Terran Times 02 - Deal with a Dhemon (13 page)

Viola Grace

her stomach with the corset laced around her, anyway. She did have to admit however, that her posture was terrific.

A few hours later Etion looked extremely harassed. His unending attempts to curb her appetite had been thwarted. She giggled at his defeated expression.

“Look, Etion. Why don’t we try again tomorrow after I have tried to dress myself again?

You look exhausted.” She had some sympathy for him. After all, he had been at this all day.

“Do you think I can get out of these clothes myself?” She arched one of her brows at him.

“Yes, I believe that you can, but please, hang them up after you take them off. Your nightgown is in that drawer over there.” He gestured off to the bureau beside the mirror.

She saw him to the door, and didn’t let him know that she never slept with a nightgown. In fact, she rarely slept with covers on. She found the sheets smothering.

Her skin was already chafing at the press of fabric on her body after three days in the tank. It was both sensual and irritating to be wrapped in clothing from neck to toes.

Her feeble fingers fought the buttons on her jacket. She seemed to be unable to undress herself after all. After several minutes of frustrated trying, she gave up. Her jacket had been removed and 30

Deal with a Dhemon

dutifully hung up. The rest of the tiny buttons were beyond her capabilities.

She dropped onto her bed, exhausted and unsure of what to do now.

When the door chimed that someone wanted admittance, she merely yelled, “C’mon in,” and flopped back onto the bed.

When she saw her visitor she struggled to sit up and take up a more decorous pose. There was a distinct moment of flailing, but she managed.

“General Kassil, this is an unexpected visit.”

Finally, she got herself to the edge of the bed, and sat with her knees together and her hands in her lap, just like Etion had shown her.

“Miss Samantha, I saw Etion in the hall, looking the worse for wear. I felt that I should check on you as well. May I add that you look lovely in that clothing?” A smile danced around his full lips.

Considering that every other time he had seen her she had been stark naked, his complement was kind of funny.

She flushed a hot bronze “Unfortunately, I think I was a little hard on Etion. I had no idea that your clothing was so complicated.”

“Only the female’s clothing. The men get to wear loose trousers, a belt, loose shirts and boots.

Occasionally with cloaks.”

“Hey, no fair! I am wearing enough fabric to smother a Binat.” She gestured to the layers of 31