“And you never thought to mention it because?” Chuckie asked.
“Because it never occurred to me. I’m sorry, I’ve been here a long time, and in that time, I’ve been aligned with you for only a few weeks. I haven’t thought about the landing areas since LaRue attacked and almost killed me. That information was never something I’d have even considered sharing with those I was associating with.”
Most of the room didn’t look happy with this answer. But it made sense to me. “That’s fine, John. We have to remember that we’re lucky you’re here, alive and well and with us. We’re just already so used to having you around that we forget that you were alone, behind enemy lines, for decades.”
Jeff sighed. “Kitty makes a good point, and I apologize for being upset with you for forgetting to tell us something key.”
“I’ll do my best to remember what you all don’t know,” Wruck said, earning chuckles from most of the room.
“How many of the ships coming to us will prefer a water landing, do you think?” Jeff asked Muddy and Wruck.
“The Faradawn Treeship will, most likely, as will the Vrierst ship,” Muddy replied. “As for the others, we’re unsure.”
“My data is out of date on anything like this,” Wruck said. “I had no idea the Mykali were here. I don’t know that any of us, Ancients or Z’porrah, know.”
“Probably for the best, at least in terms of keeping the Mykali safe. But back on topic, the Shantanu definitely were water landers. A manta ray ship landing in water makes sense, and I guess a tree heading for water does, as well.” Thought about the other ships we’d seen. “The Z’porrah tend to be hoverers. Will any of the others do that, hover impressively overhead?”
“Hovering overhead is usually reserved for an attack or is done as part of an official welcome,” Muddy said. “Though we can’t speak for those coming to Earth just now.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Jeff said. “What it means is that we need to be prepared to have these ships land in our deserts and our oceans.”
“Are we sure they’re coming to our deserts and oceans?” I asked. Looked at the atlas. There were a lot of other bookmarks in it.
Every head, including the three Turleen heads, nodded. “They are coming to seek protection from the King and Queen of the World,” Muddy said. “As I keep reminding you.”
“Chuckie, we need the mind working on how we spin this, because I’m fresh out of cool marketing ideas. All I’ve got as a blueprint is Independence Day, and I’m hoping we’re ready to have our experience go better when the Aicirtap arrive.”
“I hated that movie,” Chuckie said, but I could tell he was thinking. He shook his head. “Give me a little time.”
“I’m not sure that we have it,” Mom said. “The estimates for arrivals are just that—estimates.”
My phone beeped. Got off Jeff’s lap and went over to dig it out of my purse. Noted that my music app was open and the song cued up was V.V. Brown’s “Shark in the Water.” Snorted a laugh but kept myself under control. Either Algar had had that hint up for me and I’d just never looked at it or else, as I suspected, he was sharing a joke with me.
Looked at the text that had just come in. “Huh, Nadine says that all three kids want to stay at the Embassy tonight.”
“They don’t want to be with us?” Jeff asked, sounding hurt.
“Apparently Pierre is having some kind of elaborate sleepover for all the Daycare Kids and ours don’t want to be left out.” Checked to see if I had any other texts. I did. “Mom, Dad’s there, too, and wants to know if you’re okay with him staying with the kids.”
“Tell them all yes,” Mom said. “You and Jeff need to get cleaned up and dressed and then everyone needs to get back to the Large Situation Room. When aliens are arriving, the government doesn’t get to sleep.”
Sent confirmation texts to Dad and Nadine. Wasn’t sure if I should be hurt or relieved that the kids didn’t want to hang with us tonight. Settled for both.
Chuckie called Serene and Jeff called Raj. Craig and Francine were eating an official dinner and then would be heading to the LSR. Those who needed to know what was really going on did. All others would remain unaware that Jeff and I had taken a side trip to Bermuda.
Since the Planetary Council were still on-site, Mom decided that the Turleens would go with her and the others and get introduced while Jeff and I cleaned up.
“What time is it?” I asked as Jeff closed the door that led out to the main hallway. “I’m totally jumbled from going back and forth across the country and I didn’t think to actually look at the time when I was looking at my phone.”
Jeff turned and shot me a look I was very familiar with—his Jungle Cat About To Eat Me look. My breathing got heavy.
“It’s time,” he said, as he locked the door, “for you to change out of that bikini.”
CHAPTER 41
JEFF STRIPPED OFF my bikini quickly. “Mmm, looks like you didn’t sunburn.”
“You’d probably better check me all over just to be sure.” Yanked his trunks down just before he picked me up and stepped out of the trunks.
“Gladly,” he purred. “I plan to check all over. In a very detailed manner.” With that I wrapped my legs around his waist, his mouth covered mine, and we went from zero to a hundred in less than a moment.
Jeff was grinding against me and I was doing the same to him, while his mouth ravaged mine and I ran my hands through his hair. Rubbed my breasts against his chest, felt his hair rubbing against my nipples, and I was ready to go for it.
In the olden days, before kids, we’d take a long time on foreplay. Tonight the kids weren’t around, so we should have been able to take our time, but we had a huge room full of people waiting on us. So we didn’t wait.
Jeff slid into me and all the rest of the crap that was going on faded away. Aliens, bombs, haters, sharks . . . those things didn’t matter right now. It was just the two of us, slamming together at hyperspeed, which sounds like it would be a disappointing sexual experience but was, frankly, the complete opposite.
My orgasm hit hard and I triggered Jeff. Howled into his mouth while he growled back into mine. Our bodies shuddered in time together and I enjoyed the feelings of sexual satisfaction that washed over me.
For normal men, that would be it. Great, but it. But Jeff was far from normal in all the good ways, and A-C regenerative powers were never more impressive than during sexy times.