TICEES by Shae Mills

pain behind the private eyes, and her heart gave a telltale thud. She kissed him warmly and then signed to him out of sight of Dredon and Fremma. She would indeed attend him someday, and instantly she saw his eyes regain their fire. “Maybe,” she teased quietly. “But don’t hold your breath.”
    Dar chuckled, and the icy atmosphere thawed. He released her and then turned to Fremma. “Well, until then, I guess I’ll just have to behave myself.” He glanced at Chelan. “Actually, I came here to say that I am returning to RIBUS 8 immediately, and that future communications between you and Dredon will have to be made through Fremma. You can come here in the morning when Korba leaves the Command Center, and Fremma can page Dredon from here, if that is all right with everyone?”
    Chelan looked into Fremma’s unreadable face, and he nodded his silent approval, as did Dredon.
    “Good,” said Dar, looking at Chelan and kissing her forehead. “Take care of yourself, my Lady, and of Fremma also. And I know I don’t have to tell you to take care of our friend Korba. I can see that you are more than proficient at that. I’ll take my leave now and see you all again soon, probably at the Koll.” Dar acknowledged each of them separately and strode out.
    “’Bye,” whispered Chelan longingly to his back, a piece of her heart leaving with him.
    All were silent momentarily while Chelan recovered her composure. Then she turned and faced Dredon. “Well, are you ready for more work?”
    “Yes, my Lady,” he smiled. He hesitated momentarily, still in awe of the alien beauty and the attention she commanded from three such great men. Jarring himself back to reality, he brought the assembled pieces to her for fitting.
    Fremma watched with pleased surprise as Chelan automatically slipped her gown to her hips, allowing Dredon to fit the piece to her velvety skin. She was finally becoming at ease with herself, he noted, a little too easily, he then decided, as his loins gave him a familiar jolt at the sight of her exposed body.
    Dredon was feeling the same stirrings as he smoothed the garment over her and checked it for fit. But his feelings were kept in close rein by the presence and intense gaze of his superior officer.
    For the first time, however, Chelan was totally unaffected by the intimate touch of the man’s hands. Her mind was intent on the Koll and on the effect she hoped to have on her beloved mate as she joined him in her new gown. When Dredon was finished, she slipped casually back into her own dress and floated over to Fremma. She smiled at him as she maneuvered carefully onto his lap, his arms automatically surrounding her.
    Dredon looked to her. “Do you wish to do the final binding, my Lady, or shall I?”
    Chelan thought about it for a moment, looking at the beautiful material held gently in his capable hands. “No. You do it, Dredon, if you don’t mind. This is no time for me to be practicing with a laser.”
    Dredon smiled and nodded to her. Then with ease and skill beyond description, the man began the final gown assembly as Chelan and Fremma watched with fascination.
    Soon most of the gown was complete. Dredon rose and held the garment up. “Final fitting,” he called, “before the last details, of course.”
    Chelan stood slowly and moved in front of the gown, almost afraid to touch it. Gingerly, she took it and walked into the en suite. She slipped out of her dress and donned the new one, feeling it hug her body like a glove as she fastened the back along an invisible seam. She slid her long fingers down over the smooth fabric, her delight nearly to a fever pitch. Then, holding her breath, she moved to the mirror, and a broad smile graced her lips. She turned and looked at the back; the gown gave her an air of regal elegance tempered by an all-around delicate femininity, a look beyond even her own imagination. Then she rose to her tiptoes, the pooled hemline rising with her and the full effect