now, wondering why on earth she'd chosen him as her husband. The
man couldn't even father a child. But she remembered why he had first attracted
her attention. It was his enormous size and his bizarre coloring that was so
close to that of their ancestors. A member of Star Mother since birth, he appeared
pure-blooded, so pale that his blue veins showed through his skin, and he was so
big.... Well, pleasure in bed was, as far as she was concerned, the most
important aspect of a successful marriage. Unfortunately, Von's performance
hadn't risen to her expectations. Which is why she had invited Sam Reed, among
many others, into her bed. She now had ten strong, beautiful children for her
efforts.
Von
glared at her with a look of superiority.
She
grimaced. "Sam is a virile man, Von. It should be obvious to you why he's
important to me. It makes sense for him to join us on Atria, doesn't it? As one
of the chosen to sire a new population—"
"With
your help, of course," Von said ruefully, appearing to enjoy her
agitation. "He's already made one contribution to your brood, Valya. What
more do you want?"
Valya
blinked and glanced inside the tent. Staring at the contorted body that looked
as if dressed in a ghost costume for Halloween, she told her husband, "I
want Sam."
Chapter Six
"You're
kidding, right?" Kelly asked. "You want my abusive,
could-care-less-about-his-kids dad involved in Jake's intervention?"
"The
man sure sounded like he cared last night." Sam rubbed his shadowed chin
with a calloused hand, his eyes squinting as if trying to see through her. "And
before you ignore my idea, at least hear me out."
She
hopped up from her nest of cushions and headed for the back door. "I need
some air."
"Me,
too." He followed her through the kitchen. "If you don't mind some
company."
She
glanced over her shoulder and nodded, pleased that he wanted to join her. She
wasn't trying to ditch him. Truth was, the cabin felt stuffy, and she had a
sudden need to get outside and smell the fresh scent of all those wonderful
pine trees. It would help clear her head.
Once
they were outside, Sam strode ahead of her and reached back to grab her hand. "I'll
show you my favorite spot. It's where I go when I need time to myself."
She
let him lead her to a small clearing a short distance from where the dense
woods began. A large boulder sat at the center, a few saplings and smaller
rocks surrounding it. It appeared as if someone had purposely cleared this
area, maybe to build a shed or a gazebo. It was the perfect spot for one. Muted
sunlight filtered through the trees, and dust motes danced in the bright air
like flakes of glitter. From this vantage point, they could clearly see the
side of the cabin with the driveway, so they would know right away if anyone
drove up.
"This
is pretty," she said, and sat beside him on the boulder. He still held her
hand, which he squeezed before draping his arm around her shoulder.
She
smiled, her hand tingling with the warm imprint of his skin.
He
cleared his throat. "About this plan I've come up with..."
"I'm
listening."
"If
Jake realized how serious your father is about wanting him to come home, he
might have a change of heart."
She
rolled her eyes. " I don't even
know if Dad's serious. And I already told Jake that Dad apologized for
everything he'd done to us over the years."
Sam's
expression turned serious, his Arrow mask in place. "How did he react?"
"Surprised."
She compared Jake's reaction to her own when their father had announced his new
and improved attitude, and she'd felt more stunned than surprised. She'd been
speechless.
"Happy-surprised,
or shocked-surprised?"
After
a second's thought, she said, "Shocked. No, more like confused, and I can't
blame him. He looked puzzled when I told him Dad said that he loved him."
"Did
your father really say that?"
She
hesitated. "No. But I was taking a gamble."
Sam
nodded like he understood. "You have good instincts. Do you think your
father would
man couldn't even father a child. But she remembered why he had first attracted
her attention. It was his enormous size and his bizarre coloring that was so
close to that of their ancestors. A member of Star Mother since birth, he appeared
pure-blooded, so pale that his blue veins showed through his skin, and he was so
big.... Well, pleasure in bed was, as far as she was concerned, the most
important aspect of a successful marriage. Unfortunately, Von's performance
hadn't risen to her expectations. Which is why she had invited Sam Reed, among
many others, into her bed. She now had ten strong, beautiful children for her
efforts.
Von
glared at her with a look of superiority.
She
grimaced. "Sam is a virile man, Von. It should be obvious to you why he's
important to me. It makes sense for him to join us on Atria, doesn't it? As one
of the chosen to sire a new population—"
"With
your help, of course," Von said ruefully, appearing to enjoy her
agitation. "He's already made one contribution to your brood, Valya. What
more do you want?"
Valya
blinked and glanced inside the tent. Staring at the contorted body that looked
as if dressed in a ghost costume for Halloween, she told her husband, "I
want Sam."
Chapter Six
"You're
kidding, right?" Kelly asked. "You want my abusive,
could-care-less-about-his-kids dad involved in Jake's intervention?"
"The
man sure sounded like he cared last night." Sam rubbed his shadowed chin
with a calloused hand, his eyes squinting as if trying to see through her. "And
before you ignore my idea, at least hear me out."
She
hopped up from her nest of cushions and headed for the back door. "I need
some air."
"Me,
too." He followed her through the kitchen. "If you don't mind some
company."
She
glanced over her shoulder and nodded, pleased that he wanted to join her. She
wasn't trying to ditch him. Truth was, the cabin felt stuffy, and she had a
sudden need to get outside and smell the fresh scent of all those wonderful
pine trees. It would help clear her head.
Once
they were outside, Sam strode ahead of her and reached back to grab her hand. "I'll
show you my favorite spot. It's where I go when I need time to myself."
She
let him lead her to a small clearing a short distance from where the dense
woods began. A large boulder sat at the center, a few saplings and smaller
rocks surrounding it. It appeared as if someone had purposely cleared this
area, maybe to build a shed or a gazebo. It was the perfect spot for one. Muted
sunlight filtered through the trees, and dust motes danced in the bright air
like flakes of glitter. From this vantage point, they could clearly see the
side of the cabin with the driveway, so they would know right away if anyone
drove up.
"This
is pretty," she said, and sat beside him on the boulder. He still held her
hand, which he squeezed before draping his arm around her shoulder.
She
smiled, her hand tingling with the warm imprint of his skin.
He
cleared his throat. "About this plan I've come up with..."
"I'm
listening."
"If
Jake realized how serious your father is about wanting him to come home, he
might have a change of heart."
She
rolled her eyes. " I don't even
know if Dad's serious. And I already told Jake that Dad apologized for
everything he'd done to us over the years."
Sam's
expression turned serious, his Arrow mask in place. "How did he react?"
"Surprised."
She compared Jake's reaction to her own when their father had announced his new
and improved attitude, and she'd felt more stunned than surprised. She'd been
speechless.
"Happy-surprised,
or shocked-surprised?"
After
a second's thought, she said, "Shocked. No, more like confused, and I can't
blame him. He looked puzzled when I told him Dad said that he loved him."
"Did
your father really say that?"
She
hesitated. "No. But I was taking a gamble."
Sam
nodded like he understood. "You have good instincts. Do you think your
father would
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