Unintentional Addiction: Lotus Adaamas Series

by Stone, Layla

  I checked the flight records for Captain Eriben’s ship. Since you’re back on Lotus Adaamas for a maintenance check, it means you will be there for a while. After this mission, I’ll stop in at Lotus Adaamas to come and see you. You should come aboard and see for yourself. I was assigned to Garna, the star carrier. It’s the biggest ship in the Federation. Worth taking a look at.

  Either way, we are going to catch up over a bottle of jubriaan for me, and a sipiskim wine for you.

  Also, to answer your question, Port Meno is a water planet, so there are bugs, but it’s pretty. You remember the pictures I had, that’s what it looks like.

  Do me a favor and pick up two bottles of jubriaan for me. I will forward money to your account if you give me the information.

  Rannn

  Adelia closed the message with apprehension. Rannn still thought she worked with Eriben. Honor dictated she tell Rannn about her new job and her new boss. But she didn’t want to, because she didn’t want to explain how and why she had been fired. Rannn being who he was, he would try to step in and fix it.

  She was over a hundred years old, she could take care of herself. And to prove that, she was going to figure out how to get two bottles of jubriaan without Z’s help.

  * * *

  What she ended up doing was asking the Daamus Rounder on the way to work who the most reliable jubriaan supplier on Lotus Adaamas was. One name came up: Wrin.

  That morning had been particularly quiet, so she’d electronically ordered two bottles and paid for them through her account. But when she tried to change the shipping address, it didn’t let her.

  The order was already in place and would arrive at her location in ten minutes.

  Adelia cursed, not wanting to get any orders delivered to work. She didn’t want to mix the two parts of her life. Z had made it very clear that work was work. She grabbed the Minky pad, slipped out the front door, and waited.

  A few minutes later, the door opened. “What are you doing outside?”

  “Waiting for someone.”

  “Who?”

  “I don’t know who.”

  “You don’t know who, but you know they’re coming?” He sounded amused.

  “Yes.”

  “All right, then I’ll leave you to it.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Yeah, nice try. What exactly is this person going to do when they get here?”

  “Deliver something.”

  He cleared his throat. “Deliver what?”

  “It’s personal.”

  “Nothing is personal. I own your time when you’re on the clock. I’m paying you, and I want to know what this is.”

  A pod flew into the parking lot with a big logo on the side. Wrin’s Plantation.

  Next to her, Z cursed.

  “Delivery for Adelia at Z’s warehouse.”

  She quickly opened the pod and withdrew the two bottles. The drone floated up into the air and returned the way it had come. Z was staring at her when she turned around. “Walk me through what just happened.”

  “I told someone I’d get them a few bottles of jubriaan. I’m going to go and deliver them really quick.”

  “You took an order?” His voice was light, but there was an undertone of warning there. Something was wrong. She shouldn’t have allowed the bottles to be delivered to the building. But then she thought about the fact that he didn’t let her near the inventory program and realized that he might have mistaken the entire situation.

  “Not an order like what you do. Wait, do you sell jubriaan?”

  “Hell, no,” he snapped. “Who is that for?”

  So he hadn’t mistaken the situation and thought that she was doing more than just answering the phones. He was just acting like he controlled every part of her life. Including who she sent bottles of jubriaan to.

  Adelia was done with controlling men—family members and bosses. “I said it was personal, and I meant it.”

  “And I meant that you don’t have anything personal from me.”

  “Actually, I do. I work for you and answer your phones and make sure no one comes in. When I leave, I still answer your calls. But you have nothing to do with me and who I talk to after stardown.”

  She waited impatiently as another pod floated into the parking lot. This one would get to Rannn. She put the bottles inside and shut it, already having paid the astronomical price for sending it via interstellar pod to Garna. When she was done, Z was by the door.

  “Who’s your friend?”

  “None of your business.” She kept her face to the glass, not wanting to look at him.

  “I know an interstellar pod when I see one.”

  “I figured you would. You wouldn’t be a good merchant if you didn’t.” Her Minky pinged. An incoming call. Thank Seth. She took the opportunity and added, “If I’ve done something wrong, you can tell me not to do it again, or you can fire me. Figure out what you want to do and then let me know. Until then, I have a call to take.” She reached over, grabbed the door, and let herself back into the front reception area.

  20

  Never Again

  Adelia had thought her employee and employer relationship with Z was bad before, but it got even worse after the jubriaan incident.

  In the past ten days, there had been twenty visitors. Z told her to check with him before she sent anyone back. And every time she did, he asked who her friend was.

  She didn’t tell him because if he knew it was a Yunkin, he would want to know why it wasn’t a name on the fifty she’d given him. She had thirty more, but she had not given him any more, and he thought she had sent them all.

  Besides, she honestly expected him to fire her, so she kept several to herself, unwilling to peddle out everyone she knew.

  He had not asked for more, and she didn’t offer.

  Her Minky pad pinged. An incoming call. She was at home, and it was hours before she had to get up. She hated early morning calls. She hated all calls after one hundred eighty degrees.

  Turning on her light, she cleared her throat and took the voice call. It took two minutes. Once she disconnected, Adelia wrote up the contact’s message and sent it to Z.

  She instantly got a message back.

  Thanks. Got it.

  Z

  He never responded to her messages. He also never said thanks.

  She checked the time. The sun was on the other side of the planet, technically it was two hundred and thirty degrees. If she was back on Yunkin it would be equivalent to one in the morning. She debated for a half a second if she was going to reply.

  You’re welcome. Are you at work, or do you work from home?

  A

  Ten seconds later:

  I’m at work, being chased by a creepy cleaning pixy. Had to break one of my good glasses to get it to leave me alone. You owe me a new one.

  Come early today so you can make it up to me. Breakfast at Teeda’s.

  Z

  He was going to take her to breakfast. She wondered if that was code for something like this is your last meal working for me. Taking the conversation a step further, she responded.

  Last time you arranged to eat with me, you didn’t come out of your office. Are you sure you want to break another food date?

  A

  Seventeen seconds later:

  Sorry, I was in the middle of something that needed my attention that night, but like I said, I’m going to make it up to you. And, from now on, I want you to come to breakfast every morning. We need to make sure to carve out time for just us.

  Z

  She stared at the screen. He wanted to see her every morning from now on? Was that because he wanted to find out who she’d sent the bottles to, or because he was trying to mend their employee-employer relationship? And what did he mean by just for us?

  Then she got another message.

  Have any more names for me?”

  Z

  She snorted. Business was business with Z. She could have slapped herself for thi
nking he was actually trying to mend things or that he’d meant anything more.

  Tapping the file, she selected two names with their direct contact information and tried to remember anything she could about their habits. The names she chose were people she wasn’t close to. Hopefully, they wouldn’t know that she was handing out their information.

  Ten seconds later, she got:

  Thanks. Got it.

  Z

  She laid back down on her couch. She had yet to buy anything other than that and a coffee table that doubled as a nightstand and a drink holder.

  Her cabinets were full of quick food and Niffy drinks.

  After an hour, she was restless, waiting for time to pass. She got up, grabbed her glass vase of brushes, and her paints. Adelia moved to the floor where she’d started a large twenty-four-inch by thirty-six-inch canvas. It was only a quarter colored.

  She was drawing Z’s warehouse. She’d lightly marked the outline and was working on getting the perfect shade of yellow for the roll-up doors. Not to mention the red star cresting the horizon.

  Lotus Adaamas was colorful. Vibrant. More so than Yunkin ever was.

  Adelia’s alarm chimed after she’d finished one of the yellow doors on her canvas. Finishing up for the morning, she put the pencils and cleaned brushes back in the glass holder, placed them on the table, then left the painting on the floor for when she returned home that evening.

  It had been a while since she’d had breakfast with Z, so she decided to curl her hair, adding colored lip gloss and a bit of eye makeup.

  She had a pair of high heels that she had meant to wear for a while and thought they matched perfectly with her skirt.

  Adelia showed up to work early, feeling confident and impenetrable.

  The door was locked when she arrived. A few moments after she knocked, Z opened the door with saggy, wet hair. “It’s not even ten yet. Eager to see me, Pet?”

  “Eager for coffee,” she said, but Z wasn’t looking at her eyes. He was checking out her outfit. She let him do so for another half second and then she pointed behind him.

  “Are you going to let me in?”

  Mutely, he opened the door wider so she could walk in, but it would still be a tight fit. “I’ll be ready in five minutes. You can wait in my office.”

  His shirt was not buttoned. She saw his ripped muscles and remembered how she’d imagined they felt. If she followed him back, she might do something stupid. But stupid sounded really good to her at the moment.

  “My eyes are up here, Pet.”

  He was smiling at her when she looked up after being caught staring. He clearly liked it, but she felt the heat in her cheeks.

  “Answer honestly… I’m more impressive than my shower, aren’t I?”

  His shower was amazing and just mentioning it in the awkward moment was a perfect cover for her feelings. So, she joked back. “If you were, I’d already be mated to you.”

  His head tilted.

  Maybe she’d gone too far.

  Adelia found a chair behind her and sat down, then crossed her legs and gave him her side profile.

  “Are you wearing heels?” His voice sounded a little breathless.

  She looked at her shoes and ran a finger up the side and her ankle. “I thought they were perfect for my outfit.”

  She peered up. Z’s chest was expanding deeply. He was looking at her feet as if he weren’t sure he could trust his eyes. “Yugaslov?”

  Yugaslov was a local designer she’d found. She didn’t know how Z would even know who that was. She tipped her toe and modeled the shoes so he could see all the straps. “Yep. I like them.”

  “Me, too.” But the way he said it made her think he really liked them. Which made her like them more. She’d chosen well.

  Z cleared his throat again and pointed to the back. “I’ll be right back.”

  Five minutes later, he was back to his over-inflated ego, greeting her with a, “If I knew inviting you would get me this… I would have done it weeks ago.”

  She yawned, acting as if she didn’t care. “I was mad at you weeks ago.”

  He moved to the door, walked through, and held it open for her to follow. His eyes scanned her from the neck down. She could almost feel his male appreciation. “And now?”

  As improper as it was, she taunted him with a flirty glance. “I’m starting to like you.”

  Z’s eyes turned almost feral as he moved from his spot next to her. He didn’t push past her or walk fast.

  Her shoes clicked and clacked the entire way to the diner, and Z didn’t once leave her side or make a comment.

  When they arrived at Teeda’s, Z opened the door for her again, then led her to the table with his hand lightly touching her back. He called out the names of a few people they passed.

  She sat down, feeling a slight blush as she enjoyed Z’s attention and his touch.

  “I have a new rule for the office.”

  Business. Of course. She peered up and waited for the new rule.

  “From now on, you are only allowed to wear heels.”

  She felt another blush. This time, it was accompanied by a smile too strong to contain. Looking away, she playfully huffed as if he were too much.

  When she was done feeling silly, she caught his eyes. He looked like he wanted to say something, but Sasay was already on her way. Z ordered for them both before he told her, “I’ve also thought about it, and I don’t want you to leave without letting me know so I can watch you get in a Rounder.”

  “Sometimes I walk.”

  He leaned over the table and dramatically took in her shoes. “Not today.”

  “Okay, I’ll send you a message.” Once she was already out the door.

  “Or we can have an end-of-the-day catch-up. You can sit in my office and give me my messages, and then I can walk you out.”

  She liked that. But a seed of insecurity popped up. Z was all about his business. This could be a ploy to get something else from her, or maybe he just wanted to blitz her. What he didn’t have room for was a mate.

  “I noticed you haven’t been suffering from the same exhaustion as before. Did you go with more coffee or the container?” Z asked.

  Sasay dropped off their drinks, and Adelia waited until they were alone before answering. “I drink a lot of coffee.”

  To make her point, she picked up her mug and sipped it. Then she noticed Z picking up a similar cup. Not his usual milk and alcohol madness.

  “You’re drinking coffee?”

  “I am. Gave up jubriaan because I don’t want to support the maker anymore.”

  “Do you get into fights with many makers on the island?” she asked.

  “Depends on what you consider many.”

  She had no idea, so she didn’t pursue the topic. Instead, she changed the subject altogether, hoping to figure out if Z was serious about her or not. She didn’t want to find out that he was only trying to get something out of her while he flirted and tempted her.

  “I don’t have a specific volume to suggest because three bottles of water is not a lot, but if I blitzed three times in one night, I would consider that a lot.”

  Z choked on his coffee. Adelia should have waited until he was done drinking, but it hadn’t crossed her mind at the time. When he was finished coughing, he said, “Three would be our warm-up, Pet.”

  She shook her head. “And then you’d walk back into the container. Because you may like how I look, but not what I am.”

  “It had nothing to do with that—” Z held up a finger, cutting himself off. Then he started tapping on his Minky watch. When he finished, her Minky pad pinged.

  If so many people weren’t eavesdropping, I would say this out loud. After I kissed you, the entire world stopped, and I felt like I could have been Seth of Stars himself. Clear-headed and at peace. It was the best feeling of my life.

  It also disrupted my focus while I was trying to get information from Trent, my ex-associate. So, I used the container so I could feel
my anger and do what had to be done. Since then, I have been planning to get that feeling back.

  One time was not enough.

  She grabbed her mug and wrapped both hands around it, taking in the unique aroma and trying to hold onto herself. What he’d written made sense, and she believed him.

  She was either the craziest person alive to be happy about that, or the biggest idiot.

  She took a tentative sip of her coffee, letting the earthy, creamy liquid coat her tongue. It wasn’t exactly like neyna with crystalized sweetener, but it was a close second.

  “Pet.”

  She peered up.

  “You and me are going to happen. And that mouth is going to be mine the second we get back to the office.”

  Her gaze fell back to her mug. He wanted to kiss her? What had she started?

  “Look at me.”

  Taking an audible breath, she looked up.

  “And when I do it again, we will be alone, and I will be able to take my time.”

  Images popped into her mind. She tried to shake them, but they didn’t go away.

  He leaned forward. “Are you on board with that?”

  She wanted to be. “I think it will complicate our employee and employer relationship.”

  “It will. But we will work through it.”

  She sat back in her chair. “And everything will go back to normal? We’ll blitz and then, what? Later, down the road, you’ll use the container and…bam, it’s over?”

  His dark eyebrows drew together. “Sometimes, I need my mind to be focused and not fluffy in happy town.”

  “I get that.” And she did. Her husband hadn’t wanted to be addicted to her either. That’s why he’d had sex with her using protection and had washed her before and after so she had fewer hormones on her body. It was all very cold and emotionless. “I don’t expect to you to be a forever thing.”

  His nostrils flared. “Okay, let’s start this over. I ask the questions, and you answer yes or no. Ready?”

  He didn’t give her a second to answer.

  “Did you like it when I kissed you?”

  “Yes,” she said begrudgingly.

  “And have you been upset that I haven’t done it since?”