I wish to thank every one again for all their great reviews and their wonderful support. For those who want a tasteful love scene…you guys are going to get it after a good quickie. Hell, it's been twenty-five years for Varick; you don't actually expect him to maintain control on the first go around.

Chapter 4: Confessions

"That's it for tonight. We'll meet back here tomorrow afternoon at around four. That should give all of us enough time to get ready and set everything up here at the club. Let's all go home and try to get some sleep" Melissa stated as she walked with Alex and Melody to the back door. Everyone else followed to make sure they all made it to their vehicles in one piece.

"We'll see you all tomorrow. Same time, same place" Melissa stated as she opened the door to her large blue van and climbed in.

"We'll meet you at the house, mom" Melody said as she climbed into the passenger side of her truck and Alex climbed in the driver's side. Alex knew that his sister was very exhausted so, he insisted on driving home and she was too tired to argue with him.

"Okay, see you two kids shortly" Melissa stated as she started up her van and began to drive home.

Melissa still had a hard time believing that Varick had finally returned and was going to see her very soon. He was always true to his word and a perfect gentleman. She still had not forgotten her promise to her children to finally tell them the whole story of Varick and herself, as well as the full story of her arranged marriage. She knew it wasn't going to be easy but, it was something that needed to be done. And, while I am at it, make a large pot of regular coffee, not decaf. We're all going to need it because; this is going to be a long tale.

One Hour Later:

Melissa, Melody, and Alex were all home and dressed for bed. As soon as Melissa arrived, she started up a pot of coffee and had three cups lined up. It was a little chilly tonight so, Alex started a fire while Melody grabbed a couple of blankets and pillows. Melissa walked into the living room with a tray that had the three cups of coffee, a couple of peanut butter sandwiches, and some chocolate chip cookies. Melissa sat the tray down on the coffee table while Melody and Alex grabbed their blankets and pillows. Melody sat down on the love seat, Alex lay down on the couch, and Melissa sat down on a chair.

"Are you two ready to hear this?" Melissa asked her two children as they each grabbed a cup of coffee and one sandwich.

"You better believe it!" Alex said, excitedly.

"Alright, here it goes. Let's take a step back in time to when I was nearing my fifteenth birthday" Melissa started to say.

Flashback:

As Melissa walked home from Catholic School one sunny Friday afternoon, she noticed that she was being followed by three young men. She was hoping that if she ignored them they would go away but, this was not the case. She heard them whispering back and forth between each other. One of them even whistled at her and started making some very obscene remarks about how he would like to have her on her hands and knees, praying.

Melissa continued to ignore them until they finally came up beside her and dragged her into one of the alleys. She began to kick and scream. She even managed to kick one of them square between the legs. After he recovered from the shock, he backhanded her across the face while his other two friends held her steady. That's when he drug out a knife and told her to be quiet or else he would slit her throat.

Melissa felt her hot tears running down the sides of her face and when she looked up, she saw what appeared to be water. That's when she heard what sounded like swords being pulled out and a loud growl. The man with the knife turned around and turned white as a sheet, just before the creature ran the blades through his body and shoved.

Melissa could see the blood dripping out the man's backside and became frightened when the water-like creature slung the man's body down the alley. That's when he came for the other two men. One, he politely removed his head and the other one; he rammed a spear through his chest. Melissa thought he was going to come after her next but, instead, he began to walk away.

"Wait!" Melissa stated as she held out her hand hoping that whatever it was would stop and it did.

"Thank you, for saving my life. Please, what's your name?" Melissa asked as she walked up to the creature. She watched as the creature became visible and she could see how massive he was.

He wore nothing more than a metal loin cloth, a woven shirt, and a metal mask over his face. His spear was attached to one leg, a large round disk was positioned above a golden disk, and some sort of cannon was on his shoulder. She could see that he towered over her. She assumed that he must stand at least seven feet tall and weigh close to three hundred pounds of pure muscle. His waist length hair was pulled neatly back into smooth dreadlocks with metal bands around each one. He also wore many skulls and bones across his chest. On his helmet, he had a symbol etched into the metal. Melissa could see quite a bit of his skin and she thought it looked like a pale yellow color with dark green freckles. On both of his hands, he had long almost claw-like nails that were black in color.

"I am called Varick, little one" he stated as he examined the tiny ooman female. He could see that she was quite lovely for an ooman. She had coal black hair that was parted down the center and plaited on either side. Her large sapphire blue eyes were wide with curiosity as she gazed at him. Her full pink lips were slightly parted. She wore a crisp white long sleeved cotton shirt that was neatly tucked into a knee length navy blue skirt. She wore a pair of navy blue low heeled shoes with a pair of white knee high stockings. From what little he could see of her skin, it was the color of peaches and cream. Too soft and inviting for his liking.

"My name's Melissa. Melissa Louise Sinclair" Melissa cheerfully said as she held out her hand. She could sense that he was confused by her gesture.

"My kind does not use last names. I am merely called Captain Varick" Varick said as he took a hold of her hand and immediately felt the electricity dance between them. He had never felt anything like it before in his life.

"I must be going. My crew might need me" Varick gruffly stated as he released her hand and turned to leave.

"Why do you wear a mask?" Melissa asked as she followed him.

"You would not understand. You are too young" Varick said.

"I am a lot smarter than people give me credit for. So, try me" Melissa persisted.

"It helps me to breathe your atmosphere as well as enables me to see body heat of others. Plus, it keeps me from frightening off the natives" Varick chuckled slightly as he spoke the last part of his statement. He could see the amused look on Melissa's face as her lush lips turned upwards and smiled at him.

"Oh come on, you can't possibly scare people that easily" Melissa said, not realizing what she was getting herself into.

"You would be surprised. You should go home. Your family is probably worrying about you" Varick stated as he lifted up his arm and opened up the device on his forearm.

"Will I ever see you again? I would like to know more about you" Melissa asked as she looked up at him.

"The future is uncertain. You may see me, you may not. It just depends on the mood I am in" Varick said. He was becoming very impatient with Melissa persistence. He had to admit, he admired her spirit and her fearlessness. It was a quality that had never been seen in an ooman before, especially a female ooman.

"Show me what you look like and then I'll go home" Melissa said with a large smile. She hadn't realized she was flirting with him until the thought popped into his head. She sometimes hated being able to read minds because there were very few surprises in her life.

"You will not like what you see, Lissa" Varick hadn't realized that he had given her a pet name until he said it and then it was to late to take it back. Her eyes became wide and her smile became larger with satisfaction.

"You won't know until you try" Melissa softly stated as she watched him.

"Follow me" Varick reluctantly said as he walked into a dark portion of the alley, avoiding the male bodies that he knew he had to dispose of later on but, decided to wait until Lissa left before taking trophies. He looked behind him and saw that Lissa was tagging very closely to him.

"Okay. This is as good a spot as any. You must not scream. I will not hurt you" Varick said as he watched her nod her head in compliance before taking a hand and pulling the two tubes that ran on the side of the mask. He carefully pulled his mask off and watched as her eyes grew wide with fear. He knew it was a bad idea but, he had to prove a point to her. That's when he noticed that her eyes returned back to normal and her hands went to the sides of his face.

"Is all of your kind like this or is it just you?" Melissa asked as she looked into his hazel eyes and saw a sort of softness about them.

"This is the way a Yautja looks" Varick stated as he felt her tiny hands run over his mandibles, gently touching the four teeth. She has no fear of me. That is strange. Maybe this ooman is different from other oomans. Varick thought as he looked at Melissa as she removed her hands from his face and slid them down over his shoulders. She was checking him out to see if he was real or not. If this had been a Yautja female, Varick would have quickly mated with her but, she was not. She was an ooman female who was not fully grown and yet showed no fear of him, except for a brief moment when he removed his mask and now she was comfortable with his appearance. So comfortable, in fact, that she very carefully moved her hands over him, feeling the texture of his skin.

"Am I making you uncomfortable?" Melissa asked when she saw the odd look he was giving her, as though he was questioning her motives.

"If you were one of my kind, I would have already mated with you but, since you are not, I must maintain my composure" he said calmly but he saw the shocked expression on her face and felt her tiny hands still on his arms.

"I take it that you are not used to someone telling you exactly what is going through their minds. Nor are you used being around males or else you would have known what your actions can do to a male, especially if you were in heat" Varick teased and then gently removed her hands from him.

"You're right on both accounts" Melissa said as she felt the blush creep up into her cheeks. She had never heard anyone say anything along those lines and here this stranger was telling her things about "mating". Of course, she couldn't blame him; she did put her hands on him first.

"I will escort you home" Varick said as he placed his mask back on.

"Are you out of your mind? What if you were seen by one of my own kind? You would scare the hell out of them" Melissa stated.

"Then I guess I will carry you across the rooftops" Varick was enjoying teasing the little female.

"And how do you propose to do that?" Melissa asked.

"Like this" Varick stated as he bent down and scooped her up into his arms.

"Oh my" Melissa thought her toes were probably turning red from the entire blush she was feeling.

"You will have to hold onto me and I will climb up" Varick stated.

"I can't believe I have just met Tarzan. King of the Urban Jungle" Melissa mumbled to herself as she wrapped her arms around Varick's neck and closed her eyes.

She felt Varick begin to scale the side of the brick building. She opened up her eyes just as they reached the top of the building. She felt his hand on her bottom, through her skirt, giving her a gentle nudge up onto the ledge. She pulled herself the rest of the way up and scraped her knee open on one of the bricks.

"Ouch!" Melissa yelped as she stood up and saw that she had cut herself.

"Are you alright?" Varick asked but, noticed that she was bleeding on her knee.

"No" Melissa whimpered as she sat down and held her leg, just below the knee. Great, dad's going to want to know what happened to me. I have a bruise on my face, a busted lip, and now a busted knee. What a way to start the weekend? And, on top of which, I have finally met Tarzan. Which, even though he's not the most attractive man I've met, he's treated me with a lot of respect and has been very careful to see to my safety.

"Hold still. I might have something to help with that bruise on your face and maybe help heal some of your cuts" Varick stated as he knelt down in front of her. He knew she wasn't dressed for this kind of work. She was dressed like a little princess who was trying to be an adult.

"Thank you. It seems as though I am going to be thanking you a lot" Melissa watched, curiously, as Varick pulled out a small round disk and then laid his hand over the top of it. It opened up to reveal needles and all sorts of healing medicines.

"That is fine" Varick stated as he pulled out a bag filled with a white powder and empty the powder into the center of the dish. Then he took one of the syringes filled with a blue liquid and empties it on top of the powder. He took a metal spatula and mixed the products together.

"This will burn a little but, it should heal you very quickly" Varick said as he watched her eyes grow wide with intrigue as he took hold of her leg and gently spread the blue mixture over her scraped knee.

He watched as she held back a scream when the chemicals began to set to work on healing her leg. He saw a tear trickle down the side of her face and reached up a hand. He placed his hand on the side of her face and used his thumb to wipe away the stray tear. He knew that this medicine burned when it hit an open wound but, watching her deal with the pain took on a whole new meaning for him. She was holding back the scream that threatened to burst forward through her clenched teeth.

"Ouch" Melissa whimpered as soon as the stuff quit burning. When she finally looked down at her knee, she saw that it was completely healed up with a small trace of the blue chemical remaining on the outer edges of the once cut knee. She looked back up at Varick and smile sweetly.

"A little late for that isn't it?" Varick chuckled as he watched her expression. She became very serious at first, as though she was contemplating his words, and then she laughed out loud. It was all he could to hold his laughter back but, in the end, he laughed with her.

"I know. I just wanted to see if you were paying attention" she chuckled as she began to move her knee and found that she felt no pain what so ever.

"How does my face look? Do I have any bruises on it or was I lucky enough not to get any?" Melissa asked as she placed a hand on the side of her face, where she felt a slight soreness next to her mouth. She gingerly used her tongue to test the corner of her mouth and she tasted a little bit of blood.

"You're face is beautiful and you do not have any bruises but, you do have a slight cut at the corner of your mouth" Varick couldn't believe he had just told her that she was beautiful.

"Thank you. Now what do you say we get going so I can be home before my mom decides to call the cops" Melissa stated as she looked over at the other buildings and wondered how they were going to get from here to her home.

"I agree" Varick calmly stated as he lifted her up into his arms.

"I live over that way. Next to the tallest building, there's a house with a large backyard and many trees. That's where I live" Melissa quickly provided the information.

"Then, let us be on our way" Varick stated as he took a running start and leapt from the building they were on onto another building.

To Melissa, Varick never seemed to be tired. He had more energy than she could ever dream of having in her lifetime. He was well built and much taller than her but, at the same time, she didn't feel intimidated by his large form. Even though his size alone should have frightened her off but it didn't.

Varick continued at the pace he was at until he reached her backyard. He thought it had to be the quietest place he had ever seen. There was a two story home log home that was surrounded by trees. The backyard had lush green grass and a hammock positioned between a couple of trees.

"I must go before I am seen" he said as he placed her down, making sure her feet landed on the ground before he turned and vanished.

I hope I'll see you again, Varick. Melissa thought as she walked into her home through the downstairs sliding glass door, which opened into the living room.

"Hey mom!" she said to her mother who was in the kitchen making dinner. As soon as she entered the kitchen, that's when she felt her mother's anger and she knew it had to be something her father had done, again.

"Oh, thank goodness you're home" she said to Melissa as she turned around and saw that her daughter's clothes were stained and she had a small cut on the corner of her lip.

"Don't ask mom. I'll explain everything after I get cleaned up and dressed for supper" Melissa supplied, knowing her mom was going to probe her mind to get the information.

"Alright. Go quickly and take a shower before your father sees you" she quickly stated.

"I'll be back in thirty minutes or less" Melissa chuckled as she quickly ran up the stairs and grabbed a pair of blue jeans and a dark green tee shirt. She couldn't wait to tell her mom about Varick and how he saved her life. He had to be, in her eyes, the bravest man she had ever met and the noblest. Her heart kept skipping a beat whenever she thought about how he had saved her from those three men.

Walking down the hall, she heard her father coming in and with him was Kareem. She hated him with a passion. She hated his money and how he flaunted it at her. As far she was concerned, she thought he flaunted his cash hoping to get a little piece of ass, which was something she was not about to do.

As soon as Melissa entered the bathroom, she immediately closed and locked the door. She didn't trust Kareem as far as she could throw him. She quickly stripped off her clothes and started the shower. Melissa quickly unbraided her hair and ran her fingers through it, attempting to remove any tangles. Looking in the mirror, she saw a small cut on her lip and lots of filth on her face.

"Of all days to meet a man, I have to meet one looking like I just came out of a dumpster" Melissa grumbled as she turned away from the mirror and stepped into the shower, hoping to wash away any evidence of what almost happened in the alley. Her mother would know but, it was best that her father didn't. He had a tendency to overreact to everything.

One hour later:

Melissa sat at the dinner table with her mother, father, and Kareem. Her mother quickly informed her of her marriage to Kareem and how it all came about. Apparently, her father had been drinking and gambled way too much money. Kareem just so happened to be there and convinced her father to sign a contract, which her father did without any hesitation.

Where Varick was ugly on the outside, he was gentle and caring on the inside. Kareem and Varick were as opposite as night and day. Where Varick was tall and well built, Kareem was short and rather rotund. Melissa did not find anything stimulating about Kareem, where Varick beamed with an excessive amount.

Kareem had mousey brown hair and dark brown eyes. Melissa always thought he wore the same suit every day. Black slacks, white silk shirt, black tie, and a black blazer. Melissa felt as though he's clothing was as drab as him.

So, instead of her being able to find her own husband, her father had gambled her away to the one man she despised. Kareem may have been smart but, he lacked a lot of common sense when it came to women. Every time he was over at her home, he made it perfectly clear that one of these days her father was going to mess things up and that the only way out would be through him. He also told her that he planned to make sure of that.

As she sat there and listened to her father and Kareem discuss the wedding plans, Melissa's mind was drawn someplace else. It was still drawn on Varick, the warrior who had saved her life. As she thought about him, she toyed with the peas on her plate. Then she heard her mother clear her throat and then leaned over.

"Your mind is on Varick isn't it?" her mother questioned, with her mind, when she saw that dreamy far off look in her daughter's eyes.

"Yes, it is. I can't believe father did this to me!" Melissa's mind screamed and her mother heard it but remained emotionless, as to not give away what they thought or felt about the whole situation.

"I know dear. Why don't you go lie down and rest for a little while? It will probably make you feel a little better" her mother's mind said as she nodded gently to Melissa.

"Thanks mom" Melissa spoke softly as she stood up and said good night to everyone but instead of going to her room, she went outside into the backyard.

"Just where do you think you're going my little pet" Kareem asked as he watched Melissa walked away from the table, her body went completely stiff as soon as he spoke.

"I am not your little pet and nor shall you refer to me in such a familiar tone, Mr. Walker" Melissa said as she bit off each word, hating the fact of having to at least be starchingly polite.

"Humph" was all Melissa heard as soon as she slid the sliding glass door closed.

About Midnight:

As Melissa tossed and turned in her bed, she kept having nightmares about her wedding night. It didn't feel like what she thought a wedding night should feel like. It was cold and ruthless and completely horrible. Melissa felt her body stiffen every time her mind dreamt of Kareem touching her.

That was when Melissa finally woke up when she felt a comforting presence just outside her bedroom window. She knew it was Varick. As she climbed out of her bed and pulled on her bathrobe, she could feel his mind calling to her.

Melissa opened her bedroom window and climbed out onto the balcony. He was no where to be seen. That was until she looked up to the roof and saw him. She smiled up at him. She could see the full moon shining its silvery light down.

"Couldn't sleep?" Varick asked as soon as he saw Melissa. He couldn't believe how lovely she looked in the moonlight.

"No. I've had a really rough night since you dropped me off" Melissa solemnly spoke as she lowered her eyes down to her bare feet.

"Do you wish to talk about it?" Varick asked as he slid quietly down the roof and came to stand on the balcony beside Melissa. He placed a hand under her chin and turned her eyes back up to him.

"You know what? That sounds like a great idea but, do think we can go someplace private to talk. My parents are asleep and I would hate to accidentally wake them up" Melissa said as she felt the heat of his hand under her chin.

"Yes but, please change into something a little more suitable for going across the rooftops with" Varick softly chuckled.

"Give me two minutes to change and I'll be out in a jiff" Melissa stated as she climbed back into her room and grabbed the clothes and shoes she had on earlier. She quickly changed and met Varick back on the balcony. She turned around for his inspection and he nodded his head in approval.

"That will work" Varick stated as he climbed back onto the roof and then reached over the edge to lift Melissa up. Lifting her up into his arms, he quickly and quietly made his way back to the park where his ship was dock. The park was located on the other side of town.

"Wow that was quick. I barely felt you move" Melissa stated as she sat down on the dew covered grass and Varick sat down beside her.

"It is our way. Move quickly as though we have a hundred hard meats on our tails" Varick joked but then noticed the confused look on Melissa's face and began to explain the entire story of the hard meat and of the hunt. Melissa accepted it and even asked if she could come along on one of his hunts. He laughed and said that he would have to train her before she went. That's when she begged him to train her and he agreed. He had never trained an ooman before but, he thought if she was willing to learn then he was willing to teach.

"Now, I believe the reason why we came here was because of you not me" Varick reminded Melissa and that's when she explained about her upcoming marriage to a male she despised more than anything. She told Varick that she would rather face all the hard meats in the galaxy than have to marry Kareem.

Varick understood exactly where Melissa was coming from. He pressed her further for why she was up so late and she told him about the nightmare she had. Varick wished he had the power to alter her future but, he didn't. The only thing he could was to prepare her for it and hoped that her father would reconsider. Varick knew he would gladly take Melissa as his mate. She had a strong fighter's spirit and a determination unlike any other female he had ever seen.

Varick then began to relate his tale of his arranged marriage to a very lovely Yautja female that he did not love. He cared greatly for her and respected her but, he could not bring his heart to feel the way he should have about her. He then told Melissa about his mate's death almost a hundred years ago, which is something that he never willingly told anyone. He also told her about his adopted son, Tanaka.

Varick explained that Tanaka's parents had both been killed by some of the "bad bloods" and that Tanaka was the sole survivor of it. Tanaka was not related to Varick or Varick's mate in any way except by the adoption. Varick also explained that Tanaka had just lost his wife to a "bad blood" and he was grieving.

"Oh you poor thing" Melissa softly stated as she placed a comforting hand on Varick's knee and then realized that she shouldn't touch him in such a familiar way.

Varick looked over at Melissa with a look that he had not given another female in his entire life. They both had their share of sadness running through their lives; even though their tales were different they shared a common bond. Varick had never once thought an ooman female could be beautiful until he met Melissa and now he knew what he had been missing out on his entire life. Love. Something that his society had taken for granted for the sake of mating and here he was finding it with Melissa.

He knew they could never marry her because she betrothed to another but, he knew he could make memories with her that would last his entire life. He would never mate with her unless she asked him to and Varick knew he would have to make absolutely sure that she was ready and willing. He would not just mate with her for easing an ache within himself; he wanted to ease any aches that she had to. Even though, that was not something that a Yautja male would do but, he was willing to try something new but, she had to be willing.

"I should be getting you back to your home. It is nearly dawn" Varick stated as he stood up and helped Melissa to stand.

"Okay" Melissa said as she felt Varick lift her up into his arms and start to carry her back home.

By the time Varick got to Melissa's house, she had fallen asleep in his arms and it was almost seven o'clock. He quietly climbed through her window and laid her down on top of her bed. Just as he turned to go he heard the door open and saw a woman who looked like Melissa.

"Don't worry, I already know where you have been. I will not say a word" Melissa's mother telepathically told Varick.

"Do not speak because all you need to do is think and I can read your thoughts" she communicated into his mind.

"Thank you. How did you know she was gone before her father?" Varick silently questioned.

"No questions now. Melissa will answer everything for you tonight. That is, if you will be here tonight?"

"Yes, I hope so. As long as nothing goes wrong" Varick walked back to the window and climbed out, determined to head back to his ship and get a couple hours worth of sleep before this afternoon's hunt. He knew they didn't have much time before the eggs hatched and he still promised Melissa that he would train her. Blast, my schedule is getting tighter than what I normally allow it to get. And why I am deciding to get involved with the little ooman female? Good question. I have yet to find an answer to it. I must be getting tired because I am getting into an argument with myself and I may just lose. And how was it that her mother was able to communicate with me through my mind? Now that is another good question.

Varick argued with himself until he reached his ship, Star Gazer. He was totally exhausted both physically as well as emotionally. His mental state was falling just as rapidly from lack of sleep over the past week. But, at the same time, he was at peace with himself. He had finally talked about his feelings with someone who understood. It also helped that she was very lovely and gentle.

"About time you got back" one of the younger warriors spoke.

"Wake me in four hours. I am going to lie down for that time. If anyone wakes me before then, I will have them shot on sight" Varick ordered and he closed the door to his room, allowed all of his armor to fall to the floor, and then immediately collapsed on the bed. He was asleep in minutes, dreaming about Lissa.

Two months later:

Since that night, Varick and Melissa had settled into a routine. She spent from ten at night until four in the morning with Varick. She normally went to bed at about three in the afternoon and slept until it was almost time for Varick to show up. As soon as she came home from her date with Varick, she went back to bed and slept until seven. She spent from about eight in the morning until two in the afternoon with her mother and sometimes with Kareem. Melissa was trying to make an attempt at getting along with him but, it wasn't working.

The nights that Melissa spent with Varick, he began to teach her many new things. She learned how to fight and how to use the double-bladed spear. He taught her how to throw his shriekan. She even picked up the language very quickly. She even had the fun thrill of participating in the hunt, which the other warriors admired her willingness. She even killed at least ten hard meats. After the hunt, there was a great celebration in which Varick branded her with the hard meat blood. He didn't mark her on her face; he placed the mark on the upper portion of her outer thigh.

For her part, she introduced Varick to some Earth customs and he even became game enough to try a lot of the food. Of course, she also ate his food as well. She even taught him how to dance, which they both laughed when he accidentally stepped on one of her feet and then they fell on the grass.

She even told Varick about her abilities of telepathy, which he seemed to be very comfortable with. In fact, he relished the idea of not always having to speak his mind to her. She even enjoyed having a telepathic communication with Varick that no one else could, especially when it came to a private joke that was just meant for the two of them to know. Anyone who was around during one of those times normally shook their heads because they couldn't figure out what Varick and Melissa were laughing about.

It was on this night, the night before Melissa was to marry that she confronted her mother and her grandmother. She wanted to know what a wedding night was supposed to feel like and what was to be expected. Her grandmother was also a telepath and could see right into Melissa heart.

"This conversation is not about Kareem, is it?" her grandmother asked.

"No, it's not but, you already knew the answer to that" Melissa stated as she sat down on the couch beside her grandmother.

"You're thinking about Varick" her mother questioned as she looked at Melissa.

"Yes" Melissa said as she fiddled with the hem of her shirt.

"Darling, let him love you. If Varick is the one you want to love, then do so. Tell him your heart's desire and I am sure he will understand" her grandmother said.

"Varick is a true gentleman, even though he is an alien species. He does love you, he's just not very good at showing it" her mother said.

"Go and let him love you. Your grandmother and I will never say anything because we know that Kareem will not be as good to you on your first time as what he should be. Go to him. But, first, we need to get you out of those clothes and into a something that sends out a bit of an invitation that even Varick can't resist" her mother said with a smile as she and her grandmother walked into Melissa's parents bedroom.

Melissa was very thankful that neither her father nor Kareem were here to witness this scandalous act that her family members were helping her to achieve. They would no doubt admonish her for going to Varick under the cloak of moonlight.

Melissa knew that Varick was planning to make their last night alone together a special night. He already told her that they would not be training or learning anything new. He said he just wanted to spend some time with her before she married tomorrow.

"Well, what do you think" her mother said as she pulled out a little black dress. It had a cowl neck with an open back. It was just a straight A-line cut dress that came down to just below mid thigh.

"It's perfect!" Melissa was excited at the prospect of finally getting to wear a sexy dress with a pair of strappy high heeled black shoes.

"Go ahead, try it on" her grandmother said.

Melissa quickly pulled off her clothes and put the dress on. She felt gorgeous in it. The material was soft and silky against her skin.

"Now when did you get that done?" her mother mentioned when she saw the burn mark on Melissa's thigh. It was in the shape of a triangle with an eye in the center of it.

"Uh…I got it done about a week ago, just after Varick and I went on a hunt" Melissa stated as though it were not a big deal. She was quite proud of herself for what she did.

"Okay. Let's see if we can place any finishing touches on your face and hair. If he wants an evening without any work, he's going to get it" her mother stated as she set to work at curling her daughter's waist length hair and adding a little bit of make-up, just for sparkle.

It was almost ten by the time they finished getting Melissa ready and she felt unbelievably beautiful. She just hoped that Varick would think so too.

Melissa walked up to her room and took a deep breath before opening her door. There was Varick, standing on the balcony, waiting for her. Just breathe and try to relax. This is still Varick and I going out like usual but, this time it is going to be intimate. I hope. Melissa thought as she climbed out her window and watched Varick look her over.

"You look more beautiful every time I see you, Lissa" Varick swallowed hard because, he had never seen her with her hair down or with anything on other than her jeans and tee shirts. This was something that he had never seen her in. It was tight in some places and loose in others. It accentuated every curve she had. It even revealed a little bit of her mark.

"Thank you. Are you ready to go?" Melissa asked as she felt Varick lift her up to the roof but, as he lifted her he could smell the faint scent of flowers. That's when it struck him that she was wearing perfume and it was driving his senses crazy. He knew he couldn't maintain control when she smelled like heaven.

Melissa watched from the roof, Varick climbed up and then pulled Melissa into his arms.

"You're testing my resolve, Lissa" Varick's voice sounded raspy as he spoke to her. He had his hands around her waist and she rested her hands on his arms.

She could sense the hesitation in him. He was, for the first time, nervous about being around her. His mind was on the verge of screaming as he stood there and looked into her blue eye with his golden ones.

"Are you alright?" Melissa quietly asked as she started to feel Varick shiver.

"Not when you're this close and looking so lovely" Varick stated as he removed his hands from her narrow waist and picked her up. He was determined to get to the park and show her the surprise he had planned for her.

As he made his way across the rooftops, his body was screaming in agony. He had never seen a more lovely female in his entire live and he knew that this was the last night he would be able to see her. He already asked her to go back with him but, she said she had to protect her family. She also explained the Kareem was vindictive enough that he would throw both her parents in jail if she didn't marry him.

As soon as they reached the park, Melissa's eyes widened when she saw a blanket laid out on the grass, about a dozen hand-picked wild flowers, about four thermal lights which let off the same amount of light as a candle, and dinner which was being kept warm in some sort of regulator. That's when Melissa noticed, what appeared to be, a bottle of wine sitting in an ice bucket.

"You did all this for me?" Melissa questioned as she looked up at Varick, with a couple of tears streaming down her face.

"Yes, I felt as though you deserved one last of happiness before your marriage to Kareem" Varick said as he walked over to the blanket and sat Melissa down on it. He sat down beside her and pulled the bottle of wine out from the bucket.

"That's definitely not Earth wine" Melissa stated with a laugh.

"No, it is not. It reads Nan-de Than-gaun which means "Kiss of midnight" no mercy. Believe me, too much of this stuff and even I am shown no mercy" Varick chuckled as he watched Melissa get into a kneeling position and then looked at him. He wanted to roar with everything he had to fight his male urges for her. He never once had problems keeping himself in check but, here and now with this female he had no control.

"You seem tense. What's wrong?" Melissa asked as she watched Varick open up the bottle and pour some into two glasses that were positioned behind the container of ice. He handed one glass to Melissa and she took a tiny sip before smiling at Varick. The wine was smooth going down and tasted like a sweet strawberry with a little bit of a kick to it.

"I have had a lot of things on my mind lately. Everything that I have thought about involves you" Varick confessed as he tipped the glass up and swallowed all of the wine.

"Why do you say that?" she asked as she placed a hand on his arm, loving the feel of his muscles under the palm of her hand.

"You must understand that my kind do not normally feel this way about females. We normally get together with the females of my species just to mate and do not form any attachments. I have come to learn that I enjoy having you around and I know that what I feel for you goes beyond anything that I have ever felt before. I care a great deal for you, in fact, I love you, Lissa" Varick confessed and then lowered his eyes down to the ground. He was waiting for it. The rejection that he was sure would come.

"I love you to, Varick" Melissa confessed as she placed her glass down and placed her tiny hands on either side of Varick's face. She gently raised his head to look into his eyes and then smiled at him.

"I wasn't sure whether you felt the same way or not but, now that I know you do it feels good" he said as he pulled Melissa into his lap and nuzzled the side of her neck, making her giggle.

"Varick, I have a question" Melissa stated as she looked up at him.

"I will do my best to answer it"

"What is mating like?" Melissa said quickly so she wouldn't feel embarrassed about asking. That's when she felt Varick ease away from her neck and looked at her.

"Mating? Are you sure you want to know?" Varick was almost at a loss for words. He knew her youth would prevent her from having a lot of knowledge but, he didn't think she was a maiden.

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know" she smiled sweetly up at him as he gave her a questioning glance. She wasn't to sure if he was going to tell her or not. He seemed to be very confused or flustered; she wasn't to sure about that either. Then, he finally spoke.

"Mating, in my culture, is very aggressive. The females are a lot larger than the males. When a female comes into heat, she becomes very violent and wants to mate with the first worthy male. Where the females are so much larger, mating is normally done with the female on all fours with the male kneeling behind her. Impregnation happens almost immediately. Females only mate about once every ten years because the Yautja have very long lives, as you've found out" Varick stated, hoping that brief explanation would satisfy Melissa's curiosity.

"Show me" Melissa whispered as she took a hold of one of his hands and kissed the tips of his fingers.

"Why would you ask me to mate with you?" Varick questioned as he looked at Melissa. He couldn't believe what he had heard. She wanted him to mate with her. He knew he couldn't take her innocence and leave her with nothing, even though she was getting married tomorrow.

"Both my mother and my grandmother told me that I should let you love me because, Kareem would never be able to make me feel the way I should on my wedding night. I want to know what passion feels like with the male I love" Melissa stated as she looked into Varick's golden colored eyes and saw a mix of emotions.

"Know this, Lissa, if I mate with you tonight in my heart you are my forever mate. I will choose no other female. You and I will be one, now and forever." Varick stated as he cupped her chin.

"Even though I will be married to one, my heart will always be married to you and I will never acknowledge another male as my forever mate" Melissa stated, knowing in her heart that what she felt for Varick went beyond anything that she had ever known. Melissa knew that they were meant to be and that she would never accept another male into her heart.

"Stand up" Varick stated in a slightly raspy voice. He watched as she obeyed him and he stood up in front of her. He watched her blue eyes grow wide when he removed all of his armor and clothes except for the metal loin cloth which he wanted to leave on until Melissa was ready for him.

Melissa watched in amazement as Varick removed all of his armor except for his loin cloth. She had never seen a man naked before and seeing Varick almost completely nude made her feel fuzzy in the pit of her stomach. She watched as he closed the distance between them and placed his arms around her waist, pulling her body close to his.

She could feel the heat of his body through the material of her dress and she thought she couldn't have felt any better. That was until he lowered his head to her neck and began using his mandibles to nip her skin. She placed her hands on his shoulders and tilted her head back, giving him better access.

Varick nibbled his way down Melissa's neck, to the full swell of her breasts, down her narrow waist, to her legs. His hands slid her dress up over thighs and to her slightly rounded hips. His hands moved over her mark and then slid up to her buttocks. His mandibles nipped gently at her thighs and she rewarded him with a gasp of pleasure, especially when he deftly removed her white silk underwear and nuzzled her at the junction of her thighs.

"Oh!" Melissa moaned as she arched her back and dug her nails into Varick's shoulders. Her body felt like it was on fire as his hands rested on her hips and pulled her closer to his mouth. Then, he stopped and changed direction. He slowly rose up and lifted her dress as he did.

"Off" his voice was edged with desire as he lifted her dress up over her head and allowed it to fall into a pile with his clothes. More clothes! Why do these ooman females wear so many layers? Varick thought as he looked at the white silk and lace bra that Melissa wore. He was trying figure out how to remove it when she finally pointed out the hooks in the back. He growled as he struggled with the tiny hooks before Melissa finally relented and undid them in less time than he thought they could have been undone.

Varick took a step back and looked at Melissa. He could sense that she was unsure of what he was doing and for once he was pleased with his choice in females. She had a small body but all her curves were located in the right places. There wasn't an ounce of overly hard muscle on her body. She had just enough muscle to give her body a toned look. Her long black hair hung down her back like a curtain with soft curls.

He pulled her back to him and his mouth and hands went into a frenzy. He wanted to touch and taste every portion of her. He couldn't get enough of her. Her innocence called out to him like song and like the male that he was went for it.

Varick lifted her up into his arms and laid her down on the blanket. He moved over the top of her and began to nibble her neck. He could hear her breath coming in short gasps of pleasure as he moved from her neck down to her breasts. His mandibles opened up and his inner mouth took one of her turgid nipples into his mouth.

As he moved his mouth between her breasts, one of his hands slid down her firm flat stomach and came to rest between her thighs. He toyed with the dark triangle of curls at the junction of her thighs before sliding a finger up inside her warm moist body. He hadn't expected her to be moist with arousal. He felt her hips move against his hand.

He was used to the females of his species, which they never got moist between their thighs. Of course, they didn't have hair between their legs either. He found it a rather nice surprise on both accounts.

Melissa could feel the heat welling up inside her body and she felt as though she was going to be consumed by it. She could feel Varick's thumb making small circles between her thighs as he continued to nuzzle her breasts.

She wanted to feel him and give him the same sense of pleasure that he was giving her. She slid one of her hands down to the waist band of his loin cloth and tried to locate some sort of device that kept it on. He finally assisted her by unhooking it from the side and then tossed it off to the side.

"Go ahead. I will not hurt you" Varick stated as he gently grasped a hold of her hand and placed her tiny hand on his engorged erection. He purred loudly as she ran her hand over the length of him and stroked him. He could sense her nervousness but, she was willing.

"Enough" he growled as he removed her hand from him and wrapped both her arms around his neck.

Melissa watched as Varick loomed over the top and his knee nudged her legs apart. She parted her legs for him and slightly bent her knees. She could feel a slight pressure as he started to enter her.

It was the hardest thing Varick had ever done. Holding back was not something he was used to, especially when it came to mating. Now, here he was being extremely careful because he didn't want to hurt Melissa's tiny body. He knew that because she was so small and delicate, he could easily injure her internally.

Melissa could feel he was holding back on taking her fully. She could sense that he was uncertain. She had read enough romance novels to be able to know how to ease any doubts about him possibly hurting her. She knew that a female's body could stretch to fit a male, some more than others.

Melissa finally got up the nerve to wrap her legs around Varick's waist, hooking her ankles together, and gave him a little pull. Melissa tilted her hips as she felt him push himself a little further inside.

"Melissa, there will be some pain. There is no way I can avoid it" Varick whispered into her ear as one of his hands grasped a hold of her hips.

"I know" she panted as she felt the sweat building up on her body. Melissa moved her hands onto Varick's shoulders and waited for him to make the next move.

"I'm sorry" he whispered as trusted completely into her, ripping her hymen in the process, and produced a scream of pain from Melissa along with her back arching against him. He felt her entire body tense up and knew he had hurt her. Varick also knew that the pain was unavoidable.

He knew that if he was the one who caused it then he could easily change it into pleasure. But, if Kareem did it, then she would never have the chance to know what it was suppose to feel like.

As Varick held his position for a minute, giving Melissa's body time to adjust to his immense size, before he began to move within her. Varick felt Melissa begin to move with him, moans of pleasure escaped from her lips. He could smell the scent of her arousal increase with each of his movements.

Melissa could feel her whole body tensing up and growing incredibly hot with each of Varick's powerful thrusts. Her head tossed from side to side as her nails dug into his shoulders. Her breathing became heavy and ragged as she continued to meet him with the age-old rhythm of making love.

Varick placed a hand on either side of Melissa, his claws digging into the ground as he felt himself starting to loose control. Then, he felt Melissa dig her nails further into his shoulders as she screamed out her climax. He felt her tiny muscles completely tighten around, causing him to finally loose control. His roar of passion mingled with her scream, as his seed spilled heavily inside her.

He went to roll off of her but; she shook her head at him and told him that he was fine right where he was at. He didn't rest his entire body weight on her but; he did rest, enjoying the warmth and comfort that she provided him. His whole being felt at peace for the first time in many years and he didn't want to let it go. Melissa had finally mended the ache that was in his heart and he helped her gain a wealth of experience and a brand mark.

As they rested from their aftermath of love-making, an all too familiar person was lurking in the shadows, seething with anger. So, that's the competition I am up against. He's not even human and she is allowing him to take her as his mate. Oh well, maybe a little bit of experience will loosen her up for our wedding night. She's going to be all mine after the wedding and I will make her forget all about him.

End of flash back:

"What happened after that, mom" Alex asked as he watched his mother recline back in her seat.

"As you guessed, I married Kareem and that night, he told me that he had seen Varick and I together in the park. I said nothing because what could I say to him. After that, he shove me down onto the bed, threw my wedding dress, and rapped me. I can honestly say that he may have been smaller than Varick but he hurt me worse than Varick could have ever dreamed about" Melissa softly spoke as she looked at her children.

"What was it like when you were pregenant with my sister and I?" Alex asked.

"You were a completely different story. I knew that you were Varick's son as soon as I found out I was pregnant with you. I ate all raw meat. I craved anything that was high in protein and that was not fully cooked. Your sister, on the other hand, I had the normal cravings of a pregnant woman." Melissa chuckled.

"When was the last time you saw Varick?" Melody asked.

"The afternoon I married Kareem. I whispered "I love you" to him just after the "I do's"." Melissa stated as she looked over at the wall clock and saw that it was nearring three in the morning.

"Don't you think if Varick loved you so much that he would have given you something to get in contact with him if things got to bad" Melody questioned.

"He did. He gave me a very beautiful necklace and all I would have to do is to pull the top part of the jewel and twist. It would send a signal to his ship and he would be there the next day. Kareem found out about it and destroyed it. That happened after I found out for sure that Alex was Varick's son. The nurse told me that Alex's blood was bright neon green. That's how I knew" Melissa stated.

"Oh. Was that during the blood test?" Alex asked.

"Yes, it was. Now then you two, it's time for bed" Melissa stated as she stood up and proceeded up the stairs to her old bedroom.

"Oh, if the bed's rocking, don't come knocking. Varick is coming here tonight" Melissa quickly explained before closing and locking her bedroom door.

"Cool we finally get to meet him" Melody exclaimed as she went into her room and immediately fell asleep.

I just hope things go differently this time around. Alex thought as he went into his room and quickly fell asleep.

"So do I Alex. So do I" Melissa whsipered to herself as she unlocked her bedroom window and climbed into bed, hoping to catch a few hours sleep before Varick showed up.