The Uncertain Scientist (The Lost Planet 4)

“They’re hurt and you’re an easy target,” Jareth murmurs gently. Someone so strong and immoveable shouldn’t be able to have such a gentle side. No wonder Sayer can’t get enough of him.

“But they’re right to be angry. I wanted to hurt them. You. Anyone. I wanted to make you all pay for what was done to me.” It’s true, I did. I had been so angry about my life being taken from me I didn’t care who I hurt. Even the one person who’d tried to be my friend. I don’t think Molly will ever forgive me. How could she?

Jareth prods at my lips with the morsel of fruit. I take it into my mouth and the sweetness explodes over my tongue. It’s the size of a grape and comes in bunches much like I would expect grapes to, except it’s a deep blue, almost black, and tastes more like an apple with the same consistency. I let him feed me several because once I swallow, I realize how ravenous I am.

Sayer lifts me from the chair, sits, and then places me on his lap. I have no idea how he manages it, considering how large I’ve gotten. “They’re not wrong to be upset, but neither were you. We were thoughtless when we brought the females here, driven by desperation. We didn’t even stop to consider how you may have felt. For that I’m sorry.”

“We both are,” Jareth adds as he feeds me another piece of fruit. “They will get over their hurt and we will move on.”

“I don’t know,” I say, but Jareth places a finger over my lips.

“Hush now. If they don’t, Say and I will make them. You’re ours now and everyone will either accept it, or they’ll have us to deal with.”

I take his hand between both of my own. “I want to be optimistic, really, I do. But I’m a scientist. I trust facts and data. I have to be realistic. You two can’t even have a relationship out in the open here. How will they ever accept me after what I did?”

Sayer strokes my hair. When did I start liking their hands on me all the time? “That’s not true,” Jareth says. “I spoke with the commander after we were together. He knows about us.”

This makes Sayer straighten behind me. Jareth’s hands tense in mine. My heart skips a beat. Breccan knows?

“You didn’t tell me that,” Sayer growls. “What did he say? Rekk, Jare.”

“He already knew,” Jareth says, reaching to Sayer and cupping his jaw.

I can tell their eyes meet because the air between them goes electric. They don’t need the pregnancy pheromones. They have enough between them without the hormonal boost. You only have to be near them. It’s no wonder Breccan knew they were together. I don’t know how no one else has figured them out with the chemistry between the way it is.

“You should have told me,” Sayer mutters.

“We’ve been busy. I haven’t had the chance. You were working on Willow’s transmission the way I have been working on my own tasks. You don’t need to worry. He understood that you’re my mate.”

Sayer slumps backward. “Rekk. I mean rekk, Jare.”

“I should give you two time to talk. I shouldn’t be here.” I start to rise, but Sayer’s arm clamps over my middle. The baby kicks at him in protest and his hands splay over the movement.

“I think you’re right where you should be.”

Jareth places his hands over Sayer’s. The baby inside my womb seems to sense them both and kicks forcefully. “See, little one? Even the mortling agrees. You aren’t going anywhere.”

When I open my mouth to answer, Jareth stuffs it with another piece of grape-fruit. “No arguing. You’ve had enough upset this morning. Let us take care of you.”

I’m still hungry, so I don’t argue. I don’t know if it’s the drama or the sex or the pregnancy, but I’m so tired. I’ve been consumed by anger since I woke up and it’s as though it’s all come to a pinnacle.

“I’ve never let anyone take care of me before,” I admit.

Sayer’s hands move to my shoulders where he begins to rub out the tension that has taken place there. “You were alone on your planet?” he asks.

I take a bite of meat Jareth offers. It reminds me a bit of beef jerky, but with a stronger, more pungent flavor. “I was an orphan. My parents died when I was very young, and I was raised in the foster care system.”

My eyes close as Sayer’s strong fingers dig into tense muscles. “You were well taken care of? Hadrian was orphaned as a young mort when his parents succumbed to The Rades,” he says.

“As well as I could have been, considering.”

“What does that mean?” Jareth doesn’t sound pleased, but the tasty bits of fruit and meat he’s feeding me and the pleasure from Sayer’s hands has me on a level of bliss I wasn’t sure was possible—and this was after they’d given me an orgasm to rival all orgasms.