Chapter 14
FOURTEEN
Samantha was wary as she retraced the route back to Arcanthus’s room, silently praying that she wouldn’t run into anyone along the way, especially Kiloq. While she wasn’t afraid of the cren—or anyone else who might’ve been in the building—she was afraid that he’d take one look at her and know what she and Arcanthus had just done.
She wasn’t sure if she could die of embarrassment, but an encounter like that would probably get her close.
Fortunately, the corridors were empty, and she reached the bedroom without any issues.
Once she was inside, she leaned back against the closed door and drew in a shaky breath. Tremors still coursed down her legs, her inner thighs were wet with her slick, and her sex felt somehow heavy and hollow after her mind-shattering orgasm.
Arc dominated her thoughts. She’d already known his sensual voice alone could make her weak in the knees and flood her with heat, but his touch ?
Sam’s face warmed, and she pressed her hands over her cheeks. She was grinning like a fool, but she couldn’t help it; she was just so damn happy.
It would’ve been stupid to think a man could fix her, and that wasn’t what Arcanthus was doing; he was pushing her to fix herself. Through encouragement, praise, and compliments, he was helping Sam rebuild her self-esteem while earning her trust.
She never would’ve dreamed of wearing a dress like the one she had on now, even before James. Despite her misgivings and self-consciousness, she’d left Arc’s workshop feeling beautiful, desired, and pleasured.
An hour ago, Sam had been fearful of sex. Now she couldn’t wait until she saw the sedhi again. She wanted Arc to touch her more, and she yearned to touch him in return.
Samantha drew in another breath. Arcanthus’s scent permeated the air, making it difficult to turn her thoughts away from him.
Am I going to just stand here trembling until he comes for me?
With little else to do, she forced herself forward and slowly explored his room, running her fingers along the walls to trace the ever-changing blue lines. She leapt back when her fingertips brushed over some sort of hidden console and a holo menu materialized in front of her.
Once her heart had stopped racing, she looked from the menu to the bedroom door. Arcanthus could walk in at any moment…
I really shouldn’t.
You know you’re curious, Sam.
But it’s not my room! It’s his !
All the more reason to look. Just a peek.
Biting her lip, she cast one more glance toward the door. Curiosity returned her attention to the menu. She raised a hand and flicked through the options. As she did, rectangular shapes lit up along the wall—eight of them were lined up in two neat rows around waist height, with two much larger, door-sized shapes to either side.
She manipulated the controls. The smaller glowing shapes slid out of the wall to reveal drawers, while the other two shifted up, opening on large, walk-in closets. Samantha stepped toward the nearest closet. An array of colorful, silky robes hung inside.
A giggle escaped her. “The man likes his robes.”
She reached inside and lifted the sleeve of one of the garments, rubbing the satiny material between her fingers. As though driven by instinct, she leaned forward and brought the sleeve to her nose. It smelled exactly like him.
Letting the sleeve drop, Sam moved to the other closet and halted abruptly at the entrance. It was emptier than the first, but her brain couldn’t process the clothing on display.
A few dresses, similar to the one she was wearing, hung amidst skimpier, naughty-looking garments, one of which appeared to be nothing more than a series of straps that would, quite strategically, cover very little . She went through the clothes one hanger at a time, studying them all. There were some shirts, coats, and pants in addition to the rest, even a couple robes in the same style as Arcanthus’s—though they were smaller than his.
Sam might’ve thought they belonged to another woman if the shirts and pants weren’t so similar to the sort she normally wore. She took down one of the shirts and held it up to her body; it seemed exactly the right size.
You’re also the first to know my true name and the first to have slept in my bed. And you will be the only .
Had he purchased all these for her ? Had he meant to bring her here all along ?
The thought sent a rush of warmth through her chest.
She replaced the shirt and retreated from the closet, sidestepping to turn her attention to the drawers.
One contained what appeared to be Arc’s loincloths, another was full of jewelry—including more earrings than she’d seen in her life—and the entire bottom row was full of methodically placed sets of sleek metal plates. It took her a moment to realize the plates were alternate coverings for his cybernetic limbs, each set with a unique color and finish.
A doorbell-like chime startled Samantha. Eyes wide and heart suddenly pounding, she hurriedly ran her fingers through the controls. The drawers slid in and out repeatedly while the closet doors opened and closed.
“Come on! Come on!” she begged when the chime sounded again. “Oh, you stupid thing, work!”
After several attempts, she finally got them all closed. She flicked the menu away, flattened her palm against the wall, and took in a few calming breaths. It couldn’t be Arcanthus at the door; he would’ve walked in without warning, even if— especially if—he thought there was a chance she’d be undressed.
When the chime sounded a third time, Samantha hurried to the door and opened it.
A cren stood in the hallway, one hand raised to the button beside the door. The tray in his other hand had steaming food and a purple-tinted bottle atop it. The cren’s green eyes met hers, and he grinned around his tusks. His hair, the same dark blue as Kiloq’s, was short and spiked.
Sam crossed her arms over her chest as she recalled what she was wearing. “Are you Kiloq’s brother?”
The cren nodded. “Koroq.”
“You’re not ugly at all.” Samantha gasped and slapped a hand over her mouth. She couldn’t believe she’d just blurted that out. “I’m so sorry!”
The corners of his mouth lifted into a grin that put his tusks on full display. “Why would you be sorry?”
“I just— He said… Oh, never mind.” Sam lowered her hand and gave him a shy smile. “I hope you don’t beat him for saying you’re…you know.”
Koroq waved his free hand. “I let him believe it. Got to let him have something he thinks he’s better at.”
Samantha laughed.
“Anyway, got some food for you. Boss said you were probably starving after being knocked out since last night.” He held the tray forward.
She took the tray with both hands. “Thank you. I am pretty hungry.”
“Welcome. If you need anything else, there’s a lounge that way.” He pointed down the hall to the right. “Take the first left, follow the corridor all the way down, and then take a right. It’s the last door before the next intersection. Bit of a walk, but there’s usually one or two of us in there. Food and booze, too.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Thank you.”
Once he was gone and the door was closed, Sam sat on the bed with the tray settled on her lap. She studied the food, none of which she could quite identify. There were steamed greens and purple tubers, a hunk of grainy bread, and meat that almost looked like the kind Sarai cooked at her booth, smothered in a dark sauce. She picked up the bottle and opened it, bringing it to her nose to give it a tentative sniff. It smelled fruity.
Sam hadn’t really thought about food since waking up—she’d been a little… occupied —but now that the savory and sweet aromas filled her nose, her stomach clenched. This was beyond hunger; she was starved .
She moaned as soon as the first bite of meat touched her tongue.
Samantha wolfed the food down. Before she realized it, she’d licked the tray clean, having consumed every morsel. It had been a long time since she’d eaten anything so delicious. All her meals over the last several months had been from instant-trays, nutritious and easy to prepare but terribly bland in comparison to this.
She set the tray aside—reminding herself to take care of it later—and returned to the console on the wall. Working the controls carefully, she opened her closet, stepped inside, and selected some clothes. Though part of her enjoyed the stickiness on her thighs, she carried the clothes to the bathroom and took a quick shower.
Once she was clean, dried, and dressed in a shirt and pants, she returned to the bedroom.
Her mouth opened wide with a yawn. Despite having just slept, she was suffused with weariness.
“Well, I did just have the strongest orgasm of my life…”
She chuckled and glanced at the door. Arcanthus was either working or still speaking with Drakkal. Either way, she had no idea how long he’d be. There was nothing wrong with taking a quick nap while she waited.
And it would make the time pass that much faster.
Sam drew the covers back, crawled onto the bed, and pulled the blanket over her as she lay down. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. Sandalwood filled her senses. Releasing the breath slowly, Samantha smiled. Only a single thought crossed her mind while she sank into sleep.
I am content.
Samantha was alone when she woke. She had no idea how much time had passed while she slept; nothing in the room was different, but she felt rested. She sat up, propping herself on her arms.
Her hand bumped into something.
Turning her head, she looked down to see the food tray where it must’ve slid closer while she slept. She wasn’t quite sure what to do with it. This wasn’t a hotel or a restaurant, so she didn’t feel right just setting it down somewhere for someone else to collect. She was a guest in Arc’s home, and she would respect his home just like she respected him.
The lounge.
Koroq had said if she needed anything, she could go to the lounge.
Slipping off the bed, Samantha walked into the bathroom, where she brushed her teeth and used the toilet. She picked up the tray on her way to the bedroom door. After taking a moment to ground herself—she was heading into the unknown again—she pressed the button and stepped into the hall.
She followed Koroq’s directions, to the best of her recollection, until she came to the door she hoped was the lounge. Sam shifted her weight back and forth between her feet, battling a swell of anxiety. She had no idea what awaited on the other side, who awaited, but there was one thing she did know—Arcanthus would never have brought her here if it was dangerous for her. Anyone she might encounter in this place was someone he trusted.
Samantha raised a hand to knock but paused, glancing at the control panel on the doorframe.
She pressed the button.
The door slid open. Samantha’s brain didn’t immediately understand what she saw; the room on the other side of the doorway could’ve been the breakroom of any large warehouse back on Earth. There were bare ducts cutting across the ceiling, a couple well-used couches facing three screens on the right wall—each of which was displaying some sort of full-contact sport Samantha wasn’t familiar with—and three tables surrounded by chairs. The long counter directly ahead of the entry had a sink built into it and several appliances similar to those in the kitchen of her apartment. In one corner sat what had to be the largest free-standing refrigerator she’d ever seen.
One of the tables was occupied by three cren, including Kiloq and Koroq, and a female ilthurii with scales in a lovely, vibrant green. Bottles and snacks she couldn’t identify—many of which were partially eaten—littered the tabletop.
Each person at the table had a small stack of credit chips piled in front of them, except for the unfamiliar cren—his pile was significantly larger than the others’. He was also the only one who didn’t have any bottles nearby.
Some sort of projector was positioned at the center of the table, creating a translucent, holographic gameboard in the air above it. The three cren and the ilthurii each had sets of holographic cards hovering over their credits.
Kiloq turned his head to look at Sam and smiled. “Terran! Come in, sit with us. We need someone with fresh luck to break Razi’s streak.”
Samantha’s brows lifted; she hadn’t expected such a warm greeting. “Oh, um, okay?” She stepped inside, glancing around again before awkwardly lifting the tray. “I…wasn’t sure where to put this.”
“Over there is fine,” Koroq said, gesturing vaguely toward the counter without looking up from his cards.
Sam walked across the room and set the tray beside the sink.
“You can sit here,” the ilthurii said, scooting her chair aside and dragging an empty one over from the next table.
“Thank you.” Samantha seated herself and settled her hands in her lap, struggling not to clasp them together nervously.
The ilthurii grinned, her lips peeling back to reveal sharp teeth. “My name is Sekk’thi. I would have introduced myself sooner, but you were unconscious the last time I saw you.”
“Were…were you there?”
Sekk’thi nodded. “All four of us were there. And the vorgals, Thargen and Urgand.”
The cren with the large pile of credit chips leaned forward, fixing his electric blue eyes on Samantha. He was larger than Kiloq and Koroq, and his white hair was chaotic, with short, untamed strands in the front and a thick bundle of braids hanging down his back and over his broad shoulders. His slate-gray skin contrasted his hair and eyes.
“Razi,” he said in a deep voice. “Glad you’re okay, terran.”
Samantha smiled. “Nice to meet you, Razi. I’m glad, too.”
He grinned.
Kiloq, who sat to her left, manipulated the controls on the holo. Six blank cards appeared in the center, and he flicked his fingers, sending them toward Sam. Once they were in front of her, foreign symbols appeared on their faces.
“You’re in, terran,” Kiloq said.
“I don’t know how to play. And”—she glanced at the other player’s credit chips—“I don’t have anything to play with.”
Razi settled one of his large hands over his pile of credit chips and slid it across the table until it was in front of her. Samantha stared down as he pulled his hand away; the pile he’d left for her was larger than everyone’s but his.
Samantha pushed them back toward him. “Oh no, I can’t.”
“You’re in,” Razi said, dropping his gaze back to his holographic cards.
“I was going to win those back from you, damn it,” muttered Koroq.
“You weren’t going to win shit from him, and you know it,” said Kiloq. “At least now we have a chance to win them from Samantha.”
Sekk’thi shook her head and snorted. “Why do you think he parted with them so easily? He will win them back himself.” She looked at Samantha. “This game is called Conquerors, terran. Watch carefully. You’ll learn.”
The game—with its alien symbols and daunting gameboard—seemed impossible to learn at first, but Samantha quickly picked up on it. The central game board was like a map, and the goal was to claim as much of it as possible before all the space was taken up. Each card had its own values, but it wasn’t merely a matter of increasingly high numbers trumping each other—it was closer to a rock-paper-scissors scenario, with each symbol having strengths and weaknesses against the rest. Each card also had different traits depending on which way it was facing; a card strong on one side was often vulnerable on another.
By the fourth round, she had a fairly good idea of what was going on, and she’d managed to stifle the outward flow of credit chips she’d suffered for the first few matches.
That was when Sekk’thi opened a fresh bottle and slid it to her. “Drink, terran.”
Sam accepted the bottle and leaned forward, peering inside. “What is it?”
“It is called gurosh ,” Sekk’thi replied.
“It’s good,” Kiloq said.
Samantha glanced around the table; each of them, apart from Razi, had several empty bottles of gurosh lined up nearby, and she’d seen them drinking throughout the games she’d played with them.
Why not?
Picking up the bottle, she brought it to her lips and drank. It burned going down her throat and roiled like liquid fire in her belly. She gasped and coughed.
Koroq leaned back in his chair and laughed. “I knew you terrans were soft, but I didn’t think you were this soft.”
Kiloq lifted his foot, bent his knee, and kicked Koroq’s leg. “Want me to tell her about the first time you tried it?”
Sekk’thi pounded a hand against Sam’s back until her coughing subsided.
“It’s okay,” Sam wheezed. “It was just…unexpected. I’m fine, really.” She cleared her throat. The burn was gone, but warmth lingered in her belly. The gurosh’s aftertaste was surprisingly sweet.
“You will grow accustomed to it,” Sekk’thi said. “Just drink in little sips.”
When Samantha returned the bottle to her lips, she followed Sekk’thi’s advice and took a single, small sip; the burn was far more tolerable.
“Never cared for the taste,” Razi said. Hunched forward, he perused his cards, his gaze occasionally flicking to the board. Given his size and the breadth of his shoulders, his posture looked almost comical.
“It’s not about the taste,” Kiloq said, “it’s about the experience.”
Sekk’thi leaned closer to Samantha, grinning. “Razi has refused to drink since he awoke one morning in an unfamiliar bed with a tralix beside him.”
“He still won’t tell us what happened,” said Koroq. “Claims he doesn’t remember. I don’t believe that.”
“Doesn’t matter,” Razi muttered, sliding one of his cards into place on the board. “She was clingy. And she was bigger than me. Made me uncomfortable.”
Sekk’thi laughed .
Samantha grinned. “Might be why Razi wins so much. He keeps a clear head.”
Razi met her gaze and lifted a finger to tap his temple, smiling.
She chuckled. She’d never been so welcomed by a group of people before, and it was an amazing feeling.
Koroq glared down at the gameboard with a scowl. “He always wins whether or not he’s out of his wits. Just takes him longer to decide his moves when he’s drunk.”
“Always win because I never had competition before.” Razi dipped his chin toward the board.
Samantha glanced down; his portion of the map was still the largest, but—to her shock—her territory was a close second.
“Beginner’s luck,” Koroq muttered.
Sekk’thi snickered.
They continued the match, and Samantha—who could’ve counted on one hand the number of times she’d had alcohol before this—continued sipping from the bottle. As time passed, she grew steadily used to the drink’s taste, though she didn’t chance taking another mouthful like she had the first time.
And her territory grew. By the end, she was only a few spaces behind Razi, with the other three players nowhere close. She took a larger portion of the prize pool than she had up to that point, and Razi offered her a wink as he gathered his payout.
“Why do we bother trying?” asked Kiloq as the gameboard reset.
“Because I buy the drinks,” Razi replied.
They all laughed—all but Razi.
He kept a surprisingly straight face as he said, “What’s funny? It’s expensive. And I’m not even drinking.”
They played a few more rounds; Sekk’thi offered a full bottle at some point, which Sam accepted happily. By the end of their final match, only Samantha and Razi had any significant amount of credits remaining.
Koroq threw his hands up, rose, and walked to one of the screens by the couches. He flicked through the control menu, muttering to himself, until he found what he wanted. A twist of his hand raised the volume.
Music flowed from unseen speakers, beginning as light, electronic tones before building to a pulsing melody with a thumping beat beneath it. Unexpectedly, Koroq began dancing to the music—the sort of dancing she might’ve seen in Earth nightclubs had she ever mustered the courage to provoke James’s ire by visiting one.
Sekk’thi pushed back her chair and joined Koroq, turning to give him her back as she pumped her hips and chest to the beat. Her long, thick tail brushed his leg. He reached out, grabbed it, and tugged her closer, placing his hands on her hips.
Samantha smiled and swayed gently in her chair as she watched them, continuing to sip her drink. Her body was relaxed, and her skin was flushed; she felt warm and fuzzy. She felt good .
A blue-gray hand appeared in front of her.
Samantha tilted her head back and blinked up at Kiloq.
“Come dance, terran,” he beckoned.
“I don’t know how.”
“Doesn’t matter.” He rolled his shoulders and twisted his hips. “Just feel the music and move to it.”
Samantha didn’t allow herself any more time to think; she set her bottle on the table and placed her hand in his. She laughed as he pulled her up out of her chair. Her laugher became a delighted shriek when he spun her, and the room whirled around her.
She really was feeling quite giddy .
Razi leaned back, folded his fingers across his abdomen, and said in an oddly warning tone, “Careful, Kiloq.”
Kiloq caught her hands, and they swayed to the hypnotic music. His eyes were locked on hers, and his lips were curled in a playful smirk. Samantha’s cheeks hurt from smiling so much.
“We’re just having some fun, Razi,” Kiloq replied. “Boss doesn’t need to worry.”