Chapter 5 Elana
Flirting works! I should have tried this ages ago.
Of course, flirting isn’t anything new, but this is the first time I’ve had the guts to try it.
I give thanks to my inner wild woman. I should have let her come out ages ago.
She’s a lot more fun than my usual self and is much better at communicating.
Only, she’s having a moment of doubt now. Rather, the real me is having doubts.
I made it through dinner with my fellow survivors, but now I’m back in my room trying to work up the courage to visit Rotten alone.
I sit down on the bed, and stare at the viewport set in the glowing outer wall.
Outside there’s nothing but the darkness of space, but here, it’s a vibrant, living ecosystem.
The boldness of the decor is like Rotten himself—a bright spot in the darkness.
I don’t want him on ice. I want him in my bed.
Rotten is wonderfully brash and kind of weird. He knows who he is and doesn’t apologize. That’s all I’ve ever wanted to be myself. Wouldn’t it be great if he saw me that way? I want to taste that life. To taste him, too. Because let’s be honest, he’s a snack.
I can do this. I can play the part of seductress just like I’ve played the part of a reality star.
It may not come naturally, but I have it in me.
All that’s left to do is go. I showered before dinner and my only clothes were the wrecked gold dress or the spare clothes I found in my room.
I’m kind of sad to say goodbye to the dress.
It was the embodiment of my most daring moment.
The serviceable gray jumpsuit will have to do. I unzip it a little to show off my cleavage. It’s better than nothing. I buff a smudge off my glasses and slip my little flashlight into the jumpsuit pocket. I’m ready to go.
The door snicks closed as I exit to the corridor.
I turn the opposite direction from the dining hall and head to Rotten’s quarters.
As I walk, the plants on the wall grow thicker and the light dims, as if I’m walking into the forest to meet the big bad wolf.
My heart thuds. This is exactly what I want.
I check the doors I pass as I go deeper into the heart of the ship.
One room has a heart carved on the door, another has an axe and a wild boar.
At the very end of the corridor is a single door wreathed with actual flowers with a delicate rose carved on the front.
It’s got to be Rotten’s. I lift my hand to knock, then stop as a panicky feeling tickles my nerves.
What if Rotten has changed his mind or forgotten he invited me?
I might be interrupting something important, or he might not even be here.
This could all be for nothing, or worse, I could be making a terrible fool of myself.
He could laugh at my feeble attempt at seduction and tell me to leave.
He could be mean, obnoxious, or violent, and coming here could be a horrible mistake.
I wonder how much self-defense I can do with the flashlight.
I was always a mean fighter growing up with a big brother.
Only my instinct says that Rotten is a safe person.
Or my hormones have overridden my ability to think.
I guess we’ll find out. Before I can stall anymore, I knock forcefully on the rose emblem. And then I wait as nothing happens.
It’s fine, I already accounted for the possibility that he doesn’t want to see me or isn't here. I knock again, a little louder this time. I’ll wait a few more seconds, then I’ll head back.
Yep. That’s what I’ll do. Nothing to feel embarrassed about here.
I count to twenty in my head. I guess this means it’s really not happening.
Tears spring to my eyes, but I don’t let them fall. I turn on my heel and start marching from the door. I only get two steps when the door bursts open and a voice calls, “Wait!”
I turn to see Rotten breathlessly standing in the doorway. He’s wearing a red brocade robe, and his hair is tied in a knot.
“You’re here,” I say.
“Of course I’m here. I was expecting you. But I fell asleep in the bath and then I didn’t realize it was you banging on the door. I thought sure it was Wyn because that’s a mighty strong knock you have. But I decided to check anyway, and it’s you.”
“It is.” My voice is quiet, and my heart is thudding.
I can’t help noticing his red hair is damp and his exposed chest is dripping with water. He tips his head and steps away from the door so I can pass through.
“I’m glad you’re here. I’m sorry to make you wait.” His deep voice is like honey.
I step closer and carefully touch my hand to his chest.
“There’s a way you can make it up to me.” I look up at him through my lashes and he sucks in a breath.
“Yeah?”
“Give me that tour you mentioned before,” I say.
He looks at me blankly for a second, then seems to remember what he said earlier.
“Oh, right? Yeah, the tour. Come in. I’ll show you around.”
I sweep past him into his quarters.
“So, this is my home away from home.” He motions around the dimly lit quarters.
It looks more like a treehouse than a room on a spaceship. Everything around us is alive, which shouldn’t surprise me, given how the rest of the ship is outfitted. But it’s even more impressive here.
“Here’s where I sleep,” he motions to a hammock strung between two tree trunks. “This is where I bathe,” he waves at a wooden tub that would fit a baby elephant. “And that’s where I do my work,” he points to a wide desk against the rear wall with a complicated computer panel.
“Don’t you get motion sick? And there’s no bed?” I feel my cheeks heating. Why did I say the word bed?
“No, but I have this lounging area in front of the fireplace.” He points to an alcove hidden behind one of the tree trunks.
“You have a fireplace on a spaceship? I didn’t know that was possible.”
“It took some doing, but it was worth it. Because how cool is it to have a fireplace in space! I told my guys to spare no expense. And here we are. I’ve got it.”
“It’s fabulous. Can you turn it on for me?”
“I prefer to light it by hand, the old-fashioned way.”
I can hear the pride in his voice, and it’s well earned.
“Sounds marvelous.” I walk over to the lounge as he lights the fire “the old-fashioned way,” using kindling and matches.
He rolls up the sleeves of his robe, revealing pink, corded forearms, and crouches in front of the fireplace.
Actually, it’s more of a firepit. Normally I’d be totally consumed with figuring out how the ventilation system works here, but watching the growing flames illuminate his face is much more interesting.
I lower the zipper on my jumpsuit a little more.