Eland and Jeanne (Tales of the Shareem) (6 page)

Rees laughed. “Yeah, that would suck.”

“Man, I could go for an ale. A nice, cold, full-bodied one.”

“Me too.” Rees sank down on the stair next to Eland, looking thoughtful in the quiet light. “I did meet a lady who might help us. I think I can trust her, and she owns a bar.”

“Perfect. I met a lady too.”

Rees’s smile vanished. “You did? Who?”

“Don’t worry, I didn’t tell her what I was. She was sweet, and wouldn’t run straight to the patrollers.”

“How do you know?”

“I just ... know. I’m level three. I can read women.”

“So can I. Tell me about her.”

Eland didn’t want to, preferring to keep Jeanne to himself, but for some reason, he started talking. “Dark brown curly hair, streaked by the sun, brown eyes with little flecks of lighter brown. Great body.”

Eland couldn’t think of flowery adjectives to describe Jeanne. He knew she had sensual curves, breasts he wanted to hold in his hands, nipples that drew to tight little points. Strong legs and arms—she was a worker. “ Cutest smile you ever saw. Fine ass.”

“Don’t go all poetic on me,” Rees drawled.

“I don’t know what it is about her.” Eland hung his big hands over his knees. “I’ve had plenty of women. Every which way. But this woman ... She was different. I can’t explain it.”

“You mean she was normal.”

Eland thought about it. “Maybe. At DNAmo, I only knew creepy scientist types and the guinea pigs. The scientists wanted me under a microscope, and the guinea pigs needed the paycheck.”

“This woman didn’t want anything from you,” Rees said.

“That might be it. She was ... nice. But sassy. Kind. But ...”

“Sassy?”

“A smart-ass. I bet if I became her Dom, she’d disobey just a little bit, to see what I’d do.” Eland’s heartbeat sped as he imagined it—she’d give him a sly smile and refuse to do what he said, even as he slapped the whip across his palm in warning.

“A challenge,” Rees said.

“Yep. And I like a challenge.”

“I’d drink to that,” Rees said. “Except we don’t have anything to drink. Come on, I’ll take you to the lady I met, and see if she can fix us up.”

Eland got to his feet, then hesitated. “You sure about this, Rees? Why do you think
she
won’t go to the patrollers?”

“Because she likes what I showed her about Shareem.” Rees gave Eland a thoughtful look in the dim light. “She might like two even better.”

***

Judith’s bar stayed open until the wee hours, because those were the coolest of the twenty-two in Bor Narga’s day. Jeanne went again two nights after her encounter with Eland when it was in full swing—the doors wide open, patrons, both Bor Nargan and off-worlders, spilling into the street.

Jeanne had continued her search for Eland during her off hours, though she didn’t dare stay away from work for long. She’d never found trace of him, or any other Shareem. News reports kept talking about how dangerous they were, stirring up worry, but not one sighting had been made of them. Maybe they
had
all escaped.

Jeanne hoped so. At the same time, the thought of never seeing Eland again left a hollow in her stomach.

Judith shot Jeanne a look when Jeanne scooted in. Judith nodded to the male bartender who took over from her, and came around to meet Jeanne on the floor.

“You all right?” Judith asked over the noise.

“I think so.” Jeanne shifted her weight from foot to foot. “Not sure.”

Judith raised her brows, but a woman was calling to her from a table, wanting more ale. Before Judith could turn away, Jeanne seized Judith’s hand and put her lips to the taller woman’s ear. “Do you know anything about Shareem?”

Judith’s eyes sharpened, then she leaned down to answer. “Go upstairs. I’ll come when I can.”

Jeanne nodded, feeling Judith palm a key card into her hand. Judith then called a cheerful answer to the women who’d wanted more ale, and Jeanne went to the alcove that held the door to a staircase.

The noise faded once Jeanne closed the door behind her, mounting the stairs to Judith’s living quarters above.

Judith didn’t have much, but her apartment was bigger than Jeanne’s, the bar doing lucrative business. She had two bedrooms and a separate bathroom, a large sitting room, and a kitchen that could be used to cook more than a tiny meal.

Jeanne had spent nights here before, when she and Judith had talked long past time either of them should have gone to sleep. Judith had also instructed Jeanne in a few sensual delights, such as small vibrating buttons that could be very stimulating to the clit. Jeanne hadn’t yet been brave enough to try the wands, but she’d very much enjoyed the button.

The bed in Judith’s guest room was of carved wood, brought from off-world, rather than the utilitarian slab Jeanne slept on. Jeanne stretched out, enjoying the comfort even as her head buzzed with too many thoughts of Eland.

Judith arrived an hour later, which was sooner than Jeanne had expected. Judith tugged off her boots and sat cross-legged on the bed, unfastening her coverall to her waist to let in air.

“Aren’t you still open?” Jeanne asked, sitting up with her back to the headboard. She’d long since shucked her own boots.

“I have enough help tonight that I can take a break. Crowd’s thinning already anyway. No one will bother me unless there’s a dire emergency.” She sat forward, hand under her chin, her eyes alight. “Now, what is this about Shareem?”

“You’ve heard of them?”

“Of course. Everyone has now, thanks to all the reports.”

Jeanne chewed her lip then decided. “I’ve seen one,” she said swiftly. “But for the gods’ sakes don’t tell anyone.”

To her surprise, Judith didn’t look stunned or upset, only looked more intrigued. “Yeah? When?”

“A few nights ago. In my apartment.”

Judith’s eyes opened wider. Jeanne expected her to demand the entire story, but instead she simply asked, “What did he look like?”

Chapter Seven

Jeanne told Judith about Eland, and Judith listened avidly. When Jeanne trailed off, thinking of the beautiful blue of Eland’s eyes, how he’d watched her as she’d drifted to sleep, Judith shook her head.

“Wasn’t the same one.”

Jeanne came reluctantly out of her daydream. “Wasn’t the same what?”

“Same Shareem.” Judith looked thoughtful. “Mine had blond hair too, but darker, and he had a different attitude, it sounds like. Plus he’s not skulking around looking for water. He’s being careful, but provisioning himself.”

“Wait.” Jeanne blinked. “Are you saying you’ve met one too?”

Judith nodded. “He came to the bar, after it closed. I thought he was from off-planet. I tried to tell him it was after hours—I didn’t want to turn him away, because he’s
gorgeous,
but laws are laws. He didn’t give me a choice. Pushed his way in, then stayed up here for five days. Just when we were getting to know each other—if you know what I mean—he says ‘thank you very much,’ and disappears again. He’s returned a couple of times, but doesn’t stay anymore. I think he has his own place now.”

“He stayed for five days?” Jeanne wanted to hear all about
this
. “Anything ... happen?”

“You bet it did. You know, I thought I knew things, but honey, I didn’t know
anything
. I wake up wet just dreaming about him. He taught me things I never knew could be done. But ...” Judith trailed off.

“But?” How could there be any
buts
in that situation?

“I had the feeling he wasn’t really
with
me, if that makes sense,” Judith said. “As though he wanted something, was searching for something and not finding it. Maybe he didn’t even know what it was.”

Jeanne tried to remember whether Eland had worn such an expression. She didn’t think so, but then she hadn’t had enough time to study him fully. “You don’t think he’ll be back?”

Judith shot her a grin. “Don’t sound so sad. I enjoyed every last second of it, but I’m not ready to find myself a mate and take him to a registry to marry. I’m young, I’m starting to make money on this place, and if a Shareem wants to show me all my fantasies, I’m not going to stop him. I’ve learned to take what I can get.”

So had Jeanne. It was a hard life, working at the docks, without much pleasure. Bor Narga was a place people labored every day, made a living, and combined DNA with a mate to make children to raise more workers. Everyone punched the clock and avoided decadence.

Which was such crap, because these Shareem wouldn’t exist if someone hadn’t gone in for decadence.

If the Shareem were being hunted down, the best thing they could do would be escape off-planet. Well, maybe Jeanne could help with that, even if it meant never seeing Eland again. Working at the docks gave her insight on who was willing to make a little money on the side shipping things in and out without customs being the wiser. She got to know which pilots were trustworthy, and which weren’t. If she could find Eland, she could set up something to get him out ...

Just as the ideas formed in her brain, the console in Judith’s bedroom beeped. Judith rolled herself off the bed and headed to her room, Jeanne following in curiosity.

“Someone’s at the back— Oh.” Judith’s eyes went starry and she tapped codes to open a door below, which led to the alley. “Guess what?”

Before Jeanne could ask
what?
Judith was moving out to the door to the stairs. She opened it, leaning against the door frame.

“Good to see you again,” Judith said warmly.

The happy note in Judith’s voice made Jeanne look over her shoulder. She halted in amazement.

A Shareem was coming up the stairs. He wasn’t Eland. This Shareem had an arrogant look, as though he didn’t worry about patrollers running around hunting him.

When he reached the top of the staircase, he cupped Judith’s cheek, gazing at her with blue eyes—
Shareem-blue
. He pressed a kiss to Judith’s lips, but Jeanne understood what Judith meant when she said something was missing in him. This Shareem showed a longing unfulfilled, though Jeanne couldn’t explain how she knew that.

Another Shareem came up the stairs behind him.
Eland
.

Eland fixed his gaze on Jeanne, and then shouldered his way past the other Shareem to her. Gone was his tattered loincloth—Eland wore a tunic, thick-soled leather shoes, and sun-blocking robes. His hair was clean, and he’d lost the pinched look about his mouth.

He came straight to Jeanne. “Hey,” he said. “You all right?”

Jeanne swallowed, coughed, and swallowed again. “I should be asking
you
that.”

Eland cupped her face with one hand, his gaze never wavering. “I found a place to hide.”

“I was worried about you,” Jeanne said shakily. “I thought maybe … ” She wet her lips. “What are you doing here?”

The corners of Eland’s eyes crinkled. “Wanted a drink, and Rees says Judith owned a bar. But you know, if I have to choose between you and a drink … you win.”

Jeanne warmed. But she was puzzled. Eland was a fugitive, outlawed, hunted. And yet he looked happy to see her, untroubled and smiling as though he were merely an off-world pilot coming around for a drink and some fun.

“It can’t be safe for you here,” Jeanne said worriedly.

“I know it isn’t,” Eland answered. “But what is
safe
? I’ve never found safety in my life. I might as well enjoy the danger.”

The rumble of his voice filled Jeanne with heat. She wanted to agree with everything he said. They could stay cozily here, Eland touching her, Jeanne letting herself savor the joy of that.

“Wait.”
What was she thinking?
“You have to go. Get off-planet before you’re caught. I know pilots who could smuggle you out ...”

“And who might turn them in for the reward,” Judith broke in. “Jeanne’s not wrong, but we have to be careful.”

Eland caressed Jeanne’s cheek. “Rees and I are hiding out for a while,” he said. “Until things die down. I’m more worried about you, Jeanne. You don’t need to be caught with me.”

True, the patrollers would come down hard on her for lying to them and helping Eland. On the other hand, Jeanne wanted to stand here for the rest of her life, while Eland cupped her face and spoke to her in his wet-dream-making voice.

“I’ll fetch some ale,” Judith said. “I’m glad you’re here, Jeanne. It will give me an excuse to bring up extra without anyone downstairs wondering why.”

She slipped out the door, leaving Jeanne alone with Eland and Rees.

Jeanne wanted nothing more than to step against Eland, to touch him and make sure he was whole and well. Rees, on the other hand, made her instincts go on the defensive.

Many years ago, women on Bor Narga were the hunted, taken by any man who wanted them. Wars and too much death had let women emerge as the rulers—at one point men had pretty much died off—but women still had that latent mistrust inside them. Jeanne didn’t have the mistrust for Eland, but she had it for Rees.