Free Hesparia's Tears by Imogene Nix

conscience. He could wake her. Make love with her. She certainly wouldn’t object if her actions earlier were any indicator. But that was wrong. She was under a lot of emotional stresses right now. She was dealing with her fear from their sudden parting. His breath caught. The pain that had lanced him during her absence was something he didn’t want to live through again. The Quickening meant that when couples were forced apart they physically yearned for the end of the pain that seared them. But if they chose to part, even for a planned period, they didn’t seem to be bothered by it.
    He would need to ask his father—but not now. He couldn’t use the official channels to ask a question such as that. And he certainly wouldn’t bring Jessa under that level of scrutiny. With so many now unpartnered, there would be so much interest. An interest he feared she would find overwhelming—one that would drive her away. He still didn’t know if he could somehow get her to agree to go home with him. It meant leaving everything she knew behind. And he still had to make a case to the governments here to let him take several hundred females from this planet to his.
    It had been sheer luck that they had brought the ship to this continent. Seth had made contact and they had answered. His crew had been able to triangulate his position and he had decided that was where they would make landfall.
    His side twitched. Jessa shifted restlessly in her sleep. Galan looked down, feeling the warmth steal through his chest. Smaller. She was so much tinier than him, but he knew she would fit him perfectly. It made him feel manly and strong. He smiled at his own ruminations as his gaze roamed over her frame. Her perfect and firm breasts looked to be the right size for his hands and his body heated further, leaving him sweating. Her belly slightly rounded, unlike the women he had seen on their broadcasts, stick thin and awkwardly bony. How he wanted to touch Jessa’s skin, feel the weight of her body over his. He groaned slightly. This wasn’t helping. But the erotic thoughts continued.
    She murmured in her sleep, “Galan…” then it became unintelligible once more.
    He frowned seeing shivering under her skin as muscles tensed and relaxed. Her body stiffened again. He wrapped his arms around her. He’d keep the nightmares at bay, he told himself, closing his eyes. Jessa murmured again, this time her shoulder jerked into him. His eyes flashed open.
    “Galan…no…” Her words became louder and his stomach clenched.
    “Shhh,” he whispered into her ear. “It’s okay. You’re safe now. With me. Galan.”
     She shuddered and turned towards him, now wide awake. “Galan? I had a nightmare.” Her chest rose and fell against his arms. It was both agony and ecstasy for him.
    “Yes. Go back to sleep. I am here.”
    She hiccupped quietly. “Did I wake you? I’m sorry.” She tried to scoot away from him, but he held her in place.
    “Stay still. You didn’t wake me.” He looked into her shining eyes and leaned in, planting a light, soft kiss on her plump pink lips. She moved her mouth against his, and he could taste her for just an instant. Galan pulled back. “Sleep now.” The walls glowed with subtle reds and pinks in the dim light. He avoided glancing again, waiting for her to answer him.
    She nodded then nestled back, burning almost red hot. He listened for the sound of her breathing to even out once more. But it took a long time for Galan to find his rest.

Chapter Five
     
     
     
    Jessa woke to find him gone. The bed was still warm though and as she looked at the walls, they shimmered with blues, greens, yellows and even pinks. Obviously the night had been peaceful after the nightmare. She rose quickly and hurried through her ablutions before she pulled on her clothes. She had learnt during her first visit to drop them into a special cupboard which used ionic waves to clean them. Whatever that means. So at least she wasn’t