Claus (Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides #7)

Chapter 15

Aubrey’s throat was clogged, and her eyes burned with tears. Claus’s selflessness—his offer to relocate her and the boys to the planet or outpost of her choosing—made her feel like weeping for hours. No one had ever offered to do anything so kind for her at such a great cost to themselves. He needed a mate, and he desired her, yet he was willing to let her go. If that’s what she wanted.

“My offer to relocate you somewhere safer remains, sweet human,” he said in a tone budding with excitement, “however, I would like to offer you a mating contract that would give you a way out if you later decide you’re unhappy. Not that that would happen, for I intend to be a very loving and attentive mate to you. But the mating contract could give you peace of mind and perhaps help you to not feel trapped .”

“A mating contract?” For the second time in the last minute, she was stunned. “I’ve never heard of Vaxxlians having mating contracts.”

He gave her a lopsided grin that stole her heart. “We can be the first.”

“Tell me about this contract.”

“We can have a lawyer specializing in interstellar law draw it up for us, but to put it simply, the contract will say that your individual will overrides our mating union, and you will be free to dissolve our mating union and leave New Vaxx if you so choose.” He stroked the inside of her wrist, a gentle caress that caused goosebumps to lift on her arms. “The contract can also stipulate that I must fund your travels and living expenses, as well as the boys’. Does… that sound fair?”

“Claus, it sounds more than fair, however I feel I should be honest with you.” She inhaled a deep breath. What she was about to say would change the path of her life forever, and yes it was scary, but everything inside her screamed that Claus was an honorable male who would never hurt her.

She’d been wary of him at first due to stranger danger and past relationship trauma, but she felt she’d gotten to know him well enough. She trusted him with her whole heart, and there was also the big crazy fact that she was already falling in love with him.

“I was going to say yes,” she finally replied. “Even before you offered to relocate me and the boys to another planet, I was going to agree to become your mate. Of course, I would still like for us to sign a mating contract. Not because I have any doubts about you, but because I would be an idiot not to cover all my bases. Thank you for making such a grand gesture.” She paused and took a few deep breaths as her excitement grew. “I am still nervous, very much so, but I can’t imagine saying goodbye to you. The thought of never seeing you again, or the thought of you taking another human woman as your mate, well, the very idea rips me apart. I want you . I want you as my mate, though I hope you don’t really plan to make me beg for it. I have my pride to consider.” She wrapped her arms around Claus’s neck as she peered up at him, awaiting his response.

“ Aubrey .” Her name came as a soft rumble from his throat.

Then his lips were on hers.

He kissed her soundly, rendering her breathless in an instant, and she grasped his face and melted into him. His tongue vibrated against hers, and before she realized what was happening, he’d pulled her onto his lap.

She snuggled deeper in his arms and returned his kiss, basking in his animalistic growls and the telltale hardness of his erection digging into her bottom.

“Aubrey, I don’t believe I have ever known such happiness. Thank you for accepting me. I vow that I will be a caring mate to you.”

“I know you will, Claus. I trust you. I really do.” She smiled as she peered into his lust-darkened green eyes. “And I vow that I’ll strive to be a caring mate to you as well. I-I just have one request.”

“Anything for you, my sweet mate.” He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

“Could we wait to leave Earth until after Christmas? The boys were so excited to help me decorate the house for the holidays, and this would be their last Christmas in the home they grew up in, the home I grew up in. I doubt we’ll ever return to McHenry, but I would like a few more days, just one last holiday, to spend in my childhood home with my nephews.” Was she foolish for wanting to stay for another five days? She thought of the bodies in the street and suppressed a shudder.

“I am uneasy about the militia roaming the streets and murdering your neighbors, Aubrey.” He paused and regarded her with a contemplative look. “But I think it would be possible. I might be able to rig a protective shield around both my cruiser and your home. It would deplete my power reserves considerably, but we should still have enough fuel to reach the Eshunna Passage.”

“Thank you, Claus. It means a lot.” Gratitude rose inside her, a swelling of emotion that brought fresh tears to her eyes. “But obviously, if things get worse in town, I will understand if we must flee. So would the boys.”

“Aunt Aubrey! Claus!” came Marcus’s voice from down the nearest corridor. “Come quick!”

Aubrey and Claus hurried out of the seating area and rushed down the corridor, passing the bedroom where she’d tucked the boys in earlier, noting that the bed was now empty. Damn it. She’d been so engrossed in her conversation with Claus that she hadn’t heard their little feet. They found the boys standing on the bridge staring at the screens Claus had turned off earlier. Oh no.

A quick glance at the screens showed a procession of tanks rolling down the street, but at least the bodies were nowhere to be seen. Thank goodness. Aubrey exhaled with relief. She didn’t want the boys exposed to that kind of violence if she could help it, especially at such an early age.

Another reason she needed to get the hell off Earth.

Good thing she was totally falling in love with the handsome alien who’d shown up on her doorstep and proposed a marriage of convenience.

She exchanged a look with Claus, noting that he didn’t appear pleased by the boys’ actions. Not that she could blame him.

Claus tapped a few buttons and the screens went blank again. He gave the boys a censorious look, though his tone was only gently reprimanding as he said, “Please do not touch any buttons or screens on the bridge. You might accidentally deactivate the cloaking device.”

“Sorry,” the three boys murmured, looking subdued.

Under his breath, Wyatt whispered, “It was Marcus’s idea. He thought he saw something earlier when we were playing with the holographic planet.”

“Yeah, Marcus saw soldiers,” Finn said. “Aunt Aubrey, I’m scared. Will you sleep with us tonight? Claus too?”

Aubrey wished she could be one hundred percent honest with the boys, but she didn’t want to frighten them. She always put them to bed hours before the militias usually came out, and she also used a white noise machine in their room to block the sounds of gunfire. She didn’t want to tell them about the bodies and prayed no more of their neighbors had been dragged outside after Claus had turned the screens off the first time.

She placed a gentle hand on Finn’s shoulder. “Of course, we’ll sleep with you tonight.” She shot a hopeful glance at Claus. “Won’t we?”

Her soon-to-be mate nodded. “Yes, boys, we will all sleep in the same room tonight. However, I promise my vessel is the safest place in McHenry.” He tapped at a screen that was covered in Vaxxlian technical symbols. “There. I have just erected a shield around my ship. Tomorrow morning, I will attempt to expand the shield to protect your house as well.”

“What happens then?” Marcus asked. “Are we staying on Earth? Mommy wanted us to leave. She said it wasn’t safe anymore. She told us we would leave soon but she didn’t say how.”

Oh dear. Aubrey hadn’t anticipated having this discussion with the boys so soon. She’d hoped to have more time to figure out the right thing to say. But before she could reply to Marcus, Claus stepped forward and gazed down at Marcus with his usual patient expression. She loved how he interacted with the boys and believed he would make a good father.

“Actually, you won’t be staying on Earth for much longer, Marcus.” He glanced at Wyatt and Finn. “Your aunt and I have decided to get married, and we will live on the beautiful planet of New Vaxx where it is very safe. There are thousands of human children there already, and I am sure the three of you will make lots of new friends.”

“We’re going to planet New Vaxx!” Finn screeched, bouncing up and down. A grinning Wyatt and Marcus ran to Aubrey and gave her a huge hug. Finn quickly joined them, and seconds later, she reached over and pulled Claus into the circle.

“Group hug,” she said with a laugh. “It’s a human custom.”

Clearly overjoyed to be included, he smiled and surrounded Aubrey and the boys with his massive arms. Her heart danced with joy as she soaked up the tenderness of the moment.

All would be well. She would make sure the boys had a nice Christmas, their last in McHenry. Then they would all depart for New Vaxx and embark upon a new life together.

As a family.