by Lisa Lace
"It has helped me immensely. Thank you again, sweetheart," said Madame Ushera, settling into a stool Ardela pulled out. "I desperately needed help watering all the plants. I couldn't have done it for much longer considering the state of my fingers. Pushing two hundred fifty years is no walk in the park, but I'm afraid you can't help how your body is when you're approaching the end of your days."
"Nonsense," said Ardela, inhaling sharply. "You're going to be around for a long time."
"Of course! Each time you visit, you add another five years to my life," the florist exclaimed. The crinkles around the florist's milky-white eyes deepened. She turned to Eden, dipping her head to get a better look under the anxious Earth woman's hood. "And Ardela, who might your friend be?"
"My name is Eden," she replied, retracting her distinctively human hands. Instead of clasping hands, Eden chose an odd, bow-legged curtsy. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Madame Ushera."
"Eden is a distant cousin from a foreign land," Ardela chipped in, swapping knowing looks with Eden.
"How nice! What a lovely relief. For a moment there, I thought your friend was one of those filthy human harlots." The Runic woman's gentle demeanor quickly disappeared.
"I'm sorry, what's that now?" said Eden, doing a double-take. She slipped a hand into her hood to ensure her elfin ears were still properly glued on.
"You heard me. You're not a part of those new-agers trying to award these whores constitutional rights, are you? I had to cut ties with my grandson when he decided to run off with a mail-order bride. Can you imagine that no-good scum trying to muck up our pure bloodlines?"
Eden had to keep her jaw forced shut. She stared at the sweet woman fondly petting the petals of the potted flowers, and couldn't believe she was capable of blatant racism. Sucking in her lips as Madame Ushera continued to murmur hateful nothings to herself, Eden found herself offended and wildly entertained simultaneously.
"Well then," said Ardela, sensing it was time to wrap up the visit. She pointed to a row of potted flowers in the back. The individual petals glittered a brilliant metallic gold as they swayed gracefully from side to side. She handed Madame Ushera a silver card. "Sadly, Madame Ushera, Eden and I are in a bit of a hurry, so we are going to have to cut our visit short. I'll take five pots of those magnificent gardzaleas. Have them delivered to my spaceship. While you're at it, make sure to charge an extra two hundred credits for yourself as well."
"Thank you, sweetheart," the florist replied, performing some operations on her computer. She handed the card back to Ardela. "Take care of yourself."
"I will, Madame. I'll see you soon."
"Sorry about that," Ardela whispered, whisking Eden off in the opposite direction. "Madame's gone a bit senile, but she means well."
"I'm sure she does," said Eden, raising her eyebrows. Hearing the sound of an adorable, toddler-like sneeze, she stopped. "What was that noise?"
She heard the delightful sneeze again and turned into the stall on her right. It came from the top left corner of an unusual selection of plants. A cluster of grape-colored orchids speckled with indigo spots immediately caught her roaming eyes. The petals shrunk back as they sniffled, the honey-yellow stigmas in the center wriggling like the wet nose of a sick puppy.
Ardela rolled her eyes. "The name's a little cheesy, but we call them cosmic orchids. Funny little things, aren't they?"
"Janine would love these," said Eden wistfully. She stroked the orchids with the back of her hand. Drawing in a sharp breath, she pinched her lips. "These are some of her favorite colors, too. It was usually the two of us and our dad together. One summer when I was fourteen, we stayed up all night painting Janine's room. Purple walls were for her study area and blue walls for the side of her bed."
"You sound like a great sister," said Ardela softly. She turned to a male Runic florist with a peppered handlebar mustache. "How much for all the orchids?"
Eden's eyes widened, placing a hand on Ardela's arm. "Oh no, please, you don't have to. It's excessive. You've paid for lunch again today, too. I really couldn't imagine more generosity."
"Don't be ridiculous," Ardela brushed her off. "I would love to get you these flowers, and I'm not taking no for an answer."
"For you, beautiful lady, only four hundred credits."
"Great. We'll take all of them," said Ardela, her silver card making its reappearance. She glanced at Eden. "Should I have all the orchids delivered to Thiago's spacecraft?"
"Sure. Wait, on second thought, would you mind if I took half of them now? I think I'd like to take them to a special place."
"Of course."
A wicker basket of cosmic orchids swung back and forth in Eden's hands as the pair wandered away from the stall. They blended into the crowd, falling behind the leisurely pace of the other market patrons. Eden dabbed at the sweat forming on the nape of her cloaked neck. It was becoming wet in the midday heat.
"Thanks again for the flowers. Thiago's ship needs some color, and these should do the trick."
"It's my pleasure." Ardela hesitated for a moment. "You know, Eden, I envy you."
"You envy me?" Eden repeated quizzically. "In which universe would you want to be in my shoes?"
"You'd be surprised. There are a few reasons. If I had to pick one, it's that you're incredibly trusting. I wish I could bring myself to have such a cheery outlook in life. It's easier said than done."
"What do you mean by trusting?"
"Oh, yes. Forgive me for being blunt, but I could never imagine myself forgiving or getting close to someone responsible for keeping me away from my family forever."
Ardela glanced sideways at Eden, who had been happy but now had a visibly downcast expression. She promptly added, "That isn't to say you shouldn't trust Thiago, of course. Forgive me if I came off that way. Apart from being one of the most skilled bounty hunters on the planet, he's one of the finest men I know. A good person, although slightly bullheaded. It's a pity we'll have to part ways sooner than I'd hoped."
"It's a shame," agreed Eden quickly, eager to change the subject. "Where are you headed next?"
Ardela narrowed her eyes, gazing at Eden intensely. "I haven't told Thiago yet. I'm not sure what he'd think of the news, but I'd love to tell you. We're friends, aren't we?"
"I don't think we're enemies."
"I was offered an amazing job out at Territory 28 in a government research base. It's a desk job. There won't be much excitement, but it pays beautifully. It took me a while to mull it over, but after some consideration, I've decided to take it. When I stumbled upon you and Thiago, I knew fate had to be working in my life. I hoped that tagging along on one of Thiago's missions would be my last hurrah before I retired completely from bounty hunting."
"That job opportunity sounds like a sweet deal," said Eden anxiously, fidgeting with her fingers. She knew Ardela was about to say something that she wouldn't like. "I'm sure you'll kick ass at whatever you do."
"I have no doubts about that. It's a shame Thiago's upset with me. I'd hate to leave just as we're becoming friends again."
Eden bit her tongue to stop herself from making any incriminating noises.
Ardela continued talking, the tone of her voice turning somber. "I've been on the road by myself for a long time. It was a pleasant surprise to have company."
Eden knew it was coming, but she could still feel sympathy stirring in her gut at Ardela's raw vulnerability. In spite of her family's numerous financial shortcomings, Eden was fortunate to grow up in a tight-knit environment with mutual love and respect, which was emotionally richer than many other people's lives. Before she could stop herself, the words came out of her mouth.
"I'll see if I can talk Thiago into coming around."
"You will? Eden, I can't thank you enough! You'll see. We'll be making unforgettable memories in no time."
"Oh, we'll be making memories all right," said Eden, feigning a smile. She gulped. The bright grin on her face vanished as Ardela turned to look away.
&n
bsp; Chapter Twenty
The front door of Thiago's spaceship sealed shut behind him. Hercules trotted towards him at his arrival, showering his master with slobbery kisses of love and affection. Thiago reached into the pocket of his vest, sprinkling a handful of pomado prunes onto the floor. Hercules purred approvingly, diving headfirst to scarf down the treat.
As Thiago shrugged off his vest and draped it over a hanging hook by the door, the sound of feminine laughter echoed through the interior. He scowled, marching to the source of the disturbance. It was coming from the kitchen.
Ardela and Eden were both sitting on stools pulled up to the kitchen counter. They leaned their elbows against the edge as they stared at Ardela's computer propped up on the chrome finish countertop. Even as Thiago's shadow loomed behind them, they remained oblivious to their surroundings. Their eyes were pink and glazed from hours of watching the screen, intently fixed on a random intergalactic show.
"Are we enjoying ourselves?"
The women jumped up in their seats and whipped around to face him. Ardela flashed him a smile; Thiago didn't return it. She took it as a cue to leave, scooping her belongings into her satchel wordlessly and moving for the door.
"Thank you for spending the day with me, Eden. I had a lovely time. I'll see you both in the morning."
"Good night, Ardela," squeaked Eden.
Ardela sidled past an irritable Hercules and out the doorway. The door silently closed behind her. Thiago stood rigidly in place, the muscles of his jaw defined as they locked in, barely containing his wrath. His broad shoulders were eerily still, reminding Eden of the calm before an imminent storm.
"Are you going to tell me why Ardela's still here, or are we going to sit here all night?"
"Technically, you're standing," Eden began lightly. She clammed up at his withering stare. His bottom lip twitched at her weak attempt at comedy. With a sigh, her eyes fixed on the light abrasions along the toes of her boots. "I told Ardela I would try to talk you into letting her join you for your next engagement."
"When she asked if she could personally feed you a ladle of her piss, did you jump on that, too?"
"Don't be a fool. It's just one more mission before she leaves for her new desk job. Be reasonable, Thiago. She was only trying to help. She even offered to train me while you were gone. All she wants is a chance to redeem herself."
"What is wrong with you? Are humans programmed with a genetic predisposition to always say yes? Say it with me: N-O. No! It's not difficult. It's a part of your other favorite phrase, 'I don't know'!"
"You're being a patronizing jerk," Eden snapped. Her fists clenched together at her sides as he turned his back to her. Miffed, she leaped off the counter stool and followed him up the flight of loft steps to the bedroom. "Where are you going now?"
"Away from you," Thiago grumbled as he plopped down on the edge of the bed. He kicked off his shoes and fell back on the springy mattress, kneading his pulsing temples. Feeling the bed sink next to him underneath Eden's weight, he groaned.
"Look, I don't appreciate your habit of walking out of our conversations. Use your words."
Thiago's eyes snapped open, glaring up at Eden. "I don't appreciate you making decisions for me. Did it ever occur to you at any point to ask me first?"
"Well, okay. You have a point," said Eden, her shoulders sagging in defeat. As she leaned over, she muffled her whines of frustration as she buried her face in her hands. "You're right. I'm sorry, I don't know why I have a problem saying no to people. This is going to sound cheesy as hell, but it's in my blood. Ever since I could legally hold a full-time job, I was juggling two of them simultaneously so I could help with the bills at home. Whenever Dad needed a refill on his medication, or when Janine ran low on school supplies, I took care of it. A constant need to help people has become ingrained in my system. Now that I'm with you, I find that I'm unnecessary."
Thiago expression softened as his eyes fluttered open. His hand floated hesitantly over her lap. He began rubbing up and down her legs with enough friction to start a fire.
"Ow!" said Eden, pulling her chafing legs away from him. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm comforting you. Is it working?"
Eden burst out laughing. She swung out her leg and mounted Thiago, daintily draping herself over his body. Thiago wet his lips, sensing a gentle tug on his cock as the orbs of Eden's breasts swelled up against him.
Eden dragged the zipper of her jumpsuit down to her navel. Seizing his cold hands, she cupped them over her bare breasts to warm them. Her head moved around her neck sensually at Thiago's groping and gentle pinching of her sensitive nipples. It was curious how quickly Thiago had learned to pleasure Eden. He was a seasoned captain of the seas who knew just where to navigate, needing no map to locate treasure spots he'd learned by heart.
Thiago sat up, silencing her completely with a smoldering look. He lifted the tangled curtains of her hair to nibble at her neck. Eden's palpitating breaths grew louder as her nails dug into his muscular shoulders. When their hot lips found each other, they began to undress. Jumpsuits and undergarments flew across the room as the pair sloppily tumbled back into bed, sliding under the crumpled covers.
That night, Eden took control. Straddling him with her legs pinned tightly around his, she eased his cock between her dripping folds. She let loose, her butt slapping noisily against his thighs as she rode him with the stress-releasing passion of a jilted lover seeking revenge on a cheating ex. Their carnal grunts of passion were drowned out by the rhythmic banging against the steel headboard. With Thiago's attentive finger swirling against the quivering button of her clit, the pair grew closer and closer to ecstasy.
After a knee-buckling climax, Eden broke free from Thiago and collapsed into bed next to him. Clutching a hand to her sweat-covered chest, Eden rose to her feet. She gave him a sly wink, putting an extra sway to her hips as she placed a hand on one side of the bathroom doorway.
"I'm going to get myself cleaned up, and I'll be right back. You might want to warm up for round two. "
Thiago grinned, his eyes lingering on the impeccable porcelain-white flesh of Eden's naked body as she disappeared into the bathroom. As the hissing sound of the shower head drifted through the slim crack of the sliding door, he fluffed the pillow behind him and relaxed on his arms. Crossing one outstretched leg over the other, he tensed up at the sound of a sneeze.
His eyes darted to his left. A vase of cosmic orchids sat perched on his nightstand. He reached over with one finger, tickling the bright petals thoughtfully. Seeing the simple, meaningful touch of home added to the cold, unchanging interior of the spaceship he'd owned for years, the corners of his mouth began moving up.
Chapter Twenty-One
An alluring smell of grilled meat and broth filled the air of Thiago's spaceship. All the windows were open to air out the grill smoke, adding a pleasant tang of charred meat to the atmosphere. The table was elegantly dressed with a sheer tangerine tablecloth, brimming with buffet-style portions of toasted millie bread, juicy prong-horned boar patties, vegetables, gravy, and a large bowl of sproutpea chowder. Ardela and Eden wore aprons and full cooking gear, cleaning up the mess they made in the kitchen.
For once, Hercules neglected to ambush his master upon his arrival. Thiago glanced to his right. The creature was occupied in the living room with a pile of boar bones, slurping up and picking the succulent meat off the marrow.
Thiago tugged at his earlobe as different thoughts raced through his head. He was still upset about Salabar's death, but he knew cooking was the closest Ardela would come to asking for a truce. He'd always loved her prong-horned boar burgers, and she knew it. It was the same meal she had prepared dozens of times before. He absent-mindedly twisted a band around his wrist and cleared his throat.
"You're back," said Eden, looking up at him as she continued to polish the counters furiously.
"Come on and eat," said Ardela, beckoning at him with her freshly painted spider-black fing
ers. The square tips were each adorned with a single dazzling diamond. "There's plenty of food to go around."
"I see that. It all smells delicious," Thiago admitted, circling the table. He rummaged through the pockets of his satchel and removed a folded piece of rectangular card stock. He placed it on the counter and pushed it forward to Ardela. There was no emotion in his voice. "Here's your fifty percent."
"No," said Ardela, sliding the piece of paper smoothly back across the countertop. "You keep it. I don't deserve it."
Thiago didn't protest or insist that she take the money. "As you wish," he said lightly. He shrugged and slipped the check back into his bag. He pulled up an empty stool and began passing plates around the table. "To be clear, this doesn't mean I'm cutting you any slack on the next engagement."
Ardela and Eden looked at each other gleefully from across the table.
"Of course not," said Ardela quickly. She separated the bread and began creating a sandwich for herself. "Who's our next target?"
"We'll be heading to Glop territory."
Eden snorted. Both Thiago and Ardela turned to look at her. "The name is Glop? Sounds a bit ridiculous, don't you think?"
"No, I don't," said Thiago. "The reward's the same, independent of the alien race's name."
"You're going to get Katakee, aren't you," said Ardela, nodding. "That will be a good payday. Last I heard, authorities were looking to reward up to 750,000 credits for his capture."
"That was a long time ago. The premium has increased now if you can believe it."
"Wow," said Eden, whistling. She dipped a ladle into the soup bowl and served herself some chowder. "This Katakee guy sounds like a real piece of work."
"The greedy traitor sold off classified military information to the Noxx," said Ardela with a sneer, screwing up her nose. "The worst of his charges included the theft and distribution of security equipment and explosives. The Noxx used the missile codes and any bombs they could find to wipe out entire villages for sport."
Eden's lips turned chalky white as Ardela's words registered in her mind. Her eyes flickered across the table to Thiago. He had a look of detachment on his face, but she detected a fleeting blue glow on his forehead. He didn't say anything as he finished assembling a thick burger. He pressed a gravy-soaked bun on top of the sandwich and placed it onto Eden's plate.
