up. “Human manual?”
“Yes. Your bodies have specific points for arousal. Working them in the correct order is important.”
“So, somewhere out there, there is a Hmrain making an instruction manual?”
He grinned. “His name is Isuul, and he likes researching new species.”
“Right. Of course.” She stretched. “Well, I think your body is finished its deposit, so I am going to grab a shower and then eat. If we are going to have this happen again, I need to keep my strength up.”
He grinned and gripped her hips, helping her up and off. Surprisingly, nothing else was emerging. He held her as he sat up, and she remembered in that moment what he was. He held her against him and walked over to the enormous bathing room.
When they were under the spray of water, he asked her a question, and she started laughing. When they dried off, she answered, “Yes, I can make some akko.”
He chortled happily, and they got dressed in long black robes that were surprisingly a proper size.
He took her hand, kissed it, and walked her down to the kitchen.
She checked the ingredients, nodded, and went to work.
She made the dressing and shredded the akko with a knife.
After she tossed them together, she set the bowl aside and got some meat.
She grilled on the flat top of the oven and seasoned as she went.
“Are there preferred ways to consume food for your people?”
“Preferred, yes. Healthy, no.”
“What?”
“Stalls like the one I have at the dock are famous for oily, deep-fried foods. I love deep-fried foods.” She sighed and kept checking the doneness before applying a small bit of oil and grilling the fish.
Five minutes later, there were two plates, one loaded with food and one with a normal serving.
They were sitting at the table and eating when a familiar voice said, “Oh, good. I thought it was going to take time. Is there any more akko?”
Yvari walked in. She grinned and got a plate, taking the items from the grill that wouldn’t fit on Hazor’s plate. The akko went onto her plate, and she wasn’t going to give it up. She sat with them and grinned. “You are both looking flushed with health.”
“Overseer, that is not what you are seeing.”
She laughed. “I know. You should have seen Mathon after our bonding. He was worried it was either going to fall off or never relax. When my fluids entered through his body, he was very uncomfortable for a few days.”
Hazor blinked. “Oh. That is not something he ever shared with me.”
“He was embarrassed at the time, but now he is off having a playdate at the lab.”
“I am sure my father is happy to look over biological samples with him.”
“It is both of your parents. Elspeth has insights into things you want for your people, your community.” She used the fork and ate some of the akko with a smile.
“We want to integrate, so we are going to have an open party for any and all folks in the city. We also are looking to create a museum about our village. We have roots. They are broken, but they are still there.”
Yvari smiled. “I like that. I also like the pub. It is open to all?”
“It is as long as folks behave. Its name means public house.”
“And the Fired and Iced?”
“Bess and Molly. We gained enhancements during the time after and used them to protect our family and then our community. I hid food and managed to make it stretch to feed everyone, no matter how many showed up. If anyone tried to help themselves to the food stores, they were dissuaded.”
Yvari nodded. “That is what your parents said. You are psychotically protective of your people and resources.”
“Aw, that’s so sweet.” She kept eating.
Hazor nodded. “Will you tell me about it?”
“Maybe. One day. Not today. There is a lot of future to plan all of a sudden. I need to get busy.” She finished her meal. Hazor was already done. Yvari was moving delicately for a woman close to seven feet tall, but she was still eating fast.
Yvari looked at her with a serious expression.
“So, Cloudy, when are you receptive? Your mother and I want to get to work on the baby’s room and finding a local nanny.
With your cousins having enhancements, I believe we have city protection.
I am very excited. If we can get some more powered Terrans, I believe that Siloven can have a very bright future. ”
“And if they aren’t here now, you are going to breed them?”
Yvari grinned. “You are smart. That’s good. It will be good for the children. Now, when are you receptive?”
Cloudy rubbed her forehead. “Two weeks?”
“Good. The nanites are good at ensuring pregnancies. They help things along. Your species are nice and primitive. You have short seasons and a lot of them. It’s a welcome thing.”
“Yeah, I know. It doesn’t feel that way during hormone rushes. It’s a good thing that Hazor isn’t susceptible to my energy.”
“Oh, I am. I am very, very susceptible to it. I just enjoy it.”
She snorted and went to get up and get some kio.
Yvari paused. “I have heard of some plants that your people like. Now that you have bonded, I believe you need a more formal event. I can ask Zell for some of these plants.”
Cloudy walked over. “What kind of plants?”
“I have been told by my father they get certain of your people all excited.”
Cloudy could see Yvari was having fun with this.
Cloudy sat and sipped her kio.
Hazor grinned as he waited it out with her.
“They are called... kahfee, kahkao, and tea? Does that sound right?”
Cloudy grinned. “I am glad they got some of those out. The most benign is the cacao. If you look to try to grow those, you will need a warmer environment than this continent, but the substance is the base of sweets, a mood stabilizer, and a slight aphrodisiac with the right mix of vegetable-based fats. Narlo is a good fat as a base for that. Spices and sweetener, and never mind.”
Yvari chuckled. “So I should try and get some of them?”
“If the beans of coffee and chocolate are already being grown, those are a better start to see if we can make them work with additives from Siloven. The tea is a tea. Green leaves dried and cured and different treatments create different results.”
“You know how to prepare all of these things?”
“Yes, the most popular one will be chocolate; the most nostalgic one is the coffee. It is a stimulant that is toxic in large quantities and can contribute to heart arrhythmia and a number of other ailments, but nothing gets you going in the morning like a hot cup that smells amazing and tastes like hot bean water.”
Hazor frowned. “And you drank this?”
“Several cups a day. It is good for a blast of mental sharpness and a warm cup to wrap your hands around. The smell is as waking as the actual substance most days.”
Yvari was casual. “Is it recommended during gestation?”
“Limiting is requested.”
“Then, the tea and the other beans will be imported, and plants will be requested.” Yvari nodded and sent the signal. “Suitable soil is being arranged on the Arthuth continent. It is warm there. It might give you a place to go on your anniversaries.”
Hazor smiled. “That is a pleasant thought.”
She gave him a bemused look.
“Oh, your grandfather is coming. He wishes to meet the young lady. As does your grandmother.”
Cloudy sipped her kio. “Oh, wonderful. When?”