“Yes! Open the godsdamned door!” he ordered.
“It appears that the door is unable to open at this time. Shall I send a repair request to engineering?” the computer asked.
“Yes! Immediately! Tell them to come immediately, computer!” he insisted.
“Of course, Captain. And please, address me as Missy.”
“Missy?” he asked, his head tilting slightly to the side, looking at the ceiling with a perplexed expression on his face.
“Yes, Captain. My name is Missy. I shall report your delayed door at once.”
“Thank you,” Rokai answered. Then more to himself than to the computer. “Who would name the computer on a warship Missy?”
“Sirena Vivian named me Missy, Captain. All of our warriors and anyone else aboard call me Missy. She says I deserve a name, just like all others.”
Rokai sat down on the corner of his bed shaking his head. A warship’s computer, artificial intelligence, named Missy. Now he’d seen it all.
“Are you calling for help?” he shouted at the ceiling. There was no reply. “Computer?” he yelled. Rokai mumbled to himself before finally giving in. “Missy?”
“Yes, Captain,” the computer immediately answered.
“Are you calling for help?” he repeated.
“I have completed protocol. Maintenance should arrive shortly.”
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Jhan was in the training facility, working out with Kol’s Elite Unit of warriors when Missy spoke to him.
“Specialist Jhan Re’ Don Tol.”
Jhan ducked the fist that was aimed at his head and signaled a pause to his opponent before he answered. “Yes, Missy.”
“As instructed, any report of malfunctioning doorways in Rokai ahl’s quarters is being reported to you directly. He has requested maintenance as he is currently unable to leave his rooms.”
Jhan started laughing, several of the other males began to chuckle, too.
“What have you done?” Kol asked, waiting for him to finish, so they could resume their training session.
“I programmed his door to wait for ten minutes to open when he activates it from the inside. From the outside there is no delay, and for anyone other than himself or his friend, there is no delay on either side of the doorway. So far, it’s proven to be quite entertaining,” Jhan said, still laughing.
Kol couldn’t help himself — he smiled and laughed a bit, too. “Are you going to go repair it?” Kol asked.
Jhan seemed insulted. “No! Why would I do that?”
“So he doesn’t break the door?” Kol asked.
“Not possible. Perhaps in a few days I’ll tire of the game, but for now, I like it,” Jhan answered, smiling.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Rokai was reclining across his bed, waiting for maintenance to arrive when suddenly without warning, the doors slid apart. He jumped to his feet and looked at the doors questioningly. They didn’t close, nor did they give any indication of what had activated them, causing them to open. He’d given up nearly ten minutes before and settled down to wait for maintenance. Suddenly, deciding that he’d chance them closing on him as he tried to exit the room, he shot forward, darting out of them as quickly as he could.
“Ahhahhahahahah!” his laughter blasted maniacally as he bounced off the opposite wall in the corridor, he exited his rooms so quickly. “I’m free, you irritating bastard!” Rokai shouted at the door.
Several males walking down the corridor toward him gave him a wide berth as he laughed and cursed an empty doorway.
“What are you looking at?” he demanded as they clearly avoided him.
Both males shook their heads and hurried past.
Rokai straightened his clothing and went to the lift. Once aboard the lift, he wasn’t sure which direction to go in. Zha Quin had said Kol’s unit was training already, so he figured he’d go there. He could use a good fight — he had a lot of anxiety and frustration to work off. But first he needed food.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Rokai strolled into the commissary as though he owned the place — hands in his pockets, looking around at everyone as though they should be asking him permission to be there. He was actually in a pleasant mood this morning. He never slept. At least not more than thirty or forty minutes at a time. But he’d slept the entire night. Who knew why? Maybe it was because he was aboard Command Warship 1 and knew he was safe to allow his mind to rest without being on constant alert. Or maybe it was because he’d been so amused by the female trying to give him a taste of his own medicine, he’d actually had his mind on her rather than on who may be trying to kill him next and perhaps that had been it. His instincts nudged him to look to the far wall. He gradually turned his attention there, and instantly his entire demeanor changed. Rosie was there, watching him enter the commissary. But she wasn’t alone. There were two males sitting with her, and one of them was the male she’d danced with from the club the night before. He stiffened, his expression became hard and impatient. He marched to the front of the line and when the server asked what he wanted, he barked that he didn’t care, just give him food.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Rosie saw Rokai enter the commissary. Her heart started to beat faster, her palms grew sweaty, and her panties were almost immediately soaked. She didn’t hear a single word of the conversation both males sitting with her attempted to make her laugh with. She was spellbound as she watched him assume control of the room. She saw him go to the front of the serving line and demand a plate, all the while never breaking eye contact with her. And then she saw him headed her way.
Chapter 14
Rokai took his plate from the server, then looked down and noticed fresh pieces of what looked like fruit beside the drinking glasses placed at the end of the line. “What are these?” he asked.
“These are apples, oranges, peaches and nectarines. They are favorites of our Sirena and of her planet. We keep them on hand for her and the other females we’ve recently taken aboard.”
Rokai nodded while picking up first one, then another, sniffing them and putting them back down. When he raised the peach to his nose and inhaled, he smiled. This one would taste sweet, yet tangy. He tossed it up and caught it in the same hand. He walked toward the table where his Rosalita sat - with two other males! And where the hells did that come from? She wasn’t his. He was just irritated he didn’t get to sample all her wares. But no matter, he would, and soon.
He approached the table, stood behind them, a low rumble pouring from his chest, until both males turned to look at him. “You sit where you are not welcome.”
“We asked, she invited us to sit down,” one of them responded.
Then the male turned to Rosalita. “Is this your male?”
Rosalita looked at Rokai, watched his nostrils flare and had a moment of panic when she thought maybe he could smell her arousal, then waved the concern away when she saw him bite into the peach he carried.
“No. He is not. Are you, Papi?” she answered, daring him to contradict her. Rosie had seen a slight twitch when she’d answered, but now his face was a perfect reflection of calm.
“I am thankful that you see things this way. I was concerned you may have become attached, and I do not have one female… I have many.” Rosie’s lips pursed together, her eyes narrowed, and it was all she could do to contain herself as Rokai sauntered away and took a seat at a table full of welcoming females, who could be heard immediately giggling and speaking in high-pitched tones in response to whatever it was he said.
Rosie was seething she was so angry. She looked at the two males sitting with her and knew it was her own fault. Had they not been there, he may have very well sat with her. And even more, if she’d been able to control her smart mouth, he still may have sat with her after making the other two leave. She’d hoped to make him jealous on seeing her with other males, but all she’d done was drive him toward other women.
She huffed out her frustration and stood. “I have to go,” she said
by way of explanation to the males sitting with her.
“Of course,” they both replied at once. “Perhaps we can share another meal on another day,” one of them offered.
“Perhaps,” she answered. Hurriedly, without making eye contact with Rokai, and leaving her meal mostly uneaten, she left the commissary and didn’t slow down until she was standing at the lift down the corridor. As soon as the doors opened, she stepped inside and let go of the breath she’d been holding, waiting to hear the doors close behind her. Only they didn’t close. They started to, then they whooshed open again. When Rosie turned to see who’d stepped on the lift with her, her breath caught when she found Rokai, cocky as ever, smiling at her.
“You didn’t finish your meal,” Rokai said.
“I lost my appetite,” she answered, her lie easily detected when her stomach growled at the scent of the peach.
“Do you like…” he paused, looking at the piece of Earth fruit he held in his hand, the juices making his fingers sticky. He wasn’t sure what to call it.
“Peaches?” Rosie offered.
“Peaches,” he confirmed, holding it out for her to take a bite.
Rosie leaned over and took a bite of the peach, next to the one bite already taken out of it that he’d himself taken.
Rokai licked the juice running down his wrist. “They are very sweet,” he said, licking one of his fingers.
“They are my favorite,” Rosie admitted.
Rokai held it out for her to take another bite, turning it so that she could get a good-sized mouthful. Silently he fed her the rest of the peach. Rokai didn’t say a word; he just adjusted the peach to give her a better bite. After the third bite, Rosie began to lick the juices from his hand with each bite she took. He held perfectly still while she licked his hand free of the juices leaving the peach as she ate it. His heart thundered in his chest, and needs he’d thought he’d rid himself of long, long ago began to whisper to his soul. But he said nothing. He refused to acknowledge what his psyche had already figured out.
When finally there was none of the peach left, she licked her lips. “Thank you for breakfast.”
“You are welcome.”
“Why didn’t you sit with me?” she asked.
“You did not ask me to. In fact your actions implied that you were happy with those you were seated with prior to my arrival. You were already entertaining more than your fair share.”
“I was not entertaining anyone.”
Rokai pretended not to hear her comment and continued on in the same vein he was headed. Tapping his chin, he tried to give the impression he was thinking over their encounter. “I was not aware that Earth allowed their females to have harems,” he said, clearly baiting her.
“On Earth, we can do pretty much whatever makes us happy, as long as we don’t hurt anyone else,” Rosie answered.
“And multiple males make you happy?” he asked.
“No. I didn’t say that.”
“But your behavior implies that,” he insisted.
“As does yours. Did you really feel the need to sit with five other women?”
“Of course. Why would I confine myself to only one. You know, sometimes, just the one… they don’t follow through, so it is necessary to have others to step up and give you the satisfaction you need,” Rokai explained.
“What are you saying, Rokai?” Rosie asked, putting her hand on her hip.
“Oh, now you know my name,” he teased.
Rosie just glared at him.
“Did you sleep well, my Rosalita?” he asked, running the fingers of his clean hand down her cheek.
“I did not,” she answered, still aggravated with his teasing her.
Rokai was surprised. He thought surely she’d slept as well as he did. “Pity,” he said. “I slept better than I have in years.” He leaned in and pressed a kiss to her forehead before she could pull away. “I wish you good luck in your harem gathering, my Rosalita.” The doors behind him opened, and he stepped backwards, watching her eyes flash with anger, and her mouth open and close as she searched for the perfect comeback.
“I already told you I don’t want a harem! Women of Earth do not have harems!” she insisted as the doors closed, and she found herself in the lift alone again. Just before it began to move her to the upper levels once more, she heard his laughter. He’d gotten to her, and he knew it.
“Bastard!” she hissed out.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Rokai made his way down the corridor, a sticky peach seed in his right hand. He came upon a garbage receptacle and tossed the peach seed inside, using the cleansing foam dispenser mounted above it to clean his hand. His breath caught as he remembered the feel of Rosalita’s tongue on his fingers, licking away the peach juice.
He grinned as he remembered her eyes flashing in anger as he teased her about assembling her own harem. He had no doubt she would not assemble a harem. The whys and hows of it were not a problem for him. If she tried to take another male, while he still waited for his time with her, he would kill the male. Plain and simple.
A little voice inside whispered to him about the ridiculousness of it, but he ignored it. He refused to even consider why conquering her was such a point of interest to him. She was not of nobility. She was not even of a wealthy family. She was independent, feisty, smart mouthed and infuriating. All of which he found completely irresistible. “I shall tame her, if only for a little while,” he said aloud. Satisfied that he’d answered any questions he may have asked himself had he allowed any questions of himself, he looked around. “What the hells level am I on now?” he said aloud.
“Computer?” he asked, raising his voice. There was no answer. “Computer?!” he said even louder. Still no answer.
“Missy?” he asked.
“Yes, Captain,” the ship responded immediately.
“What level is the training facility on?” he asked.
“Two, Captain. Opposite side of the ship from the commissary.”
“Of course,” he snarked. Back to the lift and back toward the commissary.
He returned to the lift and pressed the button, half hoping that Rosie would still be on it, waiting for him to tease her again. But when the doors opened the lift was empty.
He stepped onto the lift and pressed the button to take him to the correct level.
The ship waited a suitable amount of time before speaking again. “You are welcome.”
“What?” he asked.
“It is customary to thank one for their assistance. You are welcome.”
“Unbelievable,” he muttered.
Again the ship spoke. “You are welcome,” this time more insistently.
“Thank you!” he bellowed.
“You are most welcome, Captain. Have a lovely training session,” Missy responded.
Some minutes later Rokai was still mumbling under his breath about insolent artificial intelligence programs when finally he stalked into the training facility, and everything in that facility came to a dead stop to watch him.
Rokai slowed his steps until he was no longer moving. He looked around at all the eyes staring particularly at him.
“What?” he snapped, looking them all intermittently in the eye.
Kol, who’d been finishing up a hand-to-hand combat session with one of the younger members of his team, stood from the mat and walked toward Rokai. “Rokai ahl. Welcome to Elite Team 1. Each of my team has been briefed on your arrival and immediate acceptance onto our team.”
Rokai looked around at the males scattered about the room, then at Kol again. “What am I expected to do here?” he asked with what was clearly, absolutely no interest.
Kol smiled. “Prove yourself.”
Rokai’s eyebrows rose. “To whom?”
“Each of us. You’re assigned to our unit, prove that you deserve to be here,” Kol answered.
“You can’t be serious,” Rokai responded.
About that time a male fell on him from the ceiling, taking him to the
mat. Rokai immediately began evasive maneuvers and managed to gain top position and control of the male. The male grinned up at Rokai as Rokai held him down and in a split second flipped Rokai onto his back and retook control, pressing an arm into his throat.
“Elite Commander Kol,” Missy said.
“Yes, Missy,” Kol answered as he watched Rokai and one of his best males wrestling on the mats.
“Your Ehlealah awakes,” Missy informed him.
Kol’s entire demeanor changed. “I must go. But do not worry, they’ve each been advised not to kill you.”
Rokai spun and flipped the male into the air, smashing him face first into the mat and using his body weight to keep the male pinned down. His eyes flashed to Kol as he hurried from the facility. “Can I kill them?” he shouted.
“No! Do not kill any of my men!” Kol shouted back.
“Hmpf, not as much fun as I thought it would be,” Rokai mumbled, just before another male joined in, and the real fighting began.
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
Kol hurried down the corridor and burst through the doors of medical without pause. He rushed straight up to the room his Ehlealah was in and stopped. He didn’t want to rush into the room and startle her. He approached the door, and as it swooshed open, he realized Vivian was already there.
Vivian looked over her shoulder and smiled at Kol. “Blue-Dude!” she mock whispered.
“Vivi, is she awake?” he said, coming to stand just beside Vivian.
“Not quite. When she started to stir, I had Missy call for you.”
“Thank you, Vivi,” Kol answered. It was apparent he was nervous. His entire body was tense, his face strained.
Vivian adjusted her seat on the edge of the female’s bed and began to speak again.
“What are you doing?” Kol asked.
“I’m reading to her. I think if she wakes up and hears English being spoken, perhaps she won’t be so fearful,” Vivian answered.
Kol leaned over, peeking at the title of the book she was reading aloud. “The Pirate’s Conquest? Really, Vivi?” Kol asked.
“Hey, you’re the one who bought it for me,” Vivian answered.
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