Mama and the Alien Warrior (Treasured By The Alien #1) - Honey Phillips Page 0,12

to depart?” he asked.

“Not like we got anything to carry, boss,” one of the girls said. TeShawna, that was her name. A tall, sturdy girl with warm brown skin and a short cap of tight dark curls, she was obviously the most outspoken. And yet she directed an unexpectedly shy glance at Mekoi, who was watching her discreetly. Hrebec shook his head. Mekoi had worked with him in the doomed labs. He had never thought the quiet medic would be any more capable of moving past that experience than he was.

“I’s tired, Mama.” The young child yawned and leaned against Abigail, who once again cradled the Cire infant.

“Just a little longer, sweetie. Then we can go back to bed.” She turned to him, and he felt an unexpected pulse in his loins as their eyes met. “Do you have room for all of us?”

The ship was somewhat understaffed; a full complement hadn’t chosen to accompany him on his self-imposed exile. If the men doubled up, there should be room. He would give Abigail and her children his rooms since they were the largest. He chose to ignore the fact that the thought of her in his quarters was immensely satisfying.

“Yes. My men can share.”

“Hmm. The girls might want to share as well.” She cast a discreet glance at the young girl who fascinated Ribel, and he understood her concern.

“That may be for the best,” he agreed.

“And unless you want to take the cribs with us, we’ll need supplies for the babies—diapers if nothing else.”

“Diapers?”

Her cheeks turned a rather fascinating shade of pink, but she spoke evenly. “To cover their bottoms. For when they, um, urinate.”

“Oh, of course.” The ship was not supplied with anything of the kind. “Mekoi?”

“We have absorbent bandages. Those should work.” Mekoi hesitated. “The temperature on the Defiance is cooler. The infants should be covered. The mothers as well.” Hrebec saw him take a discreet glance at TeShawna’s long, bare legs and he realized that all of the females were scantily attired. With the exception of Abigail, he thought with a twinge of regret. Long pants covered her legs and her upper body was swathed in some type of furry substance. The small female was also covered in fuzzy pink. But the Cire infant was unprotected.

He paused, then stripped off his uniform top and handed it to Abigail. “Wrap her in this.”

Her eyes widened as she took in his bare chest and she licked her lips. The sight of her small pink tongue caused an immediate reaction in his cock, which he sternly ignored.

“Um, okay.” She took the white shirt dubiously. “She might get it messy.”

“That is not an issue.”

A slight movement caught his eye. He turned his head and bit back a groan. Every one of his crew members had also stripped off their uniform tops. Mekoi was already approaching TeShawna. “Please accept this. For your child.”

The look she gave him was halfway between suspicion and shyness, but she eventually nodded and took the garment. “I don’t want her getting cold.”

Each of his men approached the females and the infants were quickly swaddled. Only the smallest, Molly, refused a shirt, but she wasn’t carrying a child.

Jedan assisted one of the other females who was carrying two babies. He hovered, his tail twitching. “Would you permit me to carry one of the infants? I do not wish you to be burdened.”

This female had pale skin covered with speckles and it flushed pink at the request. She bit her lip and looked at Abigail.

“Promise me that he won’t hurt the baby and he’ll return her as soon as we get to your ship?” Abigail demanded quietly.

“I promise.”

“It’s okay, Elaina,” she told the girl. “Just show him how to support her head.” With a little fumbling, the move was accomplished, but he could see Jedan’s tail already curling around the infant. The situation was rapidly getting out of control. He needed to get these distracting females back to the Defiance and safely stowed away.

“Mama, I’s tired.” The small voice drew his attention to the young child, now leaning heavily against Abigail’s legs.

“I know, baby. Not much longer.”

“Carry me.”

Abigail looked at the Cire infant, then at her daughter. Before she could speak, he intervened.

“Would you permit me to carry you, little one? With your mother’s permission, of course.”

Abigail glared at him, but he knew she wouldn’t refuse permission. How could she, when she had just told one of the young females that it was acceptable? Instead, she turned to her