Authors: LaVenia R. Boswell
“We surely do Sire. If our Lady would just step over to this screen I think she'll enjoy how much we've progressed.”
She found herself looking down at a screen filled with people working in what looked like a space station. “Jonathan! Those are people in there! They live in the ship?”
“Some do, they're currently doing research on plants that grow here on Ear . . . Earth. They hope to find cures for the many diseases that afflict your, I mean our people.”
“That's wonderful! Could we visit them one day? I've always dreamed about looking down and seeing the Earth move below me, I've dreamed that since I was a little girl.”
“Sure, one day soon. Right now let's get out of their way and continue our tour,” Jonathan suggested.
The day flew by. She was shown the houses where everyone had moved to the night of their wedding. Then the exterior and interior entrances to their various underground laboratories.
It had gotten dark when they decided to take a walk along the beach. They walked past Aunt Cassandra and Aunt Cherise sitting on their new veranda. They waved and shouted greetings at one another. When Melody mentioned, “Shouldn't we go speak to them?” Jonathan surprised her with his reply.
“No, Darling not yet. When a couple complete their Bond, I mean marry . . . they're considered to be in seclusion for at least five days, sometimes as much as a month.”
“Seclusion? Why?” She was baffled.
“Because of my desire for you. Haven't you noticed that you keep me excited?”
She hadn't really noticed, not with him still wearing those blousy pants.
“Just look at my eyes!” He yelled to the sea gulls. They were a very deep blue. “When my eyes return to their normal color then we can receive guests.”
Seeing her still surprised look he explained, “Those same hormones that caused both of us so much discomfort before our wedding are still very active within me. When a man with my DNA has been in the throes of that much desire, his body continues to release smaller amounts constantly even after the Bonding is complete. It also causes the male to desire to procreate, but that is usually decided mutually. Once my eyes return to their normal lighter blue then everyone will know that our initial Bonding time is over.”
Pouting fakely she asked, “Will that mean that you won't desire me anymore?”
“No, my love,” he said holding her. “It will only mean that my people will know that we have completely satisfied all my pre-ceremonial, animal lust. I'll always hunger after you. Those chemicals I was talking about will always be secreted, from now on, that's part of the Bonding, but they will be released in more civilized amounts. That very fact has held our civilization together for thousands of years. Once married, always married, there are no divorces where I come from.” He touched her face as he murmured, “But I'd still need you even if there wasn't a hormone left in my entire body.”
They strolled getting closer to home when Jonathan noticed that Melody was deep in thought. She finally remarked, “The work that your people are doing is incredible. I had no idea that there were working space labs already staffed and running created by anyone but major countries.”
“This information is highly secret, if anyone, outside our people got wind of it . . . well, let's just say it could prove disastrous.”
“Of course Jon, I wouldn't dream of telling anyone.” As they strolled she added, “Your island must not be too tiny, you have so many people.” She thought again then said, “Jonathan when will you be going back home?”
“Not for at least a couple of years. Why? Are you unhappy here?” Jonathan asked.
“Unhappy? I've never been so happy in my life! Jon,” she said holding him close, “will you be unhappy away from the rest of your family for two years?” Her face had taken on a worried look.
“Melody, my wife, you and our children are all the family I need.”
“Children is it? My, but you are a fast worker!” She grinned up at him.
“Speaking of children, how many do you want to have?” he asked her.
Melody held up one finger, he shook his head no. She held up two fingers, he nodded no. Then she held up all five finger's, he still nodded no.
“How many do you want, Mister Rabbit?” she asked giggling. He held up both hands laughing loudly at the look on her face.
When she realized he was kidding she laughed as well. “You had me really going there for a while. But, since you brought it up, seriously, how many children would you like for us to have?”
“Seriously, I think three or four would be a very nice family. Four, I like that number. Remember, I can . . . I mean, we can afford as many as you'd like us to have. If that's not to your liking we don't have to have any. You may not even want one of my babies.” He tried to look sad and pathetic.
“I'll be proud to have our children . . . when you feel the time is right.” She kicked at the sand then sat down. “By the way Jon, I had meant to talk to you about it, last night but . . . I wasn't thinking too clearly, then this morning it didn't even enter my mind.”
“What, Baby?” Jonathan asked as she pulled him down beside her.
“Birth control,” she stated with a frown on her face.
“Oh . . . that.” He had been worried about broaching this subject with her. “Would you be too upset . . . if we decided to just let things go as they are?” He asked, greatly fearing her rejection of this unorthodox idea. “In my country it is considered a blessing to conceive. We believe that each child is a gift from our Father God.”
“Are you serious?” This had really thrown her for a loop. She had decided that he might even be a little upset that she wasn’t on the Pill or shots or something.
“Very.” Then he explained nervously, not being completely truthful. “The most important thing outside of our marriage Bond to my people is the waiting for us to have an heir. The purpose of our marriage for them is to assure that I will have an heir. So . . . since some couples have to wait several years to have a child, with them trying the whole time, why don't we just let nature take it's course?”
He watched her face closely. If she was unhappy, then heir or not, he would abide by her wishes and gladly. Her wants were what he would live to fulfill, from now till the day he died, as much as he would be able. Let Mark get Bonded, they could monitor
his
mate.
“An heir would make them really happy? What about you, would it make you happy? Is that what you really want?” Her face was a mass of confusion and indecision. She finally looked into his eyes and made an unconscious connection with him.
So he really does want an heir, she realized, but he would gladly give up the idea if I didn't want children.
“Jonny . . . .” she smiled sweetly, then seductively.
“What sweetheart?” He knew she was giving him the answer.
“You can have an heir any time you want.” She whispered in his ear while she nibbled and kissed on his earlobe.
“Woman, I said you were dangerous. You just don't know yet do you?” His relief was temporary, he wondered if she was being truthful. Holding her he searched her emotions then shouted loudly, “Jeeze, this woman really loves me!”
Mark watched as they walked back from the beach. He had been battling the Stirring he felt for Melody. When he thought about her strongly he would get aroused. When Jonathan had yelled through the speaker this morning he found himself
really
angry with Jon, for the first time in his life, thinking that Jonathan had caused her some great harm with that animal hunger and inflamed organ he had last night. There was no doubt that she didn't feel anything toward him except friendly love. If that's all he could get . . . . “Of course that’s all you’ll get!” he said angrily to himself. “Mark, those two people coming in from the beach are deeply Bonded, yes deeply Bonded, and you love them both. Now don't go crazy on everyone.”
Wondering about his strange thoughts and behavior he analyzed -
this must be jealousy, that feared creature that was destroyed centuries ago on H'trae when the Bond began and our culture changed.
He was still muttering to himself when they had reached the veranda.
When Jonathan smiled at him he felt deeply ashamed for having allowed his emotions to get out of control. After all H'trae men were known throughout the galaxies for their self control, Mark reminded himself once again.
He got boyishly excited when he saw Jonathan give him the “I need to talk with you look.” Jonathan had promised he would expound the joys of marriage with him, how he had felt, what he'd done, everything. This was never discussed with or around a female. Their men always shared these things with their closest friend, especially if the friend wasn't Bonded yet. That's how non-bonded males knew what to expect, it was a tradition.
Melody saw that the two men were excited to see each other again after so many hours, which she thought a little strange, so she walked into the house and decided to make all of them a tropical drink Melon Colada.
The chef was gone so she rambled around the kitchen looking in all the doors and drawers trying to find what she needed. Looking into the walk-in refrigerator she saw that someone had thoughtfully left three plates of chef's salad and three glasses of shrimp cocktail. She took these out and went in search of the liquor cabinet. She found it, but it was in an oriental lighted buffet hutch that had one of those puzzle locks. She tried repeatedly to figure it out but finally gave up.
“Jonathan, would you show me how to open the liquor cabinet?” She had walked out on the veranda and found them with their heads together sitting at a table. Jonathan appeared to be doing most of the talking while Mark just nodded and grinned. When she spoke, they both jumped.
“Well, well, what has Mama's two little boys been up to?” she asked when she saw how red both their faces were.
“Nothing . . . w-we were just talking,” Mark stammered.
“Mmmm, I see . . . well, when you two little boys are through talking there's salad and shrimp for both of you.” With that she turned and walked back into the house.
Jonathan was admiring her parting figure when Mark blurted, “Heavens! You're lucky Jonathan, she's a fine woman.” Both watched her walk back inside. Turning back, Mark asked, “Now tell me, have you made a son yet?”
“No, Mark I haven't. Now quit frowning, after all . . . we both went through enough last night without having to worry about that!”
“You're right. You're absolutely right,” Mark admitted nodding his head. “I wouldn't want to do that on my Bonding night either, not when I'll have so many other delicious things to be thinking about. I had no idea, well, I had a little idea, but knowing it can be done without injury makes me feel a lot better. I'll probably not have that part to worry about though, with my luck, you probably got the last virgin on Earth that's over eleven years old!”