Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 86162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 86162 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 431(@200wpm)___ 345(@250wpm)___ 287(@300wpm)
“No, I don’t think so,” she said at last. “But is there anything else I should know about, Solon? I won’t be upset as long as you tell me up front.” As she spoke, she reached for him again. She felt his fingers entwine with hers and more emotions—mostly longing—coming from him.
“There’s nothing more about me to know,” he said, speaking carefully again. Was he holding something back? “Would you like to have First Meal with me and then take a tour of the Monstrum Mother Ship?” he asked.
Abbey still felt like there was something unsaid between them, but she decided to let it drop. After all, the emotions she felt from him were all positive and he seemed to really care about her—care deeply. It was nice to feel such a sweet emotion directed at herself. It made her want to trust the big Monstrum.
“All right,” she said. “But if I’m going to stay up here with you, I’d really like to have some of my mobility aides.”
“You’re going to stay?” A burst of suppressed excitement came from him. “For the entire Claiming Period?”
“Yes.” Abbey smiled at him. “As long as we can take it slow and I can go at my own pace.”
“Anything you want, lelka.” He lifted her hand and pressed a soft, hot kiss to her palm. “Come on, tell me what you want for First Meal. I have several good meal cubes including beagles with creamy cheese and worfles with spurt—which I understand is some kind of tree juice.”
“I think you mean bagels and cream cheese and waffles with syrup,” Abbey corrected him, laughing. “And I’m hungry—let’s try both.”
21
SOLON
Solon couldn’t believe his good fortune—Abbey had agreed to stay with him! He was still a little nervous about the exemption paperwork that was out there in the system—maybe he should have told her about it and admitted what he had done.
But when she touched him, he had felt her reluctance to trust. Even though she claimed she wouldn’t be upset with him if he admitted something else, he had the distinct impression that she would have been—possibly she would have gotten mad enough to leave him, and he didn’t want that.
I’ll just wait a little longer, he told himself. I’ll let my Bonding Scent work on her a little more. Eventually I’ll tell her that her exception was granted, but she’s not ready to hear it yet.
With that decided, he pushed the concern aside and concentrated on spending time with his new bride. He wanted to make their Claiming Period special for her—a time she would never forget.
22
ABBEY
After breakfast—or First Meal as the Monstrum, called it—Abbey got dressed in her clothes, which were now clean and dry—and they went out for a tour of the ship.
Of course, she couldn’t see anything except colorful blurs but Solon was excellent at describing all the details of the ship. They rode the tram system, which was almost like a roller coaster and was pulled by huge creatures called “woles” who ran rapidly on many segmented legs when food was dangled in front of them.
They visited the jungle-like Sacred Grove in the center of the Monstrum ship and Abbey got to touch all the alien plants and smell the flowers. They went to a restaurant for lunch and had Monstrum cuisine which was strange but delicious and they even met Solon’s boss, Commander Rarev, who was the leader of the Monstrum, who happened to be eating at the same restaurant.
“Commander Solon, my congratulations on finding your bride.” His deep, purring voice sounded to Abbey like a big cat.
“Thank you—this is Abbey Lennox. And Abbey, this is my Commanding Officer, Commander Rarev,” Solon introduced her. “Er, he’s holding out a hand to you to greet you with a handshake, the way you humans do,” he added.
“Oh, it’s nice to meet you.” Abbey put out her hand and felt a large, firm hand enclose her own.
“Abbey has a rare form of optic neuropathy which has taken her fine vision,” Solon explained, probably because his CO was looking at her with uncertainty, she thought. “She is what the humans call ‘legally blind.’”
“How fascinating,” Rarev murmured in his purring voice. “And how are you finding the Monstrum Mother Ship, Ms. Lennox?”
“It’s wonderful,” Abbey said enthusiastically. “I love all the flowers and plants you have everywhere. I work in my aunt’s florist shop back home, so I’m always interested in new plant life,” she added.
“In that case, the Monstrum Mother Ship is definitely the place for you,” Commander Rarev remarked. “And if you’d like to take flowers from any of our plants back home, please let Solon know. I’m sure your relative would be interested to see them.”
“Really? You’d let me have some to take home?” Abbey asked excitedly. The thought had definitely crossed her mind, but she didn’t want to ask for fear that it would be disrespectful.