Chapter 2
TWO
Jessa had known the Virilian males were good-looking.
Hell, everyone on Earth knew it. Even with blue tails and sharp eyeteeth and all those tattoos, they were the subject of countless fan groups and websites.
She was not prepared, though, for the sexual punch that accompanied her introduction to Virak Braal, King of Tagja City.
Good grief, the male was sexy beyond words.
Tall, with a tight, muscular body and a face that looked carved from marble, he was a powerfully potent male.
His eyes were an icy gray-blue and seemed to pierce everything they looked upon.
His light eye color appeared even more striking due to the dark skin on his upper and lower eyelids that looked like smudgy eyeliner.
It was as much a natural part of him, however, as the long tail that swished with a sharp barb.
He wore a cloak over his golden chest straps and wore his dark blond hair a little longer than other Virilian males.
Even now, walking through the boldly colorful corridors, the memory of Virak’s assessing gaze and pure confidence made her blood pump hard.
He was a puzzle, though. No heat appeared to burn in his own gaze.
For a species with few females, and none of childbearing age, he displayed no obvious sexual interest in her.
His voice had sounded vague, borderline bored.
There was no anticipation or even a glimmer of lust in his eyes, which was odd considering she was there for the purpose of having sex with him.
Maybe Virak wasn’t attracted to human females. Maybe Virak wasn’t attracted to any female and producing an offspring was only a duty to his people. That would explain why the last female left without having a child. Seemed silly to ask for another woman to come, then.
She would figure out his deal soon enough. Either he’d want to have sex with her or he wouldn’t.
A female of a species Jessa had never seen before escorted her to her rooms. She was about four feet tall and mostly humanoid in that she had two legs, two arms and the typical features found on a human face.
That was where the similarities ended. Instead of hair, long, iridescent tentacles flowed from her head, reaching almost to the floor.
Her pearl-white skin rippled with delicate scales that changed color as she moved.
The female introduced herself as Paeri, and said that she was from the Gett-Uri system, whatever that meant, and she was assigned to take care of her.
Jessa did not need to be taken care of, but she kept her mouth shut because Paeri had been so earnest that even a polite “no thank you” would likely be taken as an insult.
Paeri would have a very easy job while Jessa was there.
They approached a large, stone pocket door that slid open as they neared it. Since Virak had said “rooms” instead of “room,” she figured she was getting more than one, but she was not prepared for what she saw.
Rooms exploded off a round central chamber filled with the same bright, vivid colors that adorned everything else she’d seen so far in Tagja City.
Natural light filtered through a translucent overhead dome.
This planet had three suns, she remembered from the informational session all candidates had to take.
That was a lot of light, so maybe that was why the glass wasn’t clear.
Whatever the reason, the chamber was illuminated perfectly.
There were plants in here with large, lush foliage.
Of course, none of them looked like Earth plants.
They were as brilliantly colored as everything else.
Some burst with flowers that gave off a wonderful scent.
Jessa walked through the room in wonder.
Low couches and stone tables lay in the center of the chamber, surrounded by the tallest and thickest plants.
The floor was a soft, plush material in deep blue that reminded her of a thick lawn.
Some would have called the space garish, but it was stunning and foreign and fascinating to her.
Despite her determination to stay detached from this whole thing, she was enveloped by the scents and sights of her temporary living quarters.
“This is the…sitting room?” Paeri’s face creased in a frown that wrinkled her entire face. “There is no good translation. It is a space for entertaining, eating, relaxing.”
“Wow. This is like a fancy hotel lobby.” Not that she’d ever been inside one, but now she’d have one all to herself. It kind of blew her mind.
Paeri shrugged. “There are interface screens available to you in each room. I am told they are similar to your tablets on Earth. I can show you how to order food, arrange an escort to the city, summon me, communicate with Virak—and other things. In addition, there is always a selection of food and drink available in the dispensary over on the far wall.” She gestured to several arched openings leading off the central chamber.
“Through there is your bedchamber, and next to it is the bath.”
“What is through there?” Jessa peered down a dark hallway, from which she heard the sound of trickling water.
“Ah, the solarium.” Paeri trotted toward it. “Come along. I’ll show you.”
Jessa followed. The air quickly thickened with moisture, and the sound of delicate birdsong greeted her ears.
Inside, she stopped short. The room was smaller than the central chamber, but it was far more magnificent.
The floor was made of uneven rock, as were the walls.
The ceiling soared above, where tall trees stretched to the sunlight pouring in through an overhead dome.
Leaves swayed and rustled with the movement of circulated air.
Jessa’s attention shifted to the sound of gurgling water. She looked down and caught her breath. Cutting through the floor was a wide, meandering stream. Clear water flowed in through an arched opening on one wall and exited through another large opening on the opposite wall.
“This stream existed here long before the palace or Tagja City was created,” Paeri explained, unprompted. “It’s part of the old era and runs throughout the entire city, protected and preserved by the people.”
“It’s amazing.” Jessa crouched down and dipped a finger in it. The water was as cold as it was clear. The stream bottom was a bed of small, polished stones in shades of blue and green. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
A throaty chirping sound above had her peering up into the tree branches. She gasped at the sight of a large, vibrant birdlike creature with iridescent purple wings and four legs, cocking its head and gazing down at her.
“What is that?” Jessa pointed to the birdlike creature who hopped to a lower branch and observed her curiously.
“This is a gruti, rescued from illegal traders at one of the trading posts. They are rare, as their planet was overtaken by a species that stripped all vegetation and sold off the resources. Virak assigned this gruti to this space as it’s a suitable habitat and provides ample space.
” Paeri gazed up at her with a worried expression.
“The gruti is not aggressive, but the king said that if you would prefer, the solarium can be sealed off during your stay.”
“No!” It burst out of her. “Please. I…love it. And the gruti is wonderful. What does he need?” she asked, excited to spend more time in the beautiful room. “I’m happy to care for him while I’m here.”
“Oh, I couldn’t.” Paeri’s tentacles lifted into cheerful coils, then smoothed out. “Guests are not expected to do maintenance. There is a special entrance to the solarium that allows us entry to feed the gruti and clean his enclosure.”
“There is?” She saw no other entrances in the room. Jessa couldn’t tear her eyes from the birdlike creature. “Look, I love animals. It would be an honor to care for him, if I’m allowed. I’d love to have something to do while I’m here, well, aside from dealing with Virak.”
Paeri blinked huge, luminous eyes at her. “I don’t think you’ll find Virak an unpleasant male to…deal with. He is adored by the staff and his people.”
“Good to know.” Jessa was glad he was good to the people who worked under him, but her relationship with him was a bit different, maybe. Who knew? Maybe Virak had trysts with his staff all the time, even with Jessa’s own attendant.
“He is not difficult to care for,” Paeri said, startling Jessa, who didn’t realize at first that they’d shifted back to the care of the gruti and not Virak. “If it is truly your wish to look after him during your stay, I can have instructions written in your language.”
“Yes, please.” A ripple of excitement ran through her. Just being in this warm, living space made it easier to relax and not dwell on her nerves about Virak.
“Would you like to see your bedchamber? Or get a lesson on using the interface screens?” asked Paeri.
“Thank you, but I’d like to stay here, if that’s okay.”
“Whatever you like.” The attendant moved to the exit and clasped her tiny hands. “Either I or a guard will alert you for the evening meal. Please dress in one of the garments indicated in your wardrobe.”
Jessa raised her brows at that. “There’s a dress code for dinner?”
“The evening meal is a revered activity for all Virilians of Tagja City.”
Jessa nodded, and Paeri left her alone in the solarium. Above, the gruti continued to study her. Its long, gently curved beak glinted silver in the light.
This was far more than Jessa would ever have imagined when she boarded the sleek transport ship that delivered her here.
Whatever happened between her and the ice king, Virak, she would enjoy her time in this private botanical garden.
She had been to one, once, on a class trip, and had wished she could just live there, among the trees and flowers. Now, for a time, she would.