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Chapter Twenty-One

D ear Diary,

I know, I’ve been neglectful. My bad. Expect this to be a long one, then nothing for a while.

Days have blurred. Happy ones, though. Still, I can’t help feeling like I’m just pretending we’re the perfect family and that Nerx loves me.

If he truly did, I’d be more than this lumpy sack of shit, faking the smiles.

The memory of his dimple had her humming.

Come bedtime, he worships my body, flooding me with hope that he could, at any moment, up and confess that I’m his moon and stars.

She winced. Nothing was stopping her from telling him how she felt.

Not that I’ll blab first either. Hell no. I suppose, a one-sided love is better than nothing. Imagine if I still hated his ass. That would suck, for sure.

Mom and Aldur blinked across to the king’s ship on day eight with promises to attend my wedding. Yup, you heard right. Somehow I doubt they’ll make it, considering they’re heading toward the Viqrian battleships and we’re heading away. Might have to postpone, which I’m okay with.

Since Aldur is Nerx’s medic, we got Lima Coll in exchange. Lima stands for ‘teacher,’ and is reserved for the oldest of Etterians still fighting the void. Oops, sorry for the lesson. Their culture’s fascinating, and no doubt, about to be messed with—us humans can’t leave shit alone.

Come to think of it, neither do us women, so the Viqrians might make a bigger impact. Who knows.

Got sidetracked. Oh, yup, my quarters. You guessed it.

Coll’s arrival got me kicked out and ‘moved’ into Nerx’s, making it official.

I should’ve asked for keys to our apartment, but that would’ve been an inside joke only I’d get.

No point of sniggering to myself. That’s just some sad shit right there.

She tapped the side of the tablet, trying to gather her thoughts. What had she wanted to say?

Well, I asked for a honeymoon, and the sweet ass said we were already on it. Can you believe the audacity of trying to wiggle out of a beach trip? I put paid to his sad attempts. So we’re going to Galaza.

She chuckled, excitement exploding inside her like fireworks.

I ordered him suitable beach attire. Just for funsies. I can’t wait to see those legs of his in swim shorts. Yum! Lily’s as enthusiastic about a holiday. I’m trying to keep everything to a beach bag each. No point in carrying tons of buckets, spades, towels, umbrellas… You get the gist.

Every morning, Lily asks Edon to call Granddaddy then Granny and Gramps. She always has something to show them, whether it’s her distorted Ollie sweater she finally finished or a beach ball we ordered from the replicator.

Tarx has changed, becoming warmer, more forthcoming with information, and not as stick-up-the-butt as I expected.

The real shocker is Nerx softening toward his dad.

No doubt due to their almost-daily conversations on the mines, what was needed, the operations, the inspections, what to do with the Viqrians…

Nerx’s been busy reading the documents his father sent over.

Oh, and hubs did the most amazing thing.

I cried like a freakin’ baby. He showed me all their information on alien animals with everything I could possibly want to know about their kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.

That’s the main reason I’ve been so absent.

Every spare moment not spent with Nerx or Lily goes to studying.

And I’m so desperate to see these creatures’ worlds.

Of course, Nerx said no, but we’ll see. I do have a talented tongue.

She smirked. He did love blow jobs.

Lily’s approaching footsteps snapped up Britt’s head, and she grinned.

Gotta go.

She tucked the tablet into her beach bag, then bounded off the bench in the common to cross to her daughter. “Ready, squirt?”

“Yup.” Lily in her swimsuit, hat, and sandals, spun her beach bag filled with toys and a towel.

The twirling mesmerized Britt. She pressed a hand to her stomach, nausea plaguing her.

She blamed her excitement and trepidation.

They were about to end a two-week journey and start a new chapter.

Space travel wasn’t as awesome as she’d thought it would be with weeks wasted in a flying box.

She was eager to stand on solid ground, with Luchur but a distant memory.

Nerx strode in wearing shorts, a flowery button-up, short-sleeved shirt, and flip flops. He shoved his hands into his pockets and smiled. Wearing sunglasses had been a hell-no from him, but since he wore everything else, including a sexy pair of jeans without complaint, she let it go.

She wore his kimono-like ceremonial gown over her swimsuit, a hat flopped, obscuring her face, and forced her to lift the brim so she wouldn’t trip in her sandals.

He bid his men farewell, clasping their forearms even as they teased him about his clothing, which he handled well.

“Lady Britta, a pleasure.” Matir pumped her hand twice.

Ziot smiled, but his cheeks and eyes darkened. “I will miss…hopscotch.”

“Me too,” Lily said, hugging his leg and accidentally whacking him with her bag.

Sena, Edon, and Lima Coll shook Britt’s hand but said nothing.

“Three to port, Pilot Edon.” Nerx arched a brow at Edon, who bolted for the communications room.

Nerx chuckled, clasped Lily’s hand then drew Britt against his side.

The gray sand and red sea wasn’t what she’d expected.

Nor the pink sky with two suns. Still, it was beautiful, made more so with the sunlight warming her cheeks.

Lily threw down her bag, kicked off her shoes, tossed aside her hat, and waded into the waves.

Nerx took after her, grunting when he had to abandon his flip flops too.

Britt laughed, watching them for a few minutes, then spread out the towels.

Just sinking her feet into the hot sand made her soul sing.

The beach was empty, like it wasn’t tourism season.

And when she scanned the forests around them, there were no buildings in sight, even when she squinted.

Instead, a hush surrounded her with muted chirps and calls she didn’t recognize.

She need not travel the universe to find fauna and flora to study when a new world was her home.

What awaited her on Fuyra? She almost rubbed her palms together with glee.

While laughing at her hubs and daughter frolicking, she sank onto the towel.

Again, her stomach lurched. Perhaps it was Etteria’s gravity?

A fresh breeze swept across her cheeks, so she rose, slipped out of the gown, and strode toward the water’s edge.

The damp sand cooled her toes, so she ventured deeper, letting the warm waves lap her calves.

“What are you wearing?” Nerx asked with Lily thrown over one shoulder. She wriggled, her feet spraying clumps of wet sand.

“A bikini,” Britt grinned. “You like?” she asked while flicking the ties on her bottoms.

“Very much,” he rasped.

Day fourteen and their passion had yet to fizzle. She’d swear it was growing stronger with each passing moment. As he ran his hooded gaze over her, what that expression meant sent fire along her veins to settle at her core.

“You had me this morning,” she whispered.

“It is never enough with you, thamani .” He threw her a grin before lowering Lily to the wet sand. Off went his shirt, then he was back in the water with Lily clutching his shoulder as he waded deeper.

She joined them, lowering herself until she bobbed with the waves.

Frequent glances at the suns showed them crossing the sky. Not that she could tell the time from that. Which one should she track? She snorted, her stomach twisting.

“Um, Nerx,” she said, striding out of the water. She angled her head to wring water from her hair. “I’m starving.” She swept out her arm at the forest-covered hill behind them. “Where are we staying?”

He smiled before stealing a kiss. “We are surrounded by buildings. They are hidden to not impact the beauty of this landscape. Come.” He held out his hand which she accepted.

“What about our stuff?” she asked, tugging on his arm to reach her towel.

“We will return after we eat.”

“Hot dogs,” Lily called, dancing around them.

They marched toward a gap in the forest, and as they neared, Britt spotted a path. Behind the tall trees, deep in their shadows, glass glinted on windowed units.

A lone man waited for them. He wore cream-colored yoga pants, a tunic, and sandals. “Greetings, Ambassador Nerx, miladies. Help yourself to any cabin. Enjoy the duration of your stay.” He bowed his head at Nerx. “The kuta is on standby as requested. Your personal items are on board.”

“My thanks, Lima Tico.” Nerx veered left and opened the door to the first unit.

White floors rolled toward windows on three sides overlooking the forest and glimpses of the beach.

A massive bed dominated the space, facing the view.

On the wall behind the bed was a door, probably leading to a bathroom.

Opposite to the door was a short counter with a replicator and rehydrator.

Two chairs and a table sat in one glass-walled corner.

“What would you like to eat, thamani ?” Nerx strode across the room to the rehydrator.

“Hot dogs are fine and a soda for me, please.” She strolled to the windows and peered through the tinted glass.

When it slid open, bathing her with salty air, she squeaked. No railing made this dangerous. She couldn’t shake the idea they’d designed this place with children not in mind.

When she stepped back, the glass doors shut. “Can you lock it so they don’t open?” she asked, accepting the plate of hot dogs.

Nerx tapped the wall beside the door to access a panel. “Done.”

“Thank you.” The smell of hot dog hit her when she kneeled to offer one to Lily. “Take it,” she said, shoving the plate at Nerx, then bolted for the bathroom.

Despite the nausea, she couldn’t throw up, so she splashed water on her face then dried it with a toweling robe. In her home, she’d make damn sure they had normal towels.