“Make yourselves above being abused. The Condorians are nothing but cowards. With your battle experience, you should know this,” she affirmed then fell silent for a moment as if in thought. Then she turned to Lyra. “You may escape their sexual demands if you act as though there’ll be severe repercussions for molesting you. Ingratiate yourselves to the admiral. He’s arrogantly possessive of my ship and crew. He’s taken ownership by right of superior rank. Indeed … I think he’d actually kill one of his own underlings than lose the only luxury in many sectors.”
“And you’re sure he doesn’t suspect anything?” Soldar asked.
“If he did you’d most certainly be dead by now.” She lifted one hand carelessly and let it drop. “He believes I’m nothing more than a stupid woman. That greed and hope of survival rule my actions. To keep the worst of their repugnant ranks out, I charge exorbitantly. Their vile leader would suspect my motives were I not so insistent about my compensation. He revels in his superior exclusivity. So I let the swine think what he wants. His complacency serves our purpose.”
They watched Aigean march out of their quarters.
Soldar locked the electric hatch mechanism behind her. He turned to scan his surroundings, as any good soldier would. Lyra did the same.
Their quarters were decorated for the express purpose of sexual arousal. Tasteful nude statues were displayed on small columns that reminded him of otherworldly, amorous deities. The entire area was roughly the size of most small homes on most allied worlds. Rooms in homes on most planets were divided by curtains which could be pulled to more or less block the view of others sharing the space. But curtains for that same purpose here were gauzy, sparkling, and ineffective for any real privacy. Indeed, they invited others sharing the space to watch sexual liaisons.
In each curtained area within their quarters, he saw a table where beverage bottles were artfully displayed. Beds were no more than huge pillows with jewel-toned, small cushions piled upon them. The entire color scheme reflected the deep and sparkling hues of rare gems of many worlds. Blue, gold, silver, green, and red were placed to excite or conversely sooth any occupants’ demeanor. It looked exactly like some ancient harem he’d seen in historical references. Even the floors and walls were covered by more warm tapestries to keep one from being reminded that the bulkhead of a vessel stood on the other side.
He shook his head, unable to imagine the expense of such design or where the goods had originated. Even the royal rooms on his home world couldn’t compare with this magnificence.
Raiding Condorians may have provided these luxuries if only to accommodate their taste. The bastards were driven by having the best while showing the rest of the universe they deserved nothing but death.
The one real jewel to covet in this room was the brave woman who’d accompanied him from the wastelands. He kept wishing he’d left her there. It was likely the last bad mistake he’d ever make.
• • •
Lyra slowly turned to see her superior’s reaction, but he wasn’t looking at the sinfully opulent décor. He was staring at her. His silvery gaze was more poignant than before. It suddenly occurred to her that she was seeing him — really seeing what he looked like — for the very first time. And he wasn’t as pale as she’d assumed. He wasn’t pale at all. What the half-light and sepia tones hid, the lights of the Venus now revealed.
His skin was bronzed like the room’s Grecian-like effigies. And his hair was a pure, spun gold color. In truth, staring at him was like looking at a sun god. Muscle bulged from the open vee of his pale-colored tunic. She saw massive curves of defined body strain within his tight clothing.
Such an inspection was only occurring now, when she was at least a bit easier as to safety. Before, when they’d first entered the docking
“And you’re sure he doesn’t suspect anything?” Soldar asked.
“If he did you’d most certainly be dead by now.” She lifted one hand carelessly and let it drop. “He believes I’m nothing more than a stupid woman. That greed and hope of survival rule my actions. To keep the worst of their repugnant ranks out, I charge exorbitantly. Their vile leader would suspect my motives were I not so insistent about my compensation. He revels in his superior exclusivity. So I let the swine think what he wants. His complacency serves our purpose.”
They watched Aigean march out of their quarters.
Soldar locked the electric hatch mechanism behind her. He turned to scan his surroundings, as any good soldier would. Lyra did the same.
Their quarters were decorated for the express purpose of sexual arousal. Tasteful nude statues were displayed on small columns that reminded him of otherworldly, amorous deities. The entire area was roughly the size of most small homes on most allied worlds. Rooms in homes on most planets were divided by curtains which could be pulled to more or less block the view of others sharing the space. But curtains for that same purpose here were gauzy, sparkling, and ineffective for any real privacy. Indeed, they invited others sharing the space to watch sexual liaisons.
In each curtained area within their quarters, he saw a table where beverage bottles were artfully displayed. Beds were no more than huge pillows with jewel-toned, small cushions piled upon them. The entire color scheme reflected the deep and sparkling hues of rare gems of many worlds. Blue, gold, silver, green, and red were placed to excite or conversely sooth any occupants’ demeanor. It looked exactly like some ancient harem he’d seen in historical references. Even the floors and walls were covered by more warm tapestries to keep one from being reminded that the bulkhead of a vessel stood on the other side.
He shook his head, unable to imagine the expense of such design or where the goods had originated. Even the royal rooms on his home world couldn’t compare with this magnificence.
Raiding Condorians may have provided these luxuries if only to accommodate their taste. The bastards were driven by having the best while showing the rest of the universe they deserved nothing but death.
The one real jewel to covet in this room was the brave woman who’d accompanied him from the wastelands. He kept wishing he’d left her there. It was likely the last bad mistake he’d ever make.
• • •
Lyra slowly turned to see her superior’s reaction, but he wasn’t looking at the sinfully opulent décor. He was staring at her. His silvery gaze was more poignant than before. It suddenly occurred to her that she was seeing him — really seeing what he looked like — for the very first time. And he wasn’t as pale as she’d assumed. He wasn’t pale at all. What the half-light and sepia tones hid, the lights of the Venus now revealed.
His skin was bronzed like the room’s Grecian-like effigies. And his hair was a pure, spun gold color. In truth, staring at him was like looking at a sun god. Muscle bulged from the open vee of his pale-colored tunic. She saw massive curves of defined body strain within his tight clothing.
Such an inspection was only occurring now, when she was at least a bit easier as to safety. Before, when they’d first entered the docking
Similar Books
