Page 26 of 20% Stud 80% Muffin (Alien Fated Mates #1)

26

W ind blew through the sliding doors into my bedroom, stirring the leaves of the plants that had been brought inside. Even though it was now cold, I liked to leave it open a crack, enjoying the freshness it left in the air. But I didn’t like the gust that slammed the door behind us or the way I jumped as we walked down the hall. Like the door was sending me a message straight from Geo’s heart as he shut down again. After his heartfelt but strange declaration of liking me, I was more confused than ever. I’d made it abundantly clear that I was ready for everything with him.

And what had I got in reply? Nothing!

Blant, it sucked to be an omega almost in heat, driven by the full moon.

Why couldn’t my mind lead the way instead of my hormones?

I was Geo’s shadow as he walked toward the kitchen, still in awe that he had wanted to submit to me in that way. My parents would disagree, but generally speaking, my decisions were sound. When my omega needs took over, I was at their mercy and life tended to turn upside down. Without a complete bond, the insatiable lust and need to breed left me at the whim of an alpha who could fill me with their cock. It didn’t matter if they were a low-life criminal or my father’s best friend. Although, they ranked the same in my experience.

Geo ignored his puppy doggies bouncing around his feet. He needed space. But I couldn’t separate from him. I needed to touch him and, more importantly, have him touch me.

When we entered the kitchen, Ginger turned down the music and slow-clapped before rolling her hand in front of her as she bowed. Any embarrassment caused by my actions as an omega had dissolved long ago. Ginger’s teasing would only rub one of us the wrong way, and the target sucked his stomach in and squared his shoulders.

“Warn a girl next time there’s going to be a performance, and I’ll sell some tickets.” She leaned her hip against the counter where she’d been preparing vegetables.

“Yeah, yeah.” Geo’s cheeks flushed. His chest would be hot and lovely under my fingertips. He cleared his throat. “Let me help.” He opened the oven, and out came the roast chicken. He placed it on a serving dish while I stayed on his heels, flustered. An omega required reassurance from their alpha.

“If only Cameron had been a fly on the wall for that show.” She laughed.

Geo tensed, and I wound my tail around his waist.

“What a player.” Ginger rolled her eyes. “Did I tell you he asked to move back into your house with me after you left? As if!” She snickered with disbelief. “Money problems.”

She winked at me over Geo’s shoulder, forcing me to suck in a surprised breath. “I’m so happy for you. Makir is wonderful. You truly are a stud muffin.” She slapped Geo’s ass, and he shoved her shoulder gently. The tension popped like a bubble.

Geo placed a fork and knife next to the chicken and carved it. “Fuck…why was I so hung up on that guy? He wouldn’t even watch Charz and Pika.” Geo’s gaze lifted, knife suspended, caressing me with his eyes. “Now, I know what having everything means.”

I swallowed the knot in my throat and clung to Geo’s waist with my tail.

Judging by Geo’s contented expression, the remains of the first of many roast chickens lay before us.

“I’m stuffed.” It tasted remarkably similar to the prized Nu on Lorne, an underwater creature made popular by the regents and even more rare because of it. I patted my full tummy and squeezed Geo’s thigh with my hand as he reloaded his plate. “We should sit in the hot pool this evening.”

“Yes, let’s…” Ginger paused. “Shit, my bag is back at the sono. I’m not going anywhere in the dark with giant-ass worms on the loose.” She frowned, shivering at the blue snow drifts piled against Raz’s dwelling, visible in the silvery moonglow through the lamar.

Geo picked up his plate and gathered Ginger’s and mine, taking them to the kitchen. “That was too close of a call.” Geo’s gaze met mine. “I hope Mayor Yurst has a plan.”

“Yurstille is far enough away from the rocky outcrop that we don’t have to worry.” The quaver in my voice had Ginger’s eyebrows rising.

“Anyway,” Geo said to Ginger. “I thought you might want to stay here for the rest of your time on Tern. It’s awfully crowded in the archbuilder’s sono.” Geo’s gaze snapped to mine, brow raised as if to say ‘is that okay?’ before he lowered the dishes into the sink .

“Of course. I should’ve offered as soon as my brother left.” I spun to face Ginger. “Think of all the mittens and hats we’ll be able to make before the market if you stay.”

Geo’s shoulders relaxed as he turned on the water to wash up.

“I’ll stay too.” Geo’s alpha voice hit low in my stomach. “To keep Ginger company.” Still facing the sink, his back stiffened. “Shit,” he muttered. A spike of pain rippled along the tether, and he

held his finger up before pinching it.

My chair skidded backward as I darted to where Geo stood. Bright red blood dripped through the soap bubbles into the sink, turning them pink.

“I’ve got you,” Ginger yelled as she jogged to the bathroom. Cupboard doors slammed from down the hall.

“I’m fine.” Geo pressed the edges of his cut together with his thumb as I leaned into him. His heat calmed me. “Just a dummy, that’s all.” His pale green eyes met mine, full of apologies that had nothing to do with his injuries. I reached for his finger, taking hold of it with the lightest touch and blowing on it.

My tail unwound from where it hugged Geo’s waist and rose between us. “Let me take care of this.” His gaze consumed mine, finger long forgotten.

“Where the hell are your Band-Aids, Makir?” Ginger called from the bathroom.

Band-Aids?

The fluffy tip of my tail parted, exposing the suction pad hidden within. It latched on to Geo’s throbbing wound, sending pulses of healing energy. The tether lit up with sparks of joy, contentment and…love? The sensations shuddered through me, and another thick strand wrapped around our temporary bond, strengthening the connection.

“Fuck, that’s amazing.” Geo’s pupils dilated. “What are you doing to me?”

His thick arm warmed my waist, pulling me closer. I pressed my lips to his. His mouth tasted of spice, roast chicken and the whiskey he loved. I whimpered at the closeness, the vibration of the healing energy weaving between us, knitting us tight together.

“Well.” Ginger huffed, flicking her long straight hair over her shoulder. “Here.” She held out a small sticky length of fabric that definitely hadn’t come from my bathroom. “I thought it would be a bloodbath out here, but you’re lip-locked instead.” She emptied the water in the sink and refilled it. “Must have been a near-death experience.”

Under Ginger’s curious gaze, my tail dropped away from his finger.

Her brow wrinkled. “Honestly.” She shook her head and pushed Geo away from the sink. “Let me finish up here before you cut your finger off altogether.”

Blant, I shouldn’t have done that. My hands trembled as they kneaded my tail. It was understandable to heal someone when unconscious, but healing a non-life-threatening cut was off-limits. Not to mention that Geo had been perfectly aware, and Ginger had been just down the hall. Bonic would have my head. Every Lornian youngling knew by heart that this precious gift required secrecy.

Geo waved his finger in front of him in awe. “That’s incredible.” His voice dipped low so Ginger wouldn’t catch it. “How did you do that?”

“It must not have been as bad as you thought.” I brushed his question off with a false smile.

“You can trust me, you know. I’m good with secrets.” Geo’s voice rang with sincerity, and I tipped my head to the side. His lips were pressed into a thin line, but he threaded his warm, calloused fingers through mine, and his rough palm sent shivers along my tail. The perfect mix of hard and heart.

Not ready to disclose anything, I tried to distract him. “Why don’t we com JayJay and ask if he can bring over Ginger’s things? You can’t see when it’s dark.” I squeezed his hand. “And you need your stuff too, since you need to keep Ginger company.”

I teased him, but my heart swelled. Despite his want, he couldn’t outright say he wanted to stay with me. The next few weeks spent with Geo would be a dream come true. Maybe I’d convince him to stay when Ginger returned to Earth .

“Let me show you your room.” I pulled the drying towel from her hand and reluctantly unwound my tail from Geo before we walked to my guest room.

The space was bright and cozy. A nest of linobee furs filled one corner next to an oversized chair, and a shelf stood beside it with a couple of books Jast and Bonic had brought me. “You won’t be able to read these.” I ran a finger over their spines. “But there are some spectacular pictures of Lorne if you’re interested in my planet.”

The books, combined with the picture Jast had commed earlier, weighed down my heart. The blanket she’d made from the pelts of the linobee Bonic and Geo had trapped was spread over her pregnant belly in the image. ‘With gratitude and love,’ the sweet message addressed to Geo and me had read. A wave of longing swept through me.

Charz and Pika nudged my ankles, wanting to be picked up, and Ginger nudged my shoulder. I needed to mention the shadows under her eyes to Geo.

Ginger flopped into the nest. “I’ve wanted to know what it’s like to sleep in a cloud of furs. Thanks for letting me stay.”

A knock at the front door interrupted my melancholy. JayJay’s deep laugh filled the dwelling as he teased Geo for his poor night vision.

The laughter abruptly stopped when Ginger and I entered the front hall, and she walked toward him to retrieve her bag. “Thanks, JayJay. You want to come for a swim?”

JayJay stood and stared, his silence thickening the air, and then he belted out a resounding, “No.”

Ginger shrugged, the open expression she usually wore replaced with an out-of-character blank one. I’d worn a mask for most of my life, so hers was easy to identify. She nonchalantly turned away from him to take her stuff to her room.

“So, you won’t be staying at the sono anymore?” JayJay asked her retreating back in his overloud voice.

She turned to look over her shoulder. “Probably not. Makir and I are trying to make as many— ”

JayJay cut her off with an abrupt, “That’s good.” He shuffled his feet awkwardly, then stared only at Ginger before his sharp “Bye” echoed throughout the dwelling. An avalanche of snow slid from the roof as the door slammed behind him.

Ginger’s knuckles turned white where she gripped her bag. “Is something wrong with my translator?” She tapped behind her ear. “Everything I say around that guy, he takes the wrong way,” she mumbled. “I’m going to go change into my swimsuit. I could use a glass of that hiscus wine, Makir, if you have any more?” She whistled for the dogs to follow her.

“JayJay won’t like it when I suggest he see Dr. Ten about Rock Dweller and human compatibility.” Geo burst out laughing as he pushed me toward the bedroom. “Go get changed. I can’t be in a room alone with you right now. You smell too damn good.”

He was on to something, though. JayJay’s personality turned upside down whenever Ginger neared.

Moonglow on the blue drifts collecting on the panes of lamar overhead turned everything into a purple oasis beneath. The rippling water shadow-danced against the pink walls of my dwelling.

“You should stay, Ging.” Geo was easy to read right now. His broad shoulders were propped along the tub’s edge—one hand petting Charz, fast asleep beside him, and the other arm a comfortable weight on my shoulder. His tummy was relaxed.

Ginger sighed as she sank into the smaller, hotter pool and sipped her glass of hiscus wine.

“Oh my gosh,” she gushed. “I think I love Tern.”

“Mayor Yurst is recruiting women. Do I need to ply you with brochures?” Geo’s deep laugh warmed my insides .

“Watch what you ask for, you may just get it.” Ginger finished off her container of wine and sank deeper into the warm water. “I plied Geo with brochures for years, hoping he would accept a position. And he finally did, even if it is for just a year.”

Just a year? My heart started to race.

The evening passed in easy conversation between Ginger and Geo. Meanwhile, I was on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen when Geo’s contract ended. Certainly, Yurst would offer him another. Everyone loved the dwellings he and his team were building.

But would he stay?

For the next three rotations, I woke blissfully content. Geo’s warm body pressed against my back, and my nest smelled of summer fields. My dwelling was filled with a comfort that had been absent my entire life in the High Hold of Tuniga. Geo prepared coffee from Earth each morning and delivered a warm mug to me where I lingered in my furs. His attention was addictive, but when the caffeine hit, so did the revelation that Geo might leave Tern. Every time it was like a fresh jolt shocking my nervous system.

The morning of the market, the sun shone bright and clear. The mist from our breath crystalized in the cold air, and white clouds formed while we piled my hoverbike trailer high with furs.

“One minute.” Ginger reached to grab a hat and mittens from the top. “I’m keeping these.” She tucked her hair behind her ears and pulled the hat over her head. Its white fur contrasted sharply with her black bangs.

My wristport dinged. Incoming vid com: High Regent Tuniga.

Geo grabbed a hat and tightened the flaps around my ears, leaning forward to kiss my nose.

My cheeks bunched so tight they hurt.

“Blant, it’s my father.” My voice trembled, and Geo reached for my mittened hand. Why would my father be contacting me? He had not even bid me farewell when I left Lorne, emphasizing how little my departure would mean to him or my mother.

With a swipe of my finger, I picked up the com. My tail frantically beat the snow around me. Was Bonic okay? And Jast? Oh, bless the goddess Sola—was it the youngling? “Father?”

My father’s angular jaw had just started to purple with age, but he could not be mistaken for anything but royalty. With his face projected in the air, he held his chin high and his eyes pierced me with expectation. His thin lips were pressed into a straight line, sealing in his unvoiced words. Nothing new. He was always stoic.

Ginger sucked in a breath, awed as she and Geo glimpsed the projection of my father. For some reason, he wore his official crown, and the formal high collar embroidered with a giant ringa—a beast from Lornian folklore—screamed business. I stepped to the side, concealing them from my father’s view.

Blant, I hated these lessons. Every conversation with my father was a guessing game. What does he want me to say? I inhaled till my ribs ached—get yourself together—while my tail kicked up snow drifts behind me.

“High Regent Tuniga.” I bowed my head. “To what do I owe the honor of this call?”

Is that adequate?

“You are formally summoned to return to Lorne for your nephew’s naming.” His eyebrows pinched, a small tell that he was doing something distasteful. “My personal shuttle will arrive in Yurstille tomorrow. Prepare for your departure.” He reached to end the call.

I blew out a breath, surprised to discover his alpha voice no longer compelled me to do his bidding.

“Wait, Father…” I gulped. “The youngling’s time is not for three weeks. How is Jast’s health? ”

“You will refrain from addressing me as father.” His jaw clenched as he spat out the words. Disdain bled through his usually emotionless voice. “The youngling has come early. Also, I expect you to be attired in an official capacity. You can leave that ridiculous head cover behind.” The com ended with the same abruptness it had begun.

It’s nice to see you too, Father. I’m doing great. Thanks for asking.

My tail swooshed off the ground, showering snow and hugged my waist. “I need to com my brother and make sure everything’s all right.” My hands shook so much that I couldn’t correctly hit the commands on my wristport.

Geo tugged me into his side, settling my jangling nerves, and he typed in the request for a vid com to Bonic. Moments later, my brother’s happy smile appeared in front of us, and I collapsed into Geo’s side, exhaling a huge lungful of air.

“Congratulations, brother!”

“Congratulations!” Geo and Ginger shouted.

“How are Jast and the youngling?”

“They are well and resting happily in our nest.” Bonic beamed. “How did you know? It’s only been a short time.” His eyes narrowed. “Ah, Father commed you. Mother’s going on about the naming ceremony and how the advisers are outraged that the High Lord Tuniga will not be present. Apparently, he has buckled under the pressure.” He snorted distastefully.

“He has commanded my return,” I said quietly.

“Although Father’s being Father and forcing you, I’m happy you will be present. I know you’ll love my son with all your heart no matter where you live.” A newborn cried in the background. “I must be off now.” Chest forward, he ended the com, a new father with a purpose.

“Congratulations, Uncle.” Ginger hugged me. “Or should I say High Lord Tuniga?” She placed her hands on her hips and shook her head. “Off-planet for the first time, and I meet royalty too. I wondered about Janny. You certainly have moved up in the world, Geo.” She wandered away to get more furs from the dwelling, muttering, “That Jast is going to get an earful from me. I spent two days with her, yet not a single mention of royalty. Hmmm…I wonder what the market might have for a royal baby?”

“She’s a bit of a galactic storm, isn’t she?” I reached for Geo’s hand and chuckled at Ginger’s tendency to drift from topic to topic in a heartbeat. “Hard to keep up with her.” Then my smile dropped. No matter how much I wanted to meet my nephew, I had no desire to return to Lorne.

Geo turned to face me and pulled my forehead down to his. “Hey, are you okay?” His mitts slid over my bulky jacket in a soothing gesture. “That was a lot.”

“Yeah.” I’d not fully digested the conversations yet. “I’m an uncle, Geo.” Then I straightened my shoulders.

“Yeah, little lion, you are.” Geo kissed the tip of my cold nose again.

“My father’s alpha voice has no power over me any longer.”

He clasped both of my mitted hands. “That’s a good thing, right?”

I nodded, my words stuck in my throat.

Geo’s alpha voice wrapped around me like a warm blanket, and my nose filled with summer fields on a crisp snowy morning. “Here is what we’ll do. You and Ginger will sell your mittens and hats. We’ll get gifts for the baby and your family”—he swung my arms a little—“and make a plan for the dogs and Ginger. It’ll be fine.”

It’ll be fine…

Blant, it wouldn’t be fine. My parents would never accept an off-worlder as a potential mate. Geo can’t come. My heat was nearly on me. It would be absolute agony without him. He has to come. I could handle my parents’ wrath, but I couldn’t handle the abuse they’d rain down on Geo. He has to stay here.

With the cold season upon Tern, the bustling market had migrated indoors. The windows of a giant greendwelling, operated by a couple of enforcers as a side project, dripped with condensation, and the potted plants we walked through spiced the air with their exotic scents. Ginger carried my beat-up duffel bag loaded with hats and mittens. While we unloaded our goods, my mind remained unsettled, plagued by indecision.

Everyone shed their warm outer clothes as they met the steamy inside air. I wished I could shed the doubts about my trip to Lorne so easily. Thankfully, Ginger took on most of the transactions. My sole purpose diminished to plastering on smiles in response to customers eager to purchase our dwindling supply of hats and mittens.

Ginger answered another question about her hair as she sat beside me. Most of Yurstille’s residents had never encountered a female from Earth before, and they were curious. JayJay loomed nearby like a silent guard, awkwardly out of speaking distance, but noisy in his presence. And Geo had disappeared amid the masses, but the tether would lead me to him if needed.

My com port dinged with a message.

Bonic: Talk to Geo and prepare him.

That didn’t help one bit. My deliberation paused when Geo returned. His presence eased my jumbled nerves. He tucked a few packages under the table, and one of the chicks Ginger had brought from Earth at Geo’s request pecked at the strings tied around the parcels.

The chicks had caused quite the stir, running freely, but once they were determined to be no threat, the enforcers’ entrepreneurial side had taken over, and they charged for handfuls of graneth seed that could be strewn across the floor to feed them. TeyTey and Sully’s boys were their best customers.

Geo stood behind me. “Wait until those chickens are old enough to lay eggs, then we’ll see some profits, and I can buy the High Lord Tuniga whatever he desires.” His warm palms spread across my shoulders, and he dug his thumbs into my tense muscles. The wonderful contact turned my insides to mush.

Geo had never mentioned my position before, or that I might be the one left wanting in our relationship. Doesn’t he know I don’t care about money? I just wanted him to stay .

I looked over my shoulder. “You have been everything I desire from the moment you followed me into the wastelands. I don’t require more than that.”

He blushed, staring at his boots as if they were made of sul, Lorne’s most precious metal.

Ayla Rowtee’s presence returned my attention to the table of items before me. She stood fascinated, white feathers fluttering, staring at our goods. “That’s lovely.” She pointed at Ginger’s creation.

Ginger demonstrated the holder she’d worked on between customers throughout the rotation. “If I may.” She approached Tarik, Ayla’s husband, with a long swath of fur. “You want to loop the opening around your shoulder and place the baby in the little pocket. Fur side would be best for this weather, but in the summer, the fur side out will be cooler.” Ginger gestured for Ayla to place her youngling in the fur wrap hanging around Tarik’s neck. The happy youngling nestled in and promptly fell asleep, and the proud father was sold.

“We’ll take it,” said Tarik.

“Wonderful,” Ginger exclaimed. “I’ll make you your very own sling. This one’s a gift for Makir’s new nephew.” She smiled at me.

My heart hiccuped. “Not even my parents would criticize such a fine gift. Thank you, Ginger.”

She straightened her already straight bangs with her palm. “You’re welcome.”

Tarik’s beak clacked, and the youngling stirred in the holder, picking up on her father’s agitation.

I spread a few furs in front of the new father. “Tarik, you must select the best linobee for your sling,” I soothed, sensing Tarik’s frustration.

Ayla tipped her head my way in gratitude as I smoothed Tarik’s ruffled feathers. It wasn’t just Lornian fathers who coveted what they felt their younglings needed. The only saving grace was that I happened to be close enough with the Rowtees to have been at their youngling’s naming ceremony. I could get away with anything after helping Geo install lamar openings for their nursery .

The market’s busy hum quieted as the day came to an end and we stacked packages of dried mantu skewers and bottles of hiscus wine onto the back of my trailer. At the same time, Ginger compiled all the custom orders she’d collected after we sold out. While securing the packages with straps, I silently debated whether Geo should stay or if he should come. He was not prepared to meet my parents.

I’m not, either.

By the time evening came around, I’d succumbed to emotional exhaustion.

“Come here, little lion,” Geo rumbled from my nest, though, with each passing rotation, our nest seemed more appropriate. He lay on top of the furs in the second-skin shorts he wore as underclothes. I loved that he didn’t suck in his belly anymore.

I stripped off the jumpsuit I wore every rotation even though I hadn’t been in my hovery much this week and climbed in beside him, forcing away visions of the stuffy formal clothing I’d soon be in. The ones I’d left behind forever. I purred as I ran my fingers through the coarse fur on his chest and the trail on his relaxed belly.

“You’re tired, Makir,” Geo growled low.

The effects of my purr prickled his skin with goose bumps, and I soon drowned in his pheromones. He slipped his arm under my side and grasped my ass, effortlessly positioning me on top of him like a blanket. I luxuriated in his heat as his calloused palm smoothed up and down my spine and tail, lulling me to sleep.