muttered under his breath about furry shralers that didn’t know their places as he climbed out of bed and went in search of his Ehlealah.
Vivian was sitting on the sofa sipping her litah and reading one of her old, faded, paperback romance novels when she heard Quin enter the room. She turned to watch him walk toward her and sighed happily. “You are quite a sight to see,” she admitted, watching the huge, red, horned male she called mate as he made a beeline for her.
“Is that good?” he asked, sinking down on the sofa beside her and planting his head on her lap.
“It’s very good,” she answered, leaning over to kiss his lips before sitting up again.
“Did you enjoy your girls’ night?” he asked.
“I did. Very much. But the next time you send someone to watch over me, in addition to the guards already intent on following me, I’ll not be giving you a good morning kiss the next day.”
Quin considered feigning surprise and denying the whole thing, but almost as quickly gave up the pretense. “Fine. But in my defense, you tried to give your guards the evening off. So I had no choice other than to make other arrangements.”
“And those arrangements were assigning Lo'San to babysit us,” Vivian said.
“At least I did not tag along myself. I thought it more acceptable if someone else did it,” Quin answered.
“It was. Thank you for that much. But, that club was filled with your males, Rokai’s Elite team members, and Zahn and Rel. No one there wishes me harm. You are too paranoid,” Vivian said. “Had we been elsewhere, I’d have asked you to assign more security, but here, no one wishes to hurt me, Quin.”
Quin nodded. “True, but, we very often have dignitaries aboard, and they can be from any variety of places, and have differing beliefs. Not all are as closely allied as we’d like. It is best if we never, ever relax our security measures. Do you understand my concern for your safety, Ehlealah? I would be inconsolable and uncontrollable if anything ever happened to you,” he said, sitting up so he could look at her and take her hand in his.
Vivian nodded. “I do. I just get tired of all the security sometimes. I just want to be plain old me once in a while,” she answered. “It gets tiring having to make such an event out of just going to get something to eat at the commissary. Sometimes I just stay here all day because it’s not worth the effort to let everyone know I’m preparing to leave here, and all that it entails.”
“I do understand, Vivi. I do,” Quin said.
Vivian smiled at Quin and closed her book, leaning over to place it on the coffee table before getting to her feet. “Would you like a cup of litah?” she asked.
“If we have some left, I would prefer a cup of your Earth coffee,” Quin answered.
“We do. I’ll get you some,” she answered, walking into the galley. Minutes later she was back with two cups, one refilled with litah for her, and one with coffee for Quin. She handed it to him and then sat beside him. “Have you heard from General Lo'San?” she asked.
“No, but I believe he and Synclare are finally mated,” Quin answered.
Vivian’s brows scrunched low over her eyes as she regarded him. “How do you know that?” she asked.
Quin didn’t answer right away, then decided honesty was best, or at least semi-honesty. “Ba Re’ was watching on the security screens because Elisha has not allowed him to claim her yet and she insisted on going with you on your girls’ night.”
Vivian shook her head. “You Cruestaci give a whole new meaning to the word stalker, ya know?” she asked.
“What is a stalker?” Quin asked.
“You, minus the love and devotion,” she answered. “Anyway, back to the point. He’s going to get time off even though he’s your second won’t he?” Vivian asked.
“He will. Each male gets ten days, unless there are extenuating circumstances which dictate he needs more.”
“Like what?” Vivian asked.
When Quin didn’t answer because he was trying to find a way to explain it that wouldn’t directly point out what Vivian and most of the humans aboard had lived through, Vivian figured it out herself.
“Like me, you mean,” she said. “If the woman needs more attention or care because of what she’s been through.”
Quin nodded. “I am not sure how recovered Synclare is. Lo'San may need more time with her…”
“She won’t.