Jana lifted the glass and responded, “May this day and night be the best we’ve shared.” She drained the glass without her eyes leaving his.
As Jana turned to set her glass on the table, Varian smacked her on the rump and stated jovially, “Let’s go, woman; we have things to do and see.”
“Have you been drinking too much?” she inquired suspiciously.
“No! I think you might find our zoo and museum very interesting.” Now that he had his grandfather’s and Draco’s help with keeping Jana safe, he could relax slightly.
At the zoo, Varian related the names, origins, and habits of the unusual creatures. He told her many fascinating tales about their captures, as if he had taken a personal hand in such activities.
Later at the museum, they toured its many rooms while Varian explained the artwork and displays. Jana was captivated by the talent exhibited before her. She was delighted when Varian purchased her a lovely souvenir, a tiny painting of a Talias flower in full bloom, just like the ones which they had seen near the waterfall and he had picked illegally.
Jana was bewildered when Varian escorted her into a towering structure, spoke with a man, then led her to an elevator which whisked them skyward at a breathtaking speed. They left it to walk a short distance. Varian slipped a card into a narrow slit and the door swished open wide, as did Jana’s gaze. Varian chuckled. “I believe Earthlings call it a hotel, a love nest,” he jested.
“Hotel?” she echoed, her eyes scanning the luxurious suite. Two walls appeared to be solid one-way glass. All furnishings and fabrics were soothing shades of blue, green, mauve, and cream. Every piece of furniture looked plush and comfortable. Shimmering blades of a soft metal partially concealed two areas of the large room: to her right, a sunken tub; to her left, a round bed. “Are we staying here tonight? We didn’t bring any clothes.”
“Only for a few hours, moonbeam,” Varian calmly announced, then headed toward the tub, discarding clothes along the way.
“Varian! What are you doing?” she shrieked in utter bewilderment.
He stopped and turned. He took an arrogant stance: legs spread apart, hands on hips, chest expanded, a bold expression on his face. His eyes smoldered and his sensual lips curled up at one corner. His voice caressed her. “One final charade you said. I decided to play a lecherous demon come to Rigel to capture the most beautiful and coveted female in the Universe. After searching the restaurant, the zoo, and the museum, I found her and locked her inside a room, quivering at my mercy. I must try to beguile her into becoming my willing slave. Then I shall seduce her without restraint. First, I must conquer her body, heart, and soul. Her body,” he stated in a husky whisper, “I can take by force or bewitchment, but her heart and soul must be granted willingly. If I succeed, I will return from where I came with her as a cherished charl. We shall rule the dark regions together, with her as my sunlight, never to be parted. Well?”
“Then take me, Sir Demon, for I willingly agree to your terms.”
Their lips met and melded into a fiery kiss. Garments were seized and tossed aside as they sank to the thickly carpeted floor to make wonderful, wild love. The moment their passions melted into one with a rapturous release, his communicator signaled an emergency. It continued to buzz frantically until he left her side, grabbed his belt, and answered, “What is it!”
“Sorry, sir,” came Nigel’s voice. “They need you at headquarters, now.”
“The stars be damned! Why? Who?” he demanded in frustration.
“Tirol.”
“Tell the Kadim I’ll be there shortly,” Varian responded moodily.
He headed for the tub and rinsed off quickly. He yanked on his pants and boots. Varian headed for the door, as if she and their blissful moment were all but forgotten. “Sir Demon?” she called out to him.
Varian whirled and…actually flushed. “Your shirt,” she hinted, swinging it from one finger. “A bare chest like that might drive females wild with lust and men crazy with envy, not to mention me wild with anger at your desertion. Shall I wait here, or return to the ship?”
Varian walked toward her. He took his shirt and slipped it over his head. Jana adjusted his collar and cuffs, then smoothed out any creases in the material. She fluffed his sable hair with her fingers. “Splendidly handsome and terribly devastating. However have you managed to remain single for so long? Surely there must be one female alive with the magic to get this heart.”
Varian caught the hand on his chest and squeezed it gently. “What heart?”
“Of course, now I understand. You have no heart to claim.”
“I’m sorry about this intrusion, Jana. I won’t be longer than necessary. I don’t like having lesson number ten interrupted,” he hinted wickedly.
Canissia was standing behind her father massaging his stiff neck. She had laced his wine with a mild tongue and mind loosener. When he was totally relaxed, she questioned him about the Assembly and Council meetings. She hadn’t wanted her father to purchase Jana Greyson; she had merely wanted him to reveal an interest in the alien female to extract Varian’s reaction. She was relieved to hear that Varian was not going to bid on Jana and why. Still, she was certain that Varian had deep feelings for Jana. She had to make sure Jana was unavailable if or when Varian changed his mind and tried to recover her. What man would refuse to comply with Commander Varian Saar’s wishes? She listened to the other facts which Segall revealed to her.
Canissia knew she could not expose the news of the eight rescue ships to Ryker or to anyone else. She didn’t have to concern herself with protecting the Earthlings, as others had access to those facts and could let a clue slip. But since only five men—Tirol, Varian, Draco, Brec, and her father—knew about the eight rescue ships, it was too risky to sell or to trade that information. Nor could she expose what Varian had told her father about Jana or her father’s offer of Jana to Varian, for that information could also be traced to that private talk. She did need one more meeting with Baruch Tirana, even if she had promised to leave him alone. Zan had been trailing Baruch today, so she knew the traitorous officer was on leave and was staying at a hotel whose rooms had hidden entrances and two-way mirrors. She could slip into the hotel and into Baruch’s room without anyone seeing her. She could spike his wine for one final questioning and night of erotic pleasures. With luck, perhaps Baruch could supply some little fact to sell to Ryker.
Chapter Fifteen
Jana watched the sunlight vanish as she lingered in the silky bath water. She wondered what was keeping Varian. Surely lie didn’t intend to leave her alone in the hotel on their last night together. When dried and dressed, she stood near the transparent wall, gazing out at the enormous city of towering ultramodern structures. The room was dark, for she didn’t know where the light controls were or how to operate them. She couldn’t call room service for instructions, if this alien hotel supplied it, for she didn’t know how to use the communications system. How strange that she had gotten accustomed to being taken care of so quickly and completely!
Jana pondered this curious day and her current solitude. Was Varian trying to tell her something with actions which he couldn’t or wouldn’t do with words? Had she been left alone as a test, to see if she would obey orders or to see if she would try to escape her impending doom? To where? How? Did he want to learn if she despised her imminent fate so deeply that she would act impulsively? Was this a test of her emotions, her courage, her wits, her desires? Did he want her to flee her auction to another man?
“Jana Greyson,” she scolded aloud, “you have the wildest imagination! One more day and this torment will be over.” Before dinner tomorrow, she would discover the identity of her owner.
The door opened and Varian entered, carrying two packages. He squinted to locate her in the dim light. “Why are you standing in the dark, moonbeam?”
Jana laughed softly. “Because I’m ignorant of your controls. I was beginning to think I would spend our last night alone.”
“I had to meet with the Kadi
m. I brought you something to wear tonight. See how it fits,” he said, pressing the switch which filled the room with a soft glow of light He wished this party for prospective buyers wasn’t necessary, but he and his grandfather needed to know who had arrived for Jana’s auction. He had intended to show pictures of her and videotapes and relate the facts about her, but Tirol suggested she make an appearance to test the reactions of her impending bidders. Varian had a new worry: Moloch was making an obvious display of his intention to bid for Jana, but Ryker had not arrived or any of his men.
Jana lifted the chic knee-length white dress.
Varian noticed her lack of enthusiasm. “You don’t like it?” he queried.
“What are your plans for me and it tonight?” she asked instead of answering. She looked at him as he removed formal garments for himself from the other box.
“A party at Avatar Lopear’s. I told him we couldn’t stay long. It isn’t too far from here, so I thought we would walk. We’ll leave as soon as you’re ready.”
“I don’t have any cosmetics or a brush,” she said anxiously.
“In the box, love. Martella helped me, so I should have everything.”
Jana dressed quickly, wanting to get this final “display” behind her. She followed Varian to the door, surprised to find one of his crew members waiting to take their belongings back to the shuttle. Jana blushed at having such intimacy exposed. If Varian or the ensign noticed, neither let on.
As they walked along, Varian whispered, “This couldn’t be helped, Jana. Please relax. I’ll get us out of there as quickly as I can.”
As they strolled toward the home of Rigel’s planetary ruler, Avatar Lopear, Varian’s expression suddenly changed. Jana’s puzzled gaze followed his line of vision to land on Moloch Shira. An overpowering aura of savagery and evil permeated the air around him. Moloch shifted his satanic gaze to her and his lips curled into an insulting sneer. The man passed his razor eyes over Jana’s body, visually cutting away both her garments and courage.
Moloch blocked their path. “What do we have here? The dauntless Commander Saar enjoying his last night with his alien treat? If you find her so tasty and pleasing, why are you going through with her auction? If I’m lucky, I’ll be able to answer that question for myself tomorrow night.”
The message written in Moloch’s eyes instilled alarm in Jana. Why did this man hate Varian so intensely? What would Moloch do to her if he won the auction? Even if he didn’t become her owner, some stranger would, perhaps an enemy of Varian’s with an ax to grind. What would such a ruthless man do to spite Varian? Especially if he or another foe thought Varian loved her.
“If you’re that lucky, you’ll regret being so mean to her every time you meet her,” Varian taunted to hide his consternation. “You should know by now that first impressions are hard to forget, and yours couldn’t have been worse.”
Moloch stiffened. But he could relax now, for his work for Ryker was over. As soon as Jana’s auction ended, Ryker was to deliver Canissia to him. Still, he would try to buy Jana at auction. After using her and harassing Varian, he could easily find a buyer for her. If rumor was accurate, Prince Taemin had an itch for Jana. If so, he could easily recover two or three times his expenses for buying Jana. Plus, Ryker, too, might change his mind about needing Jana.
As if by magic, Nigel appeared. Varian glanced at his friend and ordered, “Take Jana back to the ship, Nigel. I’m late for a party and Cass is waiting for me. If Moloch wants another look at my gem, he can get it tomorrow.”
Nigel took Jana’s hand and led her away. She was too upset to argue or resist. Nigel explained how Varian had issued an emergency summons to get her out of a nasty situation. “I’m sorry you had to witness such a crude display, Jana. Varian didn’t want you to be subjected to the likes of Moloch and his friends tonight anyway. He’ll probably claim you’re ill or too upset to be present. You’re lucky he’s sending you back to the ship tonight. Otherwise one of your biggest rivals would be at your throat all evening.”
“Canissia Garthon?”
Nigel nodded and said, “Thank heavens Varian is immune to her.” They chatted aimlessly until they reached the ship where they parted at the entrance to Varian’s quarters.
Jana was lying in his bed when Varian returned. He walked to the bed, stripped off his clothes, lay down half atop her, and began showering her with-kisses and caresses: all without a word! He called on all of his reserve energy, imagination, superior knowledge, proficiency, and experience while making love to her. He wanted her in many ways; she willingly agreed. He made love to her for hours, trying to sate his enormous appetite for her.
Jana followed each of his instructions, then called on her own instincts to please him. She did more than her part to make sure this was their best night of shared bliss. She had never been bolder or greedier. She amazed and thrilled Varian with her full cooperation and fiery responses.
Varian had not possessed a woman with such a total giving and taking of passion. He had never craved a woman as he did Jana. He had never shared himself as he did with Jana. He attained heights of pleasure and sensation which he hadn’t realized existed. This rapturous contentment and total relaxation afterward were new to him. He knew why, the missing element had been love.
Later, when Varian had not mentioned the party, or buyers, Jana propped her chin on her clasped hands on his chest, and asked, “How does a private auction work?”
Varian was unprepared for her question. Not now, his glance seemed to say.
“Yes, Varian, I must know what to expect tomorrow. Who’s coming?”
His spirits took a violent, spiraling plunge downward. “It’s carried out by sealed bid. Each man will be given only one opportunity to select his offer, record it, seal the envelope, then hope for the best.” He listed the men who had insured their attendance with the posting of an opening amount of 500,000 katoogas, a sum equal to half a million dollars on Earth. “When the bids are unsealed and read aloud, the largest one will automatically—” He halted as Jana flipped onto her back and closed her eyes tightly as if grimacing in agony. A tear rolled into her tousled hair.
“Jana, I wish it didn’t—”
“Don’t say anything more. Please,” she hurriedly interrupted him. “I think I understand how it works. Good night, Varian.” She turned away from him.
“I promise you’ll get a good man, moonbeam. I swear it.”
Jana stayed on her left side away from him. “How can you make such a promise? If you can’t control the results or select the buyer, then you can’t be certain Moloch Shira won’t get me! Or someone as wicked!”
“Money, Jana love,” he hinted. “There are several bidders far wealthier than Moloch or others like him. Good men, Jana. Have no doubts or fears.”
“You’re gambling with me, Varian! Who can predict the outcome of such an event? Or predict what value any of those men will place on me? Or place on vengeance toward you! Moloch is resolved to get at you through me; there must be others like him too. Why did you do this to me?”
“Trust me, Jana. He won’t get you. I would kill him first.”
“You liar! You won’t slay him or any man over me! I’m in this mess because I…trusted you! I believed you would protect me! But you can’t! Martella said you were leaving right after the auction. I swear to you, Varian Saar, if I go to Moloch or a man like him, I’ll never forgive you for such treachery and lies! I’ll hate you forever! I swear to you, I’ll die before I let a man like that touch me!” she vowed, eyes blazing.
“Listen to me carefully, Jana. If the man who obtains you isn’t a just and kind person, I swear I won’t leave you with him. On my life and honor, I won’t turn you over to Moloch or any other low-life bastard. I swear it.”
Jana fused her gaze with his. Something deep within her demanded that she believe him. Her hand reached up to caress his cheek. Tears burned her eyes. How fiercely this separation pained her. She wanted to beg him to keep her. She couldn’t and
she mustn’t. Such words and actions had to come from Varian. She licked her dry lips and murmured, “God, how I’m going to miss you. Why did I ever allow myself to succumb to your charms?”
“Would you do me one favor, moonbeam? Try not to hate me. Try to see my side in all of this mess. Try to ignore all the lies about me, about why I took advantage of you. Try to find peace in your new life.”
Jana wondered if Varian was as entrapped by this detestable situation as she was, if he was hurting as badly as she was. If only he would explain himself, his emotions, his troubled past. Jana smiled faintly. Again, Varian gave her the impression that he wanted to speak plaguing thoughts. He looked so miserable. “Sleep, my love, we have a busy day ahead,” she told him sensitively. She snuggled into his arms and closed her eyes.
It was almost noon when Varian awoke with a start. He sat up and rubbed his sandy eyes and stubbled face. He eased off the bed to flex his stiff body. He dared not glance at Jana. He slipped quietly into his bathroom to shave, shower, and dress. Soon, he must rouse her and set into motion a terrible day which they would both curse and remember…
Varian gently shook her shoulder and called her name. “Jana, it’s time to get up. You need to eat and dress. We have to leave by two-thirty.”
“Is it very late?” she asked as she sat up and rubbed her sleepy eyes.
“It’s one. You seemed exhausted, so I let you sleep as long as I could.”
Jana placed her feet on the floor. Ignoring her naked figure, she yawned and stretched. “You’re right. Do I have time for a leisurely soak?”
“How about I wait thirty minutes before sending for our lunch?”
“Sounds terrific. See you later,” she muttered groggily.
When he told her time was up, she completed her bath and rejoined him. Dampened wisps of tawny hair clung to the edges of her lovely face and the nape of her neck where the long curls were pinned up. Sweet fragrance invaded his senses. She hadn’t bothered to don a robe; the ice-blue silk gown molded enticingly to her moist figure where she had dried hurriedly. Her golden flesh glowed with velvety softness. He wondered how she could have been so unaware of her matchless beauty. She did indeed appear the helpless angel this morning, a weary one, a subdued one. They hardly spoke during the meal. He watched her leave to dress for her auction.
Moondust And Madness Page 31