by Cara Bristol
“I’m leaving!” Darq said from outside.
“I didn’t mean you. It’s one of those…insects,” I explained.
“I’ll get the stick,” he said.
“No! That’s okay. It’s leaving.” I scowled at the camera and pointed toward the opening in the screen. “Get out, or you’ll get the stick,” I hissed.
The cambot bobbed angrily but then zipped away.
“It’s gone, now,” I called, and yanked the screen over the opening.
I hung my robe on a hook. The commode was a super-high-tech gizmo not available to the average Terran. Only the wealthy, the military, and government officials on the taxpayer dime could afford a pelletizer that evaporated liquids and converted solids to beads the size of rabbit turds. I’d attended a party at my producer’s house. He had one. Starr must have some incredible connections to have gotten her hands on one of these babies.
I did my business then flipped the lid and pressed the button.
Away from the fires and the illuvian heater, it was cool in the alcove so I made short work of undressing. Normally I slept without underwear, but it seemed prudent to leave my panties on, although I removed my bra for comfort. Then I slipped into my robe, tied it tight, and pushed aside the screen.
The camera hovered at eye level, as if it had waited for me. No doubt my producer desired an on-camera heart-to-heart. The ice would melt on Dakon before that happened. I stuck my palm into the camera’s “face,” snapped “talk to the hand,” then marched down the stone passage to our chamber.
Darq had removed his shirt. His smooth, bronze-toned chest was a sight to behold. Broad in shoulder, his torso arrowed to a trim waist and abs you could bounce a quarter off—if anybody used coins anymore. With typical male disregard for neatness, he flung his shirt in the vicinity of the boots he’d already removed, and I riveted on his flexing biceps. I licked my lips.
Don’t touch the alien.
Resolve wobbled with my knees. I crossed my arms to hide that my nipples were responding to the naked man-flesh.
He smiled, and I wet my panties, and not in a leaky-bladder way. “No more problems with the insects?” he asked.
One already hovered near the ceiling, and another flew into the chamber. “No, no problem.”
“If they bother you, tell me, and I’ll take care of them,” he said. “I can’t imagine where they came from. I’ve never seen anything like them.”
“You haven’t?” I opened my eyes wide and lied like a hand-loomed Peruvian runner. “They’re not a native species?”
He shook his head. “Not that I’ve seen.”
“Oh.” I turned to put my clothes in the chest.
Rustling sounded behind me, and I spun around to see Darq about to slide his leggings down his hips. “What are you doing?” I squeaked. The appropriate behavior would be to avert my gaze; instead, I stared, taking him all in.
“I’m getting ready for bed.”
“You’re taking off your clothes?”
“That’s the way I sleep.”
“What are you wearing underneath?”
He glanced down. “Nothing. What else would there be?” He motioned. “If you get into bed first, I’ll get the lights. The fire will illuminate the room somewhat, but I wouldn’t want you to trip.”
“Lights out. Good idea.” I grabbed Mr. Buddy as a tangible reminder of my mission. I was here to save Devon, not canoodle with a toned, tanned, naked alien who treated me like I was Terra’s gift to Dakonian kind.
I flung back the top layer of the kel.
“You’re not going to undress?” he asked.
Oh, hell no. I regretted stripping down to my robe and panties. I needed more armor. Maybe metal. Like a chastity belt. Or were those leather? Supple, tanned, chocolate leather like his pulsing horns…
“No,” I squeaked. “This is the way I sleep.” And tomorrow night, I would come to bed in every stitch of clothing I had with me.
Before I could utter so much as a peep or slap the teddy bear over my eyes, he’d pulled his pants off and kicked them aside. Without any self-consciousness, he paraded across the cave to the lights.
Okay, so I peeked! Can you blame me? Inquiring minds wanted to know what kind of package he was sporting. If tentacles were involved, I needed to know. I was relieved and pleased to discover Dakonian penises resembled Terran ones, except Darq’s was better. If his top half was impressively manly, there was nothing understated about Mr. Johnson. His penis was a prime specimen of aroused manhood.
Oh, Sunny, girl, you are in so much trouble…
He extinguished the second Illuvian lamp, and the firelight flickered over his smooth, naked flesh. Oh, to be the fire… I dug my fingers into the bear.
Do not touch the alien.
I felt a breeze of cooler air as he tossed back the top kel and got into bed. He smelled warm, male, spicy, and his body heat drifted to my side. If I stretched my arm...I wanted to curl up next to him and lick him like he was a chocolate Dakonian ice-cream cone.
This was no one-night stand where both parties knew the score. I’d had my share of flybys. If a woman wanted to get laid on Terra, she pretty much had to go with the flow. On this planet there were no one-night stands, no friends with beneficial arrangements, only lifetime commitments. I was here to do a show, after which I would leave, and he would be hurt. I’m not saying he would fall in love with me, but he had different expectations.
A teddy bear wasn’t much of a chaperone, but I tucked it between us. My eyes had adjusted to the dimness, and I stared unblinking, wondering how I would survive. Tonight, I could handle. But then there was tomorrow, and the day after that, and next week, next month. How long could I deny myself before I cracked?
“G-good night,” I said.
“You must be very tired after your journey,” he replied.
Tired? If tired was spelled with a W. I couldn’t have been more keyed up if I’d had six espressos. My buff-and-buck-naked alien with the pulsing horns lay a pinky’s width away. If I streeeetched out my finger…no, hands off the alien! “Not so bad,” I said.
He rolled to face me. “I would like to mouth-mesh with you.”
Mouth-mesh? “You mean, kiss?” I’d never expected him to be so direct.
“Yes, kiss.”
“Oh, Darq…” That was such a bad...Yes!…bad idea. I had to let him down easy to spare his feelings.
I dug my fingernails into my palms. That damn teddy bear had failed at chaperoning! Failed miserably! I had only my willpower to save me. Don’t touch the alien. “Kissing isn’t…isn’t…something you should do when you’re naked.”
“When should you do it, then?”
“Maybe after you get to know the person better.”
“Isn’t kissing part of the way you get to know a person?” He sounded innocent, but, in his rumbling voice, I sensed a fox, like he wasn’t quite as befuddled by Earth customs as he pretended. I turned my head to look at him, and a pinprick of red light caught my eye. A tiny dot floated near the ceiling. I scanned the darkness and counted five pinpricks.
Cambots.
One of them bobbed like it was nodding yes, urging me to kiss him. My producer was coaching me, directing me what to do. What nerve! Apogee cared about ratings; feelings of cast members and others involved didn’t matter. The producers wanted some naughty bits to spice up the show. Anger boosted willpower.
“Oh, Darq…that’s not a good idea.”
The spycam moved from side to side, as if the producer was shaking his head.
Don’t tell me what to do!
He rolled onto his back. “Maybe you don’t like me. I’m not what you expected.” He sighed. “I should have listened to Torg.”
“You’re more than I expected,” I said, and then added the biggest truth of all. “I don’t deserve you.” I frowned. “Wait a minute—what do you mean, you should have listened to Torg? Have you been discussing me?”
<
br /> “He’s my older brother and gives me advice I don’t ask for.”
I laughed. “Terra and Dakon are not so different.”
“I love to hear your laughter.” He pressed a fist to his chest. “It makes me feel good inside. I can’t mesh mouths with you, but maybe I can make you laugh more.”
Darn it! Why did this have to be so hard? Why did he have to be so sweet and appealing? Why couldn’t he have been green, mean, and tentacled? Why did that stupid, bobbing cambot have to be there to force me out of spite to adhere to my no-kissing rule?
“Darq, let me tell you something…” I had no idea what the something was going to be, but I shifted toward him so I could look at him at the same time he rolled in my direction.
Our foreheads slammed together with a hard smack.
“Ow!” I cried.
“Are you all right?” He massaged my head with his large, warm, roughened palm. “Did I hurt you?”
“Did I hurt you?” I was as hard-headed as they came, in more ways than one. I reached for him, to smooth away his pain, but the lump I found wasn’t a goose egg, but a horn. I couldn’t help it—I swirled my thumb over the leathery nub. It throbbed under my touch.
A growl rumbled up from his throat, the sexiest sound I’d ever heard in my life. My body went loose and liquid, and then we were kissing. His mouth slid over mine, not at all tentative or hesitant, but sure and confident in a way I hadn’t expected. His lips were soft, his beard raspy, his taste, oh so decadent. Our tongues met, politely at first then in a lively rhumba. He clutched me against his chest. His body heat, smooth skin, and hard muscle overwhelmed my good sense and willpower.
For a newbie, this man could kiss.
We came up for air once then dove in again. He stroked my hair, and I rubbed those horns of his so I could hear him growl.
When his arousal prodded my leg, I came to my senses. I pulled away, regretful for stopping, regretful for starting. His steamy breath caressed my face. In the darkness, his eyes appeared like two dark-chocolate pools. The world tilted.
“That was more than I expected,” he said. “I rather like mouth-meshing.”
My shoulder blade rested on a lump—the teddy bear. It deserved to get smashed. It was a totally inadequate protector. I tugged it out from under me, and, aiming for a cambot, threw it, and scored a direct hit. The other cameras scattered.
Darq curled his arm around me and hugged me close. “Sleep now, Sunny, sleep.”
I could never relax wrapped like a pretzel around a man; I needed space. I’d bide my time until Darq fell asleep. I’d listen to the whisper of his heartbeat, bask in his body heat, soak in the comfort of his closeness, and then scoot to my side of the kels. Tomorrow would bring renewed willpower. There would be no more kissing.
On that promise, I fell fast asleep.
Chapter Eight
Darq
As we slogged along, my heart felt heavier than my feet. Every time I stole a glance at her, she seemed to be looking away. Rarely at me. Was I imagining the growing tension? “We are almost done,” I said. “There is one more hut, but we don’t have to visit, if you don’t want to.”
“No, Torg wanted us to meet everyone. We should follow the rules.” The kel hood framed her pretty face. She looked so cute, so appealing…so untouchable. What had I done wrong?
Three days ago, I’d had such high hopes. We’d meshed mouths, and she’d slept in my arms. The next morning, a gap divided our closeness, widening each day. Her smiles were rarer, she was very careful not to touch me, and when I did catch her gaze, she averted hers.
Torg had noticed and commented. “What did you say to your mate?”
“Nothing,” I answered. “At least nothing untoward.” I preferred to keep to myself I’d ignored his sage advice and pushed for a mouth-meshing too soon.
Sunny withdrew even more when the insects appeared. Sometimes she would seem to relax, but if one of them flew by, she would stiffen. If she was talking, she would stop and grow taciturn again. It was obvious she didn’t like them, but she wouldn’t let me kill them, either.
They had tiny red eyes that glowed in the night. They followed us everywhere. The one I had killed had bled silver when burned and had exuded an odor similar to a lightning storm. I suspected the insects had stowed away on the ship, although Sunny claimed to never have seen them before. I couldn’t imagine why she would lie, but I didn’t completely believe her.
“This way.” I motioned to a path leading to our last stop. We’d visited more than forty dwellings and had only this one left.
After two days of tiptoeing around each other in the cave, Torg had insisted I show her the camp and take her to meet the others. It had been no suggestion from brother Torg, but an edict from tribe leader Torg. Refusal was not an option.
Like testing the first freeze over a pond, I paid close attention to every nuance as we hiked through our village. I was a little nervous bringing her to meet Sural, Ignato, and Korbett, my tribesmen who’d drawn chits, but they merely congratulated me on my good fortune in winning the extra draw. Sunny became the most animated I’d seen in two days, warmly hugging the other Terran females, although she later remarked she’d hardly known them. She missed her own people.
I felt more comfortable once the reunions passed without incident, but wondering what I had done to cause the distance between us still weighed on me.
At our approach to the last hut, its inhabitant emerged to meet us outside.
“Greetings, Jaqor,” I said. “This is my mate, Sunny Weathers.”
“Welcome,” he said. “I’ve been expecting you.”
“Why were you expecting her?” I frowned.
“Korbett, Ignato, and Sural came round yesterday. I was surprised when you didn’t arrive.”
“We were settling in.” Acquiring a mate was big news. Belatedly, I realized men would have begun to talk if I hadn’t brought her around.
“I have something for you.” Jaqor disappeared inside and returned with a folded kel fur. “It is a mating gift.” He handed it to Sunny.
“Thank you!” She bestowed one of her brilliant smiles, like the kind she’d given me until recently. “It’s beautiful.” She stroked the fur.
“You’re very extravagant,” I said. Most people had given us mating gifts, but they were items of lesser value: knives, bowls, decorative figurines, beads, baskets, mats. Given the time required to tan a kel, the fur was very valuable.
“I hope to be able to introduce my mate to the tribe. Until the day arrives, I will celebrate the happiness of others. You’re a good man, Darq.”
“Thank you.” I ducked my head.
One of the silvery flying creatures swooped in low, and Jaqor reared back. “What is that?”
“Some sort of insect,” I said.
“They’re quite annoying.” Sunny scowled.
We exchanged a few more words and then we departed. My pack was full of gifts with no room for a large kel fur. Sunny hugged it to her chest. “Would you like me to carry that?” I asked.
“No, I’ve got it. He put a lot of work into this, didn’t he?”
“Yes.”
“I had no idea your people would give us presents. Jaqor was a very nice man. All your people were welcoming and pleasant.”
This was the longest conversation we’d had since before we’d meshed mouths. “Then, why don’t you like me?” I asked.
“I like you. Of course, I like you. Why would you say that? You’re being silly. Are we done? Let’s go back to the cave.” Her words poured out in such a rush, I knew they were false, and my heart sank. She scooted down the path.
What had happened to cause this awkwardness? We had started off so positive, I’d thought. I caught up with her and barricaded the way. “How can we be mates if we can’t be honest with one another? Something is bothering you.”
My guilty secret mocked my words, but I rationalized that while I had lied to To
rg, my tribe, and all of Dakon, I’d never misled Sunny. That was the one honor I would not violate. “If you are unhappy with me, tell me so I can fix it. Did we mesh mouths too soon? Did I frighten you? Do you wish for a different mate?” I held my breath.
“Oh, Darq…no. Things were moving a little fast for me, but you are the man every girl dreams of.” She studied her boots before looking up. “The truth is like I said: you deserve better than me. I’m not worthy of you.”
It was the second time she had said that, but she was wrong. I did not deserve her. “You are the best female a man could have,” I said. “I cannot imagine having chosen anybody but you.”
She flinched as one of the insects flew close to her face. The wings fluttered rapidly, and its single red eye glowed. I snatched it out of the air and smashed it on the frozen ground then remembered she’d requested I not kill the insects.
“I’m sorry,” I said. “For the insect, and whatever else I’ve done.”
“It’s not you, it’s me.” She swallowed. “I apologize if I made you uncomfortable.” She shook her head. “I…need time.”
“All right.” I nodded. I could wait. We tromped up the path, and though my pack, heavy with gifts, sagged, my spirits felt lighter.
“Thank you for showing me the camp and introducing me to your people,” she said. “Cabin fever was starting to set in.”
“You’re getting ill? You should have told me when we visited Stovak, the healer. Let me get him now.”
“No, no.” She chuckled. “I’m not sick. Cabin fever means feeling antsy after staying in the cave so long.”
“I understand. I get like that, too.”
A blast of wind tore the hood from her head, and her hair went flying about her face. I took the kel from her so she could pull the hood up and tuck her hair back inside. The extra fur would come in handy; in the chill draft, I smelled snow.
“Starr has been telling me about the village and the computer. She says her friend Andrea goes every Moctad to check messages and order supplies. That’s tomorrow, right?”
“Yes.” Moctad was the fifth day of our eight-day week.
