Elena

I didn’t think I was inside the tavern for very long, but now that I’m walking back to the Embassy, the only ones left on the streets are the drunks on their way to the next drinking hole. My pace is brisk and the temperature of the night must have dropped ten degrees. Or maybe it’s the drastic contrast between the body heat in the tavern to the open air of the night. Whatever it is, I’m cold and shaken.

With everything that I have on my mind, the one image I can’t get out of my head is Bane. He’s a man of few words, that is for certain, but there’s also something dark and compelling about him. He’s full of secrets, of that I’m sure. But the way he kept looking at me…my God. Picturing his eyes on me with such intensity sends shivers straight to my pussy. He made me so flustered I couldn’t think straight. Which is why when I had the opportunity, I had to get the hell out of there. This is a huge job for me and I can’t afford to become distracted by a man that I’ll never see again once this is over and I’m on my way back to Earth.

I’m lost in my thoughts when a voice in front of me startles me, making me shriek from surprise.

“Sorry to startle you ma’am. I’m here to walk you the rest of the way back to the Embassy.”

It’s one of the guards. I look him over while I stand in the road with my hands over my heart. The guards look very much like the local Suthune, except for the way that they dress. They all wear formal looking uniforms, black pants and shirts, with an insignia on the shoulder. When the temperature drops at night, they add jackets that remind me of the one Bane was wearing tonight. The Suthune in general are much taller than the average human, but all of the guards seem to have additional inches on top of that.

“Okay,” I say and start walking with him. “I didn’t press my button though.” I hold up my wrist and point to the button the other guard told me to push if I wanted an escort home tonight.

“True. But it is late and the village is not always the safest at this time of night.” He slows his stride so he can keep pace with me before adding, “And it’s my job to make sure you stay safe.”

I walk along with him, surprisingly thankful that he’s here. I was on edge and it only made matters worse when I was so outnumbered by males. Strangely, sitting with Bane, I knew no one else would mess with me. Not only does he have that look about him, but his demeanor matched. I don’t imagine many men dare mess with him.

“What is your name?” I ask. It feels only proper to introduce ourselves. This is the same guard that escorted me to my guest quarters when we first arrived a few days ago.

“Dunaidh.”

“Can I ask you a question, Dunaidh?”

“Of course.”

Our walk is short and there’s so much I still want to learn. Without wasting anytime, I ask, “What does Kosmora stand to gain from this treaty with Earth?”

I can tell that my question surprises him. “I would think you know more about that than I do,” he says politely.

“Well, if you had to guess. I mean, obviously becoming strong allies and forging this type of relationship between our planets is a positive move. Then of course there’s the money…but I’m still wondering what else it is that Kosmora needs?”

We have almost reached the Embassy gates. I don’t know if I’ll get anything worthwhile from him but I’d rather try than consider tonight a total bust.

“I’m sorry ma’am. I can’t help you,” he says after a minute.

“That’s okay.” I wave my hand to show it’s no big deal. And then I ask, “So Dunaidh, do you have a wife? Any kids?”

“I have a wife,” he says. He doesn’t offer any more information, but I’ve never been afraid to push just enough in order to get what I want.

“No kids?” We’ve reached the gate but instead of ending the conversation, I stand in front of him, expectantly. A cool breeze lifts my hair from behind and tosses it into my face. I’ve just brushed the strands out of my eyes when he answers me.

“No. Not that we don’t want them…but we can’t afford them.” With that he extends his arm, inviting me to walk through the gate.

Once I’m through I turn around and wave to him even though he has left me feeling frustrated that I still don’t understand. “Thanks for the escort, Dunaidh.”

“Of course,” he says.

I walk through the courtyard toward the building where I’m housed for our trip. His comment rolls around in my head while I walk. It isn’t really the strangest thing to say, many people say having kids is expensive, but I didn’t get the impression that that was his meaning. But who knows, it’s possible I’m projecting just to find the story that I’m searching for.

Once inside, I walk through the hallway toward the elevators, passing the bar on the way. I glance inside and see Commissioner Daniels sitting at a table with some other men. He glances toward the entrance so I pick up the pace in order to avoid having to talk with him. When I reach the elevators, I scan my wrist band and the doors slide open. The elevators are clear glass panes and once I step inside it begins moving. There is a spattering of lights coming from the village but it’s the mountain range that looms large behind everything like a huge shadow that piques my interest. My home in the States is full of flat fields and farmland. Every time I get a glimpse of the mountains it’s like I’m seeing them for the first time. I’m no expert on mountain ranges, but these look significantly bigger than what we have at home.

The elevator stops at my floor and I step out and walk down the hallway toward my room. One more scan of my wrist and I’m back inside of my room. This wrist band is quickly becoming my favorite thing about being on Kosmora. It’s a one stop shop for me. If I need to get into my room or pay for a drink, all it takes is a scan of my wrist. This is technology worth bringing home when this is all over.

I should go to sleep. It’s late and there is another tight schedule of events waiting for us tomorrow. But my nerves won’t settle and I can’t turn off the thoughts running through my mind. I know what everyone thinks of me back home. This is my first big assignment, and they’re all just waiting for me to fail. They think I’ve been handed everything because of who my father happens to be.

So, in an attempt to try to calm down enough to go to sleep, I open my computer and look through the reports I’ve written so far. The first piece I wrote is simply a piece about the Dune Colony. The various foods and drink that we’ve had the opportunity to sample as well as the unique buildings and people that make up this colony. It’s the second piece that is stressing me out. The whole reason that I’m here is to inform the general public of this treaty and educate them on the main points of it.

There’s a lot of pressure to get it right, and to prove my colleagues wrong. Every time I write something down, I’m overly critical of myself and I erase it. I imagine everyone standing around reading my stories and laughing. Shaming me for the simple nature of the report. Saying once again that the only reason I have a job is because my father hired me.

Those thoughts burn in my chest and put me in a foul mood. So instead of worrying about this story anymore tonight, I decide to get ready for bed. It’s already cooler tonight than it was during the day but I still leave my window open. There’s something about the fresh, cool air that helps calm my mind.

When I close my eyes, I expect to worry about my current predicament all night long. Instead, my mind takes me back to the tavern at the table with Bane, and I can see the color of his eyes as clearly as if he were standing in front of me now. Even though he was wearing a jacket, I could see parts of tattoos on his neck and even down onto his hands. I can only imagine what the rest of him looks like without clothes. The thought of it makes my mouth water. I imagine what it would feel like if he put those strong hands on my body and it’s enough to make me slip my fingers into my panties and touch myself. Considering I’ll never see him again, I let myself imagine all of the ways he would pleasure me. In the end, I sleep much more soundly than I thought possible.