by Sophie Stern
Cody stays cool. “Lana,” he says carefully. “My father is an important man on Sapphira. You understand what that means.” He watches me, waiting for me to understand the hidden meaning behind his words.
It’s the funny thing about fathers, isn’t it? My own was stolen from me long before he should have been. My father should have had years and years ahead of him. He should have had a bright future, yet somehow, doing the right thing led to his death. There’s no doubt in my mind that if my father hadn’t saved Gerald and I, the two of us would have perished. Father died for us. For me. He saved us, sacrificing himself to the very rebels who destroyed the planet.
And I miss him.
I miss him so very much.
The two of us should have had many happy years remaining. I wanted him to see me grow into a woman he could be proud of. I wanted him to see how brave I was, how caring. I wanted him to see me fall in love with a worthy man and then I wanted him to see me become a mother. I wanted so many things, but those dreams are dead now: crushed before they ever truly had time to bloom.
“I understand,” I tell Cody.
“But things have changed,” he continues. “Your father was an important man, and it seems that by protecting Gerald, you have made your father’s enemies your own.”
Gerald nods, but doesn’t say anything. I know he hasn’t talked to his son about everything that happened on the planet. I know the two of them still need to sit down and have a heart-to-heart in order to move their relationship forward. Still, Cody’s considering and caring is touching.
“Look,” I sigh, shaking my head. “He’s dead. They wouldn’t come after me again. That thing at the terminal,” I wave my hand in the direction we came from. “That was just…”
“A misunderstanding?” He offers, raising an eyebrow. I know he thinks I’m being ridiculous.
“A misunderstanding,” I agree. “And it’s one that will not be repeated.”
He can’t be repeated.
I’m not on my planet anymore.
It was a hell of a journey to get to Sapphira, but I’m here now. I’m not going to let anything ruin that. While this wasn’t my first choice for a new home, the truth is that any planet would be difficult to adjust to. No matter where I end up, whether I decide to stay on Sapphira or leave, it’s going to take time to get used to everything. I might as well just start trying to adjust to being on Sapphira.
Gerald has been quiet, but he steps forward now and looks at me sternly, firmly. I’ve never seen him look at me like that before, but I recognize it for what it is. He’s thinking of me as a child, suddenly, and one that’s under his protection.
“Lana, we cannot let you be hurt.”
He’s not my father.
“I’m a big girl, Gerald.”
“I could never forgive myself.”
“I’m not trying to sound ungrateful,” I tell him carefully, glancing once more at the huge mansion. It’s brightly colored: orange, I think, with a hint of yellow. It looks like something out of a dream. Then again, that’s how everything on Sapphira is. The entire planet is different shades of bright, vibrant colors, and I sort of love it.
“Please,” Gerald says, and the look of surprise on Cody’s face tells me his father never begs. “Let us protect you until we can be certain the threat is secure.”
“What makes you think I’ll be safe here?” I ask, looking up at the house. Yes, it’s huge, but that doesn’t mean much on its own. I know that if a thief wants to break in, he’ll find a way to do it no matter how big the house might be. Harper hid on the Extrinsic ship for a week just waiting for the perfect moment to strike, after all. If he could do that with the Yongqi, why should I think I’ll be safe at Gerald’s house?
A wave of fear rushes through my body, but I push it away. I don’t have time to be scared anymore.
“I’m the head of my father’s security team,” Cody says. “Trust me: this is the safest place in Diamond.”
I look at the house once more. It’s big. There are probably a lot of hiding spots there: plenty of space to hide if I need to. The place is far enough from the main part of the city that I bet any other stowaway rebels wouldn’t even be able to find this place.
Maybe he’s right.
Maybe I will be safe here.
“Okay,” I say, and I start walking toward the house.
“That’s it?” Cody shouts out after me.
I turn around, but keep walking backward in the direction of the mansion. “I trust you,” I say, and then I turn back around. I don’t know if I should trust this man. It might not be the smartest decision I’ve made. He’s different than most of the guys I’ve known before. He has a certain self-assuredness to himself that’s really nice, but I’m certain there’s something more. Cody seems like the type of man who’s used to getting what he wants.
Am I what he wants?
I shake my head because that’s dumb. Just because he’s giving me a place to live doesn’t mean he wants me. It doesn’t mean he’s interested in me. It doesn’t mean anything at all except that for a little while, I’ll be safe. For a brief amount of time, I won’t have to worry about how I’ll eat or where I’ll shop or whether I’m alone. Somehow, I think this is what my father would have wanted. I think he would have wanted to know his little girl was safe.
Still, this is the first time I’ve ever stayed in a house without him. The ship was…well, a ship’s a ship. A house, though…this is a home, and it’s very different from the one I grew up with. It’s the complete opposite of what I’m used to, but I don’t think my father would be sad I’m here. He would want me to be safe, to be happy.
When we get inside the mansion, I look around the large entryway. The space is brightly decorated, but it looks a bit like a museum or a gallery, rather than someone’s home. This isn’t the type of place you can make a mess in. I’ll have to be extra cautious not to be my usual, clumsy self while I’m here. The last thing I need to do is to trip and fall and knock something valuable down.
It’s not like I have the money to replace anything I might break.
Just then, a small blue man comes up to us. He smiles at the group.
“Senator,” he says politely. “Cody.” He nods to them both and then turns to me. “And you must be our new houseguest,” he says with a smile. “Might I take your belongings?”
“I just have the one bag,” I say. I can carry it myself, but perhaps that’s not the custom here. I hate to ask someone else to help me over something so small, but the man seems to be waiting for me, so I hand it over to him.
“He’ll take it to your room,” Cody says, placing his hand on my lower back. I turn to thank the man, but he’s already disappeared. “That’s Benaoi. You probably won’t see him very much. He keeps to himself.”
“I understand,” I say. I notice Gerald and Cody taking off their shoes and placing them in small pods close to the front door. Quickly, I follow suit.
“These are cleaning pods,” Gerald explains. I’m glad he doesn’t ask me if we had these on my home planet. He was in my home, at my house with my father. He knows I didn’t have these, yet he doesn’t make me feel bad or upset about it. That’s one thing I like about Gerald. Even when we were on Alipoiaen, he never commented on money or wealth. It was obvious from the way he moved, from the way he dressed, that Gerald came from wealth.
My father and I, despite being in the biggest house in the village, barely had enough to eat.
The thing about Alipoiaen is that the leaders of the villages always felt like their people should eat first, should be cared for first. My father always told me that people from other planets didn’t always feel the same. Alipoiaen had visitors sometimes, at least when I was little, but as the political system began to dissolve and the fighting began, fewer and fewer people found an interest in coming to visit our planet.
Fewer and fewer people found an interest in trying to save us.
“Come this way,” Cody says, and he leads
me up a large staircase.
“I’ll see about food,” Gerald calls out, and he goes in a different direction. I look back at him, but he’s already gone.
“It’s okay,” Cody tells me. “I promise I won’t bite.”
I laugh, but it comes out as more of a scoff, and Cody stops on the stairs and turns to me.
“Hey,” he reaches gently for my chin, holding his gaze on mine. “You have my word,” he tells me. “I won’t hurt you, Lana. You don’t have to be afraid to be alone with me. Are you afraid of me?”
I swallow hard.
Cody is a huge, giant man. He towers over me. His dark blue skin contrasts with his hair, which is brown, and suddenly, I just want to run my hands through it.
Am I afraid of Cody?
Not in the way he thinks.
I’m afraid of what could happen if I give him my heart.
I’m afraid of how he could tear it to shreds without even trying.
“No,” I lie to Cody. “I’m not afraid of you.”
Chapter Six
Cody
“Then let’s go.” I take her hand and lead her upstairs. The tour of the second floor is quick and simple. This is where my father and I live, and we both enjoy luxurious items and spaces, but our home is fairly straightforward. He has one wing of the house and I have another. There’s a third wing for guests, and that’s where Lana will stay.
She seems to like the room I give her. It’s the smallest one we have. Still, she seems completely overwhelmed. When my father advised me to give her the tiny space, I thought he was being cruel, but then he explained.
She’s coming from nothing, Cody. She lived in a tiny home in a tiny village and even though she is the most generous person I’ve ever met, she’s uncomfortable with wealth. She’ll feel bad and uncomfortable in a bigger room. Just give her the small one. Just for now.
“This is too much,” she says, looking around the space. I don’t tell her this room is the size of my closet. Instead, I shrug, trying not to make it seem like I’m doing anything incredible for her. In my mind, I’m not. I never should have been rude to her at the docking station terminal. She’s a kind girl, and I think it’ safe to say my father was right about her.
“I hope you’ll be comfortable here,” I tell her. “Father can order you some clothing to be delivered shortly.”
“Really?” She asks. “That wouldn’t be too much? He’s done so much already.”
“You saved his life, love,” I step forward, placing my hands on her waist. “I think the least he can do is give you some dresses.”
“What are you doing, Cody?” She looks from my hands to my face and back again. “Why are you touching me like this?” She seems confused, and to be honest, so am I. I don’t want to like Lana. I want to hate her. I want to despise her, to think she’s a terrible person.
I promised myself a long time ago I wouldn’t allow a woman to rule my heart or to hurt me. Not after what happened to Father. Still, Lana is suddenly irresistible to me. She’s so much kinder and gentler than I expected her to be, but she’s more than that. She’s strong, too.
“I’m just talking,” I whisper, almost choking on the words.
“I don’t believe you,” Lana searches my eyes. “You’re different than I expected,” she whispers.
“What did you think I would be, Lana? Did you think I would be cruel to you? Heartless?” I pull her closer, so tightly that her breasts are pushed against my chest. It’s all I can do to keep from taking her right in the bedroom. Right now, every thought in my head is that Lana is fucking gorgeous and incredible, and I want nothing more than to make love to her more sweetly than anyone ever has before.
“No,” she says quietly.
“Did you think I would be good to you, Lana?”
“No.”
“Tell me what you thought,” I whisper into her ear. My lips brush against her skin, and I feel a shiver rush through her body. “Tell me.”
“Your father thought we’d make a good pair,” she says. “I suppose I thought you were ugly and couldn’t find a girl without his help.”
I can’t help it.
I burst out laughing.
I let go of Lana because I can’t stop giggling like a schoolchild.
“What?” She asks. “What did I say?”
“I’m sorry,” I laugh. “But I’ve never had anyone openly admit they were worried I might be ugly.”
“You aren’t, you know,” she says quickly. Lana looks up at me with those big, beautiful eyes, and I smile down at her.
“Yes, love,” I tell her. “Trust me: self-confidence is not a problem I experience very often.”
“It must be nice,” she says. “Feeling that good about yourself: believing you can do anything.”
“Not as nice as this,” I say, stepping forward once more. The laughter has died down and the mood has turned serious once more. I can’t quite explain the connection I feel to Lana. We’ve only known each other a matter of hours, yet somehow, I feel as if I’ve known her my entire life. She makes me feel comfortable in my own skin. She makes me feel admired.
“And what is this?” She asks quietly. “What are we doing here, Cody?”
“We’re just talking.”
“It doesn’t feel like we’re just talking,” she says.
“No?” I move closer. My hands are on her waist now. She feels small and delicate in my arms.
I need to taste her.
“Is this how you usually talk to girls?” She asks, cocking her head to the side. She doesn’t sound jealous or uncomfortable. She mostly sounds curious.
“Is this how you usually talk to boys?” I counter, and she laughs.
Before her mouth is closed, I bring my lips to hers. I kiss her deeply, fully expecting her to slap me or pull away, but she doesn’t. Instead, Lana surprises me by kissing me back deeply, passionately, courageously. She kisses me with fervor, with passion.
She kisses me like the entire world is wrapped up in this kiss.
She kisses me like she needs this just as much as I do.
My head begins to spin as I take my time exploring her mouth. I lower my hands to her bottom and pull her into me. Yeah, I’m hard and firm against her belly. There’s no way she doesn’t feel this, but I’m not embarrassed. She’s getting the best of me and that’s fine. There’s nothing wrong with letting her know just how much she’s impacting me, just how much she’s making me feel alive in this moment.
Lana is a beautiful, precious woman, and I love that we’re sharing this moment together. The only problem is that sooner or later, the moment is going to end, and for the first time I can ever remember, I don’t want that to happen. I don’t want this kiss to end. I don’t want this moment to come to a close. I want to enjoy her over and over and over again.
I don’t want it to ever stop.
Lana wraps her arms around my neck and pushes up on the tips of her toes. She kisses me deeply, and then she runs her hands up and down my cheeks.
Now I’m the one who feels cherished.
Now I’m the one who feels important.
I’m charming when I want to be, and I’m no saint. I’ve been with women before, just as I’m sure Lana has been with men before, but I’ve never been with anyone who makes me feel like this.
I’ve never been with anyone who makes me feel like the entire world is mine for the taking.
A knock at the door sounds, and we quickly turn to see my father standing in the doorway. He’s not embarrassed to have caught us. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the old bastard had planned to walk in on us.
“Excuse me,” he says, blinking innocently. “I apologize for interrupting.”
“Oh, Gerald,” Lana says quickly. “It’s completely fine. You’re fine. We were just…” Her voice trails off and I look down to see her bright red cheeks flushing furiously.
“Supper is ready,” my father says with a chuckle. “If the two of you would like to join me, I’d be delighted.
”
“That sounds good to me,” Lana says, and she follows him out the door and down the hallway. At the top of the stairs, Lana turns back around at me and winks, and my heart soars once more.
Chapter Seven
Lana
My heart feels like it can fly, and I’m filled with the confidence that I can do anything.
Anything.
But all I want to do is kiss Cody some more. All I want to do is wrap my arms around him and pull him closer to me once more. I don’t know why I feel so comfortable or at ease around him. I don’t know why I feel so safe, yet I do, and I want to feel that again. I want to feel him again.
Fighting a blush, I try to focus on eating dinner. Dinner. That’s what we’re doing. We’re just a group of normal, ordinary people who are sharing a meal together. Nothing more, nothing less. Just food.
“What is it?” I ask, looking at the plate in front of me. I hope I don’t sound rude. I probably sound rude. I’m not trying to. Mostly, I’m trying not to keep thinking about the kiss in my bedroom, but also, I’m curious. This is so unlike anything I’ve ever had before that I want to know all of the details. Maybe I’ll try to replicate it later when I have my own place. I’ll be cooking for myself, then, and I’ll need to learn how to prepare food from this planet. I’m going to venture a guess that they don’t have the things I’m used to from home.
That’s okay.
I take a deep breath. It’s a learning experience. All of this is a learning experience.
I wish Kitty could see me now.
She would ask me what happened to the old Lana and who this brave, wonderful girl is in her place.
“It’s a traditional dish,” Gerald explains. “Try it. Cody loved it when he was little.” He motions toward my plate and picks up a big bite of it. With a smile, he takes a bite and nods. “See?” He says. “It’s delicious.” I can’t help but smile at the gesture. It reminds me of being a picky eater as a little girl. My parents used to use the same tactics to get me to try new foods.
Cody leans toward me conspiratorially and adds, “My mother used to make it when she knew I was upset. It always calmed me down.”