She longed to see Enrue’s face again. Flicking her sharer open, she keyed in the com to his office. It signaled several times before picking up. His secretary stood there looking terse and agitated. “What is it now, Cossia?” Her biting sarcasm angered Melia.
“I see you too have no respect for Kyleena.” She clucked her tongue. “Let me speak to the Shiemir.”
“He’s in a meeting and not to be interrupted.” The thin, gray-haired woman placed her hands on her hips and scowled. “Specifically, not by you.”
“He said that, did he?”
The secretary nodded. “I believe his exact words were, ‘I am not to be disturbed, especially by that little Cossia imposter from the Empire.’” She had mimicked Enrue’s voice to a degree.
Melia almost laughed, but bit back her amusement. She was getting to him, and that was a good sign. He was turning into a fun challenge. “Well, can you give him a message for me?”
“I can record it, but won’t guarantee he’ll watch.” She pressed a button before her and, as seemed to be her way, went back to either filing or trying to trace the com. Her lined face went lax, her dim eyes fixed elsewhere. It was insulting, but Melia had been treated with much less regard in the past.
“Tell Enrue I’m on my way to Taraf, and I look forward to meeting him face to face.” She paused when the secretary wandered away. Of all the nerve… “And tell him I’ll take great pleasure in watching the Empire use his corpse as an example of what happens to traitors.”
That got the woman’s attention. She craned her neck into the com’s view. Her mouth twisted in a surprisingly pissy frown. “How dare you threaten him? Obviously, you have no idea how powerful the Shiemir is.”
Melia waved a hand in the air. “Oh, you’re wrong. I know exactly how powerful he is, who his allies are, and all about his plans. Let him know how much I enjoyed Wyther’s company just before he told me all of Enrue’s dirty, little secrets.”
“What!” The secretary darted forth, her spindly form rigid. “Jeremy Wyther? What did you say?”
“That’s right. General Wyther’s tongue flapped just like so many others before him. I must say, he disappointed me.”
Her wrinkled face became ashen. Melia had touched a tender nerve, and she reveled in the small victory of overturning this woman’s high and mighty demeanor. She twiddled a lock of hair and watched the secretary try to gather her words. When nothing escaped the older woman’s lips, Melia spoke, “Cat got your tongue?” It was an ancient phrase, but one she liked. “I’ll com Enrue in five hours. Tell him.” She clicked out and turned her gaze to the window. Signs of city-life greeted her, gravel roads for hovercraft shuttles, metal walkways and buildings reaching to the sky in tubular, silver towers. A thin layer of gray smog clung to the sky. “I already miss Alga,” she muttered.
* * * *
The Jump Station in Horga City was clean and organized. Melia passed her falsified credentials to the attendant who glimpsed over them and keyed in the data. “Would you like first class?”
“Of course.”
“Fish or vegan?”
Melia perused the other people waiting in seats nearby, seeking any suspicious gazes that might very well be from Enrue’s employees. “Vegan,” she answered.”
“Here’s your ticket and boarding card. You’re in seat 5A. Have a safe flight to Taraf, Ms. Fearing.”
“Thank you.” Melia snatched up the plastic card, tapped it three times against the counter and hurried on her way, her only belongings a small carry sack and the paper-wrapped bundle of art supplies. She looked forward to a soft bed and maybe painting in the morning, if time allowed. As she sauntered along the departure hall and stepped into the Jump Shuttle, she contemplated how she would kill Enrue. If he let her have her way with him, she decided she’d do it with little fanfare. A quick, but rather painless death. Not that she minded watching her hits suffer. It all depended on how they treated her.
She found her seat, stowed her belongings in the cabinet at her side, and leaned back. Once the shuttle was in flight, she’d com Enrue and rattle his cage a bit more. Passengers filtered past her. Some stared, but most hurried on their way, too busy with their lives to notice their surroundings. Melia made a habit of noticing things, the smallest details like the ginger-haired steward’s shaking hands and the lines by his eyes. Jacked up on caffeine no doubt and probably overworked. She forced a smile when he paused by her seat. “How’s the weather in Taraf?” she asked.
He almost smiled, but failed. “Mild compared to Irnia and most port cities. Are you on vacation?”
“Yes.” She smoothed her skirt and flashed him a wider, more inviting grin. He wasn’t bad to look at, really. Maybe he’d sit down in flight and she could milk him for information, small things that could be of use in getting close to the palace. “I want to take a grand tour, to see the museums and maybe even the palace.”
“Oh, you have to go there. I just read a special on the Nine-Wire. The Shiemir has recovered two relics from Oemir Leuj’s bombed palace. Two statues. They’re magnificent.”
“Statues?Of what?”
“Unangi gods. They’re carved of stone, and the detail is incredible.” He scooted to one side to let a straggler pass. The ship’s door slid shut. “After refreshments, I’ll bring you the Nine-Wire. There was a picture…” The tones warned of the shuttle’s impending take-off.
“I’d like that,” she said and reached out to lay her hand over his.
He blushed. “I’m Collin, if you need anything else.” He stumbled a bit when he moved away, and brushed his fingers over his skin where she’d touched him. His fair coloring revealed his moods, changing like a chameleon’s skin. Melia liked that. She liked change and the ability to do so even though it was painful at times for her.
The engines droned and the Jump Shuttle launched into the sky. When they flew over the churning sea far below, Collin returned with a plate of baked sweets and two glasses of some sort of beverage. “Mind if I join you?” he asked.
Pleased by his interest in her, she patted the empty space at her side. “Yes do.”
“I found the Wire.” He activated the metallic tray, set the cookies and drinks there, and fished through his uniform jacket.
Melia stared at his hair. It was a bit wavy, and she figured if he let it grow out much more, he’d have a full red afro. It’d be comical, surely.
“Here.” He activated the news sharer and held it out to her. “It’s on page nineteen.”
She cupped her hand beneath his, feigning innocence as to how to work the sharer. “This button?” she asked, pointing at the power control.
“Oh no, here.” He used his free hand to change the screen and sure enough, there stood Shiemir Alonwei next to two nude statues, one male and one female. The steward was right about their detail, but Melia was more interested in the Tarafian leader. His face revealed his disinterest in being there, in posing for a propaganda photo of recovered treasures. She doubted he cared one way or the other about saving them, but more than likely wanted to negotiate some deal with the tribal Unangi for access to their mountains and the fuel beneath the ground.
“Fantastic.” She traced his finger with her thumb, not bothering to glance up to see his reaction. His arm turned bright pink. He was so easy to read. “I’d like to see them.”
A click sounded in Collin’s throat when he swallowed nervously. “Um. I mean this is, well, don’t take this the wrong way or anything, but I have a three day layover in Taraf. If you want someone to go there with…”
“You would take me?” She raised her face to meet his bright green eyes, doing her best to appear astonished and flattered. A consort would make her less of a target, although now she had no way to disguise herself except by conventional means. She almost wanted Enrue to see her milling about in the public section of his palace. Would he be pissed by it? Would his guards even recognize her? She hoped they’d be more suspicious now that she’d dropped Wyther’s name. The author
ities had not yet ruled his death an assassination, but soon, soon the truth would leak. The Empire knew just when and how to release such things.
“Of course! I’d love to take you. And, well, after a good night’s sleep, maybe we could do some shopping tomorrow. I’m really tired, and I shouldn’t be asking you out like this. I normally don’t, but…”
She nodded. “It’s okay. I’m flattered, really. I didn’t want to fly out here all alone, but I work a lot and I don’t have a boyfriend, and my boss kept saying ‘Darla, you need a break,’ so I finally took her up on it.”
“Darla,” he repeated. “I’m glad you decided to go on vacation.”
“Oh, so am I!” She leaned forward. “Isn’t fate funny? To think we never would have met. Wow, this is great. I bet you know a nice hotel I could stay in, too.” She wondered how direct he’d be. She wasn’t about to share a room with him. That was too much.
“Actually, if you want, you can stay at the Orlitz.”
She waited, thinking he’d push it, but surprisingly, he remained a gentleman.
“I have free passes for it from the Shuttle Service. I can give you three days of a free room. They gave me enough for two.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to impose.” His hand closed over her fingers, warm and friendly.
“You’re not imposing at all. It didn’t cost me anything. I don’t have any friends in Taraf either, so it’d be great to have someone to spend time with.”
“Then it’s a deal.” She pulled her hands into her lap, much to his visible disappointment. Stringing him along she said, “Can you stay by me for the flight? I want to know everything you know about Taraf.”
Chapter Nine
Temptation
Enrue clenched his jaw as he watched Melia’s recorded vid-com for the seventh time. Five hours had passed since she sent it, and he felt ridiculous for being angry that she hadn’t commed again. She said she would, and so far, she’d been persistent, if annoying. The fact that she claimed to have met with General Wyther did not disturb him so much as the fact that Wyther hadn’t been heard from in several days. He was part of the alliance, and Enrue felt certain, Jeremy was dead.
He punched the com button from his bedroom desk for Nema, his secretary. “Any word from the Cossia?”
She shook her head. “Maybe she got what she deserved.”
“Perhaps.” He clicked out and strode to his bathing room to ready for sleep. As he stripped off his clothes, he wondered where she’d disappeared to, and strangely, her absence worried him. He brushed his teeth and flicked off the light, feeling exhausted. His back ached from sitting in the com meeting for hours, and his feet hurt from pacing in the boardroom later that day. Plus, he’d not slept well the night before. He tugged back the ornate covers and slipped between the sheets, thinking his bed felt better than he’d ever remembered. He turned on his side, closed his eyes, and thought of Melia’s lips.
The com toned. “What is it?” he muttered.
“It’s her.”
Enrue rolled over to face the screen. “Patch it through.”
“You don’t look imposing enough, if you want my opinion,” Nema warned.
“Shut up. Send through the com. I’m tired and I want to rest.”
The screen flickered. His secretary’s visage vanished, replaced by the now familiar narrow face that tormented his mind. “Ah, Melia,” he began. “I was beginning to think the Empire had sent you on a more important assignment. You’re late.”
In the background, low dance music played. Behind her, he noticed a metal wall. She smirked at him. “Did you miss me, Enrue?”
He closed his eyes and spoke just above a whisper, “Actually, yes. I was worried the Tarafian police caught you, and I wouldn’t be receiving any more of your delightful coms. How soon can you be here? I’m tired…tired of these games.”
“I’m already here. Thought I’d do a little sightseeing before our grand meeting. Taraf is a beautiful city. You must be proud.” She tapped at her sharer, entering in commands as if their conversation was not the only matter she had to attend to.
Enrue slid his hand down beneath the sheets and grasped his cock, watching her lips while she rambled on with her insults and empty threats. He slid his large fingers along its length and imagined they were small, feminine fingers, that her mouth sought out his growing hardness—
“Enrue?” She narrowed her eyes. “Are you even listening to me?”
“Mm.” He chuckled. “Not really. You keep saying the same things over and over. Tell me where we can meet and be done with the Empire’s ridiculous treaty. That’s all you have to present me with, isn’t it?”
Her mouth gaped, her eyes wandering as she stared. “Are you naked?”
“I’m in bed.” He glanced down and groaned. The cover had dragged down when he took hold of himself, exposing his bare chest. “Does it surprise you that I sleep without my uniform?”
Her lips pursed. He wanted to touch those lips with his fingers, his tongue—
Ignoring his comment, she went on with her rant. “You surprise me, Enrue. A hostile takeover of Irnia, the destruction of Hicklan cruisers, brothels and slaver houses shut down. You kill without due judgment when you find injustice. I must say, I admire you for it, but it’s not the way things should be done.”
He let go of his cock. It was too tempting to bring himself to orgasm with her voice and face only inches away. I’ll wait until after she disconnects. He hadn’t had such uncontrollable urges in a long while. It angered him, but he was slowly getting over that emotion. The desire to have her, to corner her, to press her naked body against a wall and fuck her, made him feel young and virile.
“Am I keeping you up?” she said, obviously ticked off by his silence.
“Yes, Melia. You’re keeping me up.” In more ways than one. He reached across the small distance and touched the screen where her mouth was. “But I don’t mind tonight.”
She glared.
He liked the look of angry confusion she flashed. “Why don’t you contact the local officials, give them your name and tell them I need to speak with you? They’ll escort you here. Then, once I get my clothes back on, you can either side with me or be executed. Sound fair?”
“Have you been drinking?” She frowned. “This is not the same man I spoke to earlier.”
“As a matter of fact, I have.” He sat up, stretched his arms above his head, and the blanket fell across his lap. “Do you drink?”
That did it. The insult was visible on her face. “What the hell has gotten into you?”
He rolled his neck, cracking it and then his shoulders. “I’m old, Melia. I’m tired right now, and I’ve had too many glasses of Fury. You don’t know me or why I’ve done all I have. I doubt you want to know. And honestly, I don’t care.” Swiping a hand through his hair, he sighed. “The Empire is corrupt. It will fall…by my hand or someone else’s. You can’t tell me you love your job, that you see anything justifiable in doing it. I’m sure you understand what’s going on here.”
Melia’s eyes lowered.
Suddenly Enrue felt self-conscious. Is she looking at my body? Impossible. She’s way too young for me. What am I thinking?
She swallowed, her slight throat moving in a delicate way. Her eyes returned to his face. “We meet tomorrow. I’ll com you and give you the locale. Agreed?”
He nodded. “The sooner the better.” He reached across the distance to disconnect and paused. “Good night.”
“Good night, Enrue.” A smile pulled up the corners of her full lips. When he rolled over and closed his eyes, he saw those lips in his mind’s eye and dwelled on their shape. He resisted temptation for nearly an hour, but needed sleep and he’d not get it until he relieved himself. Reaching down once more, he cradled his erection, this time savoring a slow, intense pace.
Melia will submit to me. He would manage to get her alone, to seduce her with words, to argue. She liked a battle of wit, but he wanted a battle of another
sort. His fantasy became intense, a barbaric teasing off of clothes. Kisses, hard and passionate, crushed into his neck, his chest, lower. Her warm skin ran along his body. She touched him, tasted him, clutched his buttocks and groaned when he filled her weeping pussy.
He came in a gush of heat. His body shook. Clenching his teeth, he stifled a strained cry.
* * * *
“Cancel my meetings.” Enrue strode into his secretary’s office dressed in his finest shirt and pants, a pressed silver and gold sash tied at his waist. He glanced at Nema and looked away, wondering how long he would have to wait for Melia’s com.
“Of course, my Shiemir.” She pushed aside the data cards she’d been filing and shot him a knowing look. “Do I need to know your plans for the day?”
“I’ll relay them to you once I know what they are.” One of the security coms flashed images just above his secretary’s desk of varying sections in the palace. The library, the kitchens, the lower quarters…it blinked and Enrue stared at the Unangi statues side by side. Love and Desire, both ebon works of erotic art, both set in the center of the entry with tourists snaking around them in awe. Tarafian custom dictated a show of strength and power, but also a show of culture. “Any word from the Unangi shamans about those?” He nodded at the vid.
“Not yet.”
“I’d like to be rid of them before the takeover of Sentre’ and Omerian.” He paced once and eyed the exit, wondering what he should do with himself for the rest of the day. Melia might not com until evening again, and he certainly didn’t want to be drunk when she did.
“I thought maybe you’d grow fond of them in time.” Nema pulled up his schedule for the day, a sharp-eyed gaze taking stock of her work. “Especially the female one. It’s quite realistic.”
“I have no need for such things. Hemec better suits my requirements at the moment. Stone statuary will hardly fly spaceships. I suppose I could launch them at the Kyleena mothership and hope they all go mad with desire when it hits.”
Urden, God of Desire Page 5