Page 22 of Captain Santiago and the Sky Dome Waitress
“You get to see space every single day. All the worlds, all the people, all the…everything.”
Santiago gave a small sound that might have been a microscopic laugh. A chuff of air. He stared at her, as if she had said the most astonishing thing.
You really are new, aren’t you? She could almost hear him thinking it. She had shown once again how gauche she was.
Lucie looked down at her plate, her cheeks burning.
“Don’t,” Santiago said again. He reached over the narrow table and lifted her chin, making her look at him. His eyes held none of the remoteness of a few seconds ago. “Don’t you know how refreshing it is, to watch you be so delighted about everything?”
Lucie swallowed. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from his eyes. Her heart was thundering.
He’s forgotten I look like Blake.The realization jolted her, mind and body. Santiago wasn’t seeing Blake right now. He was seeingher, Lucie. She watched his gaze move over her face.
Then it dropped to her mouth.
Lucie’s breath halted. It felt as though her pulse stopped with it.
She was a new Varkan, yes, but she knew all about sex. The nursery had given her advanced sexual training. They gave all new Varkans extensive sexual education and training because every single Varkan was driven to experience this most mysterious and profound human act for themselves. For some Varkans, sex had been the primary reason they had fought to earn enough to buy their first body.
Lucie had been just as eager to try sex for herself, but it had been as disappointing as the nursery had warned her it might be. “There are so many factors that effect how you experience sex,” one weary Varkan instructor had explained with a drawling voice. “Particularly for women, there are seventeen extra factors that have little impact upon the male psyche. Ambience, menstrual cycle, and familiarity and ease with the partner are the biggest three. If you turn to page two hundred and eleven, we will study all of them…”
Lucie had found many willing partners in her ten years since graduating from the nursery, but none of them had imparted the wondrous experience that human literature throughout history had implied was possible.
That knowledge flashed through her mind as Santiago stared at her mouth. She knew he wanted to kiss her. Her entire body recognized his intent. Every nerve and tendon she possessed seemed to tighten and throb at the possibility.
She wanted him to kiss her, too!
The knowledge was like a silvered blade, cutting through all other thoughts.
Lucie had never felt such a powerful desire before. She could think of nothing but the need to lean forward and encourage him to drop his head the few centimeters between them and take the kiss he wanted.
She would make it worth his while. She knew how to ensure he wouldlikekissing her!
Santiago straightened, throwing his shoulders back, as if he had snapped to alert. His gaze tore away from her. He pushed his hands into the pockets of his jacket. “You’re still white from the shock.” His tone was judicious. “You say you feel fine, but your judgement is compromised, and your energy will be down until you give yourself a chance to recover.” He pointed to the bed.
Lucie drew in a breath that scalded, all the way down. Then another, cooler lungful of air.
Disappointment circled through her. She was trembling. Aftermath? Or more of this physical reaction that he kept assuring her was normal?
“I’ll sleep,” she said, her tone wooden.
“Good. Have a nice nap.” He stepped onto the tiles, strode over to the gate and pulled it open, then was gone, while Lucie was still trying to sort out her reactions and thoughts.
He left because you’renotBlake. The thought was vicious and increased her trembling.
Lucie recycled the last of her meal, moved over to the bedroom, and laid upon the bed. The trembling became shivering, so she kicked off her shoes and pulled the cover over her.
A man, a human, like Santiago, couldn’t possibly be interested in a new Varkan like her. It was ridiculous to even consider the idea.Especiallywhen she was wearing a replica of Blake’s body.
The moment that had just happened…she had to forget about it. Pretend it hadn’t happened because it never should have happened in the first place.
Thank the stars he had not actually kissed her!
But…what would a kiss from Elijah Santiago feel like?
?
Elijah strode home at a pace that was close to running. People jumped out of his way with startled glances and apologized unnecessarily as he cut through the building traffic. The day’s commerce was well underway.
