I t was a strange thing to be waiting for a man at a bar. I looked around nervously, having taken one of the seats in the back at a small booth. The formfitting bodice of the shirt I wore was uncomfortable, but it showed off the ample cleavage of my bosom. It was only at my friend Denise’s harassment that I’d even worn it. Low-cut and tight, I felt like a wild animal in a cage while wearing it. I wanted to rip it off and breathe, but I couldn’t as I shifted in my seat .

I was there a few minutes early, but Rizor walked through the door right on time. The instant I stood and saw him, I no longer regretted the wardrobe as his eyes trailed over me. It wasn’t like when other men watched me. It didn’t make me uncomfortable. Instead it stirred a desire deep inside of me that I wasn’t sure was still alive. Relationships were nothing new for me, but it had been a long time since I’d had one. I didn’t really have the time for men .

“Hey,” he said casually, we both say down. “You look absolutely amazing .”

“I’m glad that you approve. To be honest I had to have a little help.” I flushed. “I don’t think I’m very good at this .”

“I have a feeling you could be wearing a paper bag and it would still look amazing on you .”

“Thanks,” I muttered. “Again. So how was your day ?”

He shrugged. “Slow. The more territory we clear out the less there is for me to do really. I might be looking for a new hobby before too long. I’ve reached the point where if I want to see something new, I have to travel for four days just to get there .”

“Sounds adventurous .”

“It’s lonely,” he said honestly. “But I just met a ship captain, so who knows, maybe we can team up sometime or I can buy your services for a few days .”

I laughed. “Pretty sure you just made me sound like a prostitute .”

He winced. “Sorry about that. I’m not very good at this. You might need to slap me around a little at first .”

“Well,” I said. “You’re confidant, so I will give you some points for that. Plus, I think I would like to get away for a few days. My crew is starting to drive me nuts .”

“Still worried there is a leak?” he asked .

I nodded, surprised that he had listened that well the day before. “I am. I just wish that I could figure it out. I’ve had the same crew for the past five years mostly, I trust them all. Knowing that someone would be helping those bastards over at the Federation is infuriating .”

“You really don’t like them,” he said in shock .

I shook my head vigorously. “I really don’t. They can’t get their shit together, which I don’t care about. But the people suffering because of their lack of government don’t deserve that. You can’t tell me it’s the fault of innocent woman and children that the Federation is going to shit, but still, they are the ones suffering .”

“Is that why you were transporting refugees?” he asked .

I raised an eyebrow. “You did your research, didn’t you ?”

He grinned and nodded. “I couldn’t help myself. Your ship went down and it almost killed everyone when the Federation caught wind of the refugees you were pulling out of their airspace. You refused to turn back, you got over a hundred people safely to Vaxvia .”

“Yeah,” I muttered. “A lot of good it did me. Now Adams is on my ass all the time and thinks that I have something to do with all these information leaks. It’s incredibly annoying .”

I heard the door open behind me, but I didn’t bother looking up. I was there with Rizor and nothing else around me seemed to matter. His hand slid across the table and covered mine. Instantly my core was tightening with a surge of desire that was almost overpowering. He smiled at me briefly before his eyes flickered to the people coming through the front door. I didn’t need to turn around to know that something was up. The smile quickly faded as his eyes narrowed. I turned my head a little, glancing in the direction of the newcomers .

“Come on,” I hissed. “I’m starting to think we should find a new place to date .”

“Don’t worry about them,” he whispered .

“Easy for you to say, that prick isn’t the one strapping you into a lie detector three times a week, fishing for answers .”

“Three times a week?” he said in shock. “That seems a bit excessive .”

“It’s his unlucky number. He’s tried at least three times to get me to sleep with him too. He doesn’t like being told ‘no’ apparently. So, I get to deal with him every day almost,” I muttered .

“Shit, want me to kick is ass for you? He’s already been drinking, I can tell,” whispered Rizor .

I laughed. “My knight in shining armor .”

His eyes shifted again. “Don’t look now, but I think we’ve been spotted .”

I took a deep breath and looked up just as Adams slammed his fist on the table. He was blatantly looking down my shirt as he licked his lips until Rizor cleared his throat and tapped Adams on the shoulder. Adams looked away from me for a brief second and turned to Rizor, glaring at him .

“Can we help you? This is a private party,” said Rizor in a calm tone .

“You can’t help me, boy,” he slurred. “But maybe I can help you. You know this bitch here is a traitor? Sure, enough she’s a spy and a cocktease to boot. We gotta bring her in every week for questioning .”

“Adams,” I said sharply. “You are drunk and making allegations. I don’t think your commanding officer would appreciate you harassing me .”

He laughed. “Bitch, I don’t answer to anyone .”

I was about to knock him down a few pegs when Rizor spoke up, “What proof do you have ?”

“Excuse me?” he stammered, anger in his voice. “Boy, I don’t know who you think you are, but you’ve got no right interfering in official business. I’m doing you a favor. She is a spy and a liar. You would do well to walk away from this and leave it to the professionals .”

To my surprise, Rizor chuckled softly and reached into the front pocket of his jacket, pulling out an identification card that has his laser image printed on it. He held it up to Adams and cleared his throat. “You would do well to remember who you are talking too when you address a member of the royal family. Now, what proof do you have that Clara here is a spy ?”

My mouth dropped open. I quickly shut it again as my eyes widened and I turned to see Sergeant Adams reaction. His face instantly started to turn bright red as the rush of fear and embarrassment coursed through him. I knew the feeling well, I always seemed to be in the middle of things somehow. All I wanted was a quiet life where people left me alone yet I’d been buried deep in drama my whole life. Even my parents never settled down. I was born and raised on a freighter spacecraft .

“Sir,” Adams said begrudgingly .

A modest grin passed across Rizor’s face as he nodded his head and put the badge back in his pocket .

“So tell me, what exactly are the charges you are bringing against my friend here?” he asked pointedly .

Adams straightened up and glared at me. “We don’t currently have any warrants out for her arrest, sir. Currently, she is just a person of interest .”

By now, the other men that had stumbled into the bar with him were watching what was going on. I didn’t recognize them, but judging by their stiffened bodies, I had to assume they were militia officers too .

“Well, you do have me there,” said Rizor playfully as he winked at me. “I do find her incredibly interesting. I do however find your obsession with her a little strange. How many times have you taken her in ?”

Adams cleared his throat, shifting uneasily on his feet. “Sir, I assure you we have never arrested her. She has come in at our request though, which is always wise if you want to clear yourself of any wrongdoings .”

“Oh? Then how many times have you requested that she come in?” Rizor asked .

“Sir, to get whomever is leaking information to the Federation, it takes a good bit of digging. I assure you, everything we do,” stammered Adams .

Rizor held up his hand and interrupted him, “Stop. You keep saying ‘we’, but I think you mean, ‘you’. I think you’re getting a bit too close to this one. As a matter of fact, I’m wondering if I shouldn’t be making a few phone calls to see if you should be working the case at all .”

“Sir, I assure you that won’t be necessary. Maybe I have taken this a bit personal, but only because I love my work .”

“Then I suggest you keep the ‘requests’ at a minimum unless you find a real threat. Understood ?”

Adams nodded his head and turned away. I had a feeling whoever got the blunt end of that rage would be hating Rizor in the morning. He walked past his group of friends and out the door, they followed him. I let out the breath I’d been holding in throughout the entire encounter. Surprised my hands weren’t shaking, I looked up at Rizor and smiled .

“Thank you for that,” I said quietly .

He nodded his head. “I don’t like to flash that around, but you’re welcome. He seemed like every bit the jerk you made him out to be .”

“You didn’t have to stand up for me like that,” I stammered. “I mean, I’m grateful that you did, but I’m used to dealing with men like that. They are a dime a dozen .”

“Sounds like you’ve dealt with a few jerks in your day,” he offered .

“Yeah,” I muttered. “Well, this isn’t the way that I wanted the date to go. Sorry it took a turn for the worse .”

“Hey,” he said softly as he slid his hand across the table. “I still got to spend some time with you and that’s what matters .”

“You really are a softy under all that muscle, aren’t you?” I joked .

He rolled his eyes. “Don’t tell anyone my secret. Do you want to get together again ?”

“Even after finding out I’m a wanted woman, you want to see me again ?”

Rizor shrugged. “You know us royal types, we like to live dangerously .”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Someday you’ll have to tell me just how you’re related to the royals. I just didn’t picture you as a Drags blueblood .”

“Says the criminal spy ?”

I laughed and rolled my eyes. The night hadn’t turned out as bad as I thought and for the first time in a while. I felt like I had a real connection with someone. I didn’t want the night to end, but I knew that four in the morning came all too soon. He was interesting and he’d stood up for me when he didn’t need too. I wanted to get him alone and find out just who he really was. I stood up to leave and smiled down at him .

“What are you doing Friday?” I asked softly .

“Whatever you want to do,” he replied .

I smiled. “Great, then it’s a date. I’ll send you my address and you can pick me up. Maybe we can skip the bar this time ?”

“Perfect,” he said with a broad smiled .

As I left, the butterflies started to do jumps. It was going to be a long few days waiting on Friday. Some strength buried deep inside of me leapt forward and I spun around, going back to the table and leaning over it to whisper in his ear, “On second thought, why don’t we go right now?” I whispered .