by Pearl Tate
“Sounds good.” Teresa agrees, smiling up at Payak who looks like he’d like to eat her up like ice cream. He straightens up and looks over at Desin, jerking his head toward the exit.
Desin’s hand skims my upper back before he leans down to whisper in my ear, “Until we meet again … soon.”
Between his whispered promise and the kiss that Payak lays on Teresa, I’m frozen in shock as both men disappear into the crowd. Teresa’s slower to recover than I am. With her hand on the bar around her wine glass, she blinks slightly as I wiggle closer, bumping her arm with my chest.
“Oh, Teresa. You’ve been holding out on me.” Her head swivels as she smiles slightly. “Spill, girlfriend.” It’s going to be a long night of gossip.
CHAPTER SEVEN
- Desin
“Where are you going?” Lana’s voice is sharper than normal, causing me to look up from the meal I’m gulping down at the kitchen table.
It’s been much quieter without the rest of our squad working here. While we were away with the Ashen, Nikon and Jaxtyn, along with their personal assistant Alisha, were reassigned to Iceland to help investigate a potential outbreak of the Wen virus. The rest of us have been waiting to see if we’re reassigned as well. Based on Payak’s behavior, I’d say he’d be quite angry if that happens.
Right now, he looks to be heading out, having just reviewed the contents of a container Cameron assembled for him. From the sounds of it, Cam’s been quite informative and helpful to Payak, sending over the item following their quick call. “Yeah, what’s in that anyways?” I add to Lana’s question.
Standing, I take my dirty dishes over to the sink and begin rinsing them before loading them into the appliance called a dishwasher. That was another thing Payak gave Lana and me a hard time about yesterday when we settled back in. I admit, the kitchen was a mess, but we don’t usually have to get quite so detailed on the cleaning, and Lana and Alisha refused to be the only ones responsible for getting things back to their original positions in the kitchen.
Payak’s reloading the container he received from Cameron on the middle kitchen countertop. It appears to be woven, but from some material I don’t recognize. “It’s called a picnic basket, and it’s a part of my date with Teresa. It was Cam’s idea yesterday when we arrived back. He said I should ask her to eat with me and try to integrate into Teresa’s life as a normal male. I have to admit it’s a good idea. She did say yes.”
Nodding, I watch as he places some eating utensils and plates along with a large drink bottle into the basket. “What else did he say?” My curiosity is killing me as Payak gets ready to leave.
“What do you mean?” Payak looks up briefly before concentrating on locking the container. Trying to be casual, I wonder if there’s any chance of me seeing Jade again. Maybe I should have asked her out? I would have if I’d known this is what it takes to arrange seeing her again.
Shrugging, I lick my lips, noticing Lana coming up the few steps from the living area to listen to our conversation. “Nothing. Never mind.” The last thing I need to do right now is say anything in front of Lana. We’re probably skirting the allowances on social interaction with the native species as it is, but it’s hard when they’re so similar to us.
Last night as I drifted off to sleep, I thought about Jade and how it seemed like she could see me phased while I stood on the edge of the dance floor. I mean … I know it was probably my imagination. Although Payak also suspects Teresa can see him even when he’s phased. He was right next to me, though, and I was so captivated by Jade’s beauty, that I wasn’t really paying attention to whether Payak was phasing back and forth or not.
I shiver as I think about the way it felt when I touched her. I want to do it again. “Is this a normal Earth mating ritual? Do they mate?” I can’t resist asking.
Lana’s frozen at the end of the countertop, still staring at the basket that Payak slides toward himself. “Not like Sinth or most other species. They have courting rituals, but nothing that physically will tie them to each other during their lifetimes,” she answers before he can say anything.
Her voice has resorted back to its normal aloof tone, but as Payak picks up the basket and moves to the door, her eyes follow him. She’s not showing any outward emotion like jealousy or anger, but the set of her mouth gives away more than she realizes. I wouldn’t have thought she had it in her.
“Well, have fun and if you see Jade, be sure to tell her I said hello.” Sighing, I ignore Lana, walking back down to my station in the living area where we set up our equipment. Someone has to work around here. My chest feels tight as I settle into the chair, letting my heavy limbs arrange themselves before I enter production. The dull ache in my stomach from the meal I just ate hasn’t settled yet.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Lana moving down the stairs, removing her assigned clothing. Unbuttoning the silky blouse, she lets the material fall down her arms before unfastening a strange breast covering I’ve never seen her wear before. The lace fabric accentuates her curves and is very flattering, but I’m not sure why she’s chosen now to initiate sexual relations.
Not only is it highly unusual for her, but it’s generally something that occurs during the cleansing process. Our Personal Assistants know us all intimately, including our preferences, and I enjoy nothing better than having my body scrubbed and manipulated to release. Entering Lana’s body is something that I haven’t done regularly since my infatuation with her ended. It just seems too intimate, making me wish for things that can never be.
“Why now?” I question her as I watch her lay her garments over one of the chairs next to me. The top fastener on her pants has released, and she’s already pulling the material down over her hips, exposing a white undergarment similar to the one that Jade was wearing last night.
I’m immediately thinking about Jade’s scent and the way her juices clung to my skin. The attraction was instantaneous and all consuming. As Lana grabs my shoulder to bend and pick up her pants and under garment, I realize that what I feel with her is … nothing. Absolutely nothing. Not even my cock is responding to her close proximity even though she’s naked.
“You seem sad,” Lana finally answers. That’s a first. I didn’t even think she cared what my feelings were—or about anything for that matter. She certainly didn’t care when I attempted to make her feel better the other day.
Leaning back in the chair, I look at her standing naked in front of me before she drops to her knees, reaching for the clothing fastener on the front of my pants. Still nothing. That’s … interesting.
I’ll have to think about this later, but right now, I clutch Lana’s hands, forcing her to stop. “Lana. No. Thank you, but no.”
Lana’s head snaps up at my words, surprise and an expression I can’t identify flitting across her features before her default blank expression descends. “Why?”
The question is innocent enough, but I know better. She’s obviously angry. The emotion is clear in the stiff way she yanks her hands from mine and scrambles to her feet, pulling her shirt on as she waits for me to respond.
I’m so taken aback by her actions I just blink stupidly and try to remember the last time I turned her down and how she reacted. It’s then I realize—I never have. Never before has looking at her affected me so little. Stuttering, I try to decide what I’m feeling. “I just don’t feel the urge right now.”
“Just like Payak,” Lana huffs under her breath. Giving up on dressing, she picks up her garments and stomps from the room. Confused, I just watch her. Interesting.
I certainly felt ready to explode last night—with Jade— and despite the fact that I haven’t released since I met her, I don’t have any desire to be with Lana. That’s definitely a first. Another fact that makes me wonder when I’ll see Jade again.
Fastening my pants, I turn back to the work in front of me. If there’s one thing I learned from what went on with Lana before, it’s that work is the answer. Immersing myself in my station, I try
to forget the deep blue eyes that haunted my dreams last night.
CHAPTER EIGHT
- Jade
“You can stay here if you want.” I call out over my shoulder at Teresa before sliding out from under the delivery trailer and scaling up the side of the fifty-foot long container next to the dock opening. I’m sure I won’t get caught going through this side of the warehouse, even though its access is restricted. Despite the cameras everywhere, I know most of the guys who monitor them, and I can’t imagine me being here will raise any red flags. Everyone knows that I’m in charge of reviewing the kitchen deliveries.
After my conversation with Greg, I tried to go back and get a sample from the general warehouse, but within hours, they’d already relocated it into the more secure area with “restricted access.” If I hadn’t been there during the receiving process, I’m not even sure I’d be aware of its arrival. I’m just having such a hard time wrapping my mind around the idea of aluminum being added to any food.
Really? Could that manifest have been incorrect? That’s what I plan to find out. If it’s being labeled as aluminum, maybe it’s actually something worse or more …
I don’t wait for Teresa as I squeeze through the narrow space between the back of the trailer and the dock. She seemed gung-ho this morning, but when the reality of the situation set in, she must have decided she’d never have a career in breaking and entering! I can understand her hesitation.
If you’d asked me even two weeks before if I’d do something like this—there’s no way. But this is important. They’re putting this “supplement” in everyone’s food! Although so far, it’s only going into the strangest things. Gross things. Well … gross to me, I guess.
For some reason, the dietary supplement is being used in some of the delicacies that are only options for the upper management and, believe it or not, requests for them have skyrocketed. I know there has to be more to this supplement—there’s no way it’s actually aluminum. That would be toxic.
That’s why I’m here. So far, the supplement has gone into the meals without a hitch, but I intend to find out more by getting a sample of it sent out to an independent lab along with some other “supplements” that came in from the same supplier recently.
Wasting no time, I sprint to the left, going directly for the aisle where they’ve stored the container I plan to access. Luckily, I know Jack who works in the warehouse security department. We dated a few times but mutually agreed that we weren’t couple material—or at least I did.
Based on how easy it was to get him to let me tag along into the restricted monitoring area he covers on his overnight shift, he probably hopes for more. Not super shocking—and not because I’m super great looking or anything, but because I think word has traveled. I’ve become a challenge. But whatever. I got what I needed. I memorized exactly where the pallet is, and we came in the dock door closest to its row.
When I hear a forklift hum getting closer, I know I only have seconds. Close enough! Sliding across the concrete floor in my sneakers, I squeeze between the crate rows where the spacing is only about a foot and restricted further by the racking metal that supports the pallets.
They’re stacked six levels up, which means it’s a good thing I’m not afraid of heights. As a kid, I did a lot of tree climbing and running around with the boys. As a nutritionist, I not only like to know exactly what I’m putting in my body, but I also exercise religiously and have done a fairly decent job of staying flexible. Reaching above my head, I’m about to pull myself up to the first decent hand hold when I hear … yes, Teresa.
Sticking my head out at the last minute, I snag her sleeve tightly, whipping her body around and yanking her into the space next to me. “Here!” I huff out, still trying to catch my own breath. As Teresa pants next to me, I turn my attention back to the pallet racks and how they’re laid out. It doesn’t look bad … it just looks high.
Not wanting to waste time, I figure showing is quieter than telling and begin working my way up. It actually isn’t that bad. With the rack right behind me, I’m able to stop and rest my back against the crates and look down to see Teresa’s dark head below me. Taking my time, I make sure each placement of my feet is secure, so if my running shoes should slip, they won’t squeak across the bars.
Teresa’s not as quiet as I am, but now we’re so high up I can’t imagine anyone can hear us unless we yell. The bang and rumble of the forklift running in and out of the semi-trailers makes such a racket, it’s silly to overthink it. Occasionally, the mini pry bar I have secured in my leggings makes lifting my right leg a bit awkward, but I manage.
At least it hasn’t clanged against any of the rack poles, ringing out our location to everyone in this mammoth warehouse. Until last night when I met with Jack and actually got in here, I’d no idea how far into the mountainside this storage facility actually extended. I mean … I knew it was built into the mountain, but it actually must be five times longer than what shows from the exterior. Pretty incredible.
Reaching the last pallet, I stick my head over the edge and look out over the tops of the rows. They extend as far as I can see in every direction, except where the loading docks have the delivery trailers parked. Incredible!
Lifting my left leg up, I practically roll onto the top of the container, holding my breath and hoping that the plywood is as sturdy as it looks. I know I’ve never personally climbed up on one of these. They don’t appear particularly sturdy, but I don’t crash through the top as I hold my breath a second before sitting up. Sliding my butt to the edge, I peer over to see Teresa only about a pallet’s length away. She doesn’t look up until the last second, surprised to see my hand hanging in her face.
Teresa doesn’t look particularly happy, but climbing up here has been exciting. For me at least. Holding onto her forearm, I steady her as she rolls onto the lid next to me, collapsing on her back. Her voice is right in my ear as she hisses, “What the fuck, Jade?”
Still staring at the huge fluorescent fixtures dangling in the aisle about ten feet past our feet, I giggle, trying to stifle the exhilaration that’s come over me. Turning my head, I whisper, “Pretty high, huh?”
Instead of answering, Teresa’s brow wrinkles as she takes a deep breath and turns to look at the ceiling, still fairly high over our heads. I watch as her eyes close slowly. I know she’s getting annoyed, but I didn’t make her come. Sure, she wasn’t jumping up and down in excitement like I was, but she was definitely intrigued when I told her how big it was in here.
Teresa’s quite an Indiana Jones fan—or maybe it’s Harrison Ford she has the hots for—I don’t know, but after a moment, I watch her lips move as she asks, “Now what?”
Right!
Rolling to my knees, I pull my phone out of my side pocket, confident that the glow from the screen won’t be seen from this height. I know we’re close, but I don’t know exactly which crate it is. We’re in the right row at least.
Looking down, I see we’re five in from the dock … “We are … here. And we need to get …” Pinching the screen to zoom in, I count the crates for reference. “About four crates that way.”
Getting super excited now, I crab walk to the edge before hopping up and stepping lightly onto the crate in the next row over. The lid’s a little springy, but I don’t think that Teresa or I will fall through. Staying on the boards that brace the plywood, I’m just about to step onto the next when I hear Teresa follow me onto the lid.
Teresa jumped! What an idiot. She’s definitely over-thinking it. Our leg stride walking is pretty much the same distance between these crates, and she sounded like a cow landing on it! “Shush!” I throw over my shoulder as I lightly touch down on the next one.
Thankfully, all of them are sturdy, and there isn’t much noise as I creep across them, trying to ignore Teresa’s panting and huffing behind me. I don’t know what she’s doing. Honestly, at this moment, I need to concentrate on what I’m doing. Taking another moment, I open my phone again and double che
ck the location of the crate I’m standing on.
Yes. This is definitely it. It’d suck to waste precious time opening up a crate that wasn’t right.
Pulling out my pry bar, I experimentally dig it into the groove, checking to see how hard it’s going to be to lift the lid. Clearly, I can’t do it while I’m sitting on it, but I’ll deal with that a little later. Right now, I just want to get this edge while I can …
It’s a few more minutes before Teresa is crouched next to me. “Remind me again what we’re hoping to find?” Her breath puffs over the fine hairs that have pulled loose from my ponytail.
“I just want a sample of this stuff.” Grunting a bit, I wiggle the pry bar back and forth before I slide to the left to loosen it more. “I found a place where I can get it tested … fuck. I’m going to have to work on this from the other side.”
“I’m just going to have to stand here.” Teresa’s mouth is hanging open as I wave to the aisle side of the crate. She worries way too much. “Well, you can’t be on it either.” I’m met with a slow blink, so I tap the edge we climbed up. “You’re going to have to lift from this side.”
I can tell she still doesn’t understand, even though we already went over this before we left our apartment. I just may not have mentioned we’d be up so high. “Just lower yourself back down, using the bars.” Reaching over, I make a tapping noise on the metal. “And once I’ve got it loosened up across that side, we’ll lift it together.”
When she nods, I turn away and look over the edge. Luckily, no one is in the aisle below, and it only takes a second to lower myself down. I place my feet under the crate, and stand on the slots where the forks of the forklift would slide in.
