Ayrie: An Auxem Novel

by Lisa Lace

  I climbed to Nathaniel's position and steeled myself for a tough conversation.

  "I need you to take me to Omi," I said when he glanced my way. He made a face.

  "Why aren't you going home?" he said.

  "It's none of your business."

  "I'm afraid it is my business, Jori. Don't forget, I have to deliver a report about you to the correctional institute."

  He was right. I didn't remember he was responsible for me. The thought galled me. How had I ever thought I could live a life undercover? Of course, I had done it successfully for some time. But lately my occupation felt like a curse.

  I stalled, trying to think of a plausible reason I would go to a different destination.

  "I've called work and I told them I needed time to get over the trauma of the shipwreck."

  Nathaniel had the gall to snort.

  "Do you have a problem?" I asked. I looked at his handsome face and grimaced. His looks were another way he was better than me. What could he possibly find funny about my situation?

  "Poor Jori. I hope the experience of spending a few days trapped on a deserted island with his beautiful wife doesn't scar him forever."

  My cover story was we had hired a boat and gone for a cruise after the party. During the cruise, we were shipwrecked. I skipped the parts where Sam and I had near-death experiences.

  "I don't know what you're talking about," I retorted, giving him a black look. I had tried to forget how Sam's body felt against mine. Who knew when I would get the chance to make love to her again? "We were both terrified to be stuck in the middle of the ocean without any land in sight. You would have been scared too."

  He rolled his eyes. "I doubt it."

  "I was worried we had crossed over The Barrier."

  "Okay, that would have freaked me out too. I still have nightmares about falling in the water past The Barrier and being eaten by something horrible."

  "Exactly," I said.

  "You may have suffered a disturbing experience. I'll give you that, I suppose." He shook his head. "Otherwise you're looking pretty relaxed, little brother. I don't know what spell you cast on Sam during your island escapade, but she looks different too."

  Nathaniel turned to me suddenly. "Is she in love with you? There's something different about her eyes."

  I was startled but tried to hide it. "I wouldn't know. She looks the same to me."

  "Was it amazing?"

  "Was what amazing?"

  "I think you're trying to avoid the question," Nathaniel said. He radiated a certain aura when he wanted to get answers. I'm sure it worked on his wife, Ashlyn, but it didn't work on me. "So, was it?"

  "I never said we did anything."

  "You don't have to."

  I remained silent, not wanting him to trap me into revealing what we did.

  "Do you care about her?" he said, scanning the horizon and avoiding my face.

  I wondered which answer made sense, would be truthful, and would work with my cover.

  "Earlier you said about things being different with a particular girl. You were right."

  I looked over and saw he had a smug grin of satisfaction.

  "Is that my answer?" he said, searching my eyes. The smile on his face faded, replaced by an intense expression.

  "That's all you're going to get," I said, looking away from his inquisitive eyes.

  "Don't hurt her, Jori. She's a terrific person and doesn't deserve a broken heart."

  I stared into the ocean, looking at its majestic waves. I didn't want to break Sam's heart, and I hoped I wouldn't.

  "I know that. I'm looking out for her, Nathaniel. I know you think I don't know how to take care of a wife, and that I'm probably not good enough for her."

  "Jori, hang on a second."

  "I'm taking care of her, the best I can."

  No further words were exchanged between us as we continued sailing.

  When we approached land, Nathaniel and I needed to have another discussion. "If you could drop anchor out here, we'll catch an automatic boat all the way into the wharf. We don't need to bother you."

  "It's no problem to dock her, Jori," he said. He was getting frustrated. "I don't mind."

  "I know you don't," I said, trying to keep my face expressionless. "But I also know you have two girls waiting for you at home and mooring will take an extra hour. If Kathryn's sick, your family needs you."

  I could see him hesitate.

  "There's a doctor at the house."

  "Ash doesn't need a doctor. She needs you. Go home, Nathaniel. I'll call you when we're back at my apartment."

  "Okay," Nat said. He moved reluctantly, but I could tell he wanted to be with his daughter. He called out orders to the crew and turned back to me. "Jori, I know you probably see me as a pain in the ass and I don't blame you. But I'll always be your brother and I'll always be looking out for you. If you ever need my help, let me know, and I'll be there, no questions asked."

  I stared at him. How could he think I was a bad person and still make a promise like that to me? I agreed reluctantly. "Okay."

  Sam approached us. She sensed we were having a private discussion and hesitated. I gave a nod indicating it was okay to join us.

  "Hey big guy," she said. It was difficult to keep my face stoic when a jolt of happiness shot through my body when she stood next to me. "Are they dropping anchor? How are we going to get to shore?"

  "We're catching one of the boats," I said as I motioned my hand towards the robotic craft around us, floating and waiting for their next passengers.

  "Ah," she said. To see them, she had to squint into the sun.

  "I'll see you soon, Sam," Nat said, giving her a hug. He offered me his hand, and I shook it. "You'll remember what I said, right?"

  "I'll remember," I said, meeting his eye. I wished I could be authentic with my brother. I desperately wanted him to know he wasn't misplacing his faith in me. Once my mission was complete and I was out of the service, I would get my reward. I could think about telling my brother all about my life the past few years.

  When we sat by ourselves side by side in the new boat, Sam turned to me.

  "I know what you're doing," she said.

  I stared out the window. If I looked into her eyes, I knew I wouldn't be able to hide.

  "I don't know what you're talking about."

  "I did not dream our time on that island," she said. "Look at us."

  I glanced out of the corner of my eye and saw her tugging at her bodysuit. She was dirty, and her hair was a mess. The bodysuit had seen better days. I'm sure I looked disheveled as well.

  From my vantage point, the curve of her breasts was visible. I could see her nipples were tight and round. She didn't look bad to me. In fact, she looked way delicious. She was better than I deserved. I drew in a deep breath through my nose and stared back out the window.

  Samantha turned her head towards me. When I looked out of the corner of my eye again, I saw a sly smile spread across her face. She leaned a little closer to me, her soft breasts pressing into my arm, and put her hand on my crotch.

  "Maybe it was a dream. A hot dream," she said, and squeezed. I exhaled, took her hand off my crotch, and placed it carefully back in her lap. She rolled her eyes and flopped back in the seat, swallowing and putting her hand on her stomach. Her motion sickness had kicked in, and she started to look green. Her propensity for seasickness was incredible, even on a short trip.

  "You can put on an act for everyone else, Jori. I'm sure they'll be convinced. Don't bother with me. I won't believe it again. I know you," she said. Her voice was weak as she struggled with nausea.

  There were surveillance devices everywhere, especially in public transit. I frowned at her.

  "You hardly know me, Sam," I said. I undid my seatbelt as the boat bumped into the dock.

  She had a calm resolve in her eyes.

  "Whatever you say," she said, clambering out onto the wharf. She looked distracting, and I had a feeling she was doing all th
e jiggling for my benefit.

  I hoped the mission wouldn't take much longer.

  Chapter Fifteen

  SAMANTHA

  I hoped he was pretending again. I didn't think he could fool me anymore. I had seen the person behind the mask on the island. The person next to me now and walking beside me was a ghost. I thought he was acting and trying to keep up his cover.

  I didn't see what the point was when Harrington already knew Jori was on his trail, but perhaps he had a purpose I didn't understand. Maybe his boss wouldn't let him drop his cover until the mission was complete. What did I know? I was just his wife, and it looked like I was back to sleeping alone. He could try to keep me at arm's length. He would find out I wasn't easy to push away.

  If he thought it was difficult to resist me before, he was in for a surprise. I was going to put myself on a platter for him.

  I didn't know how long it was going to take to save these kids, but I was not going back to celibacy after the mind-blowing sex on the island. I had needs. It was his job as my husband to fill them. I would tell him to his face later when I had fewer clothes on.

  "Where are we going?" I huffed. I needed to walk fast if I wanted to keep up with his long legs.

  "To a hotel. We need to get cleaned up."

  "And then what?"

  "There's a guy I need to talk to."

  About the kids, I thought. I didn't say it out loud.

  "He's having a party tonight. He has a party every Friday night."

  Not another fucking party. I would be a happy woman if I never went to a Vandwan party again.

  I didn't say anything. He looked over at me, realized something was the matter, and slowed down.

  "It's not that kind of party." He smiled. I was surprised he had read my mind.

  "What kind is it, then?"

  "His parties are casual."

  "What's casual to you people? Designer sweat pants that only cost four thousand credits?"

  "Regular people casual. They wear nice clothing but not designer sweat pants. He's rich, and so are his friends. You don't want to know where they got their money."

  "Is this supposed to make me feel better?" I said. "Because it's making me feel worse."

  "I'll call for some clothes. Jeans, a T-shirt and a hoodie should be fine."

  "A hoodie?" I said. "You've got to be kidding me. Who is this guy?"

  "Farrell Waterby," Jori said. "He's not someone you want as your enemy."

  "Are you his enemy?"

  "I hope not. I'm his friend."

  "And how do you know that he's not your enemy?"

  He turned in at a lavishly decorated building. I assumed it was our hotel.

  "I saved his life. He owes me, and he knows it." Jori walked past the desk, not bothering to stop and get us a room. The clerk nodded at us. "He wouldn't hurt you or me, Sam. He can help us."

  I frowned but kept pace beside him.

  "Aren't you going to get us a room?"

  "I have one here."

  "All the time?"

  "I have it whenever I want it. I called ahead."

  I began to understand what it was like to live the life of the ultra-rich. It was a world I had never known until now.

  We got on the elevator. Jori punched in the sixteenth floor. Not the penthouse. I had assumed all the rich people took the penthouse in hotels.

  When we entered the room, I realized the penthouse was, at most, on par with this suite. The decor was perfect. The furniture looked comfy and chic at the same time. It radiated wealth, without jumping in your face screaming riches.

  Jori was going through the room, running his hands under tables and feeling along the baseboards. He was checking for something. Maybe looking for a bug? Then he took out a device from his pocket, scanning everything all over again.

  I was checking for something as well. I spotted a king-size bed in the bedroom, and I planned on getting him into it.

  He finished what he was doing and came over to me, but kept a respectful distance between us.

  "Sorry Sam, but no."

  "What?" I said innocently.

  "I'm sleeping on the couch."

  "Why?" I took a step towards him.

  "There are eyes and ears everywhere."

  "They must know we're married," I said, moving a little closer. "Shouldn't we make it look authentic?

  I stepped into his personal space then, allowing my breasts to brush against his chest.

  His breathing got ragged. I thought I had won the argument at that moment. He managed to step back.

  "I need to focus."

  "That's my point," I said. "You can't have lust clouding your judgment."

  He almost cracked a smile. "Sam. It'll have to wait," he said.

  I shrugged. "Whatever you say, husband."

  I unzipped my bodysuit from my left shoulder all the way down to my right ankle, peeling it off slowly to reveal my naked body. I had lost my underwear somewhere on the island.

  Jori was watching, of course. How could he look away? I stepped daintily out of the pile of bulletproof fabric.

  "I'm going to take a shower," I said, making sure to sway my hips as I walked away. "Feel free to join me."

  When I closed the bathroom door, I heard a groan come from the living room. I smiled wickedly to myself in the mirror.

  This was going to be fun.

  JORI

  I sat down on the couch; I was ready to do anything to distract myself. I absently ran my fingers through my hair, trying to erase the image of Sam's naked ass headed for the bathroom. Her blatant invitation to go and have my way with her body wasn't helping.

  She wanted me. I knew that. We had fucked more times than I could remember on the island. When we had the opportunity together, we couldn't get enough of each other. Once we crossed the line the first time, it appeared that our desires were not going to remain on the island.

  I ached for her, and it took all my willpower to stay on the couch. I wanted to tear my clothes off right now, walk into the bathroom, and take her in the shower. I used every technique I knew to calm my raging erection, but nothing was working.

  In desperation, I called the concierge, asking them to get new clothes for us that would properly fit us. I had to check Sam's bodysuit to get her size. I didn't know it, of course; in my mind I separated women into small and large, and that was the extent of my analysis. I knew our bodies fit together perfectly, but that wasn't a size on Vandwa. It wouldn't help the concierge.

  Once I requested the clothing, I felt like I had some momentum and I asked them to stock the fridge as well. I had a feeling we would be staying here for a few days at the minimum. I remembered there was a restaurant that served Earth food and put in an order.

  I had spent a while placing orders, and there was no sign of Samantha. Was she taking an extra long time in the shower? I wondered if she was hoping I would change my mind. Her devious plan backfired when all the orders came in while she was still in the bathroom. They put the food in the kitchen and the clothes in the bedroom. As I was putting things away and tidying up, I finally heard the water go off. She came out with a tiny towel wrapped around her body.

  I busied myself in the kitchen, avoiding her gaze. She came over to see what I was doing.

  "Is that real food? I've been dying to eat something other than seaweed since the last party," she said, taking one of those strange things called French fries and popping it sensually into her mouth. She moaned. I closed my eyes, praying for self-control. "That is so good."

  "Glad you like it," I said.

  "I do," she said, leaning over to kiss my cheek. She made sure her breasts brushed me. She knew how much I loved her lush mounds. I swallowed hard as she whispered in my ear. "Thanks, Jori."

  I pressed my lips together, not answering.

  "I'm going to get dressed now," she said as she stepped back. I tried to look away, but I couldn't help myself. When she dropped her towel, giving me an unobstructed view of her luscious body, I fro
ze. I knew if I moved at all it would be in her direction. She smiled sweetly at me and went into the bedroom.

  "If you want to help, I could use some assistance with my zipper."

  I breathed shallowly through my mouth trying not to smell her sweet orange scent. Her aroma was mixed with a hint of intoxicating sex underneath. I wondered if she was as wet for me as I was hard for her.

  We would have to wait.

  Samantha and I sat eating on the island of our hotel suite's kitchen. She had stopped teasing me finally and wore some of the new clothes I had ordered. Unbelievably, she looked just as sexy fully clothed as when she only wore a towel.

  Her clothing was simple - jeans and a T-shirt from Earth. The jeans sat low on her hips. The T-shirt stretched tightly over her breasts. The shirt ended above her stomach, allowing a tantalizing glimpse of her navel. I had never thought belly buttons were sexy before. I was beginning to realize I found almost everything about Sam sexy, especially when I couldn't have her.

  "What's the deal?" she asked, biting into a meat product called a chicken finger. To my knowledge, chickens did not have fingers. What was that thing she was eagerly consuming? I tried not to look appalled and pay attention to what she was saying. Between my arousal at her appearance and my disgust at her food, I had completely forgotten her inquiry.

  "What was that?" I said and she smiled knowingly.

  "I said, what's the deal, Jori? Am I going to get shot at this party?"

  "No. Probably not."

  "Your answer is not reassuring."

  "Let me put it this way. There's no need for bodysuits," I said.

  "Really?" she said. "I was starting to enjoy mine."

  An image of Samantha removing her tight bodysuit and dropping it onto the floor invaded my mind. I don't know if I was staring blankly off into space, but something about the way I carried myself revealed my thoughts to Sam.

  "You know," she remarked. "You're going to have problems concentrating if you don't get it out of your system."

  I didn't want to talk about it, but I couldn't help myself. "Get what out of my system?"

  "This," she said, reaching over and cupping my groin.

  "Don't do that," I growled.