Free Quit by Viola Grace Page B

felt the heat of the body under hers.
    She didn’t want to open her eyes, but he was starting another story.
    “Once upon a time... oh you are awake.”
    She looked up at him, and at close range, she could see that his black eyes were actually a purple so dark it was hard to tell the difference.
    “Emissary.”
    “Yes?”
    “Why am I on your lap?”
    He smiled. “There was only one chair. What did you name her?”
    She sat straighter and turned, looking at the canister where her daughter floated. She reached out and touched the tube. “Alyla.”
    He made a small noise that she couldn’t decipher. “It is a good name. Do you know what she is?”
    “She is my daughter. Nothing else matters.”
    “Well, as she is also my daughter, I would have to disagree.”
    Minny turned her head and stared at the enormous man who had her ensconced in his lap as if she weighed nothing. “Your daughter?”
    He nodded slowly. “When I took this position on, I was promised a child when a suitable genetic match had been made. You were selected, confirmed, and now, the blend of our genes is in that gestation tube. How long did you carry her?”
    She could tell he already knew, but she answered him. “They took her at ten months, but she was so tiny. They set her up here.”
    “She was killing you.”
    Minny wanted to argue, but she remembered the pain, the feeling of ice in her body and the panic of the medics. “The pregnancy was killing me. She was just the by-product.”
    He chuckled. “I am glad you think of it that way.”
    A sudden uncertainty hit her. “Are you here for her?”
    “I am here for you. She will need her mother, and you have done a horrible job taking care of yourself. We will work to shore you up, I will do what I need to on Terra, and when Alyla is ready to come out, you will be ready to be her mother.”
    “What are you doing on Terra?”
    He quirked his lips. “If all goes well, I will be the Alliance and Nyal Imperium ambassador on your world. Once you are stable, I will select a site for an embassy and construction will begin.”
    Hope spiralled in her. “Alyla will be able to walk on Terra?”
    He chuckled. “One thing at a time. First, you need a meal. I can hear your hunger from here.”
    She blushed and tried to get out of his lap. He had an arm curled around her, his hand under her breasts. The pressure against her increased for a moment, and then, he let her go.
    Minny climbed off his lap and stood. “Uh...”
    “I will join you for dinner. If you will allow me?” He set the data pad down, rose to his considerable height and offered her his arm. She slipped her fingers around the crook of his elbow, and she pressed a kiss on her fingers onto the canister before they left Alyla.
    Minny glanced at him, and the final size of the baby finally made a bit of sense. There was never going to be a chance that she could bring Alyla to term if this was her father. Minny was completely convinced.
     

Chapter Two
     
     
    She staggered back to her quarters after her second shift, and Imbolt was waiting.
    “How did you get in here?” It was more of a grunt than a question. She was exhausted.
    “By virtue of our relationship, I have been given access to your life. Moreover, your care and maintenance has been given over to me. You seem incapable of taking care of yourself.”
    Minny really wanted to give him a verbal lashing, but she was too tired. She yawned and nodded. “Whatever. I am going to head to bed.”
    “Yes, but not here. I have business to engage in, and you will need to be near me so that I can keep an eye on you. We are going to my quarters. The staff here will move you while you sleep.”
    What he was saying finally sank in. “What?”
    “You are moving in with me so that I can monitor you.” Imbolt smiled grimly. “Get an overnight bag and come with me.”
    She blinked and slowly turned toward her bedroom. Her shuffling pace didn’t give away what she was thinking, but the moment