The Melier (Women of Dor Nye Book 1) (15 page)

He’s right, damn it.

Lucia grumbled in her throat and then repeated the calming mantra until she felt better. His lilting language and smooth voice helped calm her further. When he began purring and nudged her chin with his nose, Lu snickered and draped her arms over his shoulders to hug him.

“Alright,” she sighed. “I’m calm, but if I see any comms taking vid or photos, I’m attacking and none of you better interfere.”

“There’s a good lass,” Gramps grinned.

****

They had walked to the restaurant, since it was in the same building they were staying. The lighting was low and intimate and the entire atmosphere was comfortable. The first level was large and open, traditional low laying tables with cushions around them strategically placed and all around the outskirts of the main floor were raised, curtained nooks containing more tables and cushions. The balcony that wrapped around the top was filled with small dining parties, chatting, laughing, drinking and looking entertained. They were led to a very large table placed in the middle of the main floor by a waiter in a fitted tunic and skin tight pants, all in white. The rest of the wait staff wore something similar for distinction. Assembly seat holders that were already at the table waved and smiled as their party approached; close associates of her dad and Gramps. Lucia was gladdened to see Dr. Trex had joined them too.

Introductions were made and they all settled themselves along the cushions. Lucia sat on her knees, as her dress was being difficult and it made her wonder why she’d let her mother talk her into wearing it. She’d only been in it a few hours and it was already uncomfortable. She felt like her chest was going to spill out of it and the fabric was a little too tight around her stomach. It
did
look nice though. Nova had urged her to wear her hair down once Lucia had put on the clawed necklace, so the wild curls and the shredded skirt made her look primitive.

When the first course was served, Lucia did a little dance in her seat as her fingers dipped into the thick green mash. It was sweet and salty; the differences making her taste buds
zing
with pleasure. She took the soft, herbed
frona
, a flat bread, and dipped it into the mash. She had no idea what it was, but it melted on her tongue. She made such a fuss over it,
mmm
’ing after every bite, that Soren’s rumbling chuckle was almost constant.

The conversation steered to Assembly matters, as Lucia expected was bound to happen, and the hot topic of flesh trafficking. The Intergalactic Coalition was working with every world they had treaties with to try and end the trafficking of sentient beings. Dor Nye had laws on it, but it still happened and she’d seen it with her own eyes at the port plenty of times. Species of all kinds were manacled, sold and who knows what happened after that.

“I agree that it should be talked about,” said one of her Gramps associates. “However, I do not see an end to it. Flesh is too valuable and it will continue to be sold.”

Lucia rested her palms on the table top and slowly chewed the remainder of what was in her mouth. Her eyes narrowed as she contemplated what he was
actually
saying. “Are you saying it’s not worth fighting for, Mr. Rowal?” It was the first time Lucia had participated in the conversation and it lulled for a moment.

“Of course it’s worth fighting for,” he took a sip of his drink. “But think of the time and effort we’d be putting into a largely moot war, and how other issues we could actually make a difference on would be better suited to our attention.”

“Bullshit,” Lucia blurted and a glass clanged against a dish. Her own eyes slightly bugging that she’d lost control of her mouth once
again
. She cleared her throat and looked down at her empty plate for a moment. “I meant,” she said in a softer tone. “Yes, I’m sure there are many matters that would take less time to resolve. Though, that should not stop the Assembly from doing all they can to help I.C. in that
moot war
. Just because a problem may take longer to fight for, require more effort with less progress and seem impossible, doesn’t mean it
shouldn’t
be considered an important issue.” Lucia finally looked up and saw her Gramps and dad beaming at her.

“Agreed,” Soren said beside her, his knuckles brushing up and down her arm. “Those who deal in flesh do so because it is an easy, quick profit and the
stock
is effortless to obtain. They are lazy. Increased cargo customs and higher penalties for those found trafficking will make their job
harder
.”

Lucia’s smile slowly grew as he continued to speak. She was suddenly glad he’d eaten up every book he could find, because he was making a very valid point that seat holders could put stock in. His experience with the Trepnils would be proof enough, but it would be cruel to make him talk about that again.

“If Dor Nye did this and other planets followed suit, it would force many flesh peddlers to stop their business, or risk paying a
price
they are not willing to pay.” Soren let that linger in the air so everyone understood that
price
meant the peddlers life.

The conversation carried from there as Soren and Rafe joined in the discussion with the different security measure that could be set in place and the technology that could be utilized to aid those efforts. Lucia watched with rapt attention as the next course was served, and the next.

Her mind wandered to the procedure she was
hoping
Soren would agree to. Time was running out. Dr. Trex’s colleague would be at the capital for the week and the facility to do the procedure was only a ride away. Lucia had waited patiently for three days, since the night she’d asked him to think about it. She’d told Soren everything Dr. Trex had told her; the risks, how they’d go about the procedure, where it would happen and the expected recovery time which was almost instant. But he still hadn’t given her an answer. Now that they were in the capital, Lucia felt a sense of urgency that she continuously tried to shove down.

When the next course arrived, the waiter announced it as the
‘daring dish’
. Half the table
‘ooh’d’
and the other half looked nervous. Lucia was nearly vibrating with joy at the anticipation. She loved the food the chefs served every year. They came from all over, from different galaxies and planets, all to serve the best of the best during that one week. It gave them a chance to display their skills and often gained many new clients that requested their catering on a regular basis.

The dishes were distributed, followed by gasps of horror, curiosity and nausea. Lucia stared, and stared and then stared some more. The plate was a wriggling mess of blue
feelers
. They were coated in a fine sheen of
slime
, moving about the plate in a twitch of nerves. To her dismay, she felt a sick mixture of hunger and revulsion.

“Oh dear,” Nova moaned. “What is this?”

“Seasoned Poshka tentacles,” the waiter grinned with satisfaction.

“What happened to the rest of it?”

“Boiled and served during first course,” he responded.

The buttery green mash.

“I can’t believe I’m saying this,” Lucia licked her lips and tried not to gag at the same time. It was the strangest reaction. “But part of me thinks this dish looks
delicious
.” Her fingers tentatively reached out and pinched a tentacle between her fingers. She began lifting it and then it wriggled and slipped from her fingers with a
thwap
back to the plate. Lu tried again and the same thing happened. The table watched on in horror and she thought her mother was going to faint, she was so green.

Lucia sighed when it happened a third time and then Soren lengthened one of his black, curved claws. He stabbed a tentacle on her plate and then lifted it to her lips. She shook her head as she built her resolve and then opened her mouth. Soren placed it on her tongue when she tilted her head back. The tentacle writhed, poking all around her mouth and one end slipped the corner of her lips and she quickly pushed it back in and began chewing. Lucia’s eyes were squeezed closed and when the buttery, gooey inside of the tentacle gushed her mouth, she gagged and
‘mmm’d’
at the same time. Her senses were warring with each other and she thought it was disgusting and delicious all at once.

When she finally swallowed, she opened her eyes and her stomach lurched with need. Lucia took a drink and swished it around her mouth, trying to make sense of it. “More,” she told Soren and he obliged.

“Fascinating,” Dr. Trex said with mirth.

“I might vomit,” Frellie covered her mouth as she and everyone else watched Lucia eat another tentacle, and another.

“You and me both,” Lucia said around the mash, that
‘gag-mmm’
reaction happening again before swallowing. “Half of me wants to retch and the other half thinks this is so
tasty
.” She watched Soren take a tentacle from his own plate. He chewed slowly, and then swallowed.

“Good,” he nodded and fed Lucia another one.

“It must be the infant that’s making you crave something you would normally not eat,” Dr. Trex said, pulling out his ever present miniature tablet and making a note. Lucia moaned with loathing and gratification as she chewed the tentacle and listened to her doctor. She finished her plate and drank her entire glass of water, chanting to herself that she
would not
throw up.

“Please take these plates away,” Nova said to the waiter, trying not to embarrass herself by heaving. Soren bit off the claw he’d used with a
crunch
and discarded it onto his dish before the waiter took it.

Lucia was burning up again. Sweat dabbed her forehead and temples, wetting her hairline. A second waiter refilled her water glass and she gulped it down, letting him refill it again. Dr. Trex made more notes, carefully watching her. “Why is it so
hot
in here?” she panted, fanning herself.

“It’s pleasantly warm,” Frellie said. She wasn’t sweating and neither was anyone else.

“She’s been sweating an awful lot lately,” Grams told Dr. Trex, who made another note and smiled.

“Oh yes, that is to be expected,” he began. “Melier have a higher body temperature than humans, which they can regulate. You will most likely experience bursts of raised body temperature as you carry.”

Soren must’ve signaled a waiter to bring a fan because she felt the slight breeze cooling her down. Lucia turned her face into the direct gust and sagged against the table. “This pregnancy is going to be the death of me,” she moaned dramatically. Soren growled and she huffed, grinning lazily into the flowing air.

Hopefully there’s no leftover tentacle in my teeth.

Let’s never think about what just happened. Ever. Again.

Chapter 14

Their party had ended the meal on a sweet dish of flaky pastry drizzled in a thick, berry sauce and chilled cream. Lucia was feeling much better and pleasantly full as they loaded into a transport to end the night with one of the many dramatizations planned for that week at a renowned theater. They were meeting her Quar Loy grandparents there and Lucia was bouncing with excitement.

The transport took them through a winding white stone street and the conversation was abuzz among her family and their associates. It was a short ride and when they arrived, the theater lights lit up everything around it. Once again, there was a mash of all types of people, all colors of clothing and everyone had smiles on their faces. The first night of the week was always the most enjoyable. Lucia laced her fingers through Soren’s as they followed their entourage inside. Not long after, she spotted her two sets of grandparents and squealed, pointing. Pulling Soren along, everyone met halfway.

“Gran!” Lucia squished Nova’s mother in a hug. The older version of Nova hugged her back and giggled happily. A fine smattering of tiny orange scales glided from her cheekbones and swept up into her hairline. They glittered in the light.

“Oh, it’s been too long,” Gran breathed. She always smelled like warm vanilla. Letting her go, she hugged the rest of her grandparents, saving one for last.

“Soren,” Lucia gushed. “
This
is grandma Ryla and grandpa Koylo. She fell in love with a non-human too.” Beside Ryla stood a very tall Yadana man; thus, her Yadana DNA. His scales were a bright orange and his white markings trailed from the back of his neck downward. His throat faded into a paler orange, almost white. His eyes were a bright green with a rounded pupil. He was very humanoid, aside from the scales.

When she noticed everyone was looking at her and they weren’t greeting Soren, she frowned.

Oh.

‘She fell in love with a non-human
too’
.

What she’d said dawned on her and a look of surprise lit her features. “I…” she began, unsure of what she was going to say. She looked up at Soren, whose pupils were slowly dilating. His nostrils flared as he breathed harder, like he was angry. “Soren?”

“Yet you want me to undergo a procedure that has more negative results than positive?” His voice was disbelieving.

“Well yes-”

“And what if the
real
me is someone you loathe?” he began pacing as people milled around their frozen group, going about their business. “What if that version of me views you and our youngling abominations?” The more he spoke, the angrier he got. His eyes were black and his claws were lengthening with each flex of his fist while his tail whipped dangerously.

“Soren-”

“What if I lose my memories
again
and I do not
remember
you, Loo-Sha?” Chest rising and falling, he looked a fright. Lucia noticed their group was getting nervous, but he didn’t scare her. “I will not do it.”

“Why, Soren?” She realized those were very valid concerns and she worried too, but was it worth never knowing?

“Because I
refuse
to do it,” he growled.

“That isn’t a reason!” Lucia pleaded.

“Because I refuse to
lose
you!” he stopped pacing and roared. His mouth was open as he was panting, teeth glistening. His roar deafened the crowd in the lobby and the chatter died. Lucia fisted her hands.

“You will
not
lose me,” Lucia reasoned. “I will help you to remember
me
and who
you
are to me.” Her hand covered the spot on his chest that beat heavily. Soren shook his head with a gust of incredulity, turned and stalked away.

“Soren!” Lucia started after him, but her Grams caught her hand.

“Let him have some space, sweetling,” she crooned.

Lucia stared as Soren stormed through the entrance of the theater, never looking back.

****

The lights dimmed and still Soren didn’t return. She stared at the seat next to her for long moments before dragging her attention to the stage. The theater was an O shape with staggered seating all the way to the stage floor, where the show had already begun. It was a comedy that Lucia
would’ve
enjoyed, had her mind not been elsewhere.

Lucia loved Soren. How was that possible? When did it happen? How had she
let
it happen? What if he was a partnered male and once he got back his memories, he really would walk out of her life forever because whoever was waiting for him, he loved more?

Loved at all, really.

She wasn’t even sure Soren loved her back. Is that what he meant when he said he refused to lose her? Was it just a physical thing? Were his feelings for her that of a friend with
perks
? Somehow Lucia didn’t think he would’ve gotten so upset over
friendly
feelings. That thought alone made that lingering knot in the pit of her stomach roll over. Her chest tightened and a lump formed in her throat that she repeatedly tried to swallow.

Please do not let those tentacles make a second appearance
now
.

Don’t throw up, don’t throw up, you will
not
throw up!

Lucia felt like shit the entire show. She felt bad for shoving that procedure down Soren’s throat and demanding he have it done, but she just couldn’t even think of having a life with him if he already had one somewhere else. Then she felt even shittier because what if he
did
lose the memories he’d acquired since his last mind wipe? Lucia would feel guilty the rest of her life. She really would be a thief at that point; essentially stealing Soren’s memories from him. He’d never remember how they’d gotten to know each other or that he’d saved lives on Sanru. He would wake up every morning a stranger in his own body, in a home with no one who looked like him, with a youngling that he couldn’t remember making.

I’m a terrible person, aren’t I?

Do you want me to answer that?

I am!

When the show was over and they were back at the hotel lobby, they all said their ‘goodnights’ after making plans to share in more events the next day. Lucia was starting to worry, since Soren still hadn’t shown back up. Her hand found and rubbed her belly while they rode the glass lift to their floor.

Hours went by and still, no Soren. She did everything she could to stay awake. Lucia paced, she tried watching vids, tried going for a walk around the lobby, and even tried playing
moco
with a stranger. She’d been so out of her mind, she lost the game in record time.

Lucia retreated back to her room and chanted to herself that she wouldn’t cry, and she wouldn’t worry. Soren was a giant beast and he could take care of himself. With that, Lucia crawled to the middle of the bed and stuffed a pillow between her knees so she could try and get comfortable. A few minutes went by and she was out.

****

The bed dipped and Lucia woke with a start, staring into the pitch and trying to make out what was in the room with her.

“Loo-Sha,” Soren whispered, nudging her chin with his nose. She sighed with such relief that he was back within her reach and
safe
.

“Soren,” she breathed, her fingers lightly touching his cheek. “Don’t ever do that again.” Lucia tried saying it with conviction, but it just came out as a whisper.

Soren removed the pillow from her knees and rolled her onto her back where he planted himself between her thighs. His lips found hers and they were slow, kissing her with reverence and fragility that lit a fire in her belly. They found her eyelids, her nose, her chin, the pulse in her neck and her collarbones. Soren’s hands spread her sleeping robe, exposing her naked flesh beneath and he began to explore it. His tongue tasted her skin, drew wet circles around each brown nipple and carefully sucked them without marring her skin with his sharp teeth. The pull of his lips lifted the fleshy mounds and took turns with his hands as he lightly squeezed and kneaded.

Lucia’s pussy clenched with need, seeping her wetness. She felt Soren’s breath fan against her skin; he could smell her readiness for him. His mouth found hers again and her thighs spread further with his weight pressing down to her core. When his cock wedged itself through her lips and the swollen veins bumped along her insides, her breath hitched.

Soren’s arms caged her in as he leaned on his elbows, hovering above her. Her eyes had adjusted to the dark a little more and she could make out the shadow looming above her. Lucia was sure Soren could make her out perfectly. A small thrill shrieked up her spine that she couldn’t
see
who was fucking her, but she
knew
. She’d know his body anywhere.

Soren fucked her with a gentle urgency. He’d withdraw, softly thrust forward, grind their bodies together and do it all over again. Every circle of his hips when their bodies kissed would brush her clit against his textured skin and make her gush a little more.

When she began to moan and cry out, his hand covered her mouth so she wouldn’t disturb anyone else in the suite of rooms. Lucia’s nostrils flared as she breathed around the clamped hand and tried to hold on while his thrusting faintly jolted her entire body upon contact. Her stomach curled in on itself repeatedly as the muscles continued to soak up the euphoria threatening to drown her.

“
I’m coming
,” she muffled into his hand and her body stiffened as he continued to deeply, slowly thrust, grind and thrust again. He groaned into her ear, the low rumble rippling gooseflesh over her, while he sunk impossibly further and started spurting her insides with his scalding seed. Lucia’s orgasm pitched into a second one before she even finished the first and she screamed, the clamped hand turning it into a piercing whine. Soren continued to grind into her, his tongue flicking the lobe of her ear and lips brushing along the skin of her temple as his back arched over her body to try and compensate for their height differences.

When he finally removed his hand from her mouth, he sagged above her, careful not to put all of his weight on her. Their breath mingled as Soren’s lips found hers again, kissing and tasting. His arms wound their way around her back, holding her to him as he kissed the curve of her ear, her shoulder and the side of her neck in sweet aftermath.

“I will do it,” Soren whispered.

****

Lucia was dressed in a
teyo
again, this time it was red and she had on a matching skirt with slits up the sides to her thighs. She was on fire, even with her curls up and she desperately fanned herself as she walked in circles in the hallway of the facility where Soren would undergo the memory retrieval procedure. She’d convinced most of her family to continue about their day, but her Grams and Gramps insisted they tag along. Lucia inwardly smiled, secretly loving it that her grandparents had really taken a liking to Soren.

“Sweetling,” her Grams said above her reading material. “You’re making yourself warmer by walking around.”

“I can’t help it Grams,” Lucia moaned, fanning faster. She just couldn’t sit still when she was nervous about something and she was definitely
nervous
. The procedure would only take an hour, Dr. Trex’s colleague, Dr. Nimka, had said. It was ten minutes in and Lucia was a bundle of tension, worrying over the outcome of the whole thing. Soren had been calm, collected, as usual. Even though it was his brain that might come out freshly
cooked
.

Gah, stop being negative!

Woosahhhhh.

Lucia had told Soren she’d be there as soon as he woke up. She’d felt awful and elated that he’d finally agreed. He still hadn’t said anything about
love
to her, though she’d
felt
it in how he’d kissed and held her last night. Her heart squeezed at the thought. What would she do now, if he didn’t remember her? Lucia couldn’t
lose
him. She couldn’t.

“I need a drink before I melt,” Lucia complained. “I’m heading downstairs. Do you two want anything?”

“No sweetling, but hurry back,” Grams said without looking up from her book. Her Gramps shook his head and Lucia turned to head through the doors.

Lucia wandered the halls, getting lost in her own thoughts. When she finally ended up downstairs and found water, she decided she didn’t want to go back upstairs just yet. There was too much on her mind and she knew her constant movement made her grandparents agitated, even if they’d never admit it.

Soon, she found herself holding her slippers and sinking her toes into the grass of a nearby garden. Lucia closed her eyes and tilted her face to the sun in a spot where it speckled through the trees above her. She stood there, just
listening
to the sounds of nature; the song of birds, howling of critters and the bustle of the city. Lucia’s breathing was deep, sucking up the mixed aromas of plant life and a nearby eatery. It was calming, and she was glad she’d decided to come, because calm was something she desperately needed.