Unwrapping Miss Milky Way

by Candace Sams

  Instead of insisting on their staying where they were, he softened his tone. “Whatever you want, baby. It’s your call. I just want to know that you’re okay with what I did.”

  “Of course I’m okay. You didn’t do it alone. Besides…it was just sex.” She pushed herself away from his strong, warm body and stood. “I-I’d better find my clothes. I still have the airfield pass you gave me. If you’ll just give me the coordinates to the shuttle hangar, I’ll bring my gear and meet you there in the morning.”

  Shocked at her sudden, aloof attitude, he took a deep breath and tried to answer calmly. “The mechanical sheds will provide you with whatever equipment you need—”

  “No. I use my own. If you want the best results, you use the best tools. I’m used to mine. I bring them with me wherever I go,” she abruptly replied.

  “So I won’t even be picking you up at the hotel?”

  She shook her head. “No. Just take me back. I’ll see you in the morning.”

  He pasted on a smile and nodded. “Right.” Then he stood and almost turned away, but stopped to face her again. “I wouldn’t hurt you for the world. You know that, don’t you, Charlie? You’re very special…truly rare. Any man would fight to be by your side. I just want you to know that.” He lifted his hand, pushed back her hair, and pressed a soft kiss on her forehead before finally turning to find his clothing.

  ****

  He returned her to her hotel.

  No amount of jovial, light conversation could bring her back to the way she’d been in the water, or those few moments on the beach before she’d gone cold. At first, he questioned every move he’d made, every gesture and word. But nothing accounted for her strange, hot-then-freezing attitude. It came on so suddenly, as if she’d regretted or reconsidered her actions in making love in the first place.

  When he tried to kiss her goodnight at her door, she simply asked for the coordinates to the hanger, then smiled rather forcibly when he programmed them into her airfield pass. She unlocked her door and simply went into her room without glancing back.

  For a long moment he leaned against the door she’d summarily closed in his face. Frustration, anger, and pain made him eventually walk away, into a night that had suddenly turned frigid.

  What happened?

  Chapter Ten

  The next morning Datron paced in front of the hangar with his hands clasped behind his back. The fact that he’d been the first person Charlie had encountered during sex—coupled with her sudden cold response afterward—left him thinking he’d done something seriously wrong.

  For the life of him, he couldn’t think what it was. But he planned on getting the matter straight. Charlie was too important. She wasn’t, in any way, like any other woman he’d ever met, and his feelings simply wouldn’t allow him to let the matter go.

  Clitus and Gilla hadn’t arrived yet, nor had Electra. He’d be hard pressed to explain a supposed pageant diva’s presence, but he had a plausible excuse worked out. There was nothing else for it. Electra had to be present. Lucent’s ambassador wanted her as well as Clitus, Gilla, and himself.

  For their briefings, the protective walls of the hangar would be the most secure place on the airfield. The shuttle’s repair—their fabricated story about taking it on a test flight while waiting for their patrol duties to begin—was his idea. That’s why he’d involved Charlie.

  He’d assured himself she was the right choice. They couldn’t use an enforcer mechanic, or anyone who’d go talking to other like-minded individuals on the airfield. She wouldn’t blab about her sudden contract offer, not if she wanted another one.

  He assumed she knew his mission compatriots from the judging stint. Yet, despite what she might or might not know on Oceanus, their cover was devised in such a way she’d have nothing to talk about to anyone. Besides, she didn’t have access to the airfield without obtaining an officer’s permission.

  He continued to pace while he awaited her arrival. When he finally spotted her tiny form sauntering across the tarmac, pulling a heavy chest mounted on anti-gravity grids, he strode toward her with determination. As he closed the distance, he noted how she’d pulled her hair up and bundled it neatly on her head. The coiffed style was obviously meant to keep the long strands out of her way while working. It had the effect of making her look prepared to do her job while utterly charming him.

  Even in the gray jumpsuit she wore, complete with old-fashioned black jump boots, she was endearing. Her diminutive form made her look more like a child playing at being a mechanic than the real thing.

  ****

  The moment she spotted Datron, Charlie cast her gaze downward. Guilt made her want to throw up her breakfast of granola and coffee.

  Last night, she felt like she’d kicked a puppy.

  Okay, there was nothing puppy-ish about him. His weight was probably close to three-hundred pounds, and he towered over her like an Earth skyscraper. In every respect, the man resembled a fusion tank.

  But the big angelic-like mountain-of-a-man had feelings that ran deep, and she’d hurt him horribly. She’d seen a look on his face that if anyone else had put it there, she’d be up-in-arms, defending him against such callous, bitchy behavior.

  Sure she’d burn in hell for using him the way she had and for considering her own lustful needs ahead of his, she’d firmly put him in his place hoping he might quit caring about her.

  She had no future. He did. She’d had no right playing with him as she had. But at the same time, she’d wanted him so badly nothing else mattered. And he wouldn’t have had sex with her if he’d known she was dying. No one who wasn’t just out for a piece of ass would. Or it’d likely be for pity’s sake and not for the love that might be included in the act.

  Well, she’d had her hero. She’d given him her virginity. Now she’d have to deal with the consequences.

  She stopped when the megalithic, winged giant approached, all decked out in his black uniform pants, high polished boots and belt. As always, he wore no shirt in deference to his wings.

  Her conscience bothered her most of the night. The result? She hadn’t gotten much sleep. But she had an excuse for her chilly behavior on the beach. Datron would find it perfectly plausible.

  “Hi,” she sheepishly muttered while staring up at him, offering a smile.

  “Hello, Charlie. Are you all right? I apologize if I went too fast last night—”

  “You didn’t do anything I didn’t want,” she interrupted. “Though, I thought I was being cute and trying to make a point, I came on to you in the ballroom. I took my clothes off and joined you in the water. What were you supposed to do? Stand around and ignore me?”

  “I don’t see it precisely that same way.”

  She saw the ghost of a smile tugging at his luscious lips and had to grin more broadly in return. “I-I’m sorry Datron. It’s just…I suddenly got to thinking that you’d no sooner offered me a contract than I rushed to get my clothes off and had sex with you. You must think I’m the least professional person you’ve ever known.”

  He adamantly shook his head. “Believe me, little meteor, that wasn’t at all what I was thinking.”

  “Well, you didn’t do anything wrong,” she assured him. “It was me. Though I tried hard to convince myself otherwise, you’re my boss now. And I have a very hard rule about mixing business with pleasure. At least, the kind of pleasure we shared.”

  “I’m not specifically your superior. The Oceanus enforcement corps has that pleasure. I’m just here to make sure the test flight goes well. You’re the one who’ll make our ship fly, and you’ve probably forgotten more about mechanics than I ever knew.” He stepped closer, keeping his hands behind his back. “As far as the repairs are concerned, you’re actually in charge,” Datron told her. “Except for seeing the schedule goes as planned, I’ll take full command when we’re airborne.”

  “I realize that, but I still don’t think my behavior last night was very professional. Then I compounded the problem by gett
ing kind of bitchy. It’s not like me and I’m sorry.”

  “All I need to know is, are you okay with what I did, Charlie? It was your first time. As I said last night, you offered me a gift beyond measure. I don’t want bad memories where only soft, pleasurable ones are appropriate.”

  Why does he have to be so sweet? And why do I have to have this frickin’ disease?

  “I’m good, Datron. And thank you for being so gentle with me.”

  “I wouldn’t describe my actions using that adjective. But I would like to try again,” he softly confirmed. “If it makes you uncomfortable having any kind of relationship with me while you’re under contract, then I’ll wait until the work is done. Will you give me another chance, Charlie?”

  If he kept looking down at her so considerately and kept murmuring his promises about another sexual interlude so softly, she’d make an idiot of herself. “W-we’ll have to see. I’m not sure how long I’ll be hanging around Oceanus. Since my pageant judging responsibilities are over, I’d planned to do some sightseeing. After that I might have some new contracts back on Earth. I was only able to take this one because I always bring my tool chest with me, wherever I go.” She nodded at the huge steel crate behind her. “It’s got everything in it I need to do the job.”

  “A true professional.”

  “Yeah…well…last night, I-I didn’t mean to sound so superior about using my own equipment. It’s just I really do have the best gear. It took me years to collect this stuff,” she gestured toward the crate. “Some of it I even invented and adapted for special purposes. If I sign on to do a job, I do it right or not at all.”

  “Use whatever you like. If you need anything else, just let me know. Gilla and Clitus… I believe you’re acquainted with them…should be here soon. They’ll be serving as my flight crew. They’ll be at your disposal.”

  She nodded. “Thank you. And yes… I’m aware they were part of your crew and had been since the Mr. Interstellar Feller pageant.”

  “Uh…after last night, I hoped you stick around until we get back.” Repeating his request yet again. “We’re only talking about a few days out in deep space. And I want to get to know you a lot better, Charlie. It’d mean a great deal if you’d promise to stay. Please?”

  The intense expression in his dark eyes made her feel wanted by someone for the first time in her life. The same type of feeling she’d enjoyed last night in his arms.

  Oh, how wonderful it would be to have him permanently in her life. There was nothing back on Earth that would matter if she could have a future with this big, gorgeous, winged man. She’d jump at the chance of a relationship that could be a dream. But she had no future. And she couldn’t hurt him. She took a deep breath and did what she must.

  “I-I can’t,” she softly told him. “I know I said I’d like to stick around but…things have changed.”

  “A few days with me, Charlie. That’s all I’m asking. I have no claim on you, obviously. But last night was special. We connected in ways that can’t be ignored. And I’m not just talking about sex.” He moved slightly closer. “Please…be here when I get back. Let me have the chance to show you Oceanus. I want the opportunity to make you laugh and to think well of me. I’d like us to share more memories. After all, life is short.”

  “Yes… Yes…I know.”

  It was on the tip of her tongue to give him a firm, incontestable refusal though her heart would cry all the way back to Earth. The man wanted to start something she couldn’t finish. As she saw it, the situation was her fault for yielding the night before. Her desire to have him caused the situation, and she had to stop it. She opened her mouth, but never had the opportunity to speak her mind. Two beings approached from the west, and she immediately recognized them as Gilla Eck’nor and Clitus Gart. At least, these were the Earth pronunciations of their names, that as co-judges in the Miss Milky Way pageant, they’d deigned to keep. Once again, it struck her odd that four of the runners up in the Mr. Interstellar Feller contest two years previous were all law enforcement officers and no pageant aficionado had ever made mention of that fact, nor had any of the media personnel…at least, not until the pageant was finished. But all that was in the past. She had other problems right now. One of them was a huge obstacle since she didn’t have a future.

  Datron quickly stepped even closer and lowered his voice. “Give me your airfield pass,” he softly instructed.

  Charlie did as he asked, quickly pulling the device from her left, coverall pocket. “Why? I’ll need it to get on and off the premises every day.”

  “I’m entering my personal access codes to my quarters on the Valiant. If I’m not there, any message you send will be forwarded to my wrist communicator. Obviously, I’m not wearing it right now as everyone who’ll need me today will be within earshot. But I want you to contact me once we’re done here. Day or night, if you want to talk.” He quickly entered the data then handed the pass back to her.

  That wasn’t going to happen. She’d already done enough damage. She ached because of her actions. There was no sense causing him more anxiety over their affair, one that by necessity had to be brief.

  She turned to welcome Gilla and Clitus and re-introduced herself. As far as she knew they wouldn’t recall a thing about her pageant win two years ago, or their brief meeting several weeks after their part in the Mr. Interstellar Feller gig. She hadn’t been a standout in a ballroom full of beauties. Furthermore, and most recently, there were dozens of women judging the Miss Milky Way contest. She was only one among them. She’d worn wigs during that event and would likely appear as a total stranger now.

  The other two men were quite congenial in their behavior. They led her into the hangar once Datron punched in a security cipher to unlock the immense, gray hangar doors.

  As the massive gate-like doors swung open, she noted her lover of the night before was now all business. With his men present, Datron Mann owned his captain’s persona. His face held no emotion. His dark eyes were focused, and there were no signs of their previous conversation.

  Charlie lifted her chin and pasted on her best, professional facade. This was business. And as long as she breathed, she’d at least maintain some semblance of pride when it involved her job.

  When the metal doors opened to their widest point, she got a chance to look over the vessel that would become her responsibility. It was an older interplanetary shuttle whose lines were clean and traditional in a bullet, rocket-ship design. The vessel’s blueprint was sadly no longer popular with construction companies, but had a great following among collectors. The design was easily distinguishable from any other kind of shuttle now in existence.

  In its day, this type of craft had been the most luxurious way to travel. She recalled reading that the living spaces on board were larger than those designed on comparable vessels now. The seating would likely boast some kind of actual animal hide or resilient fabric. The lounge area would contain a bar trimmed in real wood and brass. The hull of this particular vessel carried a sleeker, aerodynamic design than its broader, Earth counterparts. But it still had style, as far as she was concerned. Built to carry a passenger and crew of one hundred, it wasn’t practical to have such living space within the cabins when newer designs could cram twice that many individuals within the same interior.

  She nodded in appreciation and smiled when she looked up at the pointed top of the ship. For takeoff, it would be magnetically rolled out of the hangar and onto a launch gantry. From there, it’d lift straight up and into the stars.

  Charlie lied when she told Datron there were other contracts waiting for her back on Earth. This would be the last craft she’d ever repair, and she doubted her job would be all that difficult. As the Oceanus enforcement corps now owned and maintained this one, it appeared to be in in mint condition.

  “What do you think of the Hyperion?” Gilla asked.

  “That’s her name?” Charlie asked as she pulled on the handle of her large tool chest and walked forward to get a be
tter look.

  “It’s the closest Earth pronunciation of her registered title,” Clitus responded, gallantly taking control over Charlie’s huge tool container for her.

  ****

  Datron stood in the hangar doorway and watched Charlie and his two crewmen converse. They were immediately at ease. He was grateful for the transition. It meant working together wouldn’t be an issue over the course of the next three days. In fact, his crewmen seemed inordinately interested in what the little mechanic thought of this part of the hull or that part of the propulsion unit.

  He turned at the sound of footsteps behind him. Electra Galaxy walked toward him, dressed similar to Charlie. But unlike his newly hired mechanic, whose attire was very workable and appropriate, Electra made even a gray jumpsuit and black boots look elegant. Nearly twenty years his senior, the woman still made a smashing entrance with her platinum-colored hair neatly piled on top of her head.

  After Electra was inside the hangar, he closed the doors again for the sake of security. It was no one’s business what went on inside the building.

  Immediately afterward, he strode forward and motioned Electra to one side of the hangar, intending to fill her in on Charlie’s ignorance concerning their real mission.

  Electra lifted one brow and dropped her rucksack. He saw the older woman glance toward Charlie, who was still conversing with Gilla and Clitus.

  “Ah yes! I remember Charlotte Grayson now. She’s quite a pretty little thing, isn’t she?”

  Datron took a quick look over his shoulder and lowered his voice. “We’ll have to lie about the reason you’re here. I know Gilla and Clitus haven’t said anything. They’ll wait for me to concoct a story.”

  “Indeed. Charlotte will be quite curious as to why a male beauty pageant producer…me…would be anywhere near this vessel or know anything about it being repaired.” She grinned. “So, what’s my story? It’s obvious you went ahead and hired the girl or she wouldn’t be here. But then, if anything had been grossly wrong with her background you’d have heard from us right away,” she quietly relayed with a nonchalant shrug. “Obviously…Gilla, Clitus and I came to the agreement that Charlotte was a perfect candidate for the position. You, on the other hand, came to that conclusion on your own.”