Nebula Nights: Love Among The Stars

by Melisse Aires

  Why should he want to keep her around? Maybe he was like a man craving vegeprotein snacks and a bubble soda when he'd been on a steady diet of imported pheasant and champagne. She'd better do her best to let them polish her up.

  She stopped before the pilot and held out her hand. "Hello, I'm Kiri. You must be Rak."

  The pilot took her hand gently in his calloused paw and nodded politely. "Yes, ma'am. I'm Rak. Mr. Stark said you'll be spending the day at a spa."

  "I will," she agreed, wrinkling her nose.

  She walked into the slider, looking around at the soft beige interior, with fitments of goldtone cerametal. "Starry," she approved. "Is she new?"

  "Yes, ma'am." His gruff voice held more enthusiasm now. "Just glided off the line a few weeks ago."

  "She's a beauty." She sniffed appreciatively. "May I ride in the cockpit with you, please? I've only ever flown on the big airbuses. I want to know what it's like to sit at the controls and see everything coming right at you."

  He eyed her as if she'd asked him to let her dance on the nose, but then he shrugged. "I reckon it can't hurt. This way, please."

  She followed him into the small, sleek cockpit and sat down in the co-pilot's seat. "Fasten your belt, there," Rak said gruffly, pointing at the harness on her seat. Kiri fastened it quickly and then peered out the windshield with awe. They were perched high on the side of Stark's penthouse building, with the clouds drifting around them.

  Another slider shot by a short distance away and Kiri rocked back in her seat with a gasp.

  "You sure about this?" the pilot asked, scowling at her.

  She nodded quickly. "I am. I'll be very quiet, I swear. You won't even know I'm here."

  The expression that flickered over his face was so swift she nearly missed it. It said very clearly, 'We'll see about that.'

  Kiri sat back in her seat and watched as he flipped levers and various lighted dials and gauges on the sleek dash. There seemed to be a great many lights, red and green and yellow.

  A soft hum filled the cockpit, and two large gauges glowed brighter. He was powering up the engine. Another slider shot by, on the same trajectory as before. This time she only flinched a little.

  "How will you know when it's safe to take off?" she asked him nervously. She'd played simu-games, pretending she was piloting all kinds of craft, but this was real and she didn't recognize all these controls.

  He tapped a screen in the center of the dash, and she saw a number of small shapes. After watching for a sec she saw that they slid in patterns just like the simu-game screens. "There are designated flyways around the city. We'll take off up to a higher level than the flights coming this way, so we don't collide."

  Kiri nodded, relieved. He knew what he was doing, of course he did. She just wasn't sure she did, sitting up here. Sitting with Stark in the passenger seats of his gliders, she'd been distracted. Here, that was not possible.

  She clung to the arms of her seat as the craft lifted lightly in the air and slipped upward into the clouds. Her stomach seemed to have stayed behind somewhere, and she swallowed hard, determined to quell her nerves.

  Sitting in the cockpit, she could feel the subtle tilting of the craft as the pilot slipped around tall buildings and through a pair of towering lighted power stations. Inside the cabin, she would have missed it and not known they were turning unless she peered out the window. Slowly her nerves calmed and she began to enjoy the flight. It was like being inside a game, only real.

  As they landed softly on the dock at the shopping center, Kiri looked over at Rak and grinned. "Thank you. That was starry."

  He nodded. "You were, uh, a good passenger. Didn't get in the way."

  She unfastened her seatbelt and looked around her one last time. "Maybe I'll to learn to fly one of these."

  She thought she heard him groan quietly as she walked out into the main cabin, but she magnanimously ignored it. Really, Stark's employees could stand to loosen up a bit.

  The hatch slid open, revealing the shopping center landing dock and a waiting attendant in Maitresse's tasteful cream. This one was a pretty blonde with a friendly smile.

  "Hello, I'm Taara. Please come with me."

  Kiri smiled back. Then she took a deep breath.

  "'Bye, Rak," she said. "See you around dinner time, I expect. These people have some work to bring me up to Stark's standards."

  Ignoring the stunned look on the old pilot's face, she strode out of the craft, her head high.

  * * *

  Haassea was not in, but she had left lengthy instructions for her new client. Kiri was whisked away to a lovely little room, divested of her clothing, helped into a tiny pair of panties and immersed in a tub full of hot gooey mud by two young Egglantians with hairless, ovoid heads, lavender skin and meltingly lovely eyes. She wasn't sure if they were male or female, then decided with an inward shrug that it didn't matter. They weren't interested in what a human had to offer.

  "You are a friend of Mr. Stark's," one said, batting long lashes.

  Kiri nodded self-consciously. "And what are your names?"

  "I am Blii," said the small one.

  "And I am Flo," said tall.

  Kiri smiled back at them. "Nice to meet you, Blii and Flo.

  "We are honored to serve you. Oh, you are so lucky," Blii breathed. "Mr. Stark is starry. So very masculine."

  The two laughed together, the sound like soft chimes, and Kiri gave a half-hearted chuckle. It seemed no one was immune to Stark's charm.

  After a short time, she was tenderly assisted out and offered a drink as she stood dripping on a mat, the goo sliding down her body and then drying quickly in the warm air blowing from small dryer bots that floated around her.

  "No, thanks," she said, wrinkling her nose. "Let's just get on with it."

  "Oh, you'll want to drink it," Flo assured her, eyes wide. "It contains gesics."

  Kiri gulped it, the two nodding approvingly. She discovered why as Blii walked behind her and then proceeded to pull a long strip of dried mud from her, taking what felt like every small hair on her body, and skin as well. It stung as if she had been whipped with fire. Unprepared for the pain, Kiri let out a shriek.

  The two attendants appeared before her, their heads cocked in identical looks of horror that would have been funny had she not been fighting tears.

  "Hurts," she managed.

  "Oh, no. Haassea herself calibrated the gesics for you," Flo breathed.

  "Yes, you humans are so sensitive," Blii nodded. "We do our best to alleviate this."

  "Well, I think someone made a mistake." Kiri took a deep breath and blew out. "Can you get me a stronger one—please?" She could work through coffee burns, and had many times, but that was because she had no choice. If she was going to withstand more of this pain, she needed gesics.

  "At once." Flo hustled away.

  She returned in a very short time, out of breath, bearing another beaker before her like a grail. "I mixed this one myself."

  Kiri drained the mug. No sooner had she lowered the cup than a wave of well-being slithered over her like a soft, tickly blanket.

  "Whoa," she crooned. "That did the trick. All righty then."

  Flo watched anxiously as Blii began the next strip. Kiri grinned at her. "G'won," she said. "Hit it."

  Flo ripped. When Kiri stood still, smiling, Flo nodded happily. "I mixed the gesics right this time."

  The mud gone, her skin tingling pleasantly, Kiri was ushered into a comfortable recliner, only to have the panties nipped away. The two tipped their heads together, studying her mons with deep interest. She clamped her thighs together. "What are you looking at?"

  "Your pubis," Flo said. "Very pretty."

  "Oh, yes. Lovely," Flii agreed. "I think just a trim, yes?"

  "Yes, Mr. Stark did say not to remove—"

  "Hey," Kiri broke in indignantly, her face and chest on fire. "You discussed my privates with Mr. Stark? Well, I decide what happens there and no one else."

&
nbsp; They blinked at her. Then both broke into their chime-like laughter, leaning toward her conspiratorially. "Of course."

  "We did not know you had a preference."

  That figured. Stark had just ordered what he wanted done. Well, it was her body, not his.

  "Look, just a trim. I don't mind looking sexy, but not too bare, you know?"

  "Oh, no," Flo agreed. "You are a natural beauty. Mr. Stark said so himself."

  Blii brought Kiri another drink, this one a Pear Blossom, and they readied their treatment. The first part wasn't bad, involving warm strips of a waxy substance.

  "Mr. Stark is very handsome," sighed Flo.

  Kiri opened her mouth to agree, and Blii ripped one of the strips of wax away from her pubis. Kiri let out a squeak. She'd felt that one. She clutched her drink as Flo reached for another strip.

  "He is so masterful," Blii sighed. Flo ripped.

  "And so rich," Flo added, ripping again. Kiri whimpered.

  "All done," Blii crooned, patting her shoulder. "Now enjoy your drink."

  Kiri gulped the rest of it and then lay back, enduring as her hands and feet were scrubbed, buffed, trimmed and then wrapped in luxurious oils and ointments. She'd never realized rich women had to be so tough.

  "You could have laser surgery on your scars," Blii breathed confidentially. "They would disappear."

  Kiri shrugged. She'd bet that took a lot of credit.

  She emerged from Blii and Flo's ministrations and was tucked into a silk robe.

  "Thanks," she said. "That was ... interesting."

  They giggled as if she had told the joke of the year and bowed. Kiri bowed back and followed the red-headed Serpentian, Slidi, into the dressing area. Kiri eyed the ensembles and garments hanging around the mirrored room. At least this part wouldn't hurt.

  "We've chosen a large assortment of clothing for you," Slidi told her, her auburn head cocked at an arrogant angle. "Let's start with this one."

  She whipped a black lace gown off its hanger. Kiri eyed her, lifting her own chin. "Let's start with this," she shot back. "I'm Kiri. You're Slidi, right?"

  The girl blinked, as if shocked to be challenged. "Yes. I am Haassea's prime assistant"

  "Nice to meet you, Slidi." Kiri bit her tongue against the urge to remind the woman that she was Logan Stark's mistress. She took the dress, eyeing it warily. "I'm not much for black. Have to wear too much of it for work. But I'll try it, I guess."

  She took off the robe, tossed it over a chair, and wriggled gingerly into the black lace. Pulling it up over her shoulders, she turned to the mirrors. Her jaw dropped. The dress had more space than threads, and were those her—she peered at the mirror. Her nipples showed through and so did her neatly trimmed pubic hair.

  "I don't think so." She jerked the dress off her shoulders and wriggled out of it. Nude, she stalked over to the clothing hanging on the walls. She studied the array with increasing dismay and anger. It was all either black, or crimson, or both, and made of translucent lace held together with bits of snakeskin and other slinky fabrics.

  Kiri turned back to Slidi, who stood watching, arms crossed, a distinctly unfriendly look on her face. "I don't really care for any of these," Kiri said, gesturing at the clothing. "Can you bring me some other things to try, please? Something with a bit more fabric."

  "Are you saying our clothing isn't good enough for you?"

  Kiri stiffened, giving the redhead look for look. At the prices Stark must be paying here, no way was she putting up with attitude.

  "Listen," she said clearly. "I don't know what your boss told you, but I'm not a whore and I will not dress like one. Now, are you going to bring me some other things, or do I walk?"

  Her ringing tones had exactly the effect she desired. Two more faces peeked in the door. A pretty blonde and a brunette slipped into the room, looking worriedly from her to Slidi.

  "I'm sure there has been some mistake," the blonde said. "Haassea values Mr. Stark's business very much."

  "May we bring you some other ensembles to try?" her brunette companion added. "Of course we want you to be happy, Ms. te Nawa."

  With a venomous look, Slidi glided from the room. The brunette followed her.

  "I'm Taara," the blonde began, smiling at Kiri.

  Slidi's voice floated back clearly from the hallway outside. "You two fetch for her then. She's just some slummer Stark picked up for a sex weekend."

  The blonde turned back to Kiri in horror. "Oh! I'm so sorry—"

  Kiri grabbed the nearest dress and clutched it in front of her like a barricade.

  "I'd like my clothing back. And then I'll be going."

  Taara looked as if she might cry on Kiri's behalf. "Yes, of course. At once."

  Kiri dressed quickly and then walked past the silent store clerks with her head held high. Taara walked with her. She looked back at her fellow clerks and then clicked her comlink. The door slid shut, enclosing her and Kiri in the hushed elegance of the podway.

  "I'm so sorry," the other woman whispered, stepping close. "I could be fired for saying this, but … Haassea and Mr. Stark were once … you know—lovers."

  "I guess that explains a lot." Like the mysterious lack of gesics in the drink Haassea had prepared herself.

  Taara bit her lip. "Even so, Slidi's behavior was very odd."

  "Odd? Try quarking rude," Kiri shot back.

  The blonde nodded sorrowfully. "Yes."

  Kiri had to smile. "Thanks. You're sweet."

  Taara smiled back. Then her eyes widened in mischievous glee, like a little girl. "Listen, I shouldn't say this, either, but—"

  The docking hatch opened, revealing Rak. He looked at Kiri and frowned. "Didn't buy anything?"

  Kiri shook her head, avoiding his gaze. She started forward, but the blonde stopped her, a hand on her arm.

  "Wait. As I was saying, my cousin has a boutique near here. Very fun fashions. Would you like me to give your pilot directions?"

  What Kiri really wanted to do was go and hide somewhere. But Rak raised his brows at her, his chin tucked in. She shrugged. "Sure. And thank you, Taara."

  "You are welcome, Ms. te Nawa. I'll tell Daanel you are coming. He'll be very excited to dress someone as lovely and unique as you." She gave Kiri a coy look. "And of course if anyone asks where you got your ensembles, you might mention his shop."

  Kiri surprised herself by laughing. That was just good business, and business she understood. "I will—if I find anything I like. And call me Kiri."

  "Okay. Bye, Kiri." Taara hurried away, and Kiri followed Rak into the ship.

  "You wanna sit up with me again?" he asked gruffly.

  "Sure," she said. Anything to forget how little she fit into Stark's world.

  Chapter 16

  While the friendly Taara looked more human than anything else, her cousin was a full-blood Serpentian. So slim he was nearly wraithlike, Daanel had golden skin, startling hair the color of the salad Natan had served her the evening before, and a sly, infectious grin. He was clad head to toe in snakeskin that made him look like one of the reptiles Kiri had seen on the travelogue the evening before. He welcomed Kiri into his boutique, which was as dark as a nightclub, with twinkling light balls floating about, reflecting from the windows and the sparkly cosmetics his assistants wore.

  "Welcome, lovely one," he said. "I am the incomparable Daanel, and I am going to dress you like an empress. A sexy one, who dashes about on her slider when she's not slaying males with one look from her Tyger eyes."

  Looking her up and down, he growled low in his throat. Kiri burst out laughing. He was so outrageous she couldn't take him seriously.

  Rak, who had followed her in, shook his head. "I'll wait out here," he told her, pointing at a comfortable divan near the door. Kiri followed Daanel back through his shop into the dressing area. Thankfully, it was well lighted.

  For the next hour, she tried on ensemble after ensemble. Daanel even measured her feet and sent two assistants for a selection of boots, fl
ats and sexy heels, saying his clothing must have the right footwear to be appreciated.

  At the end of the whirlwind session, Kiri had several new ensembles, some warm and comfy, some daring and sexy, some fun and a bit outrageous. None of them, even the sheer spider lace top and black leather vest and pants, worn with a pair of heeled black boots, made her feel like a whore. She'd meant to say no after the second or third ensemble, but somehow she found herself just trying one more, and then one more, and loving them all.

  She guessed she could always sell some of them for credit, although the idea made her want to cry. But surely she didn't deserve this luxury, not when she hadn't earned any of it.

  Not when all the extra credits she squeezed out of her shop like used coffee grounds went to finding out what happened that night outside her cubby in her childhood home.

  But these were not her credits, and Stark had specifically instructed her to get new clothing. And she guessed it might as well be nice things.

  "Seventh heavens," Daanel crooned, waltzing around her as she modeled the last ensemble for him. "You are going to make me, starry one. Wait until they see you in that in the clubs. And I've a wrap that's perfect for you, as well."

  He clapped his hands at one of his assistants, who grinned, obviously used to his drama. "Bring me the poppy-red halfpaca."

  The purple-haired pixie dashed away and returned with a length of blazing red, which Daanel settled gently as a cloud around Kiri's shoulders, flipping the end back over her shoulder, and then held out his hands, sighing like an artist who has finished a masterpiece.

  Kiri stroked her newly soft hands over it reverently. The bright color emphasized her eyes and hair, and it was so warm and light. "Oh, I have to have this."

  "Cosmic." The Serpentian's eyes gleamed fanatically. "Utterly cosmic."

  Kiri wore her new leather and lace ensemble out of the boutique, the poppy cape over one arm. She grinned sheepishly at Rak, who met her in the doorway. He raised his shaggy brows at the three laden shop assistants.