Page 53 of Across The Stars
Vahko’s face was hesitant. His concern thinned and now he just looked sympathetic. Another expression I didn’t want. I wanted the hunger he’d shown only moments ago. I bit my lip, feeling a bit embarrassed and regretful when the door beeped. Vahko pulled himself off of me and turned toward the entrance. I immediately felt cold and quickly straightened my shirt and pushed my hair behind my ears.
“Enter,” Vahko said.
The door slid open and in walked another valerian. He had a slightly thicker build and a squarer jaw. He glanced at me and then Vahko, narrowing his eyes like he knew exactly what was going on. His mouth quirked a bit before he spoke and I felt my cheeks flush with humiliation.
The valerian said something I couldn’t understand and Vahko nodded, drawing back his shoulders and glancing down at me.
“The council wishes to speak to me,” he said. “Wait here.”
“What about my friend?” I said. “What about Sam?”
“Salukh will bring her to you.”
With that, Vahko turned and marched out of the room. I felt a little discarded and coiled my arms around myself, taking a deep breath as the two valerians disappeared and the door slid shut.
26: Vahko
I walked with purpose, keeping my eyes straight ahead. Salukh walked beside me, staring curiously. I knew the question was coming. He couldn’t help himself and it was obvious he knew that I’d touched Innifer in that room. And it wasn’t just a keha. I’dactuallytouched her. Ikissedher. I enjoyed it. In fact, forcing myself to stop was maddening. She was soft, mysterious, and smelled wonderfully feminine. Her words were fierce and her presence intoxicating. As we walked, I couldn’t help the tightness in my cock that came from the mere thought of her.
“Talk,” Salukh said.
I took a deep breath, acting indifferent. “About what?”
He took a couple fast steps to get in front of me and then spun around, walking backward.
“You did something,” he said, pointing a finger. “I sensed it as soon as I got to the room. The sexual tension was suffocating. Was it mutual? I have to assume it was.”
“Of course, it was,” I hissed.
“Ah! I knew it. So, what’d you do? I mean, their anatomy is close, but it can’t be identical. I’ve seen the diagrams.”
“We didn’t get that far and it won’t happen again. We have bigger problems.”
“A surge isn’t a problem. If the council knew, you’d be on a ship to Valer and put under a microscope. The female, too.”
I didn’t want to tell Salukh that I’d already told them. He would begin bombarding me with a hundred other questions orhe would chide me with twice the harshness and I wouldn’t be able to take it without cracking his jaw with my fist.
Sjek, surging made me want to fight. It made me want to do all kinds of things I wasn’t used to. I balled my fists, yearning for the training facility where I could slam my knuckles into something.
Salukh turned around again, taking position beside me once more.
“I’d love to feel a surge,” he said. “Sam worked in medical on the Nexus. I might have mentioned the Thinning in front of her when the doctors were checking her out. She knew a couple things already. She described our situation as a species-wide case of ED.”
“ED?”
“Yeah,” he shrugged. “I didn’t ask what that meant, but I assume it means we can’t mate. Not without labs and all that.”
I sighed. “Well, our case of ED will have to wait. I need to talk to the council about possible war first.”
At least, I hoped that was why the council had summoned me privately.
I entered the council chamber where only Kasiri sat at the silver table, her hands neatly folded in front of her. I scanned the room and then locked my hands behind my back and inclined my head respectfully.
“You wanted to see me?” I said.
“Yes,” she said, standing.
I looked around again to indicate the empty room. “Alone?”
