"You are late," Tamerlane crossed his arms over his chest when Beka emerged from her company ship two weeks later.

"It couldn't be helped," Beka shook her head as she walked toward him. She could see his concern and relief that she was back. "We sent a message."

"Running behind schedule. Be back when I can?" Tamerlane's raised his eyebrows. "What kind of message is that?"

"Letting you know we weren't dead and I didn't know how long it was going to take," Beka shrugged. "The people and the worlds around here are difficult to negotiate with and downright dishonest. I went where I could actually operate effectively."

"Did we not agree that you wouldn't go overboard?" Tamerlane gestured toward the train of carts leaving the hangar. Males were passing cargo from one to another unloading Beka's ship.

"That is one nice ship," Jusmin said as he emerged from the ship. He, Roth and Alejander were just disembarking. "It looks like a heap from the outside. I have never seen something so … luxurious."

"Camouflage to keep looters from targeting it," Beka nudged Jusmin as he walked by. "Don't make fun of my ship."

Jusmin looked Beka over and shrugged. "Not making fun of anything, just expressing my appreciation and admiration."

"Individual bunks, hot water," Alejander commented as he emerged from the ship. "I could get used to not having to sleep with a hundred of my fellow males. Being back in the barracks tonight will … suck."

"Told you not to get used to it," Beka patted his arm when he walked back.

"Did you see that weapons console? Front and rear functioning PDLs, twelve missile tubes," Roth pointed back to the ship as he emerged.

"A fortress in space," Beka shrugged.

They all stopped when they noticed Tamerlane standing nearby.

"Did you enjoy the silk sheets and breakfast in bed?" Tamerlane asked mockingly as he crossed his arms over his chest and gazed at the other males. They looked around at each other.

"Did you have silk sheets?" Jusmin asked the other two. They shook their heads.

"And the closest I got to breakfast in bed was Rebecca waking me up and asking if I could cook," Alejander remarked. All three males looked at Beka.

"There are no silk sheets," Beka put up her hands. "And I don't cook."

"Were there any problems?" Tamerlane looked at the three males.

"There was this one rat," Roth began.

"It urinated on itself when Rebecca walked into its office," Alejander continued.

"I have never actually made something urinate on itself by just walking into the same room," Jusmin added. All three males looked at Beka approvingly.

"Nor have I," Tamerlane looked at Beka. She shrugged.

"Maurice and I have had a turbulent past," Beka smiled. "However, he was most helpful in completing our list. He was very agreeable to my prices."

Tamerlane looked over the three males standing with Beka. His gaze ran over them briefly before he noticed.

"You bought them weapons?" Tamerlane's gaze turned to Beka.

"And body armor," Roth held up a bag.

"I couldn't have my own personal security detail lacking the necessities," Beka nodded toward the cargo coming off the ships. "I picked up everything on your list times three. There should be plenty of food to replace what you returned to Cougar pride. There are a few more weapons for the station, not many. Picked up some surplus gym equipment. I get tired of having to wait and share all the time. I also picked up some supplies for the defensive cannons. Roth told me one of them was damaged in the last confrontation with Cougar pride. Alejander found a dealer who had parts for the power system. The guys all went shopping for some other materials and equipment that are needed for life support repairs. We all need air."

"Is there anything you didn't buy?" Tamerlane looked at Beka then the other males.

"I wanted a grenade launcher," Roth offered with a shrugged. He looked down at Beka. "Given our living arrangements on a space station, apparently it wouldn't be practical."

"No one needs a grenade launcher or a mortar launcher unless engaged in planetary warfare," Beka shook her head as she looked at Roth. "I don't see anything good coming from having one on a space station. Although the one he wanted was a nice new model forged on Helion. I have to find out where the rats are getting their stuff."

"Rebecca," Tamerlane said her name to get her back on track. He could see she was planning a way to obtain the weapon supplier's name.

"What?" Beka looked up at Tamerlane. He looked at the cargo being unloaded. She put her hands up.

"I may have gone a little overboard but I just couldn't pass up the deals. Some of my old contacts were practically giving it away. Apparently walking in with them," She gestured to her crew of three." impressed my contacts," Beka paused waiting to see if Tamerlane was angry. The other three males seemed amused that Beka was trying to appease Tamerlane. She had been ruthless while they were out.

"Fine," Tamerlane ran his hand over the back of his neck. "I have confidence you to know what you are doing."

"I have something for you as well," Beka gestured to Tamerlane then said goodbye to the other males and disappeared into her ship.

XX

Tamerlane walked slowly through Beka's corporate ship. It was nice. He stopped to admire a nice older weapon lying on the counter in the kitchen area.

"That's for Tyr," Beka smiled as she walked into the room. "He used to have this old Gauss rifle. He lost it on Enga's Redoubt. Imagine my surprise when I found it on Hawkentaugh drift."

"You found one like it?" Tamerlane's brow furrowed. "There are hundreds of thousands of Gauss rifles floating around the Known Worlds."

"No, I mean I found it," Beka picked up the gun and turned it over. She pointed to the symbol etched into the metal. "Kodiak and the little T beside it. Your father was always marking his territory.""

"You had something for me?" Tamerlane leaned against the counter.

"Yeah," Beka disappeared for a moment then came into the kitchenette. She placed a cylinder in the center of the counter and dimmed the lights. She pressed a few buttons and the image of the station appeared to float before him. "I jacked into the Commonwealth station in Opedius Prime. I downloaded the original specs of this type of station. I thought it would be useful when you begin further renovations."

Tamerlane looked at the floating station before him. Beka touched the hologram causing it to change to different views of different levels.

"There used to be a massive power station in the center of the station. I know the Volsung are using auxillary power substations to run the little of it that they use," Beka touched it again. "There used to be a botanical garden. Tundra flowers used to provide oxygen to the station. Maybe there can be once again."

"Thank you," Tamerlane reached for her as she leaned to turn off the projection. He pulled her into his arms as he perched on the stool.

"I have missed you," Beka murmured as she gently kissed his lips.

"You were gone much longer than I thought," Tamerlane kissed her back slowly. What he thought would be a few days turned into more than two weeks.

"You were right, the people in this area of space are impossible to make a good deal with," Beka rolled her eyes. "Not to mention they are mostly Nietzscheans. Speaking of Nietzscheans, we passed three small Volsung ships on the way in. I don't remember seeing them before."

"Jurgen's son, the savior of the Volsung pride, returned with his ill gotten loot," Tamerlane sighed. "The entire pride was overjoyed when he brought supplies because I had given away so much. I don't condone his piracy so don't kick my ass. I tried to reason with Mehar, Rion, Cassius and Tyr but none would approach Jurgen about rejecting his son's ill gotten goods. He claims he was not followed. They sold most of the haul and brought back food, medical supplies, weapons and supplies for the renovations that Jurgen promised."

"I appreciate your attempt. And honesty," Beka kissed him lightly. "You gave away nothing. You returned Cougar prides property. How did that go?"

"It was tense. However, they accepted the return of their supplies. I am uncertain of a future relationship with the pride," Tamerlane pulled her closer and kissed her again. He gently nuzzled her cheek. "Odeus, their alpha, is an unyielding male. I prefer his son Daeton."

"Does this mean Daeton will soon be Cougar pride's new alpha?" Beka leaned her head to the side as his lips pressed soft kisses along her neck.

"Perhaps," Tamerlane whispered as he kissed her a little more firmly in a spot right behind her ear. Beka sighed contently as she ran her hands up his chest and began unzipping the vest.

"It should take another couple of hours to unload the cargo hold before they move my ship into the holding line," Beka ran her hands over his bare chest. She sighed again as his mouth continued the firm caress of her neck. "You want to feel the sheets? Mine are Aluvian silk." Beka eased herself from his embrace and tugged the edge of his vest.

Tamerlane sighed deeply as he caught her belt buckle and tugged her back to him. He framed her face with his hands and caught her mouth with his, kissing her slowly and deeply. Beka tugged him gently again, trying to unseat him and pull him with her.

"As much as I would like …" Tamerlane waited for Beka's eyes to flutter open to meet his. "To spend the next hours in your bed … I am supposed to meet with Tyr, Mehar and Jurgen in fifteen minutes. We are discussing the possibility of bringing in the other prides and forming an alliance to fund the station renovations. I … can't … stay."

Beka sighed in frustration and disappointment. She looked down as she fastened and slowly zipped his vest closed.

"Do you have any reservations about our relationship?" Beka tilted her head as she gazed into his eyes.

"No," Tamerlane shook his head slowly. "Do not think that is why I am declining to remain with you. If I had no obligations this evening, I would remain with you."

"Will you ever not have obligations?" Beka caressed his jaw slowly. He smiled faintly.

"We both have obligations. We will have time for one another," Tamerlane thought about it a moment. "Eventually."

"If I can't get you to stay then I guess I will have to find some other way to fill my afternoon," Beka eased away from him. "I have something else for you. Wait here."

Beka turned and hurried toward the bunk area of the ship. She returned a moment later with a box in her hand.

"I had these made on Hawkentaugh Drift," Beka opened the box and held up two bands of metal, less than half of an inch wide, for Tamerlane to see. He took one in his hand and looked at the intricate carving on the bands. He looked at her quizzically.

"For me?" Tamerlane brow furrowed. He never wore jewelry. Although he knew Beka wore it quite often.

"Actually only one is for you," Beka took the band back from him and turn it slowly in her fingers. "There is an old custom … I'm not sure where it originated. Anyway, this design is called an infinite knot." Beka turned the band slowly in front of him as she traced the design with her fingertip. "The knots repeat around the entire length of the band but never can you find the beginning and never can you find the end. It is … eternal. It was custom for a … couple … to share a pair of bracelets … as a promise … of a future … together."

Beka paused as she looked up at Tamerlane.

"A promise of a future together," Tamerlane repeated with a slight smile. "You and I?"

"I know it may seem silly," Beka looked down at his chest.

"No," Tamerlane tilted her face to his. "I find it … unexpected … that is all. Perhaps you are beginning to see and share the future I imagine."

"So you'll wear it?" Beka searched his eyes. The depths of his feelings were expressed there as she looked at him.

"So long as you wear the other," Tamerlane leaned and kissed her firmly. Beka slipped the small bracelet on her left wrist then fastened the matching bracelet around his left wrist. Beka leaned into his body and kissed him deeply before pushing herself away from him and gesturing toward the hatch.

"Go, before I say to hell with your plans and keep you captive here all day," Beka smiled widely when he got to his feet and pinned her between him and the counter. He leaned and kissed her persuasively.

"One day I will take you up on your proposal," Tamerlane brushed a rough kiss against her mouth before moving away from her.

"Promises, promises," Beka leaned back against the counter and watched him go. He was a difficult male to figure out. There was so much more to him than she knew. She wondered if she would ever know all his little secrets.