Chapter Twenty-eight
The Desert Saga
After the dance Sus'na and Hilda, left the reception and went into the house to change. He stopped her at the staircase and went into the library. He exited the room with two boxes and they ascended the stairs together. Once inside the room he announced,
"Hilda, accept this, my second wedding gift to you."
She smiled and took the top package that was handed to her and opened it. Her mouth opened in surprise, inside was the most beautiful riding gear she had ever seen. She wondered how he was aware of her 'love affair' with hoverbikes. But then she remember that she had mentioned it when she had first written her biographical information for 'Cupids Secretaries'.
Her now husband, her bondmate now took her shoulders in his hands and lowered his lips to her's. After that breathless experience he placed his hand at the small of her back and took her to the window.
Outside was parked a beautiful hoverbike, shinny black and chrome-enriched to match her black suit that had silver-tone zippers, rivets and snaps.
"The hoverbike is a shared gift for you and I. We will travel on it to reach where we will stay for the next five days."
Sus'na now undid his wife's robe and kissed her neck and put his head down on her shoulder. He stopped himself and said
" My Hilda, we must change so that we may arrive at our destination before it is dark."
Out of the corner of his eye he observed his wife remove all that was part of a Vulcan woman's wardrobe, her robe, slips, corset. He took a deep breath as he observed that her covering had been reduced to a Terran bra and panties. Centering himself, he changed and he then stood before her in his matching riding gear. Their helmets were in the library. He reached for her soft suitcase and they exited the room to start their trip and their life.
As they mounted their bike they could hear the music and muted conversations which was reduced to nothing as Skoon pulled away. Taking the Pacific Highway they sped toward a California landmark, the redwood forest, where he, with the other males' assistance, had rented an isolated cabin. As the traveled the coast, Sus'na remembered his first view of this vast body of water and indeed marveled. Nowhere on their home planet had such a vast body of water been found. He thought about it and wondered whether such abundance led to waste of this valuable commodity and its resources.
Sus'na had been very specific when he had rented the cabin, The request was made that the refrigerator unit be well stocked with acceptable food stuffs. Already his Vulcan brothers had advised that because his bondmate was Terran, his stay inside the cabin might be for an extended period of time. He also had been advised that he might impregnate his wife on their honeymoon. The mention of that possibility to Hilda had brought this comment, coupled with a bright smile.
"That would be an unforgettable wedding present."
There were communication devices in the helmets and Sus'na explained,
"On Vulcan this was a very acceptable form of transportation. Perhaps it will be reintroduced at the settlement."
Hilda's arms embraced him firmly and he felt her face against his back respond with a nod, acknowledging his statement.
As they sped by the views were magnificent, of course the company and conversation most welcome and the destination greatly desired. They arrived at the cabin at dusk, he parked the bike and brought everything that they had packed inside. Hilda was on the cabin's deck admiring the sunset. He joined her with a blanket and said,
"I have been informed that my brothers' wives have instructed you in the ways of Vulcan intimacy."
Hilda nodded.
She then looked at her husband and said, "We are not novices. Much to our distress, both of us have lost mates after years of marriage.. We have both longed for something or someone to ease our pain. Sus'na, I never wish to take over your wife's place in your heart. I want my own space. I wish now to build a life with you; memories with you, a family with you. There is an old Terran saying, 'Today is the first day of the rest of your life'.
"Sus'na, in my mind I have already foreseen a life with you, a satisfying one for both of us. Of course, you will have to get use to my emotionalism, and I to your lack of facial display of same. The wives have instructed us that while your face will not reveal your heart. we will see these very expressions in your Vulcan eyes. But be assured, I love you and wish to spend the rest of my life with you. In addition, I want you know, during my fifteen years of marriage I was never pregnant. If you, at any time, and I do mean any time during our marriage make me a carrier of life, I would be overjoyed and proud. I have a limited number of years to provide you with offspring, raise them, send them away and settle into a life of contentment with just the two of us."
Sus'na came closer and caressed his wife's face. He started to undo his wife's jacket and her hands started to do likewise to his. Her reaction to her first view of his unclothed body was an unusual display of awe,a hand to her mouth and the words,
"I don't know what to say…your body is… ."
Before she completed her sentence he kissed her and with force he removed the last two articles of clothing that prevented him from seeing her as he was, unadorned, unclothed. He kissed her brow, her cheeks, her eyes, her lips and then rested his head on her shoulder and whispered,
"My Hilda, are you ready?"
No verbal answer was given, just her anxious kiss and contact skin on skin. His mouth kissed and skimmed her collarbone and he whispered,
"Mine."
So it was, on a blanket, on a deck, under a Vulcan-less sky that he marked her, melded with her and brought them to plathau, to perfection, to total fulfillment. Once she slept he took her inside and placed her on their bed.
On day three he arose, satisfied, fulfilled, and now a prospective father. He turned and looked at his bondmate, and lowered himself to kiss her cheek in thanksgiving. She required sustenance and he went into the food preparation area to prepare a tray for her.
He awakened her with a hand against her cheek,
"Beloved, your body requires sustenance."
She turned, yawned, and opened her eyes and smiled. She propped herself upon her elbow she asked,
"Did I snore?"
A serious-faced Sus'na said as he deposited the tray on the bed,
"No beloved, you did not. However you did whine, shutter, cry, writhe, moan, laugh and I believe you sang."
Her face was hidden behind her hands and Sus'na gently removed them and he said,
"I was very much gratified by every sound of pleasure you produced for my ears. He then kissed her palms and said,
"You require sustenance."
He placed a piece of fruit on a fork and placed it in her mouth.
She touched his hand and conveyed her wishes.
He said,
"After you have strengthened yourself, but I must now nourish you and the life you hold within you."
Her breath caught in her throat and there were tears. She reached for him and said,
"Thank you."