I want your scent all over my body.
Kotto’s heart missed a beat as Raina’s words echoed through his lust-addled brain. His mouth found hers as he gathered her in his arms and carried her into his bedroom. Every step he took stoked the fire raging through his body, fueling the intensity. He wanted her stretched out beneath him moaning in pleasure as he filled her—
But she hadn’t agreed to be claimed. She’d only agreed to let him mark her with his scent.
He reached the bed and lowered her legs without releasing his hold on her torso. Her arms circled his neck and her toes barely touched the floor as their mouths mated, tongues tangling in a sensual duel. Could he do this? Could he strip her naked, touch her, taste her, and then roll over and go to sleep?
Apparently, battling the same doubts, she pulled back until their lips separated. “How far does this need to go? Do I have to be completely naked?” She stared up at him, her uncertainty obvious.
Skin-on-skin contact was unavoidable, but she didn’t need to be completely naked. He just wanted her that way. Rather than lie to her outright, he evaded the question. “I’ve already seen you, Raina. There’s no reason for your fear.”
“I’m not afraid.” She wiggled, sliding down his body until she found solid footing. “I don’t want to make this any harder than it has to be.”
He grinned. Despite his consuming hunger, a lighter approach seemed to work better with her. “Sweetheart, I’ve been hard ever since I woke up from that stupid dream.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I had nothing to do with that.”
Catching her hand before she scurried out of reach, he drew her back into a loose embrace. “I wasn’t accusing you of anything other than being desirable.”
She looked up then, challenge shining in her reddish-brown eyes. “Why?”
“Why?” Honestly baffled, he almost let go.
“Why do you find me desirable? It can’t be my personality. I’ve been an argumentative pain in the ass since we met. What do Rodyte females look like?”
He shifted his hands to her hips, making their stance less restrictive without releasing her. “The question reveals the difference between humans and Rodytes. With Rodytes, sexual attraction has very little to do with outward appearance. We don’t go ‘looking’ for our mates. We hunt for them.”
“And how do you hunt if you don’t react to outward appearance?” She lowered her gaze as if she dreaded his answer.
“We scan, we scent, and we wait for our bodies to tell us we’ve located the right one. It’s instinctive, a biological reaction to—”
“Compatible DNA?” She made it sound objectionable.
He curved his fingers around her chin and tilted her head back. “Genetics is much more dependable than basing a relationship on something as changeable as physical appearance. Neither of us will look like this ten years from now. Why do you sound so disappointed.”
The challenge in her voice gradually changed to frustration. “It’s just hard to shift gears. I know I’m not beautiful, so I—”
“Stop it.” His voice cut with enough vehemence to make her cringe. “Everyone is beautiful if one takes the time to look. Your skin is so smooth and soft, it begs for my touch.” He brushed the backs of his fingers across her cheek. “I’ve never seen eyes as bright and expressive as yours. And the color is fascinating. Your bottom lip is just full enough for nibbling.” Again he demonstrated his claim before continuing his list. “And your body.” He groaned as one of his hands swooped down and cupped her ass. “You’re lithe and graceful like a dancer, yet curved enough to leave no doubt that you’re a female ripe for claiming.”
She blushed and dragged her gaze away from his face. “I might be thin enough to be a dancer, but I’m anything but graceful. Besides, I’ve always hoped to connect with a man on a level deeper than physical attributes.”
“Explain.”
“I want to find similar interests or aspirations, find someone with whom I genuinely enjoy spending time.”
Had the insult been intentional or was she just rambling? “You haven’t enjoyed the time we’ve spent together?”
“That’s not what I meant.” She tucked her hair behind her ear, revealing her agitation. “I’ve enjoyed spending time with you. There just hasn’t been very much of it.”
“I want to change that, but my intentions don’t alter why we’re here.” He was trying to respect her needs and give her time to come to terms with what they were about to do, but their conversation was making her more uncomfortable, not less. She’d responded without fear to his aggression before. Apparently, it was time to pounce again.
“We can’t do this simply because our genomes complement each other.” She sounded resolute, very scientific. “Compatible DNA is even more random than physical beauty.”
“I sought you out because of your professional expertise and you just happened to be my biological match, my potential mate. Some would call that destiny, not coincidence.”
She lowered her lashes, shielding her gaze. “I don’t believe in coincidence.”
He slipped his arm around her waist and lowered his head as he whispered, “Neither do I.”
Enough talk. Enough stalling. He’d vowed to protect her and marking her was the next step in ensuring her safety. The justification made him chuckle inwardly. He ached for this woman, had thought of little else since he’d streamed her aboard his ship. She was spirited, passionate, and his.
Her lips were pliant and soft, yet remained pressed together. He caressed her with his lips, giving her time to accept the inevitability of these events. When she continued to resist, he teased the seam with the tip of his tongue, stroking and flicking until she gasped and let him in. Rather than thrusting deep, he eased inside, rewarding her surrender with tenderness. She clutched his back, pressing against him as if he were the only solid object in the universe.
“The more of my skin rubs against yours, the stronger my scent will be,” he whispered the explanation against her damp lips. She nodded, so he took a step back and unfastened enough of the closures on the front of his uniform top so he could peel it off over his head. He bent and tugged off his boots then paused to gauge her reaction. Her eyes rounded and bright flags of color spread across her cheeks. “You’ve seen me before too.”
“My bedroom was dark and I was half convinced you were a dream.” She stretched out her hand then snatched it back.
He caught her wrist and pressed her palm against his chest. “Touch me, Raina. I’ve dreamed of your hands moving over my body.”
Without a word, she obliged him. She stroked his chest and shoulders, bringing both hands into play as she explored his corded arms and abdomen. “Do all Rodytes have a fast metabolism or are you just workout junkies?”
Standing perfectly still, he savored her touch, thrilled by the knowledge that this was uncharacteristic behavior for his self-proclaimed lab rat. “We’re warriors. It’s part of our job to remain strong and healthy. And those, like me, who were raised by the military, receive genetic alterations to increase our strength and stamina.” She circled behind him and continued her tactual examination of his flesh.
“Well, you must be very good at your job.” When she faced him again, her smile was finally playful.
He reassured her with a slow, gentle kiss then whispered, “My turn.”
A zipper ran down the side of her dress. She raised her arm and he lowered the fastener, loosening the bodice. She immediately pressed the sagging material against her breasts as he slid the straps down her arms. “Please turn off the lights.”
“No. I want to look at you.”
“But you said Rodytes aren’t concerned with physical appearance.”
He gently pulled her arms away from her chest and the dress slipped to her waist. “I said physical appearance is less important to us than it is to humans. That doesn’t mean I’m not aroused by the sight of your breasts.”
“What little there is of them,” she grumbled.
With one hand splayed against her back, preventing her retreat, he bent and kissed her rose-colored nipples. “Lovely. Truly lovely.” He sucked on one and then the other, making her squirm. “See how quickly they respond to my lips?”
“They’re sensitive.” Her voice grew breathless and she clutched his upper arms.
“I can see that.” He freed her arms from the straps and urged the dress lower. It momentarily caught on her hips then pooled around her ankles.
She kicked off her shoes, but wiggled away when he reached for her panties. “Take off your pants first.”
He took a deep breath. She obviously trusted his control more than he did. It would probably be wiser to leave them on. But he wasn’t feeling particularly wise right now. He unfastened his pants and pushed them past his hips. They bunched around his knees, so he sat on the edge of the bed to pull them off. He still wore an undergarment, but the material was clingy and clearly revealed his hardened cock.
Much to his delight, she approached him before he could stand. He spread his legs and pulled her to him, burying his face between her breasts. He inhaled deeply, holding her scent in as long as he could before exhaling. “Your shape is pleasing, but your scent makes my entire body ache.”
She laughed and the movement of her chest drew his attention to her pert little nipples. “So if a Rodyte male tells me I smell nice, it’s even better than saying I look pretty?”
He sucked on her breast hard enough to make her moan. “The only Rodyte male that should be saying either to you is me.”
Pressing her hand to the side of his face, she captured his gaze and smiled. “That’s why I’m here. So everyone will know I’m taken.”
Possessive hunger tore through his body, setting him in motion. He wished to the gods that she was ready to be “taken”, but that wasn’t what she’d meant. He picked her up as he stood then turned and placed her in the center of the bed. Quickly yanking off his socks, he lay down beside her, devouring her with his eyes. He wanted to say something meaningful, wanted this to be more than a safety precaution, but words escaped him.
Instead, he slipped his arm under her neck and pulled her up onto her side. Their legs automatically entwined as their mouths met in the middle. She touched him every bit as boldly as he touched her, which amplified the urgency of his need. He caught her knee and pulled her leg up around his waist, aligning their pelvises so his cock pressed against her mound.
She gasped. He rocked against her and she groaned, so he did it again and again. He filled her with his tongue as he imagined that layers of fabric didn’t separate their bodies.
Suddenly, she pushed him away and rolled to her back, panting harshly as she stared up at the ceiling.
“What’s wrong?” His voice sounded harsher than he’d intended.
“I want…” She covered her face with her hands as she took a deep breath then slowly turned her head and looked at him. “I want to touch you, give you pleasure like you gave me in our dream.”
Desire slammed into him so hard it robbed him of breath. When he finally forced air back into his lungs, it sounded like a strangled moan. “If I undressed completely, I don’t think I’ll be satisfied with your hand. I want you too much.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry.” Color stained her cheeks again and her gaze shifted back to the ceiling.
Frustrated by her self-deprecation, he leaned over and kissed her mouth. “You’re sorry for wanting to touch me?” He kissed her again. “Or you’re sorry I won’t let you play?”
“I’m sorry I apologized.” She smiled, assuring him that she’d received his message about needless apologies.
He guided her hands over her head and threaded his fingers through hers. “The strongest concentration of pheromones is in my semen.” Her eyes widened and he chuckled. “We both agree that’s not an option for tonight. The concentration in my saliva is almost as strong, so I’m going to put my mouth all over you.”
Her fingers tensed around his and her lips trembled. “If you don’t trust yourself enough to let me touch you, how will you…do that and not lose control?”
“As long as I stay focused on your pleasure, I’ll be fine.”
“But—”
He cut off her objection with another breath-stealing kiss. “Your only option is yes or no.” His gaze bore into hers. “You already agreed to let me mark you. Would you rather be claimed instead?”
Kotto’s question sounded far too much like an ultimatum. Raina tensed for a moment then analyzed his expression. The purple in his eyes shimmered like crushed amethyst and some inner struggle sharpened his features. He was holding on by a thread, and she was the cause of his conflict. He wanted her, truly wanted to be inside her so badly he was starting to shake.
So let him claim you. The temptation whispered through her mind and her core pulsed in agreement. She shoved back the possibility and forced herself to think. Marking her would allow her to move freely about the ship and give her more time to decide what she wanted. If she let Kotto claim her, he’d consider her his mate, his lifelong partner.
She shook her head. “I’m not ready for that. We’ll do this your way.”
“Good.” His mouth settled over hers as he moved on top of her. She instinctively opened her legs, making room for him between her thighs. He pressed against her, his erection unmistakable. He felt enormous and intrusive and—thrilling.
He made her tremble with every kiss. She could barely imagine how amazing it would feel if she let go of her inhibitions and surrendered to this attraction. Why was she denying him when she wanted it just as badly? Another protest rippled through her core, reinforcing her discontent. But he didn’t want to have sex with her. He wanted to “claim” her, to create some sort of mystical bond that would tie them together forever.
His tongue pushed into her mouth and she knew what he was imagining because she was picturing it too. She pretended that nothing separated their bodies and his cock was slowly filling her emptiness. She felt hollow and tiny with his muscular body covering her. He held himself up on his forearms and knees, so she wasn’t crushed by his weight. Still, the size and strength of his body was even more impressive when contrasted with hers.
He kissed his way down her neck, trailing his fingers along her upraised arms. She shifted, arching as his lips found her collarbone. Was her skin really as soft as he claimed? He certainly seemed fascinated by the texture. He stroked her with his hands and caressed her with his lips. Heat trailed in his wake, making her restless and needful.
Cupping her breasts with both hands, his thumbs teased her nipples, but his mouth continued its descent. She stilled, heartbeat thudding in her ears. This was really happening. He was going to “put his mouth all over” her, and she was going to lie here and enjoy it.
Phil had begrudgingly gone down on her a time or two. But he’d made it obvious oral sex was an obligation. He endured it so he could get what he really wanted, which was to get himself off as quickly as possible. In the end, sex with Phil had left her wondering why people were so obsessed with it. Sex was awkward and undignified, not to mention messy.
Already she knew this would be different. The shared dream had shown her that Kotto was a generous lover. He was also intense and overwhelming and she wasn’t sure…
He pressed his face against her sex, which was still covered by her lace-trimmed panties. She heard his deep inhalation and froze. He was scenting her. She trembled, unsure if she was aroused or revolted by the primal act. Rocking back onto his knees, he tugged her panties off and pulled her hips up off the bed. Then he did it again, saturating his senses with her scent.
After a long, silent pause, he raised his head and looked into her eyes. “You smell perfect.”
The utter sincerity in his tone left her shaken. It hadn’t been a line to defuse her insecurities. Scent really was more important to Rodytes than visual stimulation. And her scent obviously thrilled him.
With his gaze still locked with hers, he lowered his head and licked her, slowly tracing her slit without parting her folds. His eyelids drooped and he hummed as if he’d just tasted the most delicious confection ever created. There was no hesitation in his actions, no begrudging acceptance. He licked her again and again, growing bolder with each slow pass.
Then he lifted one of her legs and placed it on his shoulder as he returned her hips to the bed. He bent her other leg up and rotated it outward. The position opened her even more than if he’d draped both legs over his shoulders. She tried not to freeze up, tried to relax and accept his caresses but already she was overwhelmed and he’d barely begun.
He reached up and covered her breast as his mouth grew more demanding. His tongue pushed right into the heart of her sex and her eyes opened wide. Phil had never done that. Kotto was penetrating her with his tongue, sliding in and out just like he would if she’d allowed him to claim her.
“I don’t think… Oh God, that feels—” Pleasure burst inside her, cutting off her words and scattering her objections.
His hands grasped her hips, anchoring her against his mouth. He devoured her. There was no other word for it. He licked and sucked, flicked and thrust until she was thrashing wildly beneath him. She pushed up with her free leg, rubbing against his mouth in brazen invitation. He made her wild and reckless, almost desperate. She’d never felt anything like it.
Slowly, he pushed two of his long fingers into her pulsing core. She whimpered, all too aware of what he simulated, what they both really wanted. He slid his fingers in and out, continuing the sensual dance begun by his tongue. She felt lightheaded and giddy, drunk on pleasure as she’d never been before.
His mouth settled over her clit, tongue circling, lips gently sucking until her senses caught fire all over again. She cried out, arching off the bed as deep spasms rippled along her inner muscles. He brought her down slowly, his mouth tender, yet taunting, reminding her of all she refused to surrender, all they had yet to share.
“No more.” She sounded as shaken as she felt. “I can’t take any more.”
With a satisfied chuckle, he raised his head. “Oh, you could, and one day soon I’ll show you just how much more you can take.”
Too weak to argue, she draped her forearm over her eyes and concentrated on catching her breath.
He lowered her leg and allowed her to arrange herself more modestly. Not that modesty was much of a consideration anymore.
“Are you all right,” he asked. “You look sort of dazed.”
The bed dipped as he moved to her side and scooted up toward the head of the bed. She moved her arm so she could look at him as he slipped his arm beneath her neck. Then he brushed the hair back from her damp face. When had it come loose from the braid? When she’d been thrashing around like a crazy person.
“I’m fine.” The understatement was so ridiculous it made her laugh. “I have no idea where I am or what just happened, but I think I’m still in one piece.”
“I warned you that all this was different with a Rodyte.”
His tone was just smug enough to help reassemble her composure. She tried to be annoyed with him, but he was so damn handsome all she could think of to say was, “What are you doing to me?”
He smiled, entirely too pleased with himself.
“You said I’d have my own cabin. I should probably go there. Let us both calm down.” But she didn’t move a muscle.
Stroking from her neck to navel in one tantalizing sweep, he reawakened her senses like a sorcerer. “Now, why would you want to do that? My bed is bigger and infinity warmer.” He lightly cupped her breast then leaned down and caressed her lips with his. It wasn’t really a kiss, more like a reminder of how much she liked his kisses. “Stay with me, Raina. Let me hold you.”
Rather than insult him by asking if holding her was all he’d do, she rolled to her side and slipped her arm around his back, pressing her body snugly to his. The future was still uncertain. She wasn’t thinking clearly enough to decide what she wanted to do. But one thing was more than apparent. She wasn’t ready for this to end.
Kotto sat at his desk the following morning, enjoying a steaming mug of civata brew. He couldn’t remember ever feeling so content. Raina had slept in his arms, warm and trusting. He’d honestly expected her to retreat to her own cabin. Instead, she just drifted off to sleep and she’d still been wrapped around him when he woke up an hour ago.
But he was a man of his word, so he left a message explaining that the officer’s cabin four doors down was reserved for her use. The message was motion activated. She’d receive the information as soon as she got out of bed. If she chose not to take advantage of the opportunity, that would be even better. Still, he was taking Ashley’s advice seriously. He wanted Raina to have time to adjust to each new development without being overwhelmed. So he quietly prepared for the day and left her sleeping in his bed, enveloped by his scent. Bandar would know immediately that Raina had been marked and Ashley could fill Raina in on the freedoms now available to her because she was protected.
The visitor signal sounded then he heard Raylon snarl to the computer, “Security override, Raylon Lasenger, authorization 649.”
Kotto stood and rushed around his desk, refusing to be trapped against the wall. “What’s wrong?” Playing dumb wasn’t his usual style, but he wanted to verify what had Raylon so fired up before volunteering any information.
“Did you claim her?” Raylon always looked mean, but right now he looked demonic. His eyes narrowed, phitons glowing with green fire. His brow furrowed, pulling against his scar, distorting his already rugged features.
Rodyte warriors never backed down, so Kotto squared his shoulders and met Raylon’s hostile stare. “That’s none of your business.”
“Hell’s rings say otherwise.” Raylon advanced, not stopping until they stood toe to toe. “You knew! We sat there tossing back g’haut and all the while you were plotting to steal my woman.”
“She is not your woman,” Kotto shouted as his hands clenched into fists.
“I’m her potential mate just like you.” Raylon emphasized the point with a shove. “And I know Letos told you.”
“You encouraged me to pursue her, told me to—”
Raylon cut him off with a punch that snapped Kotto’s head to the side. Not one to accept abuse from anyone, Kotto shook off the pain and came back swinging. Kotto landed a punch on Raylon’s jaw but Raylon twisted sharply to avoid the vicious jab that followed. Kotto took advantage of Raylon’s awkward position. Launching himself at the other man, Kotto took him down.
A surprised grunt escaped Raylon as he hit the floor, but he immediately rolled, taking Kotto with him. They grappled and jerked, punched and kicked, toppling chairs and upending a table in the process. Kotto’s fist connected with Raylon’s cheek, but Raylon caught Kotto in the stomach, driving the air from his lungs.
Suddenly Raylon was dragged off Kotto, and Kotto looked beyond his infuriated opponent. When had Bandar arrived?
Raylon tried to twist free of Bandar’s hold, but Bandar shoved him backward. “Enough!”
Ashley and Raina stood just inside the doorway, which had remained open because of Raylon’s security override. Perfect. They both looked confused and uncertain. Ashley had her arm wrapped around Raina’s shoulders.
“What in hell’s rings is this?” Bandar managed to sound angry, though he was clearly fighting back a smile.
Raylon ignored him. His ire was still firmly fixed on Kotto. “Did you claim her last night?” Instead of waiting for Kotto to answer, he darted past Bandar and stalked toward Raina.
She backed away, stopping only when the corridor wall pressed against her back.
But Raylon didn’t touch her. Planting his hands on the wall to either side of her shoulders, he leaned in and inhaled. He growled then pushed off the wall and stormed back into the office.
Kotto struggled to his feet, waving away Bandar’s assistance with an impatient curse.
“You marked her,” Raylon concluded. “But she’s clearly unclaimed.”
Kotto charged toward Raylon again, but Bandar quickly intercepted the attack. “Do I need to throw you both in the brig until you cool off?”
“This is my ship!” Kotto shouted.
“Then act like a commander or I’ll relieve you of duty.”
Ignoring Bandar’s threat, Kotto turned back to Raylon. “I have until my scent fades to convince her to accept my claim.”
“Unless you continue to mark her,” Raylon snapped. “We both know how that game is played.”
“This is about me?” Raina crept back into the office, cautiously approaching the men. When Kotto and Raylon continued to glare at each other, she looked at Bandar. “Did I do something wrong?”
“No.” Bandar told her without shifting his focus from his volatile companions. “Apparently, Raylon is also your genetic match.”
Raylon turned toward her, his expression still fierce. “You should have been told and it should have been your choice which of us marked you.”
“Are you two her only matches?” Ashley asked then her brow creased and she looked at Bandar. “Were there other matches for me?”
Oh shit. Kotto rubbed his bruised jaw. This was spreading like a toxic fire.
Bandar’s features hardened and it was suddenly three hostile males facing off with two irritated females. “Are you dissatisfied with our union?”
“You know damn well I’m not, but that’s not the point.” Ashley moved up beside Raina, reinforcing the battle lines. “Is this likely to happen with each female participant? So far it’s been first come first served.”
Kotto smirked as he remembered how many times Raina had “come” for him the night before.
Ashley noticed his wicked smile and made a face at him before clarifying her point. “Do we need to establish guidelines or something?”
“She’s right.” Bandar looked at Raylon and then Kotto. “We need to outline some sort of a procedure or it will become a competition to see who can locate their compatible female first. That would be an utter disaster.”
“I agree. Guidelines need to be established,” Raylon said carefully. “But that doesn’t resolve the present situation.”
Kotto heaved a frustrated sigh and then admitted, “I should have told you.”
“And you should have told her.” Raylon nodded toward Raina. “She should have been allowed to choose and you robbed her of that right.”
The truth in Raylon’s words deflated the rest of Kotto’s anger. All he’d been able to think about since he brought Raina on board was claiming her. He crossed to Raina and gathered her hands between his. “Raylon’s right. The choice should have been yours. I apologize for my selfishness.”
Raylon moved away from Bandar, but he appeared less adversarial now. “You must agree not to touch her until your mark fades. Then we’ll do this the way it should have been done.”
Raina’s gaze darted from Kotto to Raylon and back. “How long will that take?”
She’d been looking at Kotto when she asked the question, but Raylon answered. “Not more than a week, as long as he keeps his hands off you.”
“We can make sure they’re never left alone,” Bandar assured him.
Raina looked almost panicked, so Kotto pressed his hand against the side of her face. “No one is going to harm you. I would never let that happen. This will just give you more time to make your final decision.”
“The process needs to be established before we involve any more females, and Garin will have to approve whatever we come up with,” Bandar mused. “Do we all have time to work on this now or should we schedule something?”
“I can spare an hour or two,” Raylon told him. “Irron needs to be involved. He’s coordinating everything with the research teams.”
“I’ll find out.” Bandar stepped out into the corridor, Ashley on his heels.
“Let’s move this to the conference room.” Despite the mandate that Kotto not touch Raina, he took her hand as he led her down the hall. The command deck was the smallest of the ship’s four levels, but frequently the most hectic. The officer cabins were aft and the command center spanned the entire forward section. The conference room, or planning hall as some like to call it, butted up against the command center and could be accessed through an adjoining door or from the hallway.
“Raylon scares me,” Raina whispered, pressing in close to Kotto’s side. “There’s no way I’d ever bond with him.”
It was in his best interest to foster her fear, but his possessive instincts had caused this fiasco. Besides, he wanted Raina to feel safe and protected, not vulnerable. Regardless of how this mess unfolded, she was on his ship, which made her his responsibility. He just happened to want her to be much more than just a responsibility. “Raylon was angry with me, not you. And I sort of brought it on myself. You need to at least have a conversation with him when he’s not trying to kill me.” Her only response was a distracted nod.
Twenty minutes later, the two couples sat on one side of the oblong table while Raylon, Dr. Irron and Sental, the resident computer specialist/navigator sat on the other. Sental and Irron both had a sarcastic sense of humor and they entered the room together. Not a good sign.
“We’re so far ahead of you guys on this,” Irron started before he even took his seat.
“As usual.” Sental softened the brag with a playful smile.
“Who won the fight?” Irron elbowed Sental in the ribs. “We’ve got money on the outcome.”
“I did,” Bandar insisted. “They were beating the shit out of each other equally when I broke it up.”
“I don’t know about ‘equally’,” Raylon muttered and the newcomers laughed.
“You set this up.” Kotto crossed his arms over his chest and glared at the doctor.
“I did no such thing,” Irron snapped with obvious indignation.
“At the very least, you let it happen,” Kotto persisted. “You had to have known Raylon was a match by the time you did Raina’s language infusion, and still you said nothing to any of us.” Before Irron could respond to the charge, Kotto looked at Raylon. “How did you find out?”
“From Letos. Same as you.”
“It must be standard procedure for the Integration Guild to turn people into troublemakers.” Kotto turned back to the doctor. “You withheld medically relevant information from three of your patients. Care to explain why?”
“Call it a social experiment.” Irron was clearly unconcerned with Kotto’s anger. “I needed to see how strongly bonding fever would affect the male, or in this case males. I honestly didn’t expect there to be more than one match. Boy was I wrong.”
“Then Bandar was the only one compatible with me?” Ashley sounded relieved.
Irron nodded. “Your genetics have been manipulated in a completely different way. You, my dear, are one of a kind. My other findings don’t apply to you.”
“What other findings?” Raylon still glared every time he looked at Kotto, but that wasn’t surprising. They were rivals now.
“When you both ended up being compatible with Raina, I realized I needed a central genetic database for all the battle born males. It was the only way to determine all of the possible matches for each female.”
“Does such a thing exist?” Kotto asked.
“It does now.” Sental grinned. “Ship commanders were able to give me access to the individual crews, but not all of the battle born males are currently assigned to ships, some aren’t even in the military.”
“Garin has top level clearance,” Bandar pointed out. “Can he grant you access to the needed information?”
Sental shook his head. “Not without leaving a trail and his clearance doesn’t help with civilians. This needed to be seriously stealthy.”
“We can’t let Quinton realize how far we’ve progressed,” Irron stressed. “Thanks to the misinformation Letos planted, Quinton’s research teams are chasing their tails. If he finds out we’ve moved on to clinical trials, he’ll send half of the RPDF after us.”
Kotto shrugged. “That will get our brothers here that much sooner.”
“Overconfidence will get us killed,” Raylon warned. Apparently, he’d regained control of his temper. His gaze reflected only cunning speculation. “Quinton might be incompetent, but his elite officers aren’t.” He looked at Sental and asked, “How did you gain access to the rest of the genetic profiles?”
“I hacked into the Brain.” Sental leaned back in his chair, clearly thrilled by his accomplishments.
“What’s the Brain?” Raina asked, still looking much too uncomfortable for Kotto’s liking. Making sure his movement was concealed by the table, he reached over and squeezed her thigh. She covered his hand with hers, but didn’t look at him or let her expression give him away.
“Rodymia’s central computer,” Bandar told her. “The most powerful, and most highly protected, piece of equipment on the entire planet.”
“Are you sure you got in and out without being detected?” Raylon sounded doubtful.
“I’m positive. I took exactly what I needed and nothing more,” Sental told him. “When hackers get greedy, they get sloppy, and that’s when they get caught.”
“I’m starting to understand why General Nox assigned you to this crew.” Kotto smiled at the younger man. “It sure as creation wasn’t your navigational skills.”
The other three Rodytes laughed, but Sental took it all in stride. “We now possess an up-to-date database of every battle born male’s DNA. And, by the way, there are a whole lot more of us than we were taught.”
“What do you mean?” Raylon asked the question, but it was echoed in everyone’s expression.
“We’d all been told that there were about 1.3 million battle born males and almost half were under the age of eighteen. Well, that’s another government lie. I have profiles proving that the true number is almost 8 million. There are 5.7 million already in the military.”
Bandar shook his head as if to clear his disbelief. “Why lie about it?”
“To keep us from realizing how strong our movement could become if we all rise up together,” Raylon said.
“Exactly.” After giving everyone a moment to absorb the implications, Sental motioned for Irron to continue.
“As each female is… What did we decide to call it, recruited, inducted—”
“Kidnapped,” Raina suggested with an innocent smile.
“Once she agrees to participate,” Kotto countered, giving her leg another squeeze.
“Commander Tarr, move over to this side of the table,” Raylon snapped. “You’re already violating our agreement.”
“Seriously?” Kotto fought back a fresh rush of anger.
“I have a better idea. Raina move down here.” Ashley motioned her toward the empty chair on Ashley’s other side.
“This is ridiculous.” Kotto fisted his hands on his knees and glared at the wall across from him.
As Raina switched places, she trailed her fingers along the top of his chair, brushing his back. He shivered, but used the sensation to help him let go of his anger.
Irron’s throaty chuckle drew Kotto’s gaze back to the doctor. “This, my friends, is a taste of the madness we’ll face if we don’t carefully manage the potential conflicts. The mating drive is strong in all Rodytes, but it seems especially strong in battle born males.”
“So how will this work?” Ashley prompted. “Each female ‘agrees to participate’ in the program, then what?”
“We all agree that she must be willing, but there also needs to be an approval process,” Irron explained. “The primary qualification is the protein marker. If she’s not a hybrid, the rest is moot. But there are other things that must be considered. At its heart this is a breeding program.”
“Even if that’s true, you’re going to have to find a better way to market it to human females.” Ashley looked at Raina and they both shuddered. “No twenty-first century woman is going to sign up for a breeding program.”
“Let him finish the criteria and then you two can figure out how to ‘market’ this to modern women,” Bandar suggested.
“Sorry.” Ashley smiled at her mate then looked at the doctor. “What other qualifications are we looking for?”
We. The word echoed through Kotto, making him long for a similar ending. Ashley considered herself part of the battle born’s quest for independence. Would Raina ever see herself that way? He thought they’d been heading in the right direction. Last night had been amazing, but now he was back at the start or perhaps farther away than he’d been when this thing began. He couldn’t even look at Raina. He wanted her too badly.
“Like it or not, there has to be an age range,” Irron resumed. “Females too old or too young to bond with a male are—”
“No use to you?” Raina muttered.
“Is she always so feisty or did a night in your bed make her irritable?”
Even knowing Raylon was intentionally provoking him, Kotto had heard enough. He stood so suddenly his chair tipped over and he slapped his hands down on the table. “In the training cage now! We’ll settle this like warriors.”
Raina jumped up and blocked his path. “You can go beat each other bloody. I don’t give a damn. But I will not be awarded on the outcome of a cage fight!”
Raylon just sat back and laughed, clearly accomplishing his goal. “It’s going to be a long week. Isn’t it, Commander?”
Raina turned on him, eyes flashing. “I don’t need a week to know you’re an asshole. I’m not bonding with either of you!” She spun on the ball of her foot and rushed from the room.
Kotto started after her, but Bandar caught his arm. “Ashley will check on her as soon as we’re finished here. Hopefully, you and Raylon can be more productive without a female to impress.”
Muttering under his breath, Kotto righted his chair and sat back down.
Irron shook his head, not even trying to hide his amusement. “Can you imagine how fast my infirmary will fill up if we have several thousand potential mates going at each other?” He looked at Sental and shook his head. “It’s honestly worse than I expected.”
“So focus on a proactive structure that will keep it from getting to this point,” Bandar prompted. “We’re looking for females between the age of twenty and thirty-eight who have the protein marker. What else?”
Irron thought for a moment before he responded. “We can cure most human diseases and correct congenital defects, so health issues shouldn’t be a concern. However, both parties will need to be in optimum health before the transformation begins. A simple screening should be sufficient to identify any problems that need to be corrected before we begin.”
“Will you be willing to help others with medical issues or just those participating in the program?” Ashley asked. “As soon as it gets out that you can cure cancer, everyone is going to want access to you.”
Irron paused as if debating what to tell her. “Decisions like that are above my pay grade. Access to our medical technology will likely be part of the ongoing negotiations. For now, let’s stay focused on managing multiple matches.”
“So we start with a mandatory blood screening,” Raylon said. “There’s no need for the process to go farther until medical problems are resolved.”
“Agreed. But as soon as the female is cleared by medical, I’ll compare her genetic code with our new database and the computer will provide us with a list of potential mates.”
“I know how fond you are of simulations,” Kotto finally calmed down enough to participate in the conversation. “Do you have a projected average or something like that?”
“Too much of the data is extrapolated for real accuracy, but my best guess is six to eight matches per female. Actually, I could run Raina’s genetic profile back through the program now that the database is complete. It’s likely she’s compatible with more than just you two.”
“That won’t be necessary.” Kotto forced the words out with his jaw clenched.
“I agree.” Raylon sounded less aggravated, but the dangerous gleam returned to his eyes. “You’ve caused enough trouble already, old man.”
“So the female will be allowed to spend time with each genetic match,” Ashley prompted and Irron nodded. “How long will she be given before she must choose who she wants to mark her?”
“That’s up to her,” Raylon proposed. “If she doesn’t mind being shut away from everyone else, she can take as long as she likes.”
“I’m not sure that’s wise.” Bandar rubbed his chin as he mulled over the possible complications. “We could end up with females volunteering for the program who aren’t serious about ever allowing a soul bond. If we give each female a reasonable deadline, it will discourage disingenuous females from wasting our time and recourses.”
“Unfortunately, Bandar’s right.” Ashley sounded a bit embarrassed. “Humans as a whole are going to be fascinated by you and look for all sorts of excuses to interact with aliens. If any of the females haven’t allowed a male to at least mark her at the end of the first month, she probably has ulterior motives for participating.”
“A month it is.” Kotto smiled at her. “Once Lunar 9 is operational, we can reserve one of the villages for females and bonded couples. That should make the unmarked females feel more comfortable, especially during the selection period.” Kotto knew the conversation was important, but he wanted to be with Raina, needed to soothe her and comfort her.
Much to Kotto’s surprise, Raylon agreed. “The existing arrangement of the outpost will work to our advantage. Luckily, the renovations are on schedule.”
“We’re actually a few days ahead,” Kotto informed him.
“What happens to the male or males who aren’t chosen?” Ashley wanted to know.
“They remain eligible,” Irron assured her. “As we’ve already seen, genetic compatibility is not going to be as much of a problem as I first thought.”
Ashley scooted forward, speculation knitting her brow. “If you have trouble finding females with the protein marker, can a female bond with more than one male?”
Irron shook his head. “Rodytes are much too territorial. Case in point.” He motioned toward Raylon and then Kotto.
Ashley accepted that without argument, but her concerns had just begun. “If you’re considering women in their thirties, some will already have children.”
“If a woman already has a mate, she cannot bond with one of us.” Raylon looked disgusted by the thought.
“Humans don’t bond for life,” Ashley told him. “The average marriage in America lasts around eight years. And each subsequent marriage breaks up even faster. These females might have Rodyte blood, but they’re going to think and behave like humans.”
Raylon looked at Bandar, clearly baffled by the information. “Why would a soul-bonded couple intentionally harm themselves? Severing a soul bond can be fatal.”
“Humans don’t form soul bonds,” Bandar told him. “They don’t understand true intimacy.”
“That’s tragic.” Raylon fell silent, though confusion still shadowed his gaze.
“To keep things as simple as possible,” Irron began, “we’ll give priority to those females who have never been married and have no children depending on them.”
“But those with children won’t be disqualified, will they?” Ashley sounded annoyed again and Bandar reached over and took her hand.
“We won’t know how picky we can be until we determine how many hybrid females we can locate and see how many of them are willing to participate in the program.” Irron rubbed the back of his neck. “There are still so many unknowns.”
“I say we leave it up to the male,” Raylon proposed. “If a male is willing to take on the responsibility of another’s offspring, he should have that right.”
Irron turned to Sental. “Sounds like we need an algorithm, maybe some sort of a scoring system that will sort through all these variables.”
“FindRodyteLove.com?” Ashley chuckled. “It sounds like a dating website.”
Irron was the only one who smiled. “They have no idea what you’re talking about, but you’re not far wrong. Genetic compatibility will be the first hurdle. Still, factoring in all this other information will make each joining more likely to succeed.”
“Can you organize this into a summary for Garin?” Bandar asked.
Irron nodded. “I’ll have it to you before the end of the day.” Then he winked at Ashley and said, “Better go check on your friend. She’s probably had a good cry and is ready to talk to someone about these irrational men.”