Taming a Raven

by Kathleen Lash

  After hearing herself play when the sound came up, she snatched her hands back and stared at the score as if foreign. She’d obviously believed the notes and motions of her fingers on the keyboard equated to music. How could she play so beautiful y without ever having heard the sounds?

  “I understand now, General. Thank you for correcting me.” She bowed her head and her words were barely audible.

  Unable to stop himself, he reached out and stroked the side of her face with exquisite care. She relayed sadness and acceptance. He decided he didn’t like it. “Reina, I didn’t mean to sound as if I were correcting you.” His informal address happened without thought. He’d merely wanted to take the hurt from her. Thankful y she seemed not to notice.

  “Truly I’m grateful,” she said. “I’l retract an earlier statement I made. When I said my education was two-dimensional, I’d like to amend that to one. I was born in a time when births were nil and after me, it was five ful years before any sisters came forth. My interest and ability with technology wasn’t widely accepted until the Governance demanded we be brought more into present day. Materna Nakita complied but I see now it was in the barest possible way.”

  “You weren’t brought aboard for your technical abilities, Lady. Tech’s already failed us. Your presence was required because of your inborn skil , which you’ve proven is far superior for our task.”

  She peered up and searched his face. He’d no practice in the stroking of feminine self-esteem and he hadn’t attempted such with his words. He’d merely spoken the truth. She likely didn’t believe him because he’d used a reasonable tone. He’d previously lacked patience when dealing with her.

  Having a clearer picture, he silently vowed that in the future, he’d behave with more formal appropriateness. She hadn’t deserved his anger.

  A knock came before he said, “Enter.”

  The door opened and two gal ey servers brought trays over to them. He helped her stand and back away. The process of turning the desk into a dining table held her rapt attention as sections disappeared and others expanded. As he’d original y suspected, some technology did intrigue her.

  Alone once again, he held her chair and seated her, handing her a napkin, which she placed in her lap. In the chair across from her, he’d barely sat down before he heard her stomach grumble. After placing his napkin, he waited for her to begin.

  “General?”

  “Yes?”

  “Meals are normal y taken with others, correct?”

  “Sometimes, though not often for me. Why?”

  “An idiot doesn’t learn and doesn’t care to learn. An imbecile is incapable of learning. I hope to avoid likening myself to either by fal ing into a third category and perhaps question you when I’m uncertain of things.”

  He attempted to hide the smile by taking a moment to place his elbow on the arm of the chair and get more comfortable. He leaned back and covered his mouth with fingers as he gazed at her, waiting for what would come next. It’d been too long since someone captivated him in such a manner.

  She scanned the food without looking up. “Would a gentleman general convey poor table manners to a lady, Sir?” Her voice was nonchalant, considering the subject.

  “Certainly not,” he said, almost giving her leave to relax and enjoy the food. Obviously she wanted a bite of the steaming meat and crisp greens more than anything because of her fixed gaze. “Is the food not appealing, Lady?”

  “Remarkable so.” She final y glanced up to see he’d not moved. “Not hungry, General?”

  “Extremely, but etiquette dictates I wait until you’ve begun.”

  A determined look crossed her face as she fidgeted. He waited to find out how a one-dimensional education had affected her. Which would win?

  Hunger or the fear of making a mistake?

  A fork and knife came to her hands and she tentatively cut into the meat. She held the fork delicately, correctly, and managed the first bite. She chewed slowly, the juice from the meat creating a sheen upon her lips. He almost groaned as her eyes closed in pleasure.

  Barely tasting his own food, concentrating on covertly watching her, he wished he’d held his tongue earlier when correcting her about her awe and dismay at new experiences. He found himself wanting to hear her uncalculated reaction to things he’d taken for granted.

  After many long moments, he asked, “Is the food to your taste, Lady?”

  “Yes, Sir, very much. Thank you.”

  The appropriate response without embel ishment disappointed him. Her facial expressions didn’t. She withheld her verbal descriptions but wasn’t as careful or perhaps unaware that her face relayed so much. After the main course was finished, she looked at the objects remaining in front of her. She settled back against the chair and didn’t seem curious enough to question him. He knew he’d do her a great disservice if he didn’t introduce her to dessert.

  “Finished?” he asked.

  “Quite.”

  “I don’t think I’ve met a woman who didn’t have some sort of attraction to chocolate.” She glanced over the items. “I’m not familiar, Sir. May I have its origin?”

  As he suspected, she knew little of the treat and he offered her an explanation. “I’m told it was given from the heavens to men so they could in turn gain the favor or forgiveness of women. What do you think?”

  “Fable,” she replied with certainty. “A food couldn’t do any of that.”

  “But you’ve yet to try it and since you’re not familiar,” he began before moving his chair to the corner of the table, turning it sideways and facing her,

  “it’s only proper I make a formal introduction.”

  He took her spoon and dipped the tip in the glass of dark café liquid and held it out to her. To hand-feed a woman would most certainly be misconstrued as too intimate a gesture by those reared in normal society. His lady wasn’t and he very much wanted her to experience the dessert appropriately. She might get too much of one substance or another and ruin everything.

  “This is the base of the total experience. The alcohol enhances the flavor of the chocolate. I’d like you to taste it so when the flavors blend, you’l be able to distinguish the layers.”

  The spoon went to her mouth. When she opened, he inserted it. He felt the tug from her lips and gently pul ed back. The slight friction as the metal was drawn from her mouth made his blood rush. He knew it would, anticipated it and control ed the surge. As she tongued the taste from her lips, she smiled.

  “Describe it to me,” he said lazily, watching her ful lips.

  “Barely a taste took my breath, Sir. I felt it warming my throat as I swal owed.”

  “You’ve never had alcohol?”

  “Yes, wine, but that’s sweet and this is darker, stronger.”

  “Now try this.” He spooned up a bit of the chocolate mousse.

  She hesitated. He held it until she final y came forward, opened her mouth slightly and cleaned the spoon with smooth pressure. She appeared to savor it and once swal owed, she needed no prompting to describe what she tasted. “Intricate, smooth, rich and yes, probably sent from heaven.” He accepted the arousal, al owed its presence but placed it aside as he dipped the spoon into the remaining smal bowl of liquid white chocolate.

  “Last ingredient, Lady.”

  She opened as he neared. Before al owing the metal to touch her lips, he hesitated. To have her open to him so trustingly in even that simple way forced his breath to catch. Some of the chocolate strayed to her lips and he stared as she tongued the sweetness into her mouth. A mouth he then wanted to kiss.

  “And now let’s see what the combination tastes like, shal we?” He dipped a smal bit of the liquor onto the spoon, scraped a healthy bit of mousse onto the tip and dipped the bottom in white chocolate before offering it. She appeared expectant as she came forward. Her mouth opened a bit wider this time. What an incredible mouth!

  The combination evidently delighted her. Her eyes closed as she savored the tastes and te
xtures. An errant strand of white had slipped from the spoon and she used the tip of her index finger to capture it. Once she swal owed, her moist tongue took the remnants of chocolate from her finger. He suddenly found it necessary to adjust his seat.

  “Thank you, Sir.” Her voice could be quite soft.

  “You’re welcome, Lady Reina.”

  He al owed his dark side to surface, keeping himself in check, and rather enjoyed the feel of adrenaline and prowess as they battled. He liked the pooling of blood, the heavy feel of arousal as she sat near. Having his cock grow hard while seated for a meal was more than slightly unusual. He tried remembering how long it’d been since he last entertained a female between the sheets.

  Accompanying the strong sexual urges, he also felt compassion. He knew the feeling, the softening of a place between one’s heart and stomach that soothed, making him feel at peace. That emotion had once been most common in him. The strange union of sentiment could only be attributed to Reina, for such a combination hadn’t been present in him for many years.

  Her gaze lowered and he realized he’d been staring while pondering. “Would you like more?” He hoped to divert attention from his poor manners but how he posed the question was dangerous. He wondered what possessed him to ask it in such a manner. With his bed a few steps away, the “more” he offered would end with her legs wrapped around his hips and him pumping furiously between her thighs.

  “No thank you, General.” He ached to lick her lips and taste deep. And if he ever got that far she wouldn’t decline an offer of more. He’d see to it.

  He wanted to lead her away from the quiet, respectful behavior, and asked, “Is there anything I could get for you? Anything at al , Lady?” Her eyes lit up and as suddenly as the excitement appeared, it receded. He’d taught her wel in the span of a few hours. In an attempt to correct it, not knowing or particularly caring why it then bothered him, he said, “Your eyes danced again, Lady.” She looked startled before he finished. “I swear they did.

  What created such light before you tucked it away?”

  “I noticed the sound of our transport change a while back and it excites me, this new vibration beneath my feet.”

  “Vibration?” The desire lessened and he concentrated on the discussion.

  “Certainly you feel it, Sir.” He didn’t. She sat forward before grasping his hand and placing it flat on the table. “There. Now?” He shook his head. She stood and came behind him. “Please close your eyes, General.” He complied. “Thank you. Concentrate on the palm of your hand and slow your breath, your heart. Slower. Yes, slower. When I cover your ears, release the air in your lungs and come to complete stil ness.” He fol owed her instruction and when she covered his ears, he heard the sound and felt the vibration. Amazed, he turned in the chair and she quickly stepped back.

  “It’s subtle but audible. Perhaps you’re accustomed to it and can’t…” With hands clasped in front of her, she’d begun defending herself before he could utter a word.

  “No, Lady, stop,” he said, interrupting her. “I felt and heard exactly what you described. Even when I was brand new aboard a vessel I’d never noticed.

  And you detected this while lying down?”

  “No, Sir, when we boarded. It annoyed me at first but I accustomed myself until the sound changed as more power surged.” How sensitive could she be to such things?

  “And we’ve arrived back at my initial question. What can I provide that would please you, Lady?” Any other woman would’ve taken advantage, requesting a number of creature comforts available to him. Certainly she knew something of the vast rarities he could provide. And obviously she’d been deprived. He prepared himself for much and would keep to his word if within reason. When she came around to stand in front of him, he braced himself. She appeared quite determined and he mental y kicked himself for affording an opportunity she could use to take advantage. Foolishness!

  “General, I’d give anything to see the reactor and engine chamber.”

  “The engine room?” He cleared his throat because his voice sounded higher pitched than normal.

  “With its massive power harnessed and unleashed at wil —oh yes indeed. The theory and science are known to me but I struggle with grasping the complexities of refining the power of the reactor and control ing its rage until it submits to the wil of those bidding it.” Excited amber eyes assessed him before she hastily offered, “But it’s not real y important to me, Sir.”

  He couldn’t contain a smile and used his most convincing voice. “I asked and you answered, Lady. It’s never been requested from a visitor, especial y a woman, but it’s something easily granted. It would be my pleasure to show you the reactor raging and submitting.” Chapter Four

  Not only did the general take Reina to the engine chamber, he al owed her unlimited questions of his soldiers. Once they started speaking on her level with less patronization, she enjoyed the tour and information beyond even chocolate.

  The side of the massive reactor felt cool as its metal vibrated against her palms. She exclaimed, “It’s like a mother with a strong babe inside, brimming with energy, ready to burst forth.”

  He demonstrated extraordinary tolerance and she dared not glance too often at his expression because she believed her delight and the tour would then be over. She fol owed the conduit and eventual y came to the engines. She placed her hand on one then another and final y a third as she compared their energy. Curious about something she noticed, she retraced her steps and performed another comparison. She closed her eyes and focused to hear and feel the third engine once again. It didn’t offer the synchronicity the others did.

  “General?”

  “Yes, Lady?”

  “I thought al engines were created equal.”

  “They are, Lady.”

  “Not this one, Sir. It doesn’t hold the same intonation as the others. It stutters.”

  “Dunn?” he asked, raising his voice slightly.

  The head engineer immediately came forward. “Sir?”

  “The lady states there’s a problem with our engine.”

  “Yes, Sir. We detected it when you asked for ful power. We won’t be able to effect repairs until we’re in orbit around Infur.”

  “Lady Reina, the problem?”

  She laid her hands on the large metal container and went around the system twice before explaining. “Here,” she pointed to a particular spot. “There’s something that compresses and releases. It stutters not from mechanicals but from the life feeding it. It’s erratic, not a steady flow. I’m sorry for lack of terms, Sir, but I believe the description would be understood by your Mr. Dunn.”

  “Dunn?” he asked.

  The engineer smiled. “Astounding, Lady! We ran a systems check and you pinpointed the exact problem. It’s a simple electrical connection needing repair.”

  Encouraged by the general’s lack of anger and the top engineer at hand, she took advantage. “Sir, Mr. Dunn, this chamber houses al that powers your Lady Raze?”

  “Yes, Lady.”

  “And if in battle this chamber were to take a wound, the other chamber would then be brought to life?” He looked to the general who answered. “The auxiliary engines would be deployed. That’s correct.” Again engaging the engineer, she asked, “And you’re stationed here, especial y if you’re in a battle or battle-ready situation. Correct?” She’d read much but not al could be learned through general knowledge, for the military didn’t always make known al aspects of its operations.

  She’d many questions and would see if she couldn’t gain answers to at least a few.

  “Yes, Lady.”

  “Are there two of you, Sir? Have you a twin engineer somewhere on board?”

  The bewildered engineer looked at his commander. The general answered. “No, Lady, there’s but one of him. There is however, a second that would take over his duties if he were unable. If the engine room takes a direct hit, the room wil compartmentalize before it’s jettisoned.”
r />   “And where is Mr. Dunn’s twin?”

  “Until now he’s been here,” he said, looking particularly stern, “henceforth he’l be stationed in the second room.” That course of action seemed more fitting but other scenarios turned in her mind. “And if these engines were simply disabled in a battle situation and Mr. Dunn remains here, how would his twin know what to do, Sir?”

  Rather than get annoyed, the general pondered her question for a moment before answering. “There are dual controls hooked into our main computer system. As Dunn gives orders, they can be fol owed from the second room while we retain complete backup of both staff and equipment. Thank you, Lady Reina, for your insight. Sometimes the most obvious issues are overlooked. Right, Dunn?” The engineer seemed surprised before answering vehemently. “Correct, General.”

  “Is there anything else you wish to tour, Lady?”

  There most certainly was but given the fact he’d al owed two hours to quench her curiosity while personal y remaining with her, she realized to ask for more might strain his hospitality. The guided tour far surpassed most of what she’d hoped to accomplish within the whole of her time on board, let alone the first eve. “You’ve been very kind and your crew most patient with me thus far, Sir. I should let your soldiers get back to their work.” They received formal salutes as he led her from the area. Once alone in the corridors beyond, she said, “You can’t know what this meant to me, General.”

  “Are you real y so impressed, Lady?”

  “Beyond mere words, Sir. I’m afraid my appetite for information surpasses my good sense sometimes and I tend to try the patience of those imparting knowledge.”

  A very deep rumble caused her to glance up. Quietly laughing, he said somewhat sarcastical y, “I couldn’t fathom you trying anyone’s patience.”

  “Unfortunately it’s one of many flaws that’s earned me discipline over the years.” Watchful of him, she spoke honestly despite his stil -evident grin.

  “And how were you disciplined, Lady? Sent to your chamber? No dessert? I could then understand why you’d never experienced chocolate.”

  “Oh, my transgressions went far beyond those types of punishments, Sir. I’m afraid you’ve been duped. I can fly wel enough and took my tracking lessons quite seriously, but I believe Materna Nakita stil has a smile on her face knowing you’re stuck with me for a time.”