Then I wait for Naomi.
She emerges from the bedroom exactly on time, wearing the dress that had made her twirl. The long skirt is as dark as the night sky, shimmering with starlight. The top hugs her curves, pushing her breasts up and together, and leaving her shoulders bare. Her hair, which she typically wears in a braid, hangs in soft waves down her back. Her face is glowing, and her lips are the color of summer wine.
“You look glorious.” I rise to my feet, moving involuntarily toward her. “I’m not going to keep my hands off you tonight. Fuck the dinner, let's stay home instead. I want to peel that dress off you, bit by bit, exposing your skin—”
“Don’t you dare.” Her voice sounds stern, but her cheeks are flushed with pleasure. “Stay where you are. It took me thirty minutes to do my makeup.” She twirls around again. “What do you think? It’s not too young for me, is it? Not too mutton-dressed-as-lamb?”
What do farm animals have to do with her dress? The humans have some strange expressions. “You will be the most beautiful woman in the room,” I tell her sincerely. She’s always the most beautiful woman in the room.
“Flatterer.”
“Is that a ‘no’ on peeling the dress off you?”
She laughs softly. “The mission, remember?” She stands on tiptoe and brushes a kiss on my cheek, and her perfume washes over me, spice overlaid with citrus. My cock hardens at once. “Let’s make a deal. We go to the dinner, and when we get back, you can peel the dress off.” The tip of her tongue swipes over her lower lip. “Inch by inch.”
I suppress a groan. It’s going to be a very long evening.
We get to Rannzar’s house. Most of the guests are already there. I recognize Falgol, Noturn’s on-site mining supervisor and Zulzen, the technologist who keeps the systems running. Kenia is in attendance, as is the healer, Sidrx, and the geologist, Hari. To my surprise, the two Lowborn miners we’d met in the port, Resi and Afain, are also there. Good for Rannzar.
As soon as we walk in the door, Rannzar presses drinks into our hands and introduces us to everyone. Kenia gives me a searching look as I greet her. “How are you doing?” she asks, her voice low. “Any ill-effects?”
“None,” I lie. I turned down her request to study my genes, of course, but if she’s sore at my refusal, she’s hiding it. “I’m doing great.”
She gives me a skeptical look. “If you say so.” She turns to Naomi with a warm smile. “Thank you for sending me the curry recipe,” she says warmly. “I loaded it into my syn and made some curry yesterday, and it was divine.”
I turn to Naomi with a smirk. “How nice of you to send Kenia the recipe, diya.” Not jealous anymore?
She returns my smile with one of her own. “Hari asked for it too,” she says, her voice sweet. “I should ask him if he’s made it yet.”
I choke back my laugh. I love it. She can give as good as she gets.
Rannzar, who is within earshot, turns around with an intrigued look on his face. “You have a syn recipe?” he asks eagerly. “What does it taste like? Could I get you to share it?”
Naomi laughs. “Of course,” she says. “Danek made me a bowl of gugni last night for dinner. It tastes a little like that, I guess?” She looks up at me. “What do you think?”
“Gugni is sourer,” I reply. “But yes, now that you mention it, I see the similarities.” I wrap my arm around her waist. “My bondmate has a very keen palette.”
Rannzar claps his hands in delight. “Then I’m eager to hear what you think of dinner. It’s only syn-made, of course, but I’ve collected recipes from all over the galaxy.”
“I can’t wait,” she says sincerely.
Zorahn and human digestive systems are very similar, and there is nothing here that would harm Naomi. At dinner, she tries everything and pronounces it all delicious. She’s not lying. Rannzar downplays the meal by calling it syn-made, but everything is excellent and of impeccable quality. I can’t decide what I’m enjoying more, the meal, or Naomi’s obvious enjoyment of her food.
It’s only after dinner that I get a chance to slip away. We move from the dining area to the backyard. Rannzar has strung the space with hanging lights that cast down a soft glow. People refresh their drinks and gather into small groups, and I see the perfect chance to melt into the shadows.
I squeeze Naomi’s hand so she knows what I’m about to do, and she gives me a slight nod in response before turning to Resi with a bright smile. “Resi, you have got to tell everyone about the time you got stranded in Verr. I swear, I’ve never heard a funnier story.”
Resi agreeably begins her narrative, and everyone draws closer. The distraction is exactly what I need. Perfect.
She’ll cover for me; I know it. If there is danger, she'll do her best to alert me. She is a good partner, a good person to have at one’s side. The scientists tortured her and nearly broke her mind, but they haven't been able to erase her adventurous spirit, and her kind heart. Despite everything she’s been through, she's not bitter, she’s not angry, and she’s not swearing for revenge, bathing herself in hatred. She is simply making the best of the situation.
I make my way quickly to Rannzar’s study. The door isn’t locked, and none of the cabinets are either. My heart sinks. I didn’t think I’d find anything here, but on some level, I must have hoped.
Still,
