by 1
To her shock, that sexy gaze was aimed straight at her.
Chapter Three
“Avatar Issul, how nice to see you again.” Sebena kept her voice pleasant, but it was far too high even to her own ears. To her consternation, he dropped his towel and slipped into the hot tub right next to her, smiling and leaning back against the edge of the pool.
“This feels lovely. No wonder it is a common relaxation spot on the ship.” He closed his eyes and the expression on his face was pure bliss.
“Yes, it is.”
She heard her friend clear her throat and quickly made introductions. “Avatar Issul of Zeering, this is Gunner Nilia Vordi.”
The Avatar lazily opened his golden eyes and smiled at the lush Wyoran. “I am pleased to make the acquaintance of any of your friends, Sebena.”
He leaned forward and took Nilia’s hand in greeting. The Wyoran smiled brilliantly at Issul and he smiled politely before reclaiming his hand.
Nilia was in shock. Not one male on the entire ship had dismissed her since her season had struck. “I am pleased to meet you, Avatar.”
“And you as well, Gunner.”
He returned to his seated position next to Sebena and suddenly she was no longer relaxed.
Nilia looked from Sebena to Issul. “So, Issul, how long have you been an Avatar?”
“Nine hundred and fifty-three years.” He opened his eyes and navy blue was trickling into the gold.
“Have you enjoyed it? I have heard that the life of an Avatar is a lonely one.” Nilia lifted herself out of the churning gel slightly and the dark peaks of her nipples were exposed.
His gaze was mildly interested and so the perverse hope that Sebena had been holding onto sank. “I will leave you two alone to discuss whatever you choose.”
Sebena moved to the edge of the tub and levered herself up and to her towel, the slick gel sheeted off and she wrapped the towel around her, not looking back at the hot tub and its inhabitants.
She didn’t hear him, but a hand gripped her arm. “Sebena, what is wrong?”
Sebena turned and looked up into Issul’s face before allowing her gaze to wander lower. His body stirred and his cock slowly rose as she watched.
Surprised, she brought her gaze back up to his face. “I thought you and Nilia wanted some time together.”
“I came here to spend time with you. The captain did nothing but sing your praises when I questioned him and so I came here to find out what you are like when you are not on duty.”
“What about Nilia?”
“A Wyoran in heat is not my idea of a good companion for an evening. If I simply wanted sex, there are plenty of women on my world who would oblige. I want a companion and I would like her to be you.”
Her hands on her towel clenched. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
“When I woke, Zeering gave me information on a new trend sweeping the planets. Avatars are choosing mates and he thinks that it might help me adjust to my return to his world.”
His hand was still on her arm and he stroked her slick skin slowly. The tingles that he was sending through her shook her to the core.
“Wait. I am a gunner, I am not a mate.” She pressed one hand against his chest in an effort to hold him back. He was suddenly far too close.
The electric feeling ran up her arm and he felt far too good under her hand. She wanted to caress, to stroke and then to taste.
“You are not merely a gunner. You are a woman who follows her own instincts. What are your instincts telling you now?” He continued his slow touch.
“That you are attracted to Nilia and that I should be getting back to my quarters. Excuse me.”
She didn’t wrench away, but she gave a visible shudder and pulled herself away, heading for the women’s showers. She was going to make the gel as cold as she could. Her body wasn’t going to handle any more heat.
The showers were on a gender lock, just in case any of the hot-tub antics needed to be cooled off. She slipped through the field just in time to hear the energy crackle in protest.
Inside the showers, she set the controls for cold and flipped her towel over the edge of the unit. The gel covered her skin and calmed the inflammation in her nerves. It cooled her in the seconds before it shattered and took the liquid from the hot tub with it.
Breathing deeply to calm herself, she got dressed and left the locker room, sneaking down the hall to her quarters.
Sneaking around on the ship was all around wrong, but if she was confronted with Issul one more time, she was going to do more than simply walk away. Her instincts were screaming at her to lunge into his arms and find out if he tasted as good as he looked, but her sex drive was the one part of herself she had always kept under the firm grip of logic.
Merkil was loitering in the hall near her room. “What is it, Merkil?”
He smiled at her and it was a seductive smile. “I came to offer you another chance. After all, you are of a rare kind, I am of a rare kind…”
“Selna are not rare.”
“Male Selna are. There are less than a handful of us out in the worlds.”
“I am aware. I am also aware that you were booted off your home world for your misbehaviour and that you have not had a serious relationship ever. I don’t do casual sex, Merkil.”
“With you, it would be far from casual. You have so much passion just below the surface.” Merkil reached his hand out to her, but it never landed.
Issul stood next to her and wrenched his hand back with a casual shift. “She said no, Selna. Back away.”
Merkil tried to swing at Issul, but the Avatar just bent his arm and soon, the Selna was on his knees. “You think she will want you instead? That woman is cold. I was merely trying to thaw her out a little.”
Sebena felt the shame that he instilled in her with that one comment. It was not the first time she had heard it. Men took her analytical approach to relationships as cold, but she merely needed to feel a little spark to fan the flames. No one had truly gotten that spark to flare. Until now.
“Issul, you can let him go. He won’t try anything. I have already had a complaint listed against him for aggressive behaviour. One more and he is off the Sheppan.” Her threat caused Merkil to wince.
The Selna rubbed his arm where Issul had held him. “I will be on my way. Good evening to you both.”
She nodded and watched him disappear before she turned to the Avatar. “Why did you follow me?”
He looked into her eyes and there was a considering expression on his features. “Why do you think? In my lifetime, I have met many women, but none set my blood singing like you do. It is as peculiar for me as it is for you, but I believe we should give it a try.”
She thought about it for about half a second before she took a step toward him. “Let’s try then.”
He reached out and lifted her chin on two fingers. Issul leaned down slowly, giving her plenty of opportunity to back away if she wanted to.
Sebena stayed firm and closed her eyes when they started to cross. His breath feathered across her lips and they parted in reflex. He stroked her lips with his own, slowly caressing her.
She shivered, her skin coming alive with just that tiny touch. Sebena was amazed. She had had a few lovers in her life, but none had been able to arouse her like this with a simple kiss. Most had found her inability to climax to be a personal failing in her and eventually, she had simply given up on sex.
Sebena leaned up to increase the pressure of the kiss, but Issul backed away, moving from her mouth to feather kisses across her cheekbones and her nose, across her forehead and then back to her mouth.
She sighed and smiled against his lips at the blooming warmth that was spreading through her at his caresses.
While he was kissing her, she heard two people pass them in the hall, soft giggles trailed away, but she kept her eyes closed. She was lost in the spell he was weaving and when he backed away from her, she swam up out of the warm haze to open her eyes.
Issul was smiling and there was enough of Zeering in his eyes to make her self-conscious.
“It is a good start, Sebena. A very good start.” He took her hand and placed it on his arm, walking her the twenty steps to her quarters. “I will wish you good night. May your dreams shake the stars.”
Still dazed, she entered her quarters and smiled hesitantly at him before closing the door. A low, moaning sigh squeezed out of her chest and she quickly stripped for bed. It was going to be a restless night, but she hoped that dreams came quickly.
Chapter Four
The message to join the captain for breakfast woke her with a harsh beep. With the bleary eyes of a woman who had not had any sleep staring at her in the mirror, she took a rapid gel cleanse and brushed her mediocre pale brown hair into a long, loose pony tail down her back. It had waves in it from her braids but otherwise was unadorned.
She dressed in her uniform and made sure that she looked presentable before heading out to the captain’s mess with only five minutes to spare. She moved quickly through the halls and skidded to a halt in front of the door at exactly the right time.
Sebena pressed her hand to the palm scanner and the door opened to show Captain Helov, Avatar Issul and the junior officer who was serving.
She greeted them, “Good morning, Captain, Avatar Issul.”
“Gunner Hadros, please be seated.”
There was only one empty place set and it was next to Issul. She nodded and took her seat.
The junior officer began to serve the moment that she was settled.
She was nervous and simply listened to the captain and Issul speaking. She couldn’t add anything to the conversation regarding Alliance politics, so she sipped at her water and paid attention.
She perked up when she heard something of interest. “We are landing today?”
The captain gave her a slight smile. “Well, you are landing today. The planet has filed for your release from the mining ship for no less than three months.”
Sebena blinked. “I beg your pardon, Captain?”
“The Alliance has authorized your residence transfer to Zeering. You will be eligible to return to the Sheppan in three months.” He smiled as the officer put a plate in front of Issul and then himself. Sebena’s breakfast was served last and she waited for Issul to begin before she took a few careful bites.
The food was not what she was used to, but if she didn’t have to man her gun today, she should have time to work it through. The captain’s species had similar requirements to her own, but there was a density to the foods offered that wasn’t going to sit well.
“I see. When was I going to find this out, Captain?”
“We received the notice this morning. Too bad, you are our best gunner. No one has an accuracy and yield rating like you do, Hadros.”
Sebena sipped at the water again. “That is very true. My accuracy was the reason I made it into the Volunteer program. It is my defining characteristic.”
Issul seemed curious. “Is it? How so?”
“Targeting and precision was determined during the interview process. They tested me afterward and it was confirmed that my reflexes were above normal. I was offered the position in the Volunteers just before the launch day. I waved goodbye to my family and was on the first wave out to the stars before I knew what was happening.”
The captain sat back. “I never knew that.”
She blushed. “I don’t really have much interaction with anyone here aside from the gunners and they don’t ask questions.”
The captain had a serious expression, but when she looked at Issul, he had something different on his features.
“Do you miss it?”
She swallowed. “I really do. Knowing that I have a world where my family is that I cannot return to is hard. I mean, I know I agreed to it, but it doesn’t make it easier.”
Issul nodded. “I understand that better than you could ever know.”
Clearing her throat, she asked, “Captain, how close were we to Zeering?”
“Two days away. We are entering his system now.”
She swallowed. “I see. When will we be within distance for planet fall?”
“Six hours from now.”
“So, six hours from now…”
“You will pilot the Avatar to the planet Zeering and remain there with him as he adjusts to the changes that have occurred in the society. You will not only be there as the possible mate to this avatar, but also as his bodyguard.”
Her resentment fell away. “What?” She looked between the captain and Issul and cocked her head. “Why would he need a bodyguard?”
Issul leaned back in his chair and a slight smile curved his lips. “Because someone has already attempted to kill me.”
Sebena listened with a bit of shock as Issul explained that his ship did not strike the asteroids by chance. A blast had taken out his starboard propulsion and it had sent his ship spinning into the field.
They had chosen that moment to strike because the mineral-rich field was well known for blocking any signals.
“Do you know who did it?” She was already devising a plan to keep Issul safe, which was ridiculous as there was little chance of anyone causing him physical harm on the surface. The planet would keep him safe.
Zeering took control of the body. “There is a religious order on my world who has been attempting to gain a foothold with me by putting up one of their own as avatar. I have been refusing them on the grounds that Issul was still alive, but they claimed that there was no chance that he would return. They requested that they be allowed to submit candidates to me for the last one hundred years and I have rejected each one. They will be submitting another candidate in two days and with Issul’s return, there is bound to be a large fuss.”
She looked at the face and read the expression of the planet in the man’s body. Zeering was quiet and didn’t want any trouble. He was shy and just wanted the folk on his surface to get along.
“Zeering, how long have the people on your surface been there?” She wanted to bite her nails, but it was inappropriate for the captain’s table.
“One thousand forty-two years. They arrived one hundred years before Issul did, but I could not take them as Avatars. They burn out too quickly.”
“What species are they?”
“Reeban. They are not close enough to what I need to use as a vessel, but they do not like Issul. They were offended when I chose him as my avatar.”
The Reeban were feathered and easily irritated, but they were also fiercely loyal when given reason to be. If there was a problem, it was likely that a small minority were fanning the flames.
“Why would Issul be safe with me? You have far more power than I do to keep your Avatar safe.”
“He needs to get to the throne that they have constructed within the temple of Zeering. If he can take the seat, they will accept him as my chosen. This was an arrangement devised by the priests, but I have managed to keep any of their candidates from taking the seat of the Avatar.”
The grim cast to his voice let her know that those who tried to sit on the throne never stood up again.
She nodded. “So, you want him guarded until he can park his tush on the throne?”
“Precisely. You seem the kind of woman who can guard those under her care. I trust you, Sebena.” His eyes were equal parts gold and navy when he said it and she blushed again as the admiration in his tone melted her.
Captain Helov looked between them and he smiled slightly. “Gunner, you will be given a set of weapons and the safety of the Avatar will be on your shoulders. You have six hours to requisition any additional items that you think you will need. Good luck, Gunner.”
She fought tears at being forced away from what was her home. Sebena straightened her shoulders and inclined her head. “Avatar Issul, I will meet you in the starboard shuttle bay in six hours. I have lists to make.”
Sebena got to her feet and turned to leave, but Issul grabbed her wrist. He
stood and leaned toward her. “Thank you for this, Sebena. I will not forget it.”
The memory of their first kiss ran through her thoughts and she relaxed, some of the worry for her future melting away at the genuine concern in his eyes. “I know you won’t.”
He released her wrist and she left the room, her mind running through possibilities and everything she would need to defend a planet’s body against some angry birds.
Chapter Five
Sebena was quiet as she piloted the ship toward Zeering. She was wearing stunners strapped to each thigh and a stun rifle was stowed in the back. Now that they were alone, she had a request to make.
“Issul, can you ask Zeering to change my hair colour? I know it is not normal for a planet to make changes to someone other than their Avatar, but I know it can be done.”
He looked at her with confusion. “I like your hair colour.”
She smiled. “Thank you, but the Reeban determine rank by the crest colour.”
A hint of understanding came to his eyes. “And you want your rank to be high?”
“It will make things easier. Pink is one of the rarest colours for a female and so I think that if it was my colour, it might ease things along a bit. At the very least, it will offer a distraction for them. They will be watching me and not you when you ascend the throne.”
They were approaching the atmosphere. She hoped that he agreed, because this was one thing that they needed for any of her nine schemes to work.
“Give me your hand.”
She extended her right hand to him and his palm slid along hers. Power ran up her arm and crawled up her neck, coming alive along her scalp.
She couldn’t see what was happening to her hair, but the energy flowing through her gave her the same tickle as licking a nine-volt battery.
“There. It is a very pretty shade, but I will miss your original colouration.” He sounded wistful, but there was admiration in his gaze.
