Pasting on a jaded expression was the hardest thing she’d ever done. Her brief experience on a pleasure ship was nothing like this. On other such ships spaces had been kept separate, like hotel rooms. But her limited experience in that regard seemed like a hundred years ago, when she was less exposed to the cruelties of life.
She strode into the darkened room, where only artificial candlelight illuminated small tables near a bar. Couples not ensconced in darkened recesses talked, kissed, or felt each other up as a preamble to sexual interludes. Since they’d got this far without much notice, Lyra kept her mouth shut and her eyes peeled for anyone approaching.
• • •
Soldar took a seat at the end of the bar, with his back to a bulkhead. He pulled a stool very close to him and held Lyra’s hand as she mounted the cushioned chair next to him. The blue-robed crewman behind the bar nodded surreptitiously toward them both.
“I think you’ll find our ale to your liking,” the barman suggested.
Sol nodded and held up two fingers indicating that they’d both have the same thing. When two silver goblets were placed in front of them, however, the beverage he sipped was nothing more powerful than amber-colored fruit nectar. He glanced over the top of his drink at Lyra. She acknowledged her non-alcoholic beverage with a covert drop of her chin. It seemed that — while the brothel participants stirred around them, and were fueled by too much wine, hallucinogens, and aphrodisiacs — they’d likely remain the only sober revelers besides Aigean’s crew.
After a few moments of sitting in silence and blissfully being left alone, their luck ran out. From some sordid, smelly hole Soldar glumly noted the approach of their host.
Kardis D’uhr stumbled toward him, their nemesis’ eyes latched onto
his
presence … not Lyra’s.
The nasty bastard was tightening his belt as he half-wobbled forward, leaving any sober person to assume the man had just exited a bed. Had Lyra not suggested their pairing as a sex act, he would have arrived on the Venus as a prostitute, and might have just shared that same seedy den with D’uhr.
“Welcome, Soldar Nar and Lyra Markham.” D’uhr punctuated the greeting by pushing a nearby guest off his stool so there’d be a chair for his own use.
Soldar sipped his fruit juice, pretending to be unconcerned over the rude act. His first words to D’uhr were, even to him, dripping in condescension.
“I want to thank you for inviting us, Admiral. Forgive our late appearance but Lyra and I needed time to ourselves before venturing out of our quarters. We’ve both barely recovered from our shuttle mishap.”
D’uhr looked him over slowly. “And where did your shuttle break down again? My men haven’t been able to find any sign of a forced landing.”
Soldar lifted one shoulder in dismissal. “The last time we saw it, it was being serviced by that sorry excuse of a pilot. He seemed intent on getting it fixed. The bastard actually cursed us for his bad luck and insisted on more payment.”
“Perhaps he will return?” D’uhr quizzed.
“I don’t know and couldn’t care less. He was an idiot. We’ll need to find better transportation to get to our next gig. I don’t want another near-death landing.” He paused and made himself stare wantonly into D’uhr’s dark eyes. “It’s no longer an issue. I’m here now, ready to …
perform
,” he suggestively added.
Kardis slowly smiled and moved closer to him. “I don’t think you’ll need to worry about your next transportation. You’ll have plenty of entertaining to do on
this
ship. You aren’t going anywhere!”
“You mean to keep us?” Sol responded as he gushingly affected concern. “Our agent will have our butts if we don’t show up.”
“Your self-centered complaining means nothing to me. You will stay or leave by my wishes. And I command you to stay!” He put one hand on Soldar’s shoulder and ran it down his back.
“I love a strong-willed warrior,” Soldar murmured as he sipped more fruit juice and stared into D’uhr’s eyes.
D’uhr chuckled then turned his blood-shot gaze toward Lyra.
Soldar tensed. His partner’s ruby-tinted lips and smoky, blue eye shadow seemed even more alluring in the dim light. Unfortunately, that sultry look caught D’uhr’s attention.
“You and I can come to some beneficial arrangement,” D’uhr stated.
Lyra rolled her eyes before responding. “I’ll tell you what I told the last three men who asked. If I give it away, I can’t negotiate contracts like the one I’ve signed with Aigean. I’m quite sure you don’t mean to pay me for my time.”
Kardis leaned forward. “You’re right. I
won’t
pay you. But I wasn’t talking about bedding you, whore! I was talking about your man!” He loudly laughed and tapped the armband on her left bicep. “You are his mate, but I will see you have other entertainment while he shares my bed.”
“Oh …
that’s
the arrangement you meant,” Lyra said as she rolled her eyes.
“I’ll suffer no jealous histrionics from you,” D’uhr declared. “Is that understood?”
She opened her mouth but Soldar quickly spoke first.
“If a man of the admiral’s influence wants to bed me, then I don’t see the harm. It isn’t as if I’d be servicing everyone on the ship. Aigean could hardly make a contractual fuss over the matter,” he offered. “You and I will still perform for the other passengers. And maybe the good admiral can help us find transportation to our next pleasure ship … if I cooperate. Isn’t that right, Admiral?” Soldar said as he looped one arm around D’uhr’s shoulders.
The inebriated, glassy-eyed Condorian smiled broadly in response.
To push his point, Soldar continued with the distasteful flirting. “It’s so much more pleasant if I just take up the offer …
Kardis
. You don’t mind me using your first name, do you? I mean … if we’re to be intimate I assume that would be appropriate.”
D’uhr nodded and stroked the black lighting mark on the Soldar’s left cheek. “Yes … it’s more than appropriate, you magnificently delicious man-lover. You may call me anything you please. Service me well, and I’ll see you want for nothing,” He licked his lips as he gazed up and down Soldar’s frame.
Sol noted Lyra’s alarmed gaze. She’d correctly assumed
he
was doing his best to keep her out of a Condorian bed. She also knew the danger involved if he didn’t please D’uhr, whatever that entailed.
She finally spoke, though it was through barely clenched teeth. “What you’re suggesting isn’t in our contract,
darling
. Aigean won’t like it. Besides, our agreement stipulates that I must perform with you, but without the use of any prophylactics. The admiral is a warrior who’s taking risks a man of his … passions … would take. I can’t afford to come down with some disease that can’t be cured.”
“Unfortunately,
sweetness
, it was your idea to have our agent book this gig,” Soldar shot back. “You knew it was in the middle of nowhere. It’s a sector’s distance away from any hospitals or doctors.”
Lyra suddenly relented with a careless lift of one shoulder. “If a man as powerful as the admiral could locate medicine … like antibiotics I could use to fight off infections … then I might be amenable to the arrangement. Obviously, I can’t perform if I’m not in the peak of condition.”
Soldar stared at her in shock though he did his best to hide it from D’uhr. The admiral seemed oblivious of this little exchange. The man was busy fondling
his
cock, through the thick leather pants he wore.
Something about the way she emphasized the words
antibiotics
and
infections
made him suspicious.
Then it hit him.
The crafty little Earthling had overheard his and Aigean’s conversation concerning the medicine needed for the hidden allied fighters. Lyra had manipulated the situation in a hardly tactful attempt to get antibiotics while shoving his duplicity down his throat.
But if she wasn’t very, very careful, her intentions could backfire. He tried to dispel any suspicions her request might have nurtured.
“I’m sure what you’re asking imposes on the admiral’s good will. In fact, you might be asking for too much. I’m sure the man has need of his medication.”
Lyra simply glared at him and narrowed her eyes in response.
Kardis swallowed a drink the barman provided and entered the conversation at last. “Woman … are you implying that I may carry a venereal disease?”
She snorted loudly then poured on the denial. “I would
never
remotely suggest such a thing. But some of the men and women you’ve been with might not be as healthy as Aigean claims. Of course, they’re supposed to have checkups, but one can never be too careful.”
“Perhaps you mean to avail yourself of some pleasure while your man is with me? Is that it?” Kardis laughingly asked, apparently wanting to drive a wedge between Lyra and his new male love-interest. “Maybe your claim that I might give Soldar something — then give it to you — is to cover the fact that you’re already infected … is that it?”
Soldar took up that idea and ran with it. If others on the ship got wind that she was infected with VD, they might keep their distance. “Yes, my dear mate, what have you to say to that?” he assertively pursued as he glared at her. “I haven’t seen your medical profile since we last visited your home world. I assumed you were keeping yourself clean, but I could certainly be wrong!”
Lyra coyly ducked her head, making it seem as if she might, indeed, have been infected. “Please … Admiral … this discussion is in the poorest taste. If you could just give me some antibiotics, I know everything would be fine.”
Soldar ran his hand lightly over D’uhr’s thigh and gazed deeply into his enemy’s eyes. It sickened him, but the ploy seemed to work.
“If my new plaything wishes you to have something to cure your ailment, then I might be receptive. It’s clear you want it badly and have learned there is no such curative aboard this vessel unless you come through me. So whether it’s to satiate an addiction, or to hide an infection, it’s of no concern at all.” He leaned close to Soldar and nibbled his left earlobe.
Soldar pasted on what he hoped was an expression of pure lust.
“So long as this pretty Craetorian pleases me, and as long as you don’t pester him when he enjoys my company, I’ll give you something to take care of your needs. But if I hear any whining out of you, then I’ll have my men take you into the badlands and lop off your head off! Do you understand?” D’uhr told her.
She nodded. “You’ve made your point abundantly clear. I won’t interfere with your uh …
arrangement
.”
The admiral snapped his fingers toward one of his entourage. When that soldier came closer, he issued a stern commanded. “Bring the woman antibiotics from my private supply.”
The minion rushed to do as he’d been ordered.
Lyra pretended to look away as if embarrassed by the subject, and Sol wanted to thank the Creator for having put such an intelligent woman in that canyon, if anyone had to be there at all.
“Where did you say you were from?” Kardis demanded of Lyra.
“Gratis Major.”
“Hmmmm … they’re due to be invaded soon.” He quickly shook his head as if that knowledge shouldn’t have been shared.
Lyra glanced at Soldar then pursued the slip-up. “Admiral, Gratis Major is a neutral planet. My home world has given you everything you’ve asked for.”
Too late, Soldar saw D’uhr’s eyes narrow, and quickly spoke up to cover her dangerous opinion. “Don’t listen to her, Admiral. She’s a stupid woman.” For his attempt to mask her anger, he received one of the most fiery, unforgiving stares a woman had ever cast in his direction. Irrationally, her response made him want her even more. But his subterfuge apparently worked. The big Condorian quickly turned to
him
.
“And what of your world, Craetorian?”
Picking up his drink and sipping it before responding, Soldar gave the best response he could, though it left a very bitter taste in his mouth. “I say let you Condorians have it. We’ll be under one rule and the fighting will be over.” He gently rubbed D’uhr’s bald, tattooed head. “But think on this, my big tattooed warrior, who’ll serve you if we’re all dead? I mean, someone has to do the dirty work.”
Kardis snorted in disdain. “And you’d be satisfied with that?”
“If it’s serve or die … I’ll serve. But we can discuss matters of a political nature when we’re alone. Can we not?” Soldar responded while attempting to paste a poignant expression on his face. He then lifted his hand, slid it into the admiral’s vest, and stroked his left nipple. “We have more important matters to discuss, I can assure you.”
“We’ll see, Craetorian. Indeed … we shall see.” He suddenly lifted one hand to Soldar’s face. Soldar sat perfectly still and stared into his enemy’s dark eyes. “You know, Craetorian … you are very like someone I once knew. Long ago,” Kardis softly said.
There was a very appropriate response, but Soldar never got to utter it. At that exact moment, a Condorian guard arrived with a glass vial in his hand. Kardis snatched it and tossed the bottle at Lyra.
She deftly caught it before it hit the floor and shattered.
“Take that and get out of my sight before I let my men have you. The only reason I don’t sic them on you now is because you wear Soldar’s emblem. By his traditions, that makes you important to him, though I cannot imagine what he sees in you.” He curled his lip and looked her up and down in disdain. “I don’t care what you do or where you go, but I strongly recommend keeping your mouth shut! If you don’t, no amount of sex Soldar provides will be enough to save your pointless life.”
“Please
do
go,” Soldar echoed in a simpering tone. “I have some affection for you, sweetness. We’ve been together a long time and make a good act, but I need more than you can provide. Off stage, a warrior like Kardis can service me better. After all, a man knows what another man needs.” He waved a hand in the direction of the hatch. “Run back to our quarters and primp for our next performance. I want to dedicate it to my new lover.” He gazed deeply into his enemy’s eyes and simultaneously tamped down yet another desire to tear D’uhr’s head off.