Virgin (24 page)

Ava was well aware that not everyone had families like hers. Plenty of people remained together forever, though they weren’t necessarily happy—at least, not all the time. No one had ever been blessed with a life of continuous bliss. This moment, however, stood out from the rest and would be worth remembering—long after her youth had faded and her children, if any, were grown and had children of their own.

Hovering lights lit the cobbled street, dimming the stars she knew shone overhead. Delicious scents filled her nostrils, while wandering musicians played romantic tunes. Cafés lined the street, interspersed with vendors selling fresh flowers of every hue and variety. When she stopped to inhale their fragrance, Dax bought her a bouquet, placing one large purple blossom in her hair. His fingertips grazed her cheek, sending unexpected tingles racing in all directions from that tiny point of contact. As a violinist approached, Ava felt a sudden desire to dance, to be swept up in Dax’s arms and spun in circles until dizziness overcame her. Ava began to suspect that some pheromone or other subliminal suggestion might be responsible for her romantic mood, but she discounted this, firm in her belief that Dax, and Dax alone, was the reason.

“I don’t suppose you know how to dance, do you?”

“Um, well, maybe,” he replied. “But not out here in the street.”

“Prefer a crowded dance floor?”

“I think so. It’s less… conspicuous.”

Ava sighed. “But not nearly as romantic.”

“Is that what you want? Romance?”

“It’s what we
all
want. Too bad men don’t want the same thing.”

“Am I doing that badly?”

She smiled at the violinist with regret. “No. You’re doing just fine.”

Dax disagreed. He didn’t know
anything
about romance. If that was what Ava wanted from him, he was bound to fail. Giving her flowers was romantic—he’d have had to be born under a rock not to know that—but it wasn’t enough.

Threldigan was still leading the way, or Dax would have been lost. When he’d been tracking Quinn, he had a purpose to occupy his mind. Now, Ava—the sight of her, his feelings toward her, but most of all, her scent—usurped his thoughts. Leaning down, he took her hand and kissed it, doing his best to convey his emotions.

Making love with Ava high up in the trees had been absolutely perfect. Dax would have gladly stayed there all night. As it was, all he could think about was getting her back to the ship—or anyplace he could be alone with her—because once was not enough. Not nearly enough. It would take a lifetime of loving before he could be sure she understood how he felt. Unfortunately, she still hadn’t said anything about giving up on the plan to go to Rutara. Threldigan wanted to go there too, so
not
going there wasn’t an option, no matter how much Dax might wish it. The fear that she might not stay with him almost made him physically ill. She
had
to stay with him now. She just had to.

Dax couldn’t explain why he’d picked up that puppy, either. He’d never done anything of the kind, no matter what Waroun might say. Quinn seemed to be bonding with the dog already. Should he have given the puppy to Ava? Was a dog better than flowers? They were beautiful, but they wouldn’t last nearly as long as a puppy would.

I should have danced with her.
Kissing her hand again, he threaded his fingers between hers, amazed at how small they were in comparison to his. He was tall and gangly, while she was petite and delicate. There was nothing inconspicuous about him—whether he was on a crowded dance floor or not. Dancing with someone as small as Ava would have looked ridiculous.

But she would have been in my arms.
Dancing was a great excuse for that…

The conversation went on around him, leaving Dax to his private thoughts. Somewhere along the line, he’d gotten the idea that once he made love with a woman, his worries would be over. Obviously, he’d been wrong.

When they arrived at the restaurant and were shown to their table, Dax spotted a man pulling a chair out for his female companion and decided to try it. He was a little awkward, but at least he didn’t dump Ava on the floor. The smile she gave him after he scooted her up to the table did funny things to his heart.
Hmm. That works pretty well…
Then he tried handing her a napkin and wound up dropping her silverware on the floor.

“Ooo, nice move, Super Kitten,” Waroun said. “Now you have an excuse to put your head in her lap while you reach under the table to pick up her fork.”

“That was
not
my intention,” Dax growled as he leaned over to retrieve it.

Waroun winked at him. “Maybe so, but it worked, didn’t it?” He picked up his glass and took a sip. “Just don’t spill wine on her dress. Things could get dicey pretty quick.”

Dax was beginning to question the wisdom of dining together as a group. Separate tables would have been nice, or better yet, separate restaurants. Ava didn’t seem to mind, but it was difficult to be romantic with Waroun around. Dax was even reluctant to hold her hand. Stealing a glance at Ava put most of his fears to rest, however, for the look she gave him was one of complete understanding. No, being romantic all the time wasn’t necessary. There was, however, a dance floor and a live band playing. Perhaps after dinner he would ask her to dance. Not now when everyone was trying to decide what to order.

Their waiter was a Kitnock, even more willowy than Teke and Diokut. “We’ll get very good service from him,” Teke said after he took their order. “He’s in the family.”

Quinn nodded as he munched on a breadstick, but Ava seemed puzzled. “What, you mean you’re actually related, or is it just because you’re all Kitnocks?”

“No,” Teke replied. “It’s because he’s gay.”

“Oh, okay, gotcha. So, you are…?”

“Oh, yes!” Teke said eagerly. “Didn’t you know?”

“Well, it isn’t perfectly obvious,” Ava said. “But then, I’m not all that familiar with your species.” Her eyes darted back and forth between the two Kitnocks. “But you and Diokut aren’t…
together
, are you? I mean, it doesn’t seem that way to me…”

“Diokut is my nephew, actually,” Teke said. “I’m just the gay uncle with a bit of money who takes him out to see the galaxy. We aren’t a couple.”

“I see,” she said, though it was fairly obvious that Ava didn’t, really. Even Dax wouldn’t have guessed it. It was difficult enough guessing the sexual orientation of the more humanoid types, let alone the sticklike Kitnocks.

On impulse, Dax nudged Ava’s leg with his knee, drawing a conspiratorial smile from her and instantly diverting her attention from the subject of gay Kitnocks. He felt a sense of kinship or camaraderie he’d never shared with a woman before.
It could be like this forever if I don’t blow it.

Suddenly, the fear that he
could
ruin everything hit him right between the eyes. A few thoughtless words or actions could make her hate him. That idea terrified him beyond belief. He’d have to make a point of asking her to cut him some slack. But what should he say to her? How could he make her understand how important this was to him? Could he ever find the nerve to say something like,
“Please, tell me if I screw up, Ava. Don’t misunderstand me and just leave it at that. I know I’ll make mistakes. If I say or do anything you don’t like, just tell me. Give me a chance to fix it before you call it quits…”

With a sigh of relief, Threldigan leaned back in his chair and removed his cape. “This area is one of the few that doesn’t feel the need to bombard you with advertising. The proprietors would be offended if anyone suggested that anything other than the natural aroma of the food was bringing in customers. It’s a welcome change.”

“I can feel the difference too,” said Teke. “It’s much more relaxing here.”

Quinn nodded vigorously and reached for another breadstick. “Good food.”

The band was playing a slow, romantic song. Threldigan was doing his best to get Dax’s attention, but Dax didn’t need prompting. It was simply a matter of getting to his feet, holding out his hand, and saying, “Ava, would you like to dance?”

Chapter 16

Ava was a little surprised that he would ask her so soon, but it was a welcome diversion while waiting for their dinner—and also the best way to be alone with him in the relative seclusion of the dance floor. Unlike dinner companions, dancers generally paid very little attention to anyone but themselves.

As Dax captured her outstretched hand in his grasp, delight washed over her and she could feel her hair tossing in response. If he was astute at all—and Ava had no doubt that he was—Dax would soon learn to read her moods simply by looking at her hair. Unfortunately, she never knew what it was going to do next.

Ava had realized there might be a problem as soon as she mentioned dancing. To be truly good partners, a couple should be of a similar height, and she and Dax were nowhere close. When he took her in his arms, she was facing his upper abdomen. Gazing adoringly into his feline eyes was out of the question, unless she was looking for a major pain in the neck. Still, resting her head against any part of him was delightful, and she could hear exactly how hungry he was. “Are you sure you don’t want to wait until after dinner?”

Dax shook his head. “I’ve been looking for an excuse to hold you ever since I put you down.”

“I haven’t thanked you for doing that yet. All of those pheromones on top of everything else were almost too much. I can understand why Treann was having so much trouble. It was like being drugged and drunk at the same time. It’s much nicer here.”

“So, you still like me without all the, um, encouragement?”

Ava smiled to herself. “Yes, Dax. I still like you.”

“Good.” He sighed with relief. “Though I think I’ll have to be off this planet completely before I truly believe it.”

“What’s the matter? Don’t trust your own sex appeal?”

“I don’t trust anything that happens on Rhylos,” he said bluntly. “There could be romance pheromones floating all around us, and we’d never know. They don’t tell Threld everything.”

“No? Well, perhaps not, but right now, I’m feeling nothing but what I should be feeling.”

“Which is?”

“That I wish I were taller. I’d really like to be able to nibble on your ear while we’re dancing.”

Dax laughed. “That just gives me something to look forward to when we get back to the ship for the night.” A tingle of anticipation was already spreading from where his fingertips were tracing circles on her back. The tingles intensified when his hand grazed her hip. “If we were alone, I’d solve the problem by picking you up. Then you could wrap your arms and legs around me and nibble all you like, and I could get my hands on all of you.”

Ava’s mouth went dry, and a quiver of desire shook her. “Sounds wonderful.”

“It does, doesn’t it? I probably shouldn’t, but this
is
Rhylos.”

She didn’t immediately take his meaning, but a moment later it became perfectly clear when her feet left the floor. Her breasts pressed against his chest, and her mouth was within easy striking distance of his earlobe—the one from which a gold hoop dangled enticingly. He made sure her dress was pulled down far enough to cover her bottom discreetly, but his big hands would have served just as well.

Her imagination began to dally with the idea of dancing together, alone in her quarters—or his—to soft music with nothing between them, not even air. Dancing while they made love. His hot cock buried deep in her core, doing amazing things to her mind and body. Loving her while they danced… “Oh, Dax. You’re making me crazy. No one’s ever made me crazy before.”

“And do you like being crazy?”

“Mmm, yes… It’s
wonderful
.” She flicked his earlobe with the tip of her tongue and felt him shudder in her arms.

“Yes, it is. More wonderful than I ever imagined.” He took another breath as if to speak but hesitated a long moment as she mouthed his ear, running her tongue from the lobe to the pointed tip. When he finally spoke, his voice sounded unsteady and uncertain. “If—if it’s ever
not
wonderful, promise you’ll tell me. I’ll do whatever it takes to fix it.
Anything.
Just don’t give up on me or let it end too soon.”

“I won’t,” she whispered. “I promise.” It was an easy promise to make. Giving up on Dax was unthinkable. As for letting it end, forever was beginning to sound like too short a time to spend with him. One never knew what the future might hold in store.

Sucking his earlobe into her mouth, earring and all, she caressed it with her tongue, delighting in the salty flavor of his skin and the heady aroma that was uniquely his own. The pheromones in the brothel district might have been stronger, but the effect of his own brand of sexual attractants, though more subtle, went deeper to form a more lasting imprint on her psyche. Just breathing the air around him filled her with joy, desire, and love.

Dax was purring. The music was too loud for her to hear it, but Ava could feel the vibrations in her chest and the tingles in her nipples. He arched his neck, exposing it to her lips. Groaning, he begged her for more. “Bite me.”