Page 39 of Resolution
“They don’t need us,” Jeff said, firm hand on her elbow. “It was good news though—two of the children—a brother and sister—have an aunt living here in Millersville. When the villagers were collecting the names and details, someone recognized the surname. She and her husband just arrived to take custody of the kids. The couple was on the list to take children in anyway but reuniting a family these days is special.”
“An unforeseen but happy outcome,” Melly said, cheered by the news. “I wish everyone could be so lucky. I hope the children will do all right in their new situations.”
“It’ll be better than life in an alien lab, being raised to be subjects for unspeakable experiments,” Jeff said as he escorted her into the fresh air.
She had a hard time staying awake as they drove to the flyer and once she was on board and seated she asked Jeff if he minded if she napped on the way to the ranch. “I can’t keep my eyes open, truthfully.”
“You do whatever you need to do to take care of yourself, sweetheart. We’ll make the ride as smooth as possible for you, I promise.” He kissed her forehead before striding away to find her a blanket. After tucking her in, he gave her another kiss and went to the cockpit.
Melly drifted off to sleep, hoping she wouldn’t have nightmares. Or daymares. But if she did, it was comforting to know Jeff would be right there to banish them.
* * *
Melly didn’t have time to study the house or the surroundings from the air. She slept during the landing and didn’t rouse until Jeff shook her shoulder gently. As soon as they exited the flyer Jeff swooped her into his arms and carried her across the grass to the residence. She greeted Devora in passing, took a longer minute to hug her brother and reassure him she was all right, and then Jeff carried her up the steps and into the house. She wasn’t sure if he was observing the classic bridal tradition of carrying her across the threshold of their new home or just trying to take care of her the way he couldn’t while she was locked in the alien lab. Either answer was fine with her.
“Do you want to see the house first or go straight up to our suite and have a long hot bath?” he asked, pausing at the foot of the stairs.
“Bath sounds heavenly,” she answered with no hesitation. “I’d really like to be alone for a bit. The rescue, the children, Millersville—it’s all been overwhelming on top of what Ybidliuz did to me yesterday.”
His arms tightened around her, but carefully and without another word he took her upstairs. Their suite was impressive, although Melly was amused by the practical, modular design of every feature. There were no personal touches at all. Yet. She’d make this place her own soon enough but not today.
In the huge bathroom he set her on her own two feet finally. “Do you need help or would you like me to run the tub?”
“I can get my clothes off,” she said with a smile, working on the fastening of her tunic.
“I suppose you want the water near scalding?”
“Is there any other temperature?” Giving him a raised eyebrow, she continued to shed her clothes, dropping the garments to the floor heedlessly. Time enough to be neat later.
“Devora found bath oils in one of the crates we salvaged along the way,” he said, pouring a handful of the shimmering pearlescent crystals into the water where they foamed instantly.
Using one hand on his shoulder to steady herself, Melly stepped into the tub and sank into the water with a long, contented sigh. “Perfect.”
He sat on his heels at the side of the tub and watched her.
“If you need to go deal with anything, feel free,” she said, leaning her head against the rim. “I would like a few moments to be alone.” Catching his hand, she said, “But only a few. I need you tonight.”
“I’ll always need you.” He kissed her tenderly and rose. “I’ll be back in ten minutes. Okay?”
She nodded and submerged herself entirely under the water. When she came up, he was gone but a big fluffy towel had been laid on the counter. Melly let herself cry as she lay in the soothing water. All the pent-up terror and pain of being kidnapped and taken to the alien lab swept over her and expressed itself in a bout of hot tears. When she heard Jeff’s steps in the outer room she ducked under the water again to wipe away the evidence of her crying jag and as he came into the bathroom she sat up and held out her hand. “I missed you.”
Coming closer, he threaded his fingers between hers and sat on the floor. “I’m known for being cool under pressure and levelheaded at all times but I lost it when you disappeared. There was a huge, aching hole in my heart.”
“Better now?” she asked, touching him over his heart.
“I haven’t forgiven myself for putting you in the position to be abducted, no. But having you here with me tonight, I can breathe again. I can live again instead of existing in a fugue state.”
“I love you,” she said.
Jeff pulled her closer and kissed her. The caress was gentle before it transformed into an expression of his passion. He put his hand on the back of her neck gently and angled her head so their lips fit together even more tightly as he deepened the kiss. Melly looped her arms around him, both of them heedless of the water spilling onto the floor from the full tub. Jeff rose to his feet holding her against him and grabbed the towel one handed from the counter. He wrapped it around her as best he could, the nubby cloth warm and comforting. Melly clutched at the edges as he carried her into the bedroom and laid her on the bed as carefully as if she was a delicate piece of glass. Truth be told, she felt fragile after the ordeal at the alien lab and it was balm to her soul to be treated in exactly the way she needed without having to say a word. Jeff understood her at a level so deep there didn’t have to be words between them and she was grateful.
He continued to kiss her, coming onto the bed fully clothed. Her softness curved into the hard planes of her man’s body and she relished the way they fit together.
“Tell me to stop,” he said, murmuring against her lips. “If this is too much, too soon, if it’s going to hurt you?—”
Melly laid one hand over his lips and gazed into his eyes, which were full of concern. “Don’t you dare stop,” she said fiercely. “I need you to give my body new memories, to take away the pain and the fear from what the enemy did to me back there. I need to be loved tonight.”
“Tonight and every night—you’re my world.” Jeff moved away and stood, removing his clothes with efficiency. Melly watched him avidly, taking pleasure in looking her fill at his body as he revealed himself. He wasn’t putting on a show for her enjoyment, just undressing as efficiently as he did all tasks but she drank in the sight of his flat stomach, rippled abs and the way her eyes were drawn down his body to the bulge in his pants. The utilities were the last to go and when his thick cock pulsed as it was freed from the confining fabric and he stroked himself root to tip once, she clenched her thighs involuntarily, trying to soothe the ache at her core. Holding out her arms she invited him to return to her embrace.
