Four
Two TOS later, after receiving the call from Gerri, Lola contacted her company requesting a short leave of absence. Her petition had been approved with alacrity since the mining heads knew she was the star of a drama about to unfold. They probably assumed she’d be getting bobbed, chucked and smoothed in preparation for her human.
Not fucking likely.
Instead, she was sneaking out of her house with a small bag like a common criminal and heading to the city’s terminals for an unauthorized trip. Gerri had deactivated Lola’s planetrome―her identifying wristband―and told her the private pod she’d hop on was already paid for under an assumed name.
Really? Now I’m skulking as well as sneaking?
Apparently, Gerri had alerted officials that Pace would be arriving two TOS late, and they hadn’t balked. They’d embraced the news gleefully, stating it gave them more time to arrange a worthy welcome. Lola rolled her eyes. A parade down Primo Via, four state dinners, a costume ball and front row seats for a Wortthest concert weren’t enough? Spare her the drama.
Instead of hailing a ruck, she walked to the nearest LEV station and hopped a transport for The Plains. If Gerri wanted her to do anonymous, she’d do anonymous.
Gazing out over the city as the twin suns rose over the mountains never got old. Her home was beautiful, and she wondered if, should he be able to accept their differences, Pace would assent to living here with her. Or maybe she’d end up moving to earth. It was one of the questions they’d have to discuss. She wondered what kind of mines they had there.
There were so many things she didn’t know about him and his planet, but Gerri had assured her their chemistry would more than make up for logistics. She certainly hoped so. When she’d finally dared ask the diminutive woman if Pace knew the shifting habits of the Hydroxenes, Gerri had laughed.
“Oh, no, dearie. That’s for the pair of you to explore. I do so love surprises, don’t you?”
Lola had only been able to give a dry chuckle. No, she didn’t. But the woman had gone so far out of her way to arrange this match, Lola figured maybe Pace did. She sure hoped so.
Disembarking at The Plains, she was happy to see not many travelers this early in the morning. She went to the wait pad, positioned herself on the foot reader and inserted the fare chip Gerri had sent. She let out a pent-up breath as a pod formed around her.
Thank Lords, it worked.
She stowed her bag in the overhead, strapped in and made herself comfortable, inserting earchimes to fill her head with music for the just under two kelsug trip. Travel information scrolled across the vid directly to her left.
Your destination is thirty-seven hundred and twelve light years distant…
G-Hydrox had adopted the use of the term “light years” several clefts ago, as their galaxy and those surrounding seemed to enjoy the same principles of light.
Traveling at five-hundredths slices per light year, you will reach your destination in one hundred and eighty-five slices.
Just under two kelsugs. She’d made the trip to the planet, Mall, many times over the years. It was an easy journey within Gemma-Hydrox’s solar system. She reclined her seat, laid her head back and let the soothing tones of morning songs send her to sleep.
****
When the music abruptly changed to a gentle chiming, Lola woke with a start. She blinked herself awake and looked at the vid.
Please return your seat to an upright position, retrieve your bags and store all earchimes in the appropriate receptacle. Your arrival time is in two slices.
She’d wondered if she could sleep, knowing she’d be meeting Pace shortly after landing. Not only had she slept, she’d dreamed about the handsome human. If her projections were any indication, his sexual prowess was not going to disappoint. Due to his imagined ministrations, she’d woken up wet and aching between her legs. Not such a bad way to present while meeting her potential mate. No doubt he’d be eager to take care of that for her.
The re-entry and landing went smoothly. All in all, a simple trip. She had some in the past where solar winds had played havoc with her small pod, bouncing her about like a child’s rullka. Never an enjoyable situation.
She grabbed her bag and stood. Reactivating the foot readers, the pod dissolving around her. Lola looked around appreciatively. Mall was a fun planet, described more adequately as a way-planet, one known as a shopping spot for travelers. She saw dozens of faces in different colors and shapes, and no one paid her any attention. She strode to a kiosk and picked up a local planetrome wristband, snapping it into place. The immediate benefit of it would allow her to converse with any who didn’t speak Hydroxene.
Perusing the vid above her head, she noted the trekker configuration that would take her to the docking area for larger ships. That was where Gerri had told her to wait for the arrival of Pace’s ship, Calamity. Hoisting her bag higher onto her shoulder, she set off in the proper direction.
If she hadn’t been so nervous, or so intensely aroused from her dream, she would have taken her time and enjoyed the scenery outside the huge windows that ran alongside the trekker. Her current position put her several stories above via level, so she was able to look down on the enormous bazaar below, which stretched for zebs. It was something she and Pace could explore, if and when they left their acquaintance bed.
Gerri had procured them lodging not half a zeb from the terminal. Good thinking.
Arriving at the large-craft receiving area, she took a quick look around. No Calamity yet, but she hadn’t expected it. Gerri had told her she’d arrive first, and depending on dock procurement, Pace could be as much as a kelsug behind. That was fine with Lola. She grabbed a seat on a bench, dropped her bag between her feet and sat back to enjoy the sexual tingle that still lingered. She gave a wry smile. What if her dreams superseded Pace’s abilities? Wouldn’t that just suck?
A traveler, who’d just disembarked from his own ship, walked by and suddenly stopped. His three noses, set in a soft, fur-covered face, turned to her and twitched. A smile grew, his green lips parting to reveal some seriously sharp teeth.
“Lovely,” he purred, inhaling deeply. “I assume you’re meeting someone, but if not, I’d be more than interested to take care of that for you.”
Lola didn’t mistake his meaning. For a creature like him, her arousal probably wafted heavily. “Much appreciated,” she returned. “But yes, I’m waiting for my mate.”
“Such a shame.” He clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth. “You would have been delicious.” He bowed and moved on.
Lola snickered. Delicious? Would he have licked her to orgasm, then eaten her up…and not in a good way? She wasn’t too disappointed she wouldn’t find out.
Lights flashed in a docking bay to her right, signaling an incoming craft. She gnawed on her lower lip, waiting. This could be him. The outer doors to the port slid open and a sleek, saucer-like ship with a fat underbelly glided in. Bold letters next to cargo doors made her quiver. CALAMITY. This was it. She retrieved her bag, hooking it over her shoulder, and stood, wiping her suddenly damp palms on her blue jeans. She’d worn them because he’d done so in the picture. They might make him more comfortable with her appearance. She dipped her head surreptitiously to smell her armpits.
Good. Fresh as a streland.
It took some time for the docking process to complete, and even longer for the belly of the craft to open so a contingent of robed inspectors could gain entry and inspect the contents. Once it passed their perusal, Pace would most likely be required to sign a raft of paperwork. It seemed to take forever as Lola stood nearby, tapping her foot impatiently.
When the robed party finally left, walking down the gangway in slow, measured paces, Lola stopped fidgeting. She squared her shoulders, her eyes glued to the hatch.
Booted feet were the first thing she saw. Not shiny boots for show, but working footwear, scuffed and well used. Next came legs. Encased in tight, black pants, they showcased hard muscles.
Squinting harder, she detected a lovely, significant bulge at the juncture of his thighs that made her quim quiver and gush just a tad more. Holy hockstad. Impressive. She couldn’t wait to get a hold of his pike.
As the rest of him emerged, she forgot all about his crotch. A white jersey material hugged his torso like a blarfrond, his weapon belts―empty now due to security―crisscrossed over a massive chest. The man was sin from top to bottom and should come with a warning label. He looked to be at least two hands taller than her ten-and-a-half hands, which was unprecedented. She liked it a lot.
His face arrested her tour. It was a visage she could lick for kelsugs and never tire of. After she’d wrapped her hands in his hair and tugged its lushness to pull him close, and after she’d rubbed against that lovely, dark shadow that graced his lower jaw. No one on her planet had facial hair, and she couldn’t wait to find out how it felt against her cheeks…and perhaps between her legs.
He hadn’t seen her yet, and she didn’t move or signal him. Gerri had said he didn’t know what she looked like, and Lola was curious. Would his seeking gaze pass right over her, or pause? She hoped like hockstad his eyes would linger. She yearned to detect some interest. If she didn’t, she might just be tempted to fade back into the crowd, tuck her tail and make her way home.
Lola held her breath as his eagle eyes worked their way closer. And…
His scan didn’t momentarily loiter. It zeroed in and locked on. Another helpless surge of wetness almost had her knees buckling, but she somehow managed to remain upright, returning his regard. She gave a sharp, acknowledging jerk of her chin.
Your move, Pace.
Pace’s lush lips turned into a welcoming grin, and Lola couldn’t stop hers from curving upward in response. He’d seen her and stopped looking around the minute their eyes locked. Surely that boded well. Could she hope that he found her if not attractive, at least intriguing? Many visitors to her home planet commented on the pleasant blending of the typical Hydroxene coloration.
“Lola?” His voice flowed like rich syrup, and she was surprised she was able to answer.
“That’s me. And you’re Pace.”
Damn, this was weird. Meeting a guy who was already halfway to becoming her mate, yet having to perform the requisite niceties.
“At your service.”
When he came close, she held out her hand, but instead of shaking it, as Gerri had told her was customary upon meeting, he tugged her close, bent and brushed his lips across her cheek.
She shivered. “That’s nice.” Lola wanted him to do it again.
“It is, isn’t it?” His green eyes could only be described as smoldering as he continued to hold her gaze. He dropped his hands and broke the compelling contact. “So, I’m not familiar with your customs. I’m completely at your mercy, here. What should we do next?”
Lola hoped he wouldn’t be disappointed. She took his arm in an assertive hold. “We go fuck.”