“The existence of such an object in no way grants you free access to it.” His eyes study my body. Can he sense the moisture I wiped onto the fabric? The other moisture between my thighs, the dew created by just thinking about him?
I sigh and try to push those thoughts away.
“You’re interested in simulation? Maybe you should simulate an ideal trainee. We’ll start there.”
He’s on a roll this planet rotation with the dry humor. I’d almost think I was conversing with a human friend, except that he towers over me, all muscles and purple skin and those tantalizing horns. And, of course, I don’t want my human friends to toss me down on the training mat and fuck me senseless. Maybe spank me a little for good measure.
I touch my cheek. “I wasn’t implying that I deserve special attention.” I do want some, though. “What are we doing this planet rotation?”
I don’t want to assume that pleasure is on the menu, except it happened both times we met. My heart pumps fast with the tension between us. The unspoken expectation. “The program again?”
He hesitates. My heart sinks. I know I’m no good at this, not really, and soon enough he’s going to have to cut me off. I know it, he knows it, probably every being on the planet knows it. Just not this planet rotation, Mother Earth, I beg the universe. Give me just one more time with him.
Luck must be on my side, because he sighs. “I did have a cancellation, so if you really want to see the simulator”—he tilts his head, like he’s considering a big decision—“I can show it to you.” He puts up a hand. “If you promise not to touch anything. Is that clear?”
“I won’t touch a thing.”
Mirelle was so enthusiastic about how well it works, and how it made her feel like she was really in space, that I was wistful to see it myself. Even if I have zero skills in that area.
“Then follow me.” He points across the dome to a door with red lettering: “Authorized Access.”
He taps his comm and the door glides open, leading into a vast open space, all gleaming white and silver. Various build stations dot the area, like small oases in a sprawling desert, machines that look high-tech and streamlined and complex beyond my comprehension.
I catch my breath. “Oh stars.”
“It’s really something, isn’t it?” He looks down at me, as if checking my expression.
He slows his pace to wait for me. “We’ll check in with Drayk and the team.” His brow wrinkles. “Looks like they’re doing a tour. Master Seke is here.”
“Oh.” My stomach flutters. “I understand if we need to not do this.”
He pauses. “It might be better if we do this another time. Oh, they’ve seen us. Veck.” He mutters something under his breath. “Come. It’s only respectful to greet him.”
He leads me up to the group and raises his hand. “Master Seke, greetings. I believe you know Zina, the new human female. She is, ah…” he speaks the next part a little faster, “doing nav testing.”
I swallow hard and manage to meet Master Seke’s eyes. The only other time I’ve interacted with him was during my application interview—when he approved me to stay on planet. He’s high up, a top advisor to King Zander, and I’m a little terrified of him.
“Zina, I hope you are acclimating well.” Master Seke speaks with a deep, powerful tone. His expressions is pleasant, but his eyes are sharp, assessing me. “I’m surprised you chose to study nav. How did you do on the initial placement test?”
There are five other Zandians with him. They seem interested. One steps closer and looks me up and down, almost with new respect.
“Ah.” Panic surges in my body. I can’t tell Master Seke that the program thought I was stupider than a rock. What if he looks at me, my sterility that might not reverse, my bad leg, and my clear lack of technical aptitude, and decides that it was a mistake to allow me to stay? What if he sends me away? For sure he’d at least tell me to get the veck out of this training dome.
But with all the eyes on me, I lock up. The only thing I can do is make a strange, pathetic sound. “Ewp.”
“Pardon?” Master Seke steps in. “Tarek only takes the best.”
“So I’ve heard.” Oh, there’s my voice. I managed to say something. Look at that. I clear my throat. “Well, my score…”
Thank stars that there’s a commotion across the floor, a series of fast beeps and a shrill tone.
“Sorry!” A lanky Zandian sticks his head out from behind a partially assembled wing. “Testing the interlinks alarms for an upgrade.”
“Is that the new simulator?” Seke’s attention is caught. “You’ve made improvements?”
“Yes…” The tech wipes his hands on a cloth and trots up. Bows his
head. “With permission, I’d love to demonstrate.”