Meredith's Pride [Galactic Nuptials 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour ManLove) (2 page)

“No, we’re not. Etu and I only stopped to refuel our ship, and we’re waiting for clearance to enter the wormhole. We travel with our pride mate and five small cubs from our home.” Delsin frowned and nodded toward the upstairs level. “Do you know those men?”

Zintssar glanced up and then scowled. “No. They landed right before you did. They’re cyborgs from Dragna.”

“Cyborgs!” Delsin glanced at the cubs and relaxed when he saw them playing with Hakan. “What are they doing here? I didn’t think the station allowed anyone to land that wasn’t part of the Federation.”

Andon watched the robotic men. “I’ve heard they’re more machine than living tissue.”

Zintssar stepped aside when an alien rushed through the crowd. “I heard they were having trouble with their ship. I can’t imagine the station turning down anyone sending out a distress call.” He turned to Andon. “You never did tell me how you knew to meet me here.”

Andon laughed. “I’m not meeting you, fool. I’ve come to greet our new bride.”

Zintssar’s eyes widened. “What? Congratulations, my friend. When did this happen?”

“Thank you, but it hasn’t actually happened yet. I’ll be meeting her for the first time today.”

Delsin growled softly. “I don’t understand. How can you say she’s your mate if you haven’t met her yet?”

“We, well actually, I ordered her from Galactic Nuptials.” He pulled a small booklet from his pocket. “This is the catalog they put out. You can find one of their brides that look promising and set up a contract for a mating.” He flipped through the pages and then handed the book to Zintssar. “This is our mate.” He gave a little wink. “Maybe you can find a woman for you and your brothers.”

Groaning, Zintssar grabbed the book. “Bite your tongue.” He glanced at the picture and then passed the catalog to Delsin. “She’s very beautiful, but I’m not ready to tie myself to a mate just yet.”

Delsin pursed his lips, his head tilting to the side. “Why would you take a mate from a book? Are there no suitable females on your planet?”

Andon blushed. “It’s complicated. We don’t have enough females on our planet to go around to all the males. We form family clans that consist of two or more brothers to one woman. Unfortunately.” He glanced at the catalog in Delsin’s hand and smiled. “Or fortunately, we can look for mates off-world. Not all species are compatible with us for reproduction, and Galactic Nuptials will only pair us with mates that are compatible.”

Zin glanced up when the garbled sound of an announcement echoed out over the room. “That’s the ship from Earth landing on pad six.”

“Damn.” Andon ran his fingers through his hair. “Wait here, please. I want to introduce you.” He turned toward the doors of the station and hurried off, a smile brightening his face.

“What are you doing here, Zintssar?” asked Etu.

“I’m here to check out this planet. Arridia has been awarded one of the farms, and I wanted to get a feel for the place before we send anyone to live here. What are you guys doing here?”

Delsin leafed through the pages of Galactic Nuptials’ catalog while Etu told Zintssar about their trip. He studied the picture of Andon’s mate. Caleigh Davis was a beautiful woman. Blonde hair, green eyes, practically any man’s ideal mate. He flipped through the pages and stopped when he came to a beautiful brunette. She had long, silky-looking brown hair and deep blue eyes.
She’s perfect!
Scanning down he found her name, Meredith Carter. He glanced up through his lashes. Etu and Zintssar were watching Andon and his woman make their way across the room. Quickly, he tore the page from the book, making sure he had the contact information, and stuffed it in his pocket.

“Friends, allow me to present Caleigh Davis, my mate.” Andon put his arm around the young woman’s shoulder, bouncing back and forth on his feet.

Delsin studied Caleigh’s face. He blinked and then narrowed his eyes as a dull, red flush covered her cheeks.

“Caleigh,” Andon said. “This is my friend, and future neighbor, Zintssar from Arridia. And this is Delsin and Etu from Linnaeus.”

“Pleased to meet you, gentlemen.” She nodded, but did not reach out with her hand.

Andon pulled her a little closer to his side. “I’m sorry, Zin, but the hour is getting late. I want to get Caleigh home before the afternoon rains come. I’m pleased to know we’ll be neighbors, my friend. When you and your brothers come back, you must visit our home and take dinner with us.” He bowed formally to Delsin and Etu. “It’s been a pleasure. If you’re ever on this planet again, please don’t hesitate to visit our home. You’ll be most welcome.” Before anyone could respond, the couple moved toward the exit.

“Maybe I can help you out,” said Zintssar. “I have a home on Khera. It’s one of the moons orbiting Arridia. I own it privately so no one else will be there since I’m going to be living here for a while. I have a house there where you’d be comfortable.”

“What about your father? Won’t he object to us being in your territory?”

“I can notify Father and let him know I’ve given you permission to stay there indefinitely. You’ll be safe there with the cubs. Nothing gets past Arridian defenses.”

Delsin looked at Etu. “What do you think?”

Etu shrugged. “It sounds good. It’s not like we have a lot of choices, and it’s better than dragging the cubs all over the galaxy looking for somewhere safe.”

“I agree.” Delsin turned and offered his hand to Zintssar. “We accept your gracious offer, and thank you, Zintssar. Go ahead and notify your father. As soon as we receive clearance, we’ll head straight there.”

“That should put you there in a few hours. Travel safely, and don’t hesitate to send word if you need my help.”

Etu laid his hand on Delsin’s shoulder. “Hakan is waving. We’ve received our clearance. I’m going to help him get the cubs back on the ship.”

“Thanks, brother.” Delsin looked at Zintssar. “Thanks again, friend. You don’t know how much this means to me. I’m sure Chayton will send his thanks as well.”

“Go, Delsin. You don’t want to lose your clearance.”

He nodded, and then hurried toward the stairs.
I hope we don’t have to watch the cubs for long.

Several hours later, Delsin made final preparations to land on Khera. He watched Hakan maneuver their small ship. “Is everything a go for landing?”

Hakan nodded. “Yes, we’re going…”

“Delsin!” Etu came bursting through the door.

“Etu, you know you’re supposed to be buckled in with the cubs for landing.”

Etu winced, his voice breaking, as tears streamed down his face. “We received a communiqué from Knoton.”

“What’s wrong?” asked Delsin. Knoton had been instructed to stay behind and help protect the pride’s females when they refused to leave.

“All is lost, Delsin. The war is over. The Mkata brought in help from another world. Knoton did not recognize their species. He said they quickly overtook the Chaarta and slaughtered everyone, including the females. Knoton was wounded but managed to escape when their attention turned to the women.” He choked back a sob. “Everyone is dead, brother. We’re all that’s left of our pride.”

Delsin shook his head. “They killed Preyta? Why would Honaw kill her? I thought the whole reason for this war was his obsession with her.”

“Knoton said she went feral when Chayton fell. She killed four of the enemy before they took her down.”

Delsin blinked back tears and felt as if his heart was ripped from his chest. His fists clenched, and he held his breath as he fought not to let his beast take over.
What will become of us?

“How are we going to survive?” asked Hakan.” We have no way to increase our numbers until Jacy and Keme mature. We’ll have to remain in hiding indefinitely.”

Delsin swallowed hard and brushed his hand across his eyes. “Did you tell Knoton where to find us?”

Etu shook his head. “I didn’t want to tell him anything until I talked with you.”

“Go back and send another message. Let him know we’re on Khera. Tell him to hurry here as fast as he can, but be especially cautious. We’re all that’s left, and we can’t afford to lose anyone else.” He took a deep breath and turned toward the front. “Notify Arridia of our arrival and give them the landing codes for Khera. Let them know we’re expecting one more craft to join us and give them Knoton’s identifying numbers.”

Etu nodded and turned slowly toward the door. “Right away.”

Delsin turned to Hakan. “Let’s get this bird on the ground.” A few minutes later he followed Hakan down the ramp and got his first look at the forest moon orbiting Arridia. He studied the dense forest and turned when Etu cleared his throat. “What is it, brother?”

“What are we going to do? We’ve got to find some mates. We’re not equipped to take care of these babies.” All five of the cubs were crying at this point. “None of us know what we’re doing, and the cubs are missing their parents.”

Delsin thought for a moment and then pulled the page from his pocket he’d torn from Andon’s catalog. “We’re going to order us a mate.” He turned to Hakan. “Watch the cubs. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He turned to go back into the ship.

Etu grabbed his arm. “Where are you going?”

“I’m going to send a message to Galactic Nuptials and find out if this Meredith female is still available. If she is, I’m going to send Hakan to Earth to pick up our new mate.”

“Our mate!”

“Yes, brother. We’re going to do this together. We don’t have enough credits to get two mates so we’ll just have to share one. The main thing is to increase our pride with new blood.”

“And you want to do that by mating a female from Earth.”

“Unless you’ve got a better idea.”

Etu grinned. “Okay, you’ve sold me. Just make sure she’s pretty.”

“Is this pretty enough for you?” He held the picture up for Etu to see.

“Goddess! What are you waiting for? Go send your message!”

* * * *

Meredith peeled off his clothes and studied his reflection in the bathroom mirror. Only a little over five and a half foot tall, his reflection didn’t exactly scream “masculine.” He was small for a man, with long brown hair he usually pulled up into a ponytail. He believed his best feature to be his blue eyes. More than one of his past lovers had mentioned how mesmerizing they were. Meredith snorted, and turned on the water in the shower.

He’d held out as long as he could, and then called Galactic Nuptials again this morning. His shoulders slumped as he thought about his conversation with Miss Casteel. She’d been kind, but firm, that he should put his application to the back of his mind and let her work on finding someone for him. She didn’t want him to get his hopes up.

“Fat chance of that!” He climbed into the shower and let the warm water cascade over his head. He was miserable in both his private and his work life. He’d studied to be a teacher, but no school wanted to hire an openly gay man to teach preschool.
Do they think I’m gonna molest kids right in the classroom?
He’d had to settle for a job as an insurance clerk in a large firm. Even there he wasn’t safe from harassment. Over the years he’d been beaten up several times in gay bashings, had nasty pranks played on him, and pretty much been made to feel inferior. They’d kept him at such a low salary he’d been forced to find a second job in a small café. At least there he earned tips.

“Why can’t I find a man that wants me just the way I am?” he whispered.
He’d be tall, with broad shoulders, a hairy chest, and loads of muscles.
The warm water splashed on Meredith’s skin, beading up and dripping down the middle of his chest to surround his erect cock in a cocoon of warmth. One of his hands rose to tweak his nipples, teasing them into tighter and tighter peaks. Closing his eyes, he let soap-slicked fingers explore down his body to cup and play with his heavy sac.

Working his bottom lip between his teeth, he began stroking the firm column of flesh with his hand, swiping his thumb across the smooth tip. He let his nails scrape lightly over his scrotum, aching for the touch of someone else’s hand. Meredith cupped the soft sac, rolling it gently as it drew tight. Fervently, he pumped his cock, moaning when he came, ropes of pearly white cream shooting out and disappearing with the running water. Gasping for breath, his knees buckled, and he sank slowly to the floor of the tub. “Fuck this.” He breathed heavily in and out. “I’ve gotta pull myself together.”

Moving slowly, he quickly washed off and turned off the water. He’d just wrapped a large towel around his body when the phone rang. Grimacing, he traipsed through the house leaving wet footprints on the hardwood floor.

“Hello?”

“Meredith, this is Korona Casteel from Galactic Nuptials.”

Meredith’s hand trembled where it tightened on the phone. “Uh, hello, Miss Casteel. What can I do for you?”

Her laugh was musical. “It’s what I can do for you, dear boy. Can you come to the office this morning? I’ve got a client that you might be interested in.”

He could feel his heartbeat slamming against his chest wall. “I’m sorry, but I can’t. I’m supposed to work at the coffee shop today, and I can’t afford to lose any more time this month.”