Authors: K. D. Jones
“We have talked about this before. I have always been a big girl. Even growing up. I’ve accepted my size and I know I will never be thin like other girls. I’m okay with that.”
Dr. Garrett looked at Lizzie from head to toe. When she first met Lizzie over a year ago with Lola, Lizzie was a decent size fourteen, healthy and beautiful. The woman sitting across from her was now down to a size six, pale, with dark circles under her eyes. To top it off, Lizzie didn't seem to have a good body image of herself.
“Do you think you are still a big girl?” Dr. Garrett asked her.
“I could still lose about ten more pounds,” Lizzie admitted.
“Lizzie, I can’t help you if you are not honest with me and with yourself. You have lost a tremendous amount of weight in a short time period. That suggests that something traumatic happened.”
“Fine,” Lizzie begrudgingly said.
She wanted to deny it. Hide her problems from the world, but what good would it do. “After the Morins attacked, I began to feel guilty.”
“Guilty that you were spared while others like your friend, Lola, were taken and abused?”
“Yes,” her reply was whispered.
“What happened to your friend and the others was not your fault. I know Lola and she would not want you to feel guilty over this.” Dr. Garrett had to be careful in speaking about other people’s opinions or feelings. She had gotten to know the two women very well and she wanted to help Lizzie.
“I know. I am working through the guilt by continuing to serve as an educator onboard the transports. Each time before I go on my assignment I have nightmares and relive those dark moments. I begin to lose my appetite.”
“Have you thought of not going on the transports for these educating assignments?”
“I love to teach. Dr. Morris and I created a good coursework and I want to make sure it continues.”
“Couldn’t you create educational videos? Dr. Morris has a few she has done while she was pregnant.”
“I…guess I could.” She had never thought about creating training videos. She always enjoyed interacting with the students in class but she could do it through videos. In fact, she could get to more people that way. Plus, the classes were usually recorded so people could see them at a later date if they missed a class. So the material was already ready to go.
“I have known you for a little while now. I have not noticed this big of a weight loss in you before. Did something else happen that stimulated such an extreme reaction in you?”
Lizzie turned her head quickly. The image of seeing TylOR on Katiera flirting with those other women popped into her head. “I don’t know.”
The therapist gave her a stern assessing look. “What just came to you right then?”
Lizzie turned back to the therapist. “Months ago I was on Katiera for a celebration. They seem to have a lot of those. Anyway, I saw TylOR…Commander TylOR…flirting with another human woman. They left together and it was clear what they were going to be doing.”
“You were not seeing him then, correct?”
“No we weren’t seeing each other. But we had a connection I thought. He went with the skinny bitch and—”
“You felt inadequate?”
“Yes. As an educator, I am very confident in my skills. But since the moment I met TylOR, I questioned myself, doubted myself. He seems to be able to look right through me. He’s this larger than life person, attractive and very sexual. How could I ever hope to hold his attention. Seeing him with someone else hurt. Made me feel short and fat and ugly.”
“Do you really see yourself that way?”
Lizzie bit her bottom lip. “Sometimes…yes.”
“I think you need to work on seeing yourself differently. Make a list of your positive qualities, all the things you like about yourself. You really need to work on your body image of yourself. Instead of searching for flaws when you look in the mirror, search for things in your appearance that you like. You can also ask other people what they see when they look at you. Then I want you to try to see what they see. Next, you need to work on staying positive when you think about yourself. Stop thinking bad things. Keep a daily journal to talk about your feelings and how your day progressed. Lastly, I want you to see a medic on a regular monthly visit. I’ll contact Prime Medic SydEL on Katiera and ask if he has anyone he recommends.”
Both women turn their heads when they hear the suite door opening. “I will be heading back to Katiera. You have my contact information in case you need to talk remotely.”
“Yes, thanks again for seeing me.” Lizzie stood to walk Dr. Garrett out. TylOR nodded at the therapist as she left.
The moment the door closed TylOR took Elizabeth into his arms and kissed her deeply. “I have missed you.”
Lizzie giggled. “You were only gone for a couple of hours.”
“Too long, way too long.” He lifted her into his arms and headed for the bedroom.
“TylOR! We have to get ready for the dinner with the Primes tonight.”
“No, first I have to get you naked and claim you again. Once I have fucked you and made you release, then we will get ready for dinner.”
She felt her pussy quiver with anticipation. “Okay, I like your plan better.”
Chapter Thirteen
“Are you sure I look okay?” Lizzie asked for the third time since they left their suite. There were standing outside of Prime Leader KadEN’s suite and she was nervous as hell.
TylOR looked over at his mate. “Yes. That light blue gown makes your eyes sparkle like jewels.” It was a Katieran style dress with one shoulder strap. It left her other shoulder and arm completely bare. He couldn’t stop touching her exposed skin. She was so soft and smooth. Touching her was addicting. She looked so sweet and sexy, he wanted to carry her back to his suite and make love to her again.
“Don’t do that,” she told him, pointing her small finger at him.
“Do what?” he asked curiously.
“Look at me with those bedroom eyes. I can’t resist you when you do that.”
“Really?” his tone deepened and became huskier. He moved closer to her making her back up against the wall.
“TylOR.” Her eyes became heavy as she felt his warm breath against her cheek.
“Mm…you smell so good. Maybe we should forget this dinner and go back to our own suite. I want to taste my dessert first.” He sucked her earlobe into his mouth.
“Oh…” Her panties were completely soaked. An unfamiliar voice broke through the lust-induced fog she was in.
“I would not mind having dessert first either.”
TylOR growled as he reluctantly pulled away from Elizabeth’s delectable body. He turned around but kept his body between his female and the male that rudely interrupted them.
“AshOR.”
“TylOR.” AshOR turned his attention to the small female peeking around his brother’s back. He gave her a dazzling smile. “Good evening, Lizzie. You look lovely…from what I can see of you.”
“AshOR. it’s good to see ya.” She tried to shove TylOR out of her way but she couldn't get him to budge. “Move it!” she growled at him.
TylOR sighed and moved to the side allowing Elizabeth to move forward. But he reached out a hand and snatched her waist, keeping her at his side. When she glared in frustration at him he simply answered her, “Mine.”
“Men!” Lizzie gave up trying to move away from TylOR and settled against him. She wanted to say something else but the door to the Primes’ suite opened.
Prime Leader KadEN stood in the doorway looking at the three in the hallway. “Were you going to have dinner out here?”
Lizzie blushed feeling embarrassed for TylOR acting so possessive. She managed to move past him toward the door. “Hi.”
Prime Leader KadEN glanced down at the small Earth female and smiled gently. “Miss Connell, welcome to our home.” He moved to the side so she could enter the suite.
Lizzie had never been so relieved to see another woman in all her life. “Prima Lindsey, thank ya for inviting us to dinner.”
Lindsey gave the other woman a hug. She was a couple of inches taller and had to bend down a little. She liked Lizzie. She was smart, funny, and that southern accent was simply adorable.
“It is my pleasure. Come, let me show around.” Lindsey led Lizzie further into the suite. Of course one of the first stops was the baby’s room. Prima Lindsey was breeding with their first child.
The males went to the main living space and settled into an easy conversation. They were typical males. Touring someone’s suite or checking out their newly made baby’s room was not a top priority to them.
Lizzie watched as Lindsey’s face lit up the moment she entered the baby’s room. It was painted in a pale soft yellow. The furniture was all white. There was a mobile of stars, moons, and if Lizzie wasn’t mistaken, a couple of miniature sized transports.
“It’s beautiful,” Lizzie said as she fingered the mobile.
“It is. My father made the mobile for me. He’s very handy with carvings.”
“It must be exciting for you preparing for a baby.” Lizzie looked at Prima Lindsey’s swollen stomach with envy. Would TylOR want children? She had never thought about having children before because it always seemed so far off to her. But lately it was like her biological clock was ticking or something and she found herself longing every time she saw a child or someone pregnant.
“Lindsey, the servers have the dining table on the balcony ready.” Prime Leader KadEN stood in the middle of the doorway looking at his mate with adoration.
He held out his hand to her and Lindsey walked over to him and placed her hand in his. He leaned down for a quick kiss but lingered. Lizzie had to look away. She felt like she was intruding on an intimate moment. She followed them out of the baby’s room and down the hall back to the main living space. Both AshOR and TylOR were standing there waiting for them. TylOR held out his arm for her to take and she slipped her arm inside his.
Lizzie looked at the beautiful table setting lighted by candlelight and torches on a balcony overlooking the city of Kiljor. It was so breathtakingly beautiful. She took a moment just to appreciate the gorgeous view. Her moment didn’t last long.
Everyone took their seats. Lizzie sat down and frowned when she realized she was sitting in between both AshOR and TylOR, two brothers who acted more like enemies than family. How did she get to be so lucky? She noticed an extra place setting on the other side of AshOR. She was about to ask if someone else was joining them when the suite bell went off.
Lindsey looked over at KadEN. “Our last guest has finally arrived.”
One of the servers went to answer the door. Prime Leader KadEN stood to greet him. “Welcome to my home, StrykER. This is my mate, Lindsey.” Lindsey tried to stand but KadEN gently pushed her back in her seat.
StrykER bowed at Lindsey. “Prima Lindsey, it is an honor to meet you.”
“Thank you for coming, StrykER,” Lindsey said.
KadEN next introduced the stranger. “StrykER, you already know Commanders, TylOR and AshOR. Let me introduce Doctor Elizabeth Connell from Earth.”
Lizzie stood up along with AshOR and TylOR and went to clasp forearms but StrykER took her hand and brought it up to his lips instead. AshOR and TylOR both growled at the male until he let Lizzie’s hand go. She frowned at the two men at her side. What the hell was their problem?
The man, StrykER, was intimidating to say the least. He wasn’t as tall as TylOR, only six feet eight inches. He had really short blond hair and these piercing dark blue eyes. When he looked at Lizzie head to toe she felt herself shiver.
“Doctor? Is that the same as a medic?” StrykER asked as he released her hand and took his seat next to AshOR.
Lizzie sat down and the males follow suit. “Yes. But I am not a regular medic. I specialize in languages and cultures. I am more of an educator.”
“You study languages? Is it not obsolete with the translators?” he spoke down at her.
Lizzie didn’t like this man’s attitude at all. “I do not have a translator.”
He looked at her in surprise before masking his emotions. “How is that possible?”
She gave him a superior look of her own. “I don’t need a translator. I speak over twenty fluid Earth languages and I am currently learning ancient Katieran and ancient Morin.”
StrykER looked at her with new eyes. Then he spoke the few Morin words he had been able to decipher.
“Why are you with the Commander?”
He nodded at TylOR.
Lizzie blushed before she answered him back in the Morin language.
“That, Mr. Nosy, is between me and him.”
Stryker laughed at her response. The reaction did a strange thing to his whole demeanor. He no longer looked like evil in carnet. The laughter left him with a smile on his face that lightened up his eyes. He went from good looking to dark and sexy. She spoke without thinking, “You should laugh more. It makes you look less scary.”
StrykER smiled at the little Earth female with the strange fiery hair. “I need the scary to help with my interrogation skills. I have to intimidate those I question or they will not tell the truth. People do not find a laughing male very intimidating.”
Lizzie smiled back at him. “I guess not.”
“She is my bond mate,” TylOR growled at StrykER. He did not like that the male could speak a language with his mate that he could not speak. He was secretly learning how to use the silent language after having seen the village leader on the Colonial Planet flirt with Elizabeth.
StrykER looked over at TylOR’s glare. “She has already said as much.”
He looked over at Elizabeth and noticed the pink color of her face. He reached for her hand under the table and squeezed it. It took a few seconds but she squeezed his hand back. It made him more at ease.
“So, Dr. Connell, why did you decide to study the Morin language?” Prima Lindsey asked, trying to steer the conversation in a neutral direction.
“Please, call me Lizzie. I was already studying the ancient Katieran. I had listened to Commander KydEL talk to Prima Captain Jaxon about them having problems translating the Morin communications they intercepted because they seemed to be a more ancient dialect. I asked if I could get some samples of both the ancient and the modern written and spoken Morin language. I wanted to compare the two to see if there were any similarities. It’s best to learn to decipher the written language first before trying to learn the spoken language. The exception would be for those cultures that do not have a written language. It may take a little longer but I always get a language down.”