Koop's Spark Page 6

  Opening her eyes, Maggie gazed across the room at the tall, muscled, handsome Gracian. She was biologically his wife-mate now. His body had claimed hers. He could really die if she didn’t accept him. Another wave of heat and lust flooded Maggie’s body. She clenched her eyes tightly closed again and breathed through gritted teeth.

  “Maggie,” Koop called out.

  “Koop!” both Amelia and Hover’s voices called out together.

  Maggie couldn’t open her eyes, she needed to concentrate on the intense wave of heat and sexual need rushing through her. To try to push it back so she could think clearly.

  “But she needs me.” A large, warm hand covered Maggie’s, causing her to open her eyes. Koop’s fast-swirling eyes met hers, echoing the burning need she felt for him. Maggie’s body seemed to burn brighter with his skin touching hers. It felt right, unlike when Amelia’s hand had covered hers.

  “I can call security if you wish?” Koop addressed Maggie.

  “No, it’s okay.” Maggie shook her head, never taking her eyes off Koop’s. “Is Twirl right? You would never sleep with another woman?”

  * * * *

  Koop’s first reaction was one of horror. Sleep with another woman when he had a spark? What an absurd question or thought.

  “Not when I have you, no.” But as he spoke he saw the lack of trust in Maggie’s eyes. Someone had hurt her before. Going back over the report he’d read, which Amelia had written, Koop remembered Maggie had been married before and was newly divorced due to her male’s adultery. “I am unlike your human males. I have only ever given my energy to one female, and that was to keep her alive. I cannot deny, however, that I have given energy to the sex bots,” he admitted unabashed. He was male, he had energy and needs to disperse. “But never another living female. I have only ever dreamed of my spark, for her to be the one who I would share a life with. That is you, Maggie. You will be my only, me unum.”

  Tears filled Maggie’s eyes. Guilt swamped Koop. Had he upset his female? Turning his head, he immediately sought out Amelia and an answer. As if reading his mind, or seeing the panic on his face, Amelia stepped forward toward them both.

  “I think those are happy tears?” Amelia asked Maggie.

  “I want to believe him.” Maggie burst into tears.

  Koop turned back to his mate, fear in his heart.

  “I thought my marriage was happy. I never imagined he was sleeping with other women all those years. He lied to me for so long. He had never wanted a family. I dreamed of having kids, but as I got older I could hear the ticking of my biological clock, and I knew my time could be over to have them. But every time I asked him about kids, he said soon. It wasn’t until that night I caught him with his PA that he admitted he’d had a vasectomy in case I trapped him.” Maggie hiccupped. “It had never crossed my mind to do such a thing.”

  Koop couldn’t refrain from pulling Maggie into his arms. He held her close until her sobs abated.

  He glanced down at her, meeting her eyes. “What I say next isn’t meant to persuade you to pledge yourself to me, but if you were to accept me, and you still want younglings, we would have plenty, believe me. Making them is as much fun as having them.” He grinned. “I watched Twirl grow up, and although she was a sickly youngling, seeing her achieve even the simple things was such a miracle. I would love to see a youngling that we produce do the same.”

  “You would want children?” Maggie asked, surprise written on her face. “But I’m no spring chicken, not like the other women here.”

  Koop frowned. “Spring chicken? Why would I want that or any other female when you are my spark?” he asked, thinking of the images he’d seen of the planet’s animals. A chicken was a breed of bird that laid eggs. What did that have to do with the human females?

  Amelia chuckled at Koop’s surprise. “It’s an Earth saying. Maggie means she is older than the rest of us ladies.”

  “Age is nothing to us, Maggie. I see nothing about you that I don’t like.” He loved the way Maggie looked. He silently urged the small female in front of him to want or need him. He’d spend the rest of their lives showing her just how much he wanted her. “If you don’t want younglings, we won’t have them. And if you do, then we will have as many as you wish.” He wiggled his eyebrows and grinned again. “I will try my best to give you everything that you need and want, please believe me, Maggie.”

  Koop could see the want in Maggie’s eyes. She wanted to trust him, but it seemed this ‘husband’ had hurt her deeply enough that she wasn’t sure if she could. Koop wanted to shout, to do anything, just to let Maggie see he wasn’t this Todd. He meant everything he’d just said to her. He would give her everything he could, even if it meant his life.

  He moved closer when another wave made Maggie’s eyes screw shut and she inhaled through her teeth. Her skin flushed pink, and her top teeth bit into her bottom lip. What would she taste like? If he leaned just a little closer, he could pull her lip from between her teeth with his. Take her mouth with his.

  “Let me help you, me unum,” he urged gently. “Even just to allow me to get you through this mating heat, then if you wish, I will leave you alone.”

  Maggie’s eyes instantly opened, meeting his. Lust adorned them. Koop swore his shaft grew more rigid inside his pants. What he wouldn’t give to be balls deep in his spark now instead of trying to convince her to be his.

  To Koop’s dismay, Maggie looked past him, seeking out someone behind him. She swallowed before asking a question.

  “If we share sex…” Maggie didn’t move her hands from under Koop’s, but indicated with her head between them both. “He won’t die, and it will relieve this heat thing?”

  Hover stepped beside Koop. “Yes, it will relieve the heat.”

  Koop realized the medic only answered part of her question. Koop knew that even if they did mate to relieve the mating heat, he would still be producing an extra amount of energy for the rest of his life to care for his mate. If he didn’t release it along with his spark, he would flare sooner rather than never.

  Maggie frowned and waited a few moments before speaking again. “And? You didn’t answer the whole question, doc. Will he still die?”

  Koop nearly chuckled at the disgruntled look on Hover’s face at being called out.

  “Everyone will die eventually, Maggie,” Hover replied, skirting around her question again.

  Maggie growled. Koop found her little growl both amusing and cute. He snorted and looked at Hover.

  “You tried.” Koop smiled. “But answer her fully now, please.”

  Hover nodded. Turning back toward Maggie, he said, “You are Koop’s spark, Maggie. This means that for the rest of his or your life, you will be bound after the first energy spark. You now have an iungo, which means Koop can share his energy with you. From what the other females of your small group have described, it’s like a huge bolt of caffeine?” Hover asked, looking toward Amelia who grinned and nodded her head in agreement.

  “They normally charge you during sex, leaving you feeling…” A tinge of pink touched Amelia’s cheeks. “Once isn’t enough. If you get my meaning.” She chuckled, wiggling her eyebrows up and down.

  Koop turned back to Maggie to see her smile.

  “Charge you?” Hover asked Amelia.

  “I’ll tell you later, doc.” Amelia chuckled. “Maggie knows what I mean.”

  “Anyway,” Hover continued after clearing his throat. “At this moment, Koop’s body is producing more energy than before, this is to provide himself and his spark the life force they both need. But if he doesn’t release it with you, then yes, I’m afraid it will build up to a point where he will start flaring. Eventually, he…” Hover didn’t finish so Koop did.

  “Hover can help you get through the mating heat, Maggie. You don’t have to mate with me if you don’t wish to. I will gladly give up my life knowing I gained what little time we had together.”

  “But you have a family too, Koop. I will be dooming them
to losing you. I know what it’s like to lose family early. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.”

  Koop raised a hand and cupped Maggie’s cheek, happy when she didn’t pull away from him.

  “Don’t make your decision based on that, me unum. We as a species have loved and lost many, many loved ones over the yarns. We know loss deeply. Twirl would understand if my time came. It was expected at some point in the future because the chances of me meeting my spark were so low. Twirl isn’t privy to the information about your kind yet, but if she was I’m sure she would understand just as much as I do. Maggie, I would not ask you to appease this mating heat with me if you do not wish for us to be together for the rest of our lives.”

  Maggie stared into his eyes deeply. Koop watched a whole array of emotion scatter through her beautiful orbs. She closed her eyes for a moment and exhaled before opening them.

  “I want to believe you. My heart screams it does, my mind, however, cannot get over what Todd did.”

  She raised a hand and placed a finger over his lips when he opened his mouth to deny he was anything like the male she’d lived with.

  “Hear me out?” she asked. She lowered her hand when he nodded. “I understand you’re not like him and wouldn’t touch another woman, but when I saw you with Twirl, jealousy reared its ugly head. Now that I know she wasn’t a lover—ex or recent—I’m filled with guilt for thinking that way. What if it happens again? How long and what will it take for me to believe it before I end up hurting you with bad words, accusing you of adultery? I’m scared, Koop.”

  A single tear dropped from Maggie’s right eye. Koop watched it coast down her cheek. He could see and hear the pain she felt, and it broke his heart.

  “Give me a chance, my spark? That’s all I can ask. If by any chance I hurt you, then I promise I will walk into an airlock and you can press the button yourself.” His lips raised in a small smirk.

  Maggie chuckled and shook her head before turning her attention to Amelia. “How long will it take you to teach this security team how to behave in case we come across other humans?”

  Koop wondered briefly why Maggie was asking this question before he realized where it could be heading. His heart jumped a beat with hope.

  “I don’t know.” Amelia hummed. “Perhaps a few days. Enough time for the two of them to have a small seclusion?” the captain’s spark asked Hover, who at first looked confused then animatedly nodded, agreeing with her.

  “Oh yes, I agree. About three days maybe.”

  A small hand running down Koop’s clothed chest brought his eyes back to Maggie’s.

  “I can’t promise to trust you outright, nor can I say that I won’t accuse you of seeing another woman. But with your help, I can try, and maybe even succeed.”

  Koop smiled so wide his face hurt. “Although I may have to look upon a female, I would never dream of touching them in ways that I would you.”

  Maggie smiled back at him, her tongue darting across her bottom lip, leaving a damp trail behind. A cute, pink tinge touched her cheeks.

  “Then take me to your cabin. We have to discuss what we will need to build this commune.”

  Talk? She wants to talk? How could he watch her go through the mating heat while they spoke? But then why was she embarrassed to ask him to talk? He was confused.

  “For crying out loud,” Amelia said, exasperation filling her voice. “Take her to your cabin, Koop, and ravish her.”

  Koop turned toward Amelia with a frown of annoyance. “This is not what she is asking.”

  “Men...are you all so stupid or what?” Amelia asked.

  Maggie’s chuckle had Koop looking toward his mate again. “I meant we can talk after we have...umm, you know.”

  “Yeah, and remember she isn’t a light bulb!”

  Now Koop was really confused. Maggie’s chuckle increased to a full-blown belly laugh. Her whole face and body seemed to glow with mirth. Koop loved it. He made a promise to himself that he’d make sure to put that look on Maggie’s face as often as he could.

  “I suggest you take her to your cabin.” Hover spoke quietly into Koop’s ear.

  Koop didn’t think twice. He picked his laughing spark up in his arms. His whole body thrummed with happiness when she curled up against his chest and allowed him to carry her out of medical and toward his cabin. For the first time since Pausey had been assigned to share his cabin, Koop was happy the male wasn’t aboard the ship any longer. He had a place to take Maggie where they could be without interruptions.

  He’d just turned the first corner in the corridor toward his cabin when Amelia’s call stopped him.

  “I just realized something,” Amelia said, coming to a stop beside Koop. “You are in the single cabins now, right?”

  Koop frowned but nodded. What did that have to do with him and his spark?

  “They have single bunks, right?” Amelia said as if pointing something out.

  “Yes,” Koop replied. Then he realized where Amelia was going with her questioning. His cabin was small with two single bunks. It would be a rather tight fit for them both.

  “Why don’t you take Maggie to her cabin? The bed will not only be bigger but more comfortable.” Amelia winked before walking back toward medical.

  Maggie chuckled in Koop’s arms. He gazed down at his spark to see her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkling.

  “She has a point.” Maggie shrugged.

  “Your cabin it is then.” Koop smiled before heading toward the officers’ deck.

  He wouldn’t have minded sharing his small bunk with Maggie; it would only have him closer to her. But to have her spread out on her bed… Koop walked faster.

  Chapter 5

  Maggie couldn’t believe what she was doing. Waves of insecurity and disbelief washed over her for allowing Koop to take her to her cabin. She had never been a fuck-on-the-first-date kinda person. In fact, Todd had been her first and last. Even with that, Maggie couldn’t stop the warm feeling flooding her chest as she gazed up at Koop’s handsome face. The happiness she felt just knowing the simple fact he would never cheat on her melted a chunk of ice that had built up around her heart.

  But then the usual negative and destructive thoughts edged into her mind. What would happen if she gained weight, or she wasn’t able to have a child with him because she was old? Even if he wouldn’t cheat on her, could he lose interest?

  Maggie hadn’t realized Koop had stopped walking until he spoke. “You need to open the door, me unum.”

  “Huh?” The word slipped from between her lips before she guessed where they were.

  With heated cheeks, she slid her hand from Koop’s chest where it had been resting to the door pad. She heard the quiet whoosh as her cabin door opened. Trepidation quickly followed as the doors closed behind them when Koop walked into her cabin.

  He didn’t walk into the bedroom as she thought he might do. Instead, he strolled over to the seating area and placed her gently in a sitting position on one of the couches.

  “I thought…” Maggie frowned. Did he not want her after all?

  Koop sat beside her and cupped her hands in his. “I want to take this slowly with you, Maggie. I can see how nervous you are. Your pulse is thrumming.”

  “You can hear that?” she asked, confused. Amelia hadn’t said anything about these Gracians having super-senses like the shifters in the romance novels Maggie had read.

  “No.” Koop chuckled. “I felt it when I was carrying you.” He raised a hand and ran a finger down her neck. “I can also see the pulse in your neck beating faster.”

  Maggie hardly heard Koop’s words, because as soon as his skin touched hers another heated, lust-filled wave flooded her body. She curled her toes and fisted her hands, her pussy dampened her panties even more, and her clit pulsed as fast as her heart.

  “Oh God.” She moaned, screwing her eyes shut.

  “Allow me to help.” She heard Koop urge as she gritted her teeth.

  Not even thinking for a second
, she cried out, “Yes.” She would agree to anything to stop this heat. It was getting more intense.

  Maggie felt Koop move and disappear from beside her, but she knew he hadn’t moved far. The movement of her dress sliding up her thighs had Maggie opening her eyes to see the handsome Gracian on his knees in front of her. He gently tugged on her legs, causing her to lean against the back of the couch, then parted her knees. She blushed as he pulled the damp material of her panties away from her body.

  “Are you sure you want this, Maggie?” he asked, bringing his head up a little to look into her eyes.

  She briefly wondered if she could actually say no right then. Her body was wet and more than primed for a good fucking. As Maggie stared at Koop’s handsome features, she knew without a doubt that the word no wasn’t in her vocabulary at that moment. Koop was everything she could imagine in a male—handsome, gentle, loving, but most of all, someone who wouldn’t cheat on her.

  “Yes,” she panted out. “But…”

  Koop waited. He didn’t move. Maggie wanted so bad to ask him not to hurt her as Todd had done, but she found herself unable to utter Todd’s name in Koop’s presence. No, she thought, Todd has no place here. If she was willing to mate with Koop, then her past would have to be placed where it should be—in the past.

  “I need to know just one thing.” Maggie gulped down the wave of mating heat inside her. Closing her legs, she patted the couch beside her.

  Koop stood and sat where she gestured.

  “How do you know I am the one?” Maggie stopped him before he could answer. She hadn’t asked the question correctly. “Hang on.”

  Koop suddenly looked all around him as if he were seeking something. “To what?” he asked.

  “Huh?”

  “To what am I supposed to hang on to and why?”

  Maggie burst into laughter. She couldn’t help herself. But seeing the concerned and confused look on Koop’s face, she brought her amusement under control.

  “I meant wait. Hang on is just another way of saying that.”