Embracing Emily (#7 Warriors of Kelon) (5 page)

Emily groaned and used her arms to push herself up and get to her feet. She grabbed her crutch. “Hold your horses, I’m coming.”

Finally making it to the front door, she opened it.

“Dad.”

“Em, can I come in?”

She leaned against the door, clutching the knob. “As my dad, or as the Colonel?”

His brow dipped in a frown. “I’ll always be both, you know that.”

Yes, sadly she did. With a heavy sigh, she took a step back. She could never understand how her father could be so protective, yet so distant at the same time.

“Can I get you a cup of tea?”

“No, no, I just came to see how you were. A report came in that one of the Kelons was less than pleasant with you today.”

Always straight to the point. No doubt, Jon reported everything which had happened in the classroom.

She shrugged. “Depends on what you define by unpleasant. I think everyone has their off days and he may have been having his. I didn’t take any offense.”

“So, you’re alright?” He glanced over her from head to toe, as if seeking out some kind of injury.

She fought the urge to roll her eyes. “Yes, Dad, as you can see for yourself, I’m fine. You’ll be happy to know you were right, I’m going to enjoy teaching the Kelons. They're pretty cool for aliens and eager to learn.”

He nodded, his shoulders relaxing slightly. “Good, good, well then, I’ll leave you to settle in. I’m only a call away if you need anything.” He stepped towards the door, hesitating for a moment, his gaze still on her. “Don’t forget to lock the door behind you. There are guards on patrol twenty-four-seven, but still...”

“Of course, Dad. You shouldn’t worry so much about me. I’m a big girl, you know.”

“Sorry, pumpkin, you can’t blame your old man for worrying. If anyone gives you any trouble, tell me or Lieutenant Simmons. He’s a nice, steady young man, good soldier.”

Emily quirked an eyebrow at his comment. He hasn’t called her 'pumpkin' in years, nor did she ever hear her father complement a soldier younger or lower than his own rank.

“You would do well with him if he shows an interest.”

“Dad, are you trying to set me up with him?” Being direct with her father was the only way to get her questions or point across.

“I just think it’s time you found someone and, well, settled down.”

She stared at him in disbelief. This certainly came from left field. “Well, when I find the love of my life, I’ll bring him around for dinner, I promise.”

“Just don’t discount the possibility of, well, offers. I’m not getting any younger and grandchildren...” He drew in a deep breath. “I know your mother wanted them.”

Oh, my God
. She grit her teeth and smiled. “Sure, Dad. Offers.”
When hell freezes over
. She was pushing thirty and, while some men did shown interest, it waned quickly when they noticed her crutch.

“Look, Dad, I’m feeling a bit drained after today, if you don’t mind.”

“Right, yes. Remember—lock up, Emily.” He turned, marching out of her door. She closed it and flipped the lock, knowing her dad was probably standing there until he heard the click.

She sagged against the door, her mind still trying to recover from her dad’s sudden interest in getting her married off and having babies.

“So not going to happen.” Her stomach growled and she groaned. Damn, she would have to go get the box of groceries from the car after all.

Some nice pasta and sauce—easy, quick and tasty. She turned the lock and yanked open the door. Her gaze focused on the ground rather than where she was going, and she barrelled straight into someone.

Startled, she pushed back and lost her balance. She would have fallen if not for two strong arms wrapping around her waist. He pulled her back, mashing her softer front against an unmistakable hardened wall of flesh. She thought it was her father who hasn’t left yet, and an apology hovered on the tip of her tongue.

“Dad, I’m—” She looked up, her eyes widened and she felt the blood drain from her face.

This was not her father, but... “Vallarr!”

The feel of Emily’s soft form against his made his body react. Vallarr gazed down into her grey-blue eyes, he watched her skin pale. By fire demons, she was in fear of him, again. She was so lovely, soft and—

The clatter of her crutch onto the front porch made him jump.

BOOM!

Red flashed over his vision, his body tensed and the air seized in his lungs as he struggled to breathe.

Not again! No! Do not give into the fear, it is not real. Move, do something, do not stand here like a fool.
Vallarr scooped her up. She was light and fit snugly against him as he carried her into the house. Slamming the door shut with the heel of his boot, he glanced around her dwelling, needing to set her down.

I will not drop her.

He quickly placed her on the nearest chair and stepped back. He closed his eyes and drew in several deep breaths, desperately trying to bring his mind and body under control.

“Vallarr, you’re shaking.”

He blinked, realising she got up, her small hands clutching his black uniform top with tight fists. He shook his head, trying to see past the red and black, threatening to cloud his vision and condemn him to the fire pits.

“Vallarr, look at me.”

He blinked and his eyes met hers, staring into her soft blue depths. Everything around him faded.

“You need to sit down.” Her calm, yet insistent tone confused him, but he felt compelled to obey. He gripped her hips, turning them both and without breaking eye contact, he lowered himself to the seat and without thought pulled her onto his lap.

She gasped, but did not break eye contact. “Slow, deep breaths, like me, in...” He did as she commanded. “...and out.”

Following her directions for long moments of time, his heart rate and breathing slowly calmed, his mind cleared and the attack faded.

“That’s it, big guy.” Her smile lit up her whole face, and his heart stuttered for a whole new reason. Her soft body pressed against his and he realised he forced her to straddle him. His hand on her hips kept her pinned in place. Yet, she appeared unafraid, one arm around his neck, her hand running soothing circles, the other cupped his cheek, keeping her eyes locked with his as she soothed and calmed him.

Shame washed through him that she had seen him like this, even more so how hard his cock was and pressing against her opened core. Thankfully, she wore the female version of male trousers. How easy it would be to pull her under him and...

He squeezed his eyes shut. “Emily, I am—”

“Vallarr, I don’t have a translator.”

He snapped his eyes open. Growling at his foolishness, he tightened his grip on her hips and lifted her off him, sitting her by his side, and fished out the translation unit from his pocket. He held it up indicating for her to put the small piece into her ear.

Her own hands trembled when she took the device. He did this? Made her shake? Was she still in fear of him? She looked so calm and the only word he could find was ‘caring’ for him.

A new sense of awe wove around Vallarr’s chest. He took the unit from her shaking hands and leaned forward. She appeared to understand and swept aside her rich, brown hair to allow him to fit it into her small, delicate ear.

For the first time, he inhaled her soft sweet scent of woman and sunshine, taking in a deep breath before pulling back.

“Do you hear my words now?”

“Yes!” Her smile widened, before falling in concern. “Are you alright now? Feeling calmer?”

“Yes, thank you. I...I did not meant to act, so...”
Foolish, out of control
... “I came to apologise for my behaviour in the classroom. I did not mean scare you. I am sorry for what just happened. I am...” He did not know what was going on in his mind, why the pain and vicious memories of that day kept haunting him.

“No, please, may I say what I think is going on? I don’t want to offend you.”

He shook his head. “How could you possibly offend me when I scared you twice? You have soothed me when no one...” He did not dare to admit to anyone these nightmare day visions. “I am a fool and careless brute.”

“Calling yourself names won’t help change your condition. You are a Kelon Warrior, yes?”

“Yes.”

“You have seen battles, been in wars, and this...” She leaned back, her hand hovering within inches of his neck. He realised she studied the visible part of the burn scars on his neck. “...looks recent.”

He swallowed hard and nodded.

“Tell me I’m wrong, but something terrible happened to you not long ago.”

Intelligence and compassion, not pity, shone in her eyes, but he could never tell her he was responsible for the death of her own kind. Beautiful, fragile, human women.

“I’m no expert or shrink, but I’ve been around military men and their families since the day I was born. I talk to wives, brothers and sisters whose men have served in wars. You, Vallarr, show the signs of post-traumatic stress disorder.”

He scowled at her words, not liking them. “Explain.”

“You suffered a trauma, and it has stayed in your mind, and sometimes there are triggers which make you remember what happened as if you were still there.”

He almost felt dizzy the way the truth of her words sank in. For a race with little technological advancements, he found their intelligence in certain matters quite astute.

He did not know how to respond for a long moment. “Can you think of what may have triggered this, uh, attack?”

“You!” he blurted out.

She flinched and her body tensed. “I caused your flashback?”

“No, not you. My words are...” He thought back to when she marched out into him, unaware he was walking up the path to her door; the look of her surprise; the sound of her stick clattering.

“The noise of your crutch falling, I...I felt as if I was there again.”

Why was he revealing more to her than he did to anyone? How could this little teacher affect him so deeply? He swiftly rose to his feet, leaving her staring up at him, her soft lips parted in clear surprise.

He marched to the door, yanked it open and retrieved her crutch, examining it, wondering how it could have made his mind fall back into the nightmare loop. He grunted and took it back to her.

“Thank you.”

“Who hurt you?” he demanded before he could stop himself.

“No one hurt me.” She half smiled, struggling to get up. He leaned forward and gripped her arms, lifting her to her feet, and then stepped back again before he did something even more foolish, like pull her body against his again, so he could feel her softness against his hardened frame.

She blinked, staring at him for a moment before shaking her head as if to clear her thoughts.

“My father being in the army, my mom and I moved around to different countries, to wherever my father was stationed. Some countries have better medicine than others. When I was fourteen, we lived in Malaysia. I contracted a disease known as polio. I was in hospital for a few years and it paralysed much of my left side. It took me a while and lots of therapy to regain the use of my leg and other functions. I’m almost back to normal.”

Her shoulders rose in a shrug, her lips curved up in a small, yet sad smile. He did not like seeing her with sadness or fear in her eyes. It made his own chest ache. Vallarr frowned, trying to make sense of these new emotions plaguing him.

Knowing she hasn’t been hurt by something or someone eased some of his tension. The sense of why the Kelons and humans were working together to help with their medical advancements made clear sense. They could help prevent harm and premature death for this race; more importantly to females, such as Emily. He saw the value in the Kelon healers being here and the importance in keeping both humans and Kelons safe.

He watched as she threaded her arm through the cuff, gripped the handle of her crutch and moved, leaning heavily on the crutch to move her left leg, then shift the weight onto her right as she walked into the small kitchen. He followed, keeping a few feet distance, resisting the urge to take the small, white device he knew heated water and take over the task of filling it.

His mind flashed back to the healer centre while he was recovering. He resented anyone trying to assist with the small, mundane tasks he could easily do himself.

Although she was female, no doubt her mind-set would be similar. He fisted his hands, keeping them by his side. Instead, his gaze was drawn to rounded, soft curves of her body as she leant forward.

Do not think of touching her again. Stay in control.

“Is there no cure?”

She tilted her head and drew in a sharp, silent breath, presenting him with her side profile. He saw the long lashes of her eyelids, the delicate line to the tip of her nose and the rounded pout of her lower lip.

“No cure, but we have developed a vaccine for prevention. I was given a vaccine when I was young, but I was ill at the time. The doctors said it must have cancelled out the vaccine, but these things happen.”

He wanted her cured, healthy and whole. The Kelon healers could do this, could help her.

She set the kettle down and switched it on, giving him her full attention. He felt the full weight of her gaze, his body hardening further as her eyes ran the full length of him. She turned her head and her cheeks coloured into a painfully arousing shade of pink.

He suddenly needed to know her thoughts. Why had she looked at him like that? Why did her skin turn pink? He knew it was a human trait to blush, sometimes from anger, other times from embarrassment or shame.

He took a step forward, towering over her, knowing it was not anger. Why would she feel embarrassed or shamed?

Do not scare her again, you fool.

He could not seem to stop his actions or words. “What did you just think to make your skin shade? Tell me.”

Her eyes widened, she chewed on her lower lip. His hands gripped the counter in front of him to stop himself from reaching for her, taking the same lip between his own lips to sooth her unease.

“You are a big man, Vallarr, very strong.” Her head shook making the wisps of hair escape from its clasp and fall around her face, making her all the more alluring. He wanted to free the strands completely, have then spread out on a pillow, under him as he...