Hara's Legacy Read online

  “Yes, that, and I want to study your DNA and how it meshes with my own.”

  He smiled devilishly at her. “So that’s why you want all those ‘samples’ of my sperm, huh?”

  She nodded perfunctorily. “Yes, I want you to impregnate me.”

  Justin rocked back on his heels as he realized the implications of what she’d said. For all he knew, she could already be carrying his child. And she wanted it. To study it. Oh God!

  “You want my child as some sort of lab experiment?” His voice rose as his anger increased.

  She seemed to realize he was upset and placed her hot hands on his shoulder. “I would not hurt the child. I would try to love it, if I am capable of that emotion. Many of our females develop love feelings if they choose to give birth, but I have never had a child, so I don’t know. You have my word I have no wish to harm the child.”

  “Yet you would study it and subject it to clinical tests. And you’re not even sure you could love it! And I would never see it or hold it or even know its name. I can’t believe this!”

  “You realize I may already be pregnant?”

  He groaned. “That just makes it worse.”

  “I could grant you special privileges, I suppose. In return for your continued cooperation.” Her head tilted in the way he’d come to realize meant she was thinking.

  “What kind of privileges do you think you can give me? I live in the Waste and I won’t abandon my family.”

  “Or the woman you say you love, yes. I understand. But my people are coming. We will be studying this area in some detail, taking subjects to study. I could promise to leave you and your family as they are if you willingly come inside me a few more times. That should do it.”

  He was torn. “But what of the child?”

  She stepped under the spray of water, adjusting it hotter. “I don’t know if I will be capable of loving it. If so, I will keep it. If not, I may be willing to give it to you for safekeeping. I know little about raising young and as long as you will grant me access to visit and study it, I may let you keep it.”

  “I feel like I’m making a deal with the devil.”

  She smiled as she rinsed her skin under the steamy shower. “I am just a scientist and not any sort of deity. But I will make that deal with you, if you live up to your part.”

  What could he say? His dick was already hard and she was femaleand more than willingif not of his species. He wanted in her pussy as many times as she would let him. But most of all, he wanted his family safe. Caleb had sent him here, probably knowing he would be offered such a bargain. Caleb had sent him to keep the family safe. And he would do it.

  It pained him to think of this cold woman giving birth to his child, not even knowing if she could love it. But he had her word she would not harm the babe and if by chance some miracle happened and she could love the child, it might just help her have some compassion for the test subjects her people were going to capture and study when they invaded the Waste. Justin sighed heavily, all his options boiling down to only one.

  “All right, you win.” He caressed her slick shoulders. “Now turn around and let me in. I want a shower and I want your pussy. Preferably both at the same time.”

  She made that throaty noise he was beginning to recognize as her sound of arousal and turned to the wall, bracing her hands on the cool tile. “That can be arranged, Justin.”

  He enjoyed the tone of her melodic voice and wasted no time joining his straining cock to her hot body. He pumped her from behind, enjoying the hot spill of water on his chest and across her back as she leaned against the side wall of the tub. The warm water dripped down to pool between them and it was almost enough just seeing his cock pumping into a warm, wet pussy to make him come right then.

  But she needed a little more stimulation and he vowed to make this night one she would remember always as the best sex of her life. So he brought his hands up to squeeze her nipples. Hard. She squealed in the way he now knew signaled impending climax, so he did it again. And again.

  She climaxed around him, her warm tunnel milking him as he allowed himself to watch the red lips of her pussy caressing his shaft. It was a sight he hadn’t seen in a long time and probably wouldn’t see again any time soon after this night was over. So he promised himself he’d enjoy it while he could and live with the consequences of this night’s decisions when they arrived. If things worked out like he expected, that would give him about nine months to figure out a way to get his child away from this heartless bitch.

  After their shower, Mara collapsed on the bed for a short nap. But Justin’s mind was reeling and only the tentative touch of his brother’s telepathy cheered him. Mick was as good as his word and had come down the mountain to the village at his silent request. Justin couldn’t go out to talk to his brother and risk Mara waking, but he could and did use their telepathic gift to fill Mick in on everything that had so far transpired.

  Mick promised to stay in town in case his brother needed some backup, and agreed to follow Justin home from a distance, watching his back trail. With plans made, Justin allowed himself to close his eyes for a short respite. He had a woman to fuck when he woke, for the first time in too many damned long years, and he needed his strength if he was going to do it right.

  Chapter Four

  It was two days before Mara was ready to leave Justin’s room. They’d fucked on every surface in the room, the dresser, the shower, the bed, the chair, and even his Harley. She’d been hot and insatiable, and Justin was downright dirty dog tired after the marathon session. He had a grimly satisfied smile on his face as he packed up his belongings, Mara watching him as if she was trying to figure him out.

  Reaching into his saddlebag, he found the pendant Caleb had given him and remembered what his older brother had said before he’d left. He stood, fingering the gold chain that had been in their family for many generations, trusting in Caleb’s precognition that he was doing the right thing.

  “Mara,” he took her hand in his. “I think I understand your people a little better now.” He watched carefully, hoping she would show some kind of emotion, but all he got was the cold analytical stare he’d come to expect from her. “This pendant has been in my family for many generations and I want you to have it now. For the child. Just in case. I want you to give it to him or her so they’ll have a piece of their father’s heritage and know that I cared.” He took her hand and folded the chain within, shocked when the pendant glowed at her touch.

  “What is this?” She seemed almost as shocked as he was.

  “I told you. It’s a family heirloom. I want you to keep it safe for our child.”

  “By the First Shard!” she exclaimed, holding the pendant to the meager light. “I think this is a piece of the Home Crystal from my people’s ancient homeworld.” She turned wide eyes to him. “How did you come by it?” She sank onto the bed, holding tightly to the precious pendant.

  “It’s from my ancestors. It’s been passed down from one generation of O’Haras to the next.”

  “O Hara? What did you say?” Her shock seemed only to increase.

  “O’Hara. It’s my family name.”

  “I thought you said your name was Justin?”

  He nodded, not quite understanding. “It is. Justin is my first name. O’Hara is my last name. It is the name my family shares. Caleb O’Hara is my oldest brother. Mick O’Hara is my youngest brother. And Jane O’Hara is my sister-in-law, which means she’s married to my brother.” He wanted her to know all their names so she could keep them off her list of test subjects. He wanted her to keep her bargain and keep his family safe. “Why does this surprise you so much?”

  “I did not know you have more than one name. My people do not.”

  “Then how do you keep everybody straight?”

  “I was designated Mara 547,326 at birth. On this planet, I am known as Mara 12, since I am the twelfth in order of rank presently living here. The numbers keep us separate. They keep the line of Mara straig
ht, as you put it.”

  “God! You number your children?”

  “It is efficient.”

  “And cold,” Justin said shortly, unable to keep the horror from his voice, but she didn’t seem to comprehend it. “So your family name is Mara then?”

  “I suppose you could say that. There are many Maras. Are there many O Haras?”

  Justin nodded sadly. “In the old days there were many. Ireland is the origin of my family name, which is where I believe your advanced exploration folk probably settled. Many thousands of O’Haras lived there before the cataclysm. But a lot of O’Haras immigrated to other countries, as my ancestors did when they came to the North American continent in the late twentieth century. I don’t know how the other O’Haras might have fared, but my family all shared psychic gifts that allowed us to adapt to the new vibration of the Earth that your people caused. I assume if we did, other O’Haras might’ve survived as well. But why are you so interested?”

  “Hara was one of the Founders. He was one of our greatest explorers and leaders. It was he who led us away from the homeworld when our sun exploded. It was he who found this planet and several others for us to tame and settle. He was lost to us on a long ago expedition, but if what you say is true, he settled here on Earth and you are of his line.” She again fingered the pendant. “I cannot believe otherwise. If you are not descended from Hara, there is no way you could have claimed a piece of the Home Crystal. Only the Founders were allowed shards of the Home Crystal and many of them disappeared with the Founders. Justin, do you really want to give this to me? It is a sacred relic of my people and worth more than I can tell you.”

  She held it out to him but he closed her hand over the pendant once more. “Take it for the child. Promise me you will give it to him or her from me in case something should happen to me. That’s all I ask.”

  “But, Justin—”

  He held a finger to her lips, staying her objections. “It was foreseen that you should have this. I never argue with my brother’s powers.”

  “He can foresee the future?” Her clinical tone was back, but she was still stroking the crystal in her palm with her thumb.

  Justin nodded. “His precognition saved us from the cataclysm. He knew what was coming months in advance and we came up here and set up our ranch. He also sent me to you. He told me there would be a woman waiting for me in the village, and that I should love her as well as I knew how and give her this crystal. As the eldest, it was his to guard and pass on, and he foresaw that it must go to you. I don’t know why, but I don’t question his vision. He’s saved my life too often for me to question him now.”

  “I don’t quite understand, but I will keep this safe. For the child, as you request. And when the child is born, I will seek you out so you may see it and learn if I have developed love feelings for it.”

  “As long as you come in peace, you’re welcome on our ranch.” He quirked his head up at her as he secured his saddlebags. “I think I’d enjoy seeing you while you were still pregnant.” She looked at him with that darned clinical curiosity, but he still felt a need to tell her how he felt. “I’ve never made a woman pregnant before. I’d like to see it, feel the roundness of your stomach and feel the baby kick. The drive to procreate is very strong in most human males. I guess I’m no different. If you can manage it, I’d love to see you while you’re still big with my child. It’ll probably be the only chance I’ll ever have to have offspring.”

  She nodded calmly. “I will try to accommodate your request but I can make no guarantees. I will have much work to complete in the coming months.”

  He strode up to her, pulling her close for one final kiss. “Just promise me you’ll try to remember that we humans have deep feelings. What seems inconsequential to you is devastating to us. Remember that when you perform your tests, and be kind, Mara. I sense you have a kind heart buried somewhere deep down inside. Look for it, Mara. Let it guide you in your dealings with humanity.” He knew it was asking a lot, but she looked as if his words were at least making her think.

  “I will leave now,” she announced, putting on her shoes.

  Justin stepped up behind her, taking the necklace from her hand and securing it around her neck, tucking the glowing crystal into her form-fitting jumpsuit so it wouldn’t be seen. It was up to her whether or not she’d tell her people about this “Home Crystal” thing. He kissed her cheek and she returned the gesture with an odd light in her eyes.

  “Thank you for keeping your end of our bargain, Justin O Hara. I will keep mine. On this you have my word.” She bowed her head once to him and left the room without a backward glance.

  “I hope like hell I can trust you, Mara,” Justin mumbled as he surveyed the wreck of the bed and double-checked to make sure he had all his belongings. With a mental nudge to Mick, who was next door, he rolled the Harley out of the room and started her up. He knew Mick would watch his back to be sure he wasn’t followed, then make his own way home to the ranch.

  It felt good to have his brother watching his back. They’d always been close, but in the years since the cataclysm, they’d worked together as a team, struggling to keep the family safe and to survive in the Waste. It hadn’t been easy. At first, they’d had to struggle to set up the herds and crops. They’d had bad years, but they’d worked together and overcome not only the elements, but also the criminals who’d tried to harm them every now and again.

  The Waste was not a safe place. At first, the challenges had come every few weeks, but after a year or two, as the Earth settled, so did the people who were left. Plus, the O’Hara brothers had learned to work together to defend their home. They’d all taken pointers from him on how to work as a military unit. Justin counted himself doubly blessed to have received the best military training the old world had to offer, and to be able to use it to defend his family in this brave new world.

  Only recently, the strain had become too great. The brothers hadn’t been in any life or death situations lately and they’d grown lax. That would be remedied now the aliens were coming. Justin only prayed they were equal to the task. He also knew they’d been sidetracked by the mounting frustration that came from having Jane around all the time and no ready sexual outlet available to work off their own steam. It was all fine for Caleb. He had Jane. But Mick and Justin had been getting desperate and that made them irritable. Irritable, sexually frustrated men didn’t make the most reliable or reasonable defense force.

  They’d have to fix that somehow. The time was coming when they’d probably have to defend their home and family again if Caleb’s visions were accurate—and they always were.

  Justin set off for the ranch, thoughts of the future heavy in his mind.

  “I’m glad you’re back safe.” Caleb greeted him as he pulled the Harley into his small garage. Justin was bone tired, but the frustration he’d been feeling for months was mercifully dulled. He’d enjoyed the hot pussy he was presented with, but it was just sex as far as he was concerned. It hadn’t meant much to him or to the emotionally cold woman who’d chosen him to impregnate her.

  But he had to believe it had been worth it. He’d gotten his rocks off, and he’d bartered his sperm for the security of his family.

  “Three days. As ordered, sir.” Justin eased his harsh words with a slow grin of the sexually satisfied.

  “Now I know just how obnoxious I look every morning,” Caleb muttered, slapping his brother on the back. “I want to hear everything you learned, but I think first you need a nap.”

  Justin laughed as they headed back to the big house. “The short of it is, we’re safe from the aliens for now. Mara’s most likely pregnant with my child and in exchange for my sperm, she leaves all of us in peace when her people invade the area.”

  “Good God! I’d hoped it wasn’t true.” Caleb was grim.

  Justin turned on him quietly, his eyes growing somber. “You knew about this? You knew and you didn’t warn me?”

  Caleb sighed with regret. “It didn
’t come clear until after you’d left. The visions have been increasing steadily instead of easing off. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you more before you took off.”

  Justin grabbed his saddlebags and headed toward the house with Caleb. “I understand, I guess, but it doesn’t sit well with me, Caleb. Giving life to a child who might never know me. Doesn’t sit well at all.”

  They walked in silence for a time before Caleb answered.

  “I can’t guarantee anything, Jus, but we might have a chance to get the child back. We might be able to raise him.”

  Justin stopped dead in his tracks, hope lighting his dark eyes.

  “A son?” Caleb nodded and Justin felt the sting of tears he refused to let fall. He was going to have a son—one he might never know. Fate couldn’t be so cruel. Not if he had anything to say about it. “How can we help him?”

  Caleb looked off into the distance, shaking his head. “I’m not sure yet, but I know there’s a chance. I feel it in my bones. And I feel like it’s something we have to do. We have to make it our goal, Justin, to raise that child as our own.”

  Caleb started as Justin clapped him on the back, bringing him back to the present.

  “Then that will be our goal,” he said shortly. “That and keeping all of us alive through what’s to come.”

  Justin began walking again, stopping at the back door to turn back to his eldest brother.

  “Thanks, Caleb.” His eyes shifted down. “Thanks for giving me hope.”

  Silently, he went into the house and sought his own room. He needed to think, but he right now he needed sleep more. Thought would come later.

  Two days later, Caleb sat quietly while Jane and Justin cleared away the dishes from lunch. It had been a strained and silent meal, the tension running high between the two brothers. Mick was still off in his laboratory, running tests, and the uncertainty was killing all of them slowly.