Araman's Aria

by Suzanne Embree

  “Keep breathing.” She waited to see the rise and fall of his chest. Brea dipped her hands into the warmed ginger smelling oil. She was not prepared for the shock of electricity that shot through her when she touched his shoulders.

  Methodically and slowly Brea began to massage every inch of his body. Her hands liked the feel of his skin and the sensations she was feeling from touching him. She could feel her energies mingling with his as she worked at relaxing his body.

  Araman groaned as she sat on him to rub his chest. He could not help the hardening of his member underneath her with only a towel between them. He raised his hands to touch her but she lowered them and told him to breathe as her fingers returned to kneading the muscles of his chest. Just at the point he could no longer take her weight tormenting him she instructed him to roll over.

  Brea waited until he had finished moving before resuming his massage. Araman didn’t start to relax until she massaged his feet. Brea smiled at the moans that emanated from deep within his throat. She had managed to banish his desire and replace it with sheer contentment and blissfulness as he felt his muscles relax under her expert touch.

  Fascinated by his buttocks she spent longer than she should have working the tight muscles. Brea wondered if every part of his body was made of rock. Her cheeks warmed as she remembered the feel of him beneath the towel under her.

  More sounds came from his lips as she straddled him once again to work on his shoulders and spine. His back was a fine example of masculinity, she smiled as her hands rubbed and stroked him.

  Brea noticed a scar on his shoulder where his skin had torn and mended without medical attention. Without thinking she bent and kissed the spot. Her hands used different pressures along his neck releasing tension from his stress. The loudest moan of all came when she used her thumbs dipped in the warm oil, gently around the base of his skull.

  “Frigg… that feels so good.” Araman sighed as her fingers began massaging his skull. Brea was fascinated by the color of his hair. It wasn’t yellow but it wasn’t brown either but an even mix of both. His hair was thick and smelled woodsy.

  She swore she heard him whimper slightly when her hands grazed over his temples. In a circular motion she rubbed his temples sending his senses into overload. She slowly stopped rubbing as his breathing became very even.

  Brea covered Araman with the two remaining towels and crawled up onto the bed. She curled up on the end of the bed with hands beneath her head and looked at him. His handsome features looked almost boyish when he was relaxed.

  Beebles curled up in the crook of Brea’s legs and let out a sigh before falling back asleep. She looked around her new surroundings. They were as masculine as the man on the floor was. The only furniture in the room was the large round bed she lay on. White carpet, black walls of the dressing room and glass walls. Privacy among these people seemed not to matter, Brea surmised. Somewhere in her last thoughts of the room and the comfort of her pet snuggled to her Brea fell sound asleep.

  * * * *

  It was the first thing that Araman saw when his eyes opened to the first rays of light. His concubine with her hand tucked neatly under her head. He heard a yawn and saw a little head pop up from behind her shapely legs. Araman smiled as the pup stretched then slid off the bed to say good morning.

  Beebles padded over to the wall and let out a whimper raising his paw. Araman rose wrapping the towel Brea had placed on him securely around his mid-drift. Beebles followed him through the rippling opening the wall created as he stepped through.

  Araman loved the smell of the morning air. It was sweet and dewy as the rising sun promised another perfect day on Olean. He chuckled at the funny little animal running with the floppy ears flapping the sides of his muzzle. The animal almost bowled over his hindquarters catching a scent in the grass. Araman had to admit to himself that his concubine’s pet did amuse him as he chuckled.

  He rolled his shoulders and stretched waking his sleeping muscles. Araman twisted his head side to side noticing his tension was gone. It felt good. It slowly dawned on him that he hadn’t felt this good in months.

  Araman and Beebles headed quietly passed Brea to the galley so she could remain sleeping. Just as they entered the passageway to the gallery the light of the lift began to blink. Araman mumbled a curse knowing it was the medics who were arriving to test his libido levels. The doors to the lift opened and two white coats stepped out and snapped to attention. Behind them Santari slipped out and leaned against the wall. Before he could open his mouth a white coat stepped forward.

  “Commandant Diago! Sir!” In a voice that could have broken the sound barrier.

  “Quiet!” Araman growled. “There is someone sleeping.”

  “It only your concubine. She doesn’t matter.” Santari quipped. “Do you have your report for Herse? I thought I would drop by and deliver it for you personally seeing as the General asked me to.”

  “You are becoming dangerously annoying.” His eyes became flints of steel as they narrowed. He reached for the info disk off his desk and handed it to his underling. “You have to report to the General in fifteen minutes. I suggest you use the time to prepare. Dismissed Commander.” Araman said between his teeth controlling the urge to beat the man into a pulp.

  The lift doors closed as Santari winked and broke out into a grin. Araman cursed under his breath. “Take what you need and leave!” He growled.

  The two white coats looked to each other. One produced a slim silver metal case. He pushed a button and the lid flipped open revealing a small thin tubular device. The other white coat put on a pair of gloves and picked up the device. He swabbed a spot at the round of Araman’s shoulder with disinfectant, then quickly jabbed the device into skin and pulled it back.

  “The General will call you with your results. Sir.” The white coat whispered his military tone while the other called for the lift.

  “Dismissed.” Araman would be relieved when this ridiculous ordeal was over.

  He made his way to the galley and put on a strong pot of coffee. Araman loved the smell of strong Terrian coffee brewing, filling the air with its aromatic smell. He discovered the beverage on a furlough on the blue planet.

  Beebles gave a little yip as Araman shut the door of his cooler munching on a piece of orange fruit. Araman glanced down when Beebles yipped again looking to the morsel he held. He tossed down a piece for the pup. He made a mental note to himself to ask Brea what her pet needed for food.

  “Good Morrow.” The greeting came softly behind Araman. He turned around to see Brea still tousled with sleep.

  “I hope the white coats didn’t wake you.” He said pulling a stool out for her.

  “White coats?” Brea sat down.

  “Medical Core.” He went around the counter. He opened a cupboard and brought out two mugs. He raised them to her. “If you haven’t tried coffee you haven’t lived.” He said putting the mugs on the counter. He reached for the pot and poured.

  “Is that what I smell?” She asked sniffing the air.

  Araman handed her a steaming mug of the brown elixir. “Try it plain, if you like it sweeter or richer you may add sugar or cream.”

  She tasted the hot liquid. It was bitter but flavorful. It was the aftertaste she didn’t like. Araman chuckled as he brought the cream and sugar.

  “It smells better than it tastes.” She handed it back. He took the mug from her hand, mixed the coffee with even amounts of cream and sugar and handed back the mug for her to try.

  “Try it.” He urged when Brea eyed the mug suspiciously. She gingerly took the offering and tasted it.

  With an approving nod she set down the mug. “That tastes much better.” She glanced up at him. “And are you fine this morning?”

  Araman brought out a chopping block and a knife setting it in front of her. Brea put her hands in her lap and leaned back.

  “Relax Concubine.” He brought out a pink oval onion and began chopping. “I am making us our morning meal. What does
your pet need for nourishment?”

  “He eats the same as I but I give him raw instead of heated.” She answered watching Araman place a pan on the instant fire with a pat of creamy yellow butter inside. He added the onions.

  “Heated?” Araman’s blue eyes caught hers. “You mean cooked.” His tone softly mocked her. Her eyes dropped to the floor.

  “Cooked.” She repeated the word to herself. She silently cursed her translator.

  A hushed beep from Araman’s desk interrupted his cooking. He shut the elements off. He gave a quick glance to Brea before stepping over to a screen emerging from the surface of his desk.

  “Why don’t you take a shower, this could take a while.” He faced the screen.

  The General’s puffy face appeared on the viewer. “Congratulations Commandant.” His flat words greeted Araman behind a piece of paper. “You have succeeded in bringing down you libido levels. You are still confined to quarters for one more week.”

  “Sir, permission to make a request.” Araman asked.

  The jowls jiggled as Herse gave a terse nod.

  “Permission to take my concubine for supplies as the military did not see fit to issue her belongings to her.”

  “Granted. The time will be added to your confinement. You will return….” General Herse was interrupted by a scream emanating from the shower.

  Araman left the general’s face on the screen as he bolted for the shower where another scream was resounding off the walls. Beebles was scratching at the door but backed up when Araman came racing down the hall.

  He burst into the room to see through broken glass, Brea strangling the showerhead as she tried to wring it from the wall. Her wet hair was flying all around as the look of fear flashed before determination to kill her attacker crossed her face. Water sprayed all over as Brea in his kimono and the showerhead fought a vicious fight.

  A foot was locked firmly in place on the floor while her other foot was planted against the wall. She smacked the showerhead against the tile of the wall damaging a few. The spraying showerhead tried to withdraw but she pulled on it, tearing it slightly from its anchoring on the marble. It writhed upward producing a waterfall as she struggled to launch the head into another part of the enclosure.

  The showerhead wrestled back lurching her forward slightly. As she set herself to rip the invader from its withdrawal to finally kill it, the sound of Araman’s laughter reached her ears. The deep rumbles from his throat echoed around her. Her fingers released their grip on the showerhead, which resumed its spot in accordance to her height, to just above her head.

  Brea looked over to him as he stood in the doorway with his hands on his hips laughing at her. His blue eyes twinkled as he looked upon her sodden state. Dampened curls stuck to her face.

  “It came at me when I stood under it to look at it. It shot a cold liquid at me.” Brea tried to say in her defense. Araman still laughed. “It frightened me.” She shot at him angrily.

  He stepped inside the stall to survey the damage. Broken wet tile lay on the floor, and a tap handle was bent out of shape. The shower door had a web of broken glass where the spray met its first blow.

  Just as Araman stepped out of the stall Santari put his head through the door. His jaw dropped at the sight of the Commandant’s shower room. He looked over to the tiny wet figure and back to the site of the fight.

  “I’m afraid to ask, but just who was responsible for this?” Santari looked at the little figure trying to wring out her much too big robe. “This is the military’s idea of a submissive concubine? I’d hate to see one that’s not.” He let out a long low whistle watching the water drip from the ceiling. “Now I know why you avoided one for so long.” He patted the wall and turned around. “I smell coffee.”

  Araman stepped into the dressing room and found her another robe to wear then sought out Santari. He found his second draining the last of the pot into a mug.

  “She’s a pretty little thing your concubine. I’ve heard strange tales of a raging officer attacking white coats for her pet.” Santari lifted his mug to his Commandant. “Now I understand why.”

  “What do you want?” Araman stiffly asked resenting the intrusion.

  Santari dropped his smile and became serious. His sienna eyes focused on Araman. “Oleander is claiming the moons of Tetris and its neighbor Romula.”

  “They are not our territories.” Araman shrugged.

  “No. That is not a concern Sir. The concern is the bases they have built.” Santari straightened up when Brea walked in trying to tie up the robe. She tripped slightly over the hem of the terrycloth.

  Araman’s arm shot out to catch her. Santari looked away when he saw the expression on his Commandant’s face when he looked at his concubine. Santari had never seen the man look softly towards another human let alone a woman. Araman whispered something in her ear and handed her a mug. She gave a slight nod and called her pup as she left the men to their conversation.

  “Shinwa.” Santari said softly.

  “What of it?” Araman looked to his second.

  “They say to never taste the nectar of a Shinwa, lest you be bound to them for life.”

  “I’ll take that into consideration when dealing with my concubine.” Araman crossed his arms over his chest.

  “After seeing your shower room, I would suggest you deal with her very carefully.” Santari drained his mug. He set the mug on the counter. “I’ll keep you posted as to our status. Right now we are just observing.”

  “They know we are watching?” Araman asked. Santari nodded. “They like to play games. Does the General have surveillance on the other moons?”

  “We have deployed three underling troops for moon detail. We should hear within twenty-four hours.”

  “What about the moles in Oleander?”

  “Received their instructions this morning. The General gave confidential orders to each of them.” Santari informed him.

  “Any chance they are only colonizing?” Araman asked knowing the answer.

  Santari shook his head. “Doubtful.” He moved towards the lift before stopping. “ I received the diagnostics of your flyer. No evidence was found of foul play or mechanical failure. They are still looking at the ship’s internal shield log.” Santari gave a curt nod and left his commandant leaning on the counter of his galley in thought.

  Araman did not like what he was hearing from Santari. Oleander was becoming more aggressive flexing their matriarchal muscles. If they continued, war would be inevitable.

  He felt the tension creep back into his neck.

  Chapter Three

  Brea browsed through the stalls as Araman stood holding Beebles in his arms while ignoring the curious stares the little animal and his concubine were causing. Even dressed as she was in a pair of his workout pants and oversized pullover, men still could not avert their eyes until they met the Commandant’s icy stare.

  He watched Brea looked through the clothes. The delicate way she cocked her head as she inspected the material. She pulled out a soft flowing garment and showed it to him.

  “Are all the clothes shaped like this.” She referred to the long tunic style with a belt to hold it in place.

  “For concubines yes.”

  Brea glanced up at his tone. He was uncomfortable. She moved around the rack.

  “Are you ashamed of having a concubine?” Brea looked up to him. She was surprised he didn’t flinch at her question.

  “No. I disagree with the idea that you are a thing and not a respected being. Beebles here has more rights than you.”

  “Are all the woman concubines?” She pulled out another color to look at.

  “No. Many are wives.” Araman tried not to sound impatient with her.

  “And wives have rights?” She put the garment back and kept searching. Araman nodded. “Can concubines become wives?” Her eyes were wide and her mouth partly open when she cast her gaze towards Araman.

  His heart thudded in his chest. Every muscle in his groi
n tightened at her look. He tucked Beebles under his armpit trying to gain control of his breathing. He cleared his throat and faced Brea.

  “Yes. Many concubines become wives.”

  “It is why they stare at me and look upon me as though I were no more than dirt.” Brea said in her soft lilting tone as she casually pulled another tunic out. She draped it over her arm liking the tawny color. “I am not an honorable woman. I am considered a…” she waited for the word to translate, “whore.” She finished the sentence without looking at him. “I know the men stare at me like I am something to be eaten, yet they keep their distance because you are near. But the women do not care.” She came around the rack and stood in front of Araman.

  Her eyes followed the lean lines of his chest up to his full lips. Her pale green eyes sparked as they met his clear blue eyes. She watched as the color fluctuated as he controlled his urge to take her into his arms. She was intrigued she was having this effect on him.

  Araman knew she was aware of the affect she was having on him. He watched the light jade eyes deepen and start to smolder. Her scent called to him to bury his head in her hair and inhale her fragrance. He turned his head away from her.

  “You are having trouble containing your instincts Commandant Diago.” Brea stated softly to him. Araman’s head whipped towards her. “I apologize.” She bent her head slightly, and then looked at him through her lashes. “It is not something I can control.” Her voice was apologetic. She cast her eyes towards the ground.

  He was bringing something out in her, Brea realized. She was becoming bolder with this man. She had never done so with other men even when they expressed interest. She dismissed the thought that this man standing before her was her Chatam Pritam, the life lover of a Shinwa woman. The words barely audible fell from her mouth.

  She shuddered when he caught the crook of her chin and directed her gaze to his as he looked down at her. Her heart pounded against her breastbones as she was forced to meet his hard stare.

  “You test my limits Concubine.” Araman said coldly. “I have little time in my life such as it is to indulge in useless chatter.” Beebles was thrust into her arms after taking the garment she chose and stepped past her to pay the shopkeeper.