The Alien Library (5 page)

Daniel hurried to his room and cleaned up. He knew Tendar was nervous about tonight and after speaking to Pindari that morning, he understood more what was at stake. He found Cameron quite disarming and Pindari had admitted to more than a casual interest.

“I think of her as a daughter, Daniel. That hasn’t happened to me in decades…more than a century, I think.”

“Not since Rachel.” He nodded.

“Yes, the last time.” Pindari drew a deep breath. “It is frightening to know Cam came to us with this flaw. And at a time when Teemin is poisoning the Thinkers.”

Daniel sighed. “Your sister could take her. Keep her safe.”

“Yes. I know, but…” She looked up and locked eyes on Daniel. “…my heart aches at the thought of sending her away.”

“You…she infected you?” Daniel took the cook’s hand.

“No. I just feel the way I do because of her. Tendar, he keeps his distance. But even the little interaction he has makes connections. If her heart is stronger than she thinks, she may answer his isolation.” Pindari squeezed the doctor’s hand. “They need each other. She needs his strength. His belief. His faith, even. There is sorrow buried in her.”

“Most humans carry sorrow, Pini.” He used the nickname. “I will see what I will see.”

He thought of that statement as he pulled his pendent over his neck. He’d seen, and he’d heard, he’d felt. Cam held danger and inspired a sense of treasuring. Plus, she carried so much fear. The books had told him what she’d read. They’d read her and opened more of her to Daniel than she could understand. Theo had shown him the poet she read and he’d seen the joy at the depth of her soul. That was what called to Pindari, he had no doubt. And lured Tendar. It even sang to him.

He would see if she could release it. If she could share, the potential for change was massively huge. She would need such protection, it daunted him. A small smile grew as he looked at his face in the mirror. Daunting, yes, but worth the challenge. At last, a real challenge…after centuries.

She sat across from Daniel, Tendar at the end of the table. The food supplied by Pindari proved rich, hearty and tasty. She barely ate a thing. Tendar kept filling her goblet and she drank, unaware of the intoxication level of the sweet drink or purposefully trying to get drunk. Daniel saw her eyes begin to blur and cautioned Tendar about pouring her any more.

She looked at the goblet. “Uh oh. Am I…blitzed?”

“Slightly.” Daniel pointed at her plate. “Eat.”

She picked up her fork but found it hard to use. With a sigh, she set the fork down and carefully used her fingers. Tendar smiled, obviously holding back laughter. She listened to them chat but contributed little. Daniel reported on how well Theo was recovering and been relieved to know he’d likely regain his voice, eventually. Finally, Daniel drew her into a discussion on how she arranged the books and she defended several of her choices. None of the talk was terribly serious.

By the time desert arrived, Cam swayed, her eyes blinking too often. She actually drifted off to sleep partway through the pastry. Daniel reached across the table and finished hers, then looked at Tendar.

The Kharmon held himself stiffly to the back of his chair. His hand trembled as he lifted his goblet. Daniel stood up, then took the goblet away. “Don’t follow her example.”

“She drank so little,” Tendar stated.

“Obviously a low tolerance.” Daniel smiled. “Let’s see her to bed. I want to see the implant sight.”

Tendar carried her. The dress left bare skin at his fingertips, which proved torturous, but a burden he relished. Once in her room, he held her as Daniel eased the dress away and then laid her on the bed. Daniel removed the bracelet. “A gaba seed bracelet? Interesting bit of jewelry.”

“She showed an appreciation for the flower. The seeds hold the scent and are harmless.” Tendar answered. “They like her skin. In three months, they haven’t split open.”

“Yes, I’d say they like her.” Daniel sat on the edge of the bed. “How did she hide this from the Sorters?” He ran a finger down the silvery scar.

“It’s a mystery. I’ve asked the floor stewards. She used her hair carefully to hide the scar. Hid behind taller humans and only played at joining them in sexual play.” Tendar brushed at her hair. “Once she had clothing, it was easy. No one pushed to examine her. She also missed Thinker orientation. She told Pindari about the heart attack and I refused to see her inspected. Instead, I sent for you.”

“With the lack of sunshine, her skin grew pale to match the scar.” Daniel traced the shape under her skin. “I read about this today. It won’t be easy to remove.”

At the word remove, Cam grimaced and tried to twist away from Daniel. She turned toward Tendar and he sighed. “You’re safe, Cameron. Daniel will not hurt you.” She trembled, then minutely relaxed. Tendar eased her onto her back again.

“The fear is almost the greater obstacle and she is extremely aware, even when asleep.” Daniel softly spoke. He looked up at Tendar. “Nothing I read suggested she is in danger from sexual excitement. I even read several psychology books on the subject. She is irrationally scared.”

“Irrational or not, she is scared,” Tendar offered his observations. He shivered and prepared to push up from the bed.

Daniel reached out and stopped him. “Help me assess. Her fear is not yours. Your desire should not be guided by her irrational fear. You have to rise above it to see her free from it.”

The Kharmon stared at Daniel a moment, then took a deep breath and nodded. “Yes. I needed to hear that. How can I help?”

Daniel took Tendar’s hand and set it at Cameron’s pubic hair. “Stir her while I monitor her heart.” Tendar paused as Cameron froze at his touch .

“She has been circumspect and held herself apart. I do not want to take advantage, Daniel.”

The doctor eyed him then nodded. “I understand. What we do here may seem intrusive, but I must know the limitations of her device and the alternative is to frighten her. I’d rather follow this path. It is a mild trespass. If you wish, I will make certain to explain it to her when the time is right.”

She whined, deep in a sort of drunken stupor mixed with the deep dreams of human sleep. Tendar felt her fear and concern, as well as her hunger. He had to trust Daniel’s knowledge of human behavior. The desperation of his desire howled at him to move on the woman. With Daniel here, he would not succumb to that eager hunger.

Tendar read the heat on her skin and nodded, wondering how long it had been since she’d last been touched intimately. Her fear likely made it all but impossible. He repositioned himself to the foot of the bed, bent and inhaled deeply between her thighs. Daniel set one hand atop her implant, a second at her heart and closed his eyes. Tendar murmured her name, exhaled and let himself sink past the fear. His fingers and tongue stroked her, enticed her, caressed and cherished her until she was a fountain of wetness. He drank, he swam, he relished and promised more when she was ready.

Daniel felt her orgasm three times. Each saw her heartbeat race, her implant remain aware but unalarmed. He also determined the potential was present. As Tendar set his head at her belly and sighed her name, his breath presented a gift of female scent. Daniel removed his hands from Cameron and stroked the bright red frill with tenderness. He smiled at Tendar. “Share?”

“Yes,” Tendar whispered. “Always.”

They stood up, saw her covered and embraced before returning to Tendar’s bed. Cameron slept, a small sail spread in her soul.

*****

Tendar whispered to Daniel. “She is tiny. Tight…”

“She’ll stretch, women stretch.” He answered the worry. “You know that. You will not hurt her.”

“Be first, Daniel. Share me with her, first.” Tendar wrapped his hand around Daniel’s cock, simulating Cameron as his fingers flowed together into a warm, wet, flesh filled delight.

Daniel melted under that touch. “If…if she will…trust me! Ah!”

Tendar melded himself to Daniel’s back, arms cradling the smaller human. His genital sack filled with blood to tease and taunt Daniel’s every nuance of desire. It squeezed, grew turgid, pumped and carried the human doctor past the point of cognitive thought for the rest of the night. Daniel agreed to anything Tendar wanted in the end, aware of the hazards but fully in love with the challenge.

He sat at the library windowsill the next morning, when Cameron arrived to begin work. He’d carefully considered the risks each path carried. Too many ways to harm the woman, only one sure way to see her stronger, faster. The riskiest way.

Word had come that Teemin approached the province, with several allies. Pindari organized defense as a war of litigation appeared likely. Tendar needed to be sharp, past the dulling effects of the infection.

Daniel heard Cameron downstairs, humming. She’d slept well, he could tell. He lifted his fingers and inhaled. Her scent lingered, mixed with that of Tendar. It strengthened his resolve. He slid from the seat and moved to the top of the stairs.

Cameron hadn’t felt so light in years. She’d woken with no hangover, and only a faint memory of erotic dreams. She’d showered, running hands up and down her torso. For the first time since arriving, she realized how flawless her skin had grown. How tight it had become. Looking in the mirror, she noticed no grey hair, less wrinkles on her face. The yellow tint in her teeth was gone. The veins in her eyes were less. Her fingernails showed no discoloration.

She stretched, liked what she saw and didn’t question. “Later.” She announced to the room. “Today, just…accept.”

A faint memory of Daniel saying he would perform an examination on her today danced in her mind. She shrugged. “He’ll have to fetch me. I don’t know where his quarters are.” She gathered her book bag, slipped her tunic on and sighed. “His pendent is much more practical.” She’d much admired his token of office.

Tendar had done so also, commenting that he was held in high esteem, to be given a dragon scale. Cameron had asked what he meant.

“Dragons live on the coast. But they are shy, and few in number. No one hunts them, but shed scales are very valuable,” Tendar explained.

“Dragons? Like…fire breathing, flying dragons?” Her eyes widened.

Daniel had chuckled. “No, they live in caves and they like fish. Flight is extremely rare, usually they swim. And sometimes walk. But no fire. They are bigger than backalongs.”

“What is a backalong?” Cameron had asked. After some discussion, she concluded they were a reptilian beast of burden. Larger than a camel, larger than an elephant. Slow moving with limited intelligence. It had been an interesting evening, even if she had drunk too much.

She was humming as she entered the library. When Daniel spoke, she dropped the book she’d just removed from her book bag.

He laughed. “I do seem to inspire clumsiness. I am sorry!”

“Oh, not your fault. It’s fine. They don’t break, usually.” She bent and picked it up, then turned to see him strolling down the stairs. He wore a pure white tunic, very thin. She caught her breath, suddenly very aware of his body. His legs were brown, muscled and very attractive. His arms were bare, also brown and long, lean.

She looked away. “Uh, I know you mentioned an exam today. But I didn’t know where to go.”

“I will take you.” He stood very close to her and inhaled. “You smell like cinnamon.”

“Pindari made cinnamon rolls.” She wanted to move away…but she didn’t. She softly met his eyes and spoke, “I’m scared.”

“I know.” He brushed at her hair with his hand, then cupped her face. “I could lie to you and say there is no reason to fear. But there is always reason to fear. The reasons aren’t always good ones, though. Trust me.”

“I’ll…try,” she answered honestly. He bent and kissed her. It was sweet and careful and promised more.

Her legs grew weak as he pulled away. “You are so beautiful, Cameron.”

“So are you.” She blushed at her own words and looked away. “Uh…handsome?”

“I don’t mind beautiful.” He laughed. “Come, my clinic awaits.”

She grabbed her book bag and left the library with him.

He led her to a large round room, through hallways and rooms she’d never seen before. Once in the round room, he released her hand to observe her reactions. She didn’t disappoint him.

“Oh! So much light!” She gazed upward at the dome ceiling, rung with clear windows. She spun, trying to see it all.

He chuckled. “I need light. If you will strip and lay face down on the table, there, I can begin.” He gestured at a padded table.

“Uh, don’t you want some family history or something like that?” She stood perfectly still, an amazingly fast change from her earlier movement.

“If you’d like. Let me take your bag for you. You had a good breakfast? We could be quite some time. If you need to pee, it’s through that doorway.” He took her bag away after a short hesitation on her part. She used the bathroom, returning to find him waiting near the table.

“You really don’t care about my history?” she quietly asked. “How did you become a doctor?”

He smiled crookedly at her. “You’re doubting my credentials. Lovely. Cameron, I’ve been studying medicine for centuries. I literally absorb books, have watched others work and have made mistakes as well as celebrated victories.”

“Centuries?” She tilted her head at him. “That’s impossible.”

“Not here it isn’t.” He patted the table. “I want to know your history, yes. Your body will tell it to me, with more honesty and description than anything you can say. Trust me. I will not hurt you.”

“Shit.” She shook her head. “I don’t really have a choice, do I? Honesty? I wouldn’t lie to you.” She illustrated anger as she stripped her library tunic off and literally threw it against a wall. The shift followed and she stalked to the table to sit down. She trembled, arms wrapped tightly around her chest, hands clinging to elbows.

“You wouldn’t lie. You tell what you know. However, your body knows everything. So much you don’t know or have words for.” He wiped the tear off her cheek. “Relax. This will feel like a massage.” He desperately needed to put her more at ease. Such volatility proved challenging.

“I could use a massage,” she whispered and allowed him to ease her arms open and lay her on the table. It was warm, the sun almost became oppressive. Daniel opened windows to allow a breeze to cool the room some. The examination began.

At her right foot, he stroked, rubbed and began to read the story of her body. He slowly moved up her leg, admiring the tattoo at her other ankle. His calmness sank into her and the tension left her body. He spoke just enough to keep her from sleep. As his thumbs strummed the muscles of her calves, “…you have strong legs… Did you play sports?”

“Volleyball…” She sighed. “Uh…do you know what that is?”

“I’ve seen others play it. One of the Thinkers organized teams. It looked fun, but of course, it was. There is no real sense of competition here.” He smiled as she’d commented how much she’d have liked that.

He took a great deal of time to work his way up her legs, wanting her to accept his touch. Pausing at the top of her thighs, he lightly danced a finger at the small of her back, “I’m going to be assertive.”

“Butt muscles are deep, I know.” She sighed.

“Not just butt muscles.” He slid a finger down the crack of her ass. She tightened slightly, then let out a deep breath and consciously relaxed. He praised her and then detoured to manipulating her hip joints. By the time his finger slid into her, he had her dazed. He probed, talking more to himself than to her. He left the room shortly, to wash his hands, then returned and matter-of-factly went to work on her back.

She was very quiet, until he probed at her left shoulder blade. She winced and tightened. He paused. “What hurts?”

“The implant,” she whispered. “It…you’re pushing at it from the back? When it was put in, my back ached for days. Had a problem there for some years prior and the surgery just aggravated it.”

“I’ll use less pressure.” He frowned as he slid fingers around the entire area. He frowned and moved to the other side of the table, then manipulated her arm, down to her hand. He lastly moved to her left arm and did the same. He moved so slowly, she began to slide into sleep. He spoke to her, “Cameron, the muscle tone is less here. You are right handed?”

“Uh huh,” she murmured. “Ah! Oh, that hurt!”

“I am sorry.” He eased the arm down to lessen the sharp angle. “You are less flexible here.”

“Yeah.” She opened an eye and looked at his, rolling her head just enough to see his face. “Oh, you look tired.”

“This is work, Cameron.” He smiled gingerly at her, then set the arm back down. He adjusted the table and her head hung at an angle. He began to work at the back of her neck and on up to the skull. She mimicked a purr, which made him smile. He finished with her head and took a step back to the right side of her body. He inhaled deeply, bent and licked at the slight pool of sweat at the small of her back.

Her butt rose at the swipe of his tongue. “What…?”

“A simple sample.” He chuckled. “Roll over.”

She grumbled. “Oh, yeah. Roll over. They always say that as if it’s easy.” She groaned as she maneuvered herself onto her back, then stared at the ceiling, blinking. Daniel loomed over her, straightening her hair, making sure she was comfortable. Then he moved to her feet and began moving upward all over again. At her thighs, she spoke again, “Daniel…?”

“Yes?” He paused.

“Maybe you should take a break…?” she suggested.

“No, it is best done all at once. Easier for me to diagnose when everything I need is done.” He smiled at her, touched by her thoughtfulness. “This part is energizing, Cameron. I will need to touch you intimately.”

“Why?” Her pitch rose, showing him her nervousness.

“To best assess your health, sexual health is important here,” he bluntly told her. “I have been told you avoid sexual union. Do you have a religious stipulation against sex?”

“No.” She grimaced. “I just don’t have sex casually. And I worry about my heart.”

“I am a physician and will do nothing to compromise your heart,” he answered as his hand rested at her belly. He bent and kissed her pubic area. “First, your torso.” He probed her belly, her ribs and gently manipulated her breasts. Finally, he set his hand on the implant. “Tell me about the heart attack.”

She drew a deep breath. “I don’t remember it, Daniel. I went to sleep. I woke up four days later, in a hospital.”

“Your body remembers, if you let it. Close your eyes and tell me, how did the day begin?” he asked.

She slowly recalled the day, how it had seemed like every other day. As she spoke of drifting asleep, her voice grew softer. Daniel closed his eyes and followed the memory. Her words faded, but the memory was there. He saw her body react. Watched her struggle to breath, and her husband haul her from the bed to save her life. He begged her not to leave him, nearly in tears. The medical personnel, the violence of the shock that brought her back followed. Then the machines at the hospital.

He’d never seen this much technology working on a single person. Many patients had passed under his hands but none so challenged.

He wanted to pull away, it was so invasive, but he stayed with her, helping to ease the panic away. He saw her wake up and spoke again, “I’m here, stay calm and just remember. No words are necessary.”

The days at the hospital passed, the tests provided no answers. Going home so uncertain, then the decision to allow the implant. He experienced that procedure with her, frustrated at not seeing what the surgeon did. He felt the pressure used, heard the words she didn’t hear, even followed the leads as they were threaded down toward her heart. He didn’t expect the shock as they tested the device. He jerked away from Cameron, panting.

She started alert and turned to him, pulling herself off the table. “Daniel?” She staggered a hand at her chest. “Oh, shit!” She grimaced, and took a deep breath. “Don’t like that.”

“Neither do I.” He reached for her hand and urged her back to the table. “That was unexpected.”

She began to cry. “I…oh…shit.”

He embraced her, stroking her hair. “Let it go. I don’t want you to remember and you’re not going to remember. Lay back down.”

She sobbed, full of fear, and it took some time to force her back on the table. He literally covered her eyes and then her heart. “Enough. We both need you to forget it.” He wouldn’t let her move, until she let it go. He brushed at her face, kissed her and then spoke again, “Now, let me draw pleasure to replace the panic.”

“My…heart!” She gasped as he set a hand at her breast.

“First, do no harm. Some things change with the calling, but not that.” He stilled her words with his lips, his hand busy teasing her nipple to answer his fingertips. When he was certain she’d moved past words, he followed his fingers with his lips. His hand fell to her bush, parted her legs and explored her readiness. She cried out almost immediately and he raised his head to look at her face. “No harm.”

“Uh…no harm,” she whispered, one hand rose to touch his face. “So long since…”

He silenced her with another masterful summoning of pleasure from her center. He stood up and she turned to look at him. Without another word, he simply picked her and carried her to another room. It was darker there, but he knew where he was going. He dropped her onto a soft mattress and she rolled to one side. “Daniel?”

She could see him as her eyes adjusted. He dropped the thin tunic he wore and knelt at the edge of the bed. His hand held an erection that was impressive. She swallowed her nervousness, unsure of what to do.

“Cameron,” he softly spoke her name. “Do you want me?”

“Shit,” she murmured. “I’m not stupid. Just scared.”

He chuckled. “Ah, the nuances of sexual play. I’m out of practice, does that mean yes?”

“Please, Daniel, yes. Just be careful?” She sat up and held out her hand.

“I am always careful.” He took her hand and pulled her up to sit in front of him. He set her hand at his cock. She didn’t know what to do. It was soft and hard and big. She’d never been certain what to do with her husband’s cock. He’d never been terribly vocal on the subject.

Daniel simply reached down and moved her hand, taking control of the situation. When he parted her legs and set himself atop her, she grew tense and he slowed down again, suckling and licking at her breasts while stealthily sliding up to inch into her.

She cried out, pushed herself lower to feel him fully and he took that as direction enough. It was vigorous and sweet at the same time. She kept gasping, taking in deep breaths before falling to grasping and pulling him closer. She felt him smile, even as he kissed her.

She’d never felt so much a part of making love. Years of marriage had left her unaware of how intimate this could be. How could she know so little? The thought tried to make her sad, but Daniel’s hands and care with keeping her close drove that away. Instead, she felt treasured and not used.

Finally, they were both resting. She faced him, her back to the door. He smiled, unable to keep his hands from her hair.

She grinned. “It’s just hair.”

“It’s your hair, and it’s lovely, soft and it smells of gaba blossoms.” He winked at her. “Very intoxicating.”

She giggled. A deep sigh came from the doorway and she stilled. “Who is there?”

“Tendar. He has been so patient. Let him touch you, Cameron,” Daniel coaxed. “He needs to touch you and I do. In this, we are one.”

“He…wants me?”

“With all my heart,” Tendar answered.

She felt him sit on the edge of the bed as he continued. “Such lovely cries, such heady scent, I am drunk on it.” A hand softly touched her hips. “I want to touch you, to gift you with…”

Daniel interrupted, “For now, let him touch you, Cameron. He is your guardian, your Kharmon. Let him care for you.”

Her eyes searched Daniel face, even as Tendar’s finger set her on fire along her backbone. A scent filled the room, clouding her senses. She blinked at Daniel, then bowed her head. “Yes. I trust you both.”

Tendar had taken such care of her, and she knew the small gestures to see her welcome were at his direction. He may be an alien being, but he also took the time to make certain the humans under his watch were safe. He’d been so watchful with Theo. Daniel came at his request and she desperately needed to trust.

Moments later, Tendar was pressed against her back, a presence impossible to ignore. That was just the beginning. Several hours later, Cameron understood why the women often giggled and flirted with the male Kharmon, though she had to admit that the female may have similar abilities. She had no idea.

She sprawled at the foot of the bed, looking at Tendar, lounging against pillows at the head of the bed. He watched her. Daniel had risen to request something for them to eat. She could hear him, speaking to someone in the other room. Tendar stroked his cock…that seemed the appropriate word, but she couldn’t be sure. It had acted a cock but it had also acted like a tongue, a finger, even a sheath for Daniel. It was confusing.

Tendar’s touch had been so heady, she hadn’t been terribly aware of much else in the beginning. He’d cupped her breasts and sensations had risen that were overwhelming. Daniel had licked and sucked between the fingers. The two men had surrounded her. Later, she realized how well coordinated they were. They’d done this before.