Every good relationship is about give and take, right?
We're just good together, though, him and I. I smile to myself as I whip up a batch of muffins. I add in a heavy spice that I know is Rektar's favorite—kind of like cinnamon crossed with rosemary—and pace around the kitchen with my hands on the small of my back as I wait for them to finish baking. I made three of the muffins larger than the rest, and I'm going to make sure Rektar knows those are for him. He's put on a bit of a pudge in the two years since we got married. Just a bit. I find it ultra-adorable, though. I love squeezing it…and okay, I just love squeezing him. He's still shy sometimes—I think he always might be—so I make sure to be as bold as I want and let him know exactly what I like. I like his pudge. I like his big hands and his protective nature. I love that he's smart and clever and hard-working and so good to look at that he makes my mouth water every time I see him.
I love that after two years of marriage, I'm as big as a house and he still looks at me with wonder and awe on his face.
I cover the muffins with plas-film and put them in a container, then waddle out to the air-sled. I head toward town, humming to myself as I drive the sled over my fields. I compare them to two years ago. Rektar's been working on my bots in his downtime, and as a result, they're working better than ever. In fact, they're working so efficiently I was able to plant another field, and the incoming money will pay for the new addition to the house—the baby's room.
And in a few years, I'm hoping we'll be able to pay for a little brother for our baby girl. I rub my belly as I drive, smiling at that thought.
There's an open space in front of the Port custodial office, one marked specifically for me or my mate. It's empty, which means Rektar is probably out on his rounds, chasing down missing meat-stock or assisting with a transport ship. His days are pretty varied, but I'm sure he'll be back to the office soon. I maneuver my belly out of the air-sled, move to the passenger side to get the baked goods, and then head in.
Before I can even get to the door, Khex is there, pressing on the pad so it'll slide open. His eyes light up with pleasure at the sight of me. "My favorite female!"
"Don't let Rektar hear you say that," I tease. "He's been very protective lately."
"Of course he is. You look like you're ready to give birth at any moment." He takes the food from my hands, setting it down and then pulling out a chair for me. "How do you feel?"
"Like I swallowed a bag of footballs," I joke.
"What's a footballs?"
"Something enormous like this." I pat my belly. "Where's my mate?"
I look around the office, but Rektar's messy desk looks untouched. Before I can get an answer, two hulking alien men in uniforms—both as blue as my husband—race in and attack the muffins. Their horns are the same unadorned type that Khex and Rektar sport, and they both look much younger than my Rektar. Fresh out of college, I joke to myself.
"Good morning to you two," I say, amused at their appalling manners. Khex has told me before that Ainar and Sinath were very low ranked at their particular military outpost, and he requested that they be stationed out here after they had no other opportunities. Not only is Rektar protective of me, but he's protective of others in his situation. We've had these two over to our little house several times for dinner, and I can't decide if I feel sorry for the two or if they've been raised by wolves and are beyond saving. They're good at citing military protocol, but when it comes to being a normal person out of uniform, they're a little…feral.
Ainar grins at me through a mouth of muffin. "You look more radiant every time we see you, Lucy."
"Oh, you suck up," I say, smiling as I relax in the chair. Or try to. It's not helping my back much. "I bet you say that to all the girls that bring you food."
"No one brings us food but you," Ainar retorts. Sinath just stuffs another muffin into his mouth, like he's afraid they're going to be snatched away before he can eat his fill. Mentally, I make a note to increase how much I make. Or perhaps half a load of breakfast muffins and the other half a savory dinner pocket of some kind. Rektar loves it when I make those for him, as if he can't believe he's so lucky, and I always forget that these are men that have been given nothing but protein ration bars for years on end. Of course they love the cooking.