Hesparia's Tears (11 page)

Her mother and father both contacted her via mobile, castigating her for being involved and once they knew what the Hesparians were doing, told her that she was participating in something that was little more than slavery of a galactic nature. Their cold comments stung and Jessa started screening calls, ignoring their messages. Emails poured in to her from radio and television stations once more, flooding her spam and deleted boxes.

* * * *

On a morning, little over a week after their initial meeting with the Prime Minister, Jessa sat in the dining room looking at the emails flooding in, her laptop whizzing happily.

“You know, Jessa, the only thing you have to worry about right now, is whether you stay or go.” Seth’s words had her jumping as he entered the quiet room.

“Oh, that’s so easy for you to say, Seth. You know he hasn’t even asked me. Besides which, even if the United Nations decides to go along with this crazy idea, they’ll want to vet everyone involved. I doubt I’d even get a look in.”

He snorted and Jessa raised her head. “Are you laughing at me?”

He sobered, sitting down beside her. “No, but I’m trying to lighten your mood a little. I doubt either of us will be welcome here once this is done.”

She looked at him, noting the circles under his eyes and the way he ran his hand through his shaggy red hair. “Are you okay?” Concern flooded her. In her own misery and confusion, she really hadn’t been paying attention to him. Looking now, it was clear how strained he‘d become.

“Yeah, I’m fine.” But clearly he wasn’t.

“Come on, Seth. This is me you’re talking to. Remember?” She laid her hand on his. “You can tell me.”

“Well, to be honest, it’s true. You at least will be able to leave, but me? They won’t have use for another male. And one who isn’t married or in a relationship.” He shrugged, looking dejected and lost. Jessa’s heart plummeted to her stomach with a dipping sensation. “And I doubt there’s going to be anywhere here that would either hire me or for that matter, want me within a twenty mile radius if any of the comments on the news are anything to go by.”

Holy hell.
That hadn’t even occurred to her. “Oh, Seth. Maybe…” But he cut her off.

“What? You’ll talk to Galan. If you don’t think he’ll take you, can you honestly see him accepting me?”

They were in a fine pickle, Jessa thought. Feeling even more down than before because these were truths that they both had to face but, a sense overwhelming loss swamped her for a moment. Then with a small sigh she sat upright once more. “Geez. I hadn’t even thought about that.” She slumped down to the tabletop just as the ding of new mail filled the air.

“You’d better check that,” Seth mumbled, laying his head down on the table.

Jessa opened the new mail and shock stole her breath.

“What is it?” Seth raised his head and looked into her eyes.

“It’s from Jace. I don’t know how he even got my email address.” Shock tightened her lips and her heart pounded. “I don’t want to hear from him, Seth. I mean…”

“Who has contacted you?” Galan demanded from the doorway.

Jessa closed her eyes.
Great. That’s all I need. To remind him of my chequered past.
“It’s my cousin. Jace.” Seth’s voice rang out and Jessa would have given anything right now for a hole in the ground—somewhere to hide in.

“And this is a problem, Jessa?” He moved forward, placing a hand on her shoulder.

 Jessa had to control the urge to curl into his touch. But this was her problem. One she had to stand alone and deal with. “He’s the one I did something stupid with. The one that…” A lump lodged in her throat.

“He told a lie about Jessa and got her in a lot of trouble.” Seth’s voice broke the pregnant silence. “Jessa was innocent in the whole thing.”

“Hush, Seth.” Jessa turned to look at him. “I was young. I was dumb and I let him use me. I had to pay some penalty for that.” She shrugged. “But it’ll never happen again.”

Galan lifted his hand from her shoulder and turned away from her. His action gutted her to the soul.

Galan’s anger burned brightly. White hot rage coursed through his veins as his belly churned. That this Jace had dared to contact Jessa was indeed a problem he needed to address. Then there was the manner in which the rest of the government of earth were acting. It was enough to make him want to give up on the whole idea of seeking women from this planet. There were, surely, other compatible planets. But even as the thought came, he dismissed it with a flick of his eyes. He glanced down at Jessa, caught sight of her white face. “What? What more are you not telling me?” His heart stuttered and he reached for her.

“It’s nothing.” Her voice was low and pain filled.

Seth rose, catching his eye. “We all need to talk later. But right now, I’ll leave you two alone.” He left the room quickly.

Galan glanced back to her, seeing her downcast eyes. “Jessa?” He wanted to understand. He needed to know what the problem was, so he could help her…make it better for her.

“It’s nothing, Galan.”

“That’s not true. Otherwise you wouldn’t be shaking like this. Now, tell me what the problem is.”

“You can’t fix this.” Her voice was thready, and his stomach knotted tighter than before in reaction.

“I can.”

“No, actually. This time you can’t. When this is done…” She stopped and he craned further.

“When this is done, what?”

“It’s nothing.” She started poking and prodding at the small terminal in front of her.

“You can’t say that and then not finish what you mean. Jessa…”
How can I reach her, when she won’t tell me what’s wrong?

Jessa stood up jerkily and he grabbed her hand. The computer slipped and dropped to the floor, smashing loudly.

“When this is over, you’ll be gone and Seth and I will be here. We’ll have to make the best of this…mess!” She cried.

Finally he understood. The memory of the negative emotion, of loss, flooded him. He refused to let her feel it any longer. “I won’t leave you behind. Or Seth, for that matter.” He gazed at her, taking in the soul-deep sadness in her eyes. The emotion scalded him, leaving him almost breathless at the pain that ratcheted through his system.

She snorted at his words. “Like you’ll have any other option.”

He grabbed her to him and snarled, “I won’t! I won’t ever let you go. You’re mine now!” And with that he swooped down, catching her lips with his. The kiss was brutal as his mouth roamed over hers. He moulded her tight against his frame, learnt the dips and swells of her body. His mind whirled at the taste and feel of her. Finally, gasping for breath he pulled away. “I’m not letting you go.” He gripped her hand and towed her out of the room and down the corridor.

The door of her cabin opened and he pulled her into the quiet room, bringing her back up against his body. “Does this feel like a man who will leave you behind?”

She stared at him, shock clear on her face. “But…Galan…” Then she blushed, the red tide rising on her pale skin.

His mind whirled as the primal thrill rushed through his body.

“Yes.” The single word echoed through the silence.

“You will stay with me, then?”

“Yes.” She gulped.

“Be sure.
I will not ever
let you leave me.” He bit the words out then he dipped down, until his mouth was level with hers and she gave a sigh. He felt her reach up, catch her fingers behind his head, and she opened her mouth to his tongue.

He was lost in the maelstrom of passion.

Galan cupped her breast, while he touched and mapped her body. He was hyper aware of her nipples as they budded against his chest. He pulled away. “You’re mine. You know it, don’t you?”

She shivered in his arms and he waited for her to acknowledge his words.

“I’m…Galan, I…”

“Mine.” He growled the single word as primal triumph roared through him.

The feelings he evoked in her were wild. She wanted him. Every fibre of her body cried out for his touch. His caress. Jessa quivered in his arms, glorying in the sensations he invoked. The feel of him pushed up tight against her left her gasping for breath. He was so big! It made her feel cherished and safe…
and wanted
.

Against her own will, Jessa moaned slightly, needing more of the drug-like kisses that filled her up.

He laughed lightly. “Soon, my beautiful. We will not rush this though.”

“Galan, I want…”

He stilled as if waiting for her refusal and she swallowed past the lump that had lodged in her throat, seeking a boldness she had never before possessed. She gulped, as she finally understood that he felt as uncertain as she did. “I want…you.” The words rushed out and he smiled, as her knees turned to water at the gleam in his eyes.

He moved quickly, crushing his mouth to hers and he thrust his tongue within the welcoming cavern of hers.

Their tongues tangled and she gloried in the sense of rightness. He ran his hands over her body, igniting small wildfires everywhere he touched. A slip here, just across her buttocks and a caress there at her shoulder, left her burning with the promise of pleasure yet to come.

Oh God!
She was so turned on by this man. She didn’t know how he did it, but she wanted more!

Jessa twined her fingers in his hair, before moving to his shoulders, learning the shape of him, before dropping to his chest. Savouring the feel of corded muscles below the cotton which kept her from the skin she so desperately needed to touch.

He found the fasteners of her blouse, deftly twisting a button through the hole before he burrowed in beneath the thin material. His light and questing touch on her stomach had her pulling away with a gasp.

“How do I…?” He pulled away and she saw his passion glazed eyes, then he hurried on to his own suit fastenings, shaking with the intensity of their passion. Then the top half was gone, baring his skin to her wandering scrutiny.
It’s all mine for the taking.

Her mouth dried and she chanced a look at his face. “You like what you see, don’t you, Jessa?” His voice was hypnotic and she nodded slowly before she lifted trembling hands to the fasteners of her top he hadn’t yet toyed with, slipping them through the holes. She watched him, his hooded gaze smoky and intense. And she gloried in the feminine power she had over this man.

Jessa pulled the blouse from her body, extended her hand and let the item fall to the floor. Then it was forgotten as the sound of his heavy breathing filled the silence. She waited for his response, her stomach twisting and churning wildly.

Jessa watched as Galan’s view dipped to her breasts, hidden only by a plain cotton bra. They weren’t large and she had many times wished they were more enticing. Now she wanted him to see them, touch them and find them just right, even if they were only covered by dowdy underwear. She silently cursed that she owned no sexy lingerie for this man to see her in.

“You are truly the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.” She vibrated with need at his words as he extended his hands to cup her twin globes. She cried out as he teased the sensitive nubs.

Slowly he moved his fingers towards the straps. He toyed with them before dropping them to the cups once more. He grazed his fingertips over them—up and down over the light material, each pass running ever so slightly over her nipples. Jessa wanted to cry out at the pleasure his touch evoked.

“I’m going to love you. I’m going to touch you and I’m going to pleasure you. Because you are mine.”

Her eyes closed at his words. He shuddered beneath her touches.

Klaxons wailed and the lights flickered on and off. Galan pulled away. “Stay here.” He jackknifed up quickly, collecting his shirt and shrugging it on. “It will be safer.” Then he was gone, leaving her alone in the room.

Jessa headed slowly to the bed. Her body heavy and her breathing hadn’t slowed much. Tension sparked through her and she squeezed her legs together vainly hoping to settle the arousal spiking through her. The wail of the klaxon ended as miserable tears rolled down her face.

So close!

She sighed, wiping a hand across her face… Jessa struggled to contain herself. “God knows it nearly happened and the damn alarms go off.” As the importance of that filtered back into her consciousness, she grimaced. “I hope it wasn’t anything too bad,” she muttered aloud and jumped at the voice that sounded through the room.

“No, Jessa. It was an incursion that was quickly dealt with. I believe Galan has given orders and is returning to you right now.” The walls glowed shades of blue, green and yellow as the perfectly modulated voice startled her.

“Who said that?” Fear snaked through her.

The chime of laughter filled the air. “It is me. The Princess Gospah.”

The what? Holy hell, the ship can talk to me?

“No. No ship can talk.” She waited, curling the fingers of one hand against her chest, while she hauled on the bedding to cover herself.

“Alas, Jessa, I can. I know Galan has not explained about me yet. I am a sentient species and offer my services to those of pacifist leanings. I and my brethren have been with the Hesparians for generations.”

Jessa gasped at the explanation.
Sentient ships
? For a moment, she wanted to laugh and believe it was a hoax. But the next thought stopped it in its tracks.
Hadn’t that also been the common theory about long distance space travel? That it was a fantasy which humans wouldn’t achieve in a single lifetime?
At least until the Hesparians had come on the scene.

“I will leave you now, I believe Galan is on his way to you and above all, we respect the privacy of those who travel aboard us.” The room colour changed to a light blush pink and Jessa was sure it meant she was alone once more.

The door slid open and in walked Galan. “Jessa, forgive me.” He reached out a hand in entreaty.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” she blurted out her demand and he stopped dead.

“Tell you what?” He looked puzzled.

“About the ship. That it can
talk
and is sentient.”