Sex, Love, and Aliens, Volume 1 by Beth D. Carter, Ashlynn Monroe, Imogene Nix, Jaye Shields Page B
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bounce. They can orbit a rotation so I can get you down. Cleared to land, the weather is damn near perfect right now in Air Harbor, but storms are coming in soon. What’s your ETA?”
“Fifteen, fuel remaining twenty-five. Twenty angels until I hit atmosphere, so ten if you want me to drop hot.”
“Can the Dragon handle hot?”
“Without a doubt.”
“Married men like you shouldn’t take risks. Fifteen is good. I’ll have the sky traffic clear and ready.”
“Affirmative. Thanks, Monte. Radio is open and ready for your transmission.”
There was a pause, and then the comm beeped again. “It’s really great to have you back, buddy. Haze hasn’t been the same without you. I’m holding you to the drinks.”
Ric chuckled. There was a minute wide pause before the comm beeped again.
“Come on home,” Monte said.
Ric smiled grimly as he readied the craft. For better or worse, he was going to be at his wife’s side soon.
* * * *
The trip back from Air Harbor to his isolated Sea Gate Manor was long and tiring. He had to take mag train until he reached the small town of Old Wounds. The magnetic track stopped there and so did public transportation. He hired a driver for the last ten miles of his journey.
Brae’s vision kept her from piloting, so he hadn’t asked her to pick him up. The old land to air short haul runner probably wouldn’t have started anyway since the rusted, hulking machine was new when his father was still running the mines, before the fuel crystals had tapped out when he was in his teens.
He ached from the top of his head to the soles of his feet, and he hadn’t been able to bathe in five days. There was no way he wanted the girl to see him in this condition. If he’d told her he was coming in tomorrow, he would have had time to stop off in the city for a night. Gods knew he was rich enough now to afford the finest hotel after selling the gems.
Looking up at the decaying visage of his ancestral home, it was too late to change his mind. He was home. Brae came running out of the weather-beaten front door. Her wrinkled, albeit beloved, face came into view, and he dropped his bag. The elderly housekeeper ran into his arms, and he hugged her tight.
“How’s my favorite bossy lady?”
Brae crackled with laughter. “Right as the rain. How’s my favorite reckless little boy?”
“Too old for that nickname.”
Brae chuckled again and squeezed him tighter. “I’m not the only one who’s happy you’re home. Kateri is nervous, but excited. You treat her nice!”
Ric’s stomach dropped. He grimaced. “I’m going to release her from her vows. It’s done and she’s financially secure. Her father only requested fifteen percent for her, but I made sure thirty went into her account. I noticed she hasn’t spent much. Does she know how to access her money?”
“Heavens yes, I wouldn’t let her sit on funds if she needed something, but I think you’ve got the only frugal woman on Metricia. She bought a few things, but otherwise she lives like a pauper. I knew you wouldn’t mind, so I’ve used a bit of household money to see to her comfort. She’s a good girl.”
“Thank you for that. I should have…” He paused. Ric ran his hand through his messy hair. “I don’t even know what I should’ve done, but I’m glad you’ve been taking care of her. Did you have any issues with the grocery deliveries while I was gone?”
“We’ve been taking care of each other. The deliveries have been fine since you had that talk with Seama. The old house is still standing, and your wife has been faithful. I hope you have too.”
Ric ignored the hot flush that ran up his neck to warm his cheeks. He wasn’t going to have that conversation with Brae. She was like a grandmother to him.
“She’s free if she wants freedom. I would have released her sooner, but I wanted to sell the gems first so I was sure she’d be comfortable.”
“Aydric, she doesn’t want a divorce. You would break
“Fifteen, fuel remaining twenty-five. Twenty angels until I hit atmosphere, so ten if you want me to drop hot.”
“Can the Dragon handle hot?”
“Without a doubt.”
“Married men like you shouldn’t take risks. Fifteen is good. I’ll have the sky traffic clear and ready.”
“Affirmative. Thanks, Monte. Radio is open and ready for your transmission.”
There was a pause, and then the comm beeped again. “It’s really great to have you back, buddy. Haze hasn’t been the same without you. I’m holding you to the drinks.”
Ric chuckled. There was a minute wide pause before the comm beeped again.
“Come on home,” Monte said.
Ric smiled grimly as he readied the craft. For better or worse, he was going to be at his wife’s side soon.
* * * *
The trip back from Air Harbor to his isolated Sea Gate Manor was long and tiring. He had to take mag train until he reached the small town of Old Wounds. The magnetic track stopped there and so did public transportation. He hired a driver for the last ten miles of his journey.
Brae’s vision kept her from piloting, so he hadn’t asked her to pick him up. The old land to air short haul runner probably wouldn’t have started anyway since the rusted, hulking machine was new when his father was still running the mines, before the fuel crystals had tapped out when he was in his teens.
He ached from the top of his head to the soles of his feet, and he hadn’t been able to bathe in five days. There was no way he wanted the girl to see him in this condition. If he’d told her he was coming in tomorrow, he would have had time to stop off in the city for a night. Gods knew he was rich enough now to afford the finest hotel after selling the gems.
Looking up at the decaying visage of his ancestral home, it was too late to change his mind. He was home. Brae came running out of the weather-beaten front door. Her wrinkled, albeit beloved, face came into view, and he dropped his bag. The elderly housekeeper ran into his arms, and he hugged her tight.
“How’s my favorite bossy lady?”
Brae crackled with laughter. “Right as the rain. How’s my favorite reckless little boy?”
“Too old for that nickname.”
Brae chuckled again and squeezed him tighter. “I’m not the only one who’s happy you’re home. Kateri is nervous, but excited. You treat her nice!”
Ric’s stomach dropped. He grimaced. “I’m going to release her from her vows. It’s done and she’s financially secure. Her father only requested fifteen percent for her, but I made sure thirty went into her account. I noticed she hasn’t spent much. Does she know how to access her money?”
“Heavens yes, I wouldn’t let her sit on funds if she needed something, but I think you’ve got the only frugal woman on Metricia. She bought a few things, but otherwise she lives like a pauper. I knew you wouldn’t mind, so I’ve used a bit of household money to see to her comfort. She’s a good girl.”
“Thank you for that. I should have…” He paused. Ric ran his hand through his messy hair. “I don’t even know what I should’ve done, but I’m glad you’ve been taking care of her. Did you have any issues with the grocery deliveries while I was gone?”
“We’ve been taking care of each other. The deliveries have been fine since you had that talk with Seama. The old house is still standing, and your wife has been faithful. I hope you have too.”
Ric ignored the hot flush that ran up his neck to warm his cheeks. He wasn’t going to have that conversation with Brae. She was like a grandmother to him.
“She’s free if she wants freedom. I would have released her sooner, but I wanted to sell the gems first so I was sure she’d be comfortable.”
“Aydric, she doesn’t want a divorce. You would break
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