Welcome to Syrus Ch. 03

"It was defending itself," I whisper more to myself then to Keve but I see him nodding in agreement next to me.

"Yes, it was as if the planet was saying 'You fooled me once but you won't fool me twice'," he says. "So they had to move further into the desert. Every time a mining coop tried to exceed a certain size, or when two mines got so close they could merge into one, the network around them would rise and swallow everything in a massive explosion."

Some old cultures on Earth used to believe that the world is a giant turtle and that people live on its back. I understand now how they must have felt. But if Syrus is a giant turtle it is missing the hard shell. We live on its soft belly and it feels our steps and every breath we take. It also defends itself from mankind as if we were a disease of some kind. It deals with us by confining the infection to a small size and crashing down any new signs of growth.

As we drive on in silence the scenery changes. Bushes and low trees add green patches to the yellow and purple ground. I recognise the mulberry trees although they are shorter than the ones I've seen on Earth. How strange that trees can take root between the Ascyx but people can't. I am about to ask Keve if there are any native animals on Syrus when a building appears out of nowhere. It's a simple rectangular structure which had been placed seemingly without any consideration of wind or sunlight.

"Where did this come from?"

"This is our storage," Keve explains. He presses a button on his bike and the gate hums open to let us in. "It has a protective shield around it, so unless you are standing right in front of it, you won't see anything."

The inside looks like a large warehouse. Perfect little blocks of purple are stacked from one wall to the other halfway up to the ceiling. I don't know how much of the stuff is there but it's a lot and there is obviously plenty of space left to fill. An ounce of Ascyx would cover my rent for a few months. This place holds several times my weight of the universe's most expensive substance. "This must be worth a fortune!"

"A couple of fortunes, actually," Keve says. "Of course, the Syrus government receives 70% of the sales we make for allowing us to work the land. But there is still plenty to share."

"Aren't you afraid that someone might attack you? Try to steal it."

His expression is suddenly so serious that I wonder what kind of sore spot I have just hit.

"It's a valid concern," he says after a long pause. "Some coops have security systems, fences, that kind of stuff. Some hire mercenaries as extra guards but not often, as they cannot be trusted."

There is so much pain in his voice that feel compelled to ask.

"What do you have?"

"We had a security system," he says and looks at me as if I'm supposed to know the rest.

"It didn't work, did it? You got attacked?"

"Yes, we did," he says with a sign, "and no, it didn't. But now we have Sana." He suddenly grins so widely I'm sure he's pulling my leg. Sure, Sana is tall and strong but nothing about her seemed particularly menacing.

"I don't understand what you mean."

Keve shrugs.

"It's not my story to tell. But keep asking."

I get off the bike and walk around. For all their neatness the blocks here don't have the shimmering quality of the veins I've seen on the ground outside, like dry flowers robbed of the vibrant colour and smell of fresh ones.

"Can I touch it? Or will it explode in my face?"

"You can touch it," Keve says and directs me to the nearest stack. "It's not explosive anymore."

Under my fingers, the little block feels smooth and cool like hard caramel.

"Not what I expected," I mutter and keep stroking it like a pet.

"I know," Keve agrees and places a palm on my waist. "We should head back."

A current passes from the caramel block through my fingers and connects to the warm spot where his flesh touches the fabric of my top. I see an image of me on the kitchen counter, flushed and half-naked, my lips swollen and wet from kissing. I fight to control myself, to resist leaning down and kissing me again. I try to distract myself. I think about the news feed I read before June appeared in the living room, a mine in the North has been buried in a sand storm. I...

Keve removes his hand and the connection breaks. I breathe in and look around. He is standing next to me and I can look at him not through him as I did just now.

"What was that?"

He looks and lifts an eyebrow.

"I saw us this morning but from your eyes," I continue.

"What was I thinking?"

"You were recounting the news about a mine in the North which had been destroyed in a storm. You were afraid that you would lose control and kiss me again."

Understanding lights his face.

"Wow, I didn't think it was possible," he says. He stares at me as if I have just grown a new head and he finds it fascinating instead of repulsive.

"What?"

"Come on, we have to go back," he urges me back onto the bike.

"Keve!"

I stomp my foot like an angry child and feel very much like one. He knows exactly what I that flash of connection was and for some reason, he won't tell me.

He turns to me and stokes my cheek like he's afraid I would break under his fingers.

"I have heard of cases when Ascyx can enhance the mental connection between the members of a coop."

"Enhance? Or establish?"

He shakes his head as if his own words don't make any sense.

"It acts as a catalyst but the connection should already be in place."

He is silent for a long time and it's starting to freak me out.

"It's strange," he finally says. "Come on. We should go back. I want to tell the others what happened."

Strange, he says. Iodine tasting water is strange. Rivers of exploding purple matter are strange. Being in another person's head is downright terrifying! That kind of intimacy should not be possible between strangers which is what Keve and I essentially are. Or were, before I took a walk in his head uninvited. As we ride back with the speed of purpose, the man next to me is no longer a blurred idea of physical strength, good humour and sexiness. He has gained a clearness which should only come with years and years of shared experiences and hard work. He would never hurt me. He hadn't been happy about kidnapping me. There is hidden pain buried under the layers of his good-naturedness and the ride with me today has been the first time in a long time he has felt happy. I know all this with the certainty of feeling it in him, through him, as if I have known him all my life. And it scares me like nothing ever has.

When we reach the house the horizon has taken the orange-pinkish shade of dusk. The others are still not back so we use the time to shower and change (separately, mind you!) before I help Keve with dinner. Since we are inside I choose another loose dress to wear, making sure to put underwear on this time.

Keve's presence allows no awkwardness as we are laying the table, so we chat and joke like before, but we are also well aware of the elephant in the room. When he hands me the plates from the cupboard our fingers touch. It gives me no visions but sends shivers down my spine. Then his leg swipes against mine as he walks past. It's when his arm brushes against my breast as he leans down to arrange the cutlery that I know he's going it on purpose. I scowl at him. He grins in return.

"Are you trying to get me to read you again?"

"No," he frowns, "I was actually trying to remind you that my offer still stands."

My cheeks feel like I have suddenly developed a fever.

"What offer?"

Aden is leaning on the doorframe with his arms across his chest. Ham and Erel file in past him, trailed by Sana who takes a seat as if nothing is amiss. Suddenly I'm very aware of how close Keve stands to me like he wants to send a message to the rest of the room.

"I asked June to stay with me tonight."

Erel stops in his tracks and starts towards us. Aden stops him with a hand on his arm and looks at me.

"June?"

"I said no."

The tension in the room subsides and Aden releases Erel's arm.

"She didn't say no because she doesn't want me. She is afraid that staying the night with me would mean staying the night with all."

What the fuck! I want to shout at him and throw things but all I can do is stare. How did he know? I most certainly didn't tell him, did I? And suddenly as I stand there utterly speechless it hits me like a bucket of cold water: If I was able to see Keve's memories, he must have seen mine! Great, now on top of feeling embarrassed I also feel stupid for not figuring this out earlier. I have been so fixated on my own experience that I completely ignored the obvious: A connection works both ways. I want to run and hide in my room.

As if sensing it Keve puts a hand around my waist and pulls me closer. Instead of soothing me, I'm suddenly angry. I push his hand away.

"I don't want this," I scream, at him, at them, at the whole world. "I never wanted this! God knows how many women you've made this offer to and when I leave you'd just go on and look for a replacement. And if I say yes, what happens when you tire of me? Or when you want to leave Syrus? It's not like polygamy is recognised anyplace else in the universe!"

"Well, technically, there must be other places in the universe which have similar marriage laws, we just don't know about them yet."

I'm not sure who says that but it's not the point anyway.

"They must have all rejected you if your coop still doesn't have a wife."

Unexpectedly, the mood drops and I stare as several very serious looking men. Even Keve's expression has darkened and without his obligatory smile I realise just how huge he is, tall and built like a club bouncer. I take a step away from him and he frowns.

"You know I would never hurt you, June," he says and there is so much pain in his voice that I regret my withdrawal immediately. Of course I know that, I've felt it. It's like I've kicked a puppy, a big, hovering puppy of a man who makes me tremble when he touches me. I lean over and hug his waste. It's a peace offering, a harmless gesture to show him I didn't mean it before. Or at least that's what I think before I notice Erel clenching his fists. Hams mouth has closed in a thin line as if he wants to stop himself from saying something he may regret later.

"We did have a wife," it is Aden who finally speaks. "Her name was Karah. She died last year."

I swallow.

"I'm sorry." I don't know what else to say.

Aden nods in acknowledgement. I don't expect him to continue but he does.

"Our warehouse was attacked. The thieves used Karah as collateral to make sure we won't follow them. Out in the desert, we would have had an advantage over people not from the area." He pauses and breathes slowly as if to calm himself down. "They were supposed to drop her off in Hyde for us to collect later."

I gasp.

"They didn't...did they?"

Aden hands roll into fists and suddenly there are tears in his eyes. It is the first time I see his control crumble.

"They did drop her off in Hyde," he says his voice laced in pain. "She slipped in and out of consciousness the next two days." He pauses and turns towards Erel as if asking for help. I wait for him to continue, for any of them continue, while the gravity of what Aden said, and of what he omitted, sinks in. The room has gone quiet and cold as if something has sucked the life out of it.

Finally, Erel takes over.

"She died in Hyde."

"Did you find them?"

A vicious smile appears at the corner of his mouth.

"We did."

And as much as I know that I shouldn't wish anything bad upon anyone, I catch myself returning Erel's ghost of a smile.

"Let's all sit down," someone says, I think it's Sana, just as feel how my knees buckle. If it weren't for Keve's arm around my waist I would have collapsed to the floor. I feel like all life has drained away from me. As Keve practically drags me to a chair all I can think about it Karah, a stranger whom I'm connected with. It could have been me, right? Taken, tortured, it could have been me in her place. 
Ham places a plate in front of me and Erel lifts a glass towards my lips. The liquid burns my throat and makes me cough but it also strangely soothing. I hold out my glass for more but Erel shakes his head.

"It could be me next time," I whisper to him, to all of them. "I would be me if I stayed. The next time you get robbed it would be me."

His arms are around me before I can blink. I'm shaking so hard the vibrations resonate through him. He holds on, presses my head against his shoulder, strokes my hair. Behind him I see Keve smiling at me as if to reassure me.

"We won't let anything bad to happen to you, June," Erel says. "Never. We'll take care of you."

His words make me angry and I pull away.

"I'm not your pet," I hiss. "I don't need to be taken care of!"

I take a step towards the door but a gentle hand on arm stops me.

"June," it's Aden this time and his voice plays its magic on me. I stop, turn around to face him. "You are nobody's pet. If you decide to stay with us you will be an equal partner to us in everything, finances, decision, everything. We will take care of each other." He looks around with a silent question in his eyes and four head nod in unison around us. "You are the only woman we have considered since Karah's death. It's not a decision we have taken lightly and we are serious in our intentions. It's not a game and you are not one of many. You are the only one and if you reject our offer, we won't take another."

"Why not?"

"Do you believe me?" He asks instead of an answer.

"I do." It's true. It's foolish, naive and totally, totally misplaced to trust him, but I do. And there is something else too. I want to give them a chance. For real this time: I want to see if I could live here with there strange people who act as if they've known me, as if they've been waiting for me.

"If I stay with Keve tonight," I look at Aden's neutral face. "Will the rest of you expect me to stay with you on other nights."

"No," he says.

"But you will be hurt, won't you?" I press.

He starts to say something but Sana interrupts him.

"Yes, we will be." She gives Aden a stern look. "You would be lying if you said no. We said no lies, remember?"

He nods.

Well, that'll be that then. No reason to fight the inevitable.

"Ok."

Five sets of startled eyes stare at me.

"I will stay with Keve tonight," I explain.

"And tomorrow?" Ham asks.

"Since you're asking I guess I would be staying in your room tomorrow," I smile at him with more bravado than I actually feel.

And just like that sex is part of the equation and my heart skips a beat. What the hell?

There is little conversation during dinner. I steal glances at Erel and Ham who seem just as stunned by my decision as I am. Actually, Ham looks downright pissed off although I can't fathom why. Wasn't he the most eager one to get me into bed? Aden's face is as impenetrable as usual. Sana gives me a terse smile when our eyes meet but I can see she's not overly happy either. Only Keve is his old good-natured self. He winks at me as he pours me another glass of the mulberry flavoured water. There is no more of the stronger liquor they gave me earlier although I wish there were. I am so nervous I can't really eat. Keve, of course, notices and as we stand up to leave, I see that he has loaded a plate with some of the meat and bread to take with us.

The next thing I know he is sliding the door of his room behind me.

"You didn't mention what happened at the warehouse."

"No, I didn't."

"Why?"

He steps into my space and strokes over my cheeks with the back of his hands.

"It would have caused a lot of discussions tonight," he says.

One of his hands halts at my chin and lifts it slightly so I can look him in the eyes. They are dark and hungry.

"I was being selfish," he continues and leans over.

His breath tingles on my mouth.

"And impatient."

His lips brush against me in a soft caress, almost polite. His hand leaves my face and wanders down to my nape to pull me closer. Warm lips coax my mouth open and Keve is kissing me in earnest now, making me tremble. I lean into him until my breasts press to his chest eliciting a low hiss. I like that, so I move closer, rubbing my body against his. I can feel the tip of his arousal on my belly and it makes me grow bolder. I hold onto his waist and sneak my fingers under his shirt to stroke him. Warm skin greets me and a moan vibrates in my mouth. Suddenly my feet leave the ground and I realise that Keve has lifted me and is placing me on a cupboard of some sort. His lips never leave mine but now his hands really get to work. He has managed to gather my dress over my hips when he lifted me, so now a swift movement is all it takes to pull it over my head. He dips down and starts raining kisses on my neck and lower, to my collarbone. His tongue follows suit and at the same time, his hands travel down to cup my breasts. He massages them softly, careful not to brush over the nipples, teasing me. Soon my whole body is burning with need and it's not fair. I reach out and tug on his shirt. I want to feel him again. I hear his chuckle as my inpatient fingers fumble with the fabric and then he takes a step back so I can pull the garment over his head and toss it to the floor. A second later my hands are back on him working on his belt. Still smiling he grabs my wrists and shakes his head. His lips are on mine again, drowning my protest as he pins my arms to my sides to hold me in place. He leans over me so I'm almost lying down on the hard wooden surface.

I'm out of breath and unable to argue when he moves down again, not stopping at my neck this time but dipping his head lower to my breasts. My nipples are begging for attention. Keve complies and sucks one into his mouth, making me moan. The feeling of his tongue on my sensitive nub sends an instant current of pleasure to my core. He wastes no time and moves to the other nipple, giving it the same treatment. I moan again and wish that my hands were free so I can pull him closer. As if he heard me her releases me. I grab his shoulders but he is already moving again, inching down towards my belly.

"Keve..."

His name on my lips is a desperate breath. I'm not even sure what I want at this point, only that I want more of it. As his mouth moves lower his hands pull my underwear down my legs and out of the way in one smooth motion. He places a kiss on my bare mound and looks up at me.

"Do you want to move to the bed?"

"I don't care!"

It's true, although the wood presses unpleasantly onto my back. He regards me for a second and something in my look or my posture must have given away how uncomfortable I am. He stands up and scoops me into his arms. I hold onto his shoulders and breathe in his scent. It makes my heart beat faster, how is that even possible?!

Keve puts a knee on the bed and easies me down. I try to move towards the head to give him some space too but he will have none of it. He grabs my thighs and pulls me towards the edge until my bottom is halfway in the air, then lifts up my legs and places them in the crook of his arms, spreading me wide. From his position on the floor, he gives me a wicked grin and leans forward.

"Oh God..."

His mouth is hot torture on my pussy. He takes his time, kissing and licking my lips which I can see are swollen and hungry. He dips his tongue in my liquid core but withdraws quickly and starts his journey from the top of my mound again. I moan in frustration and try to roll my hips, try to get him to the spot I desperately need his lips on. But the way he is holding me spread leaves me very little leverage to move.