Kneus: A Terraneu Novel (Book Four) by Stormy McKnight Page B

a button.
    Everyone held his or her breath. Less than ten seconds later there was a
loud beep. Gwen jumped because it had come from the unit behind her. Mairi had
finished it seemed and just as she turned to Mairi another beep sounded causing
her to jump again. Gwen started laughing in nervousness.
    “Okay, who first?” she asked, torn between Mairi and Jen.
    “You can see to Jen first.” Mairi helped her out by saying, “Knollig can
get me out from under here.”
    Gwen gave Mairi a grateful look then turned back to Jen. “Let’s see what
the scan says.” After taking a second to move the portable unit she glanced at
the readings. “It will show in the archived data that on this date, the mated
couple of Thian and Jen were confirmed to be...pregnant.” Gwen informed the
couple. Jen immediately burst into tears, Thian frantically whispering that
whatever was wrong he would fix it. Gwen looked to Kniam and Knollig since they
had gone through this with their mates.
    “It is because of happiness she is crying.” Kniam told his friend, moving
to slap his shoulder.
    “Yes. The hormone levels will jump around and your mate will act totally
irrationally at times.” Knollig informed Thian.
    “Hey! I resent that.” Mairi had joined the group at the bedside of her
friend. “We do not act totally irrationally when pregnant!”
    “Really?” both males looked at each other and Kniam raised his eyebrow.
    “Okay, maybe Amber was willing to go through the port pad. We don’t know
that it was harmful though.” Mairi felt like she was defending all womanhood
since Jen was still incoherent on the bed. “There’s a lot going on inside a
woman’s body when she is making another human being. Give us a break!”
    “We need to let Thian and Jen have a moment alone.” Gwen ushered the
others away from the bed and toward the door. “Maybe we can have a surprise
congratulations party at the swimming pond for them later?” she whispered as
they reached the opening.
    “I like that idea!” Mairi whispered back. “I will go get Amber and the
others to help. We will meet you at the children’s swim area just before dark.”
    Gwen nodded then turned to Kneus and Knollig, “If they stay together make
sure both of them get to the swimming pond. If they are not together, you make
sure Thian gets to the swimming pond, and we will make sure Jen does.” She made
sure to add, “It is a surprise so don’t say why, make up an excuse to be
there.”
    “We understand the idea of it being a ‘surprise’ Gwen. We won’t let it
slip.” Kneus gave her a quick kiss then hurried off with Knollig.
    Gwen sighed in frustration. She was forever getting quick kisses from
Kneus. She knew they were attracted to each other. When Kneus let his guard
down and she was able to be close to him for longer than two seconds, the
sexual chemistry between them was obvious. Was the fact that they had gone from
working together as colleagues, to friends, then colleagues who were friends,
to a couple who happened to be dating that was the problem? Maybe Kneus was confused
on what type of physical affection to show, and when it was acceptable to show
it. She would have to talk with him tonight at the party. She didn’t think
taking care of her sexual frustrations solo was going to satisfy her for much
longer.

Chapter Nineteen
    The party was a huge success. Thian and Jen had
decided to wait on finding out the number and sex of the baby(s), since
Terraneu pregnancies seemed to result in multiples, so in order to decorate
Amber had gone with every color. Ribbons were floating on the breeze and she
had lights flickering on every tree. They had music playing in the background
and extra lounge chairs brought from other areas of the swimming pond. It was
open invitation so almost all the residence of Terraneu had at one point or other
in the duration of the party been by to congratulate Thian and Jen. Mairi and
Knollig had stayed for as long as they could, then