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Once I had a couple cups of java in me, we looked over the documents again. Everything seemed to be in order. They’d thought of just about every contingency, including a completely unnecessary maternity clause in my Xalanite health plan. I didn’t mention that to them, but I did catch Q’on’s tiny scowl when he read it. I patted his hand and met his gaze, shaking my head to indicate that it wasn’t worth it to argue that point in the deal.
It only took two hours to read it all and sign our lives away. Two hours to seal my fate, though if I was being honest with myself, it was what I wanted anyway. So I had to do some work while I was there … so what? Work was a part of life. No avoiding it, not even by vacating the planet.
“When do we leave?” I asked, taking Q’on’s hand and threading my fingers through his.
“We can arrange for the Xalanite ship to leave today, if that’s your wish,” Director Hall said, “but you might consider staying a couple of weeks. I could have some human diplomats give you a crash course in politics and negotiations.”
“No, thanks,” I said. “I just want to get home. With Q’on.”
He smiled at me and kissed me, seemingly with zero care that Director Hall watched us. His tongue invaded my willing mouth, and we made out until she cleared her throat to regain our attention.
“Tonight it is, then. I’ll go make the necessary calls.” With that she left, after placing all the documents neatly in her briefcase.
I saw her to the door, with Q’on close behind me. As soon as I shut the oak slab and turned the lock, he descended on me with hands and lips and even teeth. I laid my palms on the door to steady myself as his hand slid between my legs. Q’on rubbed my clit until my legs shook and my breath came in short, heated pants.
“So, we have many hours until we depart, yes?” he murmured into my ear.
“Q’on, we have to pack …”
“And we will,” he said, nipping at my earlobe, “but not until I’m done.”
That man made me come no less than three times before we even got to the bedroom. I screamed, I shouted, I moaned, I cursed, and most of all, I sent up a silent prayer thanking the Xalanite gods for his existence, for bringing him into my life.
Our “packing” ended up consisting of throwing a few outfits and some books into a suitcase just minutes before Director Hall returned with a car to take us to the ship. She and her driver cast twin knowing glances at us as we climbed into the black SUV, and it wasn’t until we had been on the road for an hour that I noticed how messy my hair was, how my shirt was misbuttoned, and how Q’on’s fly was down. Oops.
To her credit, Director Hall was professional enoughnotto ask questions. Instead, she filled the time with a detailed briefing of what to expect workwise once we got to Xalan. It seemed like a simple enough job, but I figured with so much at stake she wanted to be sure we understood the assignment.
Hunir waited for us at the base of the ramp into the ship. He took my bag with a smile, and Q’on helped me up the ramp. The Director stayed on the ground, waving at us as the ramp closed and the ship rose off the ground.
My stomach knotted up as the ground faded from sight on the viewscreens, but the nerves vanished once we exited the atmosphere and entered proper space.
The view couldn’t be described, not by English words. Even some of the Xalanite words that Hunir uploaded into my new nanites fell short of describing the sheer beauty before us.
Humankind was missing out on some spectacular imagery by limiting who got to go into space. Sure, we had video and photographs from space missions, but it just wasn’t enough. I stared at the screen for a solid hour before Q’on nudged me to come to the dining room with the others.
“We will be Xalan bound for days. You will have plenty of opportunities to see the stars. Come. Eat.”
“Are the stars this beautiful on Xalan, Q’on?”
He took my hand as we walked down the corridor. “Even more so, yet they still pale in comparison to your beauty.”
I giggled and elbowed his side. “You don’t have to win me over with fancy words anymore, you know. I’m already yours. Now and forever, Q’on. And if you Xalanites have a wedding ceremony, I’d really like to go through it with you.”
His brows shot up, and he grinned. “Was that a proposal?”
Chapter 27
Q’on
The fact that my mate proposed to me on our way to Xalan warmed my hearts, but even more amazing was that she said it in Xalanite. I don’t think she even realized she had slipped into my language. Thanks to Hunir’s knowledge of the Earth tongue, the translation reversal worked seamlessly in Amber’s mind.
When she realized she was speaking a different language, she lit up with joy. I contented myself with staring at her as she conversed with my kinsmen in our native tongue, ignoring my food in favor of not missing a second of Amber.
Halfway through the meal she caught me staring at her, and a gorgeous pink blush crept to her cheeks. I didn’t think I could ever tire of the amazing way humans changed colors with their changing emotions. We Xalanites tended to remain the same color no matter what our mood. This was much better, in my opinion.
The other Xalanites turned to me as well, curious as to what might cause Amber to flush, and I took that moment of attention to go to one knee at Amber’s side. I took her hand in mine, and her face reddened even more.
“Amber of Earth, it is my wish to make you my wife. To mate with you and only you from now until my dying day. Would you do me the honor of joining me in alip’nishceremony on Xalan?”
