Page 21 of 20% Stud 80% Muffin (Alien Fated Mates #1)

21

I tried to tame the growl in my voice, smoothing my hands over my pants. “My friend is arriving from Earth, due in about”—I dropped my gaze to my wristport—“five minutes.” My teeth were grinding together, but I was keeping my cool. “And she has brought a lot of stuff with her—”

The Tig guard was questioning my need for a giant hover trailer in the cargo bay for the third time.

JayJay turned toward me and leveled me with a look that said ‘Shut the fuck up.’

If he only knew what I wanted to say to the dumbass guard.

In truth, I was worried. Worried about meeting Makir’s brother and his wife, worried Ginger wouldn’t like it here, worried the plants and seeds and chicks would somehow trigger Tern’s next plague, just plain worried. JayJay had agreed to load everything while I met Ginger at arrivals, but I couldn’t even get past this ass to drop off the trailer, something that should’ve been simple.

“I’ll need a copy of the permission granted by Mayor Yurst to allow the cargo off premises.” The hardass interrupted me.

JayJay pressed his palm to my shoulder with more force than necessary. “Let me handle this, boss man. Go get your friend.”

I focused on my wristport once more. Two minutes. Fuck. I glanced at the tight-lipped guard and a stoic JayJay. I’m just making things worse. “Thanks, JayJay, you’re a lifesaver.” I squeezed his arm and jogged through the polished concrete balustrades marked with blaze-orange tape. The narrow chutes were color coded, and I ran toward the neon green arrivals gate.

I swiped the back of my hand across my brow and plopped down next to a vibrating Sully. His excitement was contagious, and my toe tapped alongside his as I gripped the edge of my seat.

“I haven’t seen TeyTey or my younglings in nine turns of the moon.” He finally stood up, his eagerness unseating him.

That was a long time without seeing your wife and kids.

How would I feel if Makir were gone for nine months? I shuddered, not able to consider it. “She’s going to love it here, and the kids are going to live in that awesome swimming pool you built.”

Sully rocked back and forth. “What do you think the delay is?” He wrung the treat bag he’d picked up from D’ovey’s tighter and tighter until the contents squished. “The arrivals vid-screen indicates that they’ve docked.”

I rolled my eyes. “If I had to hazard a guess, I would say there is a holdup unloading the cargo.”

Finally, the light above the arrival gate doors turned green, and the handful of people waiting jockeyed for the best position. One swoosh later, the air came alive with boisterous welcomes.

Sully was nearly taken down by a much smaller female Rock Dweller and two boys already the size of their mother.

A Lizzard passed through next, eyes scanning and tail thudding against the floor when no one arrived to greet him. He typed out a com on his wristport.

Three Boolas with floating baggage joined an enforcer who might have been part of my rescue in the wastelands, and a stream of new colonizers flowed through and headed to the same orientation room I had months ago. My worries lifted, and a lightness grew in my chest. At last, Ginger appeared, harried looking, with two Jack Russells pulling on their leashes.

“Ging, over here.” I rushed toward her, wrapped her in a one-armed hug and stole the leashes. Charz and Pika’s tiny paws bounced off my shins, scrambling for my lap when I crouched. Months away from me amplified their usual whimpers. I settled cross-legged on the floor so we could get our fill of each other. This was heaven on Tern . As they slathered my beard in doggie kisses, I looked up at my best friend. “I missed you.”

She plunked down beside me in a heap. Her deep brown leather pants matched the cuffs she wore as bracelets, and wispy pink fabric draped loosely around her in various folds belted by some type of large chain. “I am not meant for space travel.” She dropped her head onto my shoulder and idly petted Pika’s rump as she continued to attack my beard with love. “Thank god I’m on solid ground again.” Black bangs framed Ginger’s face, and her stick-straight white hair slipped over one shoulder when she sighed.

The dogs eventually grew interested in their surroundings—too interested—and we hustled outside. Ginger’s boot heels clicked over the polished floors.

“Wow, what is this?” Ginger snapped a picture of the liquid metal moving under the floor’s smooth surface. “That aquamarine copper blend will work perfectly for my next costume. ”

“Something unpronounceable.” I grinned at the familiarity of her comment. She may have been on another planet, but some things never changed.

“It’s so…pink.” Ginger scanned the landscape around her as we ducked under the arrival bay door. “Kinda reminds me of badlands a bit.” She shivered and pulled out a long white coat with a floppy neckline from her large carry-on.

“I haven’t learned to fly a hovercraft yet, so I thought we could walk.”

“Why am I not surprised? Your aversion to change is shocking at times.” She hugged my arm, silver-white hair swishing as she shook her head and then turned to face me. “But holy muscles, Geo, you weren’t kidding. You’re like the poster child for steroids.” My lips turned down as she prodded my biceps. “In a good way, of course. You look incredible.”

Her praise had me strutting down the center of Yurstille toward the sono like I owned it. With my dogs in one hand and Ginger in the other, I oozed pride. My small family was with me again. The only thing missing from the picture was Makir.

“Hey, I’ve taken some rather large steps for a guy who doesn’t like change.” D’ovey waved from his shop entrance, and a few enforcers called out hellos as we passed, their eyes focused on Ginger, Charz and Pika. Men outnumbered women here ten to one.

Oblivious to their interest, Ginger patted my arm. “That you have.”

“So.” I sucked the inside of my cheek. “Are you sure you’ll be okay without me for a couple of hours?” The sono was quiet when we entered, and I showed Ginger her bunk opposite mine. “Sully will be here with TeyTey and their boys soon, and the rest of the crew will show up for dinner in about half an hour.”

“Geo, I get it.” She rolled her eyes. “Of course, you must go meet Makir’s brother and his wife. He’s only here for a couple of days.” Ginger’s black bangs highlighted shadows under her eyes as she yawned. “Plus, I’m beat. I’ll just have a quick nap with the pups.” They jumped onto the bed when she patted it, instantly nuzzled under the blankets, and curled into balls. “TeyTey and I have been traveling together for two weeks, Geo. We’re friends. Honestly, I’m fine. I know all about Rock Dwellers. I’m good.” She pushed me away from where I hovered over her. “Now, shoo.”