Upon the Threshold (27 page)

Kraven muttered something a little too low for her to hear, especially with the transport pulling up to the platform. It looked much like the bullet trains of Earth, shaped differently and very different materials, but surprisingly similar.

“Otherwise what?” Oh, Eli had a good idea what Kraven would do if he couldn’t have his
decompression
time. She had seen it semifirsthand when someone had dared to interrupt them when they were making love the second day after their mating ceremony back on the world that her people had colonized. It had been the Beast, ready to rip someone to shreds. Thankfully Lukkis took care of it, and oh how she had enjoyed the rest of their lovemaking. Kraven had been primal, nearly animalistic, and she loved it.

“He said he’d beat them to bloody little piles of goo before dumping them out one of the airlocks,” Lukkis said. A huge grin was on his face as he glanced at Kraven, who was glaring over at him. “He just gets so temperamental at times. That’s usually when I let him beat on me for a couple of hours. Oh, the things one must do to ensure there’s enough crew to land that very large vessel.”

Eli laughed at that one and shook her head. Her hand was in Kraven’s and she gave it a squeeze. “Well, now I’m here. I know a most excellent way for him to work out his aggression. Sex is a wonderful tool for getting rid of the pent-up frustrations, don’t you think?”

“Yes,” Kraven said, still glaring at Lukkis. The transport doors had opened, and people were filing off. “We need to board,” he told her quietly. Squeezing her fingers, he tugged on her hand and pulled her into the transport. Which was luxurious and yet so understated.

Eli ran her hands over the smooth and clean seats. The plush interior was like the planet, impeccably clean. The scent of berries was still in the air and made her grin. There were underlying hints of something she couldn’t determine now onboard the transport, but she didn’t mind. It was a wonderful combination.

Taking a seat in the middle of a three-seat bench, she leaned back and gasped when the middle portion leaned back as well. “Oh my,” she said with a grin. “This is freaking awesome.” There was a pad that rolled out and settled just under her heels and made it comfortable in the extreme.

“They were constructed for the ultimate comfort for the passengers. This way, if you are traveling long distances, you can slumber while being shuttled to your destination. Relax back,” Kraven told her. “The seat moves side to side slightly as well, giving it a rocking motion as to help lull you to sleep as the transport gains speed.”

“That’s incredible.” She was in awe. She did as they instructed and sighed. Closing her eyes, she added, “Now if only it were darker. That would totally be the ticket. Are we going far?” So she might have jumped topics, but they’d come to expect that of her.

“About six stops,” Lukkis said. “Once we are moving, the windows will darken to cut out any outside light, and the inner lighting will dim. But it needs to be at a certain level for those getting on and off. It’s a little embarrassing to trip over someone or something because you can’t see in the dark.”

“Ah yes, that’s a very good point. Especially since it would likely be me tripping over things.” When they were both settled at her sides, she took their hands in hers and sighed. “Perfect now.”

“Sleep if you can. The chairs vibrate when we are approaching a stop, so we will wake up,” Lukkis told her softly. “It will take us some time to arrive at our destination.”

Kraven lifted her hand and, pressing a kiss to her knuckles, settled it on his chest. She could feel him heave a huge sigh before he seemed to relax, his fingers stroking lightly over her inner wrist.

Eli was happy, completely and fully. Blissfully unaware of the world moving around them.

* * * *

After her mates had woken her, they’d bundled her off the transport, and they’d begun their walk. It was even quieter out in the countryside. They were close to the mountain range. Hell, the damn things towered over them all. The air smelled different out here too, more cut grass with a hint of something spicy and yet distinctly floral.

Lukkis leaned in and pointed ahead of them. “That set of lights just coming over that rise ahead. That is where we are going and is Kraven’s retreat from the world. He has a lot of land, making it very private and a true sanctuary. You will quite enjoy it, I think,” he said to Eli.

“Of that, I am certain. I love it already.” There were none of the typical sounds one would expect in a city. Instead, there were simply the sound of animals, the songs of birds, and the softness of grass under their feet. She was amazed by it all. “Remarkable,” she whispered in awe. “I can’t wait to see the inside of our home.”

The outside was beautiful. It looked like a quaint cottage with ivy and flowers growing up the sides. However, that was where the cottage feel ended. The place was massive. There were what she would call turrets at the corners, and the gate that led to the home was made of heavy stone and metal. It was magical and impressive, or in her mind it was.

“It’s been empty for a while,” Kraven said softly. “One of the townspeople comes in to check on things and ensure there are no troubles. And on occasion, to beat the grasses down to a level so the place doesn’t look like it may be overtaken at any moment.”

“Well, it won’t be empty any longer. This will be our home.” Sure, they would have to go to the city and on occasion on planetary expeditions, but for right now she was more than happy to have a place such as this that she could call her home.

Nodding, Kraven smiled down at her gently. They headed for the gate, where he pushed the heavy metal open to allow her through. He followed a moment later after easing it closed once again. At the door, he punched in a code and then allowed her inside for her first look.

She walked into the home and took everything in at once that she could see. “Amazing.” She looked down at the floor. It was pure white, what she would consider marble, with heavy and thick veins of gold and silver running through it, and if she wasn’t mistaken, there were more than a few diamonds inside the marble.

All the furniture in sight was covered with cloth, protecting it from the bit of dust that was inside. Taking a look around, she noticed the windows—huge ones, they would let a lot of light in when the suns were up.

“We should go upstairs,” Kraven said quietly. “It’s been a long day, and I for one, could use some sleep. And we still need to uncover and make the bed up before we can even think of getting any rest.”

“Sounds like a plan. Do you have a shower that I can use as well? I would like to get the travel feeling off me.” It was that and the oils that they had insisted once more she rub into her skin. It hadn’t affected her as much as the first time, but she would still like to get a bit of it off.

“Of course.” He nodded. Putting a hand to her back, he urged her toward the stairs. “We will have to go into the village tomorrow for food. There won’t be anything here beyond what we brought with us from the capital. There should be some bottled juices if you are thirsty.”

“Thank you.” Eli leaned into his touch and sighed. “I should be good, promise,” she assured him with a half smile. “I’m happy right now, simply happy to be here with the two of you. Tomorrow we will worry about food and all that fun stuff. Tonight we worry about sleep.”

Nodding, he led her up the wide staircase and then down a hallway. Moving from her, he pushed the tall double doors open before holding a hand out to her. “Come, I’ll show you to the bathing room so you can clean up.”

Eli allowed Kraven to lead her to the bathing room. Taking in the utter opulence, she shook her head. Her new home was beautiful. It was filled with clean lines, minimal fanfare, but what there was was understated elegance.

“You approve?” he asked. Moving around her, he leaned over the large tub and activated the water flow. “If there is anything you wish to change or add, feel free. This will be our home when we are on planet if we are here more than a day.”

“I do approve, thank you.” She didn’t think there was much she would change. She might add some softer touches, but for the most part what little she had seen of the home, she loved. “And hopefully we will get more than a day at a time here. However, such is our life now, right? And they won’t separate us? They won’t ask Lukkis to go with one transport while you go on another?” She knew how random and needy that sounded, but she was so uncertain about how their mating would work within the laws of his people.

Turning, he stepped closer to her and touched her cheek. “They will never split us up,” he told her softly. “We are mated. They would never separate mates. It goes against everything we believe in and the basis of our society. While you may be temporarily transferred to a different vehicle during a battle, that would be the extent of any separations between us.”

“I don’t understand. Why would I be separated from you during battle? Wouldn’t the safest place for me be with you?” She was confused. How would she be able to slip from their ship in the midst of a battle without them worrying even more for her?

“During battle the least safe place would be near us,” he said. “At least if we are on the ground. If one occurs in space, then you would remain with us, where we could best watch over and protect you. On the ground…” Kraven shook his head. “Things can go horribly awry at a moment’s notice.”

“Ah, yes, that makes perfect sense. I was thinking while in space. I do not ever want to be on the ground in battle. To be honest, I am so not a fighter.” She never had been, and she never would be and knew it. She was more of a science geek than anything and always would be.

“Which we understand and know,” he said softly. “You are a scientist, too smart for your mates, but we are very glad you didn’t let that stop you from agreeing to mate with us.” Leaning over, he pressed a kiss to her lips and then stepped away. Turning, he shut the water off and from a small jar on the edge sprinkled in some crystals. “You should be undressing, Elisabeth, not worrying.”

“Sorry.” She reached up and touched her fingers to his cheek and nodded. “I will be out in like fifteen minutes. Unless I start to relax and drift; then you should come and check on me and make sure I’m not falling asleep.”

“I will check on you if you are not out soon enough,” he assured her. Lowering his head, he kissed her again gently. A small nip of his teeth and then he drew back. “Bathe, Elisabeth. You need to rest, my little mate.” Brushing his hand over her arm, he slipped around her and left her alone in the bathing room.

“Yes, rest sounds wonderful,” she whispered to his retreating back. Yawning, she got into the bath and then began to clean herself. She was starting to slip off into sleep as she bathed, so she quickly got out, dried, and then walked into their bedroom naked.

Lukkis was stretched out on the bed, a blanket over his lap as he read from a data pad. Kraven was across the room—it was a huge room—doing some sort of martial arts movements.

“Hello, little mate.” Lukkis smiled at her. He set the data pad aside and lifted up the blankets. “Come and get under the blankets so you don’t catch a chill,” he prompted her.

She gladly moved to his side and slipped under the blanket with him. Snuggling up against him when he pulled the blanket up and around her, she smiled. She turned to Kraven, watching him as he moved, and asked, “What is he doing?” She had never seen moves like the ones he was doing.

“It’s much like your old Earth martial arts. There are movements within many of them that, when put into a sequence, can be used to center oneself. They can also be used to get the heart going and to clear the mind, because when you are doing them, there is no room for anything else up there. You must be completely focused on what you are doing or you risk hurting yourself. He does this sequence mostly when he comes back to the homeworld. The tension of being so close to his familial unit. Kraven has never gotten along well with any of them because he thinks for himself and won’t follow whatever his father demands of him.”

“I hate that he is placed into that position with his family. I hope that whatever happens, he realizes he will always have us to lean on.” She knew Kraven was fully focused, so she was speaking to Lukkis alone. “Hopefully with him now being mated, they will ease back and leave him alone.” That was her hope at least.

“He knows and he will lean on us if he has the need. Something you need to realize—he doesn’t often have the need to lean on anyone,” he whispered to her. “As to his familial unit, I honestly cannot say one way or another. His father is a harsh and unforgiving male. He hates to be thwarted, and with Kraven mating his true mate instead of the one chosen for prestige, it will not sit well with his father. There will be trouble,” he muttered.

“He will have to deal with it. Whatever it is that comes our way, we will handle it as a unit. The three of us are solid, and that’s what matters. We won’t allow anyone to hurt him, just as you wouldn’t allow anyone to hurt me.” Period. It was as simple as that. She hoped.

“Feeling a little protective of him, are you?” Lukkis asked with a grin. Chuckling, he pressed a kiss to her cheek. Sliding down on the bed, he rearranged the stack of pillows behind his head and settled down. “I’ve watched him do this routine more times than I can count. It usually lulls me right to sleep wherever I’m sitting. Only good thing now is, at least I’m in a bed this go around.” He chuckled again.

“Yes, I can honestly say I am feeling more than a little protective of him. I love him just as I love you.” It was that simple to her. Eli did, however, grin and looked heatedly to Lukkis. “And I am in bed with you. We are both naked. Whatever shall we do in order to help the time pass?”

“Well, considering the fact he’s fully aware of us and what we’re talking about…” He grinned slowly, the smile taking on a bit of mischief. He wiggled his eyebrows. “I think we see if we can throw him off his game. I’ve never once managed it, but between you and I, I think we can find a way to interrupt his little thing going on there.”

“I think so as well. Especially if he knows I would absolutely love for him to climb into bed behind me and fuck me while I am riding you.” She wanted and needed both of them inside of her again. “I think I should start, however” —her hand moved down Lukkis’s chest and to his cock— “by tasting you. What are your thoughts on that?”