Chapter 4 #2
Plush seating surrounded a central holographic projection system more advanced than anything I'd seen outside commercial applications.
A bar stocked with bottles from across the galaxy occupied one wall.
Gaming stations, reading nooks, and what appeared to be a small dance floor completed the space.
"The dance floor is for when I host parties," Leah explained, catching my stunned expression. "Which isn't often, honestly. But after years of…" She trailed off, cutting herself off for some reason. “I just have this vision of a life where I might, you know?”
She continued the tour, leading us through a meditation garden with actual living plants ("Imported from Earth — takes the staleness out of the air, don’t you think?
"), a fully-equipped fitness center ("Gravity settings can simulate any planet's pull"), and a spa room that made Yahn's tail twitch with obvious interest.
"Is that...?" he began, staring at a particular piece of equipment.
"A Chokreini muscle stimulator? Yes!" Leah beamed. "They're practically impossible to get outside their homeworld, but my mothers know their ambassador, so..." She shrugged as if interplanetary connections were as common as corner stores.
Throughout the tour, I noticed small but telling details. Despite the opulence, there were practical security measures integrated seamlessly into the design. Motion sensors disguised as decorative elements. Emergency bulkheads hidden behind elegant paneling.
Someone had taken great care to ensure this pretty little rich girl remained safe while maintaining the illusion of casual luxury and impulsive travel.
"And these are the guest cabins," Leah continued, waving toward a hallway lined with doors.
"You can each have one if you want to stay the night, or...
" Her cheeks flushed as she trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air.
"Anyway, they're all equipped with full bathrooms and entertainment systems."
Yahn cleared his throat, his professional demeanor reasserting itself. "How many crew members does the Nova typically carry?"
Leah blinked, apparently surprised by the practical question. "Oh, just me right now.
“Just you?” I asked, startled.
“It’s something I wanted to prove to myself — that I could do it. That I don’t need a staff tending to my every need. So I do the flying that requires human intervention, but the AI handles a lot." She grinned proudly. "When I want something, I make it happen.”
"Impressive," I said, meaning it.
Her expression softened. "Thank you. Come on, I've saved the best for last."
The tour culminated in the ship's galley, a space that bore more resemblance to a gourmet restaurant kitchen than any spacecraft dining area I'd ever seen.
Gleaming surfaces reflected the recessed lighting, and what looked like actual wood cabinetry lined the walls.
A dining table that could seat twelve dominated the center of the room, surrounded by chairs that probably cost more than my first ship.
"Hungry?" Leah asked, moving to a refrigeration unit that hummed almost silently. Next to that was a food replicator unlike anything I’d ever seen.
She tapped the glass with her fingernails.
"The replicator is stocked with most of the common and exotic flavorings, so I've got pretty much anything you could want.
I also keep some fresh food on hand." She pulled out a bottle of something amber-colored and three glasses.
"And I have whiskey—my mother's favorite, or beer.
Though if we're being honest, I find it a bit strong. I don't drink much with alcohol."
We made our requests, and as she poured the drinks, I noticed Yahn moving subtly around the perimeter of the room, his security training evident in the way his eyes cataloged exits, potential weapons, and defensive positions.
The guy never really switched off. I caught his eye, and he gave me a small nod—the galley was secure, at least for the moment.
Leah handed us each a glass, her fingers trembling slightly. The confidence she'd displayed throughout the tour seemed to waver now that we were settled in one place. She took a large swallow of her drink, then another, her eyes darting between us.
"So," she said, her voice pitched higher than before. "Here we are."
I recognized the signs—the sudden nervousness, the awkward silence. The escape, the danger, the handsome strangers on her ship... now that the adrenaline was fading, doubt was creeping in. And I needed her mind back in the gutter.
"So, let’s get back to what you said at the gala?" I said, leaning casually against the counter beside Leah. "About entering your 'slut era'?"
Her eyes widened, cheeks flushing pink. "I can't believe I said that out loud." Her cheeks turned even deeper pink. “I’m not a virgin. I’ve had a few serious boyfriends over the years. But I’ve been sheltered. And I want a chance to explore the things the universe has to offer, sex included.”
"I think it’s fantastic," I said, laying it on thick, letting my gaze travel slowly from her face down to where her dress hugged her curves.
"Honesty is sexy. And the urge to explore is natural. Some societies repress sexual urges, but Yahn and I come from very sex positive cultures. I can tell that you’re an adventurer at heart. "
She blushed, her posture relaxing a little as she ran her fingers idly over the counter. "Are you boys hungry?" she asked, her voice breathless.
Hungry didn't begin to cover it. My attention fixed on the curve of her lips, the rise and fall of her chest, the way her hair fell across her face when she tilted her head.
"Starving," I replied, not bothering to hide the double meaning.
Her smile widened, bright and genuine in a way that made something twist in my chest.
"Good," she said, stepping closer until I could feel the warmth radiating from her body. "Because I have plenty to offer."
And there it was—the reckless trust that both attracted and alarmed me. This girl had no idea who we really were or what kind of danger she was inviting into her life.
She reached back, and slid the zipper of her dress down, letting land in a gossamer puddle at her feet.