Blake, Abby - Keen Inclination [A Bride for Eight Brothers 4] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) Read Online Free PDF Page A

moved away from the vibrant, sassy woman they’d all fallen in love with.
    Then the part about taking her to Earth sank in.
    “Brock and I think it would be a good idea to renegotiate our contract,” Lachlan said to him. John nodded. He’d been thinking the same thing ever since the raids had started. This was not the situation they’d signed up for, and it would be a plausible excuse for getting Mikayla off the planet without upsetting the others. Although, he suspected that, like him, his brothers would be happier to have her somewhere safer until they could sort out the security issues.
    “I’ll go run a systems check on the cruiser. Brock’s driving,” Lachlan said as he headed out the door. John nodded again and then pulled Mikayla closer.
    “Hear that, princess? Big brother still won’t let me fly the family spaceship.” She smiled slightly, and he felt reassured by the fact that she hadn’t withdrawn completely. She was hurting and very tired, but at least she was still acknowledging his presence. “It’s not like I crashed it on purpose,” he said on a pretend grumble, trying to inject a hint of “normal” into their conversation. She nodded slowly and then wriggled closer.
    When he and his brothers had discussed buying their own intergalactic transport, John had nearly gagged at the exorbitant expense, but with the current situation, he was very glad his brothers had insisted. The trip back to Earth would take just over thirteen hours. If they had to wait for commercial shipping lines, it could’ve taken weeks to get Mikayla back to Earth.
    “I’ve packed some things for Mikayla,” Brock said as he came in the door. “Give me a minute to pack some stuff, and I’ll get Mikayla to the cruiser while you grab some clothes.”
    John nodded and then leaned forward to press a kiss to his wife’s cheek. “I love you,” he whispered, unable to think of any way to reassure her more than he already had. Reluctantly, he rolled off the bed and let Brock lift Mikayla to her feet. John nodded once and then headed for the door.

    * * * *

    Lachlan watched his normally controlled brother practically twitch with agitation as he filled him in on the last twenty-four hours since they’d left the jungle planet.
    “She’s okay,” Brock said through the intergalactic connection. “The doctor said everything is fine. Mikayla’s tired and rundown and low on vitamin D.”
    “That makes sense,” Lachlan said, turning the information over in his mind. “Vitamin D deficiency can trigger depression in space travelers. I’ll check the UV lights on the station are working correctly.” Brock nodded his agreement. Either the lights they used as an equivalent for the Earth’s sunshine weren’t working the way they were supposed to, or there was something on the planet draining vitamin D from their bodies. Either way, Lachlan and his brothers probably hadn’t been affected because of the vitamin supplement they were taking to counteract the mouse tears’ effects.
    “Anyway, the doctor has suggested she take vitamin supplements while she’s off planet, but the good news is that she should be fine in a few days.” He ran a hand through his hair and huffed out a tired breath. “But emotionally, she’s still pulling away. I can feel it, Lachlan, and I don’t know how to stop it. I wish you or Bryce were here. Maybe you could tell me what we’re doing wrong. I feel like we’re losing her.”
    “I doubt you’re doing anything wrong,” Lachlan said sympathetically. It wasn’t often that Brock was unsure of himself. “Just keep her close.”
    Lachlan didn’t voice his theory out loud for fear that it was very close to the truth. He suspected that their beautiful wife was considering leaving them partly because the female scientists seemed to undermine her confidence and partly because she was frightened to fall pregnant again. He and Mikayla had very briefly discussed trying again when they got back to