Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Catalina

Once more she went through the steps, sneaking away from her prison. Her heart thumped wildly in her chest, and she fought to control her breathing. She made it across the street and up the stairs… afraid to open the door and take those last few steps. What if the Andaran had captured BaOBy?

At the landing she stripped of the Viant nobility robe. Walking through the door, she tossed the robe in the bushes to put on when she left. If he was here, she wanted him to see her—to notice the pregnancy and her bloated and weak body—everything she was.

She sucked in a breath when she saw him standing in the moonlight. Waiting for her.

His long hair brushed over his shoulders and his brown eyes gleamed with happiness when he saw her. Both the moonlight and the light-colored clothing enhanced Bao's vibrant green skin color. Dressed simply in long gray pants and a white sleeveless shirt, the clothes emphasized the muscles in his arm, his slim but obviously ripped waist, and a chest that featured in her dreams last night.

Pathetic, really. To dream about being held in powerful arms so her head could lie on that magnificent chest and she could believe in the future. She imagined listening to the beat of his heart… forever.

Once she told her story, dawning horror would replace his loving look.

Lowering her lashes for a few seconds, she stood there, fighting back tears. Cat needed to concentrate on something else. To bring her emotions back under control. To stem the fear in her soul. When her vision cleared, she focused on Bao's scrollwork. The tattoo was fascinating. On his right bicep, the artwork appeared to be a fancy star with only four points. The top and bottom points were longer. They swooped up and down with a bit of a flip at each end. The side points had a bit more curl to them and reminded her of old-fashioned anvils. Or a genie's lamp. She could see smaller accent lines alongside each swirl.

Twisting her fingers together, holding on so she wouldn't be tempted to reach out and touch him, Catalina realized her heart was beating out of control. Part of her didn't want to share her story. Didn't want to admit that she had no future with this incredibly handsome man. She wanted to scratch her nails through his beard stubble. To feel his long, thick hair against her face as he kissed her.

More than anything, Cat wanted to trace the markings on his arm with her fingertips. She took a deep breath, hoping to catch his scent, and was rewarded by a spicy aroma that shredded the damn, sweetly cloying fragrance of the floral Violeta. A single tear escaped, and she quickly wiped it away.

"How long have you worn your re-breather?" Bao's voice startled her.

Opening eyes she didn't remember closing, she frowned at his question. "A year, maybe longer."

He nodded. "They are meant to be changed more often." Bao handed her a new model. "I believe the one you wear now is helping, but not completely eradicating, the drugged air."

Nodding, she quickly pulled the old one out of her nose and inserted the new one. This was also an internal model, so the Andaran wouldn't realize it had been updated. Cat took a deep breath and immediately felt… lighter. Damn the Andaran and his mind manipulation. "I can give you coordinates for the three factories producing the narcotic substance that fills the air. Destroying them might give you something to do before you leave," she offered.

Bao's eyebrows rose. "I'll take the information and make sure to use it. But I won't show my hand to the Andaran before my brothers and I rescue you and the ones you worry about are protected. Your safety comes first." He sighed. "I want your story, Cat. I see the refusal of rescue in your expression, but I need to understand why. We can sit in these chairs, or I have a blanket spread on the ground with pillows and food we recovered from the Andaran's warehouse. I would hold you in my arms as we celebrate this small victory and you share your story with me. When was the last time someone held you?"

His voice, his thoughtfulness… tempted. She couldn't remember being held in someone's arms. Ever. No part of her wanted to refuse him. Plus, if she sat with her back to his front—she wouldn't see the disgust and revulsion on his face when she shared her secrets.

She dropped her chin, her arm sweeping toward the blanket. It was the only answer she could give. Her body shuddered in anticipation of having those powerful arms wrapped around her.

Bao held her hand while she settled on the ground. Even though her body wasn't so pregnant yet that she couldn't move freely, it was nice to have help. Then he sat behind her, arranging his legs on either side of hers. He wrapped both arms around her while she settled her head against the crook of his shoulder. The warmth of his body comforted her. As did the pressure of his arms, his steady heartbeat.

For just a moment, she closed her eyes and allowed all the tension to fade away. There was a light breeze teasing bits of her hair. His spicy scent was stronger now. This memory would need to see her through the rest of her days. And there weren't many left.

Catalina took a moment for herself. A moment to bask in the glory of sitting on the rooftop, wrapped in Bao's arms. If she didn't think, didn't remember—she could hang on to the feeling of happiness. The feeling that someday she might have a future with this perfect being.

Her mind and body agreed. Both wanted him. To be honest, she wasn't sure what she'd do with him if it was a reality. But she was willing to figure it out. Cat needed to quit dreaming and talk about more serious matters. She'd never felt loved before. Not that she could remember. Cat hoped her parents loved her, but she didn't remember them or what that felt like. But this, she'd never felt so safe. So sheltered from all the horrible things in the world.

No one knew more than Catalina that the feeling of safety was a myth. There would be no happy ending for her or the other women in that house.

"Here, Catalina. My brothers found some fresh fruit in the Andaran's warehouse. I don't know if you've had it before. It's called Yama."

He handed her a green, knobby thing. She'd seen others eating them. But had never been given one. She did not know what to do with it. Did she bite it?

"The other Earth women we rescued said it looks like a tomato, but it tastes more like a banana. The fruit is ripe when soft."

She turned it over in her hands until he took it back, picked up a knife, and cut it in half. It surprised Cat to see the inside was even greener than the outside. Baby scraped off some of the skin and handed her a section. "Just pop it in your mouth," he suggested.

Cat did as she was told. She moaned. The flavor burst in her mouth. She couldn't remember what it reminded her of. Maybe the banana that Baby suggested. Whatever it was… she loved it. No wonder none of her owners had ever shared one of the Yamas when they had baskets full of them. She didn't want to share either.

For several minutes, they didn't talk. Cat ate the fruit as fast as Baby peeled it. Until her stomach was full. She held up her hand when he grabbed a fourth one. "Thank you for the fruit, Baby. I think that's enough. It is so good I'd like to eat all of them, but too much will make me sick."

Bao nodded his head in agreement and handed her a cup filled with water. Cat took a few sips and leaned back against him. She closed her eyes. Tonight was wonderful. A dream. No one knew better that holding on to the dream could get this man killed. She needed to explain as much as she could and get back to her prison.

Without opening her eyes, she started, "I'll share my story with you—not because I believe you and your many brothers can save me—I don't. But because you need to know the type of evil you are dealing with if you go against the Andaran."

She wasn't sure where to start. At the beginning, she supposed. So, it would make sense. "I don't know how old I was when I was kidnapped from Earth. Any memories of the time before have faded. I'm pretty sure my name was Catalina. But that is about all. My first genuine memory was standing on a slave auction block on another planet."

Cat shifted in his arms, deciding she wanted to see his eyes and see his reaction to her words. "I was young. I'd been to school. But it could have been kindergarten, first, or second grade. I know the red furry creatures sold me to a man who wanted me to live with his mother. He was a Nadhuk. His mother was older. Round and fluffy, her skin and hair were gray, her lips thin, and there was a set of horns sticking out of her head. She'd been injured and had a hard time walking. They bought me to be her legs. "