Jewel sucked harder, her fingers sinking deep into her heat. V ground against her mouth…her fingers…finally erupting in a dizzying explosion of feeling. “Fuck,” she gasped, trying to catch her breath.
Firm breasts against hers, Jewel’s smooth forehead pressed to hers. “You okay?”
She bit her lip and nodded.
No, I don’t want you to leave. I won’t last here without you
.
Hand in hand, they returned to her bed and lay wrapped in each other. Minutes, maybe an hour passed before she peeled away. She would go to work, even though she’d not been scheduled, before her resolve melted once more.
Jewel kissed her then leaned down to grab her clothes. “Can we visit Carrie and Frey today? When you were in the bathroom earlier, I got a message on my communicator saying Carrie had her baby.”
“Really?” How could Jewel be so excited when their time together was running out? But getting away from her was what V needed right now.
“That’s what the message said. I’d really like to see their baby, hold it in my arms.”
V turned away. “Sure, I’ll take you, but I have to go in to work for a few hours.” She couldn’t see Jewel holding a baby. The sight would only make things worse, make her want even more things she couldn’t have.
She dressed for work then ordered breakfast for the two of them from the replicator.
Jewel moaned as she forked food into her mouth. “This food is really good, not bland like they said in training at all. How do they make it?”
“I don’t know.” She didn’t want to explain the technology, trying to gain some distance. Jewel would probably have her date, spend the night elsewhere and leave the next day, never to see her again.
When they approached the tubes, she went first to demonstrate to Jewel how to use them on her own—and to resist touching her again. She led her charge, her one-time lover, to Carrie’s hospital room and left without saying good-bye.
As she rode the tube to work, she let the pneumatic suction whisk her tears away.
Chapter Nine
Jewel turned to speak to V, but she had already left. She didn’t understand V’s cold demeanor after they’d been together again in the bathroom. She’d barely said a word, making Jewel wonder if everything they’d shared had been an act on her part. She didn’t want to misread her again, but what was she supposed to think when V hadn’t said goodbye? Not even a “see you later.”
She focused on the little blue baby girl in Frey’s arms. With only slightly longer arms and legs, she looked like a human baby, save for her blue skin and pure black eyes. Carrie slept in the bed nearby.
“She’s the first blonde Ginnunian.” His dark eyes shone bright with pride.
Jewel smiled. “Yes, she looks so much like her mother.”
“Her name is Tabitha.” Frey set the baby girl in her arms. “Sit down, and tell me how your stay’s been so far.”
“Well, V took me to a dance club, and we had a great time.” She opened up, the baby in her arms making her feel like part of a family again. Her strange experience on the space station would be something she could never talk to anyone on Earth about. Yet somehow, she felt more comfortable there than back home.
I don’t want to leave. Everything that makes me happy is here, although it’s only been one night. I don’t feel different. I can be me and not have to worry about being labeled as a monster
.
When two communicators beeped at the same time, Frey took Tabitha and placed her in a bassinette then reached for his comm. Jewel read the message on her device.
You must return to Earth. Now! An escort is waiting to take you to the portal
.
She gasped, thinking of V. She’d never get to see her again. At a knock, she stood, and moved toward the door, fear and regret clutching her heart.
A Phantie guard stood outside. “Ms. Barnaby, I need you to come with me. Mr. Berger, will you and your family be coming?”
He looked at Carrie then Tabitha. “No, it’s better for us to stay here. Be sure she gets home safely.”
The Phantie nodded then escorted her out of the room. He wasn’t as gentle as V had been in leading her through the tube. Thank goodness he didn’t land on her when they reached their destination. She would have been crushed by his weight.
A swirling circle in a room off of the concourse waited to take her back to Earth. She had no idea why she had to leave early. The Phantie refused to tell her.
“You need to go home,” he said, leading her through the large hall.
But she didn’t want to leave. V’s smiling face had greeted her when she’d arrived only the day before. And now she had to leave without seeing her again?
She turned around, hoping to find V behind her, coming with her. No such luck.
The Phantie shoved her closer to the portal. She spun on her heels.
I have to see her before I go
. She couldn’t leave without saying good-bye, without knowing if she’d ever see her again. Surely she could find the hotel V worked at or at least ask for directions.
She reached the concourse before the Phantie caught her. Unlike the first time she’d arrived there, the grand room stood empty, red light flashing throughout.
“What’s going on?”
He grabbed her around the waist, carrying her in a football hold toward the portal. “You need to go home.” He set her down in front of the swirling mass and pushed her through.
Her body tightened. Pressure rammed against her head until she thought her brain would explode. The trip to the space station hadn’t felt like this.
Oh, shit. Something is wrong
. Tears rolled down her face. Her heart pounded, ready to jump out of her chest.
It hurts so much
. She saw a light ahead and reached out. Then darkness consumed her.
***
V was sitting on the toilet, wiping her nose with tissue when her communicator beeped. She didn’t want to talk to anyone, to face anyone. She wanted to go home, back to Earth, and be with Jewel.
The device beeped again.
Director’s office. Now!
Shit!
What had she done wrong? No one received a message to report to the director’s office unless they were to be reprimanded. And she’d done as she’d been asked, entertaining Jewel all night long.
But then again, she’d abandoned her at the hospital. Then there was the date…. Had the wrong person seen them at the club last night? Had someone reported what happened between them?
She swiped at her eyes and nose one last time before leaving the bathroom.
Time to face the music
. In no way did she regret what had happened between her and Jewel; she only wished they’d had more time together.
Why did I leave her?
She vowed to find Jewel after her meeting with the director, to spend every last minute with her.
The tube dropped her outside the office. Her hand shook on the scanner as she waited for the door to open.
“Ah, Flavia, I’m glad you’re here.” Instead of inviting her to sit, he got up from his chair to stand beside her, his tail dragging behind him. Worry lines showed all over his red face.
“What’s going on?” she asked, her fear about being reprimanded evaporated.
“There’s a situation on Earth. Terrorists have learned of our technology to travel through space.” He raked a hand across the spines on top of his head. “The portal is going to be destroyed to prevent anyone else from coming across. At least for now.”
She drew in a quick breath. “What about Jewel?” Would she be forced to stay?
“We sent her through already. The portal hadn’t warmed up, but she made it through.”
She exhaled.
At least she’s safe
. “And why am I here?” How did this affect her? She couldn’t return to Earth.
“We’re giving you the chance to go home.”
Her heart leaped from her chest. She’d never wanted anything more, yet she knew there would be a catch. “Under what conditions?”
The director chuckled, a bit of smoke escaping from his mouth. “You will still work for us. As you were recruited, you will recruit others, preparing for another passage between Earth and the space station.” He handed her a new communicator. “The time has come for Earth to know about us. I will contact you soon. Right now you need to go. The portal will close in five minutes.”
If he said anything else, she missed his words. She ran out of the office then slammed the tube button. When she landed, she set her sights on the passage to Earth, its mass quickly shrinking.
“Wait,” she yelled at the Phantie standing by the controls. He held a large bar of steel, ready to destroy the system.
V took off running then dove when she reached the platform, hoping the portal didn’t close before she traveled through.
Chapter Ten
Jewel opened her eyes, a soft hand brushing across her cheek.
“Hi, sweetie.”
She gasped. “V?”
“Yeah, it’s me.”
“But…I thought….” She reached out then pulled V down against her. “I’m so glad you’re here.” But had she made it back to Earth or was she still on the space station? She didn’t care because she had V in her arms.
***
She let Jewel hold her for as long as she wanted, for she wanted to be there just as much.
“Where are we?” Jewel asked once she let her go.
“Back on Earth. At the lab where from the portal
was
.” Although the section they stayed in remained quiet, the rest of the lab raced to tear apart the equipment before the technology could be used to harm rather than help.
“Are you here for good?” Hope filled her voice. “Or do you have to go back?”
She ran a hand across Jewel’s forehead, stroking away a few strands of hair. “I’m here for now. Eventually I may have to go back, but not until they rebuild the portal.” Returning to the space station held no appeal anyway, unless they went together. So long as they could build something from the night they’d spent together.
The door to the room opened to admit a man in camo fatigues toting an automatic weapon. “Ladies, your ride is here. You need to move, now.”
“Jewel, are you okay to walk?” She’d wanted to say more, discuss their future, but they’d run out of time.
“I…I don’t know.”
She scooped her off the cot and into her arms. Following their escort, she rushed through the halls then outside, Jewel clinging to her.
When they reached the limousine, V set her on the seat then climbed in beside her.
“The director will be in touch.” Their escort closed the door then tapped on the trunk.
V should have been worried with all of the extra security around the lab compound, but her stomach churned as a result of the woman beside her. Their future together, unknown.
“Where are we going?” Jewel, buckled in beside her, leaned on her shoulder.
“You’re going home.”
“And you?”
Only one destination came to mind. Wherever Jewel went. “I assume the Space Service will find me accommodations.”
Jewel sat up and took her hand. “You’re welcome to stay with me. I don’t have an extra bedroom or anything, but I do have room in my bed.”
Smiling, V squeezed her hand. Exactly what she’d hoped for.
“That is, if you want to be seen with the town monster.”
She leaned over and captured Jewel’s mouth with her own for a tantalizing kiss. Never again would she let her woman think of herself as a monster. Pulling away, she stroked the side of her face. “I do want to be with you, but perhaps we could find a two bedroom place in Ottawa?”
“Two bedroom?”
“Well, for now.” She smiled. “You know, one for us and the other one we’ll use as an office. And in the future—”
Her communicator beeped. A message came in from the director.
I’m glad to hear you’re safely back on Earth. Frey and Carrie would like you to house sit for them while they remain at the space station. Do you accept?
Yes
, she replied. Much better than an apartment.
She watched Jewel reading a message on her phone, her lips spreading into a huge smile. Then she let V read the message.
Darling Jewel,
I’m very sorry your time on the space station was cut short. And yet you still managed to meet with your one-night stand.
Yes, Flavia was the woman you were sent to meet. The director and I believed you would complement each other well. And we are overjoyed you are together now.
All the best in the future,
Madame Evangeline
With a heavy chest, V vowed not to cry. Now was a time to be happy. Someone named Madame Evangeline, along with the director had made all of her dreams come true. But who was that mysterious woman? She sighed. Right now, she had other things to concentrate on. She’d returned to Earth and had a beautiful woman in her life. Her future became a little less unknown.
She wrapped an arm around Jewel, pulling her closer then kissed her. “Let’s go home.” And perhaps on the way, she’d remind her lover of the beauty she saw when she looked at her.
~
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
~
Jessica Subject started writing to encourage her daughter to read. Now she writes to keep herself grounded. Although she reads many genres, she enjoys writing Science Fiction Romance the most and believes everyone in the universe deserves a happily ever after. She lives Southwestern Ontario, Canada with her husband and two kids and loves to hear from anyone who has enjoyed her stories.
You can visit Jessica at:
Celestial Seduction
At the end of his obligated commitment to the Space Service, Frey Berger decides to stay on Earth to further experience human emotions rather than return to Ginnun where his intended has already mated with another. Looking for real love and someone to accept him for what he is, Frey enlists in Madame Evangeline’s popular dating service. Although he does not understand the concept of a one-night stand, he hopes to find his perfect mate. If he fails, he risks being alone on Earth for the rest of his life.