Maggie
The jewel is surprisingly comfortable. It is also, perhaps not so surprisingly, incredibly sexy and having an effect which means I’m glad of the underwear Hetty fashioned for me.
It was a shame she was no longer in the shop when I finished installing my piece of jewelry.
Driok was rather vague as to where she had gone, but given we had this gathering to attend, it wasn’t like we were able to hang around to wait for her.
Instead, Driok arranged for a robot to pack up all the clothing she had made for me and send it on to our new ship.
“You are already driving me to rut,” Driok murmurs in my ear as we make our way back to the baron’s level.
His hand rubs slowly over my butt, and one digit touches at the plug, making me squeak and also, to my horror, moan slightly.
“Nev,” Driok breathes. “I am not going to make it through this gathering.”
“I will, therefore, point out this was your idea.” I waggle my bum from side to side. “So, you’re just going to have to suck it up.”
Driok makes a low, guttural sound in his throat, one which reverberates around the elevator we’re in like it has developed sentience.
“I very much look forward to sucking on you,” he says finally as the doors open and we step out into a throng of species.
We are the last to get here and follow the crowd as they make their way past the entrance we used the first time we were here and along to another, larger airlock, which is wide open to allow everyone passage.
Robo-waiters circulate with brightly colored drinks in a variety of vessels.
Driok plucks one from a tray, but when he goes to get one for me, I shake my head.
“Not while there’s a baby on board.” I tap my stomach. “After all, it’s what got me into this state in the first place.”
Driok grins and downs his drink in a single gulp, the scaly bastard. I lick my lips and his eyes boggle.
“Strong?”
“Nothing is stronger than you, my spitfire,” he says, and it’s possible I detect a slight rasp to his voice which wasn’t there a moment ago. “Let’s get this transaction over with and get out of nevving Xracak City.”
“I completely agree.” I link my arm in his, and he stares at me, then at my arm.
Then he puts his hand over my arm, and he smiles. For once, I’m certain what I’m seeing is genuinely Driok and nothing else.
I think I like it.
We follow the stragglers through the airlock and find ourselves in a room with one wall being entirely made of glass, looking out over the city where the horizon is as before and the city glitters with the suns and the lights.
I won’t miss it. Not one iota.
“Ah, there he is.” The baron appears from behind a pillar. He’s flanked by his two hippo/bison guards who appear to have been stuffed into clothing several sizes too small for them. “My Sarkarnii warlord and his…guard.”
The baron looks me up and down with some interest. It’s not a sexual interest as far as I can tell. I rather feel like he’s sizing me up for something.
“I understand you got all you needed,” the baron says. “I have arranged for the Gryn to be transferred to you. I managed to get six. I believe they work as a unit. They are all yours, and I wish you the best of luck with them.” He burbles with obvious pleasure.
“This is for you.” Driok holds out his hand to the baron.
In it is a small bag which shimmers in the light.
“I suspect it is worth far more than what you have paid, but then that is how the universe turns, isn’t it?
” He displays an impressive set of fangs, and the hippo/bisons shift from foot to foot.
The baron takes the bag in one tentacle, several others prying it open as he peers inside and purses his lips, making a face I’ve decided is pleasure rather than annoyance, and then he releases a sound which is close to a burp without being a burp.
The bag is pulled into his mass of tentacles, and he looks up at Driok.
“It was a pleasure doing business with you, warlord,” he says. “Please enjoy my hospitality and stay as long as you want.” He opens a pair of tentacles wide and then swarms off, with his two hulking guards in tow.
“That was surprisingly easy,” I say to Driok.
“I doubt it will be,” Driok responds.
He’s watching the progress of the baron.
However I’m distracted by the very tall aliens to my right, which have five legs, all of which look like stilts, and they seem to be using two of them like arms. Their heads remind me of praying mantises, and I feel my skin crawl even though I really shouldn’t be bothered because I’m not on Earth anymore.
I’m beginning to think I should move away when my arm is grabbed, and I nearly wrench my shoulder attempting to get away. Only it’s Driok who has me.
“We need to go, little mate,” he growls.
The tall aliens swing round as we weave through the crowd.
“Driok,” I say, but he isn’t paying attention. “Driok!” I pull at his arm, but he continues regardless.
The two aliens are getting closer, and now I look at them, their long front legs look like knives. This is not going to be pretty.
“DRIOK,” I bellow, and this time he does turn, spots the aliens behind me, and I’m swung around behind him as he releases an enormous sheet of flame.
All hell, quite literally, breaks loose. Alarms which sound like klaxons, alarms which sound like birds chirping, alarms which sound like cats fighting all go off at once.
“We need to get out of here,” Driok says.
I don’t need telling twice.