The Uncertain Scientist (The Lost Planet 4)

She smacks me right across the face, the burn from her hard hit shocking me. Jareth growls at her, his sub-bones snapping out of control. Rekking great. Calix makes a grab for Grace’s arm just as I step in front of Jareth, blocking him from attacking her. His chest bumps my back.

“We ought to toss you in a reform cell,” Jareth bites out at her.

“Toss him in while you’re at it!” she cries out. “Where I come from, we don’t allow rapists to walk free!”

“No,” I argue. “We are not Kevins. I would never.”

“No one physically violated you,” Avrell assures her. “I was the one to inseminate the females.”

She turns her fury back to him. But as he rattles off all the specifics of what he did, she seems to deflate. Where Jareth and I are unknowing about medicines and biological code, this female seems to understand him clearly.

“Come on, Grace,” Emery says. “Just us. Let’s go. I’ll take you somewhere so you can eat something and catch your breath. I’m so sorry.”

This time, Grace seems to see reason. She allows Emery to tug her away. But before she gets past us, Grace stops to narrow her eyes at me.

“I may have your alien bastard baby inside me, but I’m not a monster. I can feel it kicking.” Her hard eyes seem to flicker with a softness before it’s chased away again by anger. “The poor thing is innocent. But don’t think for one second I’ll let you be some deadbeat dad. If I’m forced into this, you will be too. Got it, freak?”

All I can do is nod.

Because what the rekk else am I supposed to do?

She’s pregnant with my mortling.

Mine.

Pride and mortification war back and forth inside me. I’ll allow myself time later to understand what this will mean and how it will impact my life.

Now is not the time.

Jareth storms out of the lab and I shoot Avrell an apologetic look before trotting after him. It’s not until he’s within his quarters that he lets on what’s going on inside that nog of his.

The door closes behind me and I slowly approach him.

“Jareth…”

He glowers at me, but I don’t miss the hurt glimmering in his black eyes. “These aliens have ruined everything.”

I shake my head vehemently. “No, they haven’t. They’ve given our people hope.”

He winces. I soften the blow of my words by tenderly touching his cheek.

“I can father this mortling, but I won’t ever mate with her,” I vow. “I already have a mate.” Reaching into my pocket, I pull out his cock ring. “And if my mate is done pouting, I’d like for him to show me his cock that’s clearly missing its ring.”

His gaze drops to my mouth. “I’ll feed myself to a sabrevipe if you willingly bed her,” he says dramatically. “Go to The Eternals without you.”

I chuckle and grip his cock through his suit. It’s hard and strains against the material. “You’re not going anywhere without me. You’ve been my mate—albeit in secret—for six revolutions, Jare. You think I’m going to give you up now?”

He lets out a hiss of air when I rub at him more forcefully, his hand that’s always cut from working with metal grasping my wrist. “If they find out—”

But they won’t. They never do. We’re careful.

What we’re doing with each other is unheard of among our people. Something so taboo, it cannot be voiced. But when you’re hopeless and lonely, sometimes your heart gives you something you desperately need. With Jareth, we fill a void in each other that I certainly don’t intend on interfering with. I need him and he needs me.

“Our secret.” I run my lips along his, our breath mingling together. “We’re stronger than the rock this facility is built upon. This female can’t change that.”

His hand slides to the back of my neck and his nog rests against mine. “I really wish I could believe that.”

“Jareth…” I growl.

The argument is no longer up for discussion because he silences me with his mouth. And then later, from my knees, I make him bellow with mine.

Nothing will tear us apart.

Especially not some alien female.

Even if she is carrying our future in her womb…

1

Grace

An hour earlier…

Hiccups.

Why would I have hiccups?

I come awake slowly, my head aching, and wonder if I did it again. Every night I try to go to sleep at a reasonable hour so I’m more rested the following day, to no avail. I can’t ever sleep and the only thing that keeps me sane is my work. Losing myself in it keeps me from thinking about how hopeless my circumstances are. So I spend each night at my desk, going over test results and reams of data until I simply pass out on top of it all and sleep until the cycle repeats itself.