Three Square Meals Ch. 081

After padding out of the bedroom, he strolled along the corridor towards the Maliri girl's bedroom, grinning to himself as he approached Sakura's door and heard her cries of pleasure.

*Yeah, she's loving it,* Alyssa smirked at him as he walked past the bedroom. Her playful tone faded away as she added, *Do you remember Tashana's past? The reason why she's struggling with the fight against the Drakkar?*

*I remember, thank you,* John replied gratefully, stopping in front of Tashana's bedroom and knocking on the door. He felt bad about keeping Tashana waiting and would've rushed straight over there if he'd known she wanted to talk to him about something.

"Come in!" she called out to him, her voice sounding muffled through the doorway.

He opened the door and walked in, smiling at Tashana who was sitting cross-legged on the bed. "Hey, honey. I'm really sorry I kept you waiting."

"That's quite alright, I had a few things to think about anyway," she replied, giving him a warm smile as she patted the bed next to her. "Come in and make yourself comfortable."

He did as she suggested, sitting down on the bed beside the bright-eyed girl. He turned to face her, twisting so his left knee was brushing against hers, his right foot still resting on the floor. She had changed out of her business suit now and was wearing one of the long dresses that Irillith favoured. The material clung to her chest and waist, a few slashes in the fabric revealing tantalising glimpses of azure skin.

Deciding to get straight into it, he reached out to stroke her cheek and said, "Both Alyssa and I have seen you get upset on a couple of occasions over the last few days. Do you feel like telling me what's bothering you?"

Tashana's beautiful face shadowed with guilt and she glanced down, averting her eyes from his. That had the unfortunate consequence of lining up her gaze with his half-hard cock, clearly visible in his trousers. She licked her lips subconsciously, then glanced up at him and asked, "Maybe you should feed me first? It's been quite a while since breakfast."

Remembering her cum-swollen belly highlighted in her figure-hugging business suit didn't do anything to help the situation, his trousers tenting visibly as he throbbed at that alluring thought. Doing his best to ignore it, he climbed onto the bed, then lay down on the covers, bringing the Maliri girl with him. She smiled and was unresisting as he guided her down to the bed. Raising himself up on an elbow, he placed a comforting hand on her slender stomach and began to stroke her soothingly.

"Don't worry, I'll fill you up in a little while. Before we do that, I'd really like to talk to you first," he said with a kind smile, looking down at her lovely face.

Tashana was hesitant at first then slowly nodded, relaxing as he caressed her. "That feels really nice..." she murmured, while gazing into his eyes.

"It seems like it's been ages since we properly had a chance to catch up, but part of that is just the unfortunate timing. With the preparations for the battle then the fight itself, I've been a bit distracted recently, but I hope you don't feel I've been neglecting you?" John asked, his fingers slipping through one of the slits in the dress so he could trace circles on her smooth skin.

Tashana bit her lip as she trembled in response to his gentle touch. She shook her head as she replied, "No, I could see how busy you've been, but I've been occupied too." A beautiful smile lit up her face as she continued in an excited voice, "It's been wonderful spending so much time with Irillith! I can't believe how well we've clicked since we were reunited! It's even better now, than the best of times when we were children."

"I know Irillith feels the same way and I'm really happy for you both," John said, enjoying seeing the sheer delight on the girl's face. He smiled at her as he added, "How about the rest of the girls? Have they been treating you nicely too, or do I need to start smacking some bottoms?"

She laughed at his gentle joke, the lovely carefree sound filling the room. "You know the girls are all amazing! I've never felt so... loved." She looked away into the distance for a moment, an almost disbelieving smile teasing her lips. When her angular eyes fixed on his again, she sounded awed as she continued, "That's not an exaggeration, I can really feel it. It's like they've all just welcomed me with open arms, treating me like a long-lost sister."

John smiled at the look of wonder on her face, delighted to hear how happy she was. As much fun as being with Alyssa, Jade, and Sakura would have been, this was... better.

"What's making you smile?" Tashana asked him curiously, reaching up with a slender blue hand to trace her fingertips over his lips.

"Your laughter for one thing," he responded, kissing her fingers. "I said a while ago that I was looking forward to hearing that on a daily basis, so thank you for delivering."

She couldn't help laughing again, and he grinned at the sound. "What's so special about my laugh?" she asked, blushing self-consciously.

"Do you want to hear the superficial reason or the deeper one behind it?" he asked, tracing the neat oval of her abdomen with his fingers.

She gazed into his eyes and replied breathlessly, "Both, please."

He watched her face as he replied, "It's a lovely sound, just like your sister's and mother's. You all sound so carefree and happy when you laugh; there's no sense of self-imposed restraint about it - almost like a child's laughter. You sound innocent and pure."

Tashana blushed a deeper shade of blue and murmured, "I couldn't tell if that was the superficial reason or the deeper one."

"The other reason, is that I know you were desperately unhappy before you joined the crew, just like the rest of the women on this ship. You've all been touched by awful tragedy in one way or another and it feels... rewarding when I hear any of you laugh. Knowing that such a thing was so rare in your old lives, makes it all the more special when I see you looking so happy here with me," John replied, giving her the unvarnished truth.

She gaped at him in amazement, then pulled him down for a loving kiss. The minutes drifted by as their lips brushed against each other, really taking the time to explore the intimate act of kissing for the first time. This close, he could see her pupils flare with arousal and hear her quiet little moans of desire as she pressed herself against him.

"I want you to be my first," she finally whispered to him, the smouldering look in her eyes making her intent perfectly clear.

John pulled back slightly, giving her a tender kiss as he gazed into her eyes. "If you feel you're ready, then can I suggest tonight instead?" He glanced around the comfortable but Spartan officer's quarters and continued, "A gift like that is special and I want the setting to match the occasion."

Tashana let out a happy sigh, beaming a radiant smile at him as she nodded her agreement.

"Good girl, I promise it'll be worth it," he said, giving her an affectionate kiss on the tip of her nose.

She laughed again at that and hugged him tight, moulding her athletic body to his. "You were so right before; I spend most of the time so blissfully happy here with you," the Maliri girl said, grinning as she kissed him on the nose too.

"Let's see if we can change that 'most of the time' to 'all the time'," John said pointedly, moving his hand up to caress her cheek. "Do you feel like telling me what's been bothering you now?"

Tashana flushed guiltily, looking away until he lifted her chin, so that she was gazing into his eyes again. He could see the moment of decision reflected in that violet gaze and she finally blurted out, "I think we made a terrible mistake wiping out the Drakkar!"

John nodded his understanding as he studied her face, watching the surprise in her expression when he reacted that way. "I think you might be right, but I'm not sure how we could've handled it any differently with them. The brute leading the Drakkar didn't really seem open to negotiation," he said, brushing his fingers through her silky white hair that fanned out on the pillow behind her. "I do know why you've been feeling that way though."

"Why?" she asked intently. "I've been feeling terrible for all the doubts I've had about that battle. It felt like I was questioning you and your decisions, without really knowing why."

John contacted his Maliri Matriarch telepathically, saying, *I'm just going to block you from my mind for a few minutes, Edraele. There's nothing to worry about and I'll let you back in shortly.*

*Of course, John. I appreciate you warning me in advance.* she replied, sounding grateful.

He stroked the side of Tashana's head as he said, "When you joined me, you know that I wiped your memory of the last thirteen years."

"Because of all the bad things that happened to me in that time?" Tashana replied quietly, staring at him with wide eyes.

John nodded, giving her a sympathetic smile. He began to massage her temple as he replied, "I didn't completely eliminate all your old memories - doing that would have meant making millions of molecular changes at the synapses between your neurons. I probably still could, but it would be a laborious and delicate process and I wanted to take your pain away quickly."

She nodded thoughtfully and asked, "So what did you do instead?"

"The easiest way to describe it, is that I've covered your old memories in a protective shield, which stops your subconscious from being aware of them. In any normal girl that would be the end of it, but it looks like there's a problem," he said, frowning as he mulled it over.

"What kind of problem?" Tashana asked, looking worried now.

He leaned down to kiss her and she immediately relaxed, then waited patiently for him to reply.

"Like your mother and sister, you're a very bright and gifted woman. Every time I feed you, it's helping you become significantly more powerful. As your subconscious grows stronger, I think it's starting to test the shield I've placed in your mind, letting partial memories start to leak through. During your last three years in the Unclaimed Wastes, you worked as a smuggler, captain of your own vessel with a mixed crew of aliens and Terrans. The reason you felt apprehensive about fighting the Drakkar, is because you used to have one working for you as a crewmember on your ship," John explained, watching her intently for any signs of distress.

Tashana looked shocked to hear this and she paused for a moment to let this information sink in. "So my memories of... Groluk are leaking out? That's why I felt so bad about killing them?" she asked, nodding as she finally understood what was happening.

"I didn't know he was called Groluk," John said pointedly, catching the reference to his name. He gave her a rueful smile as he confessed, "I'm not really sure how you managed to befriend a Drakkar. Every one of them we've met has tried to kill and eat us, often not in that order."

Tashana nodded solemnly, then sounding anxious, she asked, "What happens if my mind breaks through the shield? Am I going to be driven mad by a flood of terrible memories?"

He shook his head and his voice was full of conviction as he replied, "I stripped out all the emotional pathways between those memories and they won't be coming back. You'll be able to remember everything that happened to you objectively, so it shouldn't be traumatic, just informative."

"Why go to all that trouble then?" Tashana asked, her brow wrinkling in confusion.

John flopped back onto the bed, then scooped Tashana up in his arms and placed her so that she was resting on his chest. She grinned at him, enjoying being atop him like this.

"Because of Edraele, basically," he admitted, folding his arms behind his head as he gazed up at her. "I told you about what happened with my Progenitor Guide and your mother, didn't I?"

She nodded, looking thoughtful as she replied, "He went rogue and managed to take over your mind. My mother released him by accident and when they fought, he defeated her. After that, he destroyed her personality as part of his plans to turn her into his Matriarch. When Alyssa finally defeated him, you rebuilt my mother's mind."

John looked at her in surprise, then nodded as he said, "That's actually a pretty good summary of events. Well, since then, Edraele has been struggling to deal with the memories of all the horrible things her old personality did. I've been telling her over and over again that she wasn't responsible for anything that happened before I rebuilt her mind, but I know she's weighed down with guilt over it."

Tashana had been listening quietly as he spoke and when he paused for a moment, she asked, "So you were worried that I'd react in the same kind of way?"

He smiled at her and reached up to cup her face in his hands. "I knew you wouldn't feel guilty, but I didn't know how your mind would cope with the memories of what happened to you, even with all the associated emotions removed. I wasn't going to take any chances, so in the end I took some additional precautions, which leaves us where we are today."

"I hadn't really thought about it until now, but whatever happened to me in the Unclaimed Wastes must have been really awful if you've been this cautious," Tashana said astutely, her violet eyes studying his face.

He watched the Maliri girl in silence for a moment, then nodded in confirmation. "Completely healing your body was easy, but your mind is much more complex. I wanted you to have a fresh start, without carrying any of that baggage from those years. We discussed it before I shielded those memories from you and you told me that was what you wanted too."

She smiled at him and said, "It's okay, I'm not upset with you, far from it actually. I'm touched that you'd go to such lengths to try and ensure my happiness."

"You're one of my girls now and it's my job to protect you and keep you safe," John said earnestly, feeling an overwhelming urge to try and make her understand his motivations behind his actions. "I can't go back in time to undo your past, so this was the best way I could think of to try and do exactly that."

Tashana leaned forward to give him a tender kiss. "You make me feel protected and loved, I don't think I could ask for anything more than that from my man."

John relaxed now, relieved that she understood what he'd tried to do for her and why. He wrapped his arms around her and returned her kisses, enjoying seeing the spark of lust igniting behind those violet orbs.

"I thought there was another even more important job you had?" she asked him coyly, a seductive smile appearing on her lips.

"Oh, really? What might that be?" he asked, between kisses.

She planted another searing liplock on him, then whispered, "If I'm one of your girls, aren't you supposed to be feeding me cum for two weeks?"

"That's very true," he agreed, a lusty grin appearing on his face as he stroked her back. "I'm sorry you've had to share a few times. With the battle, I needed to be able to heal the girls in an emergency."

"That's okay, I understand - it's fortunate you did," she murmured, as she continued to plant light kisses on his lips. A smile teased her lips as she added, "Besides, sharing can be fun sometimes."

He was about to reply, when the door swished open, followed by the click of high heels as someone entered the room. John's view was blocked by Tashana's long flowing hair and when he tried to glance around her to see who it was, she moved with him, grinning as she blocked his view.

"And what do you think you're doing with my sister?" Irillith asked archly as she suddenly appeared right beside him, sitting demurely on the bed.

John laughed at her teasing tone, then reached out to grab her and pull her down to join them. Tashana moved over to make room for her twin and soon he had a pair of identical Maliri girls looking down at him, their warm soft breasts pressed against his chest.

"Hello Irillith," Tashana said, smiling coyly at her sister. "You timed that perfectly."

"It was easy with Alyssa eavesdropping, I just had to wait for my cue," Irillith replied, flashing a grin at her twin.

The two sisters shared an unspoken conversation, their identical violet eyes fixed intently on each other. John could only watch entranced, suddenly acutely aware of the mounting tension in the air.

Tashana turned back to look at him then, giving him a warm smile as she said, "It's just the three of us here now and you know my sister and I are both very grateful to you for reuniting us." Her voice turned breathy as she asked, "Is there anything we can do to repay you for everything you've done?"

John's throat felt thick and he swallowed the big lump that was there, not trusting himself to speak. He stared wide-eyed at the twins, his mind whirring with a million requests he'd love to make, but not sure what their boundaries were and how they'd react to anything he said.

Irillith watched his face with a naughty smile on her full lips. She glanced at her sister and said, "Perhaps he can't make his mind up? There's so many fascinating possibilities with two willing girls at your disposal."

Tashana turned so she was facing her twin, and replied, "While he's trying to decide, I just wanted to tell you how wonderful it's been, being together again."

Irillith turned to look intently at her sister and nodded emphatically. "I know exactly what you mean, I missed you so much when we were apart. I love you, Tashana."

"I love you too, Irillith," her twin replied, and the two girls moved closer so they were only inches apart.

John held his breath as he watched them, the Maliri girls focusing purely on each other as they moved even closer. They were absolutely identical and to see them like this was like watching someone leaning forward to kiss their own reflection. When there was just a hair's breadth between them, they paused again, staring into each other's eyes. This was it, the pivotal moment when the dynamics of their relationship would permanently change. John knew it and more importantly, the girls knew it, a little smile appearing on their beautiful faces as they acknowledged that moment.

Then their lips were touching, exploring each other as they kissed for the first time.

Staring at them in awe, he watched enthralled as the twins kissed each other tenderly. This wasn't just some passionate embrace between lovers, the girls had shared a whole lifetime together and were celebrating their love for each other with that kiss. John couldn't remember being so turned on before. Every fibre of his being urged him to dive into that tender moment, but he held himself back, letting Tashana and Irillith get comfortable with this new level of intimacy forming between them.

When their lips finally parted and they turned to face him again, they both had shy smiles on their faces. He could see the flared pupils in their lovely violet orbs and their flushed, excited expressions told him exactly how much they'd enjoyed their illicit kiss.

"Did you like that?" Irillith asked him self-consciously, revealing a sudden touching vulnerability in the girl that he'd never seen before.

Finally trusting himself to breathe again, John filled his lungs with crisp, clean air, making both sisters rise up on his chest. He grinned at the pair of them and said, "That was one of the most intimate moments I think I've ever seen. Thank you both for sharing that with me."

"You're welcome," Tashana said, darting a smile at her sister before leaning in to kiss him on the cheek.

Irillith did the same on the other cheek, before they pulled back so they were only inches away from his face. "Would you like to see us kiss again?" the gorgeous Maliri girl asked him.