Second Chance (10 page)

48 Second Chance

Chapter Seven

Laci stretched with languid thoroughness, pushed the silky sheet off her and eased into a meditative position. She was bored. The only time Darion and Alek had allowed her out of their quarters in the past few days was when they took her somewhere. They had removed anything with any kind of interface capability from the room, as a precaution against her trying any tricks while they weren’t here with her.

Laci was determined to escape. She waited and watched. An opportunity. All she needed was an opportunity and she would escape. She hadn’t tried anything yet because she didn’t have a plan, short term or long term, for after she’d escaped. She needed a plan of some kind or she would be recaptured within hours.

Now that her nano-cytes were the same as theirs, just getting away from them would be no simple trick. Within a certain distance of other people who carried the nano-cytes, a location could be fixed with pinpoint accuracy. She would need to block the signals before she could have a chance of escaping. Somehow, she’d have to get her hands on the tools she needed to do that.

They were so watchful that she’d had no chance to find anything. She was never allowed more than a few steps away from them outside of their rooms. Laci would need more freedom and she knew it would be a while before she could find a way to get what she needed.

She wondered if she would even want to escape when she did get a chance to flee. Already, she felt a pull toward them. It wasn’t only the sex, although that was beyond even her wildest dreams. She liked talking to them and she wanted to be near them. What scared her was that the thought of leaving sent a dagger of pain and panic slicing through her. She didn’t want to believe that she was bound to them by more than sex.

They were taking her to their home. She couldn’t get an exact location from them. Thus far, they had been good-humored about her repeated questions, but their answers were far from informative. She could only hope that wherever they took her was well-populated and advanced enough to allow her to escape. She prayed the Norik didn’t control the area. Her escape plans would amount to nothing if they controlled all means of leaving the planet. The best scenario would be a populated planet with regular shuttle services.

* * * * *

Laci walked beside the crewman assigned to shadow her on this small excursion. Alek and Darion had both been needed elsewhere—Alek on the bridge and Darion in the docking bay. She hadn’t been willing to spend even another hour in that room.

49 Rebecca Airies

She’d felt trapped and caged and itched to go somewhere, anywhere. It had taken her very serious threat to rewire the door before they’d agreed to let her leave the room.

The light material of her black dress fluttered around her thighs as she walked down the hallway to the lift. Other than the shortness of the skirt, she actually liked this dress. The bodice had a built-in bra and actually covered most of her breasts, giving just a hint of their full weight. Of course, she still had to wear those impractical heels.

She’d chosen to go to one of the rec rooms. Alek had told her that they had some practice androids for sparring and battle simulation. She had energy to burn and a good fight was just what she wanted. It would keep her skills sharp and hopefully sear away the sexual frustration that had ignited earlier this morning. For once, she couldn’t blame Darion and Alek. They hadn’t intended to arouse her. She doubted that they had even known she was awake.

They’d rolled from bed, careful not to disturb her. Darion had walked around the bed and joined Alek as he paced toward the bathroom. As he’d neared the other man, Darion had reached out and slid his palm across Alek’s hip and buttocks. It had been such a relaxed move that she could tell they had long enjoyed each other’s touch.

A shiver skittered down her spine and she felt the walls of her vagina clench. She’d had suspicions that they had been lovers at some time. The number of males on the ship and the absence of females or sex-droids had been a big clue in that direction. The thought of them together had aroused her, but not as much as the thought of watching them touch each other or, better yet, joining them as they loved each other. Seeing Darion touch Alek in such a sensual manner had sparked her desire. No longer was it merely a fantasy.

As they stepped into the lift, her escort’s lips curved into a definite smirk. Laci ignored it. She knew that he probably smelled her arousal, but there wasn’t anything she could do about it. All it took was the mere memory of Darion’s dark brown hand gliding across Alek’s golden-skinned buttocks and her desire flared.

The lift stopped and Laci stepped out and walked beside her escort past the larger open rec-area to one of the private rooms. He opened the door and stepped inside, crossed the padded floor to the opposite wall and activated the droid.

She entered the room and felt the slight give of the padded floor. She reached out and touched the wall. The walls were covered in the same padded material as the floor.

“It won’t hurt you. You can attack it as much as you want. It will only defend,” the crewman informed her before he started for the door.

Laci’s mouth dropped open in astonishment. Before she could find her voice, the door slid closed behind him. She fumed, frustrated. Glaring at the droid, she knew going after the man was useless. He wouldn’t have even thought to put it on defense-only without orders.

Most people forgot the command was even there. Her fingers clenched into tight fists. She didn’t want to attack the damned android. She wanted to fight. Even beginners weren’t given a droid that would only defend.

50 Second Chance

Her hands fisted at her side. Hells, now she was angry
and
aroused. She’d never understood why the companies who made practice droids put in a defense-only function. It taught nothing and just felt wrong. It made her feel guilty to even think about hitting the droid, as if she was about to attack a pacifist.

Laci squared her shoulders and attacked. The droid blocked most of her blows, but she slipped a few past its defenses. Circling, she focused on expending some energy and attacked.

She intensified her assault on the droid. As it swept its hand down in a block, she caught its arm and spun, slamming the droid into wall. A flash of movement caught her eye and she spun. Alek stood just inside the doorway. He looked relaxed and happy.

His spiky hair was still in perfect order. Whatever he’d been doing, it obviously hadn’t caused him any stress. His golden eyes prowled over her body lingering at her breasts and hips. He straightened and she saw his muscles flex beneath the tight material of his blue shirt. Just watching him was arousing.

“You’re being a little rough with the droid, aren’t you?” A smile kicked up a corner of his mouth.

“I wouldn’t have to be so rough if your man hadn’t set this thing on defense-only.” Laci glared at him.

“We told him not to let you get hurt. We didn’t know just what you could do.”

“I can take care of myself.”

Alek chuckled arrogantly and turned his eyes to the droid, which simply stood there waiting for Laci’s next move. “I can see that. You’ve pulverized that droid. If it was capable of feeling pain, it would be experiencing some aches right now.”

“If it was male and anatomically correct, it would really be in trouble.” She flashed him a sweet smile.

“Ooh, that’s harsh.” He held out his hand in invitation.

“No.” Laci crossed her arms over chest. “We’re going to talk and you’re staying over there. It’s easier to think when your hands aren’t all over me.” Her hand rose to her hip and she gave him her best “I mean it” look.

“You really shouldn’t give orders you can’t enforce.” In spite of his words, he leaned back against the wall.

“How did you come to marry Satira? Was it arranged?” Laci asked. From what she knew no sane man would have chosen Satira. That woman had had very few good points.

“Now that’s a long story, especially since you know nothing of Darsati culture,” Alek murmured and pushed away from the wall. “Get your shoes.”

“I told you that we’re going to talk.” Laci slammed her hands onto her hips and narrowed her eyes.

“We are, but this is going to take some time. We might as well be comfortable while we talk. We’ll go to one of the dining halls and get something cold to drink.”

51 Rebecca Airies

Laci studied him intently, trying to decide if she could trust him. “You’re not going to distract me or otherwise drive me insane with lust, like you did last night?” She watched those golden eyes light with amusement and hot arousal.

“I know you need to learn just how all of this came to be,” Alek explained. “I won’t touch you until all your questions are answered.”

Laci slipped into her shoes and then left the practice room at his side. They strolled down the hallway in silence. Once inside the lift, Laci leaned against the opposite wall and thought. She wanted to know so many things that it was hard to decide what to ask first. After thinking about it for the entire descent, she made her choice. She’d stick with what she’d asked him about in the practice room. Maybe that would gain her the answers to a few other questions.

The vast size and the high ceiling of the forward dining hall had awed Laci the first time she’d seen it. She’d known a Taurog battle-class ship was huge, but she hadn’t realized just how large it was. Even now, the sheer space in the room made her feel small. Tables were scattered throughout the room, and booths lined the walls.

Alek led Laci across the soft gray-blue carpet to one of the slate blue booths along the cream colored walls. The table was draped in a long white tablecloth.

“You stay here and I’ll go get us something to drink.” Alek smiled down at her and then strode toward the serving area.

Laci allowed her eyes to skim over the dramatic artwork on the wall. All the pieces that she had seen were bold and eye-catching, dark colors and bright colors thrown together dramatically. She scanned the room for Alek. She caught sight of his red head as he wove his way around the tables scattered throughout the room.

Alek carried a tray. As he neared, she saw that it held more than just mugs and a pitcher. He slid the tray onto the table. Laci lifted the large platter laden with savory appetizers while Alek placed the filled mugs on the table. She removed the large pitcher of some reddish drink. Arranging the various bowls and plates, she slid a bowl of spicy dip closer to Alek.

Alek slipped into the booth, relaxing back against the soft back. Laci turned to face him, noting that they were still close, but not skin to skin. She could easily reach out and touch him if she wanted. The distance was just perfect for a conversation, as well as her keeping her sanity.

Laci lifted her mug and sipped at the cool, spiced drink. She ran her eyes over his face, lingering on his lips. Shifting position as her thoughts turned carnal, she cleared her throat. “So tell me how you and Darion met and married Satira.”

“Do you want to know about that or about how I met Darion?” Alek swirled a crusty triangular pastry in the dip.

“Either…both.” Laci bit her lip.

“Darion and I met while we were training. He was born in the southern regions and came to the East during his second term of training.”

52 Second Chance

“Where did you meet him?” Laci asked.

“I was training with
Corat
Marisin, one of our great warriors. Darion had earned the privilege as well and it was there that I first encountered him.” Alek’s smile grew reminiscent.

“And you became…friends during your training?” Laci tilted her head as she absently put her mug on the table. “You worked side by side and got to know each other?”

“Not quite, we met briefly but the Botisar—” Alek began.

“Wait. What’s a Botisar?”

“The Botisar is…um, a man with higher psychic abilities than normal Darsati.” Alek frowned as he sought the right words. “He can sense the energies within people and uses that ability to find those meant to be together.”

“What energies?” Laci reached for a meat-filled pastry.

“Psychic energy as well as body chemistry.” Alek’s mouth kicked up on one side. “As to how they do it, I asked once. The man told me a bunch of stuff about energy fields, colors and mental paths. He lost me when he said that energy fields have colors.”

“So this Botisar introduced you to Darion,” Laci prompted.

“It wasn’t a matter of choice.” Alek lifted his mug. “The Botisar told us of the link between us and from that day our training changed, intensified. There wasn’t any question that we’d have to find a way to work together. We couldn’t break the tie between us even if we’d wanted to.”

“Was it common among your people to do that? And what did it mean other than that you two would be together for the rest of your life?”

“It wasn’t that common, but it was a well-established practice. There was only honor in being chosen, no stigma. Darion and I are far from unique.” Alek swirled the tip of another triangle in the dip.

“And the second question?” Laci raised her brows when he went no further in his explanation.

“Pairs matched by the Botisar are trained to lead. The skill and drive of the two men are what determine just how high they’ll rise.” Alek took a large bite.

“Are there any other pairs on this ship?” Laci leaned forward as she waited for his answer.

“Three. Two of the pairs serve as commanders and the other pair oversees engineering.” Alek smiled at her. “Are you sure I can’t kiss you?”

“No, you can’t.” Laci tried to frown at him, but she could feel her lips working into a smile. He was incorrigible. “Were these men paired by a Botisar as you were?”

“Yes, but only the strongest and most experienced became Jatohn.” Alek lifted his mug and took a long drink.

“Do all pairs have one additional mate?” Laci asked.