Page 9 of Star Claimed Omega
Each time she set her gaze on the crystalline, emerald waters, its wild serenity enamored her.
She only had clearance to access this stratum of luxury because she was covering for her colleague, Keera, who was bedridden with a gut-worm ailment.
Now she blessed Keera, wherever she was, as butterflies flitted around her.
The area was lush with leafy fronds and greenery, perfect for a walk around the long, winding track that circled the peaceful, azure reservoir.
Soleil’s gaze fell on the tall reeds rustling in the breeze, tree branches arching with an old-world elegance, and birdsong that sent chills down her spine.
Rumors whirled in the lower decks that when night fell, fireflies sparkled over the water like miniature stars mimicking the vast sky they all were able to touch.
This freakin’ luxurious existence was a universe away from her cramped dwelling on a habitation deck far beneath the executive levels.
That was where she slept on the floor, curled on a thin pallet behind the aqua filtration stacks, wrapped in an old heat blanket.
She didn’t belong at this level; she never would possess such privilege.
A bird flew past, a streak of wild color and stunning beauty, startling Soleil from her musing.
Drawing a deep breath, she straightened her shoulders, guided her hover kit toward the lakeside showers, her first task of the shift.
The facilities, shaped like half-moon shelters, were an architectural delight.
Constructed from reclaimed wood and brushed alloy, they opened to the view, letting the lake breeze roll through.
Plants and palms swayed overhead, adding to their inviting ambiance.
Each hut faced the beachhead, where pale sand curved like a smile against the water’s edge. Elegant privacy screens cast dappled shadows from the boughs of synthetic cypress trees.
A narrow, sun-bleached, and warm boardwalk connected them all, leading to the service entry.
She slipped in her earbuds, scarcely holding a charge, and tapped play.
The swell of old-world big-band music, the brassy swing of horns, and the swoon of strings burst into her ears.
It was a sound that evoked warmth, images of sophisticated cafés she had only seen in holo movies, where women in bright red lipstick, and men in tailored suits danced in each other’s arms.
As she rolled up her sleeves, a soft smile surfaced on her face, losing herself in the music, sunlight, and the scent of wet pine drifting off the lake.
Soleil worked through the first two stalls, moving with focused effort, spraying down nozzles, polishing the pristine tiles, and replacing sanitation tablets.
It was the third stall that shattered her focus.
She opened the door. Steam poured out, and she sucked in a breath.
Her eyes blinked at the unexpected sight.
A man.Nada, a god, for he was that tall, potent, and lithe to befit the title.
His skin was sun-warmed bronze.
Ink swirled down one shoulder in deep gold and sable hues, and violet sigils etched along his ribs caught the light in pulsing runes.
She tugged off her earbuds and froze.
He stood beneath the shower head, his head tipped forward, cascading water trailing over his nape, his locks, and down every line of carved muscle.
His body possessed an inherent grace.
