Chapter Six

KHELLEN

My mind was spinning around. I had felt confused about my feelings ever since I saw Sophie on the beach, but whatever had happened between Sophie and me on the cloud floaters had thrown me for a loop. I had never felt like that before, and I didn’t know what to make of it. The moment I had shared with Sophie made me realize that something might be wrong with marrying Morda, and I wasn’t sure if I could go through with it.

After returning our discs, Sophie and I made our way to where my parents stood with Morda and her family. Sophie stood beside me, and I had an uncomfortable feeling as I stood between the two women. On the clouds, she had insinuated that it was a bad idea to entertain hopes of our relationship ever being anything more than friendship.

I wasn’t sure how she felt about me, but I knew her thoughts on marriage. Single for Life was her life. She had explicitly said so. And she certainly didn’t need a man in her life.

That was good, wasn’t it? It made everything simple. I was going to be marrying Morda. Sophie was merely visiting and then going home to a life of martyrdom.

Somehow it didn’t feel simple at all.

Mother made introductions all around, and Morda’s parents left after a couple of minutes of small talk to find some refreshments. The superficial conversation died down to a whisper until the four of us stood silently looking at each other. Uncomfortable didn’t begin to describe the atmosphere.

Morda wore a red dress that ended mid-thigh and showed a fair amount of cleavage. She had pulled her hair into a little bun — perhaps an attempt at elegance — but she still looked like a child. I remembered how aroused I had been by her and couldn’t understand why. The image of Sophie had replaced any attraction I had for any other woman.

“So, Morda,” Sophie began, and she shifted slightly away from me. I belatedly realized we had been standing together on one side of the circle as if we were with each other. “What do you do for a living?”

I turned towards Morda, moving closer and making it look like we belonged together. I reminded myself that Morda and I were a couple.

“I’m a systems analyst,” she said. “I work for Jorgencorp, one of the biggest companies on Biyaha. Have you heard of it?”

My stomach began to tie itself into knots. I felt embarrassed. Sophie was nodding with a curious expression on her face, but she was avoiding eye contact with me. Morda was trying to impress someone. My mother or Sophie, I didn’t know who. I was embarrassed for her, even if she didn’t seem worried about anything.

Morda continued to brag about her job until my mother stepped in, bringing the discussion around to the wedding, which she must have considered a neutral topic. Or maybe she wanted to remind us all who I was going to marry. It’s not like any of us were going to forget it. The wedding was one of the worst topics she could have introduced, considering the way I felt.

“Has Khellen told you about what we’re planning, Sophie?” Morda gushed, taking my hand. I felt like wrenching it out of her grip.

Sophie’s smile looked false, and there was a spark of something in her eyes that I couldn’t interpret. “Not yet. I got in only this morning, and we haven’t had much time to catch up.”

My mind moved rapidly through a series of images of Sophie since she had arrived. Sophie on the beach, throwing herself into my arms. Sophie meeting my mother. Sophie on The Boat wearing that skimpy bikini. Sophie a few minutes ago in her maddeningly sexy dress telling me in no uncertain terms that we had no business thinking about anything other than friendship. Sophie trying to ignore my uncouth fiancée’s disturbing lack of social grace. Had she only been here one day? It seemed like I hadn’t existed before she arrived.

“Right, Khellen? Won’t it be romantic?” Morda was saying something, and I popped back into reality with a nasty shock. I had no idea what they were talking about.

“Yes?”

Sophie took pity on me, though my mother was giving me the evil eye. “Getting married on The Boat is an excellent idea, Morda. I’m sure Khellen loves it. Right, Khellen?” She gave me a frown. I knew I needed to pay attention because she wouldn’t bail me out again.

“Getting married on The Boat? I don’t remember deciding that.” I felt my lips tense, and Morda tilted her head like a little bird.

“It was yesterday, when we met to finalize some of the plans. Your mother suggested it, and you agreed.”

I vaguely remember nodding my head and saying yes to whatever they asked me. I thought I would have remembered if they mentioned The Boat, though. I raised my eyebrow at my mother.

“Maybe you were out of the room when we discussed it,” she conceded. I would not have agreed to have the wedding on The Boat. It was where my father and I had spent hours together before he died. It was a private place, and I didn’t want to desecrate it by having it be a place I would join with a woman I didn’t love.

“We haven’t decided anything yet,” I said to Sophie. “It’s still quite a few days away. The yard would do just as well, wouldn’t it, Mother?” I tried to make my tone intimidating.

“I suppose it would be nice.”

“Oh, yes, the yard! Could we have it set up like this?” Morda asked, stepping closer to me and putting her arm around my waist. I didn’t like her touching me, at all. “It looks lovely with all the lights.”

This arrangement would be entirely inappropriate for a traditional wedding, which was what my mother desired and what Morda agreed to. I started questioning her judgment.

That was enough wedding talk for me, so I changed the subject to the only thing I could think of. “Morda, when are you leaving for your trip?” My fingers itched to remove her arm from my waist.

“I thought maybe I shouldn’t go.” She gazed up at me with big eyes. “I would miss you too much.”

I didn’t believe for a second that she had any feelings for me. Morda was overacting to impress my mother, encouraging Mom to like her. She was the same person who had cut off my efforts to get to know her and insisted that our marriage would be a business deal. And then, if I recalled correctly, she put her hand in my pants. Who was she trying to kid?

I felt nauseous at the thought that she might not go. Right now was my only time with Sophie before the marriage and before she returned to Earth. I might never see her again in the flesh. And if I did, what difference would it make? I would be married, and she would still be single — forever — and probably running the organization. I didn’t want Morda to come between us. Not yet. Not until we were officially married.

“Isn’t it a business trip?” I asked. I knew she liked to look more important than she was. “You can’t possibly skip it, can you? It might cost you your job.”

Morda thought about what I said. “You might have a point. I really should go. I guess it doesn’t matter. Once we’re married, we’ll have plenty of time to get to know each other. Our whole lives, right?”

She lifted her chin to look up at me, and I tried to smile at her, though I didn’t think I was very convincing.

“Right.” Even I could hear the tension in my voice.

“Where is it that you’re going?” My mother stepped in, joining the conversation.

“I’m going to Marka,” Morda said. “I hope everything goes all right. There’s talk of solar storms, but it’s too late to change the conference dates.” She gave my mother an apologetic smile.

“Oh, I heard about those storms. They’ve been canceling shuttle flights right and left,” my mother said, sounding genuinely concerned.

“I’m sure I’ll be back in time, Fiona.”

My mother smiled. “Of course you will. Everything will work out.”

The conversation shifted to other topics, and I excused myself to get a much-needed drink. When I returned, I saw my mother and Morda on the fourth level, playing a game. I waved to them and went to find Sophie.

SOPHIE

After escaping Khellen’s mother and fiancée, I had found my way through the darkness and ended up at The Boat, illuminated by a sliver of light coming from the twin moons guarding the night sky.

I put my hands on my flushed cheeks and closed my eyes, thankful for the shadows that sheltered me. I needed to hide away from any prying gazes that I knew could see right into my traitorous heart. I was sure everyone had seen my emotions flitting across my face like the clouds moving across the moons.

I had many conflicting feelings. Irritation at Khellen for putting me in such an awkward situation. Frustration with his mother for giving me the cold shoulder even when I knew she wasn’t completely unreasonable. Disappointment and sorrow for myself and my unexpected feelings for Khellen.

After the uncomfortable conversation with Khellen’s mother and his bride-to-be, I was forced to come to a painful conclusion about myself. I was jealous of Morda. Morda had Khellen, and I wanted him. It was that simple. I covered my face with my hands.

Why had I come here?

Why hadn’t I stayed home, satisfied with our long-distance friendship? Why hadn’t I left well enough alone? Now it was too late to protect my heart. Everyone’s feelings were entangled, and no one would escape unhurt. It was a disaster — especially for me.

Khellen still had to marry Morda. But Khellen might have some feelings for me. And I had feelings for him.

I was an idiot.

KHELLEN

I searched all over the party for Sophie, stopping in every once in a while to check on Morda and my mother, who seemed to be having a very pleasant time playing cards. But she was nowhere to be found. She wasn’t in her bedroom or on any of the levels of the party. The attendants at the hover pad distribution hadn’t seen her since we had come through earlier.

Where was she?

After nearly an hour of roaming around the house, trying not to look like I was looking for someone, I gave up. Apparently, she didn’t want to be found. I could respect that, but I wondered if I had done something to offend her.

I probably shouldn’t have made her meet Morda in front of everyone like that. It resulted in an awkward conversation for everyone. But we had limited days together before she had to leave. I didn’t want to waste any of that time. We would never get it back.

I needed a break. Heading down to The Boat to hide out for a while until I could get up the strength to go back to the party seemed like a great idea. After that, I would mingle for another hour and say good-bye to everyone. That would give me a few days away from Morda, during which I would need to prepare myself to see her every day of my life. I swallowed hard at the thought. Taking off my shoes and socks once I left the light of the party, I walked the rest of the way to the shore barefoot.

When I reached the lake, I gazed up at the twin moons. They gave me a sense of peace that I sorely needed, and I breathed deeply. I could relax for a while on the couches in the dark, take a rest, and then return to the house.

Stepping onto The Boat, I marveled at her stability. She hardly rocked when I set foot on her. I padded back toward the couches and chairs in the darkness under the canopy. As I approached, a shadow stood up as the moons went behind a cloud.

Someone was on The Boat. Was it someone from the party? Maybe someone wanted to go for a moonlight cruise or have a private party on my boat. This was my place. How dare they invade my sanctuary?

I threw myself at the intruder and tackled him to the ground. He let out a groan and lay still. Had I knocked him out? My arms were wrapped around the stranger, and I slowly became aware that the trespasser was disconcertingly soft, particularly in the chest region.

I had protected The Boat from a woman. Great.

“Khellen?” Sophie’s voice came out of the darkness to me, and there was such longing in it that all the breath went out of my lungs.

The light from the moons came back, and Sophie looked up at me with an intimate expression on her face. I didn’t move. I knew I wanted to kiss her, but I wasn’t sure if she wanted to kiss me.

My body was on fire. She squirmed under me, which only increased my desire. Her eyes drifted to my lips and back up to my eyes. Her breathing was short and quick, either because I was crushing her or because she was as turned on as I was. I took some of my weight on my forearms and looked down at her lips, which looked red, full, and soft in the moonlight. Her breasts pressed against me, and I could feel my heart beating like a drum against them.

I hesitated only a moment longer. I might never get another chance like this. I dipped my head and pressed my lips to hers. The world exploded and shards of passion went flying through my chest. All my blood seemed to rush to my cock as she made a small sound in the back of her throat and opened her mouth. My tongue reached out and touched hers, sending bursts of lust through my body. I felt myself heating up as if I had a fever. Soon, our mouths were fucking. I thrust my tongue in and out of her lips, and she moaned again, arching her hips up against my hardness.

My hands became tangled in her hair, and she wrapped her arms around my back, pulling me as close as she could. Our bodies were melded together — close, but not close enough. I needed to be skin-to-skin and buried deep inside her.

I don’t know what would have happened if I hadn’t heard my mother’s voice calling me.

“Khellen!” Her voice was faint but clear. She had probably guessed I was hiding out on The Boat. My mother knew me well.

Sophie broke the kiss, gasping and struggling to get up. I got off her, and she moved away from me. Her arms crossed over her chest, which was heaving with her irregular breathing. I gazed at her, looking both disheveled and unbelievably beautiful in the moonlight.

It wasn’t fair that I couldn’t hold her. How could something that felt like this be wrong? It didn’t make any sense. Kissing Sophie had been an exquisite torture because I wanted to do more with her, yet I understood that I never would. But my body wouldn’t soon forget the feeling of her moving beneath me.

We stared at each other, and I thought I saw my dismay and longing echoed in her eyes.

“This can’t happen again.”

“I know. Soph—”

“Don’t call me that.” Her words instantly hurt me, but when I saw the tears shining in her eyes, I knew why she was saying them. “A nickname will only make things harder, Khellen.”

I nodded, swallowing my pain. “But listen, Sophie, I want to apologize for letting that get out of hand.”

“We didn’t do anything. Not really.”

I avoided her eyes, unable to agree.

“We should go back to the house,” she said, rubbing her arms with her hands as if she were cold, though the night was warm. The moons that had chased each other all night had begun to take separate courses; each would now set in a different position in the sky. It was part of their regular orbital patterns. But it made me feel empty and desolate to see them apart from each other.

“Separately,” she added as if I didn’t know that we shouldn’t be seen together.

Without replying, I turned and headed back to the house. I rubbed my mouth, wishing I could erase the feel of her lips from mine. There was a frustrating morass of emotions in my gut that I didn’t want to examine or deal with. But one thing was starting to become apparent to me.

There was no way I could marry Morda.