Dusk (Dusk 1) (11 page)

“Colonel Silva?”

The lilting voice bore a tone that suggested the owner had already said his name several times. He shook himself back to attention and realized Ambassador Gunnarson was staring at him expectantly.

“Sorry, Ambassador,” he said quietly. “What did you say?”

“I merely asked if you were enjoying the view.”

She spoke Terran Standard with a strange accent, not quite Scots, nor Russian, but with a guttural emphasis to some of her words that seemed to owe something to both lingual families. It gave her sibilants a charming little lisp, while she came down hard on the harsher consonants and clipped off the softer ends of her words. It sounded, dare he even think it, cute on her.

“Oh, yes, ma’am, very much. I can honestly say I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”

“Indeed?” She raised an eyebrow and gave him a long, speculative once-over. “Perhaps, once our duties here are attended to, I can take you on a tour.”

Ambassador Al-Aziz wasn’t quite fast enough concealing his look of distaste to keep Pete from seeing it. Painting on a smile as fake as a plastic banana, he nodded, playing the gracious guest to the hilt. “You should do so, Colonel. I suspect Dusk has a great many delights to share with all of us. As Ambassador Gunnarson so accurately noted, we will not be spending all our time here on duty.”

Pete allowed himself a small smile while thinking,
Mr. Ambassador, sir, with all due respect, you can go fuck yourself, sir
.

Aloud he said, “I would like that very much, Ambassador.”

Merrick shot him a glance chilly enough to freeze hydrogen.

Pete ignored him.

The assassin stood, hands on hips, on a catwalk overlooking a pit so large that it distorted visual perspective and bent sensory input almost into meaninglessness.

A few feet away, leaning on the railing, a T’riskin male glanced over with unconcealed interest. “Impressive, is it not?”

“It is, indeed. Finding this abandoned diamond mine was a stroke of brilliance.”

The T’riskin straightened to his full, imposing height. His muscles rippled under dark-red scales as hard as stone as he folded his taloned hands in front of his waist. His tail thrashed twice in a sign of slight agitation. His hard, thin lips skinned back from deceptively delicate-looking teeth.

“Our superior is wondering when we can expect payment.”

The assassin pushed off the railing and looked up into the T’riskin’s face. “Do not press me, Grrrreelawk. I have assured you that you will be paid as soon as the diplomatic farce is complete.”

Grrrreelawk grumbled. “But there are too many ways this can go wrong,” he protested, his voice fine gravel sliding down a steep slope.

“That is hardly my concern. Bear in mind that you brokered the introduction to the Raebteews, but I am the one who must constantly keep their leader in check. You have no concept of how difficult it is to control a puppet so completely and utterly that it has no idea who is pulling the strings while still interacting normally with others. None of which takes into account the huge risk I am undertaking by doing business with you at all. If I am discovered, I can at best expect a long stay in a detainment cell. At worst, I may be escorted off the planet as an undesirable.”

Grrrreelawk’s lower jaw fell open in the T’riskin version of a laugh. “And that is my concern how? I am a mere contractor, here to assist you with maintaining control over the Raebteews and assuring my superiors that the operation is proceeding according to plan. They will not react kindly to stalling tactics.”

The assassin scowled. “Do not threaten me, Grrrreelawk. That way only lies problems neither of us need or want.”

The T’riskin glanced down into the pit. “Look!” he commanded, aiming one wickedly clawed finger downward.

Far below, a swarm of small, furry creatures with ferocious, almost absurdly outsized claws began to chitter excitedly to one another. A large shelf of high-carbon rock fell away, revealing a brilliant blue vein of ore beneath. The creatures made a uniform piping sound and redoubled their efforts, their huge eyes glittering in the light the ore emitted.

“It seems you were right,” Grrrreelawk remarked.

“Was there any doubt? I have read the mineralogy and geology reports on this planet until I see them in my sleep. I know every likely place at both poles to seek out gallartium ore. Now that you are convinced, I expect you to maintain your end of the bargain.”

“And the diamonds?”

“I care nothing about diamonds. On your world they are rare and therefore valuable, much as they are on Terra. Here, gem-grade diamonds are only slightly less common than ordinary gravel. I can find diamonds along the beach that put the Hope Diamond to shame both in size and quality. You can line your pockets, or whatever passes for them, to your and your leader’s hearts’ content. So long as the gallartium is mined with due care and stored properly until it is time to take it off-planet, we will both be satisfied. Do you understand?”

“I do indeed.” Grrrreelawk’s tongue snaked out, flicking across his lips nervously. “I will see to it the operation continues.”

“Excellent,” the assassin said, staring greedily down at the ever-expanding vein of glowing blue.

* * *

“You can’t seriously have meant you wanted to take that ridiculous-looking man out for a sightseeing jaunt!” Merrick fumed.

“Yes, I did, Merrick. It would be impolitic not to, and I need to learn more about why there’s a military man attached to Al-Aziz’s team.”

Merrick froze. “How far are you willing to go to do that?”

Olivia’s face went cold. “What exactly do you mean?”

“Would you sleep with him, if you thought it would get you information?”

Something snapped in Olivia’s mind. “Merrick, you’re making a huge mistake. I love you, but I don’t own you. The same applies to you. If I
do
decide sleeping with him is the best way to get information, then that’s my own choice. Besides.” She smiled slightly, recalling the warmth of his lips against the skin of her hand. “He has nice lips. I wouldn’t mind kissing them, or even better, kissing
you
while both of you have me.”

He blinked. “You mean… a threesome?”

She shrugged. “Well, why not? If I decide I do want to sleep with him, I would feel better about it with you present. It would solve the problem rather neatly, and everyone gets what they want, yes?”

Merrick frowned and his brow furrowed. “But he’s sleeping with Al-Aziz.”

Olivia laughed out loud at the ludicrous notion. “You actually
believed
that? That was Al-Aziz having a joke at your and Colonel Silva’s expense at the same time. The most amazing thing about the whole situation is that you
bought
what he was selling you. Didn’t you see Silva’s mouth?”

The frown on Merrick’s handsome face crashed down into a full scowl. “What reason would I have to be looking at his mouth? The only interest I have in his mouth is possibly smashing my fist into it if he does anything untoward.”

“Come on, love.” Olivia pushed away from the wall, shrugging off the robe. “Doesn’t it make you hot, the idea of watching me with another man, knowing you and he will both have me? You don’t have to touch each other.” She paused, reflecting on that idea. “In fact, I’d prefer it. But just imagine me on my knees, wet and open for you while I suck another man’s hard cock. I’d be completely helpless. You can have my pussy, or even my ass. Would you like that, Merrick?”

She lowered herself into his lap. To her amusement, Merrick’s cock pressed against her slit, showing what he felt about it despite his protests. Leaning forward, she kissed his ear. “Imagine taking me at the same time he does, with me sandwiched between you, coming over and over as I scream both your names.” She swiveled her hips forward in a tiny, sensual undulation. “Wouldn’t that be worth it?”

He licked his lips. “I -- well, we’ve talked about it before, but…” His face suddenly flushed. “Why him? He’s such a stiff! Did you see the way he stands? He looks like someone rammed a poker up his ass.”

Olivia smiled. “I rather doubt that. But I also don’t think he’d do anything to hurt me. Besides, I think he’s hot, and it seems to me we could do worse than share with someone who’s going to be out of here in a week, if it takes that long. Especially if we can find out more about what they’re up to by mixing business and pleasure. He goes his way, we go ours…” An idea occurred to her, and she leaned forward to whisper into his ear.

When she pulled back, she could see all too plainly the hunger in Merrick’s eyes. “You really mean that?”

She nodded. “I get my fantasy, you get yours.”

He gnawed his lower lip pensively, thinking it over. Somehow the expression made him look like a little boy, and she had to fight the urge to tousle his hair. “Interesting. I never thought you were into other women.”

“I’m not, but turnabout’s fair play, isn’t it?” She wriggled her butt again, letting him feel her heat against his pelvis.

He groaned. “I would be there? The whole time?”

“Yes,” she whispered, nipping lightly on his earlobe.

“And I wouldn’t have to touch him?”

“No.”

“If he hurts you, I’ll kill him.”

Olivia rose off him, her eyes sparkling. “Just like a good bodyguard should.” She flounced over to the closet, willing it open as she strutted, giving Merrick a good look at her ass.

“Now, let’s see… what to wear,” she mused, tapping a fingernail against her teeth.

* * *

“Enter!”

The door slid open, revealing Olivia and her omnipresent bodyguard. Instead of her ambassadorial attire, she wore a complex arrangement of straps that covered the essentials but did nothing to obstruct the view. Merrick had a dark breechclout wrapped around his hips. Both wore boots, and were otherwise unclad.

Pete rose, hastily shrugging on his black T-shirt.

“Good afternoon, Ambassador.”

Olivia smiled. “Actually, it’s morning, Colonel, at least as we reckon time. Astaroth will be rising soon. Merrick and I thought it would be pleasant to take you to the beach and let you see our world’s greatest natural wonder.”

Pete thought it over. Al-Aziz had cleared him to do whatever he wished until that night, when the natives had a big reception planned. Getting out and seeing some local color seemed like a pretty good idea, and getting to know Olivia better seemed like an even better one.

“Sure. Give me five minutes to freshen up?”

Olivia smiled. “Of course. Do you have anything particular you would like to take with you, as far as food goes?”

Pete thought it over. Technically, he was off duty and had twelve hours before he was due back. He could do more or less whatever he liked and still have eight hours straight before he resumed his duties. So why not?

“I have some Terran Scotch in my closet. If you want to dig it out, I’ll freshen up and we’ll be ready to go.”

Olivia nodded to Merrick.

“Top drawer, at the back. Glenlivet.”

Merrick considered. “I’ve heard good things about that, but I’ve never tried it before. It’s on my to-do list, though.”

Pete nodded to the other man.
Finally, we’re speaking a common language
! “Then you won’t want to pass up this chance,” he said, ducking into the ’fresher.

* * *

Twenty minutes later the hovercar touched down on the pad near the beach. Merrick dismounted first, allowing Silva to get out.

“So, I hear Dusk has some of the most beautiful beaches in the galaxy,” Silva said, apparently in a bid to make conversation.

Merrick studied him closely, trying to divine from a hundred vocal and non-vocal cues if there was anything in the words besides the words themselves. After a moment he gave it up as a futile exercise.

“That’s what I’ve been told. Of course, I haven’t seen enough other beaches to have much of a basis for comparison,” Merrick replied. “The tri-vids I’ve seen of Terra worry me. All that light, all the time? No wonder everyone has to wear those polarized filter… things over their eyes.”

“You mean shades? Sunglasses,” Silva prompted. Merrick supposed his confusion must have been visible for Silva to bother with the clarification. “Yeah. Skin cancer used to be a big problem on Terra, but we’ve had that licked for centuries. Still, it’s kind of unpleasant sitting out with no protection over your eyes.” He took a deep breath, stretching his arms over his head. Merrick noticed that, unlike his lean frame, Silva was both stockier and more bulky, with the kind of thick, heavy muscle that comes from sustained, hard physical labor. His black T-shirt strained under the pressure of containing all that muscle, and Merrick had to fight down a surge of envy.

Olivia, who had been leaning against the side of the ’car during the exchange, eyed Silva avidly, appreciating the view. Then she gave Merrick a wink, as if to say, “Yeah, he’s pretty, but you’re still my number one.”

“So what shall we call you? ‘Colonel’ seems so formal, and just addressing you by your last name seems rude.”

Silva turned to her and feigned a courtly bow. “Well, ma’am, my friends call me Pete. And I figure that’s anyone who drinks my Scotch with me and isn’t planning to put a knife in my back.”

I
could think about putting a knife in your back
, Merrick thought.
But Olivia wouldn’t appreciate the gesture at all
.

“Then if we’re to call you Pete, you must call me Olivia and he’s Merrick. None of this ‘ma’am’ business… makes me feel old.”

Silva nodded brusquely. “As you like, er, Olivia.” He looked around at the rocky fangs of the spires. “So, uh, where are we headed?”

“This way.” Merrick took point, with Olivia’s hand tucked firmly in his, leaving Silva to follow, or not, as he wished. In moments he led them to the ideal viewing point for moonrise and laid down the blanket he’d brought from the ’car.

Silva cracked the seal on his bottle, and poured a generous jigger for each of them. They clinked glasses and drank.

Merrick smacked his lips. “This is really good. I had some stuff one time, trader claimed it was genuine Terran Scotch. Damn stuff tasted like it had been cut with turpentine. When I finally got him to confess, he told me it was actually Rigelian fire water.”