Read Online Dalton, Tymber - Bightmares [Deep Space Mission Corps 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Tymber Dalton - Free Book Online Page A

happy memory he spoke of. “That first morning after we all got together,” he softly said, “when you called us ‘your boys.’ I knew I loved you then, Kels. I fucking miss the hell out of you, girl.” He took a sip of his tea and looked at Caph.
    Caph looked down. Emi’s heart broke over the pain she felt keening through him. “That night in the bar when that woman hit on me and you threatened to kick her ass if she didn’t leave me the hell alone. You called me your husband even though we weren’t really married.” He took a sip of his tea.
    Emi looked at Aaron. His brown eyes had darkened in his pain. As they closed, he whispered, “You told me thank you for loving you and told me how much you loved me and Ford and Caph before I lost you.” His hand trembled slightly as he took a sip.
    Then he squeezed Emi’s hand, and all the men looked at her expectantly.
    “Go ahead, sweetie,” Ford softly encouraged. “It’s okay. Feel free to say anything.”
    She wasn’t sure what to say. After a moment of consideration, she said, “Thank you for loving them and showing them how good they could be together. I promise I’ll love them as much as you did and take good care of them.” She took a sip.
    They all held their cups up again. Aaron’s voice sounded rough. “Crew first,” he said.
    They all repeated it, then finished their tea. Without speaking again, Ford collected their cups. He carefully poured what little remained in the carafe onto the grass around the crystal geode. Then he kissed the tip of his hand and touched his fingers to the geode. Caph, then Aaron, repeated the gesture before they stood and walked to the entrance without speaking.
    Ford returned the beacon to the booth. Outside the dome’s entrance, the men took turns tightly hugging Emi.
    “Thank you, babe,” Ford said. “That was great.”
    Caph concurred. “She would have liked you,” he said as he hugged her.
    Aaron held her for a long moment as she felt him trying to pull his emotions back into their highly protected place in his soul. “Thank you for loving us, Em,” he whispered in her ear. “I can’t begin to tell you how much.”
    She offered him a smile. “Hey, I’m the lucky one.” She hooked her arms through Caph and Aaron’s as they followed Ford back to the tram depot.

    * * * *

    They didn’t return to the main depot. They took another series of trams to the far side of the base, where the residential area was located. Markkus and Delaney D’ambroise still worked for the terraforming division of the DSMC. Emi felt herself trying to contain her nerves as they approached their housing pod. Ironic, because the men had relaxed and even looked forward to seeing the D’ambroises again, their usual playful banter returning as their moods lightened.
    Ford pressed the doorbell. A moment later the door slid open. Emi felt another wave of sadness, this time her own. This woman was about the age her own grandmothers would have been, had they still been alive. Kelsey had received her hazel eyes from her mother. Emi also suspected the soft, natural grey color had once been the same dark blonde of her daughter’s hair.
    Delaney D’ambroise’s face lit up when she spotted the men. “My boys!” The short, slim woman immediately engulfed Ford, who stood closest to the door, in a huge hug.
    Emi felt nothing but joy from the woman.
    “Caph!” She laughed as he picked her up when he hugged her.
    “Hi, Mom,” he said.
    After he set her on her feet, she patted him on the arm and turned to Aaron, who also got a hug. Then she offered Emi a smile. “You must be Emilia.”
    “Please, call me Emi.”
    Delaney also had a hug for her. “Would you please call me Mom? The boys do.”
    Times like this, Emi loved her empathic skills. Her own nervousness finally slipped away as she felt the woman’s genuinely warm reception. “Thank you, Mom. I’d like that.”
    “Well, come on in! Mark is in the kitchen.” She led them inside.