Part 28 (2/2)

Trouble? He'd give her plenty of trouble. Erase the s.e.xual bonds they created? His gaze flew to Kinley, who was standing beside him and frowning at the colorful array on the screen. Everyone else appeared as tense as h.e.l.l, their gazes also glued to the screen.

”These s.e.xual bonds you've created. They're not real? They are artificial?” he asked.

Jesus.

This was definitely rocking his world. How the h.e.l.l could he not be in love with Kinley? He wanted her. He would fight anyone, including this b.i.t.c.h if she dared to tell him he wasn't in love with Kinley.

”Ah, I sense human curiosity in your question. Curiosity is an admirable trait.”

Blackie clenched his fist at the underlying amus.e.m.e.nt in her sultry voice. He didn't dare look at Kinley again, or at the others. Didn't want to see the devastation he, himself, experienced in their eyes.

”I also detect your impatience for my answer,” the alien purred.

Under her breath, Jacey called the alien a b.i.t.c.h. He understood her hostility over the way they'd been duped but threw her a stern gaze to remain silent.

”As I said earlier, we can only work with bonds. We latch onto the s.e.xual chemistry that already exists between the matches and give an added push that speeds up the process.”

”So, what? You're saying what we have between us...is real? That if we met on Earth we would be highly attracted to each other as quickly as what we experienced in our...dream states?” Kinley asked.

Hope seared her voice and excitement flared across her face. He hated that Kinley had used the word ”dream”, because what they'd experienced was real, not a dream.

”That is correct,” the alien replied.

”Then why disconnect it? If it is already there, why not leave what little you have created?”

No reply came from the alien. The swirling colors flatlined instead of curving into a rainbow. Had Kinley's question somehow puzzled them?

”I mean if what you say is the truth, our love for each other would have happened anyway,” she said. ”The s.e.xual chemistry, the attraction, or as you call it the bond, is already there and it would have happened along the way if we'd met under different circ.u.mstances, am I right?”

The alien remained quiet. The colors still flatlined.

”So you've actually done us a favor, right?” Kinley asked.

By the intense way her eyes sparkled, she was immensely excited about what the alien was saying. ”You've shaved years off for us, right? The way I see it you've helped us get straight to the point without going through the awkward dating stages, the fights we may have had along the way in getting to know each other. The love bond that was already there was nurtured by you. That is, unless you take it away from us. I mean all we need to do is fall asleep and then you'll screw with our brains and have your way in erasing things. From your research, you know we can only stay awake for so long.”

Kinley was right. They were sitting ducks here. All they had to do was fall asleep and the aliens would cut the ties. Urgency swept through him like a wave. The others milled around uncomfortably, apparently understanding the seriousness of this situation.

Once they fell asleep, they would be at the aliens' mercy. Again.

”And if you take away what is already naturally there, how do you know we can get it back? There aren't any guarantees that if you start tampering around and erasing things, you could do a lot more damage than you wish. You strike me as the type of creatures who want to keep us happy and s.e.xually content, right?”

The silence continued. But pride flooded through Blackie for Kinley, who was fighting to keep what they all shared. He wanted to let out a whoop of joy. But that would be inappropriate for a captain. Instead, he reached out and intertwined his fingers with hers and gave her a squeeze of encouragement.

She gazed over at him and he winked.

”You are the female Kinley.”

”That's right,” Kinley replied. She let go of Blackie's hand and stepped closer to the screen. Her stance of defiance made Blackie smile. Kinley wanted to fight for them. For all of them.

Gosh, she looked so beautiful when she was mad.

”You were able to process an important issue while in our care. I hope we were able to a.s.sist you with your problem?” The alien's voice had become soft and nurturing.

The colors on the screen turned from beautiful to a dark, disturbing nature. Those colors must represent the alien's emotions. Tears shone in Kinley's eyes as she fought for control. He struggled to keep himself in check too.

”I do thank you for helping me. I will seek additional therapy once I return home.”

”The issue has not been resolved?”

Kinley met Blackie's gaze and nodded. ”Sufficiently resolved, but I wish to follow up regarding what happened.”

Silence for a few more seconds and the colors became bright and pleasant again.

”If you wish for the problem to be eliminated, this can be arranged,” the voice said.

Amazing. The aliens f.u.c.ked with their brains without permission, yet they asked if something could be removed from her memory? Aliens were indeed very complicated creatures.

”No, these memories are a part of me,” Kinley replied. ”They are mine. I will keep them and deal with them.”

”We understand. As to your questions. Yes, once your memories of each other and your experiences are removed, the bonds will naturally reestablish.”

”I can't speak for the others, but I prefer the bond I have with Blackie to remain in place,” Kinley softly said as she held his gaze. By the way she bit her bottom lip she was nervous about putting him on the spot like this.

”I wish this as well,” Blackie acknowledged, wanting to put her at ease as quickly as possible.

Kinley smiled her thanks.

”And the others?” the alien asked.

Kinley and Blackie gazed around the room at the others. Everyone nodded in agreement.

”We are all fine the way we are,” Kinley replied.

”Very well then. Your bonds will remain intact as you wish.”

”What of the children we had?” Annie asked. Distress laced her voice and shone in the others' faces.

”These children do exist inside of you. Once you begin to mate, they will be born to you in the order they were here.”

Wow.

”What of the other s.h.i.+ps? When will you let them go?” Ben Hero suddenly asked, breaking Blackie out of his thoughts of the kids.

”They will remain safe. They are in various stages of their dream states and we are harvesting their s.e.xual energy as we did with you. We will release them when we are completed.”

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