Sex Me at Last Read online

  “You shall hide your abilities no more, Harlow,” Ryo declared.

  She raised her brows at his pronouncement, surprised that he’d care one way or the other.

  “Of course we would care. Where we are from you will be respected for your gifts, not looked at with doubt. Now, we must go and meet with your people. We cannot tarry long in your galaxy for we have long waited to settle on the Hienial home world of Hanial and my people—our people—grow restless. They are ready to settle down. To start families of their own. As we are.” Ryo looked away, a slight blush tinting his cheeks.

  His voice had grown husky as he spoke of settling down, having children and, she knew without a doubt, he wanted that very much for himself, not just for his people. Her heart went out to him for she, too, had longed for a family for many years and had long given up hope she’d ever find someone who’d she’d be able to have a family with, someone who’d accept her for who and what she was. She wanted to reach out and comfort him, but sensed he wouldn’t appreciate that, not now, not in front of his people. It would wait until they were alone.

  Well, alone with Jered because she suddenly knew that whatever else was going on it would involve the three of them. Her, Ryo and Jered. A triadic relationship. Definitely not the norm here on Earth, but what about where they were from? Would she be expected to sleep with others? She had so many questions, both personal and science based, she didn’t know where to start.

  Ryo placed one of his hands on her knee and gently squeezed. “I can see the questions in your eyes. There will be plenty of time for you to ask them, but first you must call a gathering of your people, Harlow. You’ve read your ancestor’s journal. You’ve seen us shift, saw us disembark from a cloaked ship. We will give you more proof should you require it. But for now, we must speak with your people and offer those who are willing a life among their own kind on Hanial.”

  “You truly expect us to just leave our lives here and travel with you to live on another world?”

  “You, yes. The others, they can go with us or choose to stay behind. It is their choice. But can you honestly say that you don’t want to know what is out there when you have long searched to prove that life existed beyond this planet?”

  Harlow didn’t know how to answer the man that wouldn’t sound like a lie. She had spent her entire life trying to prove that intelligent life existed on other planets, had been mocked by her peers in the scientific community and had become a hermit because of her beliefs. But if she admitted that to him, she’d lose complete control of the situation. Did she really want to leave her home because that’s what they were asking—no, demanding—that she do?

  But Gods, to be the first Earthling to explore another planet, to see other alien civilizations. Could she really pass that up? As she quickly glanced around the living room, her gaze dropped to the coffee table and the note her grandmother had left her. At once, she knew she couldn’t let this opportunity pass her by. Her grandparents had known what was coming, knew her destiny would be arriving tonight. She’d go with Jered and Ryo, discover her future and, maybe just maybe, she’d end up as happy with her mates as her parents and grandparents had been with theirs.

  “I’ll go to the tower and ring the gathering bell. We only use it to call a meeting for town emergencies. I think this qualifies. Let’s just hope my Great Aunt Gertrude agrees. She can be a bit of a pill on the best of days and this late in the evening, calling a meeting without her consent or knowledge of what the meeting’s about will not make her happy. She’s the oldest woman in the village now with my Grandmother’s passing. They were twins, with my grandmother being the elder by twelve minutes.”

  Harlow unfolded her legs and placed the journal on the coffee table. A shiver of unease worked its way down her spine. She had a bad feeling about the meeting and about how her great aunt would take the confrontation. She’d waited a long time to have the power of being the town matriarch and now these two men were going to take it away from her. Somehow, Harlow didn’t think she’d take it lying down. No, Gertrude wouldn’t just let them take away the power she’d waited decades to wield.

  * * * *

  Ryo watched as his mate stood, kept his gaze focused on her lush form, unable to believe that soon all his dreams of having a family of his own would come true. He could hardly believe his good fortune. When she announced she would ring the bell in the tower to call an emergency town meeting, something inside him shifted, broke free. A strange sense of power seemed to unfurl in his chest, spread outward through his torso, then through his limbs.

  He didn’t know what to think of this new sensation, what to do, because his mate was moving away from him and suddenly that was unacceptable to him. Some innate instinct was screaming at him not to let her out of his sight. Not about to ignore the new voice inside his mind, he followed close behind her, Jered hot on his heels.

  Twenty minutes later, Ryo, Jered and Harlow and the rest of the shuttle’s crew entered the Shadows Glen Community Center. Harlow immediately headed toward the podium. Ryo took the position to her immediate right and Jered to her left, flanking her on each side. They would protect their mate from any threat. Until they mated her, marked her for all to see, neither man would feel comfortable with so many surrounding her. Their queen would not come to harm under their watch.

  Rows upon rows of folding chairs filled the large room and still people were standing against walls, filling up empty spaces wherever they could. It seemed whenever the bell rang the people came. The small room rang with voices, all speaking over one another, vying to be heard above the others.

  A large woman with hawkish features worked her way up the center aisle toward the podium. People moved out of her way in a rush, scurrying like rats evading rushing water as the woman leaned against the cane she no doubt used just for show. Waves of hatred and evil emanated from her. Ryo’s hackles rose and the beast he never realized he had roared inside him as it scented the seeds of evil, the beginnings of the vileness that had turned their people into the creatures that had raped and tortured others. It was the same, yet it wasn’t. He felt the taint of evil, but not the same evil caused by the virus the Banarts introduced into their blood. Perhaps this was merely the malevolence of madness.

  “What is the meeting of this? Who called this meeting without telling me? Who would dare?”

  Though they’d gotten out of the way, the others still muttered amongst themselves. Ryo could hear them wondering the same thing, but they could see Harlow standing at the podium so they were wondering why she called the meeting.

  He reached for Jered’s mind, but before he could make contact, Jered spoke first. It’s as though she has the disease. Yet she cannot have it. They have not been exposed. I’ve heard stories amongst the elders about women who haven’t found their mate succumbing to madness. Do you suppose this is what it is? See the way she looks at our mate? She wishes to do her harm. It would seem that Harlow is not safe anywhere near her. Not now.

  I agree. After this meeting, we put her on the cloaked ship and take care of this nuisance. If there are others, we must find and destroy those as well. We cannot chance that it isn’t this madness you’ve heard of. I will not risk bringing the disease back home with us now that we finally eradicated it after all these centuries, now that we’re finally going home.

  Harlow cleared her throat and the room grew eerily silent. Just like that. That small gesture showed him just how much power she wielded without even realizing it.

  “I called this meeting Aunt Gertrude.”

  Gertrude halted directly in front of the podium and stood to her full height, proving to Ryo that the cane was nothing but a prop, and any prop could be used as a weapon in an insane person’s hand.

  When Harlow didn’t say anything more, even with Gertrude staring her down, the old woman turned and headed toward the front row of seats. One man quickly vacated a seat and moved toward the back of the room. Without even acknowledging the gesture, she took the seat, straighten
ed her clothing and laid her cane against her thigh. With a small nod, she cleared her throat, then said, “You may begin.”

  * * * *

  Jered fought the urge to glare at the old woman as Harlow began to speak. He knew the woman was bloated with her own importance. How could one love power more than one’s flesh and blood?

  “Jered, can you explain?”

  He looked up, knowing his face was blank. What had she said?

  You need to pay attention. You look like an idiot with that Oh-shit expression on your face. Ryo laughed at him. She wants you to explain how and why we are here.

  That’s your job. Jered replied with a scowl. Why am I being pressed into service for this? His mental tirade was interrupted when Harlow cleared her throat and gestured to the microphone. “It’s all yours.”

  Jered stepped up to the microphone and tapped it twice for good measure. Now what? What the hell was he supposed to tell these people? “I am Jered Hallen. I am second to Ryo of Kneese, ruler to the Hienial people. We have come far to speak to you, meet you and, if you’re willing, take you back to your home.”

  He took a deep breath, waiting for the shocked murmurs to cease before he continued. “We realize you all have a life here and a home.” He let his gaze wander around the large room, meeting the eyes of the town’s people as he spoke so they would know he spoke the truth and was not merely attempting to mislead them. “You do have a home and a life with us. One you probably cannot possibly imagine.”

  “Or believe I’ll bet.” The older woman that Harlow pointed out as her Great Aunt Gertrude spoke up.

  He could only imagine she attempted to undermine them because she didn’t want to lose her hold on these people. Or her power. She was like so many of the males who had been exposed to the virus, it was disconcerting.

  She stood, clearly not through commenting. Jered allowed her to have her rant. She would soon regret her outburst. They could prove who they were, what they were to them. He wondered if she could do the same.

  “They want us to buy into that boloney Harlow has preached to us for years. Don’t you see? They are playing on her weakness,” she glared at his mate with contempt, “her stupidity in believing in creatures from other planets.” She waved her arm toward the podium to encompass everyone on the stage. “I say we let them go and take our weak link with them. If she believes the malarkey they’re spewing, let her live with her mistakes when she finds that they are mere men.” Her contempt-filled gaze returned to her niece. “You go with them. We would be well rid of you.”

  It was all he could do to keep from jumping off the stage and demanding satisfaction from the old hag. She knew nothing of what she spoke, yet years of jealousy left her bitter and power hungry. He glared at the old woman, allowing her and only her, to feel his rage. No one dared insult his mate the way she had without consequences. The old woman immediately sat down, her face pale, her eyes rheumy blue orbs widened to the size of the foam covered microphone in front of him.

  “You will allow me to speak, old woman. You are not a citizen of Hanial since you wish to remain here, but you shall allow others to make up their own minds.” He clenched his fists, wanting nothing more than to put the tired old woman out of her misery. She couldn’t be happy in her state. How could anyone be happy when they held such disdain for those they should love unconditionally?

  He looked out over the crowd of people once again. A few of them seemed angered that he’d spoken to the old woman in such a way, but it was the others who gave him the strength to continue. They sat and stood watching him with half smiles on their faces and admiration in their eyes.

  “We have scanned your community from our vessel and ninety percent of you have the Hienial genome. We also realize that some of you are already mated and we are prepared to welcome your full human mates among us. In fact,” he tossed a glance over his shoulder toward Ryo. At his nod of assent, he continued. “If those who are full human wish, there is a way to bring them fully over to our race. This is a personal decision and one that will not be forced. You stay here or you go with us, you remain human or you inherit all of the trials and benefits of the Hienial race. The choice is yours. We are prepared to remain in orbit for the next forty-eight hours. You have until then to make your choice and pack the things you wish to take with you. We hope you will join us.”

  * * * *

  Gertrude Hanson settled back in her chair, stared out over her followers and scowled. The gathering hall was nearly empty. Of all the villagers, human and other, there were precious few left. She’d stayed when the others had gone, asking those who wished to support her and her views to stay. It had been an unpleasant surprise to see how many left and how few remained. Seventeen! She looked out over those who chose her over her niece and her blood boiled with a killing rage. Only seventeen out of nearly two hundred stayed. The rest, human and hybrid, chose to follow her sister’s sniveling, snot-nosed granddaughter.

  “Another planet indeed,” she choked out. She tried to control her ire. If she failed to keep rein on her emotions, her face would turn red and mottled. Showing her followers that she was on the brink of an insane fit was the last thing she needed. “Do they take us all for the same type of fool that Harlow is?” She spat the words, allowing her resentment to show. Disgusted over her people’s defection, she actually shook with her indignation. “I can hardly believe they’ve all agreed to follow her, call her their queen, when not once have they even shown me an ounce of caring or one sliver of respect. Instead, they take off after my sister’s ill-begotten progeny like ducklings following their mother. What does she know? Nothing!”

  Gertie knew the girl knew nothing of the leadership of their people. Harlow had been too busy keeping her head in the clouds and her eyes on the stars. She didn’t care what happened here right under her nose. That was why it had been so easy to wrest control from her after Jeanette’s untimely, yet convenient, death.

  Gertie stood and started to pace, keeping her hands clasped behind her back. She must work off some of her agitation before she lost her temper and showed these idiots what she was truly capable of doing. “We must put our heads together to devise a plan to rid ourselves of these usurpers.” Her lips curled with contempt. “They claim to have come from another planet.” She snorted her derision. “I say they are telling Harlow exactly what she wants to hear. We all know that the girl is a weak-minded fool.”

  She stopped pacing, faced the group and placed her hands on her hips. “We must find a way to rid ourselves of this threat and seize control of our people once again.” Glaring out over the assembled lot, Gertie took the time to assess those who remained. Precious few chose to stay and follow her. Of those who had chosen to stay, less than a handful were under forty. Taking a deep breath, she attempted to control her rage. She wanted nothing more than to hunt down that little bitch she called niece, rip her heart out and eat it. This was the thanks she got after all that she’d done for them? After ridding them of their spineless leader and stepping up to the task herself, her reward was this...this defection? “I am matriarch now, not that sniveling little brat.”

  Soon they would know exactly what she could do. Her inner self raged, wanted to turn into the big jungle cat that had jumped out in front of her sister’s car, making it swerve over the embankment. The car rolled six times before it finally came to rest, its occupants already dead.

  Smiling darkly, Gertie sat back down as a plan began to unfold. What worked once would surely succeed again. She merely needed to find a way to implement it. It shouldn’t be too hard. After all, she’d already arranged for her sister’s horrible accident. Another would be just as easy as the first. Easier perhaps. She cared little for Harlow and she’d at least liked Jeanette. It was such a shame her twin and her husband had to die. She would much rather have them here, she thought with a smile…to worship her as was her due. She was a god!

  * * * *

  Ryo paced on Harlow’s front porch. He could see her reasoning. S
he didn’t want to leave her ancestral home. He couldn’t blame her. He hated leaving his mother and the only home he’d ever known to begin this quest. He could offer her almost anything, everything she’d ever wanted, but he couldn’t promise her that they would ever return.

  It was a stroke of pure genius on Jered’s part when he’d suggested putting everything in trust for their children, should they ever return to Earth. The trust would care for the property, rent it out so it would be lived in and not wasted and contribute to the funds that would ultimately keep the homestead intact.

  He sighed and sat down, wondering how long it would take to draw up the legal papers. He still wanted to leave as soon as they could, but two days seemed unrealistic now.

  “What’s the matter?” Harlow asked from the doorway. She stepped out onto the porch, boosted herself up onto the rail, looked at him and bit her lip. “I’m sorry. I know you want to go and my refusing to just leave my property is an inconvenience but,” her cheeks reddened. “If I do agree to mate with you, our children may want to return here one day. They will need a place to stay, a place they can call home. With the money my grandparents and parents left me, I can set up a nice trust. We can lease the house on a month to month basis and they will have a place to stay, no questions asked when or if they decide to return.”

  Ryo knew it was sound reasoning, but he just wanted to go, to return to Hanial where he could finally settle down and attempt to make a real life for himself. He smiled at her. Smiling was something he’d done a lot since landing here on this strange world. He’d attributed it to finding his mate. “It’s fine, Harlow. I understand. I may feel the same about Hanial one day.” He hoped so. He’d longed for a place to call home since he’d started this quest. He couldn’t very well take over his stepfather’s kingdom. It was his to give his own heir, not the bastard son of his mother’s brutal rapist.