fast in spite of his injuries, although Inzen was clearly stronger and more experienced. Her pulse pounded as Inzen’s big, muscular body strained against the younger male’s before flipping him to the mat. He reached down to help Sentu up, obviously lecturing him, and then they began again. Her training had been sufficiently thorough to understand the skill involved in their bout and she watched their moves in fascination.
“Dada?” A small hand tugged on her leg, and she looked down to see Lily staring up at her, her lip trembling.
“He’s training, baby. Do you want to see?”
Lily nodded so Jade lifted her into her lap just as Sentu’s tail lashed viciously across Inzen’s cheek. She winced, sure that Lily would get upset but her daughter only settled back against her, her thumb in her mouth, watching sleepily.
This was the first time Lily had let her hold her, and the warm little weight in her arms made her heart ache. She lowered her head to brush it across her daughter’s soft curls and breathe in her sweet, innocent fragrance. How much she had missed that scent. Together they watched Inzen, and she hoped that maybe she’d finally managed to reach her daughter.
That hope had faded later that night. They had eaten dinner with Cassie and her daughter again. Jade watched with interest as the other woman turned first pink, then white when Inzen announced that Sentu was coming to dinner. Apparently, Sentu’s attraction wasn’t completely one-sided.
Unfortunately, Lily wore herself out playing with Angel, and by the time they returned home, she was a cranky mess. Any hope of being alone with Inzen faded as he carried a crying Lily to what should have been their bedroom, throwing an apologetic glance at her over his shoulder.
She had waited for a little while but he hadn’t reappeared. With a disgusted huff, she retired to the small bed in Lily’s room once again.
This morning everything had been back to the unsatisfactory normal with Lily once more focused on Inzen. She couldn’t begrudge her daughter’s obvious happiness as they played in the garden, but she wished she could be part of it.
The Trevelorian version of a telephone rang and she went to answer it, finding Abby’s smiling face on the other end.
“What’s wrong?” the other woman immediately demanded.
“Is it that obvious?”
“You look like the world’s coming to an end.”
“I’m sorry. This mating business isn’t working out very well.”
“Why not?”
Abby’s expression was curious but also sympathetic, and Jade found herself spilling her troubles in Abby’s ear.
“And he won’t even sleep with me!” she concluded and heard a startled breath. When she peeked hesitantly over her shoulder, Inzen was standing there, his eyes as hungry as they had been on the ship. He took one step towards her, and they both heard Lily call from the garden.
“Dada!”
He stopped dead, his tail flicking towards her even as his head turned to check on Lily.
“Go on,” she said ruefully when he looked back at her.
“Very well. But we will discuss sleeping arrangements in greater detail tonight.”
His eyes promised enough to make her body respond, even as she shook her head and turned back to find Abby still watching her, her face wreathed in smiles.
“Oh, believe me, I understand that. I can’t tell you how many times Hrebec and I have been interrupted.”
“Interrupted suggests that you got started to begin with.”
“True. Do you want my advice?” Before Jade had a chance to answer, Abby waved her hand. “Never mind. I’m going to give it to you anyway.”
Jade laughed. “I was going to say yes.”
“First of all, Cassie.” Abby sighed. “She had a really hard time back on Earth, in and out of foster homes—all of them bad from what I can tell. The people who were supposed to protect her didn’t. I think Inzen is the first decent male she’s ever known and she’s jealous. Oh, not in a romantic way, but because he cares for her and she thinks she’s going to be left out just like she was left out so many times before.”
“He would never do that, and I would never ask him to.”
“I know, but it’s going to take her a while to understand that. I know it’s hard but be patient with her. She’ll come around—she’s a smart girl and has a good heart underneath that cynical shell.” Abby smiled. “And TeShawna will come with her. From what she’s said to me, I suspect that she actually likes you already but isn’t about to betray