Chapter 3
2427 Words
3At the Black Moose Lodge in Seward, Alaska…
After she’d dashed in to claim their reservation, Carl dropped them at a nearby sporting goods store and gone to refuel his vehicle. Wanting to get to their room and be alone with her husband, Topper headed straight for the coats with any fur showing at all. She felt Stark watching her. She motioned him to follow, then slipped a down-filled parka from its hanger. The hood, sleeves, and collar were lined in something fuzzy that was also soft and warm.
“Are you truly that cold here?” Stark asked.
Topper nodded from inside the hood as she buttoned and zipped it around her face. “Yes, but I’m going to fix that with a real Arctic weather coat.”
Stark smiled and reached inside the fur to cup her cheek in his hand. His heart thumped when Topper leaned her face into his palm. They had come a long way in a few short months.
“You look like a Cylon Ice Ren in that coat. Your face is nearly hidden.”
Topper snickered. “That’s the point. What’s a Cylon Ice Ren?”
“Hmm…” Stark muttered, thinking of a similar earth animal. “A little like an Alaskan black bear.”
“I look like a bear? Wow. Is this coat really that ugly?” Topper asked in dismay.
Stark chuckled. “It would fine if it were. Warm is better than being attractive. I have perfect recall of what lies beneath all that fur.”
Topper slipped the coat off. “I refuse to remind you a bear. Let’s keep looking. There’s got to be something that is both toasty and sexy.”
“You wish to look like a piece of bread?” Stark asked.
Topper laughed. “No. Toasty… like warm… or hot. Never mind. It’s just a silly saying.”
“Oh… metaphor,” Stark said, realization dawning. He looked at a rack a short distance away. He walked to it, inspected the garments, and withdrew one. He brought it back to her. “These dimensions will fit your proportions more precisely. The closer the fit, the more heat your body will retain.”
“But I wanted fake fur,” Topper said, taking the smaller coat from his outstretched hand.
“The fur does enhance your womanliness. Perhaps this more helpful garment could be magically enhanced with it later.”
Topper snorted. “I suppose it could,” she said, slipping on the plain looking coat. She got a little dry-mouthed when her husband’s very proficient hands set about fastening her up in it. In less than 30 seconds, she was practically having a hot flash. “Okay. This definitely holds in the heat.”
Stark nodded. “The fabric is made for hiking through low temperatures. It will not let body heat escape. What it lacks in attractiveness is made up for in keeping you warm.”
Topper reached in every direction. The coat was a near perfect fit. She looked at her mate in surprise. “How did you know this one would fit so well?”
“Same way I knew I would fit you well. I excel at spatial estimations and factoring curvatures.”
“I would say you excel at a great many things,” Topper remarked, then blushed when she realized what she’d admitted. “I mean… well, I guess I meant what it seemed like I did.”
“Thank you. It pleases me greatly to know I please you. Glacerian males are just as egotistical about pleasing their mates as any Earth male.”
Stark’s bow to her after her praise of him had her flushing from head to toe. How could she be more excited about being with him now than she’d been at the beginning? She undid the thermal coat before she started sweating in it. Stark’s idea about adding fake fur enhancements later was a good one.
“This is obviously the right coat,” Topper declared. “Now let’s look for some better boots. Do you need better ones?”
Stark looked down at his foot coverings. “No. The boots I’m wearing are adaptable to all sorts of weather. I should be fine.”
“We may not have time to go shopping again tomorrow. We’re going to do some exploring on our trip. Is there anything at all you need?”
“To go exploring? All I need is you and a bed, preferably a big one. I like plenty of room to move around when I explore you.”
Topper let out a ragged breath. “I didn’t mean…”
She stopped when her husband’s laughing mouth sweetly covered hers. His sense of humor was steadily growing and his teasing innuendoes were getting worse. It was impossible to get angry when his kiss promised more than his words did.
The desire instantly leaping between them made Topper want to cut her shopping trip short, but she didn’t want to be wasting her magic later conjuring up boots that wouldn’t work. In cold places, she always had to conserve it. She needed to try them on and choose the right pair. Maybe Stark could help with those too.
She pulled gently away and slipped the coat off. “Will you carry this for me while I try on boots?”
“It is my pleasure to do anything you wish.”
Topper swallowed a lump in her suddenly dry throat and pointed at the shoe area on the other side of the store.
That evening her nearly insatiable husband rolled them both until she sat astride him. She gripped him tightly when Stark sat up with her still impaled. Her fingers tightened on shoulders that didn’t give much under her insistent touch.
“I adore the way you ride me. It keeps me ready to meet your demands. I swear by the Goddess, no other female has ever made me serve her so thoroughly,” Stark whispered.
His words sent heat spiraling through her. Topper heard a woman moaning and laughed when she realized it was her. She rose on her knees and lowered herself with a steady rhythm that quickened Stark’s breathing. She put a hand behind his head and Stark let his head fall back into it. Topper quivered at the rush she got knowing such a powerful male was under her sensual control.
Stark was nothing like any lover she’d ever had in her life. Her elation that he was hers was suddenly too much to contain. Happy magic spiraled down her arms and out her fingers. Stark hissed at the jolt of it, and she hoped she wasn’t hurting him, but she couldn’t stop her movements when his low-lidded gaze begged for release.
He whispered her name roughly. When his fingers dug into her hips, it proved to be her breaking point. Topper called out as the mother of all orgasms swept through her. Her fingers tightened on the man responsible for the greatest pleasure she’d ever known.
Beneath her rising and falling body, Stark seized and arched, driving hard up inside her. A white light suddenly burst from their connection and filled her body touching every cell. She called out his name and let the wonderful light take her over.
Stark called her name again and desperately clutched her still vibrating body.
“It’s okay—I’m fine. THAT was the most amazing thing I’ve ever felt,” she whispered.
“Oh Goddess… forgive me, Topper. I couldn’t seem to help myself,” Stark whispered.
Topper giggled. Stark was always worried about hurting her. She heard Stark’s post-coital growl and patted his cheek as she gave in to her own afterglow. Happier than she could remember ever being, Topper let herself fall heavily into Stark’s strong arms.
Sleep welcomed her as she drifted away smiling.
Energized and extraordinarily happy, Topper woke at first light. She giggled as she pried herself loose from Stark’s hold on her. She stood beside the bed and glanced down at the superb looking alien male sprawled across it. Stark had dark circles under his eyes and looked like he hadn’t slept much. In fact, he looked terrible this morning. Maybe their travels had tuckered him out. Plus, they had been going at it like bunnies for a while even before that last outstanding time that knocked her out.
Topper giggled at her efforts not to wake him as she crept quietly to the bathroom. She must be much better in bed than she’d thought. Talk about a confidence builder. She’d worn out a lusty alien who typically could go all night.
She thought of the flirty airline attendant and snorted. What in the world had she been worried about there? That woman could never have handled her man.
Humming softly, and feeling more contented than she remembered ever being, Topper grabbed a shower and afterward wrapped one of the lodge’s fluffy bathrobes around herself. Still humming, she tiptoed through their bedroom again, willing to let her very tired lover sleep a bit longer. He so obviously needed to do so.
She was super grateful today that she’d booked a two room suite that had a cozy sitting area with a fireplace. A nice little fire would be just the thing to chase away the Alaska morning chill and help dry her hair. She hated hand dryers and the frizz they caused.
Topper softly chanted the combustion spell, jumping back in a fit of giggles when a huge fire burst into flame around the six perfect logs that instantly appeared in the grate.
“Wow. Even my magic is supercharged after last night. Did I hit the alien husband jackpot or what?” she mused.
Grinning, Topper picked up the lodge’s phone and ordered room service because she was beyond ravenous. Great s*x with Stark always made her hungry. That was especially true this morning.
Humming still… in fact, she couldn’t seem to quit humming today… she finally skipped back into the bedroom to wake her lover. Climbing onto the biggest king bed she’d been able to book, Topper propped herself on one elbow, letting the robe fall open to reveal her breasts. She put her hand on Stark’s softly rising chest. His turquoise gaze popped open and drilled into hers.
Topper giggled at his alarm and fell back on the bed. This was the strangest morning after she’d ever had with any man.
“Are you okay?” Stark demanded huskily, when he could find enough energy to talk. His body felt like he’d run a marathon. His head felt like he’d drunk too much ale. The last time he’d indulged in such excesses was over fifty years ago. And it had been ale that time. Until Topper, he’d never, ever over-indulged with a woman.
Never. Ever. Until last night when he’d accidentally shared the light of Icela with her.
Stark rubbed a hand over his face. Goddess only knew what was kind of guilt was there to be seen.
“Oh my darling alien, all these months and you still suck at the morning after stuff.” Topper laughed at her admission and at Stark’s strange expression at hearing it which was rapidly followed by some concern she couldn’t begin to fathom. He was so literal.
“I’m just teasing, Stark. I feel absolutely fantastic this morning. But I have to say, you truly don’t look so good. Did I do something bad to you last night? You seemed to be enjoying yourself at the time. Now I’m not the expert you are between the sheets, but I was pretty sure you got there too. Am I right?”
Stark blinked and sat up in bed. He looked Topper up and down. She appeared completely fine—glowing with health even. Perhaps he’d been mistaken about what occurred between them. But the thrashing, the moaning, the swearing at him in her sleep? He hadn’t imagined those things. Had he?
“You were extraordinary last night. That’s why I got so carried away. I… forgot myself. You have an effect on me no other woman ever has.”
Topper laughed merrily. “Now that comment was much better. After all this time, I’m having the honeymoon every woman dreams of having. Lucky me. Have I ever told you how happy I am that I married you?”
Stark was silent for a full minute while he considered his answer. Mornings were not necessarily his best time of day to be cautious in his speech. “No… but I’m sure you’ve always meant to do so. I’m glad what passed between us last night inspired such a passionate declaration. You look very happy this morning, Topper.”
“Oh, I am!” Topper declared. She shoved his arm. “You’re supposed to be happy too.”
She laughed and leaned forward to press her lips to Stark’s. His responding groan had her climbing into his lap. Her tongue found a way to wrap around his as he pulled her hips closer. She felt his hands shaking as they moved under her robe and over her n***d backside. Goddess, she’d finally made her alien as raggedly aroused as he typically made her.
Lucky, lucky, lucky her.
She pulled away and ran a hand over his blue hair. “I wish now that I’d made less plans for today.”
“Topper, are you sure you’re okay?” Stark asked, running his restless hands over her thighs. It took every ounce of willpower he had not to throw Topper to her back and pounce. “You’re pumping out pheromones this morning, and Goddess help me…”
His needy tongue lost its ability to speak his logical thoughts when Topper insisted he kiss her again. His mate had never been more alluring to him. He couldn’t refuse her anything this morning.
The doorbell on their suite chimed. Groaning in frustration, Topper pulled her mouth from Stark’s. They both swore over the interruption.
Topper sighed. “Sorry. But I have to get that. It’s our breakfast. I was absolutely starving when I woke up.”
She climbed from Stark’s lap and bounded out of the bed. She pulled the door open to the suite and gestured widely for the man with the food cart to come inside.
“Thank you for your prompt delivery, kind sir. I’m absolutely famished this morning. Apparently being in Alaska agrees with me. This is a wonderful place for a honeymoon.”
“Indeed it is. Happy Honeymoon, Mrs. Topper.” He slid his gaze to Stark, who was watching him with bleary eyes. “And to you, Mr. Topper.”
Stark nodded numbly at the man’s good wishes. He studied his humming, dancing mate. He looked back to the food server who grinned and shrugged. The man offered a thumbs up—a sign of approval, he knew—when Topper momentarily turned away to dig in her small pack.
Sweet Icela. What had he done to his mate last night?
Grinning over Topper’s obvious happiness, their server set up the portable table for them to eat and then left quickly. Before departing, Topper slipped some sort of paper into the man’s hand. He left thanking her profusely.
And all the while, his mate—his mate that almost turned a flight attendant into a toad on the way here—never stopped humming.
Stark swallowed hard and ran a hand over his haggard face. It was obvious Topper had no recall of the discomfort she’d endured during the very long night he’d kept watch over her nearly unconscious form. Powerful witch she might be, but Topper was also human. Icela’s light had not been meant for her.
While he was glad the worst seemed over, Stark still had the problem of when Topper discovered what had happened for herself. He couldn’t tell her what it meant or what had changed for her. He could only speak the legends and none of them were reassuring.
Debating the matter would for sure interrupt their honeymoon.
And that was the least of his concerns. If something bad happened to her, Topper might never forgive him.
Icela help him. This was not good. Not good at all.
- Writer
