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

“No worries, Meredith. I’ll just come to see you. Can you take a break for a few minutes if I come to the coffee shop?”

“Sure, no problem at all.”

“Okay, tell me where.”

“I’m working at The Coffee Station. It’s on the corner of State and Galagos. Do you know where that is?”

“Yes, I know exactly where it is. I’ll be there in about an hour if that’s okay.”

“Sure, that’ll be great. I’ll see you then.”

“Okay, Meredith. Bye for now.”

Meredith hung up the phone and danced around his bedroom. “They found me somebody!” Quickly, he pulled on his clothes, grabbed his keys, and headed out the door. The Coffee Station was only ten blocks away, so he took off jogging.

Meredith walked into the shop and studied the room. The thick whirr of the frothing machine drowned out the laughter and murmur of voices of the people in the coffee shop. The wrought iron trendy chairs with padded seats were filled with people hunched over laptops and books. The air was heavy with the smell of sweet caramel and chocolate while muffins baked in the kitchen. It competed with the fresh-brewed coffee and acrid scent of espresso.

He was a little early for his shift, so Meredith ordered himself an Italian café latte. The drink was his favorite. Made with espresso, a hint of chocolate, and steamed cow’s milk, it made for a wonderful pick-me-up. He took his warm mug and found an empty seat. Steam misted across his face as he blew on the frothy drink.

Meredith let his gaze bounce from couples leaning toward each other at the chic bistro tables to the laughing groups of teenagers crowding the booths. His own table partner, an empty chair, had him saying a silent prayer that Miss Casteel had indeed found him a mate.

He groaned at the first sip of the chocolate-drizzled whipped mocha and glanced up when the bell jangled over the door. He watched as Miss Casteel navigated the room, a wide smile on her face.

She put out her hand. “Don’t get up.” She sank down into the chair closest to Meredith. “I won’t keep you in suspense, Meredith. We’ve had an inquiry regarding your availability as a mate, but there is a rush factor.”

Meredith’s hand flew to his chest, splaying out over his breastbone. He struggled to speak. “You’ve found someone? Somebody really asked for me?”

She reached over and squeezed his hand. “Yes, dear boy. We’ve had someone ask specifically for you. Actually, it’s two people.” She grinned. “The men are from the planet Linnaeus, although they’re living on a moon orbiting Arridia at this time. It’s only a temporary location for them, but they’re not sure where they’ll put down permanent roots yet. They’re lion shifters.”

Meredith cleared his throat. “Um, what…I mean, that’s great. Why are there two men wanting a mate?”

“It’s not unusual for their species to form triad relationships. It’s my understanding there’s not many left in their pride so they’re willing to share. Is that a problem?”

“No, no it’s not a problem.” He narrowed his eyes. “What’s the catch? Are they butt ugly?”

Korona laughed. “No, they’re pretty hot even in their Federation identification pictures. They weren’t able to get to one of Galactic’s offices to have an official picture taken so this will have to do.” She handed him two small prints.

Meredith studied the pictures and felt his heartbeat speed up. Their catlike eyes were mesmerizing. Not even the grainy pictures could take away from their masculine appeal. “I repeat, what’s the catch? This seems too good to be true.”

“The catch is there’s a time crunch.”

“What do you mean?”

“They’re sending a representative to Earth to pick up their mate as soon as I tell them you’re available. They don’t have time to wait around. They need a mate as soon as possible.”

Meredith frowned. “Why?”

She shrugged. “I’m not sure what to tell you, Meredith. They explained their situation to Tarooka, and he approved them for a fast meeting. He told me that they had legitimate reasons for the rush.”

“Who’s Tarooka?”

“Tarooka Meekers owns Galactic Nuptials. He’d never steer any client into a situation that wasn’t safe. He’s always had an uncanny ability to match the right people together, although he doesn’t always explain his reasons for the matches he makes.”

He studied the pictures again and felt his cock hardening inside his jeans. “How fast are we talking about?”

“They’ve got their own shuttle and can be here ready to leave in forty-eight hours, if you’re willing.”

Meredith licked his lips. “And you’re sure it’s me they want?”

“Absolutely, Meredith. They forwarded your picture along with their application in their communiqué. They definitely asked for you specifically.”

Meredith relaxed as laughter bubbled from his chest. He stood and pulled Korona from her chair, grabbing her up in a bear hug and swinging her around. “Thank you, thank you so much.”

She held him tightly, patting him lightly on the back. “I’m happy for you, Meredith. You deserve something good in your life.”

He felt elated. He’d never believed the day would come that someone would want him for a mate.
I don’t care what happens. I’m going to be the best mate they could ever imagine.

Korona struggled in his arms until he released her. “You’re going to need to organize to get ready to leave here in just two days.”

“What do I need to do?”

“You’re going to need a physical exam, and you’ll need to be fitted with a translator before you leave. Luckily, the exam won’t take long because they don’t have to worry about you being compatible to bear children.”

“What?”

She laughed. “Women have to be tested to see if they are able to reproduce with the men they’re mating, or if medical intervention is needed. In your case, he’ll merely do some blood work to make sure you’re not carrying any germs to another world. You’ll also need to pack, notify people that you’re leaving and give out our address for any messages that need forwarding. There’s a mountain of paperwork for you to sign before you can go off-world.”

“Where do I go for this medical exam?”

“You’ll need to go see Dr. Xavier Jtsar. He does the exams for all our clients. His office is in the same building as Galactic Nuptials. He’s on the fourth floor. Just get over there sometime this afternoon or early in the morning, and he’ll work you in. I’ll let him know you’re coming.” She picked up her purse and slung it over her shoulder. “Do you have any more questions?”

Meredith thought for a minute and couldn’t organize his thoughts. “None that I can think of right now, but I’m sure that’ll change.”

“That’s okay, Meredith. Feel free to call me anytime if you want to know anything. I’m happy for you. And I’m pleased that we could help make your dreams come true.” She started toward the door. “I’m going to get the paperwork done today. Drop by my office after you see the doctor, and you can sign everything then.”

“Bye, and thank you.” Meredith watched her leave, blinking back the tears in his eyes. “Oh, no, I forgot to ask about Midnight.
Wonder if they’ll let me bring him. What could it hurt?

Meredith paced anxiously back and forth outside the terminal doors of the Earth Transit station. Every once in a while he’d stop and study his reflection in the glass door. His fingers shook as he combed them through his unruly hair. He’d left it loose so he’d look more like his picture in the Galactic Nuptials’ catalog.

“Meowwww!”

He looked down at the pet taxi nestled against his luggage and sighed. Midnight was not happy confined in such a small space. Korona had briefly been speechless when he’d asked if he could bring his furry companion along for the trip. There were no rules against it, but she did warn him to keep a close watch on the small feline. Other worlds could hold dangers neither of them was aware of. He frowned at the tape seal across the small cage. They’d searched and scanned his bags, leaving a binding tape across each one to prevent him from opening them before he left Earth. Luckily, the cat’s carrier held its own water source.

Sighing, he began pacing again, watching for anyone that looked like he might be a cat shifter. Meredith pulled out the black-and-white pictures of his mates-to-be and rubbed his thumb across the images. He’d received a report on the two men, and he’d nearly memorized it when he couldn’t bring himself to sleep. Their names were Delsin and Etu, and Delsin was the leader of his pride. Meredith chuckled softly.
Does that make me his queen?

A man walking through the concourse caught Meredith’s eye. He towered over everyone else, easily over six feet tall, with dark black hair. He had a feral look to his face with tiny, thin black whiskers. His dark-green eyes kept darting to a paper he had clutched in his hand as he searched the crowd. When his gaze met Meredith’s, he stopped, consulted the picture, and then smiled, showing off his wicked, pointed teeth.

* * * *

Hakan moved forward and let his gaze wander down the human’s body. He gasped, taking a small step back when he spotted the bulge between his thighs that shouldn’t be there. Cautiously, he moved toward the small man. “Are you Meredith Carter?”

Meredith smiled, holding out his hand. “Yes, that’s me. But everybody calls me Mer. It’s great to meet you.”

Hakan stiffened, his eyes widening. Slowly, he reached out and shook the offered hand. “I’m Hakan of the Chaarta pride. I’ve been sent to escort you to your mates.”

Mer bounced on his toes, smiling and giving Hakan a little wink. “I can’t tell you how happy I am you’re here. I’m all ready.” He stopped, and seemed to study Hakan’s face. “Is something wrong?”

Hakan snapped his mouth shut and forced a smile. “No, I’m sure everything’s fine.” He pulled a picture out of his pocket and showed it to Meredith. “This is you, right?”

He glanced at the photo and nodded. “Yep, that’s me.”

Shrugging, Hakan gave him a genuine smile. “Then let’s be on our way.” He bent and lifted one of Mer’s bags only to jump back in alarm when it hissed. “What the hell?” He peered closer, narrowing his gaze on the tiny creature inside. “What is it?”

Mer let out a cough that sounded suspiciously like a laugh. “It’s a cat, a pet actually. His name is Midnight.”

The small cat watched him warily through the bars of his cage and hissed again, every hair on its back standing up. Hakan bared his teeth and growled, laughing when the ball of fur growled back, hissing even louder. “This is going to be so much fun.”

* * * *

Mer watched Hakan duck under the low bulkhead as they boarded the small ship. He’d finished storing all the luggage and was preparing to leave the Earth station. A doorway with metal panels slid shut behind him, making a hissing noise as it sealed. Crossing his arms, he looked around in almost childlike wonder. He pointed to a large white container mounted to the wall next to the door. “What’s that?”

Hakan sat down in the seat in front of a panel of controls and glanced up briefly. “It contains fire-dampening foam.” He nodded to the chair behind his. “You’ll be sitting there for takeoff and landing.” He pointed toward two other open doorways. “That’s the galley, and that leads to a small berth if you want to nap. That red button by your chair will open a porthole for viewing after we’re in space. It will automatically close during takeoffs and landings.”

Mer walked over to a closed door. It had a keypad mounted on the front. “What’s in here?”

“It’s a weapons locker. You have to have a security code to enter. We’re primarily a cargo ship, and the weapons are merely a precaution. We’re not making any stops between here and Khera, so it’s doubtful we’d have any need for them.” He turned back to the ship’s controls and then stopped and glanced back at Mer. “You need to stay in the designated walkway because there are steam vents in the ship that could harm you. Now I need you to strap in so we can take off.”

“Do you think Midnight will be okay?”

Hakan glanced down to where the cat’s carrier was strapped against the wall. “He should be fine. He won’t be happy with the turbulence taking off, but it shouldn’t hurt him.”

Mer sat down and buckled the heavy straps around his shoulders.
I don’t think they made these ships with small men in mind.
There was ample room for him to move around even after the locks fastened. He closed his eyes when he felt the deck plates vibrating. He could hear the engines humming and whining as they began to take off. The intercom broadcasted an automated warning just seconds before he felt a heavy weight settle on his chest. His head craned up as he was knocked back in his seat from the acceleration.

“You okay, little human?” Hakan asked.

“Just peachy keen.” Mer rubbed the back of his neck as he scanned the content on the monitors he could see. Before he could make sense of any of the readings, he jerked back as they accelerated out of the atmosphere, the blood rushing making his heart beat faster in his exhilaration.
I’m finally on my way to meet my mates!

* * * *

“Come on, Mer. It’s time to wake up.”

Mer blinked a few times and focused on the man leaning over his chair.

“Come on, little human. We’re home. It’s time to meet your mates.”