Page 40 of His to Take

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“Areyou going to your mother’s today?” Rager asked as he dressed the next morning.

Ann watched him from their bed, her eyes still sleepy, but she liked to be up with him in the mornings. “Yes, I’m taking her some of those tomato plants. We have far too many.”

“Good. I have some other stuff for them, I’ll have one of the fellows put it in your transporter.”

“Alright. Thank you.”

He came to her, leaned down over her, and smiled. “For what?”

“For thinking of them. I know you don’t have to.”

“Ah, but they gave me you. I’ll have to continue to thank them, don’t you think?”

“Maybe so. They deserve it though. Everyone does, I guess.”

“Perhaps. I’ll see you tonight. I won’t be late.” He pecked a soft kiss on her lips that turned into something more, as it did every time he touched her, but he pulled away. “I may get back sooner. We’ll have to see.”

“You could just tell them to wait, you know?” She wrapped her arms around his neck and tried to pull him back.

With a laugh, he broke away and pulled his cuffs down over the circular tattoos on his arm. She’d studied the intricate circles more than once, but they still meant nothing to her.

“I’ll see you tonight,” she called out as he opened the door. For a moment, he turned, winked at her, then walked out into the dark of the hallway.

Ann went back to sleep for an hour, and then got up. She planned the dinner for that night with Angela, and then made sure her transporter was packed. By the time she made it to her parents’ home, her father was gone for the day, and Mary was home alone. But she had an army of servants to keep her company and didn’t mind that.

“I’m so happy to see you,” Mary said when Ann came in, her arms loaded with plants. “It’s just not the same without you here.”

“You say that every time I come, Mom.” She pecked her mom’s cheek and walked back to the backdoor. “Have someone plant these, Mom. They’re tomato plants.”

“Oh, that will be good! Put those down and let me see you.” Mary spun Ann around, looked at the white dress with gold sandals that she had on with appreciation, and smiled. “He’s still treating you well then.”

“Oh, yes. Oh, and electricity is guaranteed now. Some of the wolves got the power plants back up and running.”

“Thank goodness. Those solar panels are great, but we have to be so careful about what we use.”

“I know. I’m glad about that too.”

“At least we aren’t in some of those places that don’t even have solar panels.”

“You’re right, Mom. What are you having for lunch?”

“Chicken quesadillas. Just something simple to tide me over.”

They were walking back into the house and Ann moved to let her mother go first. Something happened and her mother fell and knocked her head against the doorframe before she slumped into Ann’s arms.

“Mom! What happened?” Ann let her mother down to the floor and looked her over. She had a cut over her eye and Ann called out for Amelia.

“I’m fine, honey, it was just a dizzy spell. Let me up. I’ll go upstairs and clean this up.”

“Mom, seriously, what’s wrong?” Ann sat back as her mother pushed away from her.

“It’s nothing, Ann, really. Now, go to the kitchen. I’ll be down in a few minutes.”

Mary shooed Ann away, and Ann went but she did it reluctantly. Amanda was in there with Rex. She hadn’t seen him since that night in her room and now he was there, with a sneer on his face.

“Oh, and here comes the alien fucker, home to lord it over us all,” Rex said with so much venom Ann almost felt as if he’d physically attacked her.