Lara
Roark had been such a sweetheart. Holding me, trying to make me feel better. He even brought me some food. Feeling his concern told me he was genuine, unlike so many guys I had met on Earth.
I felt the current zip through my body, my core clenched, and in that moment, I wanted him. I wanted to feel alive. His lips were soft, yet strong as they moved gently (at first) with mine. His body was chiseled like a sculpted statue. And when he pulled me tightly against him, I felt his hard cock dig into my stomach. My libido went haywire! The next thing I knew, my legs were wrapped around his waist. At that moment, I wanted him inside me.
“Lara?” I heard Cami call my name and reality crashed down on me.
Roark released me, even though I knew he didn’t want to. Hell, I didn’t want him to, but now was not the right time. I needed to be smart about this. Knowing Cami was happy and carefree with Zorvak made it much easier for me to give in, to see Roark in a different light.
He took me on a tour of the flyer. When he showed me the propulsion system, he didn’t treat me like a chick with no brain. He took his time, answered all my questions one at a time. It was a refreshing concept after having to prove myself time and time again on Earth.
Walking into the control room, my mouth gaped at the sight.
“Oh, my heavens!” I cried in stunned amazement.
The room was small, holding only two chairs which sat side by side. Lights blinked on the control panel followed by a soft beeping noise, but the view! The control room as he called it looked more like a cockpit with nothing but rounded floor-to-ceiling glass.
It both amazed and overwhelmed me to think that I was somewhere in outer freaking space—flying in uncharted territory (at least for Humans).
Suddenly it really hit home. I would never see Earth again.
Roark placed his hand on my shoulder. “It will be alright.”
Turning around, I asked, “How do you know what I’m thinking? What I’m feeling? At first, I thought it was me that reached out to you. My mom always claimed that we’re descended from Gypsies, but this is much more.”
“What are Gypsies?” he asked.
“To be honest, I don’t really know how to describe it. I never really believed in their magic before. I know I read something about psychic power so I tried reaching out, expanding my mind, hoping someone might hear me.” I scoffed, thinking how ludicrous this must sound to him. “Eventually, you answered back.”
“It is unusual for someone to reach out to me that way, so perhaps your Gypsy magic worked after all.”
“Maybe, but this is much more,” I said again.
“Our people have an ability to link with someone, if that makes sense. It is called Compatibility. You did reach out to me first and asked for help, but when I saw you at the space station, I checked for Combability. After finding that we were a match, I combined our energies, linking us together.”
To hear him say we were linked sounded so…intimate. “So, it’s like we’re connected?”
I felt his worry as he slowly nodded. Please do not be upset. When I saw your haunted, icy blue eyes, I could not help myself. I needed to talk to you, make sure you were alright.
Was I upset? I didn’t think so. But I also didn’t know the ramifications of this connection. And yet…Roark was a sexy gentleman—a fierce protector—and I really liked him.
Staring into his ebony eyes, I felt like I was finally home. I know, it sounded strange to me too, but I didn’t know how else to explain it.
I am not upset with you, I told him at last.
The air crackled and my breath hitched. I took a step closer, intent on kissing him and finishing what we started.
Cami broke the spell when she strolled in. “There you two are!” Grinning, she plopped down into one of the chairs. Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”
“No,” “Yes,” Roark and I hastily answered in unison, me being the one to say yes.
I sighed loudly to punctuate my annoyance and took a step backward.
“Okay then.” After a strained pause, Cami stood and hooked her arm around my elbow. “I need something to eat. Why don’t you join me?”
She never gave me a chance to respond as she pulled me away from Roark, leading me down the corridor toward the galley. I’m sorry.
Sitting at the table, Cami set a cup of black steaming liquid in front of me.
“No thank you.” I pushed it away.
“It’s alright, this is the good stuff. It’s Ulaya’s version of coffee, just a little different.”
I took a sip; it did taste good. “Mmm, that’s much better. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”
“What’s with that other crap you give the guys?”
“I don’t know.” She cupped her drink with both hands, a solemn look changing her face to something more serious. “Zorvak is the leader of Ulaya…”
“Get out!”
She grinned. “I know right?”
“How did you manage that?”
“By accident. The same way you met Roark. I guess it’s just meant to be.”
“You never believed in that stuff before.” I took another sip; it actually made me feel all warm and tingly.
“I know. He’s hard-headed and protective and because he’s the leader, no one will talk back to me or tell me no. Only Zorvak.”
“And the coffee, or cofa, as they call it?”
“I was trying to provoke them to argue with me, tell me it sucks. Even Zorvak wouldn’t tell me how bad it is. If it’s something that won’t hurt me or get me in trouble, he’ll bend over backward for me.”
“And that’s a bad thing?”
Cami sighed. “No. I suppose not.”
After watching my mother struggle through life, I would count it a blessing to have someone who helped and would do anything for me, as long as he treated me as an equal. I didn’t need some man to treat me as a brainless bimbo.
Cami’s eyes met mine and her tone turned more serious. “What happened to you, Lara?”
I took another sip and proceeded to get Cami up to speed on everything that had happened—at least the bits and pieces I remembered—from being dragged on the ground and choking, to being locked in a cell with the other females, and finally the escape. I told her how I had planned to either free myself or die trying, because I wasn’t going to be used as some alien’s plaything.
“I’m so sorry, Lara,” Cami said finally, and grimaced.
I shrugged. “It is what it is.” I took another sip, licked my lips and asked, “So what are they like?”
“Who?”
I nodded toward the door. “Their species.”
“Different, and yet the same. Honorable—at least some of them are. Unlike Earth, everyone is provided for at a basic level, but then you have a chance to advance your status.”
“So, no starving people, huh?”
“Nope. It’s really refreshing. You’re awarded a place to live depending on your social status, but everyone has food and a home.”
“That sounds nice.”
It really did. My mom had struggled so much. If only we had had the basics without her working so much all the time. A lumped formed in my throat.
For some reason, I’d been thinking of Mom a lot. Maybe it was because of everything I’d been through, and she was my safe place—I couldn’t really say. But I liked the idea that everyone was taken care of on Ulalya.
“There are some people who are not happy with Zorvak leading the planet,” Cami explained, pulling me back to the conversation.
“Why?”
“It’s sort of like king and queens, you know how it’s passed down to someone in the family? But Zorvak was appointed.”
“Yeah, that would piss some people off, especially relatives.”
Cami pushed up from the table, headed over to the replicator and punched a few buttons. Two minutes later she sat some odd-looking green cracker-style bar in front of me.
“What is that?” I asked, staring at the algae green color. It didn’t look appealing at all.
“High calorie bars packed full of nutrients. No offense, but you need to gain a little weight.”
Picking up the bar, I pressed it to my lips and nibbled the end of it. It didn’t have a taste, but the thick consistency stuck to the roof of my mouth, making it hard to swallow. When I finished, Cami got another one for me.
“The more you eat, the faster you’ll pack on the weight.”
“Are you trying to get me fat?” I laughed, knowing good and well how underweight I was at that moment.
“Yes. I’ve always been jealous of your perfect body.”
Shaking my head, I grinned. “Shut up.”
“So, you and Roark?” Cami raised an eyebrow.
“He is sexy, isn’t he?”
“I hadn’t noticed.”
“Haha!” I licked my lips again. “I like him. He’s really nice.”
“Nice. Now there’s a word I haven’t heard used to describe Roark.”
“Well, he’s nice to me.”
“He should be.” Cami pushed up from the table again. She seemed antsy and on edge for some reason. “I’m going to go find Zorvak, see how much longer until we arrive at Jaur.” She threw her hand up. “See you later.”
“Bye.”
Cami seemed so different, but maybe I was the one who had changed. I knew that the Suntae had stolen my happy-go-lucky attitude, exposing me to the worst of the universe. Well, maybe. I supposed there could be much worse things out there.
Even with Roark, I held myself back a little, waiting for the other shoe to drop. For him to turn into some kind of control freak—or leave. Neither scenario was that far-fetched, but until then, I should give him the benefit of the doubt.
The other thing that I’d noticed was that there were only two bedrooms. Did he expect me to sleep with him tonight? Did I want to?
You are thinking too much, ji’si.
I grinned. Just hearing his voice instantly made me feel better, and I had my answer. Are you eavesdropping on my thoughts again?
Most of the time. I cannot help myself.
I felt his humor and slight concern. Did he worry about me and what I would think? Or did he worry about sharing his bed? Hmmm…I wish I could read him as well as he could read me.