ROMULUS (The Innerworld Affairs Series, Book 1) by Marilyn Campbell Page B
Authors: Marilyn Campbell
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you're wrong. Your reaction to Romulus proves it."
"It doesn't prove anything except that he's outrageously attractive. I don't want to lead another man on only to have him find out I'm ice cold inside. This time there's more at stake than my shame."
Cherry realized what Aster needed was to be shown, not told, she was wrong. "Listen to me, kid, doing it is not the same as making love. There've even been a few men who couldn't get my fire started!" She wiggled her eyebrows. "Will you make me a promise?"
Aster gave a noncommittal shrug.
"The next time you're with Romulus and your body starts acting weird, I mean weird for you, stop thinking and let your gut take over instead. Then tell me all about it!" With that, she gave Aster a playful punch on the arm.
"I wish I could be more like you. Doesn't any of what's happened to us upset you? You have family out there."
"I haven't seen any of them since I left Georgia. You know that. It's too late to think about it now." She had hitchhiked to California the day after graduation and never looked back. Home had been a dirt farm where she slept in the same room with nine sisters and brothers, a place where nobody ever laughed or played or listened to music for fear the devil would possess them. She abruptly changed the subject. "Hey, Josephine, what's the Indulgence Center?"
When there was no response, Aster instructed the manager to respond to Cherry whenever she was in the apartment.
"It is a private enterprise catering to human pleasures."
"Like what?" Cherry prompted.
"I will run the directory of services for your perusal."
The beginning of the list consisted of items any full-service beauty salon and spa would offer, plus cosmetic facial and body alterations. The next section listed restaurants, shops, a variety of entertainments including some they had never heard of and theaters.
The third area, called Fantasy World, had a slogan— If it's allowed by law and the price is right, any wish can be granted for a day or a night. Both women groaned at the awful rhyme. Any wish, indeed! That was unbelievable but not as incredible as the services offered in Fantasy World.
"Oh my," Aster whispered.
"No kidding. Coupling, human or android, one-to-one or group. Look at that crazy list of standard fantasy enactments. Romulus was right. I'm going to have to check that place out!"
"Cherry!"
"You're such a prude. I didn't mean everything . Although it would be different."
"Different? Obviously their morals are a lot different than ours. I could never adjust that much."
"But just imagine pretending to be anybody or anything you ever dreamed of. Wow. Hmmm, I wonder. Josephine, is there any way we could find out if Chief Romulus visits the Indulgence Center?"
"Cherry!" Aster shook her arm.
"Scanning. Chief Romulus has a regular appointment on the first Thursday of each month for hair-trimming and one half-hour coupling with a single female."
Cherry ignored Aster's gasp. "Well, there you go, kid, a real sex fiend. You better watch out for him. He's due to have his clock cleaned in another week."
"I cannot believe you did that. Anyway he's probably married or keeps company with a nonprofessional."
"Okay, Josephine, is Chief Romulus married?"
"That is an Outerworld term. The closest Noronian term would be joining. It is not equivalent."
"All right, then is the chief joined with anyone."
"No."
Aster tried to stop Cherry. "That's enough."
"Look, he's the one who said they have nothing to hide. I'm only reviewing public information."
"It seems pretty private to me."
"Oh, be quiet. I've only got one more question and then I'll stop. Josephine, would you have any way of knowing if Chief Romulus visits the home of any female or vice-versa?"
"I am able to scan the log of his message center and cross-check with addresses of females. Please define area and time frame."
Aster tried to cover Cherry's mouth but failed. "How about the city of Car-Tem One in the last two
"It doesn't prove anything except that he's outrageously attractive. I don't want to lead another man on only to have him find out I'm ice cold inside. This time there's more at stake than my shame."
Cherry realized what Aster needed was to be shown, not told, she was wrong. "Listen to me, kid, doing it is not the same as making love. There've even been a few men who couldn't get my fire started!" She wiggled her eyebrows. "Will you make me a promise?"
Aster gave a noncommittal shrug.
"The next time you're with Romulus and your body starts acting weird, I mean weird for you, stop thinking and let your gut take over instead. Then tell me all about it!" With that, she gave Aster a playful punch on the arm.
"I wish I could be more like you. Doesn't any of what's happened to us upset you? You have family out there."
"I haven't seen any of them since I left Georgia. You know that. It's too late to think about it now." She had hitchhiked to California the day after graduation and never looked back. Home had been a dirt farm where she slept in the same room with nine sisters and brothers, a place where nobody ever laughed or played or listened to music for fear the devil would possess them. She abruptly changed the subject. "Hey, Josephine, what's the Indulgence Center?"
When there was no response, Aster instructed the manager to respond to Cherry whenever she was in the apartment.
"It is a private enterprise catering to human pleasures."
"Like what?" Cherry prompted.
"I will run the directory of services for your perusal."
The beginning of the list consisted of items any full-service beauty salon and spa would offer, plus cosmetic facial and body alterations. The next section listed restaurants, shops, a variety of entertainments including some they had never heard of and theaters.
The third area, called Fantasy World, had a slogan— If it's allowed by law and the price is right, any wish can be granted for a day or a night. Both women groaned at the awful rhyme. Any wish, indeed! That was unbelievable but not as incredible as the services offered in Fantasy World.
"Oh my," Aster whispered.
"No kidding. Coupling, human or android, one-to-one or group. Look at that crazy list of standard fantasy enactments. Romulus was right. I'm going to have to check that place out!"
"Cherry!"
"You're such a prude. I didn't mean everything . Although it would be different."
"Different? Obviously their morals are a lot different than ours. I could never adjust that much."
"But just imagine pretending to be anybody or anything you ever dreamed of. Wow. Hmmm, I wonder. Josephine, is there any way we could find out if Chief Romulus visits the Indulgence Center?"
"Cherry!" Aster shook her arm.
"Scanning. Chief Romulus has a regular appointment on the first Thursday of each month for hair-trimming and one half-hour coupling with a single female."
Cherry ignored Aster's gasp. "Well, there you go, kid, a real sex fiend. You better watch out for him. He's due to have his clock cleaned in another week."
"I cannot believe you did that. Anyway he's probably married or keeps company with a nonprofessional."
"Okay, Josephine, is Chief Romulus married?"
"That is an Outerworld term. The closest Noronian term would be joining. It is not equivalent."
"All right, then is the chief joined with anyone."
"No."
Aster tried to stop Cherry. "That's enough."
"Look, he's the one who said they have nothing to hide. I'm only reviewing public information."
"It seems pretty private to me."
"Oh, be quiet. I've only got one more question and then I'll stop. Josephine, would you have any way of knowing if Chief Romulus visits the home of any female or vice-versa?"
"I am able to scan the log of his message center and cross-check with addresses of females. Please define area and time frame."
Aster tried to cover Cherry's mouth but failed. "How about the city of Car-Tem One in the last two
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