Gail's Family: A SciFi Alien Romance Novella: Icehome Book 4 Read online

  He’s got me there. “All right,” I whisper. “I’ll go at first light.” I can’t stop touching Z’hren, though. I run a fingertip along his little ear, the curve of his fat cheek, and he sleeps on, my nipple in his mouth.

  “Do you want me to take him?” Vaza asks.

  “Not just yet.” I want to hold him all night and right on through morning. This is the first time I’ve been able to hold him in my arms and not have him scream in my face. I want to enjoy it for a little bit longer.

  My man chuckles, but I think he understands. He caresses my arm again. “Do not hold him all night, then. I want my turn at your teats.”

  And I giggle like a schoolgirl, just because I’m so happy. So relieved.

  6

  GAIL

  The next morning, I gather Z’hren in my arms, bundle him up, and kiss Vaza goodbye. He’s heading out this morning for more hunting, this time with two of the girls, and I give him a cheery smile and a playful swat on the ass. “Don’t stay out too late.”

  Vaza gives me a speculative look. “Your mood is good, female.”

  “I feel good,” I tell him, and I don’t even mind that Z’hren’s already fussing in my arms. He needs to eat, and he’s squirming wildly. I suspect he’s trying to slide into nursing position, but my tunic’s not open and there’s no food there yet, anyhow.

  He leans in and caresses one of my nipples through my tunic. “Save some of that good feeling for when I return home later today.”

  I shiver, grinning. “Don’t make promises you don’t intend to keep, old man.”

  “Oh, I will keep them, my young beauty.” And he winks at me, his hand sliding to caress my ass. “Put our son to sleep early, because his mother will be spending time in the furs with his father tonight.”

  I give another high-pitched giggle of happiness, sounding like a woman half my age. “You rogue. Go and teach those young women how to hunt before they start to wonder what’s keeping you.”

  “They will know what’s keeping me,” he says, and pulls me into his arms, the baby sandwiched between us. He nibbles lightly on my ear, clearly frisky this morning. “They will say, ‘That Vaza is claiming his pretty mate again this morning. What stamina he has!’”

  I snort. “I can assure you no one is saying that, you big goof. I love you. Now go and do your thing and I’m going to go visit the healer and see if we can’t get some milk started.”

  He kisses me, pinches my ass like the horny old dog that he is, and then heads out, weapons in hand. I watch him go, pleased, and sit down on the blankets to feed Z’hren one of his special bars. He gnaws on it for a moment and then fusses at me, as if displeased.

  “Oh, I know. I want you to drink milk, too,” I tell him, wiping his mouth clean of food as I smile at him. “But you and I are gonna have to be patient a little longer. All right?”

  He stares up at me with those big baby eyes, so brilliantly blue with his khui…and then bellows his displeasure in my face.

  Figures.

  I keep smiling, though. Vaza’s sweet morning flirtation did a lot to help my mood, and so did last night’s suckling session. I’m positive Z’hren will stop hating me at some point, sooner if I can get my breasts to start producing milk. Plus, I can’t help but feel that breast milk will be so much better for him than what he’s been eating.

  I’m just embarrassed I didn’t think of it sooner.

  I change his clothes after breakfast, wipe him down and sing silly songs to him as he sucks on one fist after another, as if giving them all a try before deciding one tastes the best. He starts to fuss again, and I scoop him up and decide to head off to find Veronica.

  She’s not by the fire, and neither is Angie. Of course not. Last night was a big feast that I didn’t really enjoy because Z’hren was so miserable and Angie’s water broke. I guess she had her baby. I clutch Z’hren tighter to me. If I can’t nurse him…maybe Angie can alongside her baby? I hate the thought, but at the same time, I know my little man needs milk. I have to do what’s best for him.

  I head toward the fire, because Liz is there with her little ones. “Hey lady,” I say to her, hefting Z’hren in my arms. “Which of these tents is Veronica and Ashtar’s?”

  She freezes while handing Aayla a bowl. Raashel just keeps on eating. “What’s wrong?” Liz demands, her eyes wide as she looks at the crying baby in my arms. “Is Z’hren sick? Is he okay?”

  “Everything is fine,” I reassure her. “I just wanted to ask her something for me.”

  Liz relaxes, putting a hand to her brow and visibly deflating.

  “You okay, Mommy?” Aayla asks.

  “Yeah, Mommy just got a few more gray hairs,” she says, patting her daughter’s shoulder. “Eat your breakfast.”

  “Your hair is already gray and yellow,” Raashel points out helpfully.

  Liz just shakes her head, looking at me. “That’s called blonde, baby.” She looks at me and we share that moment of quiet mom amusement. “You want a daughter? I have a spare.”

  I chuckle. “Nah. Got my arms full with this one.”

  “They’re up the hill,” Liz tells me, reaching out and smoothing one of Raashel’s little braids. “Last tent past the Tall Horn clan, just past R’jaal’s dwelling. You can’t miss it.”

  “Thanks,” I tell her, racking my memory as to which one of the newcomers is R’jaal. My brain eventually reminds me that he’s tall, lean, with enormous horns and a sharp, almost hungry expression on his face. He’s the one that watches all the women like a starving man, I’d be willing to bet.

  I head in the direction of the Tall Horn clan’s tents. Shadowed Cat is in the caves, along with the unmated girls—a different set of caves, of course—and so the tents are clustered in a few different groups. Tall Horn is in the back of one of the twisty canyons, I’m guessing, and I take Z’hren on a walk down the beach, looking at each cluster of tents and trying to remember who is who.

  I know I’m heading in the right direction when one of the tents at the far end of the canyon opens up, and a big, golden body steps out into the morning air, stretching. Naked. That’d be Ashtar, Veronica’s mate. I stare at his package, just for a moment, because I’m old, not dead.

  No spur. Huh. Vaza wins in that department. Once you get the spur, you don’t settle for second best anymore.

  Still thinking about spurs and my man, I hike up the beach towards Ashtar. “Hey there, is your mate awake?”

  He scratches his bare chest with his big claws, oblivious to his nakedness or the fact that he’s got morning wood. Lots of it. “Not yet. Why? Are you sick?” He looks more irritated than sympathetic.

  “No, but I do have a favor to ask.”

  Ashtar looks sour at the thought. “Of course you do. Everyone is determined to have their share of my mate. She is wearing herself thin helping everyone.”

  “Well, mine was a pretty simple ask, but if it’s gonna be a problem,” I begin lightly.

  A hand emerges from the tent and grabs Ashtar’s ankle. “You be quiet, crankypants. I’m the healer. It’s what I do.” A moment later, Veronica peeks out of the tent, squinting up at me. Her hair’s a messy nest of bedhead and post-sex tangles and she yawns. “You can ignore him. The doctor is in.”

  I eye Ashtar, but he only rolls his eyes and squats in front of the tent, which is real, real awkward for me as I get a bird’s eye view of some serious dangling. “I only want to make sure you do not exhaust yourself, my mate,” he says to Veronica. “The pregnant female had her kit last night—”

  “Yes, and she hardly needed me, did she?” Veronica says pertly. “Thing practically slid right out of her.” She waves me in again. “Besides, babe, this is Gail. You know she wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”

  I hesitate, feeling guilty. Veronica has been stretching herself thin lately, but I hate to leave. I want this so badly, but I also don’t want poor Veronica to wear herself out. “It’s really no big deal. I can come back.”

  “Nonsense.
Come sit down. I’m practically dressed. And Ashtar was just about to put some pants on.”

  “Was I?” The golden-skinned man rumbles with amusement. “I do not recall that.”

  “You know I don’t like you parading the goods,” she teases back. “Do it for my sanity.”

  He laughs, and when she holds out a fur wrap, he rolls his eyes good-naturedly and puts it on, tucking it at his waist. “Better?”

  “Much. Gail?” She looks at me expectantly.

  I consider it a moment more and then duck into the tent, Z’hren in my arms.

  Inside, the air is several degrees warmer than the brisk morning, and there’s a hint of sex in the air. That’s normal, given that they just resonated, and after being a slave for a few years, nothing can shock me. I don’t mind it. Just shows that they’re happy and in love. Ain’t nothing wrong with that. The tent’s a bit of a mess, with furs everywhere and baskets of goods haphazardly cast about. Veronica tries to straighten up, yawning, and I take a seat on a pillow near the unlit fire pit. “Don’t worry about cleaning up on my account. You’re a busy woman.”

  She beams at me, thumps the pillow in her hand, and then immediately lies down on it. “Don’t tell Ashtar, but I’m pretty sleepy,” she admits with a yawn. “He worries.”

  “He’s your man,” I agree, trying to settle a squirming Z’hren in my arms. “He’s allowed to worry about you.” I think about what she said earlier. “Angie’s baby…it’s okay?”

  “Oh, fat as a butterball and cute as a button.”

  “You called it a thing, though?” An awful thought occurs to me. “Is it…not human?”

  Veronica just laughs. “Don’t worry on that account. Thing, baby, whatever. I’m still figuring out this whole ‘maternal’ thing.” And she pats her stomach. “Sorry, dragon-baby. You’re gonna be a ‘thing’ to me too, no matter how cute you are.”

  It reminds me just how young all these girls are. Veronica could be my daughter. Hell, all of them could be. “Is she happy, at least?”

  “Ecstatic,” Veronica agrees. “It’s a gorgeous baby. I won’t spoil any more about it because that’s hers to share, but it really is beautiful and healthy.”

  I smile. “That’s all that matters.”

  Z’hren looks up at me, screws his little face up, and wails.

  “Speaking of,” I say, adjusting him in my arms. I decide that there’s no point in hiding anything or pretending, so I open the front of my tunic and set Z’hren against my breast. He immediately latches on, nursing, and then lets out a whimper of frustration when there’s nothing. “Can you make me lactate?” I ask. “Because I want to be able to feed my baby.”

  She blinks at me, surprised, and then a slow smile curves her mouth. “I bet I can.”

  7

  GAIL

  A short time later, I leave Veronica and Ashtar’s tent, my breasts throbbing from her ministrations.

  All she did was touch my hand and chitchat, but I feel…different. My boobs feel heavier and my body hums from within with a burst of energy.

  I’m full of hope, too, that we might have this thing figured out.

  “You’re already on the right track,” she told me as she held my hand. “I can feel your body’s gearing up to produce milk. Maybe because you’ve done it in the past and you’re nursing him now? Whatever it is, I just need to give it a little nudge. It’ll probably be good for you to massage your breasts on the regular until it comes in, as weird as that sounds. And come back in a few days if nothing’s happening, and we’ll give your body another nudge.”

  I thanked her, making a mental note to create a small gift of some kind for her. Ashtar’s right, we do take her for granted, and she works hard to keep everyone in the tribe healthy.

  She touched Z’hren next and frowned a little to herself. “Whatever he’s been eating has been giving him an upset tummy. I can feel it hurting and bloated. I’ll work on that, too.”

  I felt like the worst mama ever. “I didn’t know. He’s been so fussy lately that it’s been hard to tell.”

  “The diet on the island was pretty different, I imagine.” She patted my arm. “You’re doing the best you can, like all of us.”

  Her words make me feel a little better. At least she’s able to help him, and I can give him that much. I thank her once more and joke that she can go back to doting on Ashtar. Veronica just shakes her head with a smile. Her ‘schedule’ is busy, because now that she’s done with Z’hren, she’s heading over to visit T’chai (who I haven’t met) and his mate, and then stopping by Angie’s cave. I feel guilty for taking up her time, but it’s clear Veronica enjoys being needed.

  So I take my sleepy son home and nap, remembering to squeeze my breasts to try and bring the milk in faster.

  A warm hand caresses my shoulder, waking me from sleep. With a groan, I roll over and rub my eyes, looking up into Vaza’s handsome, weathered face. “You’re back already?”

  “The one called Pen-ee twisted her ankle,” he says, shrugging. “It seemed wise to return home before the day was too long. She can go see the healer and I can slide under the furs with my mate.” Vaza grins at me, pulling the furs back and eyeing my mostly naked body with obvious pleasure. “It is clear I made a good decision to come back. You look lonely.”

  I chuckle. “Do I, now?”

  “Very,” he says solemnly. “Lonely and cold. It is my duty as your mate to warm your fragile human body.”

  “Fragile nothing,” I tell him, amused. “You are treading on thin ground, my man.” But I lift the furs up so he can slide in next to me. “Z’hren?”

  “Sleeping.”

  “He’ll be awake soon,” I tell him, and then cup my heavy-feeling breasts. “I went to see the healer this morning.”

  “And?” His gaze slides to my hands, because he’s a man. He leans over and starts to unlace one of his boots.

  “She thinks I can start producing milk in a few days. I’m supposed to play with my breasts to encourage things along.” And I give them a teasing squeeze, casting a sexy smile in his direction. “Such a chore, right?”

  “Not a chore at all,” he tells me, and relaces his boot.

  I sit up on my elbows. “What are you doing?”

  “I am going to let Lo-ren watch Z’hren for a time so I can spend my afternoon helping my mate’s milk come in.” He gives me a heated look. “This will require all of our concentration.” He pauses and then adds, “And Lo-ren offered to take him when I returned to camp.”

  I grin. Seems like we’re going to get to have a lazy afternoon to ourselves. I like the thought. It’s been days and days since we had any alone time and I didn’t realize how much I missed it. I wouldn’t trade Z’hren for the world, but if Lauren wants to take him regularly for an afternoon, I won’t complain. “Sounds good to me. Just tell her to avoid giving him the fatty bars she’s been making. Something in them upsets his stomach.” I bite my lip. “Does that sound accusing? I didn’t even know it was a problem until I saw Veronica this morning and she said that was why he was fussing as much as he was. Should I get dressed and go with you to explain?” I sit up, about to get to my feet.

  “You lie back and think of your mate and squeeze your teats,” he tells me, a hand on my shoulder. “I will take our kit to Lo-ren and explain. If the healer said it, it must be true. Remain where you are.” He turns away, then pauses and looks back at me. “And keep touching yourself.”

  “Yes, sir,” I murmur, more than a little aroused at how decisive he is. Nothing sexier than a man that knows what he wants.

  He returns within a matter of minutes, the basket gone. His bright, glowing eyes are full of heat as he carefully closes the tent behind us and slides the bone latch into the loop, indicating that we want privacy. It takes everything I have not to wiggle with excitement as he stalks forward a few steps, then looms over the furs. "Have you been working your breasts like you should, my beautiful human mate?"

  "Of course," I tell him, and shift so the
blanket falls back and he can see me kneading and squeezing my small tits as if they're something spectacular. They ache, the tips ultra-sensitive, but I take that as a good sign and keep going. I can stand a little bit of pain if it means my baby gets to nurse that much quicker.

  "You are a very well-behaved female today," he murmurs, stripping his cloak off and tossing it to the ground. "This is very different from my mouthy Shail."

  "Mmm," I agree, grinning. "I've been a good girl all afternoon."

  "You must want something." He slides his hand up and down the front of his loincloth suggestively, and I fight the urge to giggle like a schoolgirl.

  "A bit of spur, perhaps?" I keep my tone light, even as I let my fingertips trail over my dark nipples, circling them. I love “playing” with Vaza. After dating men who took sex—and life—so very seriously, I love that he's got a frisky side to him and loves when I tease him right back. I could play Naughty Nurse with him and he'd eat it up. Or Naughty Student. Heck, I could even be a Naughty Rabbit and he'd have no clue what was going on, but he'd be down for it. He just wants to be with me, and that's the biggest aphrodisiac of all—a man that practically worships the ground I walk upon.

  "You get the spur when I know you have done a good job on your teats, female," he tells me, his voice playfully stern. "Not a moment sooner."

  "Oh, but my hands are SO tired," I mock-complain, circling my hard nipples with two fingertips. "If only there was someone who could help me out."

  Vaza groans, and he practically flings his loincloth across the tent. Now he's in nothing but his boots, and his eyes are blue fire as he drops to his knees. "Do you need assistance, then?" He practically pants the words out, and I can see the hard, ridged length of him jutting from his corded thighs. Oooh, yum. This man is a treat.

  "I bet you could do a fantastic job," I practically purr at him, arching my back.

  "Allow me," he says, as if I'm doing him a favor, and then he slides into the furs next to me, his hard blue body warm against mine. One hand reverently cups my breast even as his face lowers to the other. A moment later, he takes my nipple into his mouth and sucks hard.