Disclaimer
The characters in the story are a product of my own imagination and hopefully have no resemblance to any living persons. But if it does it is entirely coincidental. Some of the places mentioned are either fictitious and or adapted to suit the plot of the story.
Sex: This story contains sexual content of a graphic nature between consenting adult women, thus if you are not 18 years old and not allowed to read content of this nature, please move on to other suitable stories.
Archiving : This work is copy written and should not be posted anywhere else with the writer's expressed permission.
Feedback: Constructive criticisms is greatly appreciated, so feel free to drop a line or two at steinwillard80@gmail.com or sent me a friend request on Facebook .
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PART 8
Hem studied the weapon with a practiced eye. It had the right weight and length. She rarely used weapons but she could get used to the sword. She looked up at the forger and smiled.
“Good work, Ernin. It's perfect.”
The woman bowed slightly. “I'm glad you like it, Milady. Let me get the scabbard.”
Hem watched as the powerfully built woman walked over to a workbench. As the woman turned, Hem cocked her head to the side.
“How's your daughter?” Hem asked quietly. The woman froze and Hem shook her head. “No need to panic. I really just want to know how she's faring.”
Ernin still looked a little wary despite Hem's assurance. “She is well, Milady. Thank you for asking.” Her eyes flitted to the sword in Hem's hand. “She's a good child, Milady. A little absent-minded and exceptionally accident prone, but a good child.”
Hem held back the snort that fought its way to the surface. “So I've heard. Now let me have a look at the scabbard.” The forger held out the scabbard and Hem slid the sword inside. “Will you be attending the Yram tonight?”
The woman's eyes lit up. “Of course, Milady. Everyone is eager to see the princesses exhibit their skill. They are after all the daughters of the best warrior alive.”
Hem grinned as she studied the woman. “You are kind to say that, Ernin. And your daughter?”
“Neitor will be in attendance.”
Hem nodded. “That's good.” She walked to the exit but was stopped by Ernin's voice.
“Neitor is a good daughter, Milady. She's respectful, kind and gentle.”
Turning, Hem studied the hulking woman who looked at her with an almost pleading look on her face.
“I know, Ernin. My daughter is a great judge of character.” A look of relief crossed Ernin's face. “I simply want to get to know Neitor.”
“Thank you, Milady.”
Hem smiled and left the workshop. Outside she stopped to look around her. The city pulsed with expectation. Besides being an initiation for young warriors, the Yram was also the most coveted celebration on Pharm. It was still early but by late afternoon the city would be bursting with visitors. Every eighteen years the Yram was held to swell the ranks of Pharm's army, but it also overlapped with the commemoration of the Fertility Goddess, Mistral.
************************
Palmer couldn't for the life of her focus on what the Senator was saying. All she could see playing before her eyes was the cold flatness of Hem's eyes. She brought the cup to her lips and took a draught of the tacuc . Hem had bolted and the way she bolted had left Palmer with a sense of finality. She needed to find Hem.
“Captain Middleton? Palmer?”
Jolted from her thoughts Palmer looked at the Senator. “I'm…I'm sorry. I…I…”
The Senator's sharp eyes studied her closely. “Is everything okay? You seemed…absent.”
Palmer' initial response was to assure the Senator that she was fine, but what came out her mouth stunned even her. “I'm in love with Hem.” She blinked at the Senator, her mind reeling with what she'd just said.
The Senator jerked back as if she'd been slapped. “Excuse me?”
“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…”
“You're in love with Principal Hemheri?”
“I…I…” Palmer looked away. Her answer would be the determining factor in whether or not she would still have a position in the Space Fleet. Luckily the dining hall was empty. Ahalpa had invited the others on a tour of the city. They had left half an hour ago leaving her and the Senator to discuss their private tour of Pharm. She turned back to the Senator and was surprised to find the woman a little paler than before. Palmer fully understood the Senator's reaction. It would be a great disaster to have one of their most trusted Starship captains literally sleeping with the enemy. At that moment all Palmer could think of were her beautiful daughters and…Hem. Hem was never far from her thoughts.
“Palmer?” Senator Keane prompted softly. “Are you in love with Principal Hemheri?”
A stream of memories flashed through her mind. She remembered the first time after Hem when she met another woman. Chrystal was beautiful, funny and successful. They went out a few times before they finally ended up in bed. Everything was supposed to work out. They had the right chemistry, the sex was great and the Terran media was quick to make credits out of their union. The brilliant, beautiful businesswoman and the aloof but powerful Starship captain got the tongues wagging and red carpets rolled out for them. With Palmer being notoriously private, the commotion their association caused was one of many minor reasons that led to their break up. After seven months of jumping through media hoops and surviving numerous social platforms, Palmer called it quits. But even the invasion of her privacy was nothing compared to the fact that she found herself lying awake at night missing Hem. It took two other women to make her realise that no woman would ever measure up to Hem even though she knew that Hem was forever lost to her.
But she had a second chance now. The only trouble was that she had so much more to lose now and strange enough so much more to gain also. All she needed was to make a choice.
She looked at the Senator and sighed. “I know what I have to lose, but I also know what I can't let go.”
For a moment Senator Keane regarded her, long and hard. “I take it you're telling me that you choose the Principal?”
“Yes.” Palmer was stunned by the lack of hesitation at answering the question. She reached for her cup. “I love her.”
“What about Terran and your position? Is it worth it to let it all go?”
Palmer smiled weakly. “Being a Starship captain is the only thing I know how to be. I have no idea what it takes to be mother or a…partner, but I'm willing to learn.”
“Are you sure? What if there was someone else on Terran who loved you? Would you reconsider?”
Palmer blinked in surprise. “What a strange question?” She bit down on her lower lip. “There's no one on Terran that had given we the slightest indication that they were interested in me.”
The Senator stared at her again before she slowly nodded. “I take it you will return with us to Terran to finalise everything.”
“I'm not sure if Hem would want me, but even if she miraculously wants to make this work, I will have to return to Terran first.”
*******************************
Hem shook her head in disbelief as she watched the girl. This was the most difficult thing for her to do as a mother. Giving birth and raising half-human babies were not in the least as tough as what she was going through now.
“Milady,” one of the youths, a skinny girl, said. Her greeting drew all the other youths' attention as they dropped the weapons to the ground and bowed hastily.
Hem ignored the skinny girl, her gaze resting on a tall, powerfully built girl standing a few feet away. As was the girl's habit, her cropped hair stood in all directions, some tresses falling over her forehead to cover one eye. Taking a deep breath, Hem approached her. The girl's eyes darted around, undoubtedly looking for an escape. Hem's heartbeat exhilarated. It would be stupid for the girl to try and evade her. She was the Principal after all, faster and stronger than any Pharmac in existence, former Principals included.
“I…I didn't touch her. I swear,” the girl said anxiously.
“I know, because you're still breathing.” She watched with droll satisfaction as the girl grew pale. She noticed the others move away slowly as they followed the conversation.
“I love her.”
Momentarily stunned by the girl's declaration and against her will she had to admire the girl's valour. She took a closer look at the girl. “I want to see your eyes when you address me.”
The girl quickly brushed the dark locks away from her forehead. Hem met piercing black eyes. The girl quickly lowered her gaze. “My apologies, milady. I meant no disrespect.”
“I'm aware of that too.” Hem let her eyes run over the girl. Why would someone prefer to walk around in clothing that was two sizes too big for them? With her sensitive skin she would jump right out of it if she had to deal with the fabric constantly brushing against her. She stepped closer and the girl stiffened. Hem knew with her emotions all over the place, her body thrummed with her power, omitting waves which chafed on the others' nerves. The girl's jaw clenched as she tried to hide the effect the coiling waves had on her. “You are but a mere sixty years old. What does a youngling like you know about love?”
The girl's head lifted suddenly. The inky depths burned with emotion as she met Hem's gaze.
“I can't tell you much about love, milady, for it is still new to me.” Unexpectedly, a radiant smile came over the girl's sullen features, transforming her whole being into one of pure delight. “I can, however, tell you about the girl who's teaching me about it. She's sincere, outspoken, stubborn and spectacularly beautiful. She's my personal definition of love.”
Hem stood still as she watched the girl. Maybe she should trust her daughters' judgement of character more. Speechless, Hem turned on her heel and left, leaving behind her a group of dumbfounded youths.
******************************
When Palmer stepped into Hem's suite she was surprised to find her mother waiting for her. After her conversation with the Senator, the Senator had acted a little strange, but they managed to decide on an itinerary after which the Senator had abruptly excused herself and left the dining hall.
“Mother? Is there a problem?”
“I just want to talk.” Sandra patted the place on the bed next to her. “Do you have a few minutes?”
“Sure, Mother?”
Sandra was silent for a moment as she studied her daughter. “I know I've apologised before about…”
“And I've forgiven you, Mother.”
Sandra held up her hand. “Let me finish, Palmer.” She took a deep breath. “I never told you want I said to Palmer. Maybe if you hear it, you might not be so forgiving.”
Palmer frowned but didn't interrupt her mother.
“I told Hemheri that she was not reason enough for you to stay here.” Sandra stopped for a moment. “She loves you. I could see it in her eyes even before the girls told me. The girls told me that Hemheri admitted that she loved you and that was the reason why she never took anyone else.”
Palmer closed her eyes at hearing that. She'd known that already, but it was so much more definite hearing that Hem had told the girls.
Sandra shook her head, looking guilty. “I feel awful for being the one who drove a wedge between you.”
Palmer cupped her mother's cheek. “I love her too, Mother. But it's not your fault. I'm also to blame.” She smiled sadly. “I should've made Hem realize that she was more important to me than anything else.”
“Can you fix it?” Sandra asked. “Please tell me you can?”
“I'll try my best and if it's not enough I will try even harder until I get through to her.” Palmer smiled. She meant it.
Sandra chuckled softly. “Poor Hemheri. She will need all the help she needs in that case.” For a moment mother and daughter looked at each other. “You deserve to be happy, honey. I want you to have what Taffy has with Mara.”
“I want that too, Mother.”
“You can count on me. I will help anyway I can.”
Palmer placed a gentle kiss on her mother's cheek. “Thank you.”
“I should thank you for giving me these wonderful granddaughters.” Sandra wiped a tear from her eye. “I wish you father was here to see them…Josh and the girls.”
Pulling her mother in a tight embrace, Palmer whispered hoarsely. “I know he's watching over them.”
They hugged for a long moment.
“Go find Hemheri and make it right. Ahalpa told me that the Yram requires that both parents show a united front to support their children.”
Palmer pulled out of the hug. “She might not want to see me.”
“If she knows what is good for her, she will see you,” a voice interjected. Palmer and Sandra's heads jerked to the door.
A tall, regal woman stood in the doorway. Sharp black eyes watched them out of a gorgeous heart shaped face as the woman entered the suite. Palmer slowly came to her feet as she, too, studied the striking woman. The woman cocked her head and Palmer blinked at the achingly familiar act.
“Are…are you Hem's mother?”
The woman smiled broadly. “As a matter of fact, I am. You must be Palmer. Eli and Kali are the spitting image of you.” Sandra came to stand next to Palmer. “And that must be your mother,” the woman exclaimed. She stepped closer, towering over them as she held out her hand. “Welcome to Pharm.”
Unlike Hem who exudes raw power, the woman's were subtle, bubbling under the surface. After exchanging handshakes they stood looking at each other. The woman smiled broadly.
“I'm Redla.” The introduction was directed at Sandra.
“I'm Sandra.”
Redla held out her hand again. “I've summoned Hem and she should be here any moment now. Shall we leave them to talk while you accompany me on a short walk? We can discuss our grandchildren.”
A bout of sudden nerves overtook Palmer, wetting her palms at the thought of talking to Hem, that she didn't even notice when her mother and Redla left the suite.
“Mother!” Hem's voice sounded as she came through the archway leading to the large balcony. Hem came to an abrupt stop when her eyes fell on her. Palmer smiled weakly as Hem's eyes traced her face.
“I need to talk to you, Hem.” She saw a cold, indifferent mask come over Hem's face and quickly approached the tall woman. “Please, Hem.”
Without even acknowledging her presence, Hem turned on her heel and strode out of the room. Palmer ran after Hem. The alien stood on the balustrade, balancing her weight, ready to take flight.
“I LOVE YOU!” Palmer shouted in desperation. The words out echoed off the place walls.
***************************
She was falling.
Hem blinked in shock as she found herself suddenly weightless. She desperately grasped for something to hold on. Her eyes shot wide as she realized there was none.
“Hem!”
As if from a distance she heard Palmer calling out to her. The next moment she felt the impact and something give. A cloud of dust and shards of tiles shot out from under her.
“Hem!”
Hem laid still, her mind blank and her body vibrating with the impact of the fall. She slowly opened her eyes to find a white-faced Palmer leaning over her.
“Hem! Hem, are you okay. Are you hurt?” The blue eyes were filled with tears some already streaming down the pale cheeks. “Oh, Hem, please talk to me.”
“I'm…I'm okay,” Hem whispered, more worried about Palmer than anything else. “Are you okay? You're crying, Palmer.”
Palmer roughly wiped at her eyes with trembling hands. “Are you hurt?”
Hem took a deep breath and tried to sit up but was quickly pushed back by Palmer.
“Please, Hem, don't move,” Palmer pleaded softly as tears ran down her cheeks. “I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to make you fall.”
“I fell?” Hem asked slowly. She turned her head slowly to find herself lying in a cavernous dip. “I fell?” This time she couldn't keep the incredulity from her voice. She tried to sit up again and this time, even with Palmer pushing her down, managed to come into a sitting position. “I...I really fell?”
Palmer sat back and wiped at her wet cheeks again. “Yes, I…I caused you to fall.”
Hem shook her head slowly. “But I never fall.”
“You did,” Palmer sobbed softly. “I called out to you and you fell. Are you hurt?”
Realizing that Palmer was about to fall apart from the pitch of her voice, Hem reached out to her and pulled her onto her lap. “Hush now, I'm okay. I didn't even feel a thing.”
Palmer's arms snaked around her neck in a tight grip, her wet face pressed in Hem's neck. “It doesn't look like nothing. You…you've made a hole in a floor.”
Hem tightened her hold on Palmer even as she assessed the damaged around her. She really made a big hole in the floor. Looking at the balustrade she measured the distance to the floor. She felt Palmer's hand cradling the back of her head, while the other hand gently stroked her neck. The sensations that shot through her body were incredible. She struggled to fight back the moan that rose from deep inside of her.
“I'm fine, Palmer. You forgot that I'm immortal.” Hem angled her head to place a soft kiss on Palmer's temple. “I'm perfectly okay.”
Palmer reared back and looked in Hem's eyes. With her eyelashes wet and clinging together, Hem was reminded of her daughters when they were young and came running to her with a scraped knee. The sight of blood caused a lot of tears.
“Do you remember what I said just before your fall?” Palmer looked slightly nervous as her eyes darted over Hem's face.
“I remember,” Hem said quietly as she studied Palmer's face closely. The blonde swallowed before she looked away. “You know that I do too, don't you?”
The blue eyes were luminous when Palmer looked at her again. “You do?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Will you say it to me?”
Hem smiled. “I love you, Palmer.”
They looked at each other, smiling.
“Good to see you're still in one piece, Hemheri,” a deep voice said and they both turned their heads.
“Greetings, Mother,” Hem said quickly as she threw an arm around Palmer and rose without using her hands to hoist her to her feet.
******************************
Palmer couldn't take her eyes of the devastating attractive woman standing in the door. She was a stunning replica of Hem, minus the eyes. There were wisps of grey hair at her temples. Palmer moved her lips closer to Hem's ear.
“Are you going to look like that when you grow older?” she gasped.
Hem's eyes twinkled as she looked at Palmer. “Most probably. Why?”
“Wow!” Palmer whispered as she hugged Hem tightly, her eyes riveted on the stunning woman. She felt Hem's body shake as she chuckled softly. Palmer placed a soft kiss on Hem's ear.
A deep husky laugh sounded and blushing furiously Palmer realised that the woman must've overheard them. In a move so much like Hem's, the woman tilted her head to side.
“Are you not going to introduce me, Hemheri?” The woman sounded authoritative.
Hem cleared her throat softly. “Mother, this is Palmer. Palmer, this is my mother, Ehno.”
Relaxing her grip around Hem's neck, Palmer slid down Hem's body to stand on her feet. She made her way over to the woman and held out her hand.
“It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, milady.”
The woman's big hand swallowed Palmer's and squeezed it gently. “The pleasure is all mine, Palmer.” Ehno smiled warmly causing two deep dimples to appear. “I didn't mean to interfere on your conversation, but Hemheri's mother instructed me to look up on her when we felt the palace shook.”
Palmer turned back to Hem who looked at her mother with a somewhat sheepish expression on her face.
“It was an accident,” Hem said quickly.
“A good one too, it seems,” Ehno said with a teasing smile. “I'll leave you for now. We will meet again, Palmer.”
Palmer watched the magnificent woman leave before turning back to Hem. “I can't believe you're going to be even better looking that you are already.”
Hem came to stand before her. She was smiling, but her eyes were serious. “You'll have to stick around if you want to see that.”
Palmer was quick to grasp the meaning behind the words. Hem needed assurance that this was real. Reaching up, Palmer clasped her hands behind Hem's head and pulled her head down. Their lips were close when Palmer spoke again.
“I've been planning to convince you to give me a second chance, but seeing now what you're going to look like in future, I insist that you give me a second chance.” Not waiting for Hem's reaction, Palmer slanted her lips over the alien's. With a soft sigh, Hem's lips parted and Palmer groaned as her tongue invaded the hot interior of Hem's mouth.
Their mouths parted suddenly when Hem reached lower and pulled Palmer up in her arms. Their eyes met and held for a moment.
“Tell me again, Hem,” Palmer whispered.
“I love you.”
Palmer's lips brushed over the strong chin, the soft cheeks and latched onto the soft, moist lips. This time she poured all her love and yearning into the kiss and felt Hem's normally sturdy body buckle slightly. Their tongues mated furiously as they both moaned in pleasure. Palmer curled her legs around Hem's waist. She felt Hem stiffen slightly and pulled out of the kiss. Surprised by the move, Palmer opened her eyes.
“Hem?” The alien was trembling slightly as she stared at Palmer. Concerned, Palmer reached up and locked her hands behind Hem's head to keep her head secure as she anxiously studied the alien's eyes. Hem had landed rather hard and Palmer feared for a possible concussion. The pupils were normal, but Palmer's fears escalated when she felt Hem's trembling worsen. “What's wrong, Hem? Are you hurt? Please tell me.” She grabbed a handful of Hem's hair while she cradled Hem's cheek with one hand.
“Palmer,” Hem whispered. Her hand glided down Palmer's back to rest on her ass and she squeezed gently. “I miss being with you.”
Palmer shivered at the husky timber of Hem's voice and searched Hem's eyes. She gasped at the hungry look in the alien's eyes. A wave of heat travelled down from her stomach to hit hard between her legs. Flustered, she looked down to where her sex was pressed against Hem's stomach. They had made love in this position before…the first and only time they'd been together like that. They were both naked then and Hem had cradled Palmer's derriere in both hands, gliding Palmer briskly up and down against her rock hard abdomen. Palmer remembered the soft explosive breathes of Hem as she'd leaned against the wall. Palmer's arms were clutched around Hem's shoulders as she mindlessly rode towards an earth-shattering orgasm.
Her recollection triggered another wave of heat to her apex and she heard a deep growl vibrate through Hem.
“Oh, Hem…?”
*******************************
Hem blinked against the lightning fast flashes that streamed through her mind. Every single one was so deliciously erotic and displayed Palmer in the throes of passion. A musky whiff of Palmer's arousal assaulted her nostrils causing them to flare. She met Palmer's gaze and what she read in the ice blue eyes made her stride towards the room and to the bed. She gently laid Palmer on the bed and quickly covered her smaller body with hers. Her mouth slanted over Palmers and she moaned her appreciation when Palmer immediately opened her mouth to Hem's tongue. Wiggling her body between Palmer's legs, she released a soft gasp into Palmer's mouth when their mounds touch. Out of their own volition, her hips began to thrust against Palmer. Hem broke the kiss and looked at Palmer. The blonde looked gorgeous with her hair wantonly mussed on her pillow and her kiss-swollen lips glistening slightly. The blue eyes were a few shades darker as they searched her face.
“Do we have time?” Palmer asked.
“An hour perhaps.”
Palmer reached out to grab Hem's thrusting hips, stilling them. “Not enough. I want you for hours ...like the last time.”
Hem felt her desire wane a little at Palmer's words. Her body was on fire and lying over the smaller human, her hips nestled between Palmer's legs, those were not the words she wanted to hear right now. She grinded her hips into Palmer's mound which elicited a soft gasp from the smaller woman. “Believe me an hour will be more than enough, dura .”
“No.” Palmer pushed her hands into Hem's hair and fisted them in the dark locks. Her eyes were a magnificent smoky blue as she studied Hem. “Maybe for you, honey. I, however, need hours to worship your gorgeous body.”
Hem groaned plaintively, but rolled off Palmer. “Ok. We'll wait.”
“Good.” Palmer pressed a hard kiss on Hem's lips. “I will find you tonight after the Yram .”
Hem turned her head to impale Palmer with a dark, hungry look.
“You couldn't have chosen a more fitting night to copulate with me.”
Palmer rolled closer to Hem, but the alien's hands shot out. She held Palmer at an arm's length. “Not too close. My body is somewhat slow to obey right now.”
Palmer giggled and Hem melted at the sound. At that very moment, Palmer reminded her of the girls, with her eyes twinkling mischievously. “What else is happening tonight?”
Hem brushed a lock from Palmer's forehead and tenderly tucked it behind her ear. “Tonight is the Commemoration of Mistral, the Goddess of Fertility.”
“Oh, so what will happen at this event?”
Hem smiled slyly. “You'll see.