Candidate (Selected Book 4) (59 page)

"It can put art on my walls?"

"Child's play."

I moved to her and held her tightly. "Thank you. But if I ever see that bitch, I'm killing her."

"I wish you wouldn't. Death of an Octal queen means death to the entire octal. So that's a particularly bad idea."

I sighed. "Give the visor."

But I must back up, but not far. I'd been there close to two months the day Sugilite's daughter arrived. Ostensibly, she was on Earth to talk about her colonization project, but she then "popped down" to The Center. She timed her arrival well.

We'd been hosting the receptions for the women who would willingly accept their role. The aliens who were present tended to rotate, with some staying for a few cycles, some only briefly. Some found mates. Some decided this wasn't what they wanted, or not quite yet.

Jasmine insisted the mating candidates dress in our skimpies, and my efforts to change her mind went nowhere. That didn't stop me from working on her. I thought we would show better if dressed for a cocktail party, but she was implacable. Yes, I loved using that word with her. She always bristled, every time.

But if she was going to be implacable, I was going to call her that. Implacable, implacable, implacable. It's such a great word.

She also insisted we all be escorted by the guards, even me, and then she shoved us into the wall beside. Jasmine had been equally implacable about that.

And unlike the first time, she programmed the wall to hold us immobile, but not so fully encompass us, and it was transparent besides. So we were held by our wrists, upper arms, neck, waist, upper leg, and ankle. It was quite annoying.

For the first few of these, I had friends there. But my friends had been leaving. Dark Skies was still there, but Jessica was long gone, the Wookies were gone, and now Cherish was gone. I was still bitter about Cherish and begged Jasmine to forego the wall. Of course, she didn't.

And so the guards led me in, and I stood complacently as they held me, and the wall reached for me. And I avoided muttering.

I already knew what the count would be tonight. There would only be three of the new mating candidates this time. It varied. We didn't always get the same number of lesbians, and of course, they were frequently the ones most willing to fight. So there were three plus me.

The visor awakened. I knew what to expect. I wouldn't say the room was full of aliens, but the count was significant. I scanned and counted twelve plus both Jasmine and Clover.

The aliens roamed the room, looking at one of us before moving to the next. I received my share of attention, but they knew my status was different, and by now, I knew I would be treated somewhat differently. But at least I hadn't spent a half night locked in the wall since the first party.

Jasmine has never told me what the signal was, but I'm sure there was some signal before the aliens were free to release us. There was always a "look at the helpless humans" period. I couldn't say how long it was, because she always locked me from the visor controls from the moment the guards arrived in my cell, and getting them back from her before they sent me back to bed was a challenge. So I had no clock to reference, only my stiffening body.

But then, after this period of staring at us, some of the aliens approached. There wasn't a real pattern. Sometimes they talked to us one at a time, and we'd get released one at a time as well. Sometimes some of us or even all of us were released together, each to the arm of a different alien. Tonight was to be a mix.

I watched as the other women were approached. My nearest partner was led away, and then the woman on the far end, and then the third.

A few aliens stopped to talk to me briefly, but they didn't release me, and I didn't ask why.

Jasmine stopped by. "How angry are you?"

"I wish you wouldn't do this to me. It's embarrassing. I'm always the last to get picked. It's like I'm the consolation prize for the aliens who didn't get one of the younger models in time."

"Let me ask you something. Do you think you should go first, and leave the others here."

"I don't think you should do this at all."

"Well, that isn't changing. So, you want to go first." I didn't say anything. "Who should go last instead? Because I'm sure as vulnerable as they're feeling, they'll take it better than you do."

"You know, you could at least tell me you understand and offer me a little ice cream or something."

"You're not hungry."

"You could let me have my visor controls."

"Nope. Then you'll zone out."

"When is the last time I got a date from one of these events? The only reason I come is to help the other women. Your experiment is a dud, Jasmine. Face it." I looked away. At least that I could do. "No one wants me. No one is going to want me. There's an entire planet of young, pretty women. Why take the tired model?"

"You're awfully self-deprecating tonight. Maybe that's why they don't want you."

"Fuck you, Jasmine. If you're not going to let me out, go away."

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

"Then why did you?"

"Because Charoite is here, and..."

"And what?"

"Nothing."

"You don't get along?"

"We don't know each other, not really. You need to be charming, Andromeda."

"Yeah, we know how that works after you push my buttons. How long have I been in this wall?"

"Just short of an hour. You look amazing, you know."

"Yeah."

"You do. Yeah, the frown isn't your best expression, but you've got good legs, you're in amazing shape, and you look great in a kimono."

"Give me my visor for five minutes and then I'll charm the socks off the Kitsune for you."

"Tell me what you want it to do."

"Music. I have a playlist, but when you yank the controls, I can't get to it. You could at least let me have the music controls when you do this to me."

"All right. I'll give you the music controls, but it stops if anyone approaches within three paces."

"Perfect. Thank you."

She nodded, concentrated for a moment, then said, "There."

She turned away, but I said, "Jasmine." She turned back. "I'd calm down faster with a little tentacle."

She snorted but then reached with two and began to caress my face. One slipped across my lips. I kissed it, but she just caressed a moment longer then withdrew.

I turned on my playlist and closed my eyes.

I think it was longer than five minutes. It was during the third song that the music faded. When I opened my eyes, a Kitsune stood four feet away, looking at me.

She was stunning, absolutely stunning.

"The photo your mother showed me doesn't do you justice."

She stepped closer. "I am Charoite."

"Andromeda."

She cocked her head, and then she gave me a fairly thorough examination. I had no choice but to accept, as I couldn't move more than about four muscles.

"That looks rather secure."

"It is. But I could probably arrange for you to try it, if you're curious."

"Curious, but not that curious. Are you being punished? Mother said you could be more honest than was always good for you."

"No. Are you familiar with how humans give gifts? We wrap them in bright paper and put a bow on them, and then the recipient can look at the pretty wrapping, then pick it up and shake it before they finally tear open the paper to discover the prize."

"Yes, I am familiar. And so you are a gift to be unwrapped?"

"It appears I am."

"A gift for me?"

"Perhaps. On that, I couldn't say."

"And so I should look at the pretty wrapping for a while before I shake you and eventually unwrap you?"

"Perhaps you have looked long enough, and I wouldn't mind if you skipped the shaking part. We mustn't carry any analogy past its useful limit."

"No, of course not. But I find it quite pleasant to look at you wrapped like this. Perhaps I like knowing you can't get away if I choose to talk to you."

I wasn't going to beg. "Do you often find human woman attempting to be away from you? I wouldn't have guessed."

"I have had little experience at all with human women, and none who have been gift wrapped in this fashion." She paused. "Andromeda, I know you wish your freedom, and I am going to grant it. But... It's wrong of me, but..."

I thought about if the situation had been reversed. "I think if you are going to keep me in here a while longer, you must see to my needs."

"What needs are those?"

"If this will be for some time, I could use a little juice to drink. And this wall is not as comforting as your touch might be."

"You do not ask me to hurry your freedom?"

"And put an end to your fun, and so early in the evening besides?"

"Well. Well." She cocked her head. "I think only another few minutes. I really may touch you?"

"I can't stop you."

"No, but I wouldn't touch without permission."

"Do you know those parts of a female body that are not for casual touch?"

"Those," she said, pointing. "And the same places I wouldn't want someone I had just met to touch me."

"You may touch the rest all you like."

She stepped closer. She really was quite stunning. Then she touched my cheek. She traced an ear with her fingers. Then she moved down. She caressed an arm, and my side through the light clothes. Then she actually knelt in front of me to caress both legs, running both hands down one leg and up the other. She stayed there for a minute or so, and it was a little surreal, this woman kneeling before me. It might have been a submissive act, but I was the one who was restrained.

She looked up at me; we looked at each other. Then she slowly stood, moving to my side. My back was not against the wall; the wall held me at arm's length, so to speak, and so she reached a hand behind me. She caressed my back. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the touch.

She caressed my back, and my arm again, and then my back before her hand traveled down to cup one cheek.

My eyes snapped open, and I turned to face her. She was watching me, her hand moving slowly.

"That touch is out of bounds."

"Is it?" she asked. She moved up slightly, but only to slide two fingers inside the panty waistband.

"Charo. Stop."

"You started panting lightly as I caressed you, and your breath hitched when I reached here. You like this."

I squirmed once, but I knew the wall held me firmly.

Her fingers teased me.

"Charo, stop."

Her hand stilled but didn't slide away. "I'm not sure you want me to stop."

"We're in a room full of people, and in spite of how Jasmine Brighteyes makes me dress, I am not an exhibitionist. Do you understand what I am saying?"

"If we were alone, would you be telling me to stop?"

"We met three minutes ago," I replied. "Yes, I would be telling you to stop."

"And tomorrow, if I have you in this position, but we are alone?"

"That is tomorrow," I said. "I am unable to predict the future."

"You did not say 'no'." Her hand moved away. Instead, she folded her arms and leaned against me, well, actually against a portion of the wall that held me, looking into my face. "This visor you wear is inconvenient. I cannot see your eyes."

"I do not have the control to remove it, and I am going to need it."

"I do not believe you will. I believe I should remove it."

"I believe Jasmine Brighteyes is poor at selecting music, and I enjoy dancing."

"Hmm. Do you wish me to release you?"

"Yes, I would like that, but I am not going to beg."

"I wouldn't make you beg," she said. "Well, maybe not this time."

"You are awfully playful."

"I have been envisioning this for some time," she explained. "Do I frighten you?"

"No, Charo."

"Good. I know I promised to release you, but will you let me charge you for doing so?"

"What will be the price?"

"Your undivided attention for the rest of the evening."

"I have duties here," I said.

"You are a mating candidate. Your duty is to become mated."

"That is one duty, but I have responsibilities to these other human women. You may have much of my attention, but you must allow me to attend to my duties as well. However, you could help, if you like."

"You will remain mine for the night. You will not accept offers from any others."

I nodded. "For the evening. I make no promises to make it for the
night
."

"Of course. English is not my first language."

"I wished clarity," I said.

"Of course. Misunderstandings are inconvenient. My second price is this. Mother tells me you are able to be very charming. You will seek to charm me."

"No."

She leaned away. "You will not seek to charm me?"

"Oh, I will, but because I want to, not because you charge it as a price, and because
you
will also be seeking to charm
me
."