6. Lordek

SIX

She was my true mate, and I was falling in love with her. There wasn't any other way to look at this.

Our relationship was doomed, however. She had a full life here she loved, and I doubted she'd want to leave with me within a few solar cycles, assuming I could get my ship to function again. Why would she want to leave everything she knew behind to be with a male she'd only interacted with for a few Earth days?

We were equally doomed if I remained here. Her words about what her people would do to me echoed within my mind. I suspected I didn't have much time before they arrived, determined to capture or kill me.

If only I could have a lifetime with Iris.

After we'd eaten all the soft, sweet mounds of dough, Iris left for a brief time, stating she would purchase a few things and that she had to put a note on her bookstore door telling everyone she was closed for the foreseeable future, that she'd reopen as soon as she could.

I didn't like that she had to do this. She'd said she'd only recently started her business. How could she find success if she wasn't there to accept customers? But I was greedy enough to want her with me for as long as I remained.

I worried while she was gone, sitting by the front window, staring through the glass. But she returned without incident, stating no one had mentioned the crash in town. As far as she knew, no one was seeking me.

That told me I had some time, though I doubted I had much.

We consumed sardwitches that were slices of another form of dough cut into squares with strips of meat and something called sheez in the middle. I adored them, especially the one with moos-turd. And sheez was amazing. I hoped I could take some with me when I left.

I hated that I'd have to leave, but what choice did I have.

"What is sheez made of?" I asked to distract myself. If I kept thinking about saying goodbye, my sadness would drown me.

"Cow's milk." She explained what a cow was, though I couldn't picture it in my mind. A black and white beast? I couldn't fathom such a thing. She frowned. "As for making cheese from the milk, they do something to it. Curdle it, I think. Or add cultures. Let it sit around for a while. Maybe." Her face cleared. "For a woman who loves books, you'd think I'd know how cheese was made, right? But I don't." She lifted her phone and tapped on it, staring at the screen. I'd already discovered it was much like my com. "I wasn't too far off. They do curdle it—on purpose, using an enzyme called rennet. Then it's separated from the whey, pressed, salted. A bunch of other things. Some cheeses are aged more than others. The bottom line is we buy it in packages and enjoy it."

"I love sheez even if it comes from odd creatures."

"So do I, Lordek. So do I." She took the dishes to the sink and rinsed them, placing them in the washer of dishes, a device I wanted to watch the next time she engaged it. It had no viewing screen, but surely, I could open it during its cycle and see how it was done.

""What would you like to do next?" she asked, turning to lean against the counter. "Although, you should probably rest."

I wanted to remain awake, to spend every fraction of time with her. "We drank liquid to keep us awake. Why would I choose to lie down and rest?"

"You have a valid point. Caffeine does make it hard to sleep."

I wasn't sure her caf-eene was doing anything about my sleep-wake cycle, but I'd trust her in this. "I need to go to my ship, but I'll wait for my leg to heal another solar cycle or two before venturing there."

"We could play some games if you'd like."

"Yes, games." Anything to spend more time with her.

She helped me into another part of her house with a large, long squishy chair we both fit on. I could even rest my leg on the surface.

After removing a game from a cupboard, we spread it out on the table in front of us. So odd to play with something called drice and strips of very thin material she called moony.

"We pay for everything with our coms," I said, lifting my wrist.

"We use plastic cards here most of the time, although, we can also use our phones to pay." She held it up again. "I'm finding more similarities between us all the time. Many people still use cash." She held it up—paypeer, she'd called the fabric. It felt the same as the material humans used to construct their books. Ours were made of a different substance, though I supposed it might be similar.

Katie, her fluffy black beast crept over to me and sniffed my hand.

"Katie's my best friend. She lived with my grandmother who died, and now she's agreed to live with me." Iris's eyes sparkled. "She's sweet once you get to know her."

"You said she's a crat."

"Cat."

"Which is independent, unlike a droog."

"Dog."

"Ah, yes. Cat. Dog. Humans have many kinds of pets.

"Do you have pets where you come from?"

"We do." I told her about the varieties, though ours sounded more like what she called meese and wooferines. "We adore our pets as much as you."

After blinking up at me with what I took as suspicion, Katie must've decided I wasn't a threat. She hopped up onto my lap, curled around and laid down, staring up at me.

"See?" Iris said. "She's sweet. You can pat her. She likes to be scratched around her neck."

When I did so, Katie Purry made a rumbling sound in her chest.

"That's her purr. It means she likes what you're doing."

Amazing. "We don't have fluffy beasts like this on Sathoria." The pet was soft if nothing else. It felt nice to touch her. "Our creatures have stiff exoskeletons and if they have hair, it's coarse."

"They sound interesting too. It's too bad you don't have cats and dogs like us. They make wonderful friends."

I could see that already.

I helped her prepare the evening meal, me chopping vegetables while sitting at the table with my leg supported on a chair, Iris squashing potatoes and frying chee-kin on the stove. Everything tasted amazing. I'd gotten used to eating freeze dried food most of the time, only rarely dining when I put into port on one planet or another.

"I don't believe I've ever eaten a meal like this one before," I said after.

"I hope that means you enjoyed it," she said with a smile.

"Very much. Each species offers a variety of food, and many are unique and special. Sometimes, however, what one species eats doesn't hold much appeal."

"That sounds like a diplomatic way of saying you don't like what they're serving for dinner."

I nodded. "Many species eat insects, something I don't enjoy."

She shivered. "Some humans eat insects, but I've never been able to talk myself into trying them. I know they're good for me, but I just can't quite do it." She took our plates to the washer and placed them inside, returning to stand beside me. "You look worn out."

"I am tired. I believe your caf-eene is no longer churning through my system."

"Yup. Let's get you to bed."

Like a youngling told he must go to bed early, I wanted to stay awake and be with Iris, but she was correct. I needed sleep more than anything if I wanted to finish healing.

She helped me into the bedroom, and I collapsed onto the surface. I was barely aware of her rolling me back and forth, removing my clothing. I should protest this. I was a mature adult. A male more than capable of undressing myself.

But I was so tired…

I woke the next morning with her lying fully clothed beside me, her beast, Katie, snuggled between our feet. I liked lying with her. This bed was unlike what we used on my planet, but comfortable enough, and the blankets were soft. Most of all, I enjoyed sleeping with Iris.

Katie was sweet to lie with also. She purred, telling me she enjoyed being with us.

Did I dare kiss Iris again? I wanted to do that and more, but I also didn't want to offend her. My time here was short. If I upset her, we might spend the rest of the time I had here feeling upset. I couldn't bear to let something like that happen.

I rose and quietly made my way to the bathing room, using the toy-lette. Another odd device, though we had something that did the same thing on my world.

She'd showed me how to use the chow-ur the day before, and I did so, dressing in the clean clothing she'd thoughtfully provided yesterday, more sweetpants and a T of the shirt. She'd showed me where to place my soiled items the day before, and I tossed them into the wash-her. Funny. There was a wash-her for the dishes and a wash-her for clothing. They looked completely different, but if a person was speaking about them, how could they tell them apart? I supposed it didn't matter.

On my ship, I'd used a sanitizer device to stay clean. Back on my home planet, we washed in community bathing houses, sharing large pools while chatting with others. One could recline in an individual pool, with those of the same sex, or even the same sex, though it was rare for anything sexual to come of it. The community pools were for bathing and socialization, nothing else.

What would Iris think of something like that?

If she preferred, I could install a separate bathing unit in our home.

I cut off my daydream right there. She wasn't leaving her planet to travel with me to mine. I needed to stop thinking of things like this. It only led to disappointment.

Using the crutch, I left the bathing room Hearing sounds from the kitchen, I made my way there to see if I could help her prepare the morning meal.

I helped her cook eggs that came from birds called chee-kin. I saw someone discussing them on the viewing screen already. We'd eaten the meat from these birds already. And we also ate ba-con, which I enjoyed. It tasted smoky, a flavor we didn't indulge in often on my planet.

"Can you take me to my ship?" I asked after we'd cleansed the dishes. "I need to assess the damage. The computer can generate components at my command, but generating and replacing them is a time consuming project. I need to make sure the computer functions and assuming it does, ask it to start producing materials."

"Of course." She frowned, nibbling on her lower lip. "My only concern is you being out in view while we do it. We could wait until tonight, when it's dark, but the longer we wait, the greater risk you're going to be discovered." Her arms snaked around her waist "I feel like we're on the edge all the time."

"I do as well. I'm healed enough I can get to my ship." I'd get there no matter what, because I refused to endanger Iris any longer than necessary.

"We can go through the shed that's attached to the farmhouse." Frowning, she tapped her chin. "That'll put us closer to the barn. With all the trees lining my driveway, I don't think anyone will see you as we cross the open area between here and the barn. We'll hurry, and we can cover you."

She dressed me in a garment that stretched across my torso and pulled up the head covering at the neck. It was a comical thing with my horns jutting through the soft fabric. She tied the sweetshirt houd at my chin. The garment was too small, the sleeves coming only to below my elbows, but she added meetons that covered my hands.

Leaning heavily on the crutch, I slowly made my way through the shed and to the big building housing my ship, Iris pacing beside me.

"It isn't as damaged as I'd feared," I said after she helped me climb up into the bridge. Thankfully, the computer functioned after I replaced a few components, and I programmed it to start producing parts. It would take the ship a few Earth days to generate what I needed. After that, the repairs themselves wouldn't take long.

Then I'd have to leave. I wasn't sure what I thought about that. Actually, I knew. I did but didn't want to leave. My hearts ached at the thought of climbing into my ship and sending it toward the stars, of leaving her behind.

How was I going to tell Iris goodbye?

"Are you okay up there?" Iris called out from the barn floor. She fretted, alternating between staring out the small crack she'd left in the building's front doors and standing beside the ship, making sounds with her tongue about the scratches and bangs on the outer surface. Some had come from meteors or other flying objects encountered in space, but much of the damage on the underside had been sustained when my ship impacted with this planet. Fortunately, there was no structural damage. I could fly with dents. I could not fly the ship with holes in the surface.

After making a mental list, I gave the computer another order, and we went back inside. We ate a midday meal and sat in her reclining area, watching a moo-vee about a female character called a mur-made. It was fun and cute, and I wished I could take it with me to show my friends and the small younglings in my family.

By my third day on this planet, my leg was nearly healed. I should go to my ship and start installing the parts the computer would've generated by now, but I wanted more time with Iris. I sensed she wanted to be with me as much as I did her. She didn't say this, but I felt her gaze on me always. There was no fear in her eyes, only the same longing inside me.

We came from vastly different species, yet in this, we were the same. Hearts knew hearts, and that was all that mattered.

That afternoon, we played a human word game for hours, coming up with outrageous phrases and trying to stump each other. I marveled again at how different yet alike we were.

"It feels good to laugh with you," I said, stroking her arm that lay on her leg beside mine. "It's something I don't do often. I'm alone most of the time. Even when I land my ship on a new world, I have exploring to do, plus a document to produce that I send home so others can share my adventures."

"Ah, so you're kind of like a blogger in outer space."

"What's a blooger?"

She laughed and pronounced the word until I could say it just like her, and we laughed about that as well. "A blogger is someone who writes regularly on various topics and publishes them for others to read. In my world, it's commonly done online and readers can enjoy the story or scroll through the information from anywhere on the planet that has internet access. A blogger could also be someone writing a column in a newspaper, I suppose, since that's distributed for others to read."

"You're right. I'm a blogger. My stories are shared throughout my planet. We have something similar to your internet."

Katie sat on my lap again, making the friendly rumble in her chest called a purr. I could see why humans encouraged these pets to reside with them inside their dwellings. They made nice companions. Ours did as well, though they were different.

"Your turn," Iris said, leaning into my side. "Give me a five-word phrase."

I pondered for a moment, trying to come up with something unusual. "The hungry stars blinked awake."

Iris laughed, the sound music to my ears. "That's a good one. How about this? Dancing shadows, whispering dreams.""

"That's four words."

"You're right. Hmm. Dancing shadows bring whispering dreams."

I nodded, hyperaware of her body sitting close to mine. She smelled wonderful, like starlight dewdrops when they first opened, plus pure female. "Very poetic. Your skill with words is impressive."

Color rose into her cheeks. "Thank you. I love reading. My bookstore means the world to me. It's been a long dream of mine to open one."

Since books were not a common thing in my world, she'd lose her dream if she left with me. There must be curators of books for our coms, but I doubt there were many jobs in that field. And she'd told me she savored the smell, the feel of books, another thing no one would mention when it came to a com.

"I can tell stories are important to you." An idea came to me, and I leaned closer to her, watching her face. "Would you like to hear more about my home planet? I could tell you tales of the three moons, the vast purple oceans, the—"

"Yes." Her eyes lit up. "I'd love to hear more about where you come from."

Warmth flooded my chest. I smiled and began to weave a tale of my distant world, happy to lose myself in memories while also learning more about Iris through the questions she asked. I watched how she responded, embellishing my tales in the hope she'd be intrigued by my home, that she might even be excited about going there.

Though our time together wouldn't last much longer, I was determined to enjoy each moment. And with her, that was easy to do. She brought light to what might otherwise be a dark, dark time. She was the twinkle of the brightest star in a sea of uncertainty.

She was stardust, exquisitely beautiful but just as elusive.

Eventually, we were both yawning.

"We should go to bed," she finally said.

We rose and "did our teeth," which involved rubbing them with brushes and a very odd tasting paste.

"We sanitize our teeth," I said.

"How do you do that?" She tilted her head, spitting between her words, then rinsing her brush and spitting once more.

"We open our mouths and insert the sanitizer. Our teeth are then clean and our breath is fresh and sweet."

"Just like that?"

"Just like that."

"I assume you never need to see a dentist, then?" she said.

"What's a dentist?"

"Someone who takes care of your teeth."

"You're correct. Our teeth don't need healers. The sanitizers keep them in perfect condition."

"Painless dental care." She closed one eye quickly and opened it once more. "Sign me up."

Since I could tell she was joking and not serious, I just smiled and did the same with one of my eyes.

We made our way to the bedroom and she shut out the light.

I was hyperaware of her removing her clothing and dressing in yet another outfit, another thing I found strange about this world. Sathorians wore nothing to bed at night, but humans did. Or Iris did. A night of the gown, she called it, though when I suggested I wear one, she laughed and said that the box-hers she'd bought in town were enough for me.

How odd that she covered her body almost completely while I wore so little. Were human women more apt to get cold and thus needed to wear warmer clothing to bed at night? I didn't ask.

We climbed beneath the blankets, and I lay on my back, staring at the ceiling while she did the same. Katie leaped up onto the bed and circled a number of times before settling between us. Her purr rang out, and all was nearly perfect in my world.

The next day after breakfast, Iris suggested we sit in her garden. After hearing and seeing no sign of anyone hunting me, we decided to take a chance to enjoy the sunshine. I was eager to get outside and explore a tiny bit of this strange world.

The crisp air and forest around the farmhouse brought a smile to my face.

As we sat, Iris told me more about her bookstore in town. "It"s my happy place. There, I'm surrounded by stories, helping customers find their next adventure. I specialize in romance novels. They make up about sixty percent of the market. Did you know that?" Her low chuckle rang out. "Of course you don't. You're from a distant planet, not Earth."

"I enjoy reading romance stories. You forget, I'm a blogger. I don't just talk about the worlds I explore, I talk about people. Old couples who live to ripe ages together, plus young people falling in love."

"You like romance?" Her eyes glowed. "Some guys on Earth do too, though many mock it, as if finding happiness and love is something to be scorned. Frankly, life's dull without love."

"Have you experienced love for a mate?" I watched her face, eager to hear what she had to say.

"I was married, but it ended. I don't know if people end matings on Sathoria but it's common here."

"Sometimes. Rarely if the couple are fated mates. The fates would not put two beings together unless they were destined to love each other for this lifetime and any that might come after."

"Do you believe there's life after this one?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. I like to believe it doesn't end now. I want to believe that there's something more, that if we love someone, it'll continue past the time our bodies fail, that our spirits will still swirl together, holding each other in some way that brings comfort."

"That's beautiful, Lordek."

I smiled, but it faded. "Why did your mating end?"

She sighed, and her lips twisted. "He cheated on me. Can you believe it? He vowed to be faithful for this lifetime. We weren't talking about beyond, or anything like that. His promise didn't even last five years."

The pain in her voice told me more than her words.

"I'm sorry. I can understand why you would be saddened by that. Bitter even."

"I was for a while, but I'm getting over it." Her spine tightened and she reached out and stroked one of the tall flower stalks nearby. "No, I am over it. We split eight months ago, and when I moved here, I put him and our relationship behind me. I needed to move on. This was a new start for me, not just a new home or a new job but a new life. He's not around any longer, which helps."

Could she ever love another after her mate did something as cruel as that? Sometimes, when a fated mate died, their partner found love again even if it wasn't the same. The couples appeared happy. Was that possible if a mate cheated with another?

"He wasn't what you'd call my destiny." Her voice grew wistful. "I hope one day to experience true love, to care for someone who'll always see me as precious. And I'll do the same with him. I think that's possible." Her gaze met mine. "No, I know that's possible. I'm going to find that person one day and we'll love each other for this lifetime and beyond. We'll be that mist you talked about, floating together after, comforting each other when our bodies have failed and our physical forms are no more."

Then she could love another. My hearts surged, and my throat choked off. "I hope you find that lasting love. That perfect someone who'll treat you the way you deserved, because you are special. Precious. Worthy."

Her lips trembled with a smile. "Thanks."

She laced our fingers together, and heat spiraled through me. Getting closer to Iris would only make leaving her harder, but I couldn"t deny myself the wonder of her touch, the feel of this wonderful person.

"When I talk with you . . ." She dragged her gaze from mine to the flowers growing tall beside her. "These are called hollyhocks. My grandmother loved them. They're hard to grow, so I don't touch them." Her laugh burst out. "They're old fashioned. I don't think many gardeners bother with them any longer, but I enjoy them. When I see them, I think of her."

"They're special like you, Iris."

Her smile grew wider, and she leaned over to tap the stem of a plant. "This plant is called an iris. My grandmother had some say in my name, as you can guess. My mom didn't mind naming me that, though. She was named Daisy after another flower."

A vehicle passed on the road, and Iris stilled, her head cocked and her body frozen. She swallowed when the vehicle kept moving. "We should go back inside. It's really not safe to remain out here in the open."

She was probably right, though I'd enjoyed sharing this world's sunshine with my mate.

We went back inside and prepared the evening meal, eating the pasta with sauce in bowls, then sitting in the living area again. Our sides pressed together as we shared more details of our lives. I ached to pack a lifetime into the one or two Earth days I had left with Iris, to store up enough memories to sustain me forever.

I sensed each moment could be our last, and I needed to know everything about her. She appeared to feel the same about me.

"Thank you for coming into my life." She stared down at her hands clasped on her lap. "I know you can't stay. I'd be foolish to think such a thing is possible." Her gaze lifted. "I want you to know that I"m grateful we've had this time together. I'm grateful I had the chance to meet you. To know you."

Her words echoed my thoughts. How was I going to leave her behind?

"You've brought more light into my life than I could've imagined." I took a chance, stating my true feelings. If I messed this up, I'd chastise myself for whatever time we had left. But if I didn't speak, I'd regret not doing so for a lifetime. "I don't know how I'm going to leave you. You mean everything to me, Iris."

She tilted her face up, her gaze meeting mine, and I saw so much longing there it ripped my hearts from my chest.

Cupping her beautiful face, I kissed her, hoping I could convey all the feelings swirling inside me. I was completely enthralled by her, and I'd never feel the same way for another.

As heat flashed through me, I squeezed my eyes shut. My skin throbbed and burned. The need I felt for this female. It cut me off at the knees. It made my hearts slam against my ribcage. How could I find the strength to breathe without her in my life?

Yes… I didn't need anything but her. This moment stolen from the very world around us. Her mouth hot beneath mine, her tongue teasing out to swirl across mine.

By the time we broke apart, we were both breathless.

She traced her fingertips across my face. "You mean everything to me, Lordek. I never thought I could fall in love with someone from another world, but you crept into my heart when I wasn't looking. I should be running in the other direction, but all I want is to run to you."

"Iris," I growled, tugging her into my arms.

"Show me what I'll never find with anyone else?" She clung to my shoulders, burying her face in my neck. "I don't think I can live if I don't have that to cling to once you're gone."

I carried her to the bed. Now I would claim my true mate.

Even if we could only be together this one time.