He asked her. “What do you do with your days when you are not studying or working?”
“When Susa... I mean... I used to go skating, rollerblading, driving recreational vehicles through the desert. I take crafting courses. Paint and go out for coffee with friends.”
“You don’t drink?”
“It isn’t recommended for a lot of actives. I am one of those kinds. Physically applied energy likes to get freaky.” She took a wedge of pancake and fruit and shoved it into her mouth to stop herself from talking. He was far too interested in what she was saying. That meant he was taking notes.
“What do you do when you are not saving citizens and holding up buildings?”
He grinned. “If I can get a booking, I am doing you.”
“If not?”
“Working out. I work out, especially if I have seen you. I feel stronger.”
She coughed and reached for her coffee. “Do you? How odd.”
She sipped, and he was smiling at her. “You do something to us.”
“Not everyone. Just the teams.”
“What do you do?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know. I think of it as honing. I use my energy to sharpen yours. Help with focus.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? Did you tell anyone else?”
“Oh, gods no. No, this was something that was going to be figured out, or it would never be figured out. You obviously know that something happened.”
“They think it is just us having sex that is driving us higher, but it is you specifically.”
She blushed. “There are one or two escorts that have a boosting effect, but they have a niche clientele.”
“Like Salat. I have noticed the briefings that he was in town.”
Zera smiled. “Oh. Is he? I have heard that his appearance is rather striking.”
Torun growled. “Suddenly, I feel like striking it.”
She stuffed her face again and hid her laughter. She swallowed after a while. “So, while I can take dates, I can’t talk nice about Salat’s features?”
He shrugged. “My love for you is complex, and women’s love for his face and body is legendary. Once they get beneath the suit, they change their minds.”
“It isn’t for the faint of heart. She dealt with it rather well. Very well. He asked if he could send her presents.” She smiled. “She should have gotten the first one yesterday.”
* * * *
Khytten blinked as she got to the receptionist’s desk. “You called me, Mary?”
“This came for you.” Mary gestured to the large box on the desk.
“Oh. Um. Right. Thanks.” Khytten picked up the box and returned to her cubicle.
She was just about at the end of her day and shrugged as she opened the box. “Ohmygod.” She closed it and quickly taped it shut.
Another ten minutes of work, and she grabbed the box, put it in her crappy car, and looked at it on the passenger seat. She released the tape and opened the box again. Blushing furiously. A very high-end cream jar was there, as was a bundle of dark silk that looked like a nightgown and felt like sin. A note said Next time, wear this and this.
She shivered. He wanted a next time. Nice penmanship, too. She fanned herself with the card, and she caught his scent. Her stomach dropped like she was on a carnival ride. The same danger-excitement adrenaline had her heart pounding.
She got her car going and headed home. The hospital had the evening feed doses, and she had a present to examine.
Her apartment was tiny, so it was easy to lock up and strip before opening the box and taking the jar of cream. It was hyper-hydrating and non-toxic. She smoothed the cream over a nipple, and her toes curled. Damn, that felt good. The tiny bit that she had went a long way. She slipped the gown on over her head and tied the ribbons on her side.
She looked at herself in the bathroom mirror, and she wanted to cry. She looked happy. There was a robe that went over the gown, and she slipped it on a moment before her world blew apart.
* * * *
Torun looked at his com.
“What are you looking at?”
“There was an explosion last night that the peacekeepers thought was a gas leak. An examiner took a look this morning, and it has been upgraded to a kidnapping. I might have to leave you.”
“Who was kidnapped?” Zera got a funny feeling in her stomach, and she brought up the stats on her escorts. Eleven was in distress. “Damn it. What do they want with her?”
Torun frowned. “What is it?”
“Eleven. They have taken Eleven.”
She made a call and left a message. “Just for your reference. Eleven has been stolen, and her tracker is at the following coordinates. No demands have been made, and an explosion was used to camouflage the abduction.” Zera rattled off the location and paused. “I can dispatch a team if ne—”
A low growl sounded. “Don’t bother. I will bring her home.”
The call disconnected.
Torun frowned. “What did you just do?”
She sipped at her coffee, tense and worried. “I just told Salat that his toy was in danger.”
“Toy?”
“They have had one night together and have not really spoken. At this point, he wants her for her body, and she feels the same.”
“She wants her body?”
“She wants his. Affection will come later. Right now, each has everything the other one wants. They have to find out if there is anything aside from that.”
Zera finished her coffee and sat there, worried.
“And our date is over.”
She chuckled. “It wasn’t a date. I was arranging a funeral.”
“Oh. Right.”
She took his hand. “It’s okay. I know how this works. I want to spend time with you, too.”
“Right. Where can I take you?”
She felt the gleam enter her eyes. “Team headquarters? I want to have a look at their electronics.”
“That would be against the rules.”
She shrugged. “Fine. We can go to the program research centre, and I can use the monitoring equipment there.”
“What are you going to monitor?”
Zera chuckled. “If my hunch is correct, a massacre. And hopefully, Salat
