Her smile was a little tight. Honest to god! Couldnt men think of anything else? Even a slight variation on the line wouldve been appreciated! Thank you.
I noticed Commander lKartay didnt seem particularly pleased when you danced with Powell.
It wouldve been hard to say whether the comment thrilled her or unnerved her more. Sybil missed a step and stepped on his foot. Sorry. If he was frowning it was probably because he was trying to place me. Im sure we all look alike to them.
Im completely sure he has no trouble at all recognizing you, Meachum returned pleasantly. He did ask you to dance with him tonight when you met up with him in the receiving line.
And where had Meachum been skulking, she wondered? She couldnt think up a response, unfortunately.
I heard youd decided not to reenlist?
Sybil stepped on his toe on purpose that time. Sorry. Maybe I drank too much wine? Im really not used to it.
His lips curled in a cold smile. No comment?
Sybil smiled coldly back at him. Theres the damnedest grapevine around here! I dont recall mentioning that to anyone and yet Powell knew and you do, too! Isnt that curious?
Actually, I overheard the discussion at the table earlier.
You have exceptional hearing.
He smiled thinly. I also heard you say you hadnt made plans yet. I might have a job youd be interested in.
She didnt think so. Shed enjoyed working with him about as much as she enjoyed sitting in a dental chair. I appreciate it, but I imagine Ill be shipped stateside before the discharge.
Not necessarily. Think about it. It could be a good career move for you.
Im not sure thinking about it will help when I dont have a clue of what sort of job youre offering.
Meet me at the situation room tomorrow-say about ten-and Ill go over it with you.
Thankfully, the dance ended just then. Ill give it some thought, she responded coolly.
He gave her a look that chilled her. Give it a lot of thought. Id hate for you to miss the opportunity.
It sounded ominous and she didnt think, considering Meachum had delivered it, that that was just her imagination. She wouldve pulled away from him and left him on the edge of the dance floor except she discovered the damned heels she was wearing werent made for running. She nearly turned her weak ankle. It was barely a twinge but enough of a wakeup call to inspire caution.
You alright? Powell asked when she settled in chair again, dividing a speculative look between her and Meachum, whod simply walked her to the table, excused himself, and left.
Im fine. I just stepped wrong and deeply regret the decision to wear heels.
You hurt your ankle?
She shook her head. Its fine.
You want to tell me what Meachum said that upset you, then?
She shook her head again. What could she say anyway? That shed felt threatened by his manner? Because that was all there was to it-the nuances of his voice. There was nothing
specific
that hed said that she could complain to anyone about.
Chapter Eleven
Sybil was tempted to simply leave. She realized she should have known that there wouldnt be an opportunity to be with Anka even if hed wanted to. He was trapped by his position among the visitors.
She might not have felt quite so badly about it if shed thought that he actually wanted to be with her and couldnt, but even though she acknowledged the circumstances of their situation, she still felt abandoned and discarded.
She begged off dancing again with Powell on the grounds of the ankle twinge, but she didnt want to sit at the table and watch everyone else dance, and think about who was dancing with Anka and whether or not he was thinking about inviting himself to their room. Worse, what if she did hang around, hopeful, and see him walk out with another woman?
She hadnt considered that-dolt that she was! Shed been so focused on her own need to be with him she hadnt considered for a moment that he might not feel the same way.
After sitting for about an hour, she decided shed stayed long enough to prevent people from speculating about her early departure and excused herself. I think Ill head back.
Want company?
Sybil sent him a look. Thank you, but no.
I was only offering to walk you back.
She studied him. No, you werent.
He shrugged, grinning. No, I wasnt.
Shaking her head at him, she got up. Night, Powell.
Night Sybil.
Shed already reached the exit before she remembered the damned hotel room and the transport! Well, didnt she feel like a dumbass! Sighing, she considered the situation for a moment and then checked her watch. To her dismay, she discovered it was far later than shed realized. The transport shed arranged should be arriving any time.
She didnt want to spend the night alone in the room shed gotten for two, damn it! It was for sure she wouldnt be getting a refund, though. Changing directions, she headed back across the conference room toward the hotel transport dock. Shed almost made it when the music stopped and someone tapped on the microphone for attention. Deciding she didnt care, she kept going.
Our guests have offered an exhibition for us tonight of the festival dance.
Sybil halted abruptly, her heart hammering in her chest as she turned to look back toward the stage. The dance floor began to clear as the Sumpturians advanced upon it. A few moments later, she heard the exotic music she remembered and then she saw Anka, his head lifted as he scanned the audience. Breathlessly, she waited, hoping he would spot her and that it was her he was looking for. He met her gaze and lifted his brows questioningly.
Her legs felt like theyd turned to spaghetti. She didnt think she could make the walk if her life depended upon it. Fortunately, she didnt have to, at least not alone. Anka left the other dancers and strode toward her.
As thrilled as she was, she was also hideously self-conscious when she realized he held the attention of nearly every soul in the ball room as he approached her.
The only thing that could possibly be worse was the nightmarish vision that danced in her head of Anka walking right past her and asking some other woman to dance. Before she could glance behind her to check, however, hed reached her. He held out his hand in invitation. You promised me a dance,
nodia
.
She thought she was going to faint. Struggling to catch her breath, she placed her hand in his. Wait! she gasped as he turned to lead her back to the dance floor.
He paused and looked at her quizzically, but she wasnt about to try one of their folk dances in spike heels! Kicking them off and abandoning them, she hurried with him to take their places on the dance floor, ignoring the stir it caused when shed kicked her shoes off.
Someone started the song over.
Sybil glanced up at Anka and smiled, feeling like Cinderella must have felt when the prince asked her to dance-as if shed suddenly found herself in a magical dream. He smiled back at her as they began the steps of the dance. She surprised herself by remembering most of the steps and acquitting herself with far more grace than shed thought she could manage considering she was high with excitement.
Even the reaction of the audience felt like part of the dream when the dance finally ended and Anka turned to her, looking down at her with his eyes gleaming. Will you take me to your bed tonight, my
nodia
?
Sybil smiled up at him until a sudden thought struck her. Her smile flattened. The transport! she gasped.
He looked disconcerted. The transport?
She moved closer. Meet me at the hotel dock. I got us a room! she whispered.
He looked more confused than enlightened, but he released her and she dashed away to search for her shoes. Shed been pacing the dock for all of five seconds when he arrived. I thought you werent coming!
He made a sound of irritation. The President stopped me. I believe I may have been rude, but the treaty is signed now. Where are we going?
Sybil stared at him. You were rude to the President
of the United States? Never mind. Like you said, the treatys signed now.
He looked bemused when she led him to the airlock and from there into the transport. They settled side by side on the bench that faced the airlock.
Is anyone else ready to return the hotel? the driver asked.
She didnt know, but she sure as hell had no intention of waiting for them. No. Just us.
Hotel?
Shhh! Sybil hissed, anxious now that it looked like they might actually manage to leave without being observed that someone would show up and ruin it.
Why are we whispering? he asked, amused.
Sybil shook her head at him. Watch the safety harness!
Anka ducked as the bar came up over the back of the seat and secured them, looking at the apparatus, which was actually more like the safety guard on a roller coaster than a harness. What is this for?
To keep us from floating.
He looked startled but the driver pulled out of the airlock just then and his expression was downright comical. Gods!
Sybil bit her lip. No gravity-not much anyway.
This feels
strange.
Sybil was about to point out that hed experienced it when theyd moon walked before when it abruptly occurred to her that they hadnt. Shed just been too upset to think about the fact that she hadnt experienced the micro gravity she should have.
It must have been the suits! No wonder the military had been so hot to get hold of them!
You still havent told me where were going.
I did. I told you I got us a room.
So, we arent going to your quarters?
No, because Im tired of worrying about being caught.
Something flickered in his eyes. You truly were worried,
nodia
?
Of course I was. She looked up through the viewing port at the back of the transport and pointed. Its beautiful, isnt it?
Anka dutifully glanced at the view of the Earth. Yes, it is.
It felt so strange when I first got here to look up into the sky and see the Earth instead of the moon.
When youre on the Earth looking up at the moon, is the moon beautiful?
Yes, she murmured. I guess people always think another place will be better.
Nothing could be better than being home.
She glanced at him, feeling her throat tighten, partly because it hurt to realize he yearned for his home when he was with her and partly because she ached for his sadness. Will you go home soon?
No. The word emerged harshly. He cleared his throat and glanced at her, smiling a little crookedly. I have a new home.
One he wasnt particularly happy about. Before she could decide whether to pursue it or not, though, the transport pulled into the airlock of the hotel.
She didnt know
what
shed been thinking! Almost the moment they stepped from the airlock they caught the attention of everyone they passed. Several people actually ran into things-like other people and the walls. Struggling to ignore the feeling that their clandestine liaison was going to make front page news, she walked briskly across the lobby and headed for the elevators. There were three other people on the elevator and all three gaped at Anka as if he had two heads. Sybil glared at them for their rudeness but they were too focused on Anka to actually notice.
She was more relieved than randy when they finally reached their room and she used her key to enter. Anka, apparently, had other things on his mind, however. The moment they cleared the threshold he slipped his arms around her and waltzed her back to the wall, pinning her with his body. Ive been wanting to do this all night, he murmured against her hair, nuzzling a path downward to capture her lips.
Sybil had been wanting him to kiss her all night-before the night began, in fact. On the instant, she dismissed the anxiety that had trailed her from the conference center and all the up to their room. She didnt care if theyd been seen together. She didnt need to keep it secret anymore-not for his sake or for hers.
She kissed him back with all the yearning that had been building inside of her. It almost seemed as if they both caught fire. The heat that surged between them as they explored each others mouths was nearly blistering. They broke for a gusty breath of air and met again, exploring cheek and ear and neck and throat with their mouths, dueling for dominance. They began tugging at one anothers clothes, impatient to have nothing between them, and then gave up on solving the confusing intricacies of closures and simply tugged clothing aside to touch and fondle.
Anka caught her buttocks and hoisted her up the wall, spearing into her with the head of his cock the moment he had her positioned. She gasped, tightened her grip on him and fought to engulf his heated, turgid flesh. He shifted, bracing her against the wall for better leverage and curled his hips to drive himself deeper. Hed no sooner achieved full penetration than some inconsiderate son-of-a-bitch pounded on the door.
Turn down service!
Gods! Anka growled under his breath and then bellowed, Go the fuck away!
Sybil bit her lip, but the amusement was brief. Amusement flickered in his own eyes, but it was surpassed by the heat of desire as he claimed her mouth again. A sharp thrill went through her at the double penetration of his tongue in her mouth and his cock inside of her. She sucked his tongue a little frantically, feeling her body racing toward culmination as he drove into her over and over, pounding against her g-spot.
She broke the kiss as it hit her, crying out, shuddering as the muscles along her channel convulsed in waves of keen pleasure. He uttered a choked sound, drove deeply and spilled his seed even as she began to drift downward.
They leaned together for a few moments, trying to catch their breaths. Finally, Anka rolled his forehead against hers. Is there a bed in this room?
Sybil grinned at him. There better be for what it cost.
He pulled free of her body, allowing her to slide to floor. Lets find it, he suggested. Bending abruptly and catching her around the hips, he straightened with her across his shoulder.
Sybil laughed. What are you doing?
Im feeling savage tonight, he growled, glancing around the room and then heading for the enormous bed.
Sybil gasped when he tossed her onto the mattress. He followed her down, pinning her with his body and then simply studying her face.
What? she asked finally, beginning to feel a little uneasy.
Thats my question. What were you doing dancing with Powell and that other wormy man?
She gave him a look. You danced.
Something flickered in his eyes. It was
required.
She shook her head, lifting her hand to touch his cheek. It was just a dance.
His eyes narrowed. It didnt look like just a dance. He was all over you.
Surprise flickered through her. She considered informing him that it was customary and decided to discard the idea. He danced closer than he should have. Its part of our mating customs. The men are the aggressors. The woman either allows it, if shes interested, or she lets him know she isnt interested. He asked to go back to my quarters with me. I turned him down because I wanted to be with you.
She could tell he didnt like that answer. He rolled away from her after a moment, lying on the bed beside her, one arm draped over his eyes. Sybil turned onto her side to study him, watched his Adams apple bob as he swallowed.
I didnt like it before I knew that much, he muttered finally.
The urge to tell him she loved him and had no interest in any man made her chest tight with the need and yet she realized that it was pointless to tell him. He was leaving. He
had
to leave and she had to stay. Neither of them had a choice, regardless of how they felt.