by Lisa Lace
The Keeper was standing right next to me. He had changed out of his uniform and wore a sleeveless muscle t-shirt and dark jeans, but the distinctive tattoos on his arms confirmed his identity. I looked back at the booth behind me. The Yarian prince and three other Keepers sat on the checkered benches, surrounded by large breakfast platters and empty mugs of coffee. With the group dressed head to toe in casual attire, I had walked right past them. I thought they were a group of friends looking to sober up after a night out at the club, not a bunch of interstellar travelers.
The Keeper turned on his heel, about to head back to his booth, when he happened to glance in my direction.
“You again.”
“Yup. It’s me again.” I managed to crack a small smile, but I felt my cheeks heating up. When Dianne returned with my waffles and milk, I felt myself flush even redder against my will. “Thanks, Dianne.”
“That looks good.” He leaned against the bar with one arm. “What is that?”
“Whipped cream, caramel syrup, and rainbow sprinkles. Oh, and those two tiny squares swimming in that mess, those are called waffles.”
“I was referring to the liquid.”
“What, this? You mean milk?” I picked up my mug, looking at him blankly. “Don’t you have milk on your planet?”
“I was joking. Of course we have milk. It’s a never-ending supply. After all, it comes from the teats of Yarian rodents.”
“Oh. That’s interesting, I guess.” I lowered my eyebrows, trying to hide my bewilderment. “Really?”
“No.” He grinned. “Do you have a name?”
“Elizabeth Michelle Fletcher. But everyone calls me Michelle.”
“Michelle. I like that.” He stretched out a hand. “My name is Caspian Coore, but I go by Cas.”
I shook his hand, my heart fluttering. “It’s nice to meet you.”
A loud voice sounded from behind us. It was the prince, interrupting our conversation. “Cas, my brother, why don’t you ask your new friend to join us at our table?”
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Cas replied.
The prince looked at me directly. “What say you? Would you like to join us? I’ve ordered myself another breakfast platter, and could use help eating everything.”
Finding confidence in the presence of two female Keepers at the booth, I picked up my food and carried it over to the Yarians’ table. The female Keeper with the kinky auburn hair and fierce eyebrows moved over to her left, making room for Cas and me. Once we settled in, the prince leaned forward and rested one arm on his knee, introducing the group to me.
“I am Prince Jethro, and these are the Yarian Keepers – Botu, Indira, and Nala. Apparently you know Cas already.”
“This is Michelle.” Cas jabbed a finger at me. Under the table, his knee knocked against mine. I swung my leg over the other, clearing my throat.
“It’s a pleasure to meet all of you.”
All Keepers smiled back at me except for Indira, the remaining female Keeper with a platinum blonde pixie cut and a permanent sneer on her otherwise pretty face.
“Now, Michelle.” I could smell the scent of bourbon and gin emanating from the Prince all the way across the booth. He pushed aside his plate and stared at me intently. The eight rings adorning his fingers sparkled under the fluorescent diner lighting. “Do tell us about yourself.”
“Me? I’m just an ordinary human.” I was never sure what to say when I was put on the spot. “I work at Textra Corp, an investment firm. I grew up in a small town in Baxforth County. I moved to the city when I got a job. And that’s about it.”
“Baxforth County.” Botu, the clean-shaven Keeper with a buzz cut, rubbed his cleft chin in thought. “I remember seeing a train station by that name at the other end of the Dublin line.”
“That’s the one. I’m surprised you remember it. It’s a small town with no more than three thousand people. There’s not a lot of sight-seeing there, but we do have some breathtaking vineyards. Although I’m not sure if aliens are interested in wine.” I blushed, not knowing what to say. “How are you all enjoying the city?” I glanced at the faded stamps on the back of their hands and the wrinkled paper bands around their wrists. “Apparently, you’re getting out at night.”
“That we are.” Prince Jethro wiggled his eyebrows at me, the black around his eyes intensifying his gaze. He casually tilted his head to the side, showing off raw hickeys covering his neck. “The bars and clubs here are something else. You humans certainly know how to throw a good party.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” I cut out another piece of my waffle and smothered it with cream. “I’m curious, though. What are you still doing here? I thought most aliens considered Earth a backwater planet.”
“The ship is down for repairs,” Botu explained. “We’re currently waiting for one of the parts to arrive. Until then, we’re stranded here for a few weeks.”
“I see. From what I’ve heard on the news – and believe me, it’s everywhere – you were returning home from a mission when your ship crashed?”
“Yes.” I could see Prince Jethro’s chest start to swell. “It was I who led our warriors to Thorton to retrieve an object stolen from our kingdom. If it wasn’t for an unplanned stopover on Earth, I’m sure this would have gone down in history as one of our most memorable expeditions.”
“Something was stolen from the Yarian kingdom?” I was sure I knew what it was. “Do you mean the Doomstone?”
The Yarians exchanged blank looks but didn’t answer me immediately.
“I’m sorry, was it something I said?”
“You ask a lot of questions,” Indira said brusquely. She tilted her chin forward and folded her arms over her chest, scowling at me. “This human knows too much about us. Does this not seem highly suspicious to you, my prince?”
I lowered my fork and knife, stunned. Indira didn’t know anything about me.
“Ease off, Indira. Not everyone is the enemy.” Cas laughed through a mouthful of egg. He swallowed, turning towards me. “What do you know about the Doomstone?”
“Not much.” I suddenly felt uncomfortable explaining everything I knew. I had read every article about the sacred Yarian stone I could find. “It’s okay. I understand. I should have explained myself. I’ve always wanted to visit the Yarian Empire. To be more specific, I’m interested in Luna Maris, and I’ve done a bit of reading about it.”
“You have excellent taste, Michelle.” Prince Jethro smiled as he raised his mug to me. “You will be a welcome visitor.”
“If you ever make it to Luna Maris for a visit, I’ll be sure to take you out,” Nala chipped in, helping to relieve the tension. “Try to visit in the winter so you can see the Bushkad festival. I have been to over eighty planets. You won’t find anything like it in space.”
“Thank you. I’ll try to take you up on your offer,” I said earnestly, feeling better immediately. “Before I forget, Prince Jethro, I’d like to extend my congratulations. I read about Princess Tazmin’s upcoming coronation.”
To my horror, I could see Prince Jethro’s face begin to cloud over. He dropped his head and slumped his shoulders, taking a long drink of his piping-hot coffee. I shrunk back in my seat and chewed my lip. I guess this was why I wasn’t a diplomat.
“I’ll be sure to pass on your thoughts.” Every word the prince said dripped with resentment.
Before the awkwardness could drag on any longer, Cas pointed at a television mounted above the counter. “Isn’t that him?”
I straightened in my seat. The news channel was doing a feature on Tate’s candidacy, playing clips of him mingling with the public and shaking hands with congressmen. I nervously tugged at my nail, chipping the polish. “Do you know this man?”
“Aye. He’s a real vagdare. As you humans would put it, an asshole.” Cas shook his head. “Is he famous or something?”
“That asshole is my boyfriend.”
“I meant to say he’s a good asshole.” Cas glanced at N
ala helplessly.
“Sorry, guys.” I slid out of the booth and slung my purse over my shoulder. “This has been an absolute pleasure, but it’s getting late, and I have to get up and work in a few hours.”
“But you haven’t finished your food!” Botu pointed out.
“I seem to have lost my appetite. Have a good night.”
Chapter Eight
CAS
The wooden bedposts struck the wall repeatedly, making me wonder if the ivory paint on the concrete was in danger of cracking. The springs in the mattress were suffering as well. The tired coils were on the verge of collapsing. Around me, cold air pumped out of the vents. They had no effect on the sweat steadily streaming down the sides of my face. Heat radiated from every pore of my body.
My eyes rolled back.
I repositioned my knees on the bed, sinking my fingers around Indira’s slender waist. The view of her butt as she crouched face-down on all fours was magnificent. Messy hair stuck out at odds and ends. Sweat pooled in the dimples of her lower back. Her toned, supple ass cheeks ground against my crotch. The visible sliver of my cock disappearing and reappearing each time I squeezed past her bare lips and forced myself deeper inside her body should have captured my complete attention.
As much as I wanted to, I just wasn’t getting into it. Normally, having my cock rammed deep into any pussy was enough to get me in the zone. Once I was in, nothing else mattered until my partner and I reached mutual release. It was a skill I’d honed well over the years, and it had never failed me.
Until now.
I had plowed Indira from various angles for well over an hour now, and I still wasn’t close to coming. Her elbows and hips bore dents and marks from all the different positions. I had violated her breasts and ass until they were pink. I could see her sticky thighs shaking as she struggled to keep herself upright.
I shut my eyes and exhaled deeply, flicking a tongue over my chapped lips.
Michelle’s face materialized in my mind. Her round, soulful eyes gazed up at me. She opened her small mouth and slipped out half of her tongue. Her lips puckered as she waited for my entry. I stroked myself as I approached her, sliding my cock over the warm bed of her tongue.
“It’s too much. Stop. Stop, Cas. I can’t take it anymore.” Indira’s pleas jerked me out of my trance. My eyes sprang open again, and I felt myself go limp inside of her. I loosened my grip on her hips and pulled out with a pop, backing up onto the bed.
“Did I hurt you?”
“Nay, I’m fine.” Indira rolled over. She flung herself on the pillows and spread her legs open, massaging her battered folds delicately. “I can’t go on. You’ve gotten me sore. I could no longer feel my legs after the third release.”
“There’s ice in that bucket if you need it.”
“Aye, that...Cas? Where are you going?” Indira sat up and kicked off the covers. “Why don’t you come over here and let me return the favor?”
“That won’t be necessary.” I put on my clothes and started walking toward the door. “I’ll see you later. Maybe we can grab some dinner.” I closed the door behind me and walked past the gray doors of the brightly lit hallway.
Splynter stood by the elevators, blowing smoke from his dirty brown pipe out a cracked window. The Keeper was a discordant anomaly against the classy hotel atmosphere. Dirt tracks and piles of ash surrounded him, soiling the carpet.
“You gave it to her good, eh?” He cackled, his milky eye swiveling from side to side. “I could hear Indira’s cries from the floor below you.”
“You better take your pipe outside. At the very least, tip the poor girl who has to clean up after you.” I pushed the button for the elevator.
“Just remember something, Cas. If a flaura is what you truly desire, you should be slowing down.” Splynter was still smiling. “This will be a real test of your future. Tell me, with an appetite like yours, do you think you will succeed?”
“You’re not going to trap me this time, Splynter.” I stepped into the elevator and closed the doors. “I’m going for a walk. I’ll see you later.”
“Follow the cross, my boy!”
The elevator doors shut out the rest of Splynter’s babbling.
I headed out the hotel entrance and across the street. Humans in suits and formal attire piled out of the tall buildings on every corner. They fraternized in groups, some flocking to food carts and others talking with their companions. I slowly fell behind the crowd and walked through the steel gates of a public park. The fresh air was already starting to soothe my pounding headache.
I had one foot out and I was ready to cross over to the next street when I saw her. Michelle sat on a bench in the shade of a tall spreading tree, a sandwich in one hand and an open book in the other.
“Lovely day out here, isn’t it?” I leaned my arm against the fence behind her bench.
Michelle glanced up from her book and looked behind her. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you were stalking me.” She turned away from me, but I could still make out a smile on her lips.
“Do you mind if I join you?”
“If you have to, but I’ve got to get back to work in twenty minutes.”
I walked around the fence and into the park, joining her on the bench.
“What brings you to this side of the city?” Michelle closed her book and took another bite of her sandwich.
“We’re staying at the Beaumont Hotel. And you?”
“The Beaumont? That’s a fancy establishment for an alien.” She licked crumbs off her lips. “Textra Corp is just down the block – that’s where I work.”
“I see.” I clasped my hands together, resting my elbows on my lap. “Listen, Michelle. I wanted to apologize for what I said about your other half.”
“It’s okay. You didn’t know.” She sighed, squirming in her seat. “I’m sorry for leaving suddenly. I didn’t realize it was that late.”
“I understand.” I rested my ankle over my other knee. “But I must admit, I was surprised to learn that you had an other half.”
“Why is that?”
“If I remember everything correctly, we met at TerraMates. What were you doing at a matchmaking agency?”
“Oh. That’s right. I don’t see how that’s any of your business.” Michelle crossed and re-crossed her ankles, straightening the ends of her blue skirt.
“Fair enough. Everyone’s got secrets.” My lips curved in a down-turned smile. I had struck a nerve. “I apologize.”
“Don’t apologize for something you’re not sorry for,” said Michelle, finishing off the rest of her sandwich. She folded the brown paper bag, smoothing out the wrinkles between her fingers. “It’s a valid question. I’ve been asking myself the same thing.”
“It seems that the answer is relatively straightforward. Your actions were a result of doubt in your relationship.”
“What are you doing here, running an advice column?” Michelle muttered, shaking her white blazer. “I’ll have you know that I was just looking around. I stayed no more than fifteen minutes, tops. As a matter of fact, I was on my way out the door when you all showed up. You know something? I don’t have to explain myself to you.”
“No problem. Do whatever makes you happy. If it bothers you that much, I will gladly retract my statement.” I relaxed in my seat, dangling one arm off the back of the bench. “But if you ask me, you seem pretty defensive for someone who hasn’t done anything.”
“I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t ask you.”
“Are you serious about him?”
“What?” Michelle blinked, pulling at the skin on her elbows. “What kind of question is that? We’ve been together for over three years. He’s a great guy. He’s driven, and he means well.”
“You’re not answering my question.” I cocked an eyebrow. “What’s his name?”
“Tate. Tate Sheen.”
“Are you living together?”
“Yes,” said Michelle slowly, narrowing her eyes. “Why?”
“Why didn’t his name come up when the prince asked about you? I would think a three-year, live-in relationship is significant enough to mention.”
“The prince asked about me,” Michelle cut in, not missing a beat. “No woman should be defined by a man. He’s a part of my life, but he isn’t all there is to me.”
“That’s a solid answer. I respect that.”
“You should because it’s the truth.” Michelle seemed to lighten up after that. She was trying not to smile, but the corners of her mouth gave her away. “Just out of curiosity, why would you say Tate’s an asshole? Don’t worry. I promise I’m not going to bite your head off. I am being a little testy with you, so I apologize.”
It was difficult for me to see the simple look in Michelle’s pale blue eyes. I didn’t think she knew anything about her boyfriend’s groping session with Indira at the club. But at the same time, Michelle was right about one thing. We had just met. If I said anything, I could derail her entire relationship, so I had to choose my words carefully. I couldn’t even be certain it had been him at the club. All male humans looked the same to me, although the pretty boy walked and acted just like the man on the diner TV. They were even wearing the same suit.
My instincts told me this wasn’t the right time.
“Well?”
“I’m not a fan of the man’s politics, from what I’ve seen on TV. It’s nothing personal.”
“That’s understandable, I guess. A lot of people aren’t impressed with his policy proposals.”
“Are you one of those people?”
“Tate is my boyfriend, and I support him in everything he does.” I noticed Michelle’s body growing rigid. She tossed the sandwich bag into the trash, making a perfect shot.
“You know, you’re excellent at dodging questions. Are you sure you’re not a politician yourself?”
“Maybe you’re just terrible at asking questions. I shouldn’t be talking about Tate, especially with you.”
“With me?” I grinned, twisting my body towards her. “That sounds interesting. Why not with me?”
